G Spotting

This is the cutest baby ever

2011-07-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

Allison's neice Ellia. And this is just a photo of a screen shot: OMG

2 ETHiCAL LOOKS We're LOVING

2009-11-18T10:22:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since we've done an ethical/eco fashion story, but after stumbling upon Ascension boutique, we couldn't resist. Here are two looks we've pieced together from the online boutique.

This first look is extremely comfortable (flat shoes... yess!) but saavy for daytime. Love the skirt.

Hello lace (huge trend), sweet gray and black color combo and puffed shoulder cropped coat. You pieces are the stars in my sky.

Handball in New York City

2009-10-04T09:26:00.001-07:00

Here's a video I did for for my interactive class at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. Handball, baby!

Handball from Margaret Teich on Vimeo.

Heeb 100

2009-10-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

Heeb Magazine just released their list of the 100 most influential young Jewish folk in the Universe. While GSpotter Margaret was not on said list, she did contribute five profiles on the following performance artist, musicians and designer.

Maya Yogev

Mica Levi

Ben Grubin

Peter Silberman

Josh Seinder

Special shout out to these cool folks for really interesting conversations nee interviews.

Where my babies at?

2009-09-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

TRU LUV.

fashion week fashion posts

2009-09-17T12:47:00.001-07:00

Check out posts for the City University of New York's blog on yesterday's Izzy Lane and Mr. Larkin shows from New York City Fashion week's Green Shows. AWESOME PIECES!

It's been too long... Here's some sacred blood

2009-09-17T12:40:00.001-07:00

Nothing could be finer than the annual San Gennaro festival in Little Italy, NYC. Especially, if you love canolis, bright lights, and wild and crazy church names. Wait, that sounded f**ked up. I meant it in the admiring way.

It's the SUMMER JAM

2009-07-27T06:15:00.000-07:00

Here's one for the Summer-heads: It's the Summer Jam.

Shout out to Beena Steena for inviting GSpotter Margaret to join the Summer Party!

Art Meets Sustainability at a Brooklyn Gallery

2009-07-21T05:27:00.000-07:00

Lucky Gallery in Red Hook Brooklyn is currently running an Art + Sustainability Exhibition featuring works that address ecological challenges and innovative solutions, through artistic mediums.

“The artists featured in the gallery ask ‘how do we meet the challenges of trying to live a more sustainable life, and how can we transform our interaction with natural and man made resources in an urban environment?’” said Laura Arena, the director of Lucky Gallery. “These artists provide sustainable alternatives in art and life, through fashion, fine art, furniture design, film and gardening.”

Exhibition Dates: July 11 – August 2, 2009
Gallery Hours: Sat/Sun 1-6 and by appt. only
Gallery Address: Lucky Gallery, 176 Richards Street, Brooklyn, NY. 11231

Nature Triumphs Over (Wo)Man

2009-05-22T04:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morn, I awoke with an uber puffy eye. Think Quasimodo the Hunchback of Notre Dame puffy. That's right, I couldn't see s**t because my eyelid was swollen shut. You see it's warming here in NYC and with the heat come open windows. And with open windows, come the mosquitoes.

As I groped my way to the kitchen unable to see much of anything, my roommate Erin came to help me find the fridge. Marveling at my eye, she said that as a kid growing up in Kentucky, she knew her summers had started when she'd get a bug bite as big as mine. Her bites were so puffy, her older brother would laugh at her. She shuddered just thinking of it.

Though we had less mosquitoes the mountains of western North Carolina where I grew up, the altitude didn't stop them entirely. I too used to get humdinger skeeter bites and spider bites. Boy how I hated the bugs.

Now here I was, many years later in a concrete jungle, far from the "nature" which surrounded me as a child, and still getting bit by darn bugs. And with a bag of frozen pees to my eye, pissed as hell, I slowly began to smile. Man can try to dominate the earth, control it until it yells "Uncle" (we're doing a pretty good job, hello Global Warming and species extinction.) But ultimately, green will grow up through the sidewalk cracks, mold will creep along the sides of buildings, and mosquitoes will bite your eyelids. With that in mind, I left the kitchen ready to face the day with one proud eye shut. And then I ran into a door.

Check Out The Lazy Environmentalist's New Site

2009-04-27T07:22:00.001-07:00

Whoah, wait a second. I think...could it be... yes it is! The Lazy Environmentalist has a new web format and it is totally ass kicking. Check out the latest Coclico shoe video GSpotter and Fashion Editor, Margaret, has on the new site.

IVANAhelsinki Eco-Designer

2009-04-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

Check out the latest article we had on Stylecaster.com. Gotta love the sassy graphics on these IVANAhelsinki frocks. Whoah! We're especially digging that eco/ethical minded Finnish designer Paola Ivana Suhonen describes her work as bringing together, "slavic melancholity and Pure Scandinavian moods with white arctic summer nights and endless winter sadness."

Making Snow From Water: BBC Earth's Timothy Allen

2009-04-20T06:06:00.000-07:00

This video is totally out of control: Timothy Allen from BBC Earth and his producer and director make snow from hot water while hanging out in Greenland. BBC Earth has been receiving positive feedback, and with photo's like Allen's and gnarly video content to boot, it makes sense why. Big ups to BBC for going with a lowly wordpress blog format and rocking it out with big time content.

Bagtrends.com - Green Arm Candy

2009-04-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Allison Teich shows off her bags

Last night was the Green Arm Candy soiree, hosted by Bagtrends. Team Gspotting was in full gear with brother Gabe as the photographer and sister Margaret asking the questions.

Bag highlights from the evening included Passchal, a Virginia based company converting recycled inner tubes into bags and Gspotting crowd-pleaser Ashley Watson, who makes her gorgeous purses from refashioned vintage motorcycle jackets. Also, TEICH (no relation, weirdly) had some rocking pieces.

Also, it was great to see our old friends Mattie and Hannah, two teens from Teens for Safe Cosmetics. These ladies were written up in this month's Teen Vogue for the work they do to promote safer, greener cosmetics and were in last year's fabu Teens Turning Green Fashion show.

Emerging Designer: Igor Rozenblyum

2009-04-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

Check out the latest Forward article Gspotter Margaret has written about talented emerging Brooklyn designer and all around badass, Igor Rozenblyum.

The styles are Euro Flashy Fabulous and inspired by the designer's Jewish/Ukranian roots.

Stylecaster.com - Predicting the Future of (eco) Fashion

2009-04-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

GSpotter Margaret has a new gig writing and styling from Stylecaster on behalf of Strawberry Earth. Here are two videos from today's style session.

Shout out to Mary and Janice and Stylecaster's INCREDIBLE fashion closet! It is truly a thing of beauty.

Show Dem Eco-Legs

2009-04-01T06:55:00.000-07:00

Take a bite out of my juicy thigh why don't you, Shark Face!

This SZEXY Larsen Gray Shark Bite Skirt is made from organic cotton and perhaps should be worn with these hologram vegan heels by Olsen Haus, which was just featured in Daily Candy a few days ago. Hott.

Stanky Landfill Gas Power: Methane, y'all!

2009-03-24T12:04:00.000-07:00

Not for nothing, the GSpotting team has had some ill, stanky, powerful gas as of late. Perhaps we are feeling a bit nostaligic for Western North Carolina and so we've been cooking up lots of okra and Morning Star Farm veggie burgers (hmmm, veggie burgers with pickles...), which is good for generating gas. Also good for generating gas is a landfill.

The power of booty gas doesn't even come close to the methane that powers the largest SC Johnson's factory, in Racine Wisconsin, reports our GSpotting home girl and CNN Money green correspondent Olivia Zaleski. Apparently, SC Johnson - who makes products like Ziplock bags and Windex- uses the supa-stank landfill gas to cover 50% of their electricity needs each year and in doing so annually reduce 52,000 tons of CO2 emissions while saving them millions of dollars annually.

Great story, Oliva! Stank on y'all.

The Robotic Carp Will Save Us!!

2009-03-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

Robot 2000 says, "Don't buy me, I'm painted with lead and was recalled. But I do look cool!"

"Look at our big ass Carp, Bro. Damn!"

Whoah, Nelly! Scientist have caught a helluva Carp, like this big (show widespread hands) in Northern Spain. But this ain't no ordinary fish. It's a robot fish and it's going to help monitor water quality. Check it!

Thanks to our girl Courtney who GSpotted the hell out of this article. It just so happens that she is robot girl over at Forbes Magazine, but we'll throw her on first team all eco for this good look.

Alice Waters: Fresh Produce and Sustainable Food NO JOKE

2009-03-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

Alice Waters was interviewed by Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes on Sunday Night and though we GSpotters rarely agree with the often mean (but funny) celebrity/politics site Gawker.com, we have to give them credit for a very good post-show post. In an entry they call, Crazy Food Hippie Actually on to Something, Gawker points out how elitist Stahl is in the interview - something loyal 60 Minutes viewers have been saying for years- and also highlights a few points that the Bay Area slow-foods/sustainable foods chef should have touched upon.

If she'd had some media prep before the interview, Water's would have mentioned that we Americans spend less on food than ever before, so buying local, organic, and safe ingredients isn't a "luxury" (Stahl's word) as much as blast from the past. Maybe paying a bit more for food isn't a new thing, or a bad thing, if we get more quality products.

Also, Gawker points out that just a few hours after the segment aired, the Nicholas Kristoff of the NY Times reported that 6% of all pork carries the deadly staph infection, MRSA, that kills 18,000 Americans each year. MRSA thrives on the antibiotics fed to traditionally raised Pork and so paying a premium for free range, organic Pork isn't a luxury so much as just a health precaution.

We GSpotters would also add the benefits of families who grocery shop and eat together, tend to eat healthier, according to a study by North Dakota State University. Shopping at the Farmer's Market is much more interesting and fun and only further encourages families to eat and live in a healthier way.

Kudos to Gawker for connecting the dots and moving beyond stereotypes and snark.

Playing For Change - Stand By Me

2009-03-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

Check out this almost hoakey but amazingly sweet Youtube video from the documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music".

Thanks to GSpotting pal PF for sending it over.

Our Homeboy, Brian, at The Daily Green

2009-03-05T12:02:00.000-08:00

Brian* is the dude in the middle

GSpotting friend and Hearst Magazine's The Daily Green editor Brian Howard talks environmentally friendly cities on ABC. Check it out here.

*Found the photo online. Too sweet not to use.

SLVR by Adidas

2009-03-05T05:56:00.000-08:00

The New York Times' Critical Shopper, Mike Albo has a great review of the new SLVR store in NYC's Soho. We have reported on Adidas' eco-label SLVR before (like this post for The Lazy Environmentalist) and are high-tailing it down there today to check it out. Especially the seven-piece shoe they designed without toxic adhesives...saweeet.

More to come.

Hemp on my Pizza, Oh Yesssir

2009-02-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

GSpotting Foodie Dion took the team to Cafe Viva yesterday in the East Village for some Ganja Pizza. Who would have known that hemp pizza could be sooo bomb.

Cuban Jewish Music Project- Recylce CDs, Build Listening Libraries

2009-02-26T09:47:00.000-08:00

The Cuban Jewish Music Project is collecting gently used CDs and music playing devices to send to Cuba to create listening libraries all over the country. While this story isn't traditionally "green", it is a great example of recycling.

Check out the article GSpotter Margaret wrote for The Forward.

Also, to donate to the project, send materials to:

Aroeste Music LLC
Attn: Cuba-Jewish Music Project
255 W. 108th St., #5B
New York, NY 10025

Financial contributions can be made on-line through the project’s
fiscal sponsor, Deep Listening Institute:
http://www.deeplistening.org/site/donate or via check written out to
“Deep Listening Institute” with ‘Cuba-Jewish Music Project’ in the
memo line and sent to address above.

NYC Bioheat Mandate (Coolest bill name EVER)

2009-02-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

Biodiesel - yes to the NYC mandate! And sexy bio truck, homey!

Peter F Vallone Jr - My local city council person that I contacted about biodiesel. So can you.

Biodiesel is up for debate in a possible NYC area bioheat mandate to reduce carbon emissions by 3.4 billion pounds/year. That is the equivalent of removing about 280,000 cars from the road. To ensure the mandate passes you can do any of the following:

1) Check out to http://nyc.tristatebiodiesel.com/involved2.htm and send an email to the Mayors office supporting the bill.

2) Send a support letter to your Council Member as well. Sample letters, and Council Member locator at http://nyc.tristatebiodiesel.com/involved2.htm

3) Come to the biodeisel hearing tomorrow, Wednesday, February 25, 10:00 AM at 250 Broadway, 16th Floor hearing room. The Mayor's office will be deciding whether or not to support the bill based partially on information presented at this hearing.

Biodiesel will make our air healthier to breathe and will not make food more expensive. Biodiesel is not corn ethanol. Biodiesel is the only low carbon fuel available for diesel equipment and home heating boilers and this mandate would be a huge step in the fight for better air quality and against global warming!

Public Citizen Wants YOU (finger point through screen) To Be Skinny!

2009-02-18T07:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the NY Federal Appeals Court upheld the recently created public health law requiring all caloric information be listed on every item in every menu in each restaurant in NYC. Since 2007, National Non-Profit Public Interest Organization Public Citizen has been working with former FDA Commissioner David Kessler, the American Medical Association, and Rep Henry Waxman who sponsored the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, to ensure that consumers know what they are eating when they order out at NYC restaurants.

Knowledge is power. If knowing that there are 450 calories in a box of small popcorn at the movie theatre keeps someone from eating the whole box; that is power. And that actually happened to us last night at Coraline. Had the cals not been listed, we'd have taken in those 450 calories AFTER we'd just had large dinner at Souen, and then just sat on our arses while the cals turned to fat. Thank you movie menu board with listed calories!

Also, thanks to our GSpotting homeboy Jonas who works for Public Citizen and keeps us in the loop.

My President Thinks in 3D! Green Recovery Act and the new Coraline movie.

2009-02-18T06:38:00.000-08:00

Obama signs the bill

So this is what it feels like to have a President do his job. It's like, like, wonderful. Yesterday, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Denver. In doing so, the President allocated a record breaking $87 Billion (of the $787 Billion total) to green investments. Gone are the days when tag-along funds were given to green energy and alternative technology, as per our last president. (GWB: "Oh, and here is 5 million bucks to spend on research and development on your green stuff. Don't spend it all in one place.") The bill focuses on public transit, weatherization, a smart electric grid, and tax breaks for renewable energy. To thank President Obama, email him here.

On another note, the GSpotting team saw Coraline yesterday, which is a visually thrilling, little bit scary, must see fantasy animated flick. It is especially awesome because they provide 3D glasses (that look like Bob Dylan RayBan wayfarers) so that the entire flick is experienced in 3D! However, wtf, the 3D wayfarers come in some monster plastic packaging that's excessive as all hell, and rendered us pissed for most of the picture just marinating on the sheer resource use. Think about it: there were probably 350 people in the theatre, and each had the plastic glasses which came in a plastic baggie. If the Union Square Regal Cinema shows the movie 8 times a day- well that's just a lot of freaking plastic.

GSpotter Margaret in her 3D Coraline glasses showing the excess packaging.

Glasses for the experience are a must. The heavy duty plastic bag that appears to be fire retardent and could be used to protect yourself from chemical warfare and/or nuclear fall out (it's that sturdy) - that is a bit too much. Hey reaL D, aka the company that makes the glasses, take a hint from folks like Dr Bronner's who use 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles or Primo Water who use Ingeo Corn for their packaging.

Accessorized Puppies and Such

2009-02-16T06:24:00.000-08:00

Check out the article G Spotter Margaret wrote for Strawberry Earth about funny winter time puppy gear:

Four Footed Fashion Victims

Also, we had to do some serious dog stalking to get these photos of dogs-n-boots, so enjoy that!

Alexander McQueen: Not Eco At All...

2009-02-16T05:54:00.000-08:00

But hella cool none-the-less. In bringing edgy avant-garde punk fashion to the masses, we shall salute him with a blog entry. However, it should just be noted that the most successful Target-high fashion designer collaboration was Rogan Gregory with his sustainable collection.

<-------------GSpotters Kora, Nicole, and Margaret pose for the cameras.

We G Spotters hit up Alexander McQueen for Target's opening party (?), rock concert (?), shopping event(?), before advancing to a Mexican inspired Valentine's Dinner on Saturday night. Two observations from the evening: 1. Alexander McQueen is a total badass, and in his collection limited his color pallette to pink grey and black and utterly rocks out with with runaway zippers and one shouldered shapes on tops, dresses, and bathing suits. 2. Gorging oneself on guacamole, fajitas, AND sopapilla with homegirls isn't so much a romantic Valentine's Dinner as cause for alarm.

Eco Fashion and Eve Ensler

2009-02-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a fabulous GSpotting afternoon and evening. First we saw this kick ass woman Alyssa at the Goodwill on the Upper East side (on 89th and 3rd) with her Voltaic Systems backpack, and snapped a photo.

<-----------Alyssa

Then we attended attended an evening with Eve Ensler (Author of The Vagina Monologues) and Dr. Denis Mukwege who runs the PANZI Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo called "Stop Raping Our Greatest Resource: Power To Women And Girls Of Democratic Republic Of Congo" GSpotter Margaret was in the Vagina Monologues in college as were her two companions for the event, homegirls Kathryn and Nicole. Ensler and Mukwege's Pain-to-Power tour is traveling around the country and is not to be missed. Check the website to find it in a city near you.

<------Dr Mukwege and young friend

Thank You Weleda: My Pimples Are Gone

2009-02-12T07:31:00.000-08:00

Move over Proactiv with your crazy burning ingredients and super-charged chemicals. There is a new effective face cleansing brand in town, and they work with the bodies natural ability to foster good skin. Oh, and they use healthy, paraben/pthlate free ingredients. The company is Weleda and recently we had the fortune of being led through a do-it-yourself facial at the US Weleda headquarters in New Jersey.

Here is the article GSpotter Margaret published in The Daily Green about the facial!

Eco Fashion at Amsterdam Fashion Week - Thanks Strawberry Earth

2009-02-10T13:15:00.000-08:00

Strawberry Earth Video Report - Amsterdam Fashion Week from Strawberry Earth on Vimeo.

Gotta love Mette and the whole Strawberry Earth gang for beautiful videos presenting the sweetest side of sustainability and fashion.

New Organic Beverage Alert: Honey Drop

2009-02-10T05:27:00.000-08:00

"I'd drink this over Vitamin Water," said our friend Nick as we sipped Honey Drop, an organic honey-centric water beverage. "I mean I like a Vitamin Water, but I don't do any action."

Nick's point is well taken; who really needs the electrolytes and high performance ingredients when you are just lounging around the house or reading a book?

Honey Drop is the perfect book reading beverage. It tastes like a yummy spot of tea, but chilled and in a plastic bottle. The company has made a concerted effort to use USDA certified organic honey and keep the calorie count down (80 calories per bottle), so that's pretty neat.

Speaking of neat, we've heard through the rumor mill that Peak Organic Beer is coming out with a sparkling water, Source, also good to enjoy while performing low impact activities. Between Honey Drop and Source, the future of water substitutes is looking pretty good.

IT'S OFFICIAL: Hello Kitty Is The Best Kitty, Ever

2009-02-05T07:28:00.000-08:00

Gratuitous Kitty Pics!

Just in case you weren't as sure as you outta be, Hello Kitty is THAT KITTY. Like, it's official. Don't believe us? Check the NY Times!

If the NY Times style section had an ultimate fighting team, writer Eric Wilson would be the champion. This hard hitting style journalist has criticized green fashion in the past, questioning the idea of consuming to help solve environmental woes. While we disagree and strongly believe that ethical/eco shopping is part of the solution, we respect his tough stance and journalistic integrity.

And now, with this Hello Kitty piece published today in the NY Times, Eric Wilson, you are legit. Hello Kitty is the coolest cat for the coolest gals. Real feels real.

Hello Kitty Myspace Group
Hello Kitty Fan Club
Hello Kitty Sigg Water Bottle (Thanks Kim!)

Artists and Fleas say, "Brooklyn We Go Hard"

2009-02-04T14:06:00.000-08:00

With a name like Artists and Fleas, how could we not trek out to this weekly Brooklyn market to peep the wares. Looking at the website, it seems that only the quirkiest, most original jewelry, fashion, home decor, and doll makers are allowed to sell their stuff. Must see booths we GSpotters are hitting up include but aren't limited to: the Kreepy Doll Factory, Sparc: Semi-Precious, organic jewelry, Leslie Lynch African Ethnic Fashions for Women, Jeni Jaques Jewelry... Aw hell, they all look great! Even in this cold weather, in Brooklyn we must go hard!

LMAO Syndrome - Laughing My Ass Off Is No Joke

2009-02-02T06:45:00.000-08:00

NBC - LMAO Syndrome | Viral | SPIKE.com

"What happened to your butt?"

This is the opening line one of the most brilliant SuperBowl ads of the evening, the LMAO Syndrome commercial advertising NBC's sitcoms. Watching the commercial, you realize the real danger of laughing your ass off and the traumatic reattachment procedure that would follow. So, be careful, friends.

Keeping in mind that babies could potentially laugh their baby butts off too, eco-friendly baby clothiers, Text Message Baby has spun the LMAO phrase into a phrase for a onesie: LMDO or Laughing My Diaper Off. Gear from Text Message Baby is made from certified organic cotton and simply TDF!*

*To Die For

Dirty South Come Hard: Athens Style Goes Green

2009-01-30T12:58:00.000-08:00

If you attended a big ol' public university in the south like us GSpotters (TarHeels, Baby!!) then you probably already know about the homogeneous fashions worn by most of the Sorority girls. No hate, we have friends who were in sororities. Even our wonderful roomate Erin was in one. But just saying, they all pretty much adhere to a strict uniform made up of of North Face polartec jacket, Sperry deck shoes, Croakies brand sunglasses string, Sevens or Citizens Jeans, New Balance tennis shoes, and pearl earrings the size of plums.

How completely unexpected and wonderful then to come across UGA STYLE, a site devoted to the more quirkier and fashion forward folks Athens, GA.

The site's blogtastic proprietor, Allie, is also a contributor to Ethical Style and wrote this piece about Athens' up and coming green fashion scene, specifically the boutique Nourish.

Way to go Allie! Keep the photos of the daringly stylish kids Georgia coming and don't let the homogenity get you down. And keep reminding your fellow Bull Dawgs that unless it's around their dorm rooms, just Say No To UGGS!!!

Shout Out to Recycling Professionals!

2009-01-29T06:41:00.000-08:00

A couple nights ago outside of the C-Town grocery store in Astoria, Queens, we GSpotted this guy recycling. His name is Sidney and he is a professional recycler. When we met Sidney, he was man-handling a whole lot of cardboard and compacting it in his nifty truck, afterwhich it is driven to the dump to be made into something new.

We asked Sidney if he considered his job eco-friendly. He answered, of course he did. We then asked if he does anything else eco-friendly. He said, "Oh my goodness. There are all sorts of things. Just being friendly alone helps."

From the mouths of recyclers. Because what is "going green" or environmental stewardship if there isn't kindness and goodwill between humans?

Speaking of which, yesterday at the Goodwill Thrift store near the CTown where Sidney was recycling, we witnessed a slight altercation between an over-worked (and presumably underpaid) sales associate and an opinionated customer standing in the check out line line. So Mr Opinionated Customer makes a comment about an overpriced suitcase another gentleman was purchasing, which is arguably not his business in the first place. Ms Pissed Saleswoman proceeds to tell him that it isn't his business and he should stay out of other people's transactions. Mr OC promptly answers, why don't you let me have my own conversations, to which Ms PS retors, "And that's why you probably lost your job in this economy. I got a job, but with all these layoffs and opinions like yours - I bet youd don't." From there it just degraded into a 5th graders word flinging fight.

In an attempt to calm the mood, we GSpotters began mumbling about recycling clothing, a new administration, Change, what-have-you- but to no avail. We left the store wishing that everyone was like Sidney. Because being eco-friendly starts with being friendly, and all ultimately leads to a higher consciousness and connection with the earth.

Lucky Eco Girl

2009-01-28T08:27:00.000-08:00

Hey GSpotters! It has been a while since our last entry, and for that we apologize. But with our new President working so hard: raising automobile fuel efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2011 and re-committing funds (that our last Prez cut) towards family planning and the United Nations Populations Fund, we were inspired to get off our duffs and get to work. So here we go:

Yesterday, GSpotter Margaret had a day-long photo shoot with Lucky Magazine. The photos will go in a section called My Foolproof Outfit, highlighting working women and transitioning day attire to night without having to head home. Margaret's glossy debut, with a summary of her daily work with eco-blogs like Strawberry Earth and The Lazy Environmentalist will be in Lucky's annual Green Issue hitting stands come April. True to strict ethical and fabulous standards, all of the attire is manufactured with fair labor standards and sustainabley sourced materials. Thanks to Photographer Susan, Hair/Makeup Stylist Renee, and Lucky Editor Heather for making our little GSpotter Margaret look hott!

Speaking of Snowboarders

2009-01-12T14:35:00.001-08:00

Last week we rapped about the greener-than-ever snowboard industry and so to complement that entry, here's an interview with former pro-snowboarder- turned crunk rocker Trouble Andrew and his band, which G Spotter Margaret scored for BlackBook Magazine. Special corporate shout out (wait a second?!) to Burton for aiming for 50% sustainable materials in all boards by 2010 and for sponsoring the two time Olympic snowboarder, Trouble Andrew.

Also, check Trouble Andrew's song Push sung over a looped Lil Wayne song, which is kinda gnarly, bro.

What is a Real O G? Is it Green, necessarily?

2009-01-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

Usually, the content of this blog pertains to spotting G as in Green. But when there are other, meaningful G* sightings, like this one, it only seems right that they too should be posted.

These two brothers and a girlfriend (gf of one of the brothers) were waiting at the Prince Street stop on the train a few days back. I couldn't pass them without being dazzled by their thoughtfully synchronized outfits.

From the matching bros Yankees fitted hats to the to the identical Nikes on all three of them (though hers were the "girl" version) these cool kids were just working it. Even if the garb wasn't "green" per se, it was conscious and sustainable; the three were interacting with such kindness and love that their "look" clearly went beyond just precise wardrobe.

In 2009, may we all put this kind of thought into our style and interpersonal relationships.

* Also known as an Old Gangster, O G, or Real O G, you definitely know a G when you see one.

Green Snow Boards Go Faster Than The Rest

2009-01-02T07:25:00.001-08:00

Big news for all y'all conscious snowboarders (shout out G Spotting Bro, Gabe): green boards are here and even more are coming.

Today's NY Times Article about eco-sourcing for snowboards is badass, especially that by the 2010 season, big boy boarding co. Burton will be using 50 percent sustainable materials in ALL of their boards.

What does that mean? How about a Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood core, a lacquer-free top sheet, 90-percent recycled steel edges, 100-percent recycled sidewalls and a 50-percent recycled base.

Green snowboards have been done before, namely by Arbor, which has been using renewable materials like Koa wood, cork and bamboo since 1995. But industry leader Burton's shift to sustainable boards signifies a real shift in the industry, and we can't lie: we're hyped.

Happy New Years! Eco Resolutions

2009-01-01T08:17:00.000-08:00

Here is G Spotter Margaret interviewing folks about 2009 for Sprig.com's "Green Girl on the Street."

Happy 2K9

Ode To Anti-Body Eco Beauty Products

2008-12-22T09:06:00.000-08:00

As professional eco-friendly product experts reviewers, we G Spotters get to try our fair share of health/earth conscious beauty products. And in general, all of the swag smells nice, is sting-less if it accidentally gets in our eyes, and cleanses/moisturizes/tones yadda yadda. But every once in a while there is a product that quite literally changes our lives and this time, the life changer goes by the name of Anti-Body Lavender Sugar Scrub.

In an unprecedented display of exfoliating power and moisturizing rejuvenation, this product does it all. Never before have we used sugar for anything other than to sweeten tea/coffee, but apparently it is a staple in the beauty world. And the righteously awesome Anti-Body takes it to another level, as this is the first fair trade sugar scrub of its kind, sloughing and polishing even the ruddiest of winter epidermis. Seriously, after a shower with this scrub you feel so moisturized that lotion is completely unnecessary.

Go out and get this product. We sh*t you not, this will change your shower experience, forever.

C.L.A.S.S. Sustainable Style Unites The World

2008-12-12T12:39:00.001-08:00

Recognizing that sustainability in fashion is not a fad- it is a way of life, Milan and London based sustainable style organization CLASS (Creativity, Lifestyle and Sustainable Synergy) has found its way stateside, to New York City.

Last week was the first CLASS event complete with delicious organic food, a round table panel discussion, and fabulous eco-fashionistas/advocates like Elinor Averyt of LEAF (Labeling Ecologically Approved Fabrics) working to create a unified labeling standard; fashion model Summer Rayne Oakes who releases her eco-friendly shoe line Zoe&Zac for payless Spring '09; and a representative from Italian renewable energy leader Relight who spoke about moving into the eco-fashion realm to achieve the 360 green lifestyle package.

It was a great night and here are some photos.

These sustainable fabrics and more are available to explore at the CLASS' Fabric Library

Blocks of recycled material

Ingeo (corn ) fiber

Noon Solar bags at the CLASS Event

A few sustainable garments on display, sustainable fashion heads in the background

Eco Fashion Shoot with Kaight

2008-12-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

Margaret in Deborah Lindquist recycled cashmere rose sweater from Kaight

Last week, green fashion maven Kate, owner of Lower East Side NY sweet spot eco-boutique Kaight, invited GSpotter Margaret to model some of the looks for her online shop, Kaight Shop. It was truly the biggest damn thing to ever happen to Margaret. Ever.

Here are some of the better shots (although the clothing is unwaveringly cool in all photos).

Margaret in Doucette Duvall Beatrice Dress (Rihanna is a fan of DD, too!)

John Patrick Organic cotton tank, Toms Shoes, and tight (dang gurrlll!) organic Good Society Jeans

Loomstate Bunny organic cotton Tshirt and Del Forte organic cotton Black Jeans (sultry look optional)

Virginia Johnson organic wool (so warm) and Terra Plana ethical/excellent boots

THANKS KATE!!!

Pharrell "Green Phashion" Williams

2008-12-08T08:42:00.000-08:00

Oh no he didn't~ Of course he did.

Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes is just that dude: the skateboard real 'Ol G kid who makes everyone else look like they are working to hard to be cool.

And according to Women's Wear Daily, he's doing it again; this time joining up with Bionic Yarn as a part owner and major investor. Bionic Yarn is a NY based company that manufactures "revolutionary fabric" made from recycled plastic bottles .

Tofurky Yum

2008-12-01T06:35:00.000-08:00

In case you missed GSpotter Margaret's TOFURKY article over at Plenty Magazine...

Also, a huge way-to-go and thank you to GSpotter Stepmom Kim for a solid Thanksgiving, tofurky included!

Sample Sale: Whoo Whoo

2008-12-01T06:29:00.000-08:00

Skinny, white kids wearing Rogan Gregory.
You can too!

Sample Sale
NYC AREA

Rogan and Loomstate

Through Sunday, December 7, past-season overstock, rare samples, and one-offs from the eco-friendly lines are up to 75 percent off.

91 Franklin St., behind the Rogan shop

Mon.-Sun., 11-7
loomstate.org
rogannny.com

Petroleum Party: Green Girl On The Street

2008-11-25T09:38:00.000-08:00

Let me tell you a story about a man named Jed/ Poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed/ Then one day he was shooting for some food/ And up from the ground came bubbling crude:
OIL THAT IS.
BLACK OIL.
TEXAS T.

*Huge Hi-Five for Brit over at Sprig who shot, edited, and produced this video. Brit actually the inspiration for the Pussy Cat Dolls song, "Don't Cha" because she actually makes you wish your girlfriend was as hot like her.

Strawberry Earth: New Green Website That Kicks A**

2008-11-20T06:16:00.000-08:00

Strawberries & Cream from Strawberry Earth on Vimeo.

If you have been waiting for an ill-mazing eco website that speaks to the real issues, like fat people on motorbikes in Amsterdam or *cigarette butt drama in NYC, wait no more. Strawberry Earth is the brainchild of some of the coolest Dutch kids we've ever met, and they are making incorporating sustainable decisions into you life as easy as 1,2,3 and 4.

*Written by GSpotter and now Strawberry Earth NYC reporter, Margaret.

A Suit You Can Wash In The Shower

2008-11-16T12:53:00.000-08:00

This weekend's Financial Times of London offers an alternative suit cleaning solution for the laziest suit wearers among us. The Shower Clean Suit comes from Japanese fashion company Konaka and is designed to be cleaned, as the name implies, in the shower.

Dry cleaning is not such a clean industry. The dry cleaning process uses perchloroethylene , or "perc", hydrocarbons and silicone all of which are known carcinogens. There are greener healthier dry cleaning alternatives, but with the Shower Clean Suit one can cut out the middle man, altogether.

For $450, you can cop a suit whose fibers, thanks to a microscopic polymer coating, remain stable and hence look the same after the rinse.

Matt Lauer is so Green!

2008-11-13T06:53:00.000-08:00

Gspotter Margaret puts celebs on the spot at the Friar Club's Roast for Matt Lauer. Huge high five to Sprig.com whose All-Star video producer and dear heart, Brit Liggett did a bang-up job, as always, filming, editing, and capturing Margaret's best angles.

Eco-Fashion Site ReLaunch: Adili

2008-11-06T06:05:00.001-08:00

Smarter, stronger, and better than ever describes more than just our nation's president elect and the world's opinion of the US. It also aptly describes the relaunch of Adili, a GSpotting eco-fashion retail FAVE.

The new site is so fantastic that Marie Claire UK, which impressively covers green fashion with regularity, published a solid interview with Adili's CEO. "We want to make a difference to people's lives. Instead of fast fashion we passionately believe in treasured pieces that are made with real consideration and care." Well said.

One other noteworthy aspect of the relaunch is the vast collection of menswear. Finally, something our buddies Aron* and Josh over at the Lazy Environmentalist can rock with!

*dude: check out all the sweet hoodies you've been searching for.

Hella-ween Yourself Off of Expensive, Wasteful Costumes

2008-10-30T09:42:00.001-07:00

Hey all you spooked readers, (yes Mom, poor grammar on this blog is oftentimes frightening) what's up for Halloween? Tons of costumes, candy, and wacky fun, NO DOUBT. This year, let the freaky deaky spookage begin, but without store bought costumes (Americans spend $5billion annually on Halloween) often made from Middle Eastern Oil and PVC polyvinyl chloride, both of which suck! I'm thinking thrift stores for gowns, ugly power suits for political candidates, and bathing suits for Michael Phelps.

Peep the article GSpotter Margaret has in today's Plenty Magazine with spooky yet scintillating eco costume ideas.

Green Girl on the Street Video : Eco Politics

2008-10-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest Sprig.com video expertly produced and edited by a GSpotting bff Brit Liggett, featuring GSpotting team member Margaret. The issues addressed in this episode of Green Girl On the Street include presidential candidates, animal spirits, and the "party of Lincoln."

Holy Eco Fashion, Batman - Good Tips Angela Lindvall

2008-10-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

Today's WWD features an article entitled "The Eco Maker" about model and eco-activist Angela Lindvall. The best part of the piece is Lindvall's favorite eco-fashion brand shout-outs. Like, The Battalian, Brown Label jeans, Elena Garcia, and Velvet Leaf.

I'm freaking loving this top by Velvet Leaf, much like the one I saw a woman rocking with a black pencil skirt, yesterday in the locker room at the Equinox Gym in Union Square (Thanks Bess for letting me be your guest).

Eco Fashion LOVE LOVE LOVE

2008-10-27T13:13:00.000-07:00

LOVE LOVE LOVE for men and women, Bourgeois Boheme: Fashion with Compassion, a fantastic new ethical/eco British retailer

Check out the footwear: Good Lord; I'm in love. These photos don't do these pieces justice, but let's just say affordable green fashion just got a major baller in Bourgeois Boheme.

High School Musical 3 - Chad Loves Eco Fashion

2008-10-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

Chad (Corbin Bleu) from High School Musical 1 and 2 is getting tricked out in green for HSM 3. According to HSM stylist, Chad is "kind of jock-based, but has an eco-friendly vibe. He's the first character in a feature film to wear primarily organic and sustainable clothing, all the way down to his sustainable G-Star jeans."

Chad's American Apparel organic tees feature custom eco-friendly messages like 'My dog didn't eat my homework, I recycled it' and 'Greenster.' "We launched Nike's new green line of sneakers, so all his sneakers are sustainable. He also wears an amazing pair of sandals -- Maasi Treads -- made by the Maasi tribe in Kenya. The soles are made out of actual tire treads!"

Jason Mraz- Conscious Musician and Total Mensch

2008-10-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

Here is an interview G Spotter Margaret did for the Washington Post's Sprig.com with musician Jason Mraz.

A few key pieces to watch for:

*The interviewer quasi crushing on the musician's open mindedness and outfit (no shoe + hottie hat = winning look)

*The musician 's out of this world forearm tattoos of a man and a woman. The man tat has the musician's height in cm and the woman tat is blank which will be "filled in when I meet the right one" he said. Awwwww

*The Jason Mraz tour is being greened by Reverb

Listen to Jason Mraz's album Here

Or watch his new music video Here

Coming Soon: Sexy Green Magazine

2008-10-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

We are hella psyched just thinking about the forthcoming green magazine, Coco Eco. Even the website's splash page which merely occupies the magazine's virtual real estate location on the world wide web, looks sassy and enticing.

What's more, one of our favorite green beauty experts, Emma Pezzack, who runs online beauty retail site Future Natural and also edits Organic Beauty View, will be the beauty editor for Eco Coco. That selection in and of itself has us convinced of the supreme editorial acumen of the soon to be released magazine.

Green Solutions from the Past

2008-10-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

GSpotter Margaret has a new weekly column over at Plenty Magazine. Here is an excerpt from this week's article, which was posted today.

The economy. Energy. Burgeoning carbon footprints vs shrinking portfolios. Not an appetizing picture. Still, we gotta eat. To alleviate some of the stress surrounding these complex and confusing issues, let’s look to the past for simple, green solutions. During the Great Depression, consumers had to differentiate between needs and wants, and you may have witnessed the legacy of that frugal time in the spending habits of your grandparents and their friends. It’s time we all started buying like that generation.

Cutting some waste and expense is easy. Last year, Americans spent $15 billion dollars on bottled water, which is actually more than they spent on iPods. According to the Earth Policy Institute, making plastic bottles requires over 17 million barrels of oil annually. A Great Depression solution: Buy a reusable bottle and refill it with patriotic (i.e. tap) water. Or, to combat the 28 Billion disposable coffee cups Americans run through each year, buy a reusable coffee mug and brew your own at home. If landfill talk doesn’t worry you, how’s this for fear factor: One latte a day adds up to $1,200 dollars. Yikes.

To see the whole article, click here.

Green Rock Music, Rockin Green Roof

2008-10-06T16:26:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday was the slamming Futurehood festival, something team GSpotting has been seriously hyped about for weeks. The event was hosted by the parents and kids of PS41 who are raising money for a 19,000 square foot greenroof, to be installed next summer.

GSpotters Nicole and Margaret had the distinct pleasure of (wo)manning the planting station in which the littlest Big City Kids played with dirt, for what appeared to be the first time in their young lives.

Shout out to Bobo Restaurant and specifically Emma, who proved to be the calmest, most collected event organizer we've ever seen.

One FSC Plywood Board, Millions Of Possiblities

2008-10-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

Plywood Rocks

If you've ever had a vision about all the ways to design fabulous from just one plywood board that is FSC Certified to boot, then here is your chance.

The Nature Conservancy, Forest Stewardship Council-US (FSC-US), and Design 21: Social Design Network are tri-sponsoring a contest to be auctioned in Nature Conservancy's May 2009 traveling exhibit "Design for a Living World" featuring sustainable natural materials.

Check Design Green Now for all the details to enter.

Happy Green Rosh Hashanah/ Happy Green Eid ul Fitr

2008-10-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

Happy (Green) Rosh Hashanah and Eid, everyone!

After exhaustive research, the G Spotting team has discovered that the Muslim festival Eid ul-Fitr عيد الفطر which ends Ramadan has a two part meaning. The first, Eid means "festivity", while Fiṭr can mean "to break the fast" or "nature".

The Jewish High Holy Days including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur also involve food (issues regarding seasons of seed-sowing, growth, rain patterns, and harvest) and the natural world.

In a time as holy this, it seems very appropriate to think divinely blessed green thoughts and turn them into action. Here is an article about Greening your Ramadan fast, and a Sustainable Rosh Hashanah from cool eco-religious site, Green Prophet.

Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid) and Shanah Tovah (A Good Year).

Good Earth Organic Coffee: Delicious!

2008-09-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

Our new coffee, Good Earth

What's ground, savory, and bold all over? If you guessed Good Earth Premium Coffee, you got it right.

Tuesday, September 23rd at Josies restaurant in NYC Good Earth's "Brew For Better" pledge was unveiled three organic coffee blends were released to be available in mainstream groceries across the country. Cheryl Burn, Director of Quality and Product Development, aka the "Blendmaster" who has been blending and mixing for 10 years noted that a specialty grade coffee means that each coffee bean (which is actually just the pit of a cherry) is hand picked and selected to ensure the quality of flavor. And like a wine tasting, she encouraged drinkers to sip and spit the coffee out to taste the flavor. Needless to say, we GSpotters did not spit out the caffeinated nectar of the Gods.

Traditional coffee grown in sunlight requires farmers to burn or slash tropical forests, which contributes 20% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, whereas organic coffee is shade grown. And beyond the impact of cultivating coffee, Good Earth acknowledges that Americans use an average of four paper cups per week, or 200 cups per year, and that is a lot of waste. In fact, 100 million pounds of paper in landfills every year just from coffee cups, a lot.

With that in mind, the brew at home pledge will donate $1 for each online pledge, up to $20,000, to the Trust for Public Land, whose "Parks for People" campaign just created seven new parks and playgrounds in Newark, NJ servicing over 31,000 residents.

The other highlight of the morning was meeting Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green, who in fact is Gorgeous and has a gorgeous neshamah (hebrew for soul) to match.

Our new friend, Gorgeously Green Sophie Uliano

New Kids on the Eco Retail Block: Lux Green Living

2008-09-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

New Kids On The Block (now)

Toggery Organic Cotton/Bamboo Dress

Toggery organic cotton leggings

If you haven't seen the new New Kids On The Block (now called NKOTB) video with soul crooner Ne Yo, watch it here, and feel old. At least feel good that you don't look that old.

If you haven't seen the new site for Eco-fashion veteran designer, Kate D'Arcy of Toggery, check out Lux Green Living, and feel encouraged at her sweet basic styles and affordable prices. (Love the organic cotton leggings!)

Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Clinton, and Eco Fashion

2008-09-22T09:24:00.000-07:00

President Bill Clinton like Melissa Shoes

Melissa shoes worn by Whoopi Goldberg on The View

Whoopi Goldberg reps Eco Fashon on The View

Today on The View, President Bill Clinton was interviewed on all things political, personal (like the Clinton Global Initiative, which by the way, has a badass Global Warming combat unit, and even fashion.

Upon greeting the View hostesses, President Clinton looked down at Whoopi Goldberg's shoes and commented, "nice shoes, Whoopi." Team Gspotting was REALLY hoping Whoopi would remark that they were Melissa Shoes made from recycled plastic, but instead quipped, "Oh these; they are plastic." to which the former Rhodes Scholar/US President said, "Pretty soon we're all going to be wearing plastic shoes."

Here's to hoping that's true, because really and truly, Melissa shoes are the jump-off.

DC Goodwill Fashion Show

2008-09-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

MAJOR THANKS to sister Alice for snapping these fabulous photos Thursday eve at the DC Goodwill Fashion show at the French Embassy. Check the DC Goodwill article G Spotter Margaret wrote last week in the Huffington Post.

Also check the piece MSNBC did about the fashion show and auction, which raised about $160,000 dollars for DC Goodwill.

Miguel Adrover for Hess Natur: NYC Spring Fashion 2008

2008-09-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a video team GSpotting did last week at the Hess Natur show in NYC. The event was incredible, and well covered by both green and mainstream style publications, including this informative article from the Wall Street Journal's style blog.

Major thanks to Dion for helping with the video and Lindsay for keeping G Spotting in the loop with sweet eco-fashion like Hess Natur.

Eko-Laborative Event

2008-09-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

"Support Organic Farming - A Horse Dress" by Mika Machida, in organic cotton

Xing-Zheng Chung-Hilyard's hand-crocheted organic angora yarn "purse" with live fish in fish bowl.

Xing-Zheng Chung-Hilyard's "High Wire Artist" dress in organic cotton and hemp, painted with Earthues.

"African Seed Pearl Magic" by Johanna Hofring -- organic linen dyed with Earthues and seeds from Kenya

Check out this story on Hearst's The Daily Green:

The highest compliment an eco-fashion show can get is a strong nod of approval from non-green critical friends. That is why I brought my dear friend Kora, a gold sparkle nail polish/Forever 21 obsessed photographer and tech master, and my gay bestie Dionysus (his actual name is that of the Greek G-d of wine and party, which pretty much sums it up) to the Eko-Laborative show. The organic, "fair-made," and sustainable fashion exhibition was fun for me, cause I love this green fashion thing; but also proved to be a hit with the homies.

The pieces were arranged in a semi-circle on graceful mannequins in a well lit room with a grand spiral staircase leading to delicious organic food and wine. No detail was left unconsidered from the plantable seed paper upon which the show's information was printed on to the live music.

Most importantly, were the graceful gowns in organic linen, cotton, wool, silk, hemp, recycled glass, etc., dyed with low-impact Earthues. The show included 12 Designers who crocheted with precision, beaded with refined skill, and created looks that were both super feminine and flattering to the female form, while still being art-like.

Eco Footwear: olsen haus

2008-09-14T09:35:00.001-07:00

"There is only the Truth" says olsen Haus, aka too-freaking-cool-to-believe vegan footwear company. If these shoes are the truth, we think that G Spotters can handle it. In fact, these shoes might actually be responsible for bringing sexy back.

Check the politics: "the revolution will be accessorized". All olsen Haus products are made of non-animal materials, in sample rooms and factories that are personally checked for ethical practices and environment. What's more, they partner with peta, Greenpeace, and Farm Sanctuary to name a few.

Check the styles: Ankle booties, sassy wedges, and platforms oh my. The shoe fabrics appear to be speckle painted solar systems of cool, with appropriate ankle straps and intriguing toe boxes, smartly updating each look to nothing short the ultimate cool.

It's true: only the Truth can set you free.

Doucette Duvall: Eco-Fashion For People Who Like Pretty Things

2008-09-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

"Mer" by Doucette Duvall

"Ruthie" by Doucette Duvall

Singer Rihanna was seen rocking this "Audrey" trench

Big ups to the DC Goodwill Fashion Blog and its resident Goodwill fashionista for making the trek up to NYC for Spring 2009 Fashion Week, and bringing a fresh and lively perspective to boot. Just when team GSpotting was getting a little frazzled by the "scene", the DC Goodwill vantage brought a show and designer to our attention that had somehow slipped from our radar.

Enter Doucette Duvall. Design team Stephanie Doucette and Annebet Duvall manufacture in the historic NYC garment district using only pre-existing fabrics and trim, and ship in recycled boxes. More than just socially responsible and eco-friendly, the clothing is totally wearable and flirty.

The Doucette Duvall blog keeps up to date DD sightings as celebs like Rihanna and Zoe Buckman (David Schwimmer's girlfriend) rock their ethical fashion looks.

The Thrift Shopper: Vintage Store Directory

2008-09-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

Holy Moses, the holy grail has been identified and bookmarked: TheThriftShopper.com. Merely enter in your zip code and out pops a list of thrift stores in your area.

New Obsession: OFFICIALLY.

*Shout out to the internet for its unending source of joy and excitement.

Aveda' Kick the Cap Campaign

2008-09-08T14:42:00.000-07:00

Kick the Caps Winners Max, Jacob and Margaret

Evan Miller of Aveda

We stopped by Aveda's Fashion Week launch party celebrating its bottle cap recycling program, Kick the Cap, this past Thursday night. Aveda is providing products and stylists for the Preen, Rodarte, Alexander Wang, and 3.1 Phillip Lim fashion shows.

Most impressively of the evening were two brothers, Max (9) and Jacob (12) of New Jersey who collected 14,000 caps after their mom read Aveda's call to cap-action in Shape Magazine. The two bros were cool as cucumbers but super hyped to talk all things environment, penguins, and sunglasses.

Read here from the Organic Beauty View interview with Aveda's Director of Environment, Evan Miller.

Fashion Week in NYC: Be Eco Chic Event

2008-09-06T14:08:00.000-07:00

Olesya Rulin in John Patrick Organic

Lauren Hutton in Maggie Norris Couture

Our GSpotting team was embedded with The Organic View this past Thursday night at the Museum of Natural history to check out the best of sustainable looks for designers like Azedine Alaia, DKNY, Levis, Sean Jean, and more.

Special shout out to Lauren Hutton who modeled a Maggie Norris outfit, with impeccable grace and beauty.

Also, major thanks to Fashion Week Daily reporter Emily who helped Team GSpotting feel more legit, and understand complicated fashion jargon.

Margaret's Sprig Video: Rocking Leftovers With Chef Jay

2008-09-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

Exotic Leftover Bonanza!

Did you know the average family of four throws out over 122 lbs of food each month. That number is just BEGGING for us to use our leftovers for $$ and earth benefits.

Check out the Sprig.com video with GSpotter Margaret and renowned Sustainable Chef Jay Weinstein as they navigate leftovers in unexpected ways!

Organic Personal Lubricant

2008-09-04T05:33:00.001-07:00

This just in... (said like an anchorman interrupting the weather dude, or something) there is now an organic personal lubricant: YES! No really, it's called YES and is steady providing people with a reason to repeat Yesyesyes.org.

Personal lubricants are not to be to be taken lightly. They enhance pleasure and even facilitate positive sexual experiences for health reasons: menopausal women, post-chemo patients, post-hysterectomy patients, users of certain medications, allergy sufferers, breast-feeding mothers, etc. YES is available in the US exclusively through FutureNatural.com

For such an intimate application, it seems like organic lube is just a sheer no-brainer.

Disposable Fashion? Oh HELLS No!

2008-09-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Bess for passing us GSpotters this interesting article from Portfolio Magazine which takes a more skeptical look at major fashion companies "going green." One of the ideas from the article is that disposable fashion and trend purchasing habits leads to excess and is a self-defeating cycle. We GSpotters made that point with an entry a few weeks back regarding French Women as prototypes for Sustainable Style. Widely acclaimed French style hinges on investing in timeless pieces, mixing them with vintage, and wearing clothes in multiple ways. As opposed to debuting a new outfit often, only to have it fall apart due to poor quality of production and materials.

These are just a few thoughts pre-fashion week, here in NYC.

Gross Out Beverages on Sprig.com

2008-09-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

Check out the latest Gspotting team member Margaret's Gross Out Beverage article on Sprig.com.

Shopping to Build Community? 45 RPM

2008-09-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

We GSpotters love to shop. And we also love the idea of building community in alternative ways. Recently, we checked out 45 RPM on the Upper East Side in NYC. This mostly organic/ethical Japanese store is redefining what is means to shop, insofar as it feels like you are at a cross between an ancient tea ceremony and a textile museum. We had a ball with all the multi-sensory inputs, and hope you get a taste with the video.

You Are What You Eat: Eco-cuisine

2008-08-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

If our bodies are our temples, then our charge is taking care of the temple. Food is a big part of temple maintenance, but it seems to be increasingly more difficult to find healthy options. G Spotter Margaret just wrote a piece on Huffington Post about the beef recalls at Whole Foods. I mean, if we can't find healthy, safe, local options at Whole Foods, or which we thought was the temple's temple, what are the other options?

Our new favorite sister blog team Eddie, Cupcake, and Pleasant Gehman aka The Haphazard Girls, whoe are thankfully coming through on the clutch with solid alternatives to Whole Foods aka Whole Prices. The Haphazard Girls blog is majorly informative and practical in providing the most up to date info that the FDA doesn't always want us to know... Until Whole Foods re-ups the food standards and company values which they used to rock, we should all be wary; Little Red Riding Hood and her Grandma, type sh*t.

For instance, check out the Eat Well Guide to find local, delicious foods using google map technology. Another one we love is Sustainable Table. They are working with schools to create playground gardens and teach and provide students with local organic eating education.

Hess Natur Comes Hard with Eco-Fashion Fabulousness

2008-08-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

Chrome-free sustainable Hess Natur Fur Vest

Organic cotton Hess Natur trench waterproofed with Beeswax

What happens when a hot designer creates a celebrated but semi-controversial collection for a traditional fashion audience, becomes disillusioned with the lack of “political or social awareness in connection with attractive apparel”, moves back home to Majorca, runs a bar and hibernates for 3 years, and then meets the CEO of a powerhouse German organic clothing company?

This is precisely how Miguel Adrover, whose designs can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Hess Natur CEO Wolf Luedge met, more than a year ago. Over drinks at Adrover’s Majorcan bar, the two discussed Hess’ 30 year history of eco and ethical style, the company’s work with Founder of Grameen Bank and Nobel Prize Winner Dr Muhammed Yunus, and the elegance of organic linen, organic silk, and fair labor standard. Hess Natur is well known throughout Europe for wearable separates for women including sweaters, dresses, and jeans. For men, they have these separates and also quality organic suits.

Flash-forward to the summer of 2008 and Adrover is now the Creative Director for Hess Natur and has designed a capsule collection, became available in the US July 2008. Adrover’s collection, as seen in the two photos, is a bit more edgy and fashion forward. The organic cotton trench (waterproofed with beeswax) is a hard to find fashion staple, in the realm of eco fashion. The sheep skin vest, at first glance, seems to be a non-conventional green fashion find. But it is responsibly sourced from a meat-packing facility in Turkey, is also an non-conventional green fashion find.

GSpotter Margaret and Miguel Adrover

I Am Not A Paper Cup

2008-08-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

Shout out to this sweet James Burgess ceramic mug, which looks like a disposable cup, but isn't.

Y-3 Yohji Yammamato for Sigg

2008-08-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

It's all about unexpected beverage containers today with us GSpotters; don't know why.

Check these Sigg for Y-3 Yohji Yammamato reusable water bottles, which kick serious A**. In the past, Y-3 has collaborated with other active companies like Adidas, and created supremely designed products for about 3 times the price. Such is the case with these sweet, limited edition Y3 Sigg water bottles which go for $90 each (a regular Sigg is about $20). We stopped by the Y-3 store in the West Village, NYC yesterday, and the shop dude swore the price hadn't deterred a single buyer and they had only 4 left in stock. High end luxury, meet functional eco- products.

Personal Sustainability, Old Running Shoes, and Green Olympic Gear

2008-08-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

It's all about sustainability: for our earth, our communities, and our own bodies. This GSpotting TV segment delves into donating shoes to be ground up into a running track through Nike's Reuse a Shoe program, Olympic commemorative tshirts from Coca Cola made from recycled Coke bottles, and revisits a previous post about Canadian Olympians wearing sustainable uniforms.

Lower East Side Fashion Show

2008-08-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday afternoon found Lower East Side shops boasting their coolest vintage, eco, and even s&m fashion wares in the form of a slammin fashion show, Flipside. This video is of fantastic GSpotting friends Dion and Joe (our homegirl Parisa came too) watching and commenting with Margaret on intricate details of the show. We especially loved Hairy Mary's Vintage, The Dressing Room, and Kaight shop.

Live Green Rewards: Shop Online and Donate to Charity

2008-08-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

Donate money to the National Audubon Society, World Wildlife Fund, and other great non-profits just by shopping online? Yes, please. All you do is go to LiveGreenRewards.com and click on one of the shop links and select your favorite eco-charity from the list. Then, just start shopping by clicking on any of the store banners and you will be taken directly to that retailer's website. Retailers we Gspotters will be using include but are not limited to (hehe): Apple, the Gap, Orbitz, match.com, and Vans.

ObamaIsTheMan.com

2008-08-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

What happens when two brothers ages 18 and 26, decide to engage other young voters their age in order to get them hyped for the upcoming presidential election?

Answer: ObamaIsTheMan.com

Millennials ages 18-29 encompass about 47 million people and experts say the Millennial vote will most likely decide the Presidential winner. Using 21st Century media tools - blogs, Facebook, and video messaging, ObamaIsTheMan.com offers free downloads of stylized Obama images to be used for Facebook pages, as well as posters and flyers which are they encourage are passed out around neighborhood coffee shops, pizza joints, and music stores.

To cover costs and raise money for the campaign, brothers Aron and Sam Kressner offer kick-ass Obama t-shirts made from organic cotton and printed with water-based inks made here in the U.S.A. One dollar is donated to the Obama campaign for every shirt sold.

Fly jetBlue and Carbon Offset, too

2008-08-14T06:57:00.000-07:00

We can all most likely agree that flying has become more hassle-heavy and headache inducing than ever before. Between the liquids/gels tango we must dance with airport security, new checked-bag fees, and no in-flight snacks, air travelers have a lot to biotch about.

Thanks to jetBlue's Jetting to Green program, we now have something to be impressed by as well. As you book your jetBlue flight online, you can give a few extra dollars to offset the emissions through the credible offsetting company, The Carbon Fund.

To Make Your JetBlue Flight Carbon Neutral:

1. Enter the first few letters of your departure and arrival cities, or the 3-digit airport codes.
2. Click Calculate.
3. For multiple trips, enter and click Calculate.
4. When you're done, click Offset Your Footprint Now!

Endangered Species Act Change That Would SUCK

2008-08-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne

Most of the GSpotting entries and ideas stem from badass companies moving in a green, conscious direction for the sake of their consumers and our planet. That's our beat. And when friends, family, and lovers argue that politicians in office dictate most of the change that occurs in this country, we just quietly disagree and point to beacons of change vis a vis capitalism like Burts Bees and Terra Cycle and Patagonia, who are hella successful, powerful entities whose global impact goes way beyond their $$ success.

But every once and a while we've got to agree that certain basic regulations are needed from our government. Mainly, that they just act within the law. The latest proposed change to the Endangered Species Act by the Bush Administration's Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne, is super short sided. The former University of Idaho Student Body President, is proposing we allow the highway, dam, and mine companies decide if their intended projects will be harmful to endangered species and plants, instead of a more objective government regulatory body.

Secretary Kempthorne went on to say, "It is not possible to draw a link between greenhouse-gas emissions and distant observations of impacts on species.” Coming from a politician who received $80,000 in campaign contributions between January 1989 and June 1995 from American Petroleum Institute political action committee members, Kempthorne's inability to see a correlation between emissions and wildlife destruction seems quite expected.

Let's hope the Polar Bears that Kempthorne removed from the Endangered Species list get really pissed off and vote for Obama.

P Diddy, Donnie Klang, and a Prius

2008-08-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

Diddy and Donnie

Diddy done done it again rocketing Donnie Klang (previously part of "The Band" from MTV's Making the Band) into the spotlight with a new hit, Take You There. Like most Diddy videos, this 4 minute music video features champagne, half nudey women, the protege in question (Donnie Klang) and a phat ride. The jump-off that makes this video so fresh is that the hot chick who picks up Diddy/Donnie from the liquor store to take them to the hot-n-wild house party, drives a sexy black Toyota Prius!

Now, usually the rapper/singer drives a big Escalade or Mercedes to the hot-n-wild house party, but the fact that the boyz carpool to the spot with the ladies in the Prius shows vision on the part of Diddy, Donnie, and director Ray Kay.

And so, major shout out to "Take You There", Donnie Klang, and Diddy.

An Eco Evening Bag Carrie Would Carry

2008-08-10T19:34:00.000-07:00

Carrie woul carry the sh*t out of this precious recycled license plate clutch by Littlearth

Carrie carried the sh*t out of this Judith Lieber Cupcake miniaudiere in Sex and the City

Remember the 1999 episode from Sex and the City, The Caste System, in which Big gives Carrie a Judith Leiber miniaudiere in the shape of a duck, and she questions the relationship based on said gift, "Does he even know me at all?"

If the answer is yes, you probably also remember the Leiber Cupcake evening clutch "miniaudiere" that Carrie carries in the S and the C movie released in May. PS, that little thing goes for $4,295.

Ok, stay with us because here is where the GSpotting team feels like we actually might know Carrie's taste (or Sex and the City stylist Patricia Field) better than Big did.

Carrie, if she was a real person, would most likely shreak with joy over Littlearth's SuperFlair Evening Bag. Littlearth makes these bags out of recycled license plates, and for less than $200, they are pretty sweet when tricked out with Swarovski crystals, right?

Creative Pants, Pragmatic Energy Solutions

2008-08-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to finally bring you the first of many GSpotting video blog entries. "Creative Pants, Pragmatic Energy Solutions" touches on the fact that in certain ways, our country is being more innovative than ever and the example of this is the unprecedented brightly colored jeans now available to men. On the flip side, the most innovative presidential candidate to date has just come out in favor of offshore drilling, one of the least innovative energy ideas one could think of.

It is the disconnect between the innovation the masses are demanding in certain aspects of their lives, and the status quo they are receiving in other areas, that has this GSpotter Margaret twisted up and hyped to video blog "vlog" it out.

A Pedicure Fish: Weird Spa Treatments... Cruel?

2008-08-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

A friend of GSpotting and the editor of Sprig, Jeanie Pyun, just wrote this piece for Huffington Post about a new pedicure treatment involving fish that eat away the dead skin on your feet.

WTF?!

Apparently this fishy pedi is offered in a spa in Alexandria, Virginia and the Turkish Doctor Fish, or Garra rufa, which do all the work, are gaining notoriety. Clearly, PETA is all over that sh*t regarding the obvious animal rights abuses (wait, soapy lotion water isn't a healthy marine habitat?) but the spa insists that no fish have died yet and that the water temperature and environment are quite agreeable.

To be fair, I bet those fish get nice and close on pesky toe cuticles that are so hard to trim with scissors...

**Shout out to B Kargs for the reminder to post a new entry as we are steady trying to study for the GMAT. A little motivation keeps the GSpotting team on the prowl.

Natural Beauty + Natural Beauties: Jurlique Gets Celeb Love

2008-08-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

Salma Hayek getting JurliqueJurlique Director's Cut: Oliver Stone, Brett Ratner, Francis Ford Coppola, James Toback

Sanaa Lathan at Jurlique Party (just because Love & Basketball is one of my fave movies!)

Brett Ratner hosted a big party for Jurlique at his home in Benedict Canyon this past Saturday. Along with Jurlique CEO, Eli Halliwell, the director invited his celeb friends over for a much needed spa day. Folks like Francis Ford Coppola, James Toback, Oliver Stone, Stevie Wonder, Salma Hayek, and even Paris Hilton were pampered to natural beauty.

Jurlique is a fabulous high-end organic beauty company, whose Rose Hand Cream has restored my own appendages to their normal texture and sheen.

Check out the photos from the party courtesy of Style.com.

What Eco-Conscious Consumers and French Women Have in Common

2008-08-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

Last year a book came out by Cliquot Inc President and CEO, Mireille Guiliano, espousing the virtues of enjoying food, as a diet. Her bestseller, “French Women Don’t Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure,” rocked American readers who always wondered how cheese, chocolates, mousse, bread, and wine yielded a thinner French physique (the obesity rate in France is 11% as compared to our 30%, which is 30 pounds over a healthy weight.)

Anecdotally, this makes sense; slow down and engage each bite with consciousness. The only problem with that is the food has to be good, but really good. Produce hauled for days in refrigerated boats and trucks, dairy heavily processed for longevity, and meats packed in ice for shipping as is the case with most chain grocery goods don’t stimulate the palette to entice anything but wolfing food down.

This is where sustainable eating comes in. Local produce plucked within days of consumption really tastes better. Seasonal dishes dictated by the weather outside and in-tune with what your body craves, yields foodgasmic results. Eating fish caught within 24 hours tastes how a great sentence reads, and demands a full stop. Not just a comma or pause in which to shovel more food into your mouth.

In 1988 Susan Sommers wrote, “French Chic: How to Dress Like a Frenchwoman,” which addresses the question, why do French women have such polished, elegant style? Sommers answers, unlike American women who purchase cheap trendy pieces frequently, French women use common clothing items in uncommon way, combine high-end designer with thrift-shop, and tend to buy durable clothes that work for many seasons, if not decades.

“Cute dress, Kathryn!” I recently told my roommate. “Yeah, it was only $14.95 but I can’t wash it because it will fall apart.”

If purchasing a cheap dress means one time use, the conscious consumer must ask the question, shouldn’t I save up and spend a bit more for a quality garment, that is healthier for me and the earth, and that I can wear and wash for years to come?

Sexy Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars

2008-07-31T06:49:00.000-07:00

Fuel Cell Car Kit

Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered Scorpion...bum side

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Scorpion

Sometimes one comes across an image so striking, itbecomes a near obsession. That has been the case for us GSpotters with the Fuel Cell Car Kit from Fat Brain Toys. I mean, once we realized that for less than $130 bucks, we could create a vehicle that essentially runs off water, we were hooked.

How serendipitous then, to be perusing TheCool Hunter.net and see a sleek driveable version of our obsession, Ronn Motor Company's Scorpion, in all it's black and green sexy glory. The car uses a 'hydrogen on demand' technology, which generates water from a holding tank, turns it into hydrogen and then injects it into the car's system. Not only does this approach allow fuel mileage to increase by between 20 to 40%, it also reduces carbon emissions to nearly zero.

This eco-beast will be availble in 2009 for about $150,000.

I found you, Ms New Bootie

2008-07-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

Whatever this means to Kim Kardashian, it's all good to us GSpotters. The more bootylicious ladies rocking green promo tees, the better. May it be so.