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Has Earth Day got you in a go-green frenzy? We know you're bagging organic veggies at the grocery store, slurping fair-trade java on the way to work and sipping the occasional eco-tini in an eco-friendly bar. But what about the stuff landing in your bag after a day of shopping? Check out what our city's green shopping scene has to offer, from earth-friendly home goods to high fashion with a conscience.
Grasshopper 510
Bucktown
This stylish Damen Avenue shop focuses on eco-friendly gifts -- not just for the new homeowners, married couples and hostesses in your lives, but yourself, too. And while this store's name might seem slightly random, there's a story behind it: Grasshopper symbolizes nature, prosperity and "taking a leap of faith," says Taylor, while 510 nanometers is the wavelength measurement of the color green. It's clear that their earth-friendly intention has permeated every facet of this boutique: Organic cotton thread ties on pricetags, soothing beige low-VOC paint covers the walls, and a recycled glass chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
In true reuse-reduce-recycle fashion, they chose to preserve the bevy of built-ins left by the former tenant, beauty and lingerie boutique Raizy, so you'll find colorful vases, serving platters, bubble bath and stationery on shelves where lacy camisoles and lipstick once sat. The jewelry stocked here has taken shape from myriad reclaimed materials, including sea glass, vintage pottery and recycled gold and silver. Paper-wrapped soaps have already become a favorite hostess gift among locals, while recycled glass lamps with tin shades will up the eco-friendly factor of any living room. Some items give back to the community directly, such as graphic tees by St. Louis-based Interwoven Threads, which donates a T-shirt to a local homeless person through Chicago organization Threshold.
A Cooler Planet
Roscoe Village
This home goods boutique takes the challenge out of conscious consumption. The shop is organized from morning until night, starting at the front with face wash and coffee mugs and ending in the back with a wooden bed custom-made from fallen red elm trees. In the middle, you'll find everything from cleaning supplies to kids' toys to composting gear. Pricetags are crafted from used food boxes, as are plenty of small signs throughout detailing eco-friendly facts about various products.
Despite all of that "Cotton: The fabric of our lives" propaganda ingrained into our brains, the conventional cotton crop is a hefty contributor to global warming. (We were blown away by this fact: Conventional cotton takes up 3 percent of the world's farmland, yet accounts for for 25 percent of the world's insecticide use, says the Organic Consumers Association.) Here, you can find organic cotton in everything from Blue Canoe yoga wear to Coyuchi sheets and duvet covers.
Want to make a big difference with just a small change? Co-owner Heidi Bailey recommends an aluminum SIGG water bottle ($18-$20) to replace plastic drink bottles and cups. And if you pat yourself on the back for bringing your own totes to the grocery store but still use those clear plastic baggies for your apples and oranges, then pick up a few reusable mesh produce bags ($2.99-$3.99) made of organic cotton.
Pivot
West Loop
Jessa Brinkmeyer's obsession with eco-friendly clothing started with a single black T-shirt woven from bamboo fibers. In her Fulton Market shop, she stocks that very shirt ($98, by Carilyn Vaile), plus racks of fashion-forward clothing and accessories made from organic, sustainable and repurposed materials -- and absolutely zero it drifts into the crunchy hippie category. Brinkmeyer extended her green philosophy to the space from top to bottom, from the bamboo flooring to zero-VOC paint to garment racks crafted of recycled metal. On a recent visit, we spotted vegan shoes by UK brand Beyond Skin and Charmone ($195-$220), an airy eyelet top made from recycled cotton shirting by John Patrick ($270) and Early jewelry crafted from repurposed vintage pieces. Too pricey for the current state of your bank account? Infuse some green into your wardrobe on the cheap with basic organic cotton tanks by Toggery ($38) in one of half a dozen bright or basic colors.
Lakeview
This pleasant Broadway store is literally green from floor to ceiling, thanks to the lovely leaf-green paint covering the walls. The founding premise is stocking goods that are natural in origin and soft to the skin. Not everything is necessarily eco-friendly, but quite a bit is: But draw your attention to the house line of organic skincare and plush bathrobes, towels and clothing made from eco-friendly fibers like organic cotton. We loved the bamboo sweaters carried her during the cooler months; for the spring, you'll find flowy skirts and dresses for gals ($48-$199) plus polos and tees for guys, all woven from sustainable bamboo fibers. Spend $20 on Earth Day (April 22) or Arbor Day (April 26) and score a free organic cotton tote, screenprinted with the Skinstinct logo -- in eco-friendly ink, of course. And psst--you heard it here first: Skinstinct is opening up a second location in Water Tower Place on May 3.
On the shelves of this bright green-walled grocery, you'll find a well-edited selection of Midwest-produced foods and organic foods -- and some items that fall into both categories, when possible. Some favorites: freshly prepared sandwiches from Greg Chris Catering, goodies from Bleeding Heart Bakery, dairy from Indiana-based Trader's Point Creamery and organic soda from Northfield-based Zota. You may recognize some of the goodies here from local farmer's markets, such as sauces and salsas from Tomato Mountain Farms. Besides the edibles, you'll also find a few books that echo the store's environmental sentiment. Keep your eyes out for wine and beer coming mid-summer.
Nau
Lincoln Park
This west-coast clothing company focuses on outdoor wear with urban styling, using materials and business practices that are eco-friendly and sustainable. Nau is also what's called a webfront store, which means you can purchase items in the store but are encouraged (with a 10 percent off discount) to have them shipped free to your home from a Nau warehouse; the concept allows stores to carry less stock in the store and keep costs down. Five percent of each sale is donated to global and local non-profit organizations; you get to pick which one when you purchase.
Urbanest
Andersonville
What sets this Zen home store apart from the pack is its focus on products that promote green living. Browse among furniture crafted from reclaimed wood pieces and sustainable bamboo, organic cotton bedding and soy candles. The management staff here designs about half of the merchandise, and have brought customer's furniture visions into fruition as well.
GreenSky
Andersonville
This earthy Andersonville boutique is owned by the rental management company of the same name. Inside this golden-walled shop, you'll find gifts and housewares made from eco-friendly and repurposed materials, from bamboo handbags to birdhouses crafted from recycled wood.
Green Grocer Chicago
West Town
Lisa Arnett is the metromix shopping producer. lmarnett@tribune.com
