WHO/ WHAT/ WEAR

It's easy being green with local designers, shops helping out

Chicago Tribune - April 22, 2007 –

Our eco-research for Earth Day unearthed a green mile of great local designers, boutiques and events worth checking out.

• Certaintees: These T-shirts conceived by Chicago multimedia artist Lee Tracy are made of sustainable bamboo and printed with nature-loving messages and images using ecologically friendly water-based inks. Tracy has designed six series whose images match the missions of partnering non-profit organizations, which receive $5 from each shirt sold. Themes include social justice, independence, food, peace, energy and nature. Shirts are $52 to $54 at certaintees.com. The colored shirts are available at p45, 1643 N. Damen Ave., 773-862-4524, and Endo-Exo, 2034 N. Halsted St., 773-525-0500.
  
• Rescued Clothing: The studio of Chicago artist Dolan Geiman is where exhausted clothes go for rehab. For $75 to $150, you can hand over a once-beloved jacket, shirt, skirt, and he'll rekindle your excitement for it, using screen-printed appliques, embroidery and other artistic touches. He's no tailor, he emphasizes. His art form is, well, art. See dolangeiman.com.
  
• Grow, 1943 W. Division St., 773-489-0009: For those whose eco-awakening coincides with pregnancy -- a common consciousness-raising period -- Grow carries eco-aware and well-designed baby furniture, non-toxic bedding and organic clothes, as well as biodegradable G Diapers.
  
• Wolfbait & B-Girls, 3131 W. Logan Blvd., 312-698-8685: It's "almost a co-op for local designers who use recycled fabrics and items to create unique clothing and accessories," said Eva Yusa, known as Eva the Shopping Diva on her blog at ShopLocal.com.
  
• Saffron, 2064 N. Damen Ave., 773-486-7753: This shop offers the Ekologic brand, which makes clothing and accessories for men and women from recycled cashmere. The Museum of Contemporary Art store carries the brand too.
  
• Mohop shoes: Local designer Annie Mohaupt uses reclaimed materials and interchangeable straps for her line of wood-heeled shoes, all cruelty-free and featured in the "Spotlight Humane" fashion show presented by the Humane Society of the United States this past winter. All shoes are $185 and come with five sets of ribbons. See mohop.com.
  
• Green Festival Chicago: This weekend, the fest is celebrating enough green products and services to warrant McCormick Place as its venue. $10 admission; $5 for seniors, students, bike riders and public-transit riders; and free to children under 12. Check greenfestivals.org or call 800-50-GREEN.
  
• H&M opens in Bolingbrook: H&M extends its reach on Thursday by opening a store at The Promenade Bolingbrook, carrying just the ladies and young ladies collections. On opening day, stylist to the stars Robert Verdi will provide fashion and style tips for every budget. H&M will also offer the first 100 customers a complimentary t-shirt as well as gift cards worth up to $100.
  
• Bartolomei’s Salon: Longtime Chicago hairstylist Dennis Bartolomei, who began his career during the big-hair days of the 1980’s, is opening a salon at 15 E. Pearson St. In addition to focusing on elite color and styling, Dennis Bartolomei Salon will sell his own line of hairbrushes and carry the Davines hair care line.