EcoZeal

It takes all kinds to make a world. Like the kind that dress up their dogs in ribbons and bows and little frilly party dresses. And muscle shirts for the guy dogs.

Most dogs I know would just as soon roll in….well, never mind.

If you’re the dress-up-your-Beverly-Hills-Chihuahua-gone-granola kind of guy or gal, you’ll be glad to know there are plenty of eco fashion options out there for your four-legged friend.  (C)

Chloe the fashion-conscious Chihuahua star of Disney’s hit flick (and her owner) would feel right at home browsing through Emma Rose Design’s suitable pricey and sometimes unbelievably haute collection. Although the store isn’t geared towards eco, it’s a hot enough topic for them to have labeled their entire line of wool dog coats “eco-friendly.” Whether they are or not, they certainly have a handle on style. Check out the “Countess of Cashmere” coat in Pepto-Bismol pink, made of 90% genuine cashmere.  Also notable is the Soho dog coat in restrained gray eco-fleece trimmed with a fluffy hand-knit collar.   For the record, Emma Rose also does custom clothing, so feel free to request unique doggie duds in hemp, bamboo or whatever else strikes your fancy.

For more plebian tastes in pooch attire, Five Star Fido offers a cute little oganic cotton T with food-inspired screen-printed designs.  Or try the Reknitz reclaimed cotton knit dog sweater from Naturalwoof.com.  And for the dog-loving human, there’s West Paw Design’s “Frolic” T-shirt with canine art in organic cotton.

Just as in human clothing, sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s really green. Earthdoggy.com features a moss green dog coat made from an
undetermined “eco-friendly” fabric, “made using recycled energy.” Huh? Not sure exactly what it means, but it’s a nice-looking coat.

Okay, let’s get down to business. For the real deal in sustainable doggy duds, Eco Pup takes the biscuit. Don’t look here for dog beds or other accessories (although they do have a catnip-stuffed toy “for the kitties”.) Eco Pup is all clothing – and 100% eco fabrics (except for one item which includes a small percentage of Spandex in the blend.) There are dresses and little organic T-shirts, and dapper collars reclaimed from men’s ties. And on the practical side they offer an organic-cotton-lined raincoat made prom recycled PET bottles.

Remember, though, Fido’s just a dog. He’ll love you no matter what you make him wear. He’ll probably appreciate a warm coat if he’s a breed that suffers from the chill. Beyond that, all he really needs is love. Even the most responsibly-produced garment still takes energy to store and transport – so go easy on the gifts to your best friend, and consider a walk in the park instead.

This recycled PET raincoat keeps plastic out of the landfill and raindrops off your dog. From Eco-Pup.