Earthy fabric

Green products are everywhere, from small boutiques to big chain stores.   It's all about knowing what to look for and knowing WHY something is green.

Here's one of my latest favorite picks: water hyacinth.

Water hyacinth looks like wicker, but it's a very green choice to buy.    You see, water hyacinth is a very pretty aquatic plant species that was introduced to Asia a very long ago.   Being a non-native species, it quickly choked the waterways, while removing native species.  While spraying them with a herbicide would definitely kill them off, it would also kill all aquatic plants and wildlife.   In other words: not a good idea.

Companies like West Elm (pictured above) collect the water hyacinth plant, dry it, and weave it into hard-working accessories like these pillows.    I've seen water hyacinth in discount to upscale stores; you just have to look at the labels to find it.    These bolster pillows are great; they're durable, cushy and--frankly---not very expensive.