Anyone cursed with bad vision remembers, none too fondly, the names like “four eyes” and “nerd” that seemed to follow them through their academic youth. But, with the geek-chic trend came the need for glasses to complete an outfit. Today, any number of people can be found wearing plastic frames with plain glass for lenses. Now, these fashion staples have been remade for the environmentally conscientious wearer.

Summer Rayne Oakes

Summer Rayne Oakes, a model, author, designer and activist, has paired up with eyeglass designer MODO to bring consumers a truly recycled line of eyewear that anyone would want to rock. From the frames, to the glass, to the soy ink used to print on the recycled packaging, the ECO line by MODO is truly a fashionable way to reduce your impact.

But the brand doesn’t stop there. For each pair of lenses sold, a tree will be planted through Trees for the Future and the Mozambique-based Mezimbite Forest Centre. The line has taken several additional steps toward ensuring its line has as small an impact on landfills as possible. Oakes spoke with 1-800-RECYCLING.com about the project.

1-800-RECYCLING.com: First off, tell us a little bit about how the partnership with MODO came about.

Summer Rayne Oakes: A filmmaker who I had been working with initially made the connection. After learning about my work and knowing how passionate MODO is about pushing the envelope on environmental and social integrity in eyewear, he asked if he could make the introduction. The team and I hit it off, and we started working with one another almost immediately.

It’s an exciting collaboration. I often work with brands who are just getting started. MODO was already out making an impact. I’d say that Alessandro [Lanaro, CEO of Modo] and his team are doing for eyewear what Ray Anderson did for carpets.

1-800-RECYCLING.com: Were there any trials in crafting an eco-friendly line of glasses?

SRO: Since our stainless steel is 95% recycled post-consumer waste and our acetate plastic is 95% pre-consumer waste, it does take us a bit of time to collect the materials, create our preferred color mix and produce new sheets of material for our factory to use.

1-800-RECYCLING.com: How many styles are there?

SRO: Three sunglasses and four optical frames.

1-800-RECYCLING.com: What degree of UV protection will the sunglasses provide?

SRO: 100% protection.

Here are some of the most stylish, sustainable shoes on the market. By wearing them, you’ll be taking a stand for the environment as well as making a fashion statement!

Limited Skin from OATS Shoes

Dutch company OATS Shoes made a big splash on the eco-fashion scene when it introduced the first fully biodegradable sneaker that sprouts flowers when planted in your back yard. Now, the company is taking sustainable footwear to the next level by launching the Limited Skin line: high- and low-tops made from the first certified-biodegradable leather in the world. Featuring organic cotton fleece and soft pique cotton interiors, these brightly colored sneakers are tanned using nontoxic agents and are 100% biodegradable when you bury them underground. (from $240)

NewSKY from New Balance

Walking and running shoe designs are more advanced now than ever, but what hasn’t changed much are the materials used to make them — until now. New Balance recently unveiled its NewSKY design, which features fabric made from post-consumer plastic bottles.

“A typical shoe has a lot of different types of materials,” said New Balance’s Design Lead for Wellness, Drew Spieth. “What’s really interesting about this is, aside from the foam and the little rubber components [on the outsole] and a little bit of water-based glue, the only material here is the recycled fabric.” (from $95)

Men’s Over Easy from Simple

There is nothing better than slipping into a nice pair of loafers on a lazy Saturday afternoon in fall. These vegan-friendly shoes feature an eco-certified suede upper, recycled PET gore and a 30% recycled rubber/70% natural rubber blend with BIO.D outsole. (from $65)

Not only does Patagonia care about the clothing and gear that it makes, but it also thinks about how it’s made and what happens to it at the end of its useful life. The company wants its products to cause the least harm to the environment possible. Patagonia employees evaluate raw materials, invest in innovative technologies and thoroughly monitor their waste.

When you have a Patagonia product that is finally worn out, you can return it, and the company will recycle it into new fiber or fabric (or repurpose what can’t yet be recycled). Since 2005, when Patagonia launched its Common Threads Initiative, it has taken back 45 tons of clothing for recycling and made 34 tons into new clothes.

“Recycling is what we do when we’re out of options to avoid, repair or reuse the product first. That’s why I am so impressed with Patagonia for starting its Common Threads Initiative with the real solution: Reduce. Don’t buy what we don’t need. Repair: Fix stuff that still has life in it. Reuse: Share. Then, only when you’ve exhausted those options, recycle.”

— Annie Leonard, author of ‘The Story of Stuff’

Patagonia also donates 1% of its sales to support environmental organizations worldwide, funding at the grassroots level in countries and communities where they have people on the ground.

If that’s not enough, here are a few more reasons to love Patagonia. Take a look at some of the new fall styles:

Patagonia Women’s Long-Sleeved Margot Dress

A graceful, contoured organic cotton stretch dress with three-quarter-length sleeves and a V-neck front. Made from 95% organic material.

Girls’ Inoa Jacket

A highly wind- and water-resistant insulated jacket with a polyester shell and toasty, lightweight 150-g high-loft polyester insulation.

Patagonia Men’s Lightweight Organic Crew Socks

These soft, everyday socks made from a comfortable organic cotton/nylon blend have an ultra-soft feel and excellent stretch. Made of 52% organic material.

For more clothing, gear and information about Patagonia, visit Patagonia.com. For a more in-depth look inside the heart of Patagonia, check out their Common Threads Initiative, bluesign Standard, the Footprint Chronicles and more.

This season, think sustainable and recycled when shopping for boots. That means avoiding leather and wool, and opting for natural and vegan materials instead. Here are some of the most exciting fall boot styles you can wear without a guilty conscience.

Morigami Houndstooth Sparkle Boot by Sugar Shoes

Perfect for skipping down the sidewalk and kicking big piles of leaves, these faux wool boots feature a basket-weaved faux black and white houndstooth print with sparkles sewn right into the fabric! Two side bows keep the boot snugly in place, while the super soft plush black faux fur interior, padded footbed and rubber sole protect your feet from the elements. (From $49)

Red Vegan Women’s Wrap Boots by TOMS

These aren’t your everyday boots. Wrap them up for a tall boot look, or keep them low to wear with jeans. Either way, the punchy red color adds excitement to any outfit! These boots are not made with animal products and feature TOMS’ signature canvas insole with cushion for comfort. Also, keep in mind that with every pair of TOMS shoes you purchase, one pair is donated to a child in need! (From $98)

BRRlin Women’s Boots by Simple

If the thought of cold weather makes you shiver, these are just the boots to warm you up. This scrunch boot is made with eco-certified suede uppers, and features nickel- and lead-free buckle detail. The midsole is made of EVA with BIO-D and the outsole is made of 30% recycled rubber and 70% natural rubber with BIO-D, which means this shoe will biodegrade in 20 years in a landfill or compost heap. Also, both the foot form inserts and the shoebox are made from post-consumer recycled paper. (From $85)

Riding Boots by GoMax Concorde

Featuring burnished brown vegan leather with a crinkled finish, these equestrian-style boots will become an essential part of your fall wardrobe. Tonal topstitching highlights the pieced design, with a 15-inch side zipper at instep and an elegant round toe. Pair it with tights and a skirt, and you’re ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at you. (From $71)

Ramblers Way Farm base layers

In cooler months, layering is essential, and we really like the soft, superfine wool of the products made from Ramblers Way Farm as a base layer. Produced sustainably in Maine, Ramblers Way spins its wool from Rambouillet sheep, which produce a very fine, thin, durable fiber. This fiber is then spun to create a yarn without the typical “scratchy” feel. The fiber is then hand dyed from dried plant extracts.

Under Armour T-shirts

Nau uses 100% recycled polyester in its jackets. Image courtesy of Nau.

For warmer days when only a lightweight T-shirt is needed, we have to lean toward one from Under Armour. The company’s “UA Green” products are made from recycled plastic bottles and offer a range of long-sleeve and short-sleeve Ts.

In 2010 alone, Under Armour estimated that 1 million 1-liter plastic bottles were converted into performance products. The Catalyst collection, in particular, is made from stretchy fabric that has anti-odor technology and temperature regulation, and Under Armour claims it’s the fastest-drying T-shirt it has ever made.

Patagonia fleece

Fleece is lightweight and it breathes well, all while wicking moisture from your body. When we think of fleece, we think of Patagonia. The company is known as a leader in the industry, making products that cause the least harm to the environment. Through its Common Threads Initiative, Patagonia has taken back 45 tons of worn-out clothing since 2005, and has recycled it to make 34 tons of new clothes. Currently, Patagonia utilizes what it calls “e-fibers” — environmentally friendlier fibers — that include recycled polyester, organic cotton, hemp, chlorine-free wool and repurposed nylon.

Nau jackets

With a large selection of durable, functional and super stylish jackets, Nau has emerged as a well-known company in the sustainable outdoor apparel industry. Nau seeks to know where the fibers and fabrics it uses are created and what paths they follow before ending up in the factory. In addition to using sustainable wool, Nau also uses organic cotton and recycled polyester in place of nylon (which is widely used in the outdoor apparel industry), since nylon cannot yet be recycled.

Nau’s insulated jackets take advantage of an eco-fabric technology that is a recycled polyester/COCONA blend derived from coconut husks. This fabric combines activated carbon with recycled polyester to provide “superior insulation that resists moisture, controls odors and provides a higher warmth-to-weight ratio than other synthetic insulation.” We know you’ll have a hard time choosing which jacket you like best.

Teko socks

With a philosophy of making premium performance outdoor socks with the least possible environmental impact, Teko is not only known for its soft, moisture-wicking design, but also for the combination of eco-friendly fibers in its product line. For example, the recycled “tekoPOLY” fiber is made from 100% post-consumer waste like plastic bottles, and the organic “tekoMERINO” wool is both sustainable and organic.

Mountainsmith dog pack

We know hiking is so much more fun with a companion, so if your pooch is making the trek with you, don’t forget to hook him or her up with eco-friendly gear as well. Mountainsmith has been making dog packs for more than 30 years, and its recycled dog pack that we found at REI gets high marks. It’s made from recycled PET fabric, which is equivalent to saving 15 16-ounce bottles from the landfill.

Now that you have some ideas to start your hiking adventures, the next step is to start researching where to go. With state parks and campgrounds still open through the fall, make sure to take advantage the trails they have to offer. And enjoy the beautiful weather!

Below are some of the best new looks for fall. Not too light and not too heavy, these beautiful garments allow you to support sustainable fashion designers while also staying true to your natural style.

Alpaca wool cloak by Novica

This magical cloak is handmade with care by artisan weaver Isidoro C’cahuantico. A native of Peru, C’cahuantico was forced to migrate when terrorist activities swept his region. Accepting various jobs, he soon found himself working as a janitor in a textile factory. Fascinated with the weaving process he saw during the day, C’cahuantico would stay late into the night to experiment with his own designs. Now, he works with his family weaving genuine alpaca wool into garments like this traditional Andean ruana-style reversible cloak.

Men’s organic scarf by Beau Monde Organics

Who says men can’t enjoy a beautiful scarf? This lovely earth-toned scarf is made from 100% certified organic cotton voile, sewn with 100% certified organic cotton thread and printed in earth-safe inks right here in the U.S. This is the perfect accessory for walking or biking to work on those crisp autumn mornings.

Melange gloves by Indigenous

In the land somewhere between ski gloves and mittens live these delightful fingerless gloves. Completely vegan and made of 100% organic cotton, these gloves are made in Peru through the Indigenous Designs DNA and production model.

Crocheted bamboo scarf by Ayca on Etsy

The only thing better than buying sustainably made fashions is buying them from an independent crafter that makes each garment with love and care. This amazingly beautiful scarf is made of the best quality 100% bamboo cotton yarn, so it’s extremely soft. Any way you wrap it, it looks like Mother Nature is giving you a big hug!

Image: Steampunk Overlord
All images courtesy of the artists and used with permission.

Cosplay has turned seriously pro, as these awesome steampunk costumes prove. Any knight would be proud to own one of these sets of armor; though we suspect a time-traveling Templar would be ill at ease with all the anachronistic bits and pieces he’d be wearing…

Image: Ian Finch-Field/Skinz-N-Hydez

But the best bit is, with a bit of innovation and skill, you yourself could be that knight, as it’s possible to replicate these sets of armor if you’re into upcycling your own leather and brass pieces into something so cool as to be almost timeless.

Image: Steampunk Overlord

For those who don’t ride into battle that often — especially not in full gear — let’s refresh our memories on what some the most crucial pieces of armor are: one, the breastplate, to buffer blows and protect the heart, sometimes backed up by a nice (and heavy!) chain mail vest; two, spiky gauntlets, which not only protect the knight’s hands, but can also deliver painful blows (ouch!); third, pauldrons, to protect the shoulders and arms (probably a good idea!); and lastly, tassets, which cover the upper legs and lower abdomen (very important!).

10. Steampunk Sky Captain

Image: Ian Finch-Field/Skinz-N-Hydez

The “Sky Captain” pictured here has gone all out to present himself in his best battle gear. This left-handed fighter is protected by an ornate breastplate, vambraces to protect his forearms, leg guards and a thick waistband complete with a repurposed gauge and a timepiece. Discreetly tucked into the armor are the captain’s weapons: a pistol, sword and what looks like a baton, as well as various other pieces of equipment and tools.

Image: Ian Finch-Field/Skinz-N-Hydez

As any piece of armor is actually made up of various smaller pieces, this type of costume is perfect if you have many bits of leather or fabric lying around at home. What’s more, there’s no limit to the number of accessories that can be added. This is steampunk, after all, so whatever your garage, attic or toolbox provides will certainly make a great start. Then you can begin to think about looking half as cool as this guy!

9. Steampunk Pauldron

Image: Techdragon

This pauldron is made from 22-gauge mild steel and has a sprayed and brushed powder-coat finish. Some of its special features are especially cool; among them, a bottle opener (very handy!), a speaker system and lighting with EL ground effects under the arm plates. If that’s not retro-futuristic, we don’t know what is! Above, you can see the lights in action, and below the piece as it looks when worn, viewed from both the front and back.

Image: Techdragon

Though the special features may not be authentically medieval (of course, that’s not really the aim!) in other respects this piece of armor is the real deal. Pauldrons were usually worn for mounted combat, whether in a tournament or a field battle, to protect the shoulder, armpit and arm that was being used for fighting; and they were meant to be asymmetrical, so there was usually space cut away to make room for a lance rest.

Image: Techdragon

Just as in days of yore, when each piece of armor was custom-made, so this pauldron is also made to order. Says creator Jeanie Davan: “We welcome design input and appearance modifications — this is a custom-made piece and will be done to your specifications.” Sounds good to us! How about an iPod charger somewhere in there to allow you to play some nice battle music in private? Meanwhile, we’re off to the scrap yard to see what steel they have to spare!

8. Baroque Breastplate

Image: Rezindollz

This amazing piece of steampunk armor was adapted from an old body protector that didn’t look half as spectacular in its previous life. In fact, the protector made for two pieces of armor, as you can see below.

Image: Rezindollz

Its creator, Michelle, simply cut the old body protector in half, painted it gold and added lots of leftover leather pieces to make it look elegant. Then, she attached a few bronze buckles and buttons, and she was almost done.

Image: Rezindollz

Don’t miss all the lovingly added decorations, like the angel’s head and the flowers, left over from earlier craft projects. And, if you don’t believe these classy breast plates were once an ordinary body protector, just look at the work-in-progress picture above.

7. Elegant Breastplate

Image: Tungstenwolf

Any knight in shining armor would surely desire this awesome breastplate. The golden sheen makes it look like brushed metal, but it was actually crafted out of thick pieces of high-grade leather. It was hand-crafted by creator Tungstenwolf, who searched his studio for brass buckles that fitted the bill, as well as dozens of rivets.

6. Steampunk Captain

Image: Ian Finch-Field/Skinz-N-Hydez

This steampunk captain’s outfit would make even Jack Sparrow go green with envy. We especially like the reuse of the different belts, meaning the costume is adjustable to many sizes. A neat belt pouch provides room for the steampunk captain’s many necessities, like his snuff and secret weapons.

Image: Ian Finch-Field/Skinz-N-Hydez

A closer look reveals the intricate design of this steampunk armor — the finely cut and carved leather pieces, apparently dyed with different colors to give them a weathered look. Then there’s the awesome gauntlet — with its quintessentially steampunk gauge — and other metal odds and ends you might find in your toolbox. Impressive stuff! And let’s not forget the many brass ornaments and accents, either. Ahar, me hearties!

5. Steampunk Guard

Image: Tungstenwolf

An ornate pauldron, a beefy breastplate and a gauntlet that steals the show, decorated with all sorts of repurposed bits and pieces — what more could any self-respecting member of the royal steampunk guard need? Using leather and brass pieces that were available (read: left over, lying around, donated) at different times, all are “hand-cut, molded, remolded and upgraded,” according to the designer. While artisan Tungstenwolf did initially have this assemblage of armor pieces in mind, the color combinations came about by chance, which makes it amazing just how well everything blended together in the end.

Image: Tungstenwolf

Here’s the piece with a different combination of gauntlet, top hat, steampunk goggles and the cool use of old leather belts! We especially like the repurposed watch face used as the breastplate centerpiece. So, while the enemy’s busy checking the time, you can deal the first blow with those spikes on the gauntlet. Hazaar!

4. Steampunk Knight

Image: Tungstenwolf

Designer and maker Tungstenwolf had this to say about this next amazing creation: “The finest up-to-date costume I have put together. Much love and time has been put into it.” We believe it! The gauntlets alone are awe-inspiring and would have made any real-life knight proud — and, we suspect, somewhat feared!

Image: Tungstenwolf

The black leather breastplate was kept relatively simple on purpose: Just a few big silver rivets provide the adornments (while the sword, gauntlets and cape grab one’s attention). This versatile and finely crafted breastplate would go with many a steampunk outfit. Now, it’s off to scour some thrift stores and yard sales to see if we can find any bits and bobs that might make the grade!

3. Baroque Knight

Image: Steampunk Overlord

This costume must have taken a lot of scavenging for just the right leather, brass and fabric pieces, not to forget the shrunken head (though we’re not sure where you’d find one of those!). The incredibly elaborate piece was hand-crafted — painstakingly assembled with astonishing attention to detail. Must-have accessories are, of course, the distinctly steampunk pistol-cum-blunderbuss (complete with gauge), the sword and the helmet topped with horse hair and finished with an awesome monocle/eye patch. If the style looks unfamiliar, this is what creator Liam Brandon Murray calls “Cirque du Punk,” or circus punk — basically, steampunk meets the circus world. Pretty cool, huh?

Image: Steampunk Overlord

Here’s a piece of armor that tells a story with elephants, gods and mythical creatures vying for your attention. And don’t miss the awesome top hat and the beard guard! Liam explains: “[Circus punk is] a new name to the cosplay world, and I hope the next big costume movement. You have a couple of hundred years to choose from, which era to represent with this costume style, as the circus has been running for at least that amount of time. Or you can even fuse those eras and come up with a collaboration of different costume styles from different decades or even centuries.” Sounds like time-traveling awesomeness to us!

Image: Steampunk Overlord

The full baroque knight seen in the third image from top is shown here from the back, complete with the “extravagantly ornate, florid and convoluted” designs and accessories so typical of the Baroque style that was in vogue in 17th and 18th-century Italy, as well as the rest of Europe.

2. Steampunk Warrior

Image: Steampunk Overlord

If there had ever been a steampunk version of The Terminator, maybe this would have been it! Kitted out with many more gadgets than the man-hunting machines from the movies, this one will surely be back — as will fans for that matter: for more! Together with a few colleagues, Liam Brandon Murray designed and created this amazing armor costume. As Murray informs us, it includes a “full mechanical steampunk leg, full mechanical arm with epaulette shoulder cannon, backpack and chest armor with shoulder cannon combined.” How can you follow that? We’re speechless!

Image: Steampunk Overlord

A closer look at the mechanical arm (see also: top image) reveals many gears, cogs, valves, pipes and other repurposed and upcycled trappings. Get tinkering now! You have to start somewhere!

1. Steampunk Emperor’s New Armor

Image: Ian Finch-Field/Skinz-N-Hydez

This awe-inspiring right-side armor is called the “Emperor’s Armor of Empowerment,” and we can see why. Made by Ian Finch-Field, aka Skinz-N-Hydez, it indeed looks fit for the emperor of a steampunk age — be it from the past or from the future. The armor was hand-made from various bits of vegetable-tanned leather and hand-cut brass pieces. The saddle tan brown Eco-Flo dye gives the armor that weathered look — more traditionally achieved by going into battle!

Image: Ian Finch-Field/Skinz-N-Hydez

Other odds and ends Finch-Field used from his workshop include some belts and buckles, nuts and bolts, gears and cogs and tons of rivets, all masterfully assembled to produce this one-of-a-kind costume. The leather crown is a nice touch, and then, of course, there are the two fully functioning LED push-button lights on the front that can be turned on or set to flash. Cool!

Though it takes years of experience to create steampunk armor as cool as most of the pieces featured here, it’s fun to look at the potential of a few basic materials like leather, brass and fabrics, and what capable hands can do with them. Upcycling at its best!

All images courtesy of Renathe Schneider and used with permission.

One person’s nuisance can be another person’s art. Just ask Swedish artist Renathe Schneider, who casts dead insects, like flies and cockroaches, in polyester resin and makes wonderful jewelry pieces out of them. And no, she wouldn’t dream of hurting a fly! All the insects she uses died of natural causes.

So, there is recycling of sorts going on here; nothing goes to waste — whether it’s a mosquito trapped in a blood red casing, or a wasp in an eternal slumber, never to sting again. It’s like staring at prehistoric pieces of amber with trapped insects perfectly preserved inside, except these little critters crawled the earth much, much more recently!

Much like those specimens used in biology labs, each insect is encased in clear resin after it has been dried out for a while. Schneider had this to say about the challenges this poses: “It can be tricky to get them in the right positions in the casting molds, and air bubbles in the resin are another problem, but I have years of practice now, and I’m very picky.”

She casts the insects in different layers in the casting mold – first a clear layer, then the layer with the insect and the color pigments in the last resin layer, thus achieving her rainbow color schemes. But that’s not all…

There’s still the fine-tuning. Schneider explains the process in more detail: “After the plastic hardens there is still a lot of work left to do. The plastic bits must first be sanded, then polished several times to give them the almost glass appearance.”

All the ring parts are handmade according to Schneider’s designs; a friend with a laser saw helps with the cutting. Schneider continues, “The actual ring pieces are cut out of sheets of acrylic commonly known as ‘Plexiglas.’ Then all of these must be sanded, polished, warmed up and then bent to different sizes forming the actual piece that goes over the finger.”

A fairly complicated process then! Part of the fascination of Schneider’s rings, especially when viewed as a series, is the fact that the insects are kept in their natural poses — that is, the positions they were in when they died. So, unlike biology specimens, they don’t seem stiff and artificial, but still very lifelike. Some even seem to be doing some calisthenics, like the hairy fly, below!

So, where does Schneider find her specimens? At home, in her studio or at her parents’ summer house is the answer; often around the insect graveyards that are windowpanes and windowsills. Ever since she started this aspect of her jewelry business, Schneider can’t pass by a dead insect without taking a closer look. If she likes the specimen, she takes it home for later — in the same way others might collect shells or pretty stones. She even has her friends into it — accomplices who are always on the lookout to help out with her “casting” requirements.

We wondered how it all started. Well, Schneider had been making clay jewelry for about 10 years, when one fine day in 1990 she got her hands on a book that would change her life. She remembers: “It was a hobby book from the ’70s that explained the many possibilities of casting jewelry with polyester resin. I was completely overwhelmed with the pictures of the brightly colored rings made of plastic.”

The insect rings actually started with plastic versions of the insects being used. Schneider recalls, “I had some plastic flies from a novelty store that were laying around. I cast those in resin, made rings and people thought those were funny, so they sold quickly.”

But why use plastic when you can have the real thing? Schneider soon switched. “A few weeks later, I was visiting my parents’ summer house, and when I saw all those dead flies lying around in the windows, I got the idea.” We’re glad she did, as the rings look fabulous, even as they put our insect friends in the limelight, postmortem. Waste not, want not and all that.

After that fateful day, Schneider’s designs and casting techniques went through many changes, until she was happy with her technique and style. All the designs are hand painted, and apart from insects, she also uses seashells as decoration. She gets her inspiration from traditional geometric designs and from folk art from around the world.

Schneider lives in the small city of Örebro in southern Sweden. She has been making and selling her insects encased in resin jewelry for well over a decade, and has recently started a new line of upcycled jewelry, which you can see on her website.

Such was the case with several pairs of my rather pricey velour lounging pants that probably would have stood the test of time, were it not for the enthusiastic upright stretches of my dear sweet feline, Snagglepuss, against my legs.

In seemingly record time, my knock-around duds went from sleek, to pockmarked, to holey and finally woefully thread bare. Despite hand sewing many of the more noticeable kitty-triggered ventilation spots over and over again, the fabric itself succumbed to a massive fashion malfunction, forcing me to finally let ‘em go.

Far too disheveled to donate and seemingly impossible to repurpose into anything other than cleaning rags (thanks to those menacing little puncture wounds), with great regret, I ultimately kicked them to my curb on garbage day. This kind of situation isn’t unique, however. It constantly plays out all over the world — not necessarily due to limber cats — but perhaps the result of splattered paint, inconvenient tears or spots that just won’t come out.

What most of us don’t realize is that textile recycling programs that give previously used natural/synthetic fabric, fiber, leather and other materials a second life actually do exist. Based on the EPA’s fabric reclamation statistics (13.8% of the 12.7 million tons of textiles created in our country in 2009 were reprocessed or exported, which amounts to approximately 2 tons), it would seem that we’re in need of far more widespread education.

In the meantime, New York City has spearheaded a unique program called RefashioNYC, which focuses on preventing the 200,000 tons of textiles that residents dispose of annually from entering landfills in the first place. Offering apartment dwellers convenient access to 3-foot deep, tamperproof white metal collection bins right in their buildings, the hope is that if free and easy recycling opportunities for linens, shirts, pants, shoes and other fashion accessories exist, people will participate. Plus, they’re tax deductible!

Here’s how it works. Once bins are full, a pickup is scheduled within five days and materials are then sorted in a Queens-based Housing Works warehouse. (Housing Works is an organization that works toward alleviating lifestyle challenges for low-income and/or homeless individuals living with HIV or AIDS.) Anything that is deemed to be of widespread commercial value is sold through Housing Works’ various New York City locations, with all profits earmarked toward its various community programs.

Any remaining merchandise is sent to other assorted nonprofit thrift shops located in America and abroad in an effort to limit waste, but Housing Works does acknowledge that it is forced to dispose of less than 10% of donations because they are in such bad condition.

Now, you’re probably wondering what happens to all of the other textiles in this program that aren’t in good enough condition to wear. In addition to making industrial rags out of donations, fabric can also be shredded and turned into the springy stuffing for seating/mattresses, carpet/roof padding, household insulation, loudspeaker cones and even the creation of new yarn for second-generation garments (a process known as fiber reclamation).

As far as the actual success rate of this Refashion-Housing Works collaboration, given its new launch of May 24, 2011, only time will tell, but they’re certainly making it incredibly effortless for people to reuse. Some may be surprised to learn that New York City is working diligently toward achieving a new and undoubtedly ambitious sustainability goal: to cut the amount of solid waste that ultimately gets landfilled by 75%. This program seems to have come in the nick of time!

Image: Insa
All images courtesy of the artists and used with permission

Though the origins of high-heeled shoes are still debated, it is likely that a precursor came — like so many other stylish and imaginative innovations — from ancient Egypt, where men and women belonging to the upper classes wore them, most likely for ceremonial purposes. However, Egyptian butchers also wore them for more practical purposes, namely to raise themselves above the level of the blood of the dead beasts on the floor below them. How’s that for an image that contradicts the notions of style and elegance that we associate high heels with today?

Image: Steven Rodrig

Shoes with heels were also developed by horsemen in the Middle East in the ninth century for functional purposes, as they helped to keep their feet in the stirrups while riding. And we are perhaps more familiar with images of well-off medieval townspeople wearing a type of high platform shoe to keep their feet out of muck and excrement when walking along the roads.

Image: Insa

Throughout the ages, men and women have worn high heels for practical reasons, to indicate status, to restrict their movement or to simply elevate their height. Today, though high heels are usually worn by women, there are forms of footwear with elevated heels for men, such as cowboy boots and Cuban heels.

Image: Steven Rodrig

What’s more, as we’ve discovered, the innovations of history continue into the present, with many artists and designers making high heels out of an array of recycled and repurposed materials. Here are seven stunning creations that’ll make you rethink foot fashion forever.

7. Human Hair

Image via YouTube

Fifty-four-year-old Taiwanese hair stylist Shiou-ying Tsai draws on her almost four decades worth of experience as a hair stylist to turn discarded hair into stunning high heels. Because of the nature of the material, the hair heels are actually supposed to be more comfortable than traditionally crafted pairs.

Image via YouTube

It takes Tsai about a month to make one pair of heels, but she also crafts beautiful accessories like brooches out of the leftover hair. Being flat footed, Tsai will not get to wear her own creations, but that doesn’t deter her from going ahead with more designs. Weaving recycled human hair into heeled footwear with the help of hair spray is definitely an art form that gets our vote. Cutting-edge stuff!

6. Tables and Chairs

Image: What’s More Alive Than You®, Recycle Shoes, designed by Liza Fredrika Aslund — all rights reserved What’s More Alive Than You®

Assuming you hadn’t first practiced strutting your stuff in Insa’s giant heels, above, could you walk in 4.7-inch heels? Maybe so in these ergonomically shaped pumps from Danish designer Liza Fredrika Åslund. The heel of the “Recycle Shoe” is made out of pieces of wood left over from the construction of tables and chairs. Each piece was cut and mounted by hand on an iron pin and then stacked to form a single unit.

Image: What’s More Alive Than You®, Recycle Shoes, designed by Liza Fredrika Aslund — all rights reserved What’s More Alive Than You®

Designed for the first collection of fashion-art from “What’s More Alive than You,” a new Italian fashion brand, comfort was kept in mind despite the high heel, as the shoe was intended to provide a more even weight distribution on the ground while the user is walking. Now it’s just the choice between pink or yellow, since both models look stunning.

5. Legos

Image: Finn Stone

Playful readers will love British artist Finn Stone’s “LEG-GO Stilettos,” made from an old pair of heels decorated with the repurposed popular building blocks. On his website, Stone talks about his Legos series, which also includes a teapot, a hat and a cat: “Humor often arises when you mix the absurd with the real, and whilst I attempt to create a perspective personal to the viewer, I stumble upon an illogical beauty that resonates with comical tones.”

Image: Finn Stone

Though right now created purely as pieces of art, we could see the Legos heels becoming a hit in mainstream fashion. The only problem may be Legos fans trying to take the pieces off to start playing with them, but that’s a risk we’d be willing to see taken!

4. Circuit Boards

Image: Steven Rodrig

New York-based artist Steven Rodrig uses printed circuit boards (PCBs) to create what he calls “PCB Mixed Media” sculptures. While creating his art, he also reduces the number of PCBs that will be slowly rotting in our landfills over thousands of years, thus taking electronic recycling to a new level. Calling himself an environmentally conscious designer and computer geek, Rodrig says of his work:

Image: Steven Rodrig

“My goal is to manipulate each PCB into becoming an organic life form where the PCB characteristics become part of the living fabric helping to shape its meaning… in order to manipulate each circuit board to form something other than what it was originally intended.” And this certainly works well for the PCB heels. With a bit of a soft insole, we could just about see them being mass produced and reaching a store near you soon!

3. Elephant Dung

Image: Insa

A personal favorite are these dung heels by British graffiti artist and designer Insa. As part of a collective of young British artists, the shoes are Insa’s response to the work of Caribbean artist Chris Ofili and were exhibited at the “Bring the Noise” event at Tate Britain. The tribute couldn’t have been more fitting, as integrating elephant dung into his work is Ofili’s signature style.

Image: Insa

Quite predictably, the mammoth 10-inch dung heels have since created quite a stink — only metaphorically speaking, though, as elephant dung is apparently odorless, especially when dried. Reactions have ranged from “disgusting” to “brilliant,” yet no one has remained indifferent.

Image: Insa

For Insa, integrating this material into his work was an experiment and a challenge, as one can imagine. Given that one elephant produces about 500 pounds of dung a day, it’s high time someone found a creative new use for this organic material. Fun recycling from an artist with serious concerns about the objectification of women in current consumer society.

2. Paper

Image: Carlos N. Molina

Though the most delicate of the heels portrayed here, New York-based artist Carlos Molina’s creations are no less powerful. The lavender shoe above is made out of recycled cereal boxes and painted paper towels. Who would have thought that such drab-sounding materials could look so stunning?

Image: Carlos N. Molina

The yellow shoe above is made entirely out of paper and is about the same size as a real shoe. If you’re wondering why Molina’s creations look so perfect and real, then it’s probably because the artist has a lot of experience working with his materials. His passion for creating objects out of all kinds of paper started at the age of 5, when he would get up in the middle of the night to make various objects.

1. Taxidermy Animal Parts

Image: Iris Schieferstein

Many might call Iris Schieferstein’s motto, “The earlier you die — the longer you are dead,” a bit on the morbid side, but such is not the intention of the German taxidermy artist. On the contrary, when using dead animals as the raw materials for her pieces, she joins the fragments together to create new creatures, thus giving death a new face. No animals are harmed through the making of her creations, as she makes sure to only use animals that die of natural causes and are then donated to her.

Image: Iris Schieferstein

For her “Horseshoes,” Schieferstein has turned horse’s hooves into high-heeled shoes, and in the case of the “Cowgirl Shoes,” she has also adorned the footwear with old revolvers. Not your average piece of creative repurposing, but certainly thought provoking, to say the least.

Image: Iris Schieferstein

The next time you look at a pair of heels, don’t dismiss them as a mere fashion statement. As we have seen, the most unusual of materials — organic or not — can be turned into high fashion, literally!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Aaron Chang's recycled two-piece

Unfortunately, spandex and other elastic fabrics are made with toxic chemicals that are not only bad for the environment, but also be irritating to your skin as well.

So, this summer, before you slather on the sunscreen, think about protecting the planet by trying one of these recycled swimsuit designs instead.

Aaron Chang

One of the biggest names on the surfing scene, Aaron Chang has always been committed to protecting the beauty of the oceans and beaches that he loves. It only makes sense that this artist and designer would expand his love for the planet into a line of sexy yet eco-friendly swimsuits. Made from polyester yarn from recycled soda bottles, Chang’s collections have a common theme of natural elements, including plants, animals and, of course, the beach.

Look for these swimsuits on Amazon, eBay or faeriesdance.com.

Anna Cohen

It doesn’t take much fabric to create a two-piece swimsuit, so it’s extra important that the fabric used be as eco-friendly as possible. Reusing is always better than buying new, which is why Anna Cohen’s unique triangle bikinis are worth a look. The designer uses surplus mill-end fabrics in her swimwear designs, as well as the usual organic cotton and bamboo. Her Teal Triangle Bikini is constructed from the leftover fabric once used to make Olympic speed skating uniforms.

Find it on btcelements.com.

Billabong

Not to be outdone, mainstream designers like Billabong and Hurley are also getting in on the recycled swimwear scene. Billabong offers an entire eco-collection for spring and summer 2011, including these stylin’ board shorts for men. The All Day Recycler Platinum Quad X Stretch board short (right) features H2 Repel, strategic paneling for superior stretch and logo screen-print detailing. The best part? It’s made with 100% recycled polyester.

See more recycled fashions for men at Billabong.com.

On April 14, 2011, apparel brand H&M deepened its commitment to sustainability with the launch of The Conscious Collection. The line is fashioned out of sustainable materials such as organic cotton, Tencel and recycled polyester. Though the collection uses green materials, it is primarily white in color: “Shades of white are the season’s biggest fashion trend and it feels right for this collection,” H&M’s head of design, Ann-Sofie Johansson, said in a release.

According the Textile Exchange, H&M was the world’s fifth largest user of organic cotton in 2009, the last year for which a ranking is available. And it used 15,100 tons of the fabric in 2010 versus 8,500 tons in 2009.

In 2010, H&M announced a goal for all of its cotton to come from sustainable sources by 2020. This includes organic cotton, recycled cotton and cotton harvested through the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), in which H&M is an active member together with other retailers and organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund.

But why is using organic cotton so important?

The Organic Trade Association (OTA), a nonprofit trade group representing America’s growing organic cotton industry, considers cotton “the world’s dirtiest crop” due to its heavy use of insecticides. The nonprofit Environmental Justice Foundation reports that cotton uses 2.5% of the world’s cultivated land yet accounts for 16% of the world’s insecticides, which is more than any other major crop.

Tencel, another material used by H&M, is made of all-natural wood pulp fibers from trees grown on highly regulated farms that focus on sustainability.

Here are some remarks of interest from H&M’s CEO, Karl-Johan Persso, included in H&M’s Conscious Actions Sustainability Report 2010:

“We strive to improve our customer offering at all times. Adding sustainability value to our products is one way to achieve this. This way we can, together with our millions of customers, make a positive contribution to a more sustainable future.

“To help each department to find ways of converting this responsibility into action, in 2010 we introduced seven broad commitments as the core of our sustainability strategy.

“As a starting point, spring 2011 will see our first Conscious Collection hit H&M stores worldwide. This coordinated fashion range for women, men and children will be made from environmentally adapted materials. Following this collection, a continuous range of Conscious Products will be available in our stores, making it easier for our customers to make an informed and more sustainable choice.”

H&M’s commitment to using natural and human resources responsibly and its aim to send zero waste to landfills is striking. It is encouraging to see a company of this size that cares about more than the bottom line.