Green Options

Urban environments beg for a breather – especially when summer rolls around. This holds true even for urban seascapes such as L.A., our country’s second largest city and known for its metropolitan sprawl. Thanks in part to Guru Energy Drink, a recent sponsor of Greening Hollywood, and Whole Food’s most popular energy drink, I was able to invite a couple of friends to join me day tripping up to a nature estate in Ojai.
Not too long ago, I befriended a fashion designer specialized in sustainable leather goods – one who makes chrome-free leather boots, jewelry and accessories. Her name is Calleen Cordero and she has a following both in L.A. and internationally, in cities like Berlin. Her pieces are       [Pictured: Main House at Calliote]

fashionable, infused with quality craftsmanship and it’s only after the fact that one realizes their environmental aspect.

While speaking with her initially, however, we found ourselves on the subject of Ojai and the Ojai Foundation which has been teaching the arts of permaculture and sustainability back when these were “fringe” paths pursued by the hippie-culture. Ojai is the small “art town,” set back in the hills off the 101, between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. These days The Ojai Foundation is focused on “Council” a program they have been taking out to area schools in the local and surrounding counties.  What is “Council?”

Environmental activist, green advocate, model, scientist & gorgeous girl-about-the-green-scene, Summer Rayne Oakes is about to launch her first book titled ‘Style, Naturally’. Touted as a savvy shopping guide to sustainable shopping & beauty, the book will be available at all major locations like Amazon.com, Borders and Barnes & Noble, but also cool, conscientious booksellers like [...]

In celebration of their two year anniversary today, the ethical, environmentally conscience and eco fashionable Equita is offering a whopping 40% off all eco-fashion today and tomorrow only.  Its no secret that we’re all holding onto our wallets a little tighter these days and trying to plan for Christmas without overdoing it.  Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this great sale and cross some items off your list while you have a chance at a huge savings.  They carry eco-fashion brands FIN, EDUN, Stewart+Brown, Loyale, Autonomie, Del Forte Denim, Perfectly Imperfect, Loomstate, Ecoist, Vega, Tom’s Shoes, Josh Jakus and more. 

While eco-fashion is becoming more mainstream with an increasing number of environmentally conscious designers serving up sustainable styles and earth-friendly frocks, the runways are typically reserved for regaling the glitz and glam of overly indulgent attire.

But this week, Vancouver turns the spotlight on sustainability with its first ever eco-focused fashion night, Friday, November 7th, 2008.

Vancouver Fashion Week, a hotbed of haute couture and leading west coast designers, is one of the premier purveyors of popular pageantry, unveiling some of the world’s most sought after styles and trends.  This year, VFW is showing its support for the environment with a dedicated evening for designers to promote their leading edge sustainable artistry and eco-conscious craftmanship.  From eco luxury, showcasing the art of organic handmade silk, to the unique beauty of recycled fabrics like cashmere and wool, an impressive range of techniques and designs will be featured.

A couple weeks ago, Kelli announced that Chicago’s fourth annual Fashion Week kicks off today, but not without the absolutely brand new addition of MoSS.  Curated by Pivot Boutique, Chicago’s first boutique dedicated to eco-fashion, this event will “features clothing, accessories and furniture that inspire and respond to current form and function necessities, without compromising our environmental abilities to meet future needs“ .  Featured designers and collaborators include Annie Novotny of Frei Designs, Lara Miller, Alice Berry, Jane Palmer and Marianne Fairbanks of Noon Solar, Joshua Height of Brickermade and Michele Fitzpatrick of Verde Design Studio.

Stay tuned next week as Fashion Week hits Portland…

Kate D’ Arcy is both designer and model behind the Toggery Collection that is full of contemporary, yet comfortable knits made of eco-friendly fabrics, most of which features ultra-soft organic cotton.  “I’ve created a lifestyle brand that enables women to make socially and environmentally conscious decisions about clothing, while still being fashion forward and trend oriented.  Everyone needs to do their part but it doesn’t need to be a sacrifice” says Kate.

Her new Fall Collection is right on target with the hot trends of the season featuring royal jewel tones and renaissance-esque sleeves.  With versatility in mind, these looks vary from your not-so-typical casual wear to dresses you’d like to be seen in (and remembered) at a cocktail party.   

Ever wonder what fashion bloggers are really like? We have! While it would be difficult to try and analyze ourselves, we jump at the chance to chat with other eco-minded online writers to get their perspective on sustainable fashion and its place in the entire green movement.

Launched a month and a half ago as part of the new EcoGeek blogging network, Wearing the Future is all about “straight talk as much as style, so you won’t have to worry about fluffy, PR-soaked, greenwashing nonsense.”

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with the blog’s chief editor and head writer, Kyeann Sayer (pronounced like “cayenne” pepper). As a long-time writer for Treehugger.com, Kyeann has an impressive media resume - she has been featured on CNN, MSN, I.D. Magazine, Domino, Spin, Outside, and Women’s Wear Daily … just to name a few.

In our lively conversation, Kyeann and I talk about the beginning of Wearing the Future, her favorite eco-fashion brands, personal style’s place in the world of green living and more - read on for all the juicy details!

Victoria Everman: How did you get connected with Hank Green of EcoGeek? Did the two of you come up with the idea for Wearing the Future together or was he on the look-out for an editor and writer already? 

Editor’s note: Please join us in welcoming Jason Phillip to the Green Options writing team! A freelance writer and editor based in Chicago, Jason will be focusing on the "green scene" in the Windy City for us. Mayor Richard Daly has committed to making Chicago the greenest city in the country, so we’re looking forward to Jason’s reports on these efforts.

My idea of sustainable fashion has always been making sure the clothing

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Even after the flood of publications covering green issues and eco-living around April, recycling is still newsworthy. Adorn, the "crafty girl’s guide to embellishing life," is the newest title from NYC’s Soho Publishing, which also publishes the ever-popular Vogue Knitting Magazine. Released quarterly, Adorn’s Fall 2007 issue proudly exclaims "We Love Recycling! Thrift Your Way to New Fashion." With second-hand shops by the dozens here in San Francisco, it’s easy to

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Off the Mat, Into the WorldIn just the past 30 years, yoga has grown from being seen as a hippy-like hobby for bored housewives to a widely prescribed, physically and spiritually taxing experience that helps people of all background balance their lives. Embracing the specific yogic concept of ahimsa, or non-harming, Yoga, Tribe and Culture has created a clothing company that inspires others to

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Expressing the importance of eco-fashion to the general public is no easy task. The entire clothing industry is often seen as flagrant and a secondary part of life - something that we have to be a part of in our society, but many would rather do without.

For the fourth episode of their Big Ideas For A Small Planet series, the Sundance Channel takes on the challenging topic

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