Happy Holidays, Order Deadline, Gift Certificates, Oh My!

Happiest of holidays from all of us at Mountains of the Moon! xoxo

Celebrate the Season: Sustainable Style Sale & Soiree!

We hope you'll join Mountains of the Moon for Sustainable Style Sale and Soiree, a very special holiday shopping event and party on December 17th! Support local businesses and green your holiday gifts with incredible 'last minute' deals and discounts on sustainable fashion, accessories, jewelry and shoes from some of Chicago's best designers. Enjoy free organic cocktails and snacks, music, a live art installation and more! Admission is FREE (so invite your friends!) There is plenty of free street parking available.

WHEN: Thursday, December 17th from 5 to 9 PM.
WHERE: Colori EcoPaint Boutique, 2243 W. North Avenue, Chicago.
WHAT: Everything you ever dreamed of, that's what!
Click here for more deets.

Hosted by Melissa Baswell and Mary Welch Fox of Mountains of the Moon, Michelle Quaranta of Colori EcoPaint Boutique, and Gen Art.

Special thanks to the following amazing companies/organizations for donating their products and efforts to this event: Gen Art, Colori EcoPaint, Veev Açaí Spirit, Ginger Bliss Beverages, Cafe Bloom, Mindful Metropolis Magazine, Chicago Fashion Resource, Raw Creations, Umphrey's McGee, Chad Smith Photography, the Arboretum of South Barrington, DJ Ron Trent, and artist Tyrue Slang Jones.

Gettin' While You're Givin'... 'Green Friday' Weekend is Here!

We think supporting independent fashion labels, eco-conscious companies, and small businesses is awesome in itself. But add on a (huge) 35% discount off of your entire order (including sale items, mind you), and top it with a 10% donation for every dollar you spend to Growing Home, and, well, that's just downright amazing. We're just sayin'. It's kind of like instant good karma - you're giving to those in need, and getting some major cash back, instantly. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are so last year. This year, it's all about the Green. So head on over to Mountains of the Moon and get while you give. Hurry though... This once-a-year event goes through Monday, 11/30 only.

P.S. We have holiday gifts for everyone on your list, from chic sustainable fashion to hip organic t-shirts to cute little eco-friendly totes to adorable green kids clothes to gorgeous statement necklaces made from reclaimed vintage materials. Gift certificates too. Who needs those scary strip mall stores anyway?! We're right here, and we love you.

Chicago Fashion Week: Behind the Scenes!

Ever wonder what goes on backstage at a fashion week runway show? Last month, Mountains of the Moon showed our spring 2010 collection at both Portland and Chicago Fashion Weeks. The Chicago show, Vert Couture, was the finale event of the week and showcased all sustainable designers. Take a behind the scenes stroll with me through pre-show preps and the show itself as told through photographs! (This story was originally posted by our friends at Ecouterre).



Photo by Chad Smith.


Presenting my Spring 2010 collection at Vert Couture, Chicago Fashion Focus’s first-ever, all-sustainable runway show, on Sunday was an amazing experience—and a hectic one. Many people from Chicago’s fashion and green scenes came together to produce the show, and the backstage buzzed with excitement, chaos, and anticipation as the designers, producers, models, makeup artists, and crew prepared for the event. I took the opportunity in between last-minute fittings, run-throughs, and the show itself to capture some behind-the-scenes moments at this groundbreaking inaugural event.



The official Vert Couture sign, printed with and on eco-friendly materials, was set up in the lobby to greet guests. Dubbed “An Evening of Chicago Spring Fashion and Environmental Responsibility,” the show featured local eco-designers.



Aveda and Sugar & Spice provided hair and makeup for our beautiful Ford Models pre-show.



That afternoon, a final run-through to nail down timing before the big event.



The volunteer dressers arrive and I take a few moments to go through each of my looks with them.



Models from Ford prepared to dress for the show’s first looks.


Press/media set up to cover the show.


Guests fill the seats prior to the show, which was sold out (including standing room only!)


The DJ begins to spin tunes for the crowd in advance of the opening looks.



Looks from our Spring collection hang awaiting their runway debut.



Annie Novotny of Frei Designs and I wait in anticipation to show our collections.


After a quick change-over into my looks, my models wait to walk.


I quickly make some finishing touches on each model before she hits the stage.


The Spring 2010 collection from Mountains of the Moon makes its entrance.


After my collection shows, it's time for all of the designers and models to take a final group walk. And with that, a successful, sustainable show comes to a close!

Many thanks to my amazing assistant Mary Welch Fox (a New York Fashion Week dresser alum), who took a break from Mountains of the Moon to work non-stop for two weeks to help Vert Couture founders Bianca and Michael Alexander create an incredible show.

City Girl in the Wilderness

The day I graduated from college, I was finally able to give in to the wanderlust that had been brewing inside me since my relatively travel-less days growing up in Chicago. I did so by packing up my Ford Escort and trekking solo from Madison, WI to the tiny mountain town of Leadville, CO, where I spent a few weeks here and there in between incessant road trips throughout the most remote areas of the country. To pay for my travels, I stitched up one-of-a-kind dresses and bags on a hand-me-down sewing machine propped up on a cardboard box. It was, of course, the beginning of Mountains of the Moon, and the beginning of my fascination with combining the themes of nature and city in my designs.

These days, my wanderlust more satisfied than in my early years as a designer, most of my travels consist of trips to more urban locales. My boyfriend is the Stage Manager for a band, so my non-business related trips tend to revolve around whatever cool locations end up on their schedule, usually to bigger cities.

Last week, however, my fabulous assistant Mary Welch Fox and I decided to hop a plane and meet the boys in LA, and ride the tour bus up to a remote part of Yosemite where they were playing a festival for Halloween. It had been a long time since I'd explored nature (at least outside of the forest preserves that dot the Chicago 'burbs), and my Chicago-fashion-week-weary bones were ready. I might add that there was no cell reception, so I was forced to put down my electronic leash (CrackBerry) and truly relax (a concept with which I am, admittedly, no longer familiar).

The lack of sirens and late night drunk ramblings outside my window was inspiring in itself, but the gorgeous, towering sequoias and glacier-carved granite mountains reminded me why I got into eco-fashion in the first place. Today it's almost cliche to say it, but how can we ignore the truly breath-taking beauty of this planet and allow money, greed and ignorance to all but destroy it? Okay, so I hiked Yosemite in slouchy cuffed boots and leggings, but somehow, I was able to let go of a mind consumed by stress and unleash the free spirit with which I so easily lose touch living in the city. Every new turn down each path on our hikes brought new sights and smells so incredible that I left feeling renewed and inspired, again, recalling the reason for which I do what I do.

As I mentioned above, the foundation of my label is the union of nature with city, and I especially channeled this into the Spring 2010 collection, titled "Etendue Sauvage Dans La Grande Ville" (Wilderness in the City). Floral printed fabrics, ruffles and draping were included to represent nature (flowers, ocean waves, mountains), and I combined them with sharper lines (tiers and pleated detailing) to represent a metropolis (urban architecture and the overall grittiness of the city). In the bigger picture, this all goes back to the point that many of us in the eco-design world are trying to make: eco-fashion can be chic, stylish and modern, without sacrificing the earth or its inhabitants. It was almost ironic that it took a trip to the middle of nowhere to remind (or moreso, refresh) me how important this really is.

In the end, fellow city girls, I highly recommend a little get-away to the woods now and then. And nature girls, I think the same can be said for a trip to the big city. There is so much to explore on this earth, and that said, no reason why all of these amazing places can't find ways to coexist without causing harm. I left Yosemite with a new plan: leave the city and a take a trip, no matter how brief, to a remote place at least once a year. Oh yeah - and continue to work, even harder, to show the world through my art that the city's bright lights and skyscrapers can live in harmony with nature's starry skies and big, big trees.

Fashion Weeks Galore!

Fashion Week? Pashaw! It's Fashion MONTH here at Mountains of the Moon, and we hope you'll join us at one of the following fabulous events during Portland Fashion Week and Fashion Focus (Chicago Fashion Week).


Mountains of the Moon Spring 2010 Collection at closing night of Portland Fashion Week. October 11, 2009 at 8 PM, Vigor Industrial Shipyard, Portland, OR. Tickets available here. (Pssst! Use code motm for 10% off your tickets!).


Meet the Designers of Fashion Focus (Chicago Fashion Week). October 25, 2009 at 2 PM. Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington, Chicago, IL. Mountains of the Moon designer/president Melissa Baswell will be one of ten designers serving on this special panel. Bring your questions! RSVP required to aibi@aibi.com.

Mountains of the Moon Spring 2010 Collection at Vert Couture Sustainable Runway Show, the finale show of Fashion Focus.
October 25, 2009 at 7 PM. Yates Gallery, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington, Chicago, IL. Come see our SS10 collection on the runway alongside other top Chicago eco-fashion labels. Tickets available here.


We hope you'll grace us with your oh-so-eco-chic presence at one of these fine fashion events this month.

xoxo,
The Ladies of MotM

Sweet & Sustainable Fall Fashion : the 2009 Collection is Here!

In select boutiques worldwide, and at www.mountainsofthemoon.com. 'Nuff said.

P.S. Want 25% off your order through October 5th? Enter FALLFASHION in the coupon code box at check-out.

Behind the Scenes: Spring 2010 Photo Shoot Fun

We work a lot of long days (and nights, and weekends) here at MotM. Hey, with labors of love, that just goes with the territory. But we must admit, we're pretty good at finding the fun in those extra long days, and our spring 2010 photo shoot was no exception.

We decided to venture away from a typical studio shoot this time and scoped out lots of cool locations before I remembered a little pioneer school house called Sholes School (built in 1872!) and nearby barn not far from my childhood home outside of Chicago. It was absolutely ideal for my vision of the SS10 collection: elegantly rustic with vintage charm and gorgeously weathered characteristics perfectly representative of nature's often beautiful effects on human made structures. Walking around the grounds (which happen to be in the middle of a stunning forest preserve called Leroy Oakes) and exploring the buildings was fun in itself; around every corner we'd find another captivating backdrop.

We'll get into more details of my concept for the spring '10 collection down the road, but for now, here are some of the shots I took on my little ole' digi cam of the crew in action. The location was so inspiring, and we all had so much fun being ridiculous and silly during the spring shoot on Friday, that the photographer and models agreed to head back there again today to take some new photos of our current fall collection (which, btw, is now available in stores, and will be on our website within the week!).

Enjoy!
xo,
Team Fun, aka the Ladies of MotM

5 Simple Ways to Green Your Business

Hello dear readers! (Don't worry... the vintage Holly Hobbie lunchbox picture will make sense in just a minute). I am going to spare you the details of the madness that is early September here in the Mountains of the Moon studio. Between getting fall orders out, finalizing spring '10 and shooting the look book, planning for fashion weeks (hello Portland Fashion Week and Chicago Fashion Focus!), and the, um, interesting road blocks that always undoubtedly appear, we'll just say that we're all suffering from sleep deprivation around here. This isn't to say we're not incredibly excited about our fall collection, spring collection (sneak peek pics coming soon!), and upcoming fashion shows (more on those in a future post). Trust us, we are. But we're going to take a little break from the fashion world for a few, and share with you some simple tips for how you can create a more eco-friendly business. Because not everything is always JUST about fashion. (Even if deep down, we kind of think it is. I'm just sayin'...).

This post was (written by your's truly) originally appeared on Intuit's (maker of QuickBooks) Small Business United Blog on September 1st. Even if you're not a business owner, these tips can still be applied to your work routine. We hope you like.


5 Simple Ways to Green Your Business

As the owner of an eco-friendly fashion label, running a green company is one of my top priorities. At Mountains of the Moon, we use only sustainable fabrics in our designs, produce locally with a fair wage manufacturer, donate to several environmental organizations, and work to create earth-conscious workspaces. But how can entrepreneurs in other industries find ways to green their companies without investing excessive amounts of precious time or money? It’s easier than you think, and your efforts to save the planet may just end up saving you some cash as well.

1. Say bye-bye to paper communication. Email. Efax. Text messages. Skype. Twitter. Facebook. And oh yeah - the phone. We’ve all heard the facts and figures about the destructive deforestation and massive resource waste that results from paper manufacturing. Encourage electronic communication, and if you must use paper, choose 100% recycled and print on both sides.

2. At the end of the day, turn it off. Take an extra 10 seconds to shut down your computer, unplug your printer and other electronic items, and turn off the (LED, please) lights. Wait for your reduced energy bill to arrive (paperless, of course). Repeat.

3. Green your office supplies. Today, there are countless companies producing eco-friendly office supplies, from recycled, soy-based ink pens to green shipping supplies. Even better, re-use. Mountains of the Moon ships all of our seasonal collection orders to boutiques in good, old-fashioned reused boxes (and we never use unnecessary tissue or packing peanuts).

4. Love your lunch box. As a child of the ’80s, there was almost nothing as beloved as my trusty powder blue Holly Hobbie lunchbox. Skip the wasteful take-out and delivery containers and bring your lunch to work. It’s healthier (go for locally grown and organic foods), less expensive, and as long as you’re using reusable containers, better for the planet.

5. Stay home. Nearly 40 million (and growing) Americans today telecommute (work from home), including your's truly and my wonderful staff. Not only does telecommuting save your business money and increase employee productivity and morale, it drastically reduces the carbon footprint created from traveling to the workplace. Tip: If you are considering this option for your company, create a virtual office platform in advance (see #1).



Melissa Baswell is the owner of Chicago-based eco-friendly clothing label Mountains of the Moon and a first place winner of the Intuit Small Business United grant competition. In her not-so-free time, she enjoys live music, traveling the world, and all things eco-fashion.

Tweet tweet!

No, that's not the sound of a little summer birdy outside of our office window (let's face it, we never got much of a summer here in Chicago anyway). It's the sound of our eco-fabulous Twitter page. Do you follow us yet? If you like things like special eco-fashion discounts and giveaways, sustainable fashion news and views, and witty banter, you should.


That's all for now. But stay tuned...
xo

The Fall/Winter Collection... Coming Soon to a Boutique Near You

1. The Samantha Dress in Deep Purple. Organic Cotton Knit. Low-impact Dyed. Made in the USA.

2. The Coco Dress in Black/Periwinkle. Hemp/Tencel Woven. Low-impact Dyed. Made in the USA.

3. The Ellie Skirt in Black. Hemp/Tencel Woven. Low-impact Dyed. Made in the USA. Shown w/a custom strapless wrap top, made by Melissa Baswell from a recycled vintage scarf.

Stay tuned for these fine eco-friendly garments, joined by the Olivia Top, Heidi Capelet, and more, available in beautiful, rich and vibrant colors like American Beauty, Steel, Deep Purple, Periwinkle, and Black (with a splash of Plaid and Gingham organic cotton + recycled buttons and trims). All sustainable, all made in the USA, sweatshop-free.

This IS smart.sustainable.style. Get it at www.mountainsofthemoon.com or your favorite eco-boutique in just a few short weeks.

Fabric Trash into Fashion Treasure

This piece by Mountains of the Moon President/Designer Melissa Baswell was originally featured on Green By Design, an amazing blog with an amazing mission: to harness our collective intelligence, creativity, and integrity to help protect the planet.


My beginnings as a designer in my tiny college apartment consisted mainly of reworking gently used thrift store clothing into one-of-a-kind designs, utilizing every possible scrap of excess fabric and spare button to its fullest. While interning at an environmental nonprofit, I gained an awareness of the negative environmental impact that certain aspects of the fashion industry had (mainly pesticide use and water waste in conventional fabrics), but it was difficult to find chic sustainable textiles at the time.

As the eco-fashion movement slowly began to gain momentum and cross genre boundaries, new fabrics became available, and my focus shifted from reworking used clothing into creating full collections from sustainable textiles. It was at this time that I began to work more with patterning and manufacturers, and was introduced to the incredible amount of fabric waste being generated by the fashion industry.

I quickly realized that true sustainable fashion is multi-faceted, and made a vow to always include four important elements in all of my collections:

(1) sustainable fabrics,
(2) timeless designs that would allow my clothing to be worn for years,
(3) sweatshop-free labor, and
(4) as little fabric waste as possible.

So how does a designer find imaginative ways to be less wasteful when it comes to fabric?

1. Be conscious when creating patterns and markers. Design them to utilize the fabric in a way that minimizes wasted space and edges.

2. Be original and reuse scraps within your designs. I love turning fabric scraps into embellishments or detailing on my designs, especially when it transforms a piece from my collection into an instant one-of-a-kind garment.

3. Be creative and reuse scraps for other projects. I create my hangtags from 100% recycled stock designed to be bookmarks (rather than a regular hangtag, which would ultimately be pulled off the garment and tossed), and use leftover fabric to create the bookmark ribbons.

4. Be resourceful and use salvaged fabric from others. Visit a local cut and sew factory and ask if they will sell (or even give) you leftover fabric that would be otherwise dumpster bound.

5. Be aware in your design work of how to transition from season to season without being distracted by fads. Find ways to carry certain fabrics over from collection to collection so the problem of excess fabric becomes a solution (too much slate organic cotton jersey from spring becomes less slate organic cotton jersey needed for fall).


It is reassuring to see many designers finally beginning to incorporate sustainability into their lines, but ultimately, the fashion industry needs a major shift in its thinking in order to help put an end to the destruction of the planet. Hopefully in the near future issues like fabric waste will be a thing of the past, and the eco-fashion label will no longer be a genre, it will be a given.

Eco-Fabulous Fall Fashion: Your Guide to Greening the Season’s Hottest Trends

This piece was originally featured on the official blog of our friends over at Boutique Culture as part of their guest blogger series. We hope you like!

As a lover of both fashion and the environment, I sometimes feel torn between doing the right thing and doing the “right now” thing. My mouth waters at the mere sight of innovative new trends that pop up each season, and as a designer who must research these trends well in advance of their first appearances on the street, I often find myself sketching up some pretty avant garde representations of what will eventually be the latest in wearable art. But in a society immersed in fast food and fast fashion, how can I express myself through my clothing without compromising the necessity of living a sustainable lifestyle? How can I create (and wear) stylish, on trend ensembles that (A) aren’t going to end up in landfills in six months, (B) aren’t going to exploit workers, and (C) can ultimately create a shift in the fashion industry’s paradigm (a shift that will allow independent boutiques and designers like myself to survive and prevail)? And how can I do all of this in a way that is affordable?

Thankfully, it’s a lot easier than most of us think to create a lasting love affair between fashion and eco-consciousness. Some of this fall’s styles may seem out of reach when we’re making mindful efforts to be green, but with a little creativity, you will soon find yourself strutting down the street with your held high, proud to be the chicest eco-fashionista on your block.

To help get you started, here is a list of some of fall’s hottest trends, each with simple solutions that will allow you to buy and wear them with the earth in mind (while showing your support for local and independent businesses and designers).

1. Trend: Bright Colors and Bold Prints. Perhaps a symbol of brighter days ahead during an economically uncertain time, many designers this fall opt for colors and prints that are traditionally seen during spring and summer months. Eco-Fashion Solution: Your Closet. This one is easy. Rather than shelling out cash at the mall, reuse and recycle spring and summer fashions that are already a part of your wardrobe by mixing them with earthier-toned fall pieces. Pop your favorite sunny yellow dress from summer over gray fall leggings, or pair a muted autumn cardigan with that printed blouse you cherished last spring.

2. Trend: Capes and Capelets. Though very fashion forward (and all over the runways), capes and capelets are classic, versatile pieces that have been seen on fashionistas for decades. They are simple and elegant, and can be paired with both casual and formal attire. Eco-Fashion Solution: Vintage Shops and Eco-Designers. The wonderful thing about recurring trends like the cape and capelet is that you can find beautiful pieces from the past at your favorite local vintage shop, where you’ll not only uncover great deals, you’ll also help out the environment by recycling clothing that has already been worn. Also keep your eye out for independent eco-fashion designers doing capes and capelets from sustainable fabrics this season, including yours truly (the locally made, hemp/tencel/organic cotton Mountains of the Moon Heidi Capelet will be available in early September) and John Patrick. Dressing sustainably includes opting for timeless, quality pieces rather than going for cheap, disposable clothing based on fads. (And trust me; by investing in a few well made garments instead of grabbing up a bunch of sweatshop-produced, $20 knockoffs at chain stores, you will save yourself a whole lot of money in the long run).

3. Trend: Plaid. We’ve seen plaid pop up a lot in the past year, and you can expect to see it even more this fall, from the traditional flannel button down shirt to formalwear. Eco-Fashion Solution: Thrift Stores and Local Boutiques. Again, buying gently used clothing represents the ultimate in recycling. The plaid flannel shirts of the grunge era are easy to find at your local thrift store, and can easily be transformed into chic, modern looks (like the $4.99 men’s plaid shirt I found last week at a nearby thrift shop that just happens to look amazing with a belted waist worn over leggings). Pay a visit to your favorite boutique too, where you may discover a stunning fall top or dress by one of the many indie designers incorporating some of the new organic cotton plaids and ginghams into their fall collections.

With a little inventiveness, these same eco-solutions can also be applied to many of the other big looks for fall ’09 : sharp shoulders, lots of layers and textures, slim silhouettes, one shoulder dresses, etc. And really, for those of us who are passionate about what we wear, what’s more fun as we (sniff!) watch summer come to an end than channeling our fall fashion skills through a creative project that is oh-so-rewarding in the end? The best part is that in addition to looking absolutely gorgeous, you’ll be contributing to the preservation of the planet, encouraging the growth of independent designers and local shops, and helping pave the way for a new, positive path toward the future of fashion.



The Heidi Capelet, part of the Fall 2009 Melissa Baswell Eco.Luxury Collection for Mountains of the Moon, featuring periwinkle hemp/tencel, organic cotton plaid, and recycled buttons.

Yummmmmy Summer Wrap Recipe

Let's take a little break from organic summer fashion and focus on something almost as delicious, organic summer food. Here is one of my fave recipes for Yummy Wraps, full of goodness from your garden or local farmer's market.

All you need is your favorite wraps (I like spinach tortillas), and your favorite organic veggies, chopped (summer squash, peppers, salad greens, tomatoes, mushroom, corn, whatevs). Mix it up in a bowl. I like adding olives to mine as well, and some good ole' vermont sharp white cheddar. Spread some hummus (make your own or buy fresh from a local market) on the tortillas, added the veggie greens mixtures, and roll 'em on up. (I was tempted to just write "rock and roll 'em up" but I stopped myself). You can also lightly grill them if desired. Eat and share. Best enjoyed with a margarita, btw.

Happy summer eating!

It's All Summer's Fault!

Has it really been a month since our last post? Wow. Completely unacceptable, we know. In our defense, summer days in Chicago are few and far between... So when we're not producing FW09, designing SS10, and/or spending way too much time doing much-less-glamorous tasks in the office, we're spending any of the sunny free time we have at least attempting to be outside.

It's really all summer's fault. It's nearly impossible to resist those sweet moments that only summer can bring, when you're sipping on an organic vodka/lemonade, wearing your favorite summery organic cotton sundress (paired with strappy nude sandals, a vintage turquoise beaded necklace and your favorite oversized Audrey Hepburn-esque thrift store hat, but who's keeping track?), munching on olives, cheese and fresh veggies from the farmer's market, watching the sky turn pink and red with your adorable 13-1/2 year old black lab/chow mix at your side... Sigh... Trust me, I am known as the group workaholic (what's a weekend?), but not much can keep me away from a warm summer sunset.

We also had a very busy last month, producing the first ever official eco-fashion show at the amazing Rothbury festival (see pic above), which housed close to 40,000 festival goers and some incredible music. Did we mention that it's the most eco-friendly festival we've ever attended? (See two posts back for more info on our new favorite festy EVER). We'll post pics from the eco-fash show as soon as we get them from the fancy-shmancy professional photographers. Oh, and good news... They already asked us back for next year to produce and even bigger and better show! My wheels are already turning.

Really, there are lots of excuses as to why we've been MIA on the ol' blog, but it's easiest to just stop here, blame it on summer, and promise to post a lot more before July is just a memory. K? K.

Summer Lovin's,
mb & the motm eco-girls

Smart. Sustainable. SHOPPING!

What do you get when you cross sustainability and shopping (and throw in some of Chicago's top eco-designers and eco-boutiques)? Well, the Sustainable Fashion Cafe, of course!

Join Mountains of the Moon Eco.Fashion for a lovely evening of sustainable shopping and conversation at this unique fashion event, hosted by Fashion Focus/Chicago Fashion Resource (the same fine folks who put on Chicago's Fashion Week) and Conscious Living TV.



When: Thursday, June 18th from 5 to 8 PM
Where: The Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph Street
What: Come meet our designer Melissa Baswell in person and shop Mountains of the Moon's amazing Spring/Summer Collection(including fabric choices in some designs that are not available on our website)! Along with MotM's collection, browse the designs of six other Chicago eco-friendly fashion and accessory designers, and three of Chicago's sustainable boutiques. Mingle, sip on on a cocktail, shop, enjoy.

AND, if you mention our blog, we'll give you $10 off (only at the Sustainable Fashion Cafe). Come unwind with us after work! We'll see you there.

Mmmm, Eco-Fashion + Music in the Summatime

Really though, what sounds more amazing than things like delicious sunshine, blissfully beautiful live music, good friends and eco-fabulous sustainable fashion? Lucky for you (and us), all of these fine, fine pleasures are available at the Think Tank Green Your Wardrobe Fashion Show (aka the official Eco-Fashion Show at Rothbury Music Festival).

Debuted in the summer of 2008, Rothbury is a near zero-waste music festival "guided by a bold environmental sustainability mission" and "committed to throwing a huge party with a purpose." We like. Located on an absolutely gorgeous site full of lush forests and sparkling waters, it becomes home to 30,000 music, art, and earth lovers the weekend of July 3rd to 5th.

In addition to a vastly impressive artist line up that includes a ridiculously wide variety of acts (the Dead, Broken Social Scene, Umphrey's McGee, Willie Nelson, the Black Crowes, Girl Talk, Les Claypool, and on-on-on), Rothbury offers the Think Tank, a unique "event within an event" that includes buzz sessions, workshops and events put on by "leading scientists, scholars, writers, progressive political and corporate leaders, youth leaders, Rothbury artists" and the community. SO cool.

The best part (at least in our fashion-obsessed minds) is the Green Your Wardrobe Fashion Show that will take place as a Think Tank event on Saturday, July 4th. We may be a little biased, as Mountains of the Moon was asked to produce the fashion show along with our friends at Good Will, and little old indie eco-designer me was chosen to emcee. Bias aside, we think learning how to green your wardrobe while viewing the chicest in sustainable apparel and accessories, all set to the fine tracks of our official DJ, STS9's David Murphy, sounds like a pretty delightful way to spend a summer afternoon. From high-end designer organic dresses to the most stylish recycled vintage, we have a feeling that this may in fact be THE eco-fashion show of the summer.

Mosey on over to the Think Tank Green Your Wardrobe Fashion Show event page on Facebook for all the deets (and while you're there, RSVP "attending!").

Nothin' quite like eco-fashion and music in summa summa summatime, oh no.

xoxo,
melissa

You Did it & Oh How We Love You!

Many, many thanks, hugs and eco-friendly kisses to all of you who took the time to vote, spread the word, and just plain encourage us during the long journey toward our ultimate goal: our founder Melissa Baswell (yep, that's her, rockin' out to the left) winning the Intuit Small Business United Grant! Now don't get TOO excited... We didn't win the big one ($25,000). We did, however, win one of the four "first place" grants. That's right. And a $10,000 business grant plus $2,500 in Intuit products and services is not too shabby for a small, green fashion company. We couldn't have done it without you! Check our fabulous press release below, ya know, just in case you have a favorite magazine or blog who might want to write about about a lil' ole' sustainable fashion label from Chicago. And speaking of Chicago, we're the only Chi-town business, and the only green business, in the top five winners. We're pretty excited to be able to represent things that we really love and that help shape our business in so many ways, like our eco-fabulous city and the wonderful world of sustainable style.

Remember kids, although this amazing grant given to us by the kind, generous folks at Intuit will really, really help us out in these crazy times, we still need your help to stay alive. Please continue to tell your friends about us, blog about us, and when you're in the mood for some sassy eco-fashion, shop with us! In fact, we're gonna give you 30% off your next orders on our website to thank you. Just enter WA30 in the coupon code box at check-out.

xoxo,
The Ladies of Mountains of the Moon


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Mountains of the Moon Eco-Fashion
PO Box 25192
Chicago, IL 60625
877.875.0689
melissa@mountainsofthemoon.com
http://www.mountainsofthemoon.com


Intuit Announces Mountains of the Moon Eco-Fashion as Small Business United Grant Competition Winner

Eco-Fashion Designer Melissa Baswell Proves Sustainable Fashion a Promising Business Idea: Wins $10,000 Grant to Grow Business

CHICAGO, IL – Jun. 04, 2009 – Chicago-based fashion designer Melissa Baswell’s passion for fashion (and the environment) began at the age of five, when she discovered her two favorite hobbies: sewing, and exploring nature. In high school, she was the president of her high school’s Ecology Preservation Club, and wore her own handmade clothing created from natural fabrics. While a student at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Baswell divided her free time between interning with an environmental nonprofit and designing clothing for her friends. Well before the green movement became popular, she was using sustainable materials in an effort to create fashion-forward clothing that would break the stereotype of eco-fashion being defined as bland and boring.

Eventually, Baswell formed Mountains of the Moon Eco.Fashion, a sustainable clothing label aimed at creating chic clothing that helps, not hurts, the earth. Called a “pioneer of the eco-fashion movement” by Fashion, Evolved, Baswell and her designs have been showcased at the Museum of Sustainable Style and the EcoModa Sustainable Fashion Showcase. Last fall, a dress designed by Baswell from recycled candy wrappers was exhibited at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art.

Baswell is an active member of several eco-friendly fashion communities, and is heavily involved in the green community, as a member of Green America, an exhibitor at Green Festivals nationwide, and as a key speaker at Green Apple Music and Arts Festival. Baswell will co-producing and emceeing the Think Tank Green Fashion Show at Rothbury Music Festival in July.


Baswell's story was one of the nearly 2,000 submitted for the Small Business United Grant Competition. She was among 50 finalists who each received a $5,000 grant and were invited to create videos telling their personal business stories. Judges selected the winners based on quality, creativity and public ratings.

One of five winners nationwide who will each receive a business grant, plus $2,500 in Intuit products and services to support their growing businesses, Baswell’s company, Mountains of the Moon, is the only green business to win.

“The Small Business United Grant Competition brought the small business community together to share stories, give and receive advice, and inspire each other,” said Kiran Patel, executive vice president and general manager of Intuit’s small business group. Melissa Baswell says she is thrilled to represent sustainable fashion through her award. “In a time of economic uncertainty, winning this grant will allow our company to really grow. I hope that my story of overcoming adversity will inspire other green business and eco-fashion labels to continue to work hard toward achieving success through creating positive change.”

The competition is part of Intuit’s Small Business United initiative, launched earlier this year to give America’s 27 million small businesses a boost. More than 1 million people have visited the Small Business United Web site to seek advice from their peers and to take advantage of the campaign’s other offerings, which include free Intuit products, services and resources.

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Mountains of the Moon Eco-Fashion (www.mountainsofthemoon.com) is a Chicago-based sustainable clothing line featuring eco-friendly contemporary and designer clothing for the eco-conscious and fashion-conscious consumer. Mountains of the Moon’s line is produced locally using only sustainable materials, and can be found at select boutiques worldwide.

We Need Your Help!

Please listen to this short audio blog for details on how you can help us out in a big way! xoxo

Gabcast! Mountains of the Moon Audio Blogging Sessions #1




Once you have listened to eco-fabulous audio cast above (it's only a minute long, so never fear), pretty pretty please (with organic sugar on top) help us out by doing the following:

Watch our video: Passion, Perseverance, & Pigeon Poop: the Story of Mountains of the Moon Eco.Fashion

And then vote for Mountains of the Moon!

TO VOTE:
(NOTE: Please use Firefox as your browser if you can. The voting doesn't seem to work in some versions of Internet Explorer).
1. To the right of the video there will be three links (in blue) that say Inspiring, Useful, and Funny. Click on Inspiring.
3. You will be prompted to either sign in (if you voted on our story in the last round, you can use the same user ID and password; if you forgot your password, click on the forgot password link and they will e-mail it to you), or create an account. Creating an account takes less than 10 seconds, and you never have to use it again dear readers (and Intuit will not send you spam or e-mailers, we promise).
4. After that, click on Useful, then Funny. Once all of these links says "Thanks," you've voted for us!
5. Now pass it on! Post to your blog, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, message boards, and forward to your friends, coworkers and family.


Just like you have helped us to exist over the years, you can also help us continue to create positive change and stay in business through economically uncertain times with the help of this grant.

If you have any questions or trouble casting your vote, e-mail us at customerservice (AT) mountainsofthemoon.com.


We love you ever MORE now!
xo,
melissa & all the motm team

We Made It! Now Pretty, Pretty Please Vote for Us!

Well dear readers, we've got some news for you, oh yes we do...

Recently, we entered a small business grant competition, where we told the story of Mountains of the Moon, and discussed owner/designer Melissa Baswell's (that's me!) challenges in starting an eco-friendly fashion company. 1,900 businesses entered, and our lo and behold, our lil' old story was chosen as one of the 50 finalists! We were then given about a week to make a short (less then 4 minute) movie telling the story. As we do with our company and clothing, we put a lot of time and passion into creating the video. (And stayed up until 3 AM way too many nights in a row for there to be no organic wine involved).

We hope that you love us as much as we love you, and that you will take a few minutes to watch our video and learn more about how we overcame struggles in an industry that wasn't always open to eco-friendly fashion. And then we hope you'll vote for us! Vote, vote vote! For a small environmentally and socially conscious clothing label, fighting to move forward and grow is a major challenge, especially in an economic crisis. This grant would help us to continue our mission.

Details on how to vote and a link to the story are below. If you like our video, we hope that you will also spread the word! Pass this on to your friends, your family, your cute little doggy, post it on your facebook pages or message boards or groups you are part of, write about it on your blog, paint it across your chest and run free through the forest - anything you can do is of course fabulous and appreciated. 60% of our score is up to the judges, but 40% is based on the votes that we get from all of you - our blog readers, customers, colleagues, shops/boutiques, and friends. The voting ends on May 31st.

Here is the link to our video: Passion, Perseverance, & Pigeon Poop: the Story of Mountains of the Moon Eco.Fashion

DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO VOTE:
(NOTE: Please use Firefox as your browser if you can. The voting doesn't seem to work in Internet Explorer).
1. Go to the link above and watch the video.
2. To the right of the video there will be three links (in blue) that say Inspiring, Useful, and Funny (hopefully you will choose all three!). Click on one of the links.
3. You will be prompted to either sign in (if you voted on our story in the last round, you can use the same user ID and password; if you forgot your password, click on the forgot password link and they will e-mail it to you), or create an account. Creating an account takes less than 10 seconds, and you never have to use it again (and Intuit will not send you spam or e-mailers).
4. After that, click on the other two as well (if you clicked on "Inspiring" before signing in or creating an account, now click on "Useful" and "Funny.") There is also a place to post a comment which is optional.
5. Now pass it on! :)

Finally, I'd like to thank my amazing boyfriend Robbie for his help with this. This man is on the road as Stage Manager Extraordinare for weeks at a time, and he spent the few days he is home and able to rest learning video editing and being my movie-making partner in crime. I'd also like to thank our wonderful friend and incredibly talented musician Jake Cinninger for the original music he donated to the story. Bost most of all, thank YOU. Mountains of the Moon exists because of you, period.

I hope you enjoy watching the story of our beginnings, and that you'll vote for us and help us continue our mission to design conscious, chic clothing that helps, not hurts, the earth.

Love, love, love,
Melissa (& Kari, Rachel, Morgan & Corinne too)

Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest : Final Green Festival Chicago Upate & Many Thanks!

Gabcast! Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest #11

Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest : A 3-Time Attendee's Take on the Best Part of Green Festival - New Discoveries

Join Melissa from her final interview from the Green Fest floor as she talks with a local Chicagoan (and three-time Green Festival Attendee!) about the best part of Green Festivals and how Chicago plays a roll in the Green movement. Gabcast! Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest #8

Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest : Vince Iwinski, Umphrey's McGee Manager, Green Apple Producer, & Green Festival Attendee!

Live from the Green Festival floor Sunday afternoon, Melissa interviews Vincent Iwinski on his second day exploring Green Festival Chicago. Vince talks about the positive effects of different industries coming together to join forces in an effort to increase environmental awareness. Vince is a long-time part of Chicago's music industry, manager of local Chicago band Umphrey's McGee, an avid eco-warrior and lover of the outdoors (he rode his bicycle to the event both Saturday and Sunday), and produces Chicago's Green Apple Music Festival, held every year over Earth Day weekend.

Gabcast! Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest #7

Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest : Da Green Show!

Courtney Rioux and Chris Walsh of Da Green Show and Parker in the Park (a natural science musical!) stopped in our Green Festival booth this morning to interview Melissa. They asked lots of great questions about her recycled candy wrapper dress, being an eco-fashion designer, and exhibiting at Green Festival. Afterward, we turned the microphone on them, and Rachel asked them a little bit more about their own eco-projects.


Gabcast! Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest #6

Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest : Rachel Interviews Two Very Young Green Fest Attendees on Their Take on Environmental Awareness

One of our favorite interviews of the weekend! Join Rachel live at Green Festival Chicago, as she interviews a 5 year-old and a 7 year-old, and listen to their take on how we can help save the planet.

Gabcast! Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest #5

Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest : Checking in at Green Festival Chicago, Day # 1

Mountains of the Moon's very own Melissa Baswell and Rachel Lowen take a quick break from their busy booth to enjoy a few minutes of the beautiful Chicago weather and fill you all in on their experiences so far on the first day of Green Festival Chicago 2009.

Gabcast! Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest #4

Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest : Melissa & Kari Speak Live from Green Festival Set Up

Join Melissa and Kari from Mountains of the Moon as they podcast live from Green Festival Chicago set-up!

Gabcast! Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest #3

Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports: Preview!

The ladies of Mountains of the Moon Eco.Fashion are honored to have been chosen to podcast live from Green Festival Chicago this year. We'll be mobile blogging from the festival all weekend - talking with other exhibitors and attendees, interviewing our oh-so-wonderful-customers, and bringing you reports on our favorite parts of this year's event. Gabcast! Chicago Green Festival Audio Blog Reports #greenfest #2

Green Hot Mama

Okay, fine. I'll admit it. I'm making a very quick post because I just realized that we only posted twice in April, and April is officially over (at least here in Chicago) in 14 short minutes. It went by so quickly, what can I say?

So here's a little gift for you in exchange for our lack of posts recently. Make your red hot mama a green hot mama this Mother's Day with a little gifty from Mountains of the Moon. Order by May 5th (to ensure delivery before Mother's Day) and we'll give you 25% off your order with coupon code GREENMAMA. Not bad.

And all of us promise that we love you very much and will post lots and lots in the merry old month of May.

xoxo,
melissa

The 3 E's: Earth Day, Eco-Fashion, Events

It goes without saying that everyday should (obvi) be Earth Day. But hey - if it takes a special day for everyone to come together and get excited about the environment, we're all for it. One of the best parts about Earth Day (especially in recent years as the green movement gains momentum) is all of the events that take place around the globe to celebrate. In our world, the best of these events involve eco-fashion. This year, there is an abundance of them. Here are some of the most prominent ones for your eco-fashion pleasure.


Green with Fashion

Held at the famous F.U.E.L. House (aka MTV's Real World Philadelphia House), this charity eco-fashion show will spotlight the top eco-fashion designers (more than 30 of them, to be exact) from all over the country. Our friends at Carbon Fund are not only donating five tons of carbon offsets in order to make the event carbon neutral, they're also covering the day's "carbon footprint" of everyone who attends the show. We like. Look for "celebs" like Gretchen Rossi of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Orange County" and five Miss Philadelphia winners, among others, to be walking in the show. Pieces from our very own Mountains of the Moon spring/summer collection will be among the designs showcased at this event.
When: April 22nd (Earth Day) at 7 PM.
Where: F.U.E.L. House, 249 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Tickets are $20 (advance purchase only), with proceeds donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.


Stanford Sustainable Fashion Show (Stanford, CA)

A bay area Earth Day must, Stanford University's first-ever Sustainable Fashion Show will be a groundbreaking event on campus promoting a sustainable lifestyle on all fronts. The show's mission will be to celebrate diversity in the context of environmental consciousness through a wide variety of styles and artistic expression. Twenty unique professional designers will be showcased in individual sets (including Mountains of the Moon, oh yes!), and as well as several student designers from the Stanford Community.
When: April 22nd (Earth Day) from 7 to 9 PM.
Where: Toyon Hall Lounge, 455 Arguello Way, Stanford, CA.
Cost: Free


Fashion Takes Action Launch Party

In partnership with Earth Day Canada, the new members-based organization and producer of green events Fashion Takes Action will be officially launching this Earth Day, and will be throwing a party/fashion event to celebrate on April 24th. We like parties a lot and brainstormed on ways to teleport to Toronto for this event, but alas... With really swell things like DJs (including Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene), Ryerson fashion students participating in a live eco-challenge to create garments from packaging, and an open bar (mmm, organic vodka), it should be quite the grand ole' time.
When: April 24th at 9 PM.
Where: 639 Queen Street West, Toronto, Canada.
Cost: Tickets are $40 in advance (with a limited number for $50 at the door), with proceeds supporting Earth Day Canada and Fashion Takes Action.


If you're not up for a fashion show, and happen to be in the Cape Cod area during Earth Day week, take a little stop-sy by Solstice Day Spa in Hyannis for a simply mahhhvelous eco-fashion sample sale from 5:30 to 8 PM on April 21st (we like to call it Earth Day Eve, just for kicks). Hosted by fashion writer and stylish Amy Dufault, this sample sale will include samples from your's truly as well as other eco-designers at incredible prices.


xoxo,
melissa & all the other motm eco.fashion ladies too

P.S. We adore you!

eco-tweetin'

Sure, maybe we're talking about the sweet tweets of the little spring birdies that would be singing in our ears if it wasn't snowing here this fine Chicago April, but alas, we're not. We just wanted to make a quick post to let you know that we think Twitter is real fun and neat, and you should definitely follow us. Not that we think any of you are followers, of course. Our readers are much too smart, sustainable and stylish to be followers. We just think you might like our witty updates and the oh-so-exclusive sales and coupons we post when we tweet.

Love,
us

P.S. Hey spring, like, where are you? You're being a real jerk this year.

And the Winner is....

Earlier this month, we told you about our "Show us your Moon!" contest, where Mountains of the Moon lovers everywhere could play show and tell with their favorite MotM designs for a chance to win a $100 MotM Gift Certificate. We were showered with funny, beautiful and inspiring entires from MotM fans all over the world. Picking a winner from all of the amazing entries wasn't easy, but it sure did make us feel warm and fuzzy to see just how many people really heart our clothing! Yay! That's right, yay! In the end, we could only choose one. (Virtual drumroll.............)

Congratulations Karen Felmley of Bellingham, Washington! We were touched by Karen's sweet/hilarious portrait of two lovely soon-to-be-mamas who, despite contractions, still realized the importance of looking eco-fabulous in their sustainable hemp/tencel Arya Skirts. (Check out the totally adorable photo above). Karen's Entry:

MOM = Mountains of (the) Moon or Mom!

Two pregnant MOMs discussing motherhood and eco-fashion
Mother on the right, overdue and having a contraction
Cut on the bias with a nice fit on the hip
Makes this the one skirt to buy for each pregnancy trip!!!

I have ten Arya Skirts, in two sizes! Thank you for making a great skirt that so many body shapes can wear gracefully.

-Karen Felmley
Bellingham, WA

Congrats Karen! And remember dear readers, you are always in eco-fashion in MotM, whether you're at work, out on the town, or being the most stylish sustaina-mom on the block!

xoxo,
the Ladies of Mountains of the Moon

Bye Bye Winter (& Hello $100 in Free Clothes!)

We don't know about you, but we are more than ready to bid winter a fond farewell. Over the next few weeks, new designs and colors from our Mountains of the Moon Spring '09 Collection will become available in stores and at http://www.mountainsofthemoon.com/. Oh the excitement! Even more exciting, the Spring '09 collection from our brand new designer line, Melissa Baswell Eco.Luxury, is now available on our website for pre-orders at very special prices, with delivery in April! Did we mention that we love spring clothes?!

Before we really say our final goodbye to winter, it's time for our last winter sale! Now is your final chance to get your favorite pieces for their most discounted prices ever. That's not a threat, it's an eco-promise. For more info and to get one of siz coupons up to 60% Off (on top of the already marked down prices, oh my!), check out our eco-fabulous March 2009 Newsletter.

And here's some more good news... Let's face it, Mountains of the Moon has the best customers in the world. Your support, feedback and business are why we exist. So we decided to create a little contest that involves things like fun and free clothes. One lucky winner will win a $100 gift certificate to use toward whatever they choose at http://www.mountainsofthemoon.com/. There are three ways to enter (choose one, two, or all three!):

1. E-mail us a photo of you in your favorite Mountains of the Moon outfit in a unique place or doing something cool. Be sure to explain why your picture is special.

2. E-mail us us a story about why you like wearing Mountains of the Moon, or something unique you've done while wearing MotM.

3. Blog about Mountains of the Moon. If you have a blog, post an entry about one of our clothing items or our company. Then be sure to e-mail us with a link.

Entries with be accepted through March 21st. The staff will choose a winner who will be notified by March 25th. Winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Mountains of the Moon, and will have their entry posted on right here at Smart. Sustainable. Style and in our April newsletter. Good luck dear readers, we love you so!

xoxo,

The Ladies of MotM