Green is the new black and this year companies are definitely heeding the call as more and more of them are adding eco-friendly elements into their product lines. Few though, can compare to El Naturalista, a Spanish footwear company that is built from the ground up as an earth-centric corporate citizen. El Naturalista has some key philosophies by which they operate: focusing on using natural and recycled ingredients and avoiding polluting and toxic substances in the manufacturing of their shoes and packaging. The Fall line is already making its way to retailers worldwide. Women should take a look at the Yggdrasil collection for subdued styling but with details that warrant a double take. For men, I am particularly fond of the Recyclus line which uses recycled rubber in the soles, cork midsoles, hand-sewn uppers and 100% recycled packaging. With a clear focus on nature and a design team that works hard to show that you don’t have to choose between style and sustainability, El Naturalista has this down pat. Look for their FW09 collection in stores now.

Italian designer Cecilia Felli knows what to do with a broken umbrella– turn it into an umbrella skirt. Pretty great! check out all her different creations over here.

Atlanta-based designer Brooke Serson Cernonok has come up with a creative way to “upcycle” your old cashmere sweaters: she turns them into one-of-a-kind plush bears, bunnies and elephants. You can donate your sweaters to Teddylux and leave it at that, or for about $55, you can have your sweater transformed into the aforementioned animals. Each plush is hand-crafted with vintage silk accents and comes gift-boxed with the a Teddylux story and a certificate of authenticity.