Tonight’s theme on BIFASP is “Transport,” and it’s a show that will get diehard tech enthusiasts and community activists excited about the possibilities available for getting from here to there with a lighter environmental impact. Unlike some of the previous episodes, “Transport” takes viewers to places they’d probably expect, and definitely know: New York City, Portland, Oregon, and Boston. While New York’s famous for its public transportation, discussions with city transit officials show they’re moving forward rapidly to make an established system more user-friendly and sustainable. In Portland, human-powered transportation is the focus: Portland’s the most bicycle-friendly city in North America, and you’ll not only find out why, but also see how green transport evangelists are shopping its model around to other American locales.

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The seemingly innocuous question comes with all sorts of ethical baggage these days: for many Americans, recycling is not just an initial step into a greener life, but also an activity suffused with moral weight. While many will argue about the significance of individuals and families recycling items they might otherwise throw away, there’s no doubt that creative and innovative reuse of materials is critical for the health of the planet… and the people who reside on it (along with all of those other species). Tonight, the Sundance Channel’s Big Ideas for a Small Planet goes beyond the blue bin many of us place on the curb, and looks at three organizations that are taking recycling in some interesting, and effective, directions.

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And while I’ve got you, throw your name in the hat for a green giftbag from the Sundance Channel. It’s easy to do: just subscribe to Green Options Media’s biweekly newsletter.

Impatient? Can’t wait 45 minutes? Here… take a sneak peak at tonight’s episode:

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At 9 pm EDT, Big Ideas for a Small Planet will focus on the theme “Decorate.” The press materials from Sundance note that “it IS possible to have stylish furnishings without messing up the planet,” and will feature some of the designers that are working within this context. sustainablog and GO readers know this, of course, but I have no doubt we’ll all learn new things from this show.

At 9:35 pm, the aesthetic focus will continue with the documentary Manufactured Landscapes. The film profiles photographer Edward Burtynsky, and his work documenting China’s transition to an urbanized society (and the environmental costs associated with it). Ansel Adams he ain’t: think mines, factories and lava flows vs. stunning natural vistas.

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For the fourth episode of their Big Ideas For A Small Planet series, the Sundance Channel takes on the challenging topic of dressing green. The first three episodes of this original documentary series have gotten a large amount of critical acclaim for bringing environmental issues to the millions of Americans who tune in. So far, the topics of fuel, building construction, and city development have been examined, offering up three different topic-specific ideas of how to enhance our lives and reduce our carbon footprint at the same time in each episode.

Premiering this Tuesday, May 8th at 9pm Eastern and Pacific, the Wear episode features commentary from Ali Hewson (Bono's wife and founder of Edun Clothing), Simran Sethi, Carson Kressley (the wonderfully flamboyant blond fashion guru from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), and Graham Hill (founder of TreeHugger.com). I must admit that when I saw Carson come on screen, I was worried that the episode might end up being less than serious, but he had a unique point-of-view to add to the subject of green fashion, acting as a voice for the many that see style as an integral part of their life, just like eating or sleeping. Helping to show people that wearing sustainable fabrics has little, if anything, to do with tie-dye and hippies is one of the most important factors for the growing green fashion market, and this episode does a darn good job of getting that point across.

"Can we imagine a world that is both green and stylish?" was the question presented at the very beginning of the 25-minute documentary. Following this, three ideas are given to make this imagination a reality: organic fibers, recycled fabrics, and reusing fashion. While the concepts of recycling and reusing are much less polluting, I'm not surprised that new, sustainable fabrics were covered first. The underground craft movement has been growing to a mainstream level, but not enough so that taking the time to modify or reinvent items in your closet has become chic. Buying stylish, green clothing right off the rack is still the easiest and most timely option for the bulk of consumers. Linda Loudermilk, the main feature of the first segment, is a great representation of being chic and sustainable.

There is no denying that the market for green fashion is growing rapidly, and one of the first facts presented in this episode proves it: since 2000, manufacturer demand for organic cotton fiber has increased an estimated 93% per year. Loudermilk in particular has shown that looking good and doing good can go hand in hand seamlessly. "We're not going to get rid of the ego, so to use it in a positive way is what I decided I wanted to do [eight years ago]." The downside of her line is that it is out of reach for a large portion of consumers due to cost. No other green fashion brands are featured in this segment, adding to the myth that new, eco-style has to be expensive (which we all know is not true thanks to the many affordable brands I have featured here at Green Options during recent months).

Idea two focuses on recycled fabrics, particularly on the efforts of outdoor mega-brand Patagonia. The concept of being able to break down an old garment to its molecular level and spin new fabrics that are just as effective as its first life truly embrace the Cradle to Cradle process. "The Ecospun recycling process has the potential to keep more than 2.5 billion bottles and containers out of the world's landfills each year." Considering the fact that our culture is having a tough time learning to live without plastic bottles, this tidbit of information is all the more pertinent. Other brands have been taking this idea and running with it, openly accepting old, used garments to be recycled back into their supply chain, saving the company money and protecting the planet's resources. Something that is rarely considered when clothes shopping is the true cost of the items you are buying: not just the price tag, but the environmental, social, and shipping costs as well. Buying items made from organic, sustainable, recycled, or fair-trade materials often have these factors built into their retail price, helping your purchase speak for more than just your personal style.

Last but by no means least, idea three centers around reusing fashion. "We get bombarded by magazines, newspapers that tell us that we have to be in the trend and we have to get new clothes every year, but it's actually not true. I think people are tired of looking like everyone else," says LoriPetitti, organizer for one of over 40 Swap-O-Rama-Rama events in cities around the world. Adding personal creativity back into fashion is what reusing is all about. While some are content while blending in with the crowd, many individuals, especially those under 30, are striving to be unique by modifying and creating their own garments and accessories in a variety of styles. I can honestly say that at least 50% of my wardrobe is rarely worn, either due to size or change in personal taste. Embracing the concept of reusing fashion allows you to adjust a piece to your liking, or even overhaul itcompletely by, for example, turning a pair of jeans into a skirt or combining two different tops to create one. The only extra resources used in this process are thread and a little bit of electricity to run a sewing machine; everything else comes good old human power. While this idea may not be the first choice for those that fancy the stores of New York's Fifth Avenue, it is a wonderful money-saving option for the average American.

"One of the biggest problems about fashion is that it's a really disposable industry. We have marketers, retailers, designers - all working towards creating new styles for every season," states Simran Sethi towards the end of the program, and I couldn't agree more. In a broad sense, the deceiving concept of disposable living is the issue for all of the subjects covered within the Big Ideas For A Small Planet series so far. All of our resources, from fuel and building supplies to clothing fibers and community, are ever depleting and can not be guaranteed. While this episode only begins to scratch the surface of what sustainable options and brands exist within the fashion world, it is concise enough to help inspire people to continue to investigate what is available within their price range.

For more information about the Wear episode, including clips and air times, click here. If you do not have cable TV (like me), you can download the full episode after it airs via iTunes.

What did YOU think of the Wear documentary? After viewing the full episode, come back and leave a comment for us with your opinion and feedback.