Spring Forward! Cutting Edge Sustainable Brands Coming S/S’11 to Eco Citizen…

Swedish Hasbeens has been at the forefront in the midst of the clog craze. Founders and childhood friends, Cilla Wingard Neuman and Emy Blixt launched Swedish Hasbeens in 2007 after stumbling upon 300 pair of authentic high-heeled 70’s style clogs in the basement of a former Swedish clog factory. Fast foward 4 years and a collection of 19 different styles in a wide array of colors are being sold in 22 countries with celebrity fans like Sarah Jessica Parker and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The shoes are hand-made with Swedish-grown alder wood or lime tree and the leather is chrome-free natural grain leather.

A Peace Treaty was launched over two years ago when Farah Malik, a Pakistani Muslim and Dana Arbib, a Libyan Jew, made a personal pact with one another to help create employment opportunities in areas of socio-political strife by recruiting local town artisans who have been unemployed due to political tensions and social unrest. The dynamic duo targets a different handcrafting technique from struggling regions in countries around the world as a base for each limited edition collection. A Peace Treaty also donates to a nonprofit development organization called Counterpart International, where proceeds go towards reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.

Koch, (pronounced like “cook”), a line of clothing and handbags, designed by Nicole Musselman Boykin, is produced entirely by local artisans in Texas or New York. A small team of women sews her collection of loose, sexy caftans and boy shorts to handbags that fit every woman’s everyday purpose so she can fulfill her daily needs in a fashionable manner.

H. Fredriksson is a collection of photographic patterns known for pieces that embrace time and timelessness.” Launched in 2004, Fredriksson made the conscious choice to have her entire collection manufactured in New York. Why? She enjoys the gratification of knowing that craftsmen and women working under fair conditions produce her garments. Producing local supports a threatened industry and craftsmanship that has remained an important aspect of New York for centuries. While many companies have shifted to overseas production to save money, Fredriksson strongly believes that paying the extra few dollars for apparel well made under fair conditions without unnecessary shipping emissions is well worth it.

Interested? Shop these designers online or in stores at Eco Citizen!