PVC-Free Rain Gear @ Bootyland

It’s that time of year again in Seattle – rainy season. The weather is turning colder and the clouds are back, but the kids still need to go outside and play. We’ve got great options to keep your little ones safe and dry while they have fun splashing in the puddles.

Puddlegear by Abeko is made of a soft, light, tear-resistant fabric called Atek. Atek is a polyurethane-coated stretch fabric that is wind and watertight. It is PVC free and is certified by Oxo-Tex to be free of 100 harmful chemicals. It is light, comfortable and flexible so it’s great for active kids, and it’s easy to launder which is nice for parents.

Why PVC Free?

Lots of kids’ rain gear is made from PVC, so what’s the big deal?

According to the Center for Health Environment and Justice,

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic, commonly referred to as vinyl, is one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created.  PVC is dangerous to human health and the environment throughout its entire life cycle, at the factory, in our homes, and in the trash.

Our bodies are contaminated with poisonous chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle, such as mercury, dioxins, and phthalates, which may pose irreversible life-long health threats.  When produced or burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems.

PVC is also full of toxic additives that off-gas or leach out of products. These additives are harmful to our health and they also make it nearly impossible to recycle most PVC products.

Puddlegear by Abeko is a safe alternative to raincoats and pants made from PVC. We have raincoats and pants available now in select colors and sizes, and we are able to special order other colors, sizes and styles as well.

organic kids clothing for back to school

We have been searching for hip, eco and organic kids fashions (as always) and we recently found a company that makes eco-friendly clothing for boys and girls, sizes 2-12, manufactured in the USA.

It has become common to buy local and
organic produce; we are also trying to bring that focus into other areas. Many people have not considered the clothing industry as an area where we can be more eco-friendly, but we can by choosing organic cotton, hemp, soy or bamboo clothing made with low-impact dyes.

Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-dependent crops, sucking up 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals and 25 percent of insecticides.  This is hard on the enviornment as well as on anyone who works with the fiber or the thread or the eventual fabric and garments themsleves.
With all of that in mind we are happy to have found a great line that brings in organic, green spun, and upcycled fabrics. They do it with style and have kids clothes from 2 to 12. So your eco- conscious family can find a hip urban style that is ethically produced and made in the USA.  Sustainable Kids donates $1.50 of every purchase to the Hands and Feet Project’s Children’s Village in Haiti. The company also supplies a box with prepaid shipping to Haiti, for kids and parents to fill with small donations, teaching the value of community support.

Vote for Bootyland!

Do you think Bootyland rocks? Are we your favorite kid’s clothing store? Well, now is your chance to let everyone know.

We’ve been nominated for Parent’s Connect’s 2009 Parent’s Picks in the Best Kid’s Clothing Store Category – so please vote for us so we can get some free publicity!

The cool thing about this contest is you don’t have to register for their website to cast your vote. Just click here and you can vote for us. Right now a Bellevue store is winning – so we need Seattleites to represent.

While you’re there, you can register for a $2,000 sweepstakes prize too. Just think of the shopping spree you could go on with that! And click over to the Best Toy Store category and vote for our good friends at Izilla Toys -  because they rock. You can vote once a day until July 15th, and we really appreciate every vote you can send our way.

Bootyland @ Seattle Children’s Boutique Sale

The fabulous Plum Children’s Shoes has once again put together the Seattle Children’s Summer Boutique Sale, Saturday June 13, from 10:00 – 2:00.

Last year’s event was a big success, with tons of great deals to be had from many of Seattle’s favorite kid’s boutiques. This is a great opportunity to shop independent stores from all over the city in one convenient spot. Booths will be set up outside Plum, at 2913 E Madison St.; make sure to get there early for the best finds.

We have some special items just for the sale – including toys from Playful World and Green Toys, organic cotton dresses from Fig (half off!), and an assortment of screenprinted tees and onesies. You never know what you might score, so we hope to see you there.