NEW! Herbivore Clothing Company

We have re-stocked our collection of totes, tees, and toddler apparel from the Portland-based Herbivore Clothing Company! Every item from this boldly inspirational brand promotes sustainability and compassion through the use of ethically-sourced materials and clever, creative design. A local favorite has been the Avocado Tote (pictured above), a durable USA-made carryall that pays tribute to the delicious green fruit. That and much more available today in our shop!

NEW Spring and Summer Clothes at Nest

Here are just a few of our favorite new pieces from our women’s Spring Summer 2016 collection from the always popular Toad & Co Clothing, makers of always responsibly produced organic, sustainable goods. This Spring Summer collection goes for impact with color and texture on simple shapes, style lines enhance classic silhouettes, making each piece feel modern and wearable. From a very berry red, to patterned heather gray, to deep navy with nautical stripes, and in basic black, this collection is eye-catching, tempting and very unique.

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The Samba Wave Tank Dress in sorbet

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Airbrush Long Sleeve button up in melon

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Chaka Skirt in sorbet tapestry

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NEW for 2016 the Shirred Thing Dress in smoke foliage print

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Rosemarie Dress in inky blue floral pattern

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Muse dress in smoke foliage print

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Palmira Dress in inky teal

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Sarita Maxi Dress in deep navy

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Gemma Dress in inky blue floral pattern

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Transito Skirt in black and white stripe

 

Even More Spring and Summer Fashions for 2015

This year at Nest, we are so happy to offer a colorful array of clothing for both him and her, from many of our favorite vendors. As always, we are proud to offer organic, recycled or sustainable materials from companies that promote ethical business practices both in this country and abroad.

Nau

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Famous for their cutting-edge designs and use of lightweight, sustainable materials like Tencel (sourced from bamboo), Nau brings a healthy dose of chic sophistication to our shop every season. Putting a modern twist on classic pieces is a great way to look at what Nau does, and it’s easy to fall in love with all of it at first sight.

*from left to right and top to bottom: Poncho Via in Apple Green, Illume Tank in Red Rock, M2 Tee in Pacific Blue, Compleat Dress in Caviar, Stylus Dress in Opal, Barre Shirt in Indigo Stripe, Spot-On Shirt in Red Rock

Spring and Summer Fashions for 2015

This year at Nest, we are so happy to offer a colorful array of clothing for both him and her, from many of our favorite vendors. As always, we are proud to offer organic, recycled or sustainable materials from companies that promote ethical business practices both in this country and abroad.

Toad & Co.

 

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After a major re-branding, Toad & Co. (formerly Horny Toad Clothing Co.) has us very excited about the future. A combination of great colors, fun patterns and forward thinking designs coupled with their high quality organic materials and above the board production values lets us know that Toad & Co. is going to be everything that Horny Toad was and maybe even more. We are certainly loving it so far!

*from left to right and top to Bottom: Keyhole Cut Dress in Hibiscus Stripe, Chakkah Skirt in Agave, Long Island Dress in Taureg Blue, Muse Dress in Storm Grey Flight, Men’s Fletch Shirt in Crosshatch Print, Hardscape Shirt in Blue Stripe and Driftwood.

 

Earth Day at Nest

Earth Day is always a special time at Nest, not only because our annual Earth Day raffle lets us play Santa for a day, but also because the occasion allows us to showcase our vendors, their products and their commitment to Earth.

This year, our vendors have been especially generous with their donations. Make a purchase on Sunday, April 22nd and you could win:

A Greeting Card from Positively Green: The paper used to print these cards is made with 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Positively Green also donates 10% of its profits to organizations that protect our environment and fight global warming.

A Fair Trade Himalayan Crystal tea light holder from Solay Wellness: Solay tea light holders cleanse the air naturally (as houseplants do) while charging it with the healthy ions found in a saltwater breeze.

A Corinthian Bells Windchime from Weatherland Chimes: Made in Manassas Park, Virginia from start to finish, each chime is made using raw materials sourced from American mills and material providers. 

A Roll-On Bracelet from Aid Through Trade: Each fair-trade roll-on bracelet is made with care by Nepali women artists whose work through ATT ensures fair pay, benefits, dignity and a healthy work place.

A CD or Book from Sounds True: An independent multimedia publishing company, Sounds True embraces the world’s major spiritual traditions, as well as the arts and humanities, embodied by leading authors, teachers, and visionary artists.

 

A Chef Set, Tool Box or Fire Truck from Green Toys: A line of classic children’s toys constructed in California from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials.

A Candle from Way Out Wax: Way Out Wax was founded in 1992 with a vision to produce hand-crafted works of art utilizing socially and environmentally responsible business practices. Their soy wax candles are 100% natural and biodegradable, and their scents come from 100% pure essential oils.

An Women’s Top from Aventura Clothing: Aventura is passionate about creating fashionable clothing with low environmental impact. Their eco-friendly clothing not only prevents synthetic fertilizers pesticides from polluting the soil, they also look and feel amazing!

A CD from Putumayo: Putumayo World Music was established in 1993 to introduce people to the music of the world’s cultures. The company’s commitment to helping communities in the countries where the music originates has led to the label contributing more than one million dollars to worthwhile non-profit organizations around the world.

 

An Eye Pillow from Herbal Animals: Herbal Animals makes eco-friendly pillows in whimsical designs. Each animal pillow is made with 100% certified organically grown herbs, seeds, and cotton

 What will you win when you make a purchase at Nest on Earth Day?

 

Mata Traders

We’re so pleased to have discovered Mata Traders in time for this spring’s clothing season. Our first shipment is now at Nest, and we think you’re going to love this line!

Mata Traders is a fair-trade women’s clothing line, with production done by over 600 women in cooperatives and artisan groups in India and Nepal. In addition to the fair-trade basics of a living wage and safe working conditions, Mata Traders also offers the women on-site childcare, medical check-ups and overtime pay. The women determine all aspects of the production process, and the skills and confidence they gain often ripples out as they become more socially and politically involved in their communities.

Mata Traders is everything fair-trade ought to be. The women are self-organized, do meaningful work they enjoy, and often have the option of working at home or in one of the workshops. They gain an expanded social network of co-workers, professional skills, increased empowerment, and the ability to send their children to school. Their fair-trade work enables them to make a change for themselves and their families now and into the future.

And, by the way, the clothes are cute, feminine and comfortable!

We think the dresses are Mad Men-retro meets classic Audrey Hepburn with a dash of eco-chic… in a way that’s really fun. Hand block-printing and hand embroidery add  a unique quality to many of the pieces. Perfect for warm weather fun!

 

Imagine Greenwear

Last fall we discovered Imagine Greenwear and introduced some of their baby clothes at Nest. Now it’s time to introduce their women’s clothing.

 The folks at Imagine Greenwear have developed a seaweed-based dying system that is clean and green. Their colors actually fuse with the organic cotton fabric, instead of being applied to the surface, which means that the fabric remains soft and the colors will not fade. Greenwear’s method uses little energy, reduces the amount of waste due to color run-off, and leaves no toxic residues on the garment.

 

This season’s women’s tops are bold and artsy. Inspired by nature, the designs are uniquely gorgeous. The cuts are feminine and flattering, while also being deliciously comfortable.

 In addition to all that goodness, we consider it a super-bonus that Imagine Greenwear is based in Fairfax, VA, and all their manufacturing is done in the U.S.

 

 

 

Spring Scarf Tutorial

I have always been a scarf person. I love the colors, the fabrics, the textures, and the warmth! In my world one can never have too many scarves. Often underestimated, the scarf serves as a stylish accent adding that extra touch of color to tie an outfit together. The right scarf can turn a casual outfit into an elegant one. Not only are they practical and pretty, they can also be quite fun. 

Did you know there are hundreds of different ways to tie scarves? The possibilities are endless! Here’s one idea I came across while experimenting with my -at the time- new scarf from Nest. Since then I’ve received many compliments on it by customers who want to know where it is in the store and how to tie it. “Show me how to make it look like yours!” After a few casual in-store mini tutorials, I thought it would be fun to feature here.

 

So here goes: Introducing the “Wrap Around” also known as “The Half Cape!”

We still have time to get some good use out of this one, as the weather seems to be settling into a more-spring appropriate temperature range, where mornings and evenings are still cool. This style is great for scarves that have beaded, fringed or sequined edges. 

 

Step 1: Place around the back of your neck and hold one end in each hand. Pull on one end to get some length.

 

Step 2:  Wrap the long end around your neck once.

 

Step 3: Take the ends and crisscross them in front of you.

 

Step 4: Then bring ends behind your neck.

 

Step 5: Tie loosely.

 

Adjust the scarf so that one side drapes over the shoulder.

 And Voilà!   Be sure and check back for more scarf tips and tutorials. More to come!

 

 

Old Made New Again

It was definitely love at first sight when we first crossed paths with designer Beth Delehaunty and her clothing line,  Elisabethan, in 2006.  Beth makes clothes out of old clothes (or “experienced textiles,” as she puts it), and her creations are charming, fanciful, and fun. When I wear one of her skirts or tops I feel playful and light-hearted.

Beth herself is smart, funny, compassionate, kind, and a little mischievous. She and the clothes she creates inspire me to not miss this life as it zips by! If she lived closer I’d meet her for coffee every Tuesday.

 

Beth also has an extraordinary eye for design and color. She finds color and pattern pairings that no one else can see. This stripe goes with that stripe which also kind of matches that print with the little stars… a hodge-podge that doesn’t seem to match at first glance, but her wiser eye knows they’re perfect for one another.

 

Many times over the years I commented to Beth that it sometimes seems a little odd for Nest in Maryland to sell items made out of event t-shirts from Colorado (her home base). Without fail, she always replied, “Well, you could collect Mid-Atlantic shirts for me!” This fall we finally had a t-shirt collection for Elisabethan.  We shipped off a big box full of T’s, including shirts promoting the Redskins, Howard County Bike to Work Day, Save the Bay, and to our delight, Roots Market and Great Sage.  We couldn’t wait to see what Beth and her crew of sewers would do with them!

 A couple of days ago our spring order arrived and it felt like Christmas. There they were, the shirts we’d sent off, re-envisioned with fabulous new personalities. Roots became a star, Great Sage a flower, Bike to Work Day the body of a ruffled top. One of a kind creations reflecting our Nest community!

 We’re definitely going to hold a spring t-shirt collection for Beth – we’ll keep you posted on the details!

 

 

Inter-American Trading

This spring we have brought in cotton tops from Inter-American Trading. These lovely shirts are made in Peru using the highest quality pima cotton, and are made one at a time, by a single person on a simple sewing machine.

Inter-American Trading is dedicated to supporting indigenous people through fair-trade enterprise. They often visit the manufacturers in Peru and Bolivia to confirm that employees are paid a living wage and working conditions are safe.   

In addition to the good inherent in being a fair-trade enterprise, Inter-American Trading also gives a portion of their profits to a parish that serves a barrio community on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. The Parish of Santa Ana offers a soup kitchen, two medical clinics, a dental clinic, legal aid consulting and a full-time social worker. Inter-American Trading focuses its contributions on helping the parish build a vocational training center for single mothers and expand a school for the area’s children.

 It feels so good to know that the purchase of a handmade top in Clarksville supports a better life for artisans, schoolchildren, and women in Peru.

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