Summer Solstice Sale & Celebration!

Oh how we've missed you!  Blogger has been having some outage issues here in Chi-town, and we've been without access to Smart. Sustainable. Style. for several days.  It's been rough, but we're back in action (phew!), just in time for us to invite you to a very special event taking place in a few weeks.

If you're on facebook, you can RSVP right here (say yes! say yes!).  I mean really, what's better than sunny cocktails, sustainable fashion, and summer fun?   See you there, sisters in sustainable style.

Farewell, Gen Art

We received an email earlier that after 16 years of discovering and supporting emerging fashion designers (as well as musicians, filmmakers, and artists), Gen Art has closed its doors. 

The state of the economy has profoundly affected so many in the independent fashion and art worlds (including us), and we applaud Gen Art for their efforts to stay afloat over the last 18 months.  We'd also like to say thank you.  We're incredibly grateful for Gen Art's support of Mountains of the Moon (and so many other designers) over the years.

In gratitude,
Mountains of the Moon

Melissa and Scarlet at Mountains of the Moon's Sustainable Style Sale & Soiree, sponsored by Gen Art.  December 2009.

Mountains of the Moon SS10 - The Movie!

Okay, it's not exactly Martin Scorsese, but it's still a lot more entertaining than just looking at photos, right? Enjoy!


Mountains of the Moon by Melissa Baswell: The Spring 2010 Collection

Save $/Save the Planet - It's Our 2nd Annual "Earth Day Project!"

For more details, take a peek at our April Newsletter.

xoxo

p.s.  Follow my blog with bloglovin !!!

Such an Honor to Be Nominated...

...but winning is especially nice. ;)

We just got word that we've been nominated for two Best of Mindful Chicago Awards: Best Local Fashion Designer (Melissa Baswell) and Best Place for Eco-Fashion (Mountains of the Moon)! Put on by the amazing folks over at Mindful Metropolis, these awards are Reader's Choice, so if you like us, please vote for us right here!

Designer Fabric Sale Goodness!

Attention all Chicago-area design students and crafty individuals alike! Do you want to acquire designer overstock fabric, zippers, buttons, and notions to add to your own collection? I thought so! Four local Chicago designers are coming together for the Chicago Designer Fabric Sale, to sell their overstock to the public at super reduced prices. Best of all, most of these fabrics will be sustainable: organic cottons, hemp, vegan silks, vintage fabrics and more!

WHEN: Saturday February 6th from 11 AM to 6 PM
WHERE: Workshop (the studio/shop of our dear friend Annie Novoty of frei designs). 818 W. 18th, Chi-town.
WHAT: Fabrics from the collections of Chicago Designers Melissa Baswell (mountains of the moon), Annie Novotny (frie designs), Lara Miller, and Abigail Glaum-Lathbury

See you there!

Conscientious Luxe Winter Sample Sale This Sunday!

Sorry to be Negative Nancy, but winter in Chicago isn't exactly the most wonderful time of year. It sucks, to be exact. The weather is blisteringly cold, the skies are bleak and gray, it gets dark at, like, 4, and it lasts a really, really, really long time. (Okay May, you could hurry it up a little, we're miserable over here!)

Thank goodness there is a little glimmer of brightness to break us from these winter blues, namely the Conscientious Luxe Winter Sample Sale. In fact, you are invited to this day of hope and fashion joy, this Sunday, January 24th, from 1 to 5 PM, at the Great Taste Cafe, located at 355 E. Grand in the winter wonderland known as Chicago, Illinois. Join Mountains of the Moon alongside some of Chicago's other top eco-fashion and jewelry designers for amazing sales (our fall/winter and previous collection pieces will be up 80% off, one day only!) and deliciously free vegan appetizers.




See you there, brave champions of the tundra!

xoxo,
The Ladies of MotM

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.

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.

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.