Events · Eco-Chick

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Chug-a Chug-a Choo Choo: EcoLux Shop Pops Up at Grand Central Terminal, NYC

No commuter wants to add more time to traveling to and fro. But if there ever was a time to get stuck in transit (aside from an ash-cloud shutdown by an Icelandic volcano), then give it up for Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary at Grand Central Terminal.

Grand Central Terminal’s pink-marble Vanderbilt Hall gets a splash of green style as TheGreenShows EcoLux sets up an eco fashion, jewelry, and beauty boutique for EarthFair, Monday, April 19 through Sunday, April 25 (10:00am–7:00pm).

Joann Berman

Reco Jeans

earth day, Eco Beauty, Ecofriendly Jewelry, Events, Fashion, Food, New York City

Style, Naturally: Summer Rayne Oakes' Guide to Green Fashion and Beauty for Every Woman (Not Just Greenies!)

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by Starre Vartan · 02/16/09

Summer Rayne Oakes (in Stella McCartney) at the launch of Style, Naturally

Summer Rayne Oakes’ own life is a study in how to make ethical choices work in the real world. She’s a model (for ecofriendly fashion labels), environmental activist, and resident expert on Discovery Channel’s Planet Green- jobs which challenge both body and mind, so she knows what busy women want (to look great while doing no harm). She delivers the goods in her first book, Style, Naturally.

Jill Danyelle, a featured ‘girl on the street’ in the book (in one of her own upcycled creations), Jill Fehrenbacher, editor of green design blog Inhabitat (with baby Petey in tow) and Bahar Shahpar, ecofashion designer (in one of her own designs), at the Style, Naturally launch party

The totally friendly (open it anywhere and start reading!) and colorful book is packed to its chubby gills (it clocks in at over 500 pages) with photos and descriptions of ecofriendly and sustainable party dresses, pants, purses and every thing else one would want to wear (so you can see exactly how un-hemp-sack-like these togs really are), and includes “where to find it” info, magazine-style so you don’t have to be an expert google searcher to track down a designer you love. Jewelry, shoes and accessories each have their own sections and a story behind why to choose ethical versions like those included.

Starre Vartan (in vintage) author of The Eco Chick Guide to Life, and Summer Rayne Oakes at the Style, Naturally book party.

Beauty products, from shampoos to sunscreen to makeup take up the second half of the book, and Summer said she tried hundreds of products before deciding what would make the cut. “I looked at overall brand practices and specific product ingredients and I only highlighted the ones that I really liked,” she says. There is also tons of information on labels, certifications, events, stores and sites for further exploration.

Michael Schwarz, writer and animal advocate, and Dan Shapely, editor at The Daily Green.

Besides being a veritable compendium of great clothes from designers known and loved (and worn!) by ecofashionistas (like Bahar Shahpar, Doie, Lara Miller, Loomstate and Alabama Chanin) there are profiles of “girls on the street” which details how savvy ladies incorporate planet-respecting choices into their wardrobes. This was my favorite part of the book, as I go for vintage, and prefer old-fashioned silhouettes and funky prints in silks, bamboos and organic wools. But it’s so fun to see how other girls work the green in, from organic- and fair-trade cotton dance-wear for conscious urban chicks to more classic cuts in super-modern (but still sustainable) silhouettes.

Sara Brancato of The Four Hundred Ecofashion showroom (right) and friend Ashley Watson (left).

All this variety is the point. As anyone who knows a thing about style can tell you, fashion is not about following trends, it’s about creating your own personal look. That’s what was on Summer ‘s mind when she dreamed up Style, Naturally: “I wrote this for any woman who cares about what she wears and how that connects to the larger world. It’s not necessarily a green guide, it’s a style guide.”

And the book itself? As green as can be. “It’s on recycled paper, [printed with] vegetable-based ink and it is 1% for the Planet to Energy Action, which is a group near and dear to me,” says Summer.

And for anyone who decries thinking about fashion and beauty in the current economic climate, Summer says the truth is that dedicating time and energy to define your own look- and doing it responsibly- will end up saving you money. “Take a look at your closet, and figure out how to make what you already have look new. Be considerate about what you buy and make the more responsible purchase.” Thinking about what we buy, assessing its impact and making long-term choices that have a smaller footprint (and actually work for our own bodies and lifestyles) will go further to mitigate the clothing and beauty industries’ wasteful ways than business as (cheaper) than usual.

ecofashion, Events, parties, Summer Rayne Oakes

Nomad Two Worlds: Aboriginal Australian Art in NYC

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by Alicia Lubowski-Jahn · 01/26/09

January 22-29, 2009

DONNA KARAN Stephan Weiss Studio 711 Greenwich Street (Corner of Charles Street) NYC

Urban Zen (founded by fashion designer Donna Karan) is hosting at the Stephan Weiss Studio a presentation of Australian aboriginal art and culture inspired by the Australian government’s reconciliation movement. The week-long G’Day USA Australia Week is offered in the spirit of an apology (sparked by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Apology Speech of February 13, 2008 to the country’s indigenous citizens) and the promise of cultural cooperation. The spotlight on Australia’s Aboriginal culture, the oldest continuing culture in the world, is part of Urban Zen’s wider cultural preservation and youth empowerment mission.

On view for this week is a collaborative multimedia project Nomad Two Worlds created by Australian fashion photographer Russell James together with Indigenous Australian artists, including Walmajarri singer and painter Clifton Bieundurry. The painted photographs of Northwestern Australia evoke the sacredness of the land and a dual cultural portrait of Australia’s “Two Worlds”, those of European and Aboriginal heritage. The exhibition is curated by Lisa Fox, proprietor of the IF8 Studio, and the artworks are divided into three concepts: Innocence (element of water), Inhibition (element of fire), and Discovery (element of stone). These three aspects parallel the tripartite focus of Urban Zen, which are framed by the past (preserving cultures), present (patient advocacy and well-being), and the future (empowering children). Urban Zen honors the transformative power of creativity and compassion to raise awareness.

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Actress Kelly Rutherford Unveils Sylvania ‘Living Spaces’ Eco Lights

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by Stephanie Rogers · 12/15/08

Actress and eco-advocate Kelly Rutherford, star of guilty pleasure TV hit ‘Gossip Girl’, helped debut the new Sylvania ‘Living Spaces’ line of compact fluorescent light bulbs last weekend and we were pleased to notice some exciting new features among the product line. Sylvania’s new collection is reputed to have a warmer, higher quality light than most other CFLs in what they’re calling “the next evolution of CFL technology”.

The new light bulbs are designed specifically for living spaces and are suitable for use in sconces, table lamps and decorative fixtures. The “micro-mini Twist CFLs” are the smallest on the market, eliminating the annoying problem of too-large bulbs.

“SYLVANIA has made it easy for consumers to make eco-friendly lighting decisions with its new Living Spaces collection – I’ve put them everywhere in my new house and we love the instant-on, cozy light,” said Rutherford. “When we lounge in the living room or entertain in the kitchen, we feel good about being energy-efficient without having to sacrifice light quality.”

And, here’s the thing that really caught our attention here at Eco Chick: a cool water powered LED shower light. It’s actually powered by running water! It doesn’t require any electricity or batteries, and it has an indicator that turns from blue to red as the water heats up. It fits right over a standard-size shower pipe. Very cool idea, especially for outdoor showers and those dark apartment and dorm shower stalls! It’s available at select Lowe’s locations or at Sylvania.com for $39.99.

celebrities, Eco Lighting, Events