Mother Nature has been getting the couture treatment from fashion designers lately.

As popular media has become more eco-conscious and nature-inspired, so has fashion. Every season, a new animal or plant seems to grace jewelry and retail lines. Some of the lines resemble Native American themes and others are modern versions of themes from the Art Nouveau movement.

Whether influenced by a worm or an elephant, the meaning behind nature's popularity is more in the originality of its delivery than its message.

The owl and the snake are everywhere from Urban Outfitters to jewelry by Kenneth Jay Lane. Twig and leaf designs are also hot right now, especially to wrap around your wrist or dangle from your ears. Gorjana's versions are available at La Niche in Shadyside and Footloose in Mt. Lebanon.

Some companies like Alkemie Jewelry take the theme a step further and use metals that are Earth-friendly. Dara Gerson started the company with her husband, Ashley Lowengrub, in reaction to the aggressive mining practices of stones and metals for mass market.

Often the meanings behind the animal and plant figures are completely personal and aesthetic. Though the designs usually have an Art Nouveau feel, Ms. Gerson says their playful images are really inspired by their adventures with their two daughters. Their work is available online at ShopBop.com and locally at Dress Circle in Shadyside.

Mainstream use of Native American materials like feathers and turquoise have added to the popularity of pieces that the Four Winds Gallery in Shadyside has been selling since 1974. While some symbols and precious stones have deeper meaning, many are used purely for their aesthetic beauty, says Joe Vignale, a partner in the gallery.

The contemporary Native American designers that the gallery carries now, like Cody Sanderson, have been influenced by the popularity of nature themes and eco-friendly processes. Pat Pruitt has incorporated stingray skin into a belt buckle, while Mike Bird Romero has fashioned stones and parts of deer antlers into some of his designs.

Influences can be found outside indigenous art as well. Kathy Rose of Roseark attributes her inspiration to Native American ideals and her travels to different countries.

"I always say we are renting space and we should thank Mother Earth and the animal kingdom," she said.

Her snake bangle was one of the first on the market 10 years ago and was one of her most popular items.

In the clothing market, animal prints have been visible in all spectrums of fashion. Lilly Pulitzer made a point of putting the images of endangered animals in her patterns this year. One of her most popular prints uses the panda from the World Wildlife Fund.