Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Abercrombie and Fitch (Deservedly) Earns Green Teens’ Wrath with Mall Protest

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by Starre Vartan · 09/28/10

Abercrombie and Fitch has long walked the ‘adored by teens, hated by adults’ line, what with controversies sparked by their scantily-clad (and strangely hairless) models and ugly-people-need-not-apply hiring practices. But now they’ve pissed off the kids, and they’re fighting back with 70′s-style in-person protests (hey, 70′s is totally IN) of the ubiquitous mall retailer.

Teens Turning Green, an advocacy group made up of young folks who want to get toxic ingredients out of the products that tend to litter young-people’s bathrooms is going after A&F’s new scent, Fierce, which the company instructs its employees to spray in and around their stores, and of course, to wear themselves when they work. Teens Turning Green has sent a letter and video (see below) to A&F’s headquarters to no response, so now they’re taking to the streets (or the mall pedestrian walkway).

According to a press release from the group, “The issue is the spraying of the store’s signature fragrance “Fierce” in and around all A&F’s, a product that has been found to contain endocrine disrupting chemicals and cause allergies, headaches, wheezing and impacts male sperm count. The student protesters want to draw attention to a letter they are sending to the store’s national headquarters to demand a halt to spraying the store’s employees and customers , and also to the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 introduced this year to reform the regulatory policy on cosmetics (first time in 70 years). Hundreds of organizations have signed the letter, representing over a million and a half people.”
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abercrombie and fitch, asthma, chemicals, health, perfume, Teens, Toxins

Eco Chick Giveaway: Pamper yourself with a Spa Night from Pure Habitat

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by Starre Vartan · 09/12/10

Amy Ludwigson lives green and wants to share it with the world. To that end, she founded a resourceful new site, Pure Habitat. “I just launched Pure Habitat as a way to make it easier to shop from all the amazing companies that are committed to making the world a better place. From organic personal care products to eco jewelry and home décor we have everything you need to live consciously,” says Amy.

To celebrate Pure Habitat‘s launch, one lucky Eco Chick reader will a set of Amy’s favorite home spa goods from the site!

And EVERYONE can get 10% off their next purchase using the code ecochick2010 when you order.

To win: Leave a comment on something that makes you absolutely happy. When you fill in the comment field, it will ask for you email address. This is the address I will use to contact the winner, so use a real email.

Deets and Promises: Eco Chick does not sell, lease or lend any email addresses we collect. There will be one winner of the spa package. Giveaway ends Monday, Septmber 20th at Midnight EST. Good luck!

The Giveaway:

Amadine Oil from Arghand:

This oil is beautiful in the bath or for massage. It is handcrafted in Afghanistan by a coop that is helping to liberate people from their dependence on opium. All ingredients are pure and sourced from fruits and botanicals around Kandahar.

Girl Bath Salts by Buddha Nose:

This product is one of the items I would take if I were going be stranded on a deserted island. I love it that much. It soothes the mind and the best part – the salts really do help ease cramping. It’s seriously amazing.

PeaceKeeper Natural Nail Polish:

This nail polish has been rated by the Environmental Working Group as one of the safest natural nail polishes on the market. They give all their after tax profits to women’s health advocacy and urgent human rights issues.
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Beauty, giveaway, health, Organic, spa, stress relief, women

Vampire Weekend are Kombucha Lovers!

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by Starre Vartan · 06/22/10

Members of Vampire Weekend with Buchi Kombucha founders in Asheville, NC.

I am totally in love with Vampire Weekend; from their adorable mod-dapper Ivy League style (they attended Columbia University when I was at grad school there) to their fun-fun-fun Afropop tunes, these guys turn plenty of musical conventions on their head.

Being totally 21st Century, they prefer to quaff healthy kombucha drinks from Asheville’s own Buchi Kombucha rather than go the rock-god route of drunken debauchery (or if they do, they use the fermented-awesomeness powers of kombucha to cure their hangovers). The naturally fizzy low-calorie drink boosts immunity, aids digestion, and balances the system, and can be flavored or added to other juices, though I find it to be way tasty on its own.

Buchi is made with organic tea and mountain spring water and is some yummy stuff, as the boy band found out when they were visiting Asheville this spring and had a chance to try the beverage. They liked it so much, they had some shipped back to their homes. Adorable, health-conscious and their music is perfect for working out to or for go-to party tunes…..

Vampire Weekend’s video for “Cousins” from their newest album, Contra.

Thanks to Craig McAnsh for the tip!

Asheville, beverages, health, Music, style

Starre’s Healthy Summer Coffee Energy Drink Recipe

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by Starre Vartan · 06/02/10

Too many so-called energy drinks are missing key ingredients to give you truly sustained and healthy power. Too many refined sugars and caffeine, but no sustenance, and ingredients are processed and packaged months before you drink it. Fresh is always better and more life-sustaining– and if you’re looking for real oompf, ‘old’ ingredients just don’t cut it.

The drink below relies on plain old caffeine from (organic) espresso, yes, but it is moderated with a serious dose of protein, vitamins and minerals from raw nutmeats, and sweetness from raw honey, which in addition to sweetening the pot, also contains all sorts of fabulous enzymes which can help stomach ailments (ideal if coffee can bother your digestion at all), and contains anti-bacterials and natural anti-cancer properties. Look for local raw honey for the very freshest and healthiest versions. I live in Connecticut, so I either eat Andrew’s Local Honey (from right here in Fairfield County) or Apitherapy raw honey from Honey Gardens in Vermont.

Raw cacao is ridiculously tasty (I found mine at Whole Foods) and ups the energy ante in this drink through theobromine, a natural stimulant. It also contains plenty of magnesium, calcium and iron, as well as high doses of antioxidants (much more than processed or ‘cooked’ chocolate). Wilderness Family Naturals also makes an excellent raw cacao powder.
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coffee, drink, Energy, Food, health, recipe

“Fashion’s aesthetic should enhance and beautify the human form, not destroy it.”

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by Starre Vartan · 04/06/10

Coco Rochas walking the runway

Warning: I’m going to use the F word in this column (not that I have any idea what it means – and you probably don’t either).

What is ‘Fat’ anyway? I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit lately, more than I have in years. (But not more than I did when I was 17 and food disordered for a few months before feminist rants in Sassy Magazine saved me by making me angry). Maybe you have been thinking about what it means too.

Because it seems that every few weeks, another gorgeous model is called Fat or some very talented actress is asked about her curves- or lack of them. Coco Rocha, at 6 feet tall and a size four was the latest victim, and just a few weeks before Coco, I was hearing about Gemma Ward, the Aussie model who grew into a woman’s body from a girl’s and was promptly ‘kicked out of fashion.’ Before that there was the Glamour kerfuffle about the lovely plus-sized model who dared show her tummy bulge, and recently the cover of New York Magazine featured the gorgeous Christina Hendricks, (the redhead from Mad Men) and the focus was all about her curves, even when she didn’t want to talk about them.

And the public thinks ‘how ridiculous’ or sometimes ‘how true’ that a woman who looks perfectly healthy and attractive is called Fat, or curvy, or voluptuous, and another young girl develops an eating disorder (or maybe gets mad, like I did.) Disconnected from natural, healthy body images and the physical labor of our ancestors, we get fatter as the models get skinnier. Kind of like watching the outdoors on TV while we destroy it from inside our homes.

Health is Personal

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Beauty, Fashion, health, nature