We live in the Emerald City, where green means more than the color of our conifers. Many Seattleites are committed to living as eco-consciously as possible, using the green in their wallets to support environmentally friendly businesses.
But prices for those goods are often higher than for other products, and during economically challenging times, even in Seattle some organic, sustainable or "green" goods become too expensive for the average consumer.
That's why we feel fortunate that local designer Sara Seumae has created Spun [1], a line of affordably priced, organic cotton clothing.
As a mother of two and a green consumer herself, Seumae understands the challenges of trying to shop with her conscience while balancing her checkbook. With Spun, Seumae is committed to using fabric from organically grown cotton in India, low-impact dyes and stateside manufacturing, giving women the opportunity to buy chic, well-made basics at reasonable prices.
After years in retail, where she developed an understanding of how women want to dress and what they look best in, Seumae launched the first Spun collection in February 2008. Prices for the basics collection range from $25 for tank tops and T-shirts to $45 for a raglan pullover and $65 for a cardigan.
Spun tops feature a slight A-line cut and a longer length to allow for extra room in the tummy area, and are more form-fitting in the chest to create a more feminine look. I love the colors that Seumae chose for this line, from basic black, brown and white to vibrant shades of blue and pink, which make these separates sure-fire wardrobe staples.
The fall/winter 2009 collection (available in mid to late October) features three dresses, two tops and two cardigans in rich dark jewel tones like cranberry, olive, truffle and beet. In response to customer requests, Seumae added extra large to her size run, eliminating the extra small and opening up the world of Spun clothing to us curvier girls.
The dresses in the new collection, which range in price from $65 to $95, come in a wrap style, a boat neck and a cowl neck. Also available in boat and cowl necks are the tops, which range in price from $55 to $60. I love the cardigans in this season's line up -- the 4 Button features a deep V-neck, and the smoking jacket-inspired Hugh wrap are both generously sized to allow for layering. Both are priced at $98.
Spun is available online at fashionethic.com [2].
If you have a shop, sale, event or great product tip you'd like to share, e-mail seattleshopping@nwsource.com.
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
