(Courtesy of QuinceAndCo.com)

A website that provides not just the tools and supplies you need to get started knitting your very own DIY fall wardrobe, but the patterns and indie fashion ideas too? We had to know more about Quince & Co. the minute we heard about it.

Quince & Co. was founded by two designers and a spinning mill owner with a penchant for natural, sustainably grown fibers. It’s eco through and through, as the website recounts:

We offer wool yarns that are sourced and spun in the US. Known in the trade as “territory wool,” our fiber comes from Merino, Rambouillet, and Columbia-based sheep that roam the ranges of Montana and Wyoming. All our wool and wool-blend yarns are spun in a New England mill with a venerable history. By sourcing our wool in the US and manufacturing our yarn locally, we minimize our carbon footprint.

But, hey, as much as we want to promote our American sheep and yarns, we also want to enjoy the pleasures of fibers that aren’t readily available in the US. We also want to be responsible for what we import. So, when we blend our wool with other fibers, we find out as much as possible where, how, and by whom they came to be. If we’re sourcing a yarn from a plant fiber, we want to know if it was grown in conditions that are healthy for the soil and for those who tend and harvest it.

If we’re looking for an animal fiber, we want to know if the animal was raised in a way that sustains the earth and preserves the culture of the people who raise it.

You can purchase four types of eco-friendly yarns by the skein and download your favorite from a plethora of patterns — from cozy sweaters to stylish berets — for $6 or less. Our entry-level DIY pick? The cuddly Cullin Cowl pictured here, using Quince’s chunky and felted Puffin yarn in “frost.”

(via DailyCandy)

We have our theories about why shopping for fall makeup is such an event. Namely, after the blistering heat of summer starts to cool off, it’s nice to be able to wear cosmetics without fearing your entire face is going to melt by lunchtime. And with summer typically meaning tinted moisturizer and sheer washes of color if anything at all, fall wins by offering deeper shades and studies in contrasts, like bold lips or gleamy eyes.

(Courtesy of NeimanMarcus.com)

This fall, there are more eco-beauty options than ever as cosmetics companies have stepped up their game to meet rising demand. Best of all, our top picks all ring in at under $25 a pop, meaning you can stock up without blowing your whole back-to-school shopping budget.

Want to indulge in the latest trends? Here are some of the green tools you’ll need.

Healthy Flush

Love the subtle hint of color on the model at right? Fake a similar flush with Josie Maran’s Blush in Fever ($20), a rosy beige powder blush infused with organic argan oil. It’s finely milled so it will blend right in, and it’s just warm enough to define your cheeks while looking totally natural.

Gleam in Your Eye

Shine on with a little sparkly eyeshadow by Terra Firma Cosmetics. We especially like the Celestial Shimmer Loose Mineral Eyeshadow ($8.99), a pale bronze that will complement all eye colors (but really make brown and green shades pop). It’s eye-catching enough that you can forgo eyeliner.

Pair it with a generous coat of eco-mascara like Lavera’s Volume Mascara in No. 1 Black ($20). It thickens without clumps to give you big-time lashes. And it’s made with extracts of organic jojoba and wild rose oils (and no beeswax, so it’s vegan-approved).

Full-Volume Hair

Looking for hair care that works but is still formulated without parabens, synthetics, phthlates, petrolatum, and other bad-for-you chemicals? Alterna has the answer.

Our favorite is the Hemp with Organics line, and the Thickening Compound ($19) is just what you need to keep your ‘do bodylicious. It’s made with nourishing hemp-seed oil and can be used on wet or dry hair before styling, making it a versatile addition to any hair-care routine.

Luxe Lipcolor

Whether you want to rock the bold look or go nude, eco-beauty companies can hook you up. For rich, Old Hollywood lips, look no further than Dr. Hauschka’s Skin Care Lipstick in Fortissimo ($23.95). This deep garnet shade is more versatile than it looks. Push it onto lips over lip balm for a stained look, or swipe it on for full intensity.

Can’t pull off red lips? We also like Bare Minerals’ 100% Natural Lip Gloss in Wild Honey ($15). The nonsticky formula balances a creamy texture with loads of hydrating natural oils (like pomegranate, jojoba, and Vitamin E), and the peachy gold shade will light up any skintone with warmth.

Natural Moisture

Cold weather means weather-stripped skin, so protect your face with an antioxidant-rich barrier like RMS Beauty’s Lip & Skin Balm ($25). Developed by celebrity makeup artist Rose-Marie Smith, the balm is formulated with organic food-grade ingredients like coconut oil and beeswax. In vanilla and cocoa scents, you’ll want to use it on hands, lips, cuticles, hair, hands — everywhere.

Looking for a unique hostess gift, or maybe a little pick-me-up for yourself? This solid lotion bar by Owens Acres will hit the spot.

Coming in scents like juicy mango and bright lemon, these bars are made with natural oils and butters that melt on contact with your skin. Formulated with coconut butter, mango butter, apricot oil, shea butter, and pistachio butter, all the ingredients are grown on a small family farm in Placerville, Calif.

Each bar comes in a tin and is hand-stamped with a bee motif in the small size, or a sunflower design for the large.

The company is a member of Co-op America, Farm Trails, CAFF, and Buy Fresh-Buy Local, and founder Laura Owens is a certified master herbalist, so you’ll give your support to a non-GMO farm with your purchase.

Owens Acres Lemon Lotion Bar, $6.95 at WorldofGood.com.

The deliciousness of a three-day weekend looms just within reach, and the writers at E.S. wish you all a happy Independence Day.

On that note, want more inspirational stories on free-thinking designers showing serious moxie? We’ve got you covered for reading material:

• Indie rocker Morrissey offers his candid reasons for why he makes allowances for leather shoes, even though he’s a vegan.
• These small businesses are sticking to their ideals and succeeding at every turn.
• Help silk weavers in Thailand achieve financial independence by buying one of these fair-trade silk shirts and scarves by Kohtrad. Part of the proceeds support microfinance programs overseas through Kiva.org.
• Want to know what you’re really getting when you buy organic? Independent third-party certification is the way to go.
• Maggie Gyllenhaal, our favorite independent movie star, also shows serious commitment to eco-ideals in fashion.

Enjoy the break, and we’ll be back at you on Tuesday.

This week’s Friday Etsy Find is so pretty, we literally gasped upon glimpsing it for the first time. Handbag designer Paulina Carcach makes each and every one of her shoulder bags by hand from her studio in California using natural, full-grain leather.

The “Alba” design is the quintessential timeless satchel in a seasonless burgundy shade. We can easily envision ourselves carrying this throughout the year, from summer happy hour to braving the masses while Christmas shopping.

It’s also designed with the multitasking woman in mind, with pockets galore and enough space for books and files. It’s the perfect balance between form and function, and it’s made right here at a small business in the USA.

Brown too basic for you? It also comes in a soothing sea green.

Paulina Carcach “Alba” Lambskin Satchel, $141 at Etsy.com.

For our first issue of summer, we’re open to the idea of starting small. When it comes to ethical style, it truly is the thought that counts — because so many people don’t think at all before they buy. We won’t judge you if your wardrobe is 95 percent Forever 21 and 5 percent carefully considered purchases that take your personal labor and environmental values into account. Trust us, that perfect closet doesn’t exist.

Want some inspiration from those who have gone before with a small but valuable idea? Read on.

• If you’re up for a challenge, consider a small project that you can complete quickly. The idea is to choose something you can check off your list in a week or less, and then come up with something new to pursue.
• Kara interviewed a collection of her eco-loving friends and asked what they did to get their start in earth-friendly consumerism.
• Ingrain ethical style early with these eco-friendly fashion options for the under-two set. There’s a surprising number of options for infants and toddlers now with online shopping at your fingertips!
• We also profile a few of our favorite small businesses that have nurtured the seed of a good idea into a full-grown business plan. And best of all, the good word is spreading.
• Finally, for more ideas of great things coming in small packages, check out Seam Ripper, our selection of blog stories on the theme.

With the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina coming this summer, it’s important to remember that New Orleans is still a city in recovery. So we were happy to see Daily Candy alert its subscriber list to a great new clothing label coming out of the Big Easy:

Jolie & Elizabeth, a new line inspired by and designed in NOLA that turns the look modern with body-conscious frocks that lean heavily on the striped, lightweight fabric.

The Adelaide dress’s strapless sweetheart neckline, nipped waist, and flared skirt create a flattering silhouette. An updated wrap dress with an abbreviated hemline, the Acadian has long ties for crafting an oversize bow, while the high-waisted Caroline skirt has a fetching scalloped hem.

Best of all, the line’s “Heart NOLA” tee carries a pledge of twenty percent of proceeds to support the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana — a worthy cause and one that’s surely dear to the designers’ heart.

Pictured here: Perfect summery dresses from Jolie & Elizabeth’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection, via Facebook.

We were thrilled that last week’s post on Kohtrad’s microfinance-supporting silk scarves generated a good bit of discussion. In that same entrepreneurial spirit, we thought we’d direct our readers to a new grants portal for aspiring designers. Etsy sellers and small-business owners everywhere, listen up.

KickStarter.com connects up-and-coming artists looking for financial support with aspiring benefactors who can claim a charity write-up. Anyone can post a pitch — like, for example, a sustainable clothing line — along with a request for capital to bring the idea to fruition.

On the other side of the coin, donors can pledge any amount to support the project, and when enough pledges have been collected, the concept is greenlighted and your donation is processed. But if the idea doesn’t attract enough financing, you won’t be charged.

The funding request is always reasonable, but the payoff is huge: By testing whether anonymous micro-investors believe in the viability of the project, the designer gets free market research for their idea before they lay out a single dime.

This charitable idea has some serious legs. Inspired to give? Browse KickStarter’s fashion projects here.

Pictured: A dress by NYC fledgling designer Viktor Luna, who is currently seeking funding for his Spring/Summer 2011 collection. As of noon PST, KickStarter has helped him raise $875 of his $3,000 goal with eight days left.

The Los Angeles Times this week reviewed some of the newcomers to the eco-beauty bandwagon, and they all have one unique trait in common: a food-based ingredient list.

“It’s happening like crazy,” Karen Young, chief executive of the Young Group, a consulting company that works with beauty brands, said of the increased prevalence of food in skin care. “We’re learning more and more about skin and nature, and about the interaction between the two.” Young said segments of the U.S. beauty industry are increasingly leaning toward natural, organic and homegrown products as customers veer away from chemicals and synthetics.

“In other parts of the world, it is normal to use food and elements of nature for medicinal or beauty purposes,” she said. “In America we are just waking up to that now.”

The article cites brands like the Body Deli out of Palm Desert, Calif., and Farmhouse Fresh from Frisco, Tex. One maker we can vouch for is Elique Organic Skin Food, which sources its foodie-quality ingredients from Los Angeles’s famed farmers markets. And coming this summer, Elique’s founder Elisha Reverby will be offering classes out of her salon in Venice, Calif., to teach students how to make their own eco-beauty products at home (details TBA here). Sign us up!

Moop makes my all-time favorite summertime purse, the Market Bag. With its oversize slouchy shape, pockets galore, and sturdy-but-lightweight cotton twill fabric, you’ll bring it everywhere from the farmers’ market to the movies to the beach. And the adjustable strap means it instantly converts from a hobo to a cross-body messenger bag, making it versatile for a variety of purposes.

All of Moop’s bags are stitched by hand using grown-in-the-USA cotton. In fact, she’s known for having quite a following on Etsy.

To celebrate its third anniversary and the introduction of its organic cotton Market Bags, Moop is offering 10 percent off all orders through Wednesday. Just enter coupon code MOOPLOVESYOU during checkout.

Market Bag in Organic Bright Cherry Red, $113 at MoopShop.com.