Eco Boutique Specializes in Goods with Light Carbon Footprint

Kent Taylor, whose partner owns Eco Boutique, poses with some
of the eco-friendly products at the store.

By Jaime San Felippo

When John Melecio first decided he was going to open a shop, he thought it would showcase his jewelry designs.

“I’ve always been a little bit conscious about the environment,” said Melecio. “But when I found out I was going to have a niece, I started thinking about what her life is going to be like with the whole global warming thing. I wanted to do something for her.”

Eco Boutique was born. The eco-friendly boutique located in the heart of 18th Street specializes in organic, sustainable and repurposed products while offering affordable prices.

Melecio worked hard to push the envelope by not only making sure all his products are eco-friendly, but the entire shop is as well. The paint on the walls is non-toxic, the lights are all CFL bulbs, the price stickers and shopping bags are all recycled. Even the counter top is made from repurposed doors, pieced together.

Melecio is dedicated to researching every product he puts on the shelves. In addition to providing 100 percent organic products, a main goal of the store is to educate people about how to protect the rain forest.

“I researched the soy candles and made sure the soy beans were grown in the U.S. or China and not Brazil because in Brazil the soy bean is becoming a huge commodity, so the country is destroying millions of acres of forest to plant soy beans,” said Melecio. “I don’t support businesses that sell soy beans from Brazil.”

Melecio said he has been criticized for selling so many products that are made in other countries, but he points out that global warming is not in one country, but the entire world. “If I can encourage other countries to continue to produce eco-friendly products and become more eco-conscious, then I have done a good thing,” he said.

In addition to jewelry made by Melecio, Eco Boutique carries a wide range of products that include bamboo towels, organic baby clothes, soap, candles and mango wood sculptures. The latter is made from branches of the mango tree, which saves the tree from being cut down and helps it to grow faster.

Melecio was not always an “eco-freak,” as he titles himself. He was born and raised in Puerto Rico and studied architecture, fashion and jewelry design in school. He lived in Miami for a few years, working with several South American designers on their fashion shows. He began working for Raging Stallion, a gay porn studio based in San Francisco, in August of 2007 and moved to San Francisco permanently later that year.

Since the Sept. 20 opening of Eco Boutique, Melecio said business has been booming. He attributes this to the fact that the store is not overcrowded with product. He aims to deliver a boutique feel and carry only one-of-a-kind items.

“We’re getting new products all the time,” said Melecio. “Some people look at the store and don’t see much. This is a boutique without boutique prices. I don’t want to have a Marshall’s here with people falling over too much stuff. Once we sell out of particular designs, we don’t bring them back.
“I am really happy about this store,” said Melecio with a grin. “It is important for me to make the world better for the kids that are growing up right now.”

Eco Boutique is located at 4035 18th St. between Noe and Castro streets. For more info visit shopecoboutique.com.

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