Highlights from Issue 5

I am on cloud nine right now!! The response to issue 5 from our readers and peers has been wonderful. I am so grateful and PROUD of the group of people who worked on Pure Green and helped make it what it is. I've collected a few of my personal favourites from Issue 5, although there were way too many to feature here... of course, I'm a little biased!!

If you haven't seen the whole thing yet, please take a peek: http://www.puregreenmag.com/, or scroll down to the post below.

Happy Weekend everyone!

On Monday we'll be back to our regular posting. And perhaps a new website.......!!!

NOTE: Feel free to share these images but we ask that you kindly please credit Pure Green Magazine!

It's finally here - presenting Issue Five

Open publication - Free publishing - More design

After all the hard work and late nights. It's here. Many, many thanks to all who were part of this amazing project!

Re-Launch Reader Giveaway 3! Win a FLOR rug!!!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!! Congratulations to Kristina Julie, who entered via the Pure Green blog. (Winners are randomly chosen using random.org)

Reoriented



Soft Spoken

Suit Yourself

Yes, you read right!!! As I'm sure you know, the new issue of Pure Green Magazine is coming in just a few short days... 7 to be exact!!! We are so excited, I can barely sit in this chair to type! To celebrate our new issue we've hosted a little giveaway series here on the PGM blog. Readers have taken home a complete anti-aging skin care kit from Marie Veronique Organics, a modular living wall from Woolly Pocket, and finally, one lucky reader will take home a 5x7 rug by FLOR from their new summer collection!!

FLOR makes modular carpet tiles using recycled content, and the tiles themselves are recyclable too! Their patterns are bright or muted, edgy or soft, modern or traditional - something to suit any taste.  We fell for their new Summer Collection, and have selected three of our favourite patterns for you to choose from: Reoriented, Soft Spoken or Suit Yourself. To see more visit their site, FLOR.com or call 13866.281.3567 to speak to a representative.

To enter: You can either

1. Leave a comment here on the PGM Blog

2. Enter via twitter. Tell @puregreenmag you want to win.

3. Leave a comment on our Facebook page.

The contest will be open for 7 days. The winner will be chosen and announced Tuesday, May 24. Good luck!

Monday Pick Me Up!

"WE HAVE TO STOP CUTTING TREES. THIS IS GETTING SERIOUS."

Got this in an email today... and I couldn't resist sharing.

Get to Know Pure Green! Kate Black

We took a little break, but we're back with another PGM team member. Meet Kate Black, the fashion editor at Pure Green Mag, who's little black dress is, well, green!

1. Please introduce yourself.
Hello Eco-fashionistas! My name is Kate Black and I am the Fashion Editor for Pure Green Magazine. Besides sharing eco-fashion finds with you, I write a daily eco-fashion blog called Magnifeco.com. I started the blog in 2008, when I first became interested not just in what I eat (local, organic and vegetarian food) but in what I wore. I started researching sustainable and organic designers and realized that although many fantastic (or magnifeco) designers were making efforts to provide 'slow fashion' they were hard to find. So I started finding them and featuring them on my blog. With the unique purpose - that all great finds had to be able to be purchased online, so wherever readers are in the world (I live in Tokyo) they can buy eco, sustainable and ethical fashion.

2. How do you green your wardrobe?
Reduce consumption. The easiest, greenest thing you can do is stay with what you have. Generally, people have been buying more and more clothing but wearing them less and less. This season, I pulled out all of my spring/summer clothes- all of them and made my own 'capsule collection'. Pulling together ten essential pieces, that are the mainstays of my SS11 wardrobe. This re-introduced me to a pair of white flare pants that have been sitting in the back of my closet (that are so a 'go-to' piece for this season), sending a dress to the tailors to become a tunic, and mending a blouse that I love but, due to it's missing button, was almost in the 'donation' pile.

3. Favorite fashion icon you would love to meet?

I would love to meet Safia Minney. She's one of the pioneers of fairtrade fashion and started PeopleTree over a decade ago. She was also one of the pioneers of matching designers (like Boru Aksu) and their designs with workshops and artisans in developing countries to build viable businesses that can sustain communities.

4. Can eco-fashion be trendy? 
Of course!! Big trends this season include 'white' - anything white, which is so summer! And you probably already have this essential;  they might be skinny jeans from past seasons that you can get shortened to capris, or an old white t-shirt that can be re-made into a 'flashdance'-style top - also so 'in'. And don't stay in your own closet - check your mother's, your sisters', your boyfriend's  - white is everywhere.

5. What does green fashion mean to you?
We've been conditioned to think that who we are is reflected in what we wear. And so eco-fashion should be an extension of that! Fast, cheap and super-trendy is just that. However, a piece of clothing - one that you know the story of the source (organic or sustainable fabric), the artisan or designer (ethical or fair) and/ or the history behind the piece (something vintage or re-found) is probably a greater reflection of the person you are.

Sources:

1. Tencel Jersey Dress by Thieves (can be worn 5 different ways!)

2. Marie-Veronique Skin Care

3. Funkis Clogs responsibly hand-made in Sweden

Vintage Collection 3

A collection of vintage objets - in this photo, a hundred year old Limoges plate and an antique mother of pearl silverware set.

Get to Know Pure Green! Kirsten Grove

You will know Kirsten from issues 2-4 as our fabulous Before & After Editor, as well as the author behind the well known blog Simply Grove.  Her ingenuity and creativity makes giving discarded objects a new lease on life a cinch! In our new issue she's creating something special for the backyard... the rest is still a secret, until May 24 that is!! 

Please introduce yourself.
Hi lovely readers! My name is Kirsten Grove and I am a contributor for Pure Green Magazine. You can find me most days being a Interior blogger/stylist/designer. My two main jobs is wife to Shane and mommy to Ethan and Eden Jo. We live right outside of Boise Idaho. I moved to Boise from Seattle, 12 years ago. At first it was a bit of a culture shock but I have come to love this city! We have a great art and design community. Our downtown, though smaller, has some of the yummiest cafes, stylish boutiques and events happening all of the time. This last year, I reclaimed furniture at a boutique, Brass Razoo, in Nampa Idaho, 20 min outside of Boise. The whole experience of reclaiming furniture taught me the art of beauty. You can take the most hideous object, put some love into it and create a gorgeous work of art. Though I loved it, working as a carpenter took its tole on me. I will still work on pieces here and there but not full time. Right now I am on focusing freelance styling and designing as well as running my blog, Simply Grove, that I started almost 4 years ago. 

Favorite all-time memory?
Meeting my son and daughter for the first time. Both of them were adopted at birth and both have beautiful stories. I will never forget the feeling when I held them for the first time. It gives me chills just thinking about it.

If you could do anything, you would...

Travel the world for one year with my family. I watched a program on TV where the whole family saved up funds for a few years to be able to travel the world for one full year. Their youngest was around 6 years old. I thought to myself that if they could do it, we certainly could too. Both my kids love to travel. I think the experience would be amazing!

Favorite movie?

Hmmmmm. Probably, Little Women. I am a sucker for the old version with Elizabeth Taylor and the new version.

What does living green mean to you?
For me its not being wasteful with what we have been given. I am trying to teach my kids to use exactly what they need and no more. It sometimes feels like baby steps, teaching your kids to be kind to our planet but everything helps!

Sources:

1. Iannone Design Cork Mosaic Sideboard

2. Brazillian Hanging Chair - Mocha from Byer of Maine

3. Paddywax Bamboo & Green Tea Eco Candle

Style.

We're loving these downloadable desktop wallpapers by The Rake, especially this one with it's eco chic, minimalist vibe.

Never Before Seen: Jenna Rose

Hello! Today we're sharing never before seen images from our Jenna Rose shoot, which was originally featured in Issue 3.  For the full story, check out the original feature here! 

Note: All photos were taken by and are the property of Erin Monett of Ever Images. Get more from Erin via her awesome site! Getting married anyone? Look her up!!!

We're also announcing the winner of our recent Woolly Pocket giveaway!  Congratulations to Mali, who entered via the Pure Green Blog.  You will have five days to claim your prize, after which a new winner will be chosen.  Email info{at}puregreenliving{dot}com to claim! Hooray!