DIY T-Shirt Design #2

This do-it-yourself shirt redesign is great rehab for an old tee that's too big or loose to wear on a regular basis. The resulting design is simple and feminine.
Materials: 1 short sleeve recycled t-shirt, scissors, needle & thread

DIY: I used a too-big white t-shirt and then dyed it a neutral tan color using tea. (You can do the same by brewing a half gallon of strong tea - black works well - and then soaking your shirt for 20 minutes or more in the mixture. You can change the color of the shirt by changing what kind of tea you use, but in all cases, the longer you steep your shirt, the stronger the color). With your (dry) t-shirt laying flat on a table cut off the edge of the sleeves working at a downward angle from the armpit down and out to the edge of the top of the sleeve. With a cut like this, the sleeves should be longer on top than underneath. Next, cut out the neck along the shoulder seam to make the opening slightly larger. Then from the center of the neck use a running stitch to loosely stitch 6 inches down the center of the shirt. Pull your thread tight from the bottom to gather the fabric at the bust. Tie the thread off tightly to hold the gather, and you're set!
For more great designs, check out DIY T-Shirt Design #3 and DIY T-Shirt Design #1.

Illustrations We Love at BoyGirlParty

We've found an adorable new artist in the Susie Ghahremani, a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design and creator of BoyGirlParty. Her little creatures are sweet and innocent like children's storybook illustrations. Susie's work is simple and pleasing, with little details and patterns in the designs that draw largely from the arena of wildlife animals and nature. She offers a variety of colorful drawings in the form of memo pads, stationary, buttons, and t-shirts.

As a self-coined illustrator, stuff-maker, and musician, Susie describes a BoyGirlParty as "the first party you go to as an adolescent that has all sorts of kids at it (girls and boys) that you're not used to playing with, It's exciting and strange. Maybe you play spin-the-bottle. The term, to me, is loaded with all different kinds of child-like wonderment and energy." Check out these great examples of her work, all copyright Susie Gharemani. If you want more, visit her shop to buy your own little bit of BoyGirlParty, or if you're in the New York area, Susie has a solo show "Teacher's Pets" going on now until September 12th. Check it out at the Giant Robot Gallery, 437 East 9th Street, New York, New York 10009.

Underwear Can Care

I just came across a post on the Alternative Consumer blog that is much more relevant to humanity than any fashion review or haute couture event. As someone with friends and mentors who work in Kenya and other parts of Africa to support women’s rights and education and to bring resources to AIDS orphans, I fully support the motivation behind Panty Line Productions. After spending time in Kenya to teach anti-violence and HIV/AIDS prevention, Jen is saving the world from the bottom up. Literally.
She hand screen prints underwear with quirky expressions and is sending 20% of the proceeds to Dolphin Anti-Rape and AIDS Control Outreach. Working through Dolphin, Jen’s mentors and other volunteers travel through Kenya to teach HIV prevention and non-violence techniques to different communities. Back in the U.S., Jen is screen printing American Apparel underwear and sending 20% of the profits to support Dolphin. Check out Jen’s blog to learn more about Dolphin’s work with children in Kenya. If you want to put your assets to good use, check out a pair of Panty Line Productions’ undies for $12. The American Apparel underwear styles tend to run small, so order a size larger than normal. For more, check out PLP online or at Etsy.

Shop Sustainable at Beklina's Sale

Beklina - the online fashion boutique featuring green fashion greats like Stewart + Brown, ParkVogel, Edun, and Prairie Underground - is having a sale to make room for fall's upcoming arrivals.
Most women's items are 35% off, and there's no shipping!

Based in Northern California, Beklina features the best in sustainable style, choosing products for their comfort as much as their appearance. A great place online to shop organic, they carry designs from some of the most popular eco-designers around.
Each of the products Beklina sells is either fair trade or made in the United States. Check out these great summer sale products for your comfort wear.

Summer Sale at Ecoist

There's a special summer sale going on right now at Ecoist. You can save up to 50% on their handmade clutches, purses, and coin wallets, and shipping is free on purchases over $100! The summer sale only lasts until August 31st, so check out Ecoist now. This creative company sells eco-friendly accessories made from recycled candy wrappers. Where else can you buy a purse made from soda can tabs, a clutch made from Luna Bar wrappers, and a bag made from gum wrappers? At Ecoist, style comes first, and all products are made to be socially and environmentally responsible. If you're ready to celebrate design and save the earth, check out this great sale!