Add some sustainable style to your life in 2020.
Rainbow of green: Upcycled cotton saris are woven together to create colorful tablecloths. No two are alike. $40 (for two), Shed, 105 A West North Street, Healdsburg, 707-431-7433, shedhealdsburg.com.
Save the silver: When it’s time to replace silverware, consider shopping old. These vintage silver plate utensils are sold by the piece so you can acquire as your budget or flatware caddy allows. $8 (each) Chateau Sonoma, 23588 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, 707-935-8553; Chateau on the Square, 453 1st ST W, Sonoma, 707-309-1993, chateausonoma.com.
Born again napkins: Local Rags Resurrected upcycles shirt fabric and sews them into table linens. The fabric’s second life as napkins also spares future paper waste. $20 (set of five) Made Local Marketplace Open House, Thursday, May 17th, 4 p.m to 7pm., 529 4th St, Santa Rosa, 707-583-7667, madelocalmarketplace.com.
Feel the felted soap: Felt around soap makes it last longer and provides exfoliation so washcloths aren’t needed. The sustainably sourced wool is naturally antibacterial and low-waste, too! $16, Cast Away Yarn Shop, 100 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-9276, castawayyarnshop.com.
Banner bags: Banners (in this case, ones from Sonoma Raceway) are cut and sewn—in a Santa Rosa studio—and made into various products. How about a messenger bag with a mission? $69, Sonoma USA, Santa Rosa, sonoma-usa.com.
Telephone wire...baskets!: Discarded telephone wire is a pretty medium in the hands of artisan weavers. This modern take on the traditional basket is made by the Zulu people of South Africa. Kindred Fair Trade Handicraft, 605 4th St., Santa Rosa, 707-579-1459, kindredfairtrade.com.
Gently made: This shirt is new, but is made from low impact materials (organic pima cotton) and manufacturing processes (low-impact dyes, no harmful pesticides). $98, Indigenous Organic and Fair Trade Fashion, 110 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, 800-334-9594, indigenous.com.
Growing beauty: This great-looking line of jewelry from Treeline and Tide is made from sustainably grown wood. The maker partners with One Tree Planted and plants a tree for every purchase made. Hello Penngrove, 101 Main Street, Penngrove,707- 665-5759, hellopenngrove.com, thecaliforniafolk.com.
Nature’s cushion: Get your synthetically made materials out of your head by choosing wool pillows. Sonoma Wool Company sources wool from family-owned and operated ranches throughout the United States. $69, Sonoma Wool Company, P. O. Box 365, Valley Ford, 707-291-3622, sonomawoolcompany.com.
If the approaching new year is making you feel optimistic about improving things, that’s good because the world could use more of that. Making greener, more sustainable shopping choices is a great place to start. From products made locally with upcycled or natural materials to items made with gentle fabrication processes, here are a few things that will help make a difference. Click through the above gallery for details.
