This past Earth Month, our fabulous friends at Inhabitat along with the US Green Building Council (USGBC) put on the 3rd Annual Project Earth Day. This event showcases the hottest eco fashion designers of the day as well as a fierce Project Runway-style student design competition. Longtime eco fashion superstar Bahar Shahpar was Co-Producer and Creative Director of this year’s Project Earth Day. Here, the lovely Margaret Teich of Inhabitat gives you a tour of the event…

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In the world of mainstream environmentalism, 2007 was “The Year of the Lightbulb.” In 2009, we may be evolving from this sort of consumer-style activism with “The Year of the Light Switch.” On March 28th, people from all over the world will be uniting together in a simple action that doesn’t cost money or energy, and actually saves us plenty of both- turning out the lights for a single hour.

World Wildlife Fund has painstakingly organized citizens, businesses, and communities around the world to turn off their lights at 8:30pm local time for Earth Hour. Earth Hour began two years ago in Australia, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. Last year, along with 50 million individuals, major landmarks all over the planet helped to make this statement of conservation, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Roman Colosseum, Sydney Opera House, and one of the longest running digital billboards in Times Square.

For 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote for government action on climate change.

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As event icons BOXeight and GenArt bring the most epic shows to LA Fashion Week 09 over the next three days, our friends at LiViTY Outernational will be stylin’ out the VIP’s in the LiViTY ECO LOUNGE. Housed upstairs at the stunningly historical Los Angeles Theater in Downtown, the LiViTY ECO LOUNGE will be open to select guests from 7-12 during the runway shows on March 13th, 14th, and 15th.

This exclusive little nook will give honored guests a bird’s eye view of the gorgeous theater and some of the hottest up-and-coming designers at LAFW 09. David Alexander, Yotam Solomon, COA, Grai, Society for Rational Dress, Sahaja, Sjobeck, Li Cari, Future Heretics, UNIF, Cardboard Robot, Mike Vensel, Secta, SkinGraft, as well as eco couture superstars The Battalion. LiViTY Outernational will be gracing some models on the catwalk with its signature fly fedoras, streetsmart driving caps, and chic Fall handbags.

As always with LiViTY Outernational events, the vibe will be super live. Beats by legendary KCRW DJ Jeremy Sole and a special live musical performance by soulful chanteuse Neva will undoubtedly keep the LiViTY ECO LOUNGE moving. Guests will also get an exclusive view of paintings by LA-based modernist Nicole Uros. There will of course be plenty of drinks flowing at the open bar and tons of friendly faces, which, P.S., can be a rare gem at LA Fashion Week.

“LiViTY ECO TEXTILES” have begun to get quite a reputation with their partners in the mainstream fashion world and will be on display for the true fashion geeks in the crowd: textured twill, dogtooth and herringbone high performance fabrics, recycled polyester/organic cotton, eco rip tide, hemp/organic cotton, and the world’s very first 100% hemp fur. I wanna rangle me some of that hemp fur…Rawr.

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TOMS Shoes introduced the world to the One-For-One business model back in early 2006. For every pair of shoes they sold, one pair would be given to a child in need. Some called it simply genius, others called it fiscal suicide. Over the past three years, TOMS has given over 100,000 pairs of shoes to kids in Argentina, South Africa, and Mississippi. Not only have TOMS canvas slip-ons become quite trendy, but it seems the One-For-One methodology has caught on as well.

Element Skateboards has just launched a collaboration with TOMS. For every TOMS co-branded skateboard they sell, one board will be given to a kid at the Indigo Skate Camp near Durban, South Africa. Skateboarding gives the kids at Indigo a positive activity to revolve around; much needed for those living in the midst of one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

A few weeks ago in Venice, CA, there was a quaint little party at the TOMS “pop-up” store on Abbot Kinney Blvd. Hipsters, skaters, locals, and staff drank beer, talked skating, browsed shoes, and rocked out to one of LA’s finest deejays, Mr. Alfred Hawkins. Blake Mycoskie, Founder of TOMS, and President of Element, Johnny Schillereff, got up to speak about how the partnership came to be, while the half drunken crowd of do-gooders whistled and catcalled their favorite heros of conscious commerce.

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If you eco fashionista jetsetters are in London enjoying the recent value drop in the British pound, you must drop by The Aveda Institute tonight. Aveda will be hosting an ecocentric Valentine’s green fashion show. Ethical designers include Nancy Dee, Mark Liu, Tammam, Miksa, Bibico, Ruth Cross, and eco shoe mavens, Hetty Rose and Beyond Skin. Eco fashion, organic wine and chocolate…enough said.

Winter Fashion on the National Mall from Conscious Living TV

Whether from the National Mall, CNN, or YouTube, last week we all witnessed the most groundbreaking inauguration or our lifetimes. Greenloop would like of course to mark this profound event by discussing what our friends wore. Yes, I actually said that.

Co-hosts of Conscious Living TV, Bianca and Michael Alexander, are not only some of most compelling producers in the green biz, they are also-most definitely, hands down, don’t fight me on this one-the most fashionable. If you have any doubt in your mind as to my bold proclamation, check out Bianca in her green (literally and figuratively) inaugural ball gown by Layla Hafzi. Also, do not sleep on the ensemble she rocks with the mid-calf cashmere sweater and dress set by hessnatur with the perfectly matching headscarf, extra wide belt, and suede boots? Or the bright red vintage 60’s Parisian swingcoat? Diva!

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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.

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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.

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