by jennae on February 24, 2009
Finding green steals is sometimes a science. After months of doing this, I tend to know where to look and which retailers’ newsletters to subscribe to. But sometimes, I happen upon a great deal completely by chance. And anyone who says these sets of organic cotton grommet-top curtain panels aren’t a steal must not have seen the prices on other eco-friendly window treatments. A set of 2 84″ curtains for just $50 is almost unheard of and by far the best deal I’ve found anywhere.
by jennae on November 11, 2008

The world of eco-friendly window treatments is still fairly small. A handful of larger retailers — most notably West Elm — have gotten into the market with some stylish, affordable options. But for the most part, unless you’re willing to shell out $75-150 per curtain panel, your best bet is still to make them yourself from sustainable fabrics like hemp, organic cotton or even plain old linen.
by jennae on October 29, 2008

When researching home textiles, I tend to stick to sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, linen and the like. But as most of you know, there are many shades of green, and many characteristics that can make a product eco-friendly.
When I first learned about Eclipse Curtains, my first question was what they are made of. Much to my dismay, I learned that they weren’t made of a sustainable fabric, but polyester. I was tempted to walk away right then and there, but another quality of these window treatments made me take a second look — they are blackout curtains, meant to block light, reduce noise and, lo and behold, help reduce your energy costs.
by jennae on October 10, 2008

In recent days, I’ve become much more aware of the fact that turning bamboo fibers into fabric is a process that is far from environmentally friendly. While I still believe bamboo as material in its original state is more eco-friendly than traditional woods and fibers, I’ll try to stay away from the fabrics unless there is clear evidence that the production was done in a better way.
by jennae on September 5, 2008

I’m generally not a huge fan of big box stores or chains. They aren’t known for being very environmentally friendly, and their profit-first mentality often leaves green shoppers with no product options, and many of their products are produced overseas with no regard to Fair Trade. There’s one store that consistently adds products that make me think twice about my position: West Elm.