sustainable style foundation*

Do you remember when you were a child and you had a favorite book or blanket that you took everywhere with you? You couldn't imagine going somewhere without it? Organic Kitchen Garden by Juliet Roberts, editor of BBC Gardens Illustrated, has become THAT BOOK for me. I picked it up on a whim at a local grocery store and I haven't been able to put it down since. I can't leave the house without it in my bag and it has been at the top of my stack of books by my bedside nightly. Certainly it was the combination of 'organic', 'kitchen', and 'garden' that caught my attention as these are three of my favorite things right now, but when I opened the book and started looking through the pages and pages of unique insights, helpful hints, and beautiful photos I'd found my favorite blanky all over again. With a setting like Audley End House in Essex, it should come as no surprise that the Roberts' work is a fairy tale dream come true for any gardener.

The book has bushels of great information and advice on organic gardening including a fantastic monthly calendar of activities. The photographs by Gavin Kingcome of the organic garden at Audley End are pastoral, idyllic, and completely alluring. One aspect of the photos that directly drew my interest was the traditional materials that were used in the garden. In our modern garden world of PVC piping and plastic pots, it was incredibly comforting to see terracotta forcing vessels and glass cloches. Perhaps it is a bit too quixotic to consider reviving these traditional tools and procedures, but they do bring a sense of romance and grace back to the garden that seems to be missing in our modern times. I could write so much more about this book but alas, I need to go thumb through the pictures again...I'm completely addicted.

Just when you think green roofs are catching on, an innovative architect gives us green walls. Mass Studies' principle Minsuk Cho recently designed Belgian fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester's new store in Seoul with forests, ferns and lizards in mind. The latest of six projects that incorporate living surfaces, Cho feels this is his best yet.

Simply put, Gorgeously Green is fabulously fun. The book and the accompanying website are packed full of fun and valuable information that prove that the saying is true, it really IS easy being green. I can honestly say I don't think there's a better reference for fulfilling SSF's mantra "look fabulous, live well, do good". In the forward, Julia Roberts calls the book a "bible of hope and help (not to menteion a good cleansing mask andn source for eco-cashmere). Author Sophie Uliano makes making greener personal lifestyle choices fun and accessible to everyone. She makes it irresistable.

Uliano hits all of the big lifestyle categories too: apparel, food, beauty, gardening, travel, weddings, etc. And yoga poses! Yes, sprinkled throughout the book are yoga poses and other activities to invigorate the mind, the body, and the soul. Best of all, her motto, "one change makes a difference", confirms that you don't have to be perfect...one small step here and there can add to a big difference over time, especially if a lot of us make the same small steps. The way she presents her ideas and solutions is what really sets this book apart...its fun, its positive, its interactive, its educational, and I have to admit - its completely girly. But that's OK! Her concept of becoming a 'green goddess' is exactly what the green movement needs. As I said before, she makes going green irresistible. The fact that she provides a definition and discussion of 'gorgeousness' says it all.

On the website you can find some videos as well. After watching them you sense her passion, commitment, and excitement in every page of the book. Don't miss GGTV on the website, and the 'Girls Club' must be a lot of fun too. Probably most important though, is that she takes providing background information and resources on key issues very seriously, toxins in cosmetics for example. I don't think I've come a cross a better treatment of the subject or a better collection of green options to address the issues. There are literally easy to understand definitions and website links everywhere.

Gorgeously Green is a great read, an invaluable resource, and as Julia Roberts put it, a true bible of hope. What other green resource book leaves you with the feeling that you just solved some of the world's problems over a cocktail with a girlfriend? Hmm...none. But that's exactly what Gorgeously Green does. Cheers Sophie, you and your book are fabulous!

Available at your local bookstore and online at: Amazon | Barnes& Noble | Powells

For all you Seattle SSF fans, pick up this month's issue of Seattle Magazine and check out Kelly Moore's latest contribution to eco-entertaining. SSF Co-founders Rebecca Luke and Sean Schmidt, along with friends and green gurus Lynne Barker and Megan Griffiths, chat about environmental issues and green giving for Earth Day. You can get a sneak peak online: "Entertaining: green goes glam".

In today’s world, we are hearing the word “green” and “sustainable” alot. We are hearing these words attached mostly to what we can buy to save the world. While this is a terrific start, there is more to be considered. Recently, a client of mine forwarded an email of a video that had been shown in her grade school child’s classroom “The Story of Stuff”. It is a fabulous and entertaining way to check out the production of “stuff” and how it impacts us socially and environmentally.

In 2008, I plan to devote a majority of my blogs to what we can do to save the world and keep it consistent with our personal “style”.

Our fall interns, Anne-Marie and Olivia, worked hard on creating fantastic list of Sustainable Style Living Tips and I am going to put their work to great use. Stand by for a new tip every week.

Also, there are several books out there to check out as well; if you do a quick search for “ways to live green”, a good collection of books and other blogs will come up. For us at SSF, it’s about looking at the big picture, beyond green.

I look forward to your comments and an on-going dialogue about how we can continue to save the world in style.

From time to time, we here at SSF like to do a little web search on our favorite keword term, "sustainable style". Since we coined the term back in 2003 it seems to be popping up all over the place. For our first stop on our round the world tour we highlight one our absolutely favorite sustainable style web spots, the Fliker: sustainable style group page. Really, some of the coolest creations around, from fashion to furniture and more. Best of all, it's a thriving online posse with all sorts of great ideas on how to make more sustainable personal lifestyle choices. Who's behind this sassy cyber community? None other than fiftyrx3's Jill Danyelle. Keep up the good work y'all!

If you haven't run across Bond Alternative Wedding Magazine yet, their current issue is a sustainable style must-have and a true guide to marriage in the new millennium. As the only fashion (high fashion I might add) magazine and website to include same-gender and multi-ethnic couples, it offers a fresh and modern perspective on that more than four letter word...commitment. White lace dresses are sparse but stunning Prada and Marc Jacobs abound. Lots of fabulous food, wind, flowers, gifts, and decor. But the icing on this cake is that the issue AND the icing on the wedding cake are all eco-friendly.

Reportedly used as medicine in China for over 4,000 years, much has been made of the health benefits of drinking green tea: it inhibits the growth of cancer cells; it lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good cholesterol to bad, and can even help prevent tooth decay! Not bad, but what do you do with the tea leaves when you're done drinking? Product Dose has put together a Recycled Tea Leaves Wiki with lots of good ideas and information about recycling and reusing spent tea leaves. From how to properly dry it for best use, to bathing and skin care applications, to cleaning and even rust prevention, there's a lot your old tea leaves can do for you. Find out more here, and if you've got other great ideas, leave 'em there for everyone else to discover. [Recycled Tea Wiki at Product Dose]

Whoa...Martha's going green. Ran across Elizabeth Hurley and Evelyn Lauder on Martha Stewart today (yes, I do watch occasionally - she recycles a lot, what can I say?). Liz is going all organic in her new farm endeavors and Evelyn Lauder was on to promote involvement with breast cancer awareness. Totally psyched that Martha has a little green going on, actually the whole week is filled with eco peeps, product and eco-tips.

I was lucky enough to meet Evelyn Lauder several years ago while working at Nordstrom. She was doing a trunk show of the latest and greatest Lauder product. But she was also raising awareness for breast cancer. In fact, a good half of her time was devoted to breast cancer and half of that time was dedicated to the environmental links to breast cancer. Needless to say I was very impressed. I got a chance to speak with the Lauders at a lecture later that afternoon and actually asked them their thoughts on some of the evidence on environmental links to breast cancer.
Later on a trip to NYC in my role as Sustainable Business & Development at Nordstrom I got a chance to speak to several senior managers at Lauder on the topic as well. Again, very impressed with their knowledge and committment. The last thing I'll mention on Evelyn Lauder, she put together a beautiful book of nature photographs called "An Eye for Beauty". The photographs are truly stunning. It's good to know someone of Mrs. Lauder's position not only finds beauty and inspiration in nature but also understands key elements of the environmental challenges facing our world.

For anyone who missed the excellent series on PBS this summer, design: e2 is now available on DVD. Exploring the economies of being environmentally conscious, the series included six episodes (The Green Apple, Green for All, The Green Machine, Gray to Green, China from Green to Red and Deeper Shades of Green) and was narrated by Brad Pitt. From the design: e2 website: "Eight different topics - from sustainable architecture to water culture to alternative energy to organic farming to recycled clothing and more - are each presented in six thirty-minute episodes, challenging us to live smarter, live greener and live with the future in mind. DESIGN launches our e2 series and introduces us to the inventive leaders and technologies driving sustainable practices in the buildings where we live, work, and play. Through DESIGN, and future series - WATER, ENERGY, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, BOTANICALS, TEXTILES, and HEALTH - e2 demonstrates that living in harmony with nature is not only a matter of progress; it's a matter of survival."

Order the DVD from the PBS website and learn about all the great ways that design and environment can live happily ever after. [PrairieMod] via [Hugg]

Yes, I know this is old news but I just have to bring it up again. The good peeps at Global Green have partnered up with Brad Pitt to bring a little attention and creativity to the future of New Orleans. Per Global Green's webssite: "the Sustainable Design Competition for New Orleans is a design challenge that combines Global Green USA's commitment to green affordable housing, sustainable cities, and climate solutions that work for communities, with Brad Pitt's passion for intelligent architecture and determination to combat inequity". Um...NICE! Looking forward to seeing the entries.

Just attended the CleanMed conference here in Seattle in association with my position at the UW Medical Center. It is astounding how much sustainability is going on in the healthcare industry, from food and green building initiatives to waste reduction and organic cotton uniforms. One of my favorite people of all time is Yolanda Sinde of the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice.