Monday, December 20, 2010

A Little Late but Still Gorgeous


We were hoping to have these in the store much sooner, but we finally got in lots of gorgeous locket necklaces on vintage looking brass chains and embellished with tiny beads. These lockets are all handmade in the USA. The whimsical Octopus Tea Party locket is shown here.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Perfect Presents and Recipes


Help your loved ones find the perfect gift for you (and the animals) by making a wish list at Ethique Nouveau, where all purchases help fund animal advocacy programs. You can select items you love, leave your list with us, and we'll show it to people who come here looking for clues about what you would love to receive. We'll even supply you with little cards to give to your friends and family so they don't forget our store name.


And if you're looking for recipes to cook up the perfect holiday meal for all your loved ones, check out the Rhymes With Vegan online cooking show and recipe blog. From Grandpa Earl's Stuffing to Green Bean Casserole to Smashed Potatoes with Chives, you'll find these and lots of other great recipes for your compassionate holiday celebration.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Hot Chocolate on a Stick!


Now that it's all snowy and fluffy white outside in Minnesota, snuggle up and create delicious hot chocolate in the comfort of your own home. Chocolate Inspirations Gourmet Hot Chocolate Cups are hot chocolate on a stick you can make at home in minutes. Available in Dark Chocolate or Caramel Latte, each hot chocolate cup is a single serving of imported Swiss Chocolate Couverture you blend with your favorite soy or rice milk to create the ultimate chocolate indulgence. Hot chocolate cups are vegan and dairy-free. And to go with your hot chocolate, Dandies vegan marshmallows are now back in stock again.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

The Cow Hugger Scarf is Back!


The popular Cow Hugger scarf from Herbivore Clothing company is back! These cotton scarves are heather gray, over 7 feet long, and really soft and comfy.


We have oodles of other scarves in stock also - perfect for gifts - including Fair Trade 100% bamboo scarves in gorgeous colors, men's scarves in black, gray, and taupe, and lots of other styles too numerous to mention.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Put on Your Snugs and Make it Through Winter


Vegan "Uggs", better known as Snugs, are here. Soft, warm, and comfy, these boots are easy to pull on and kick off. Soles are grippy and eco-friendly stitched-on rubber and cork.

Also in stock now is the men's Office Shoe, a simple black lace-up shoe that can go to work or out to more dressy occasions.

Stop by and check out both these styles from Vegetarian Shoes of England.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Happy Earth, Happy Feet!


For all you moms and pops - and grandmoms and grandpops, Ethique Nouveau carries a selection of eco-friendly soft-soled IsaBooties baby shoes for funky lil' feet. IsaBooties are 100% animal-free, formaldehyde-free, made in the USA, sold in recycled/recyclable pakaging, and machine-washable/machine-dryable. Plus, they're just so doggone cute!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Thanks Ali Shops!


Thanks to "Ali Shops" for the lovely review of Ethique Nouveau! It's great to have another reviewer recognize that "Shopping with a purpose doesn't feel like a chore" at Ethique Nouveau. Be sure to visit alishops.com whenever you want an insider's guide to Twin Cities shopping.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Greetings and Cards Oh My


You might not know that Ethique Nouveau carries a great selection of greeting cards by local artists. Ranging from truly lovely to fun and funky, we have cards that will fit most any occasion in your life. Shown here is one of our cards from Stillwater artist Sue Rowe, whose bears never cease to delight.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Fall is Here - and so are New Shiraleah Bags


Just got in lots of shapes and sizes of Shiraleah bags in a wide range of gorgeous fall colors.


Shiraleah's collection of polyurethane bags says that nothing needs to die for the sake of fashion. Designed to look like leather, this animal-friendly polyurethane material is safer to produce and healthier to carry as there is minimal toxic output during production compared to leather tanning. The material is also biodegradable in 10 years, ensuring an eco-friendly lifecycle for each bag. And the bags hold everything you need and can be easily wiped clean. Shiraleah's vegan leather items are perfect for everyone who is concerned about the social and environmental impact of the products they buy.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Lavishy Just In


Very cute new wallets (large and small) and coin purses in a wide range of colors just in from Lavishy. These have the look of leather, but they're cruelty-free faux leather made of 30% recycled materials. The large wallet shown from the Akina Collection has an inside zipper pocket, ID pocket, card slots, and a cash folder.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Make Me Over!


If you're anything like me you love make-up and color but haven't a clue when it comes to knowing whether you have blue or yellow undertones, the difference between matte and powder finishes, or what color palette best brings out your eyes.


Well, now there's help for the clueless (but the clued-in are welcome as well). Join us at Ethique Nouveau on Thursday, October 14 from 6:30 to 8:30pm for our Fall Colors Makeup Event. Come and get your make-up done and learn about your coloring and what make-up colors work best for you.


Erica Allenburg, an industry expert from Arbonne, will be on hand to guide you through the process and answer all those make-up questions you've been dying to ask. You can order Arbonne make-up through Ethique Nouveau now; proceeds benefit ARC's animal advocacy programs. Do good for the animals and look good doing it!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Thanks to Minneapolis Picks for the Nice Press!


Thanks to Minneapolis Picks for their great article on Ethique Nouveau entitled "Veganistas." You really got what we're all about – that you can be fashionable, fun – and animal friendly too!

Monday, August 23, 2010

A Little Retro


Our Red Tango line of women's tees and hoodies by animation artist Cynthia Petrovic has a decidedly retro feel. Cynthia lists her other influences as Japanese packaging design, petroglyph art, and traditional Mexican design. Her Dot Kitty long sleeve tee with warm brown and aqua touches is shown here, and we have a number of her other designs in stock also. Check them all out for a fun update to your tee-shirt collection.

Monday, August 9, 2010

These are not Ordinary Backpacks


They're members of the family. A side-kick, a backstop, a trusted companion that carries a secret stash of important stuff, these backpacks are kid-friendly. They can keep up with rough and tumble toddlers and satisfy the most style-conscious youngster...on the playground, at school, even on journeys to exotic places...like grandma's or the mall. With lots of styles to choose from there is a special buddy just waiting to go home with you.
All backpacks are lead-free and phthlate-free.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Wear Something Different


We're loving the cuffs and pendants we just got in from local artist Molly Spilane. A resident of South Minneapolis, Molly is well known for her quirky and unique wearable art jewelry and stylish art prints. Stepping outside the box, she uses items such as repurposed and recycled material and industrial supplies, as well as heat treated and molded acrylic.


Molly's work is known for her use of vintage flora and fauna images and her work can be found in various museums worldwide. Her motto: "Wear Something Different" has become a mantra for those who enjoy her uncommon adornments.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Choose Beauty Without Cruelty


We're now carrying Beauty Without Cruelty full volume mascara that is free of parabens, PEG, fragrance, and animal ingredients - and not tested on animals! This new mascara separates and defines each lash with long-lasting, smudge-resistant color and is formulated to create the max volume and length.


Also try BWC Extra Gentle Eye Makeup Remover with herbal extracts and vegetable glycerin to gently remove all types of make-up completely and easily without irritation. It leaves skin clean, soft, and free of oily residue, unlike mineral oil based products.


Getting all serious now, you don’t want parabens or polyethylene glycol (PEG) in your cosmetics because parabens, in their many forms (methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, or butylparaben) have been linked to breast cancer. The FDA claims that parabens aren’t dangerous at very low levels, but when you consider that 25,000 different cosmetics and skincare products contain these chemicals, it’s feasible to build up quite an exposure in a lifetime. Likewise, PEG compounds are synthetic chemicals used in cosmetics that many believe increase the risk of a variety of cancers, and they can also contain harmful impurities such as lead and arsenic.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Lovin' My Maruca


Casual, soft, and functional, Maruca Design handbags feature unique prints in distinctive shapes that bounce with color. They're perfect with any contemporary bohemian look. Bag shown is Bahama Coral.


Maruca Design is a small collaborative design effort based in Boulder, Colorado, and all of their jacquard fabrics are woven in the U.S.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Chocolate. . . Not Just for Breakfast Anymore


We've just received more Peanut Butter Pillows and we're all happy now.


A must try - these award-winning Chocolate Inspirations Peanut Butter Pillows taste just like the Butterfingers candy bars you ate as a child. This light, flaky vegan peanut butter confection topped with imported Swiss Vegan Dark Chocolate Couverture is out of this world. One bite and you`ll be hooked. Perfect for a little thank you gift or a treat for yourself!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Thanks for the Kudos!


Thanks to Twin Cities Metro magazine for calling us "An Eco-friendly Boutique We Love" on the cover of their July 2010 issue and for their great story on Ethique Nouveau! We especially like that they highlighted the connection between being Earth-friendly, animal-friendly and human-friendly.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Beauty: It's More Than Skin Deep


Every year cosmetics companies kill millions of animals in product tests. These companies claim they test on animals to establish the safety of their products and ingredients. The Food and Drug Administration, however, does not require animal testing for cosmetics, and alternative testing methods are widely available and lead to more reliable results.


If you'd like to learn how animals are used by the health and beauty industry and how you can shop for cruelty-free products with confidence, join us for Discover Real Beauty, a cosmetics and skin care event on Saturday, July 10, from 2-5pm. We'll be offering samples, makeup tips, and skin care advice from an industry expert. Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Let's Hear It for the Boys!


At Ethique Nouveau we're continually on the lookout for new products that meet our criteria of being animal friendly, and we get excited about designers who are creating not just “alternatives,” but first-class products that can be appreciated by all.

We introduced the Jaan J. line of non-silk ties to Minnesota in early May and they’ve been a big hit ever since. Jaan J. ties are gorgeous, high quality, and of course, completely cruelty-free. Made from woven micro fibre satin, these ties look and feel like real silk ties, but don’t require killing hundreds of silkworms to make them. Each tie has a high quality interlining, ensuring a full-body tie and beautiful drape. We think Jaan J. will be the answer to your search for classic and timeless ties with a silk-like feel, quality workmanship, and distinguished designs.

P.S. If you now have the classic "Let's Hear It for the Boy" by Deniece Williams playing on endless loop in your head like I do, check out the vintage video on YouTube.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

So Fresh


A bumper crop of Fresh necklaces has made its way to south Minneapolis. Handmade in the U.S. with sterling silver chains (hypoallergenic too) these graphic pendants come in lots of bright colors and shapes to go with every summer look. Necklace shown is from the Fresh necklace Gogo collection. Stop by and check them out - you'll find at least one you can't live without.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Big Buddha has Arrived


The Big Buddha Summer Collection has arrived in store. We absolutely love Big Buddha with silhouettes such as shoulder, cross-body and hand held bags, each complimented by luxurious features such as studded details, neutral textures and quilting. A distinctive new kind of vegan handbag, Big Buddha bags are fun, functional and kind to animals all in one eye-catching package.

Monday, May 17, 2010

You're Invited - Grand Opening!

Welcome - so glad you're here! This is the place to go for updates on everything that's new and exciting at Ethique Nouveau and for news about upcoming special events.

First off, you're invited to help celebrate our Grand Opening on Saturday, June 5 from 12:00-5:00 p.m. We'll have lots of door prizes, refreshments, and a few other surprises in store. So stop in and check us out - we're looking forward to meeting you.