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

Haley Chats with Lauren Conrad: Sustainable Resolutions, What’s Blue Avocado, and More

I love Lauren Conrad, so I was thrilled to have the chance to interview her a second time! Most known for her chic fashion line, Paper Crown, as well as famed books Style, LA Candy and Sugar and Spice, Conrad recently collaborated with BlueAvocado on an eco accessories line that’s due out this summer. You can follow Conrad @LaurenConrad and keep up to date on laurenconrad.com. Below she dishes all about her new eco accessories line and how she lives a sustainable life.

Haley Sherif:  It’s such a treat to be interviewing you again! How were your holidays? Did you get some time for well-deserved rest and relaxation?

Lauren Conrad: Thank you! This holiday my family did something fun and went on a cruise. We try, every holiday season to spend time as a family. My mom, dad, brother, sister and I all get together and just spent quality time. It is the best.

Haley Sherif: Tell me about your “green” resolutions.

Lauren Conrad: For me it is about starting small and inspiring others to do the same. I think that people should find resolutions that are right for them. It isn’t about changing your entire life in one day, but taking steps daily to make better choices.

HS:  I love Blue Avocado. It looks adorable. When did this collaboration come about?

LC: I was first introduced to them last Spring when I went down to Texas to meet the founders. For me, the partnership represents a synergy of all the things I love to do—design great products and do something cause related.  I just loved BlueAvocado’s mission of inspiring a reusable lifestyle where looking good and doing good can co-exist. I was also really inspired by the company as a whole. It is founded by women and it has always been important to me to teach young girls that as females we can come together and live out our dreams.

HS: What’s your favorite thing about your new eco line?

LC: In general, I love the idea that the entire collection is made from reclaimed plastic bottles, so we are keeping them out of landfills and oceans. I am also excited about some of the beauty carrier products, which is an entirely new line I helped inspire. Each of the products will include an impact label so people can see the carbon footprint of the product, how many plastic bottles were upcycled, and the waste avoided with each use.  It is the ultimate in reuse and recycle. Plus the bags are super cute!

HS:  Why did you decide to do a green accessories line? What inspired you?

LC: Growing up in California, I grew up with an appreciation for the natural beauty of our beaches, which were my playground. It is heartbreaking to learn about how the build up of garbage in oceans is compromising marine animals and their habitats. I really wanted to make it easy for people to do something without sacrificing style or function and understanding the impact of conscious design. Taking just the smallest first step can create a ripple of awareness where greater change can take place. I think that lifestyle accessories are a great way to take that first step.

HS: How does this line differ from Paper Crown?

LC: This line is accessories and mainly bags. Paper Crown is clothing.

HS: How do you live a healthy green life? 

LC: I start by first and foremost being aware of the environment. Recycling is a first step that really is easy. I also use recyclable materials such as reusable bags rather than plastic.

HS: Do you have any favorite eco lines?

LC: I think it is still such a new space that I am learning about, but I am fascinated by all the innovative options available.

 HS: Any other green collaborations or projects on the horizon?

LC: We definitely have some great new collaborations in the works. I am learning so much from my collaboration with BlueAvocado regarding everything from sustainable fabrics, to micro-enterprise, to the importance of social impact businesses and entrepreneurs. I am just excited to launch our first collaborative line this summer!

Thanks Lauren! For more dishes check out the fashion dish!

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People Won't Change for the Environment (on my campus)

A recent article outlines a pretty simplistic poll conducted in London about people’s willingness to change their behaviour for the good of the planet.

A straw poll of 15 British men and 15 British women between the ages of 25-75 in central London, showed all were willing to make small changes for the environment, such as recycling, but few would commit to more fundamental changes to behavior.

The outcome was pretty surprising. People will “try” to drive less, and others take a shot at proper recycling. But no one is ready for a change in their lifestyle. This inspired me. I was sure I could find better numbers and results here in Toronto, Canada. We are supposed to be eco-friendly up here, right?

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Can You Believe This Necklace is Made From Plastic Bottles? DIY Eco-Dazzlers

This bold, oversized necklace, made by Nancy Minsky, sparks the scene for the kind of fashion surprises and creativity that are bound to happen as we enter the new year.

Fabulously hip, it’s deceptively an easy to make, recycled design. She simply cut a bunch of oval shapes out of discarded plastic containers, slipped them onto a carabiner and then tied it around her neck with a lush violet ribbon. She wore it dressed to the nines to a super posh party. And even though the crowd sported serious jewels and clothes, her DIY necklace was a stunning success drawing many comments.

When she explained what it was, and how she made it, their mouths dropped open in disbelief. Isn’t it fashion fun to trump the green card!

Nancy’s designs are fashion driven and her social consciousness pushes her to find ways to incorporate the green element, but the green becomes a sense of discovery and surprise, not a label in itself. Nancy wants to wear glamorous and camp fashion and even though she is always searching for more eco-driven lifestyle habits, when it comes to her clothing she does not want to look like she is wearing ‘green’ but is just plain chic.

Plastic containers offer a superb material to recycle into accessories because it is easy to cut, freely available, and is so light you can pile it on in oversized proportions. Plastics come in a wide range of colors and patterns from fun candy colors, to shocking pinks to transparencies. The range of colors, plus any textures, patterns and printed information on them adds to the eclectic quality when converted into necklaces, charms or earrings.

You can make a necklace just like Nancy’s, by following the easy instructions on her blog. Or make your own variation. Slip a chain through the carabiner, or wear it like a choker, attach it to a headband or slip on a snap bolt and clip it to your belt loop, mobile phone or backpack. Make yourself small charms for a bracelet, in all kinds of fun plastics, or create oversized earrings with contemporary, modern shapes. Play with color — make one earring black and white and the other transparent. Experiment with shapes, paint, add other found materials, and, if you don’t like the results, simply chuck them back in the recycle bin!

Packaging that has been so common is going to become more and more rare for the obvious ecological reasons (we hope!!), so seize the moment and stash away your favorite wrappings, bags and plastic containers for future crafting fun and fashionable whims.

Nancy is also influenced by Michele Obama’s adventurous and bold style, and most of all by her courage to express her individual taste.

MO is breaking the rules and it comes from her sincere, personal confidence, so it is very real and contagious! She inspired me to be more open and aware of what I am expressing through my dress, as that reflects on others and then bounces back. If MO dares to take chances in the public eye, then why shouldn’t I? Color and a fashionable playfulness, especially in accessories, can be a delightful fresh breeze of energy. That coupled with the financial crisis and my desire to be more eco-imaginative, led me to make this knock-out plastic charm and wear it for a big night out.

Love DIY projects? Get Nancy’s book, Denim Revolution, and do something useful with those old jeans!

Simple Ways to a Green 2008 Holiday

Every year there are things we do to minimize the consumptive haze. This year, with the economy being what it is and people mowing each other down at Wal-Mart, many are choosing alternatives to corporate Christmas debris. Here are some of the tips that help my family to slow down, enjoy each other and breathe.

1. Get Outside: This is always the number one answer for us. When cabin fever settles in or the air is getting stale, we head for the wild. Today we took our screaming toddlers for a cross-country ski. The gray sky broke as the sun set behind snow-covered trees. My son, who only has a few words (mama, dada, eat, lulu doggie) said “Weeeeeeee” as my husband glided on the snow. Moments like this make it worthwhile.

2. Avoid wasting energy with lights, inflatable snowmen and massive automated plastic snowglobes (these strange spheres that send styrofoam snow in circles are perhaps one of the signs of the capitalistic Apocalypse?)

3. Make stuff: This year I made my tahini, garlic, lemon dressing for friends. My hubby makes a mean roasted butternut squash soup with garlic, ginger and cinnamon and we put it in mason jars with a bow. I have friends who knit, make homemade lip balm, and create art to share with loved ones.

4. If you use Christmas trees, there are several sustainable options. One choice is to use a potted tree. If you don’t want to keep it after the holiday, you can find a planter who will take the tree. Here is a great resource page on how to manage live trees. Some municipalities collect trees for mulching. Use Earth 911 to find your local waste management. Fresh Christmas Tree is a great place to find sustainably harvested trees, but by this time of year they are usually sold out. They might be able to refer you to local farms that are growing trees responsibly.

5. Recycle Wrapping: instead of spending money on wrapping I actually save old wrapping and ribbons. Gift bags get used multiple times in our house. Re-gifting is also a really good way to avoid wasteful spending.

6. Donate to a cause: For those who don’t need ‘stuff,’ giving to local charities is a great way to give a gift with meaning.

7. Give an experience: Yoga classes, massage, theater tickets, or an afternoon of hiking…

Here is an excellent resource for other environmentally conscious holiday ideas. Mahalo!
Wishing everyone warmth for the season.

Is Melamine Safe for Kids?

If you ever needed another reason to breastfeed, here it is. Four babies have died and thousands are ill after melamine was found in contaminated dairy products in Asia.

The industrial toxin, which is high in nitrogen, is added to milk when producers want to artificially boost protein content. According to the Associated Press, one in five national dairy companies tested positive for the chemical. The hygiene practices of dairy farmers dates back to 80′s standardization and this lack of updated regulation has allowed the antiquated technology to go largely unchecked.

After the pet-food scare with melamine it leaves one wondering what, if any, form of melamine is safe. I was recently given some kids’ bowls made from melamine. Are they at risk? Obviously the substance is solidified, but as we now know with regard to plastics, it is best to err on the side of caution.

Melamine flatware is usually created by combining the chemical with formaldehyde. Formaldehyde has been linked to asthma and cancer. In a piece for the Green Guide, Alexandra Zissu (author of The Organic Pregnancy – a great book I reviewed last year,) discusses the concern surrounding melamine and other durable plastics used in baby and toddler wares. In her article on plastics Zissu notes:

Aside from sippy cups, most kidware isn’t made of polycarbonate but of durable, colorful melamine. Melamine is a questionable choice for food because it’s made with formaldehyde, which has been linked to allergies, asthma and cancer. There’s no evidence that formaldehyde leaches out of melamine every single time it’s used, but some studies, including one by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, have shown that the chemical can migrate out of melamine and into food under certain circumstances, such as heat and when serving highly acidic foods.

In my home we have been using glass, stainless steel, #5 plastics and wood. As far as plastics go, it is wise to never use abrasive detergents or scrubby sponges as this can cause degeneration, which can lead to leaching. Zissu discusses what she feels are the best alternatives:

My daughter eats from our own lead-free ceramic dishes. She also eats from small stainless-steel prep bowls purchased at a kitchen supply store, and even the occasional glass bowl. I know some moms and dads worry about shattering glass, but she’s never broken one, despite the fact that the floor under our dining table is poured concrete (inherited from someone else’s renovation). It probably helped that we have firmly explained to her over and over and over that she may not toss the things.

Avoiding all things plastic is not a new concept. The idea of toddlers throwing glass and ceramic bowls at the dog can be daunting, but as Zissu says, teaching can help alleviate flying objects (at least ideally.) People go back and forth with the plastics debate. A few weeks ago a study was released saying “everything is OK – you can use BPA” and some of my friends told me they felt duped into buying BPA-free. But, here’s the thing. If we know we are already exposed to all of these chemicals in our environment and have a higher body-burden than our civilization has ever seen, isn’t it wise to err on the side of caution? When so many still use microwaves and plastics together, this just seems like a no-brainer to me. We put this stuff through the dishwasher (heating to high temps,) we serve hot food on it, and we bang it around and scratch it up. The attitude of “well, everything is dangerous – everything causes cancer” is resigning responsibility and leaving the well-being of our youth up to Dow and Monsanto, who as we know, have done a bang-up job so far.