For two years, TOMS Shoes has been a shining example of a For Benefit company. Toms has a One For One program; for every pair of their Argentinian-style canvas shoes (known as alpargatas) sold, one pair of TOMS is given to a child in need. Founder Blake Mycoskie and team have travelled to Argentina and South Africa for their soon-to-be-famous “shoe drops,” where they fit the kids personally with the new shoes.

This season, Blake’s come up with a new out-of-the-box design-”The Wrap Boot.” Inspired by his polo playing days in Argentina, Blake modeled The Wrap Boot after the “polo wraps” wound around the bottom of a horse’s cannon bone during a match, which serve as both decoration and tendon support. The Wrap Boot is made with a classic alpargata base and a stretched elastic upper with velcro closures, and comes in five colors. If you’re a TOMS fan, welcome to your new Winter shoe.

With the launch of this new boot, Blake has made it a TOMS Shoes mission to eradicate Podoconiosis, a debilitating condition found primarily in rural districts of Ethiopia which causes swelling and ulcers in the lower legs and feet. The disease is 100% preventable by wearing shoes that are able to keep the soil completely away from the skin, so TOMS has pledged that for every pair of wrap boots purchased, they will give a pair of specially-designed footwear to an Ethiopian in need.

In addition to playing polo, this Renaissance man also has a past with screenwriting and directing, so Blake headed back to Argentina to shoot a short film to promote his new shoe. If you’re in SoCal, there is a screening tonight of No Polo Widow at Huntington Surf and Sport in Huntington Beach starting at 6pm. The Toms team will be there in full swing with music, food, drinks, and of course, shoes. Vicky and Fernando Aguerre (Founder of Reef) will be hosting. The film is a little bit Disney, a touch Almoldovar, and a healthy dose of 80’s style Cinemax after hours. Fyah. If you are one of the billions of people who do not live in Southern California, you can check out the scintillating No Polo Widow right here on In The Loop…

No Polo Widow from TOMS Shoes on Vimeo

Honestly, the concept of disposable plastic items has got to be one of the most stupid ideas in human history. On par with nuclear energy, disposable plastics are made for a one-time use, then end up as toxic waste that lasts almost forever. It’s “convenient” and cheap in the short term, and polluting and cancer-causing in the not-so-short term. A shocking factoid: Americans use 2.5 million bottles every hour. Oh my.

So, what to do my friends?  Make a resolution to stop using them. It’s easy. Get yourself the most fabulous water bottle you can find and carry it with you wherever you go. Concerned about water quality? Pepsi’s brand of bottled water, Aquafina, is the best-selling brands of water in the country. It’s tap water. Coca-Cola’s brand Dasani, tap water. If we have filtered tap water at home and the office, why don’t we just fill up our reusable water bottles when we’re there? Much cheaper. Much chiccer. Concerned about what your friends will think if they’re not doing it yet? Believe me, they will be in a few months and then they’ll be so impressed about what a trendsetter you are. And with all the fabulous choices for water bottles on the market, the most difficult thing about getting into the habit of using them is picking which one you want!

OUT…………………………………………….IN
Plastic Shopping Bags……………….Fashionable Canvas Totes
Poland Spring and Evian…………..SIGG and Klean Kanteen
Plastic Utensils……………………………Reusable To-Go Ware
Disposable Party Plates……………..Mismatched Vintage Dishware
Styrofoam Takeout…………………….Eating In

Is the trend apparent? With Peak Oil on the horizon, our petroleum-based products are naturally headed OUT. Conscious and cute everyday tools are very much IN. Let’s change the number one selling item at Whole Foods from plastic bottled water to stainless steel water bottles, and turn our future landfills into future land trusts.

Ecco Domani creates Pinot Grigio, Merlot, and Chianti for the unitiated. Much more exciting than their wines though, are the opportunities they create for up-and-coming fashion designers through the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation (EDFF) awards. EDFF has announced a new award for 2008-guess what it is? The Sustainable Design Award, of course. EDFF has presented women’s and men’s wear, as well as accessories awards since 2001. Each winner of an EDFF award receives a $25,000 grant to help produce a show in February at the prestigious Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week in New York.

Applicants for the Sustainable Design Award may design for women or men, and must include the three elements of sustainability: environment, social equity, and economic viability. The designs must use environmentally friendly materials and production methods that promote fair trade or social equity for workers. All entries must be completed by Friday, October 3, 2008 at 5:00pm EST.

Former winners of EDFF awards include Zac Posen, Proenza Schouler, Rag & Bone, and Alexander Wang. This year’s judging panel includes Marylou Luther (Editor of the International Fashion Syndicate), Sally Singer (Fashion News & Features Director at Vogue), Christopher Bollen (Editor-In-Chief of Interview), Kim Hastreiter (Editor-In-Chief and Publisher of Paper), Nicole Fischelis (Fashion Director at Macy’s), and Julie Gilhart (VP of Fashion Merchandising at Barneys New York).

“Fashion is a very real reflection of the times we live in, and Ecco Domani is the first to create an award for those emerging designers who are not only thinking about fashion design, but also how the whole process affects the planet,” said Julie Gilhart. “True talent, in my opinion, is creating the same great design, style and energy that talented designers give, but also being concerned about lessening the footprint they are creating. It is most definitely the future of fashion, and with this new category, the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation is once again breaking new ground.”

To apply for the Sustainable Design Award, go to EccoDomani.com to download an application.