Some of the cutest mini-kicks we’ve seen to date, LaLaShoes‘ vibrantly colored, soft-soled baby shoes are a toe-tapping sight to behold. With a mod minimalist aesthetic that is anything but staid, these Oeko-Tex-certified wool-felt and French linen confections are sewn, not glued, and contain no open seams on the inside to irritate your tot’s sensitive feet.
Kids will be the world’s key decision-makers in the next 30 years, which is why it is crucial that we empower them now with the education and the tools to help reduce energy consumption. Designer Tim Holley’s Tio ghost is a wall-mounted light switch system which enables children to demonstrate their knowledge of energy conservation to their families, while encouraging their role as ‘energy champions’ of the home. Tio shows he is happy and green when household lights have only been on for a short period of time — but the longer the lights are left on, the angrier and redder he becomes — showing he is truly lighthearted and all business at the same time!
The artistic visionaries behind Australian children’s clothing label Paper Wings are a creative dream team who capture the fantastical spirit of children in every thread of their collection. Designers Jason Gibaud and Michelle Fallon combine their background in costume design (credits include: Moulin Rouge, Star Wars and Peter Pan) with their experience in architecture and interior design — not to mention their knowledge as parents — to produce an organic clothing collection for girls in which every piece is a theatrical show-stopper, certain to make each wearer a star in her own right.
What kid wouldn’t be wowed by receiving this shiny scooter wrapped up in a big, red, recycled bow this holiday? The new Plan Toys scooter is an eco-friendly scooter with a twist — it boasts non-slip pedals and five wheels! Made of natural, chemical free rubber wood and finished with non-toxic, vegetable and soy dyes, the Plan Toys scooter also features a three level adjustable handlebar to grow with your child. Riding the Plan Toys scooter will help little ones develop gross motor skills while improving their coordination and balance. Plan Toys’ scooter is safe for ages three years and up, and a helmet and safety pads are recommended.
Less is definitely more with this cardboard divider by legendary Italian designer Enzo Mari, who first brought the creative structure to life in the ’60s. Dubbed “Il Posto dei Giochi,” which translates to “the place of the games,” the 10-foot-long corrugated sheet is composed of 10 panels, each with a different set of colored symbols, perforations, and shapes.
It’s hard to tell whom teething is more painful for: the baby or the parents. (We’re leaning toward the latter.) This organic cotton, candy-inspired take on the ol’ knotted-washcloth-in-the-freezer trick has chewable knots on both ends for soothing tender gums, as well as a squishy wool-stuffed center that is the perfect size for grasping. Using the Teething Bonbon …
Green Thread Shop offers sweet organic baby onesies that feature elegant designs including fairytale characters, cheerful songbirds, kangaroos, swans and doe-eyed fawns! Green Thread Shop is a small, family run business, and they make their onesies by hand with great care in their home studio. They live up to their ‘green’ name by using fine baby rib 100% …
DRUMROLL PLEASE….
And now… the moment you’ve all been waiting for! We’re pleased to announce the winners of Inhabitots Green Halloween contest! We had a great time reviewing all of the fabulous, creative, eco-friendly costume entries we received this year, and we thank you all for your participation in livening up this friendly competition by casting many hundreds of votes for our fifteen finalists! Here are the winners of Inhabitots 2009 Green Halloween contest!
Fig+ Sage delights in Whitten Grey’s organic collection for girls. Through Whitten Grey’s Project Grey Dress initiative, for every dress purchased, one is given to a girl in need in an impoverished country.
Just in time for chilly weather, Haute Nature features a …
When it comes to form and function, the Little Twin Cub bench by SWIGG does it all. Two doors, made from sustainable bamboo plywood and paper-based fibers, slide open to reveal ample storage space for books, toys, and other kid-related paraphernalia. Topside, a pair of squishy cushions, upholstered with Eco-Intelligent Polyester and stuffed …
Our love for mid-century designer Alexander Girard holds no bounds, so imagine our unbridled delight when we came across this gorgeously rendered memory game by House Industries — well, once we got over the sticker shock, anyway. An educational showcase of Girard’s iconic Herman Miller “environmental enrichment” panels from the ’70s, the 72-piece memory game is made …
The design concept for the ANDREA air filter, previously dubbed the Bel-Air, was featured on Inhabitat two years ago in its prototype phase. We’re revisiting this savvy innovation since it recently came to fruition and became available for purchase this week. Invented by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur with Harvard professor David Edward, ANDREA transforms household plants into air cleaners which effectively rid indoor air of toxins and pollutants to purify baby’s nursery or any room in the house.
The Sibis Suiko Baby Bed and Cradle by Sirch is a juxtaposition in Japanese minimalist design: austere in appearance yet highly accommodating in function. A cradle for babies that converts to a cot for kids up to age 4, this sleeping haven is made of white laminated birch plywood and its sides are covered in faux leather. The slatted frame is …
With a whopping 37 wooden construction pieces, the Baufix Airplane Construction Kit isn’t just for building miniature aircraft — your child may also assemble a scooter, garden cart, or any other mechanical wonder her imagination can muster.
We’re thrilled to announce the top 15 finalists of Inhabitots Green Halloween contest! Our esteemed team of judges was thoroughly impressed by the cuteness, creativity and craftiness of each of the DIY costumes that were submitted this year. Our favorite picks include baby creatures from land and sea, beloved fictional characters, some …
Handcrafted in Virginia by designer Alessandra Gutierrez, aka “Lala,” Noonies are the coziest spot for newborns to land after leaving the womb. Made from 100% organic fabrics and a sumptuously soft organic sherpa lining, Noonies are designed to swaddle baby in familiar security. 30 inches long and 15 inches wide at its broadest point, a Noonie is large enough to comfort babes past the newborn …
Eco-fashionistas have a penchant for maternity wear that will stretch with their waistline and their wardrobe — retaining its fashionable place in the closet long after baby is born. Designer Hayley Starr’s Fancy dress is a highly versatile wardrobe staple that will befit burgeoning bellies as beautifully as it graces a new mom’s postpartum physique. It may be worn 110 different ways, making it the ultimate addition to every woman’s evolving repertoire.
It would really make our morning to wake up to this wooden toy breakfast set from Japanese wood craft shop Sasaki Kogei. Fashioned out of all-natural maple and walnut, it’s perfect for kids who want to orchestrate breakfast in bed without worrying about the spills and messes. Sasaki Kogei was recently …
Halloween has come and gone, but the fun is just beginning here on Inhabitots — and we still have tons of treats to give out! You certainly captured many great snapshots of your little green trick or treaters last night — and now is the time to upload your best photo here to Inhabitots Green Halloween contest to win …
LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!
