Ethiopia…land of the original coffee bean, breathtaking waterfalls, and the history-making, inspired leadership of Emperor Haile Selassie I. Ethiopian people are some of the most beautiful in the world, as well as some of the poorest. Too many people in this country suffer and die from diseases that are completely preventable, like podoconiosis.

Podoconiosis, or “podo,” is a form of elephantiasis caused by walking barefoot on soil with high concentrations of irritants like sodium, potassium, and silica. Podo victims become outcasts of society and are often incapable of performing most types of work. This incurable condition is gruesome, debalitating, and 100% preventable.  The grand solution to podo involves providing people with one basic possession: shoes.

Blake Mycoskie of TOMS Shoes is the perfect man for this job. From its inception, Blake’s “for benefit” company has donated a pair of TOMS to a child in need for every pair the company sells. TOMS has distributed shoes to tens of thousands of cutie pies in Argentina and South Africa, as well as hosting DIY shoe decorating parties in the US for children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Blake is now applying his exceptional business model to help prevent podoconiosis in Ethiopia.

For the month leading up to Christmas 2008, TOMS promoted their Project Holiday campaign to sell 30,000 pairs of shoes, so they could give 30,000 pairs of protective rubber shoes to kids in Ethiopia. When all the holiday dust had settled, TOMS and all the customers who participated in Project Holiday had made it possible for 37,000 Ethiopian children to receive shoes and slow the spread of this heartbreaking disease.

Continue reading TOMS Project Holiday: Outfitting Africa

A few weeks ago on December 11th, I had the pleasure to attend the opening of a sustainable textile sample library in Manhattan. C.L.A.S.S. (Creativity, Lifestyle And Sustainable Synergy) is located inside the Allsteel showroom, at 233 Park Avenue South, and 19th Street, on the second floor.

There had once been talk of setting up such a sample library at the Fashion Institute of Technology, but director Valerie Steele had committed her entire budget to the museum.  C.L.A.S.S. is co-founded by Giusy Bettoni and Sandy MacLennan. They have two other locations, in London and Milan.

The panel was hosted by Barbara Kramer of Designers & Agents and included New York consultant, Bahar Shahpar, model and eco-consultant Summer Rayne Oakes, BerBrand founder Dr. Emanuele Bertoli, Elinor Averyt, Founder of L.E.A.F. (Labeling Ecologically Approved Fabrics), Sergio Sessini, President of CADICAGROUP USA, Inc, and Paolo Garotta, a Project Manager of Relight.

Continue reading First Day Of C.L.A.S.S.

With the hullaballoo and drama of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa (or for some folks all three), New Year’s Eve is a holiday that can easily sneak up on you. You can find yourself scrambling last minute for fabulous plans, the dress of your dreams, and the cash to make it all come true. Here’s some down-to-earth NYE options that won’t put the planet or your bank account in jeopardy.

Affordable Eco Couture

René Geneva Design creates the ultimate in glamazon party dresses. Her extensive background in eco corset design lends to super sexy well-constructed knockouts in shiny and colorful hemp silks, organic cotton, and non-GMO soy jersey. René Geneva designs are romantic, sexy showstoppers, so be prepared to turn heads. The most exciting part of all-affordable eco couture. You may have never seen these three words together before, but René Geneva is unique in more ways than one. Pieces range from $150-$285 and believe me, these are heirloom worthy garments. If you need to alleviate consumer-related guilt, check out René’s work installing solar panels in a Nicaraguan sewing cooperative, organizing the Scraps For Schools program in Austin, and guaranteeing that each and every piece she creates is carbon neutral. Even her website is wind-powered. René Geneva is a true green goddess of the design world.

Vintage Vixen

If you’ve watched any classic film from the 1940’s or 50’s, you can attest-those women knew something about glamor. Scour the fab local vintage stores in almost any city large or small to find a stunning New Year’s gown or party dress in your price range. If you don’t have a quality vintage boutique in your area, check out online vintage meccas like Vintageous and Blue Velvet Vintage.

Continue reading Eco Chic NYE: How To Dress

So, okay, let’s be real. It’s December 22nd and you still haven’t finished your Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa (a.k.a. Kwanuzimas) shopping. There’s no time left to ship from the internet and you want gifts that aren’t going to somehow implicate you in the razing of rainforests, child labor, or poisoning our precious planet. You need a quick fix. Here’s In The Loop’s Top 5 Last Minute Eco Gifts for Holiday 2008…

1 Stylephile

A gift certificate to the ultimate eco fashion e-tailer is a style maven’s dream come true and best of all, you don’t have to worry about getting the perfect color or size. Whether male or female, your recipient can choose from the hottest new organic, sustainable, Fair Trade, locally-made denim, t-shirts, jackets, shoes, resusable shopping bags, stainless steel water bottles, hats, wallets, and more. An email gift certificate will arrive for them in 1-2 business days, so get your order in by the 23rd. Even if your friend or loved one has not yet been hit by the green bug yet, eco fashion could easily be their gateway drug to conscious commerce!

2 Junk Mail Hater

Adults in the US receive an average of 41 pounds per year in junk mail; 560 or so of these pieces of junk mail remain completely unopened and unread before heading straight to the landfill. The process to get someone off of the numerous direct mail lists is both tedious and somewhat daunting; helping a friend put an end to this wasteful cycle can be very much like performing a Christmas miracle. Let companies like GreenDimes and 41pounds.org do the work for you for just $20-$41. This makes an excellent holiday gift for your family and for forests everywhere!

3 Animal Lover

Snow leopards and tigers and polar bears, oh my! If you have a friend who is wild about animals, then help them adopt one of these furry creatures through World Wildlife Fund. Your friend will receive an email gift certificate on the date you choose, or purchase by the 23rd to print out a WWF gift card. With either method, your loved one can go online and choose which animal they’d like to adopt. At the $25 level, they’ll also receive a certificate of adoption and a photo. At the $50 level, they’ll get an adorable 12′ plushie of the animal they choose. This beautiful gift preserves wildlife habitat in some of the most precious and delicate ecosystems in the world.

4 Yoga Master

As we witness the yoga craze reaching every corner of the country with extreme fervor, it’s easy to see there are very few types of people who do not benefit from yoga. It’s an excellent gift for athletes, people looking to lose weight, older folks, office workers, and people suffering from depression. Many studios offer two weeks of unlimited class for first timers for $20-$50. Just look up a yoga studio in your giftee’s local area and arrange for a a gift certificate to be emailed to them. This gift has super low negative impact on the environment and super high positive impact on your friend.

5 Treehugger

For the über nature lovers in your life, there’s nothing like gifting trees or land conservation. The Nature Conservancy will plant trees in the endangered Atlantic Forest of Brazil at a rate of $1 per tree, or for $25-$50, will Adopt an Acre® of Las Californias grassland right here in the U.S. An email announcing the gift can be set to go out any day of your choice; information on all the exclusive member benefits of The Nature Conservancy, plus some fun gifts, will arrive in their mailbox soon after.

Yesterday I was walking through Third Street Promenade, a large outdoor mall in Los Angeles, and became curious if mainstream shops were offering any sustainable choices for holiday shopping this year. I walked into the incredible sale at The Limited Express.

Me: “Excuse me, do you have any organic clothing?”
TLE: “Any what?”
Me: “Organic clothing?”
TLE: “Organic? Uh, no.”
Me: “Thanks.” (Sigh.)

No Christmas presents will be bought here this year…again. So there’s sustainable online shopping, which is great for shipping to your family in faraway places, but where do you go when you want to see and feel the gifts you want to give this year? Artisan markets are certainly a great alternative to mindless deal-hungry stampedes at Wal-mart. If you’re in Los Angeles this weekend you are truly blessed, because the Eco Gift Festival is taking over the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium for the second year in a row. It’ll cost you $10 to get in, but it’s worth it in more ways than one…

VENDORS

At Eco Gift Festival, there will be green gifts of every sort from all over the country. Ecochic dresses by Kate Organic, stylin’ sustainable hats by Livity Outernational, sleek reusable water bottles by Earthlust and utensil sets by To-Go Ware, recycled jewelry by Smart Glass, Fair Trade shoes by Autonomie Project, loungewear by Natural High Lifestyle, handmade goat milk soaps by Chivas, Fair Trade sports gear, bamboo kitchenware, non-toxic candles, juicers, yoga gear, baby clothes, ethical clothing galore, organic chocolate, toys, gardening supplies, recycled jewelry, natural cosmetics, and on and on.

The companies vending at Eco Gift go way out of their way to bring ecological sanity to their sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, and shipping. When I’m buying eco-conscious gifts for my friends and family and I know my purchases are actually creating positive effects in the communites where they’re made- for the people, the wildlife, and the land itself- it’s a really good feeling.

Continue reading Los Angeles Holiday Shopping: Eco Gift Festival 2008

You are being conscientious this year in your holiday shopping - in more ways than one.  We hear you.  With this in mind, we have put together a well rounded good of unique, thoughtful green gifts under $50 that won’t break the bank.  Shopping for a wife, husband, brother sister, mom, dad, partner, friend or even just an acquaintance?  Pick up an activist inspired, long sleeved graphic t-shirt made from organic cotton, or perhaps a holiday themed “Turtle Doves” or “GIVE” reusable shopping tote - both made using Eco friendly fibers.   Looking to help a friend develop the BYOB habit?  ( bags…not beer, at least not in this instance).  Check out Envirosax resuable shopping bags, with three different collections to choose from, and five  highly compact bags per pack, they will make the switch in no time and thank you for it.  Maybe you’re looking for a bigger nudge down the green living path.  Our Get Hip Get Green Gift set is the perfect option, featuring a reusable shopping bag, reusable steel water bottle and a reusable, insulated lunch bag, plus a super cool Project green. bracelet.  Who couldn’t use a little inspiration or positivity in their lives.  Tees for Change are the answer  - simple tees and long sleeves in great colors with inspiring words, in organic cotton or bamboo blends.  Feeling charitable?  Then be sure to check out TOMS shoes, and feel fantastic knowing that for each pair you buy, you are putting shoes on someone who has none.  Maybe you need something for the Fashionista in your life?  Vy & Elle recycled billboard Leili clutch or Angel Hobo bag is your answer.   Looking for some trimming?  Lucina’s Berry Coil bracelets or Cheeky Monkey mini recycled silver animal pendant necklaces are sure to be a hit.

Not to worry, we’ve got the dudes covered too - and because we know you like to keep it simple, we’ll be brief here:  Check out our eduicational, and oft dual meaning Positive Energy T-shirts, recycled rubber belts from Alchemy Goods, artsy wallets by Db Clay and, organic cotton ties from Crow, recycled banner wallets by Alchamy Goods, and recycled billboard kit bags by Vy & Elle among other excellent options.

And…because we like you so much and love that you read our blog (we try to keep it interesting), here is a little something for you.  Use HOL25 at check-out, and you will get 25% off your gift purchases with us this year.  Nothing like a little incentive to check those items off that list.  Want an even sweeter deal?  Right now, standard shipping is FREE.

Happy Holidays!

One of the greatest positive impacts we can make on the planet is through how we build our buildings. Global Green USA is dedicated to just that by educating homeowners, developers, and government on how to build structures that are energy efficient, conserve water resources, and limit toxic building materials. Last Tuesday in San Francisco, the posh 4th Annual Gorgeous & Green gala raised over $250,000 for the organization. In more ways than one, that makes for some for serious green.

Continue reading Making Some Serious Green