The green movement has gone through many phases in the past few years. What started out of the fear of how much damage we have done to the planet quickly became a panic situation with everyone jumping onto the green bandwagon. When we started to do research on the green lifestyle movement, we were amazed as to how much energy people put towards the cause and how creative people were, however, there was still a fair amount of misinformation and ill-fated attempts at creating real change. Since then we have amassed tons of information and knowledge and we are now entering into a new solution phase. When we look around, everyone is aware of or doing something green. People, organizations and communities are all trying to do their share. We have come a long way from the initial organic t-shirt phase! Now green has a play in every part of our lives; how we live, what we eat, where we shop, what magazines we buy, what gardens we create and what online clubs we belong to, which all reflect the lifestyle of green versus a single stroke of green thinking.

Fashion is only a small part of this movement when you weigh its importance against all of the major green changes we are seeing in architecture, engineering, sustainability and solution oriented design. In order to give you a short recap we have divided this trend into 5 categories:

Fashion

In the world of fashion we are seeing a creative edge take over since we have exhausted the green message screen-printed organic cotton tee shirt. Companies are trying to win over the green audience by employing creative initiatives as varied as recycling used apparel to creating apparel out of yard waste. Companies such as Preloved, Goodgone, Ecoist and J Shoes, a company that makes shoes out of used T-shirts, are all examples of green innovation and solution oriented thinking. We are also seeing designers reaching for new materials and anything from recycled glass, food packages, plastic and pine tree prunings are all fair game! We also saw accessories incorporating solar power that can be used for charging electronic gadgets such as iPods. Wal-Mart mixes eco-thinking with the Lifestory Label trend we talked about for their Earth Jewelry line that allows you to track the mine each piece came from. If you are still working on ways to incorporate green solutions and innovations with your product range, apply your creative energy to thinking about who your customer is and what is important to them and access green from there!

Architecture & Automobiles

The innovative design that is emerging in "green" architecture and energy saving automobiles goes beyond just using recycled goods or sustainable features. Buildings and cars are being developed that are completely self-sufficient, like the solar powered Honda lawnmower. We also found architecture that harnesses wind power and structures that adjust to take in more or less sunlight, depending on the time of day and the needs of the people in the building. Instead of using science technology, we are using "environmental" technology. The sun, wind, and rain have become the natural resources we harness to produce the energy we need.

Home

Life at home has gone beyond just consumers doing their part by recycling or reusing sustainable objects. Now entire homes are being designed from the inside out with "green" features. It is no longer enough to reflect nature in design alone - certain flooring and windows can control temperature, appliances are energy efficient, LED light bulbs last longer, and cleaning products are earth friendly.

Using Nature

Using nature is another example how people are taking solutions into their own hands. We haven't been kind to nature and now that we are trying to love it more, we are also learning how to use it effectively without depleting it. Some creative companies have found amazing ways to use nature to create more clean environments, to use less energy and to grow produce at home that we can eat. One of the pioneers of this design movement is Mathieu Lehanneur, an inventor who is responsible for inventions such as the Bel Air (as in 'nice' air) domestic spacecraft that filters air using plants and The Oxygene Generator; an attractive glass tank that uses algae to produce fresh oxygen in houses and offices. His most creative piece is the Local River. It is a refrigerator and an aquarium that breeds freshwater fish at the same time as it grows vegetables. His concept is based on the principle of aquaponics coupled with the exchange and interdependence of two living organisms - plants and fish. The plants extract nutrients from the nitrate-rich defecate of the fish while the plants act as a natural filter that purifies the water and maintains a vital balance for the ecosystem in which the fish live. Now that is creative!

Creating Energy

With energy being on the low and gas prices skyrocketing, companies and people are getting creative in the ways they create energy. We are seeing everything from portable lights to solar bottles as well as playground equipment that serves as water pumps. And yes! You can have your own personal home fuel machine that makes ethanol with just water, sugar and yeast. People are taking it into their own hands and creating energy solutions.