The Green 001 shoe is itself a success in eco friendly design. The shoe body, insoles and shoelaces use natural eco-friendly materials such as paper materials and better cottons.The “Green 001″ also comes with a unique shoebox that showcases a new logo and the slogan “ONLY ONE EARTH.”  There are pictures of endangered animals on the bottom of the box. In addition, a picture of  Maathai, a Kenyan environmental activist and winner of the Nobel Peace prize, is printed on the box. Yup, you get it, this is one GREEN shoe.

Yesterday enoVate’s Street Team hit the mall to interview young Chinese about their attitudes on eco friendly products. Check out some local fashion and hear what people are saying:

Humin Shi, a 20 year old from Shanghai, remarked that he really didn’t know much about eco products. Our Street Team brought along an organic cotton T and a regular T for comparison. When Humin felt both he said “wow! I truly think that the organic material is more smooth and comfortable.” Humin said he would certainly pay more for an organic T

These two were happy to learn that there were organic cotton Ts and other eco products on the market. Both said that they would certainly pay more for an organic T, as long as they knew it was truly an organic product that was better for the earth.

We encountered similar reponses. While a few people weren’t too worried about ecofriendly products, most people, after they learned a little more about the eco friendly organic T, said that they would buy the organic one, even if it cost more! As for how much more they would be willing to pay? Answers varied, but most suggested that they would be willing to pay between 20 to 50 RMB more for the shirt!

As eco week comes to close, enoVate will be compiling even more research. Look for more!

Chinese LOHAS’ are often known to do the following:

• eat organic foods
• wear cloth made by natural cotton, linen and hemp
• bring their own chopsticks when they eat out
• take public transportation or walk
• use energy-saving electrical appliances
• bring their own bags when they go shopping

Longkuan is a singer, designer and a self-professed LOHAS. Currently, she is starting to popularize it as a healthy lifestyle using her blog, LOHAS Queen. She has also designed a T-shirt line, the theme being “我是素的( I am veg)”. Also, she is famous for attending social activites which promote vegetarianism.

For more information on a Chinese LOHAS lifestyle and Longkuan herself, visit: http://blog.sina.com.cn/longkuan

This week we are back in the office and hoping to help save the planet! It’s eco products week here at enoVate.

Want to help save the world while still looking great? How about some shoes made with recycled soles and hemp uppers?

Or check out this innovative active wear company.

Even established brands are going green. Levi’s uses organic cotton, recycled zippers and buttons and organic dyes. Other designers are experimenting with hemp, bamboo and even pineapple fibers.

Ok, so avid enoVate blog readers will notice that the above links only connect readers to American fashion. How dare we! Fret not, enoVate won’t stray too far from the mainland.

This week our focus will remain on China as we investigate whether these eco trends that we are seeing abroad are gaining any traction here in China.

What do young Chinese think about similar products? What brands do they associate with eco friendly products? Do these considerations of environmental impact enter into their purchasing decisions?

Stay tuned for more!