Ummm…what can we say? Two Florida college students wanted to create an eco-friendly underwear line. Uranus Apparel produces boyshorts made from soy, hence the nickname “soyshorts.” Soy requires less water, is more durable, and dries more quickly than cotton. It’s also super soft which is great for, ya know. (Excuse my cheekiness.) Out of all the viral vids the founders have put out on YouTube, the one above is our favorite. It has a bit of an Art Haus kind of feel to it. Enjoy Uranus!

Our friends at White Apricot recently featured some hot biker looks for Fall. We’re into it! Fashion editor Bonny Osterhage pulled together the sexiest eco and vegan rocker-wear for your next Marilyn Manson show…

The latest fall trend is embracing all that’s good about looking “bad.” It falls somewhere between Joan Jett and Hell’s Angels and relies heavily on leather, spikes, and chains. At first glance, it is not a trend that appears to lend itself to the green way of life. But, look a little closer and you will find that these eco fashion essentials will let you look tough, while maintaining your soft spot for the planet. Rock on!

Read more at WhiteApricot.com…

If you haven’t heard of Colin Beaven yet, let me tell you- the man is inspiring. He convinced his Prada-loving, quadruple-vente-latte-addicted wife to join him in an experiment to reduce their negative impact on the planet. To zero. ZERO. No waste, no petroleum use, no plastics, no purchases of new items, no electricity. Did I mention these two live in Manhattan…with a three-year-old daughter? Yes. Bold..and mildly insane.

Somehow, the three Beavans made it out of the year long experiment alive with many lessons learned, a blog, a book, and a movie featured at Sundance. Here’s Colin and family in the documentary that pushed them to the edge of their marriage…

Inspired yet? Are you ready to ride your bike to work, buy bulk food, reuse everything, and turn off your lights after dark? Starting October 18th, No Impact Week is your chance to give it a shot. Check out the guide presented by the Huffington Post…



You can download the guide and share it, electronically of course,with anybody who you think might be up to the challenge. It’s a big thing to take on, but so fun. Who wouldn’t get at least a few laughs from attempting to wash their clothes in the bathtub…with their feet?  You can sign up here and keep the conversation going on Twitter by using the hashtag #nipweek and following @noimpactgroup. Except, it does require electricity to tweet, soooo you might have to scratch that last part.

Envirogeek/Male Models, of course! No, this is not a joke. Thank you Treehugger and the lovely Emma Grady for crafting such a relevant and impactful message here. *I had to add a plus one with my own favorite green hottie, Mr. Ice Cold himself, Andre 3000. Dre was voted Sexiest Vegetarian of the Year by PETA in 2008 as well as starring as a turtle-loving environmental activist in the WTO protest film Battle In Seattle. This renaissance man is not only a talented musician and actor, he also makes the ideal model for his own collegiate-inspired brand, Benjamin Bixby.

7 Hot Green Male Models Who Are Also Environmentalists

Red hot model and carpenter Carter Oosterhouse. Credit Carter Oosterhouse

1. Carter Oosterhouse: Red Hot & Green

Green living enthusiast, carpenter, and model with dashing good looks Carter Oosterhouse rose to fame using his handyman skills on the hit TLC show Trading Spaces. He now lends his talent in sustainable design as the co-host of HGTV’s Red Hot & Green, where viewers learn simple ways to go green and how to cut energy costs, and see the latest in green gear — all without sacrificing style. Oosterhouse also founded Carter’s Kids — a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting fitness and self-esteem for America’s youth.

2. Hayden Christensen: Organic Vegetable Gardener

Credit Gordon and the Whale

Hayden Christensen, otherwise known as Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People, isn’t just an actor: His modeling days date back to Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2005 ad campaign. When Hayden’s not posing or acting, he’s working away on his 200-acre farm–outside Toronto in his native Canada–growing organic produce. Christensen also ran a public service announcement for Do Something, a non profit youth organization that inspires young people to change the world. The organization has initiatives for the environment, disaster relief, poverty, and more. Via Wikipedia; Gaiam.

3. John Abraham: Speaks up for Animals

Credit John Abraham

Indian male model turned Bollywood actor John Abraham is a vegetarian and has worked with Habitat for Humanity and PETA. Simran Kodesia of PETA speaks to his influence: “When John Abraham speaks up for animals, young people across India listen. His close association with PETA means that the message of compassion for birds and all other animals will reach more people than ever before.” Via OneIndia.

“Read” more about hot male models who are also environmentalists at Treehugger.com…

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.