For all your green leafstyle needs
(Credit: Caroline Ryder)
From eco-chocolate to kitchen tiles
The brainchild of Silverlake-based jewelry designer Liza Shtromberg, the space was executed by interior designer Noam Halpert, who is currently involved in building an eco-village in Costa Rica. As well as selling all things guilt-free—from fair trade chocolate to unbelievably soft bamboo bath towels—the store also houses a green design center where "green navigators" will answer any question you might have on living a more sustainable lifestyle. They’ll tell you everything from which energy-saving lightbulbs are the most conservative to which materials are best for your eco-house remodel—whether it's kitchen surfaces made from recycled paper or clear natural resin tiles with embedded dried flowers. "We're in touch with a network of green architects, designers and suppliers," says Shtromberg, "so even if we don't have what you need, someone we know will."
Green fashions and beyond
The clothing racks carry surprisingly affordable items, including organic cotton T-shirts made in Peru by Under the Canopy that say "Green is my favorite color" and "Green is the new black," which sell for $28 a pop. "I want the average person to be able to benefit from greening their lifestyle," says Shtromberg. We loved the EcoLand panties (also organic cotton), the bamboo bowls and dishes by Bambu, and the Rainshow'r products—which remove chlorine from your bath and shower water. You'll also find Peace coffee, which is grown in shade so that trees don't have to be cut down in order to cultivate it. Oh, and don’t forget actor Ed Begley's line of Begley's Best eco-friendly cleaning products, which the actor delivers to the store himself.
The store also sells cosmetics, well aware that not all companies claiming to be eco-friendly actually measure up. "Companies might use shea butter and essential oils, but they are still putting chemical preservatives in their products," says Shtromberg. "We had to ask a lot of questions, and they weren't always happy to answer."
Get eco-smart
For those who want to learn more about maintaining an eco-friendly lifestyle, All Shades of Green provides an in-store lecture series that covers a variety of topics, such as how to grow an edible garden. The workshops are based on a theme that changes with every month. March was about saving energy, and April will be about saving and purifying water. The workshops are taught by sustainability coach Deborah Tull, who researches and tests the sustainability of all products for months before the store orders and sells them. Shtromberg, however, won't be around—she is currently enrolled in a yearlong environmental study program at Israel's Arava Institute, where Arabs and Jews study side by side in a kibbutz environment. "I know my staff will take care of things while I am gone," she says.
With people like Liza Shtromberg on the case, the future's looking brighter already.
