Store makes giving green easy for the holidays

It's Our Earth, a unique store at 127 N. Main St. in downtown Wheaton, proves that buying green for Christmas doesn't have to be boring.

With items that range from glamorous retro fashions to paper goods made of elephant waste, husband and wife store owners Richard and Xristina Rahn are proud to carry merchandise that is eco-friendly in every way.

Buying a vintage piece is the ultimate way to recycle, according to Xristina Rahn.

"Some of the things that we have are so elegant and so beautiful," she said. "When you buy something that's vintage, that fits in with the whole story of 'reduce, reuse, and recycle.' And the great part is, there's history behind it."

And Xristina can tell the story behind the merchandise.

"I know where the items came from," she added. "I know the story and can tell everything about it."

Richard Rahn agreed that the history behind each item is part of the mystique of buying from their store.

"The people who are into the vintage look and wear the vintage styles love to have a story with the articles they purchase," he said.

One of the best-selling trends right now are dresses from the '40s and '50s worn by teens who pair the look with their modern jeans or tights.

"We sell a lot of vintage day-dresses," Richard added.

In addition to clothing, they stock retro hats, jewelry, handbags, shoes and even some vintage collectibles.

"We do a lot of estate work," he added.

He cited an example of how they might obtain merchandise. After the death of a prominent Oak Brook socialite, they were contacted by the executor of the woman's estate.

"They learned of our shop's reputation for being fair," said Richard. "We were interested in the vintage clothing and jewelry."

The woman also had an extensive collection of Asian artifacts, but what interested the couple was the contents of her closet: big-name designer clothing items she had accumulated over the years from pricey stores including Saks Fifth Avenue and Marshall Field's. Among other things, the shop acquired dozens of her coats and 23 pairs of Salvatore Ferragamo shoes.

Another acquisition was from a former runway model from the 1950s and 1960s. Her collections featured some of the exclusive designers of the times.

In addition to the vintage items, there are plenty of other gift ideas in every price range that fit the description of "eco-friendly." For example, there are bowls made from old vinyl record albums.

"They're functional, and they're cool and different," said Richard.

The album chip-bowls are one of more than a dozen products that the business manufactures. It is one way of returning back to the economy and qualifying It's Our Earth as a certified green business by Co-op America, a national organization offering a "green pages" for consumers. Part of the certification procedure requires that the business is good not only to the earth, but to its employees and to those who provide them with products, adhering to fair trade standards.

"That means that we are providing products that are not only green, but there is a social conscience to our whole operation," Richard said.

The Rahns, who live in Glen Ellyn, employ a brigade of stay-at-home moms to manufacture tote bags constructed from recycled burlap, which are sold in the store, but also wholesaled. Other manufactured items include charms made from record albums, jewelry made from a variety of recycled materials, notepads made from floppy discs, purses made from vintage fabrics as well as purses and accessories made from recycled juice pouches.

Another product that gives back is a line of candy wrapper purses and accessories made overseas.

"We have trained a group of ladies in the Philippines" said Richard. "It gives them a steady source of income."

The store, which opened in 2005, is a labor of love. "Our passion for doing what we're doing has pretty much driven us," added Richard.

True to their message, even the store's business cards are manufactured with 75 percent elephant dung, and printed with soy ink.

"For us," Richard said, "it demonstrates the fact that you can recycle everything."

For details, visit the Web site itsourearth.com or call (630) 668-3800.