sustainable style foundation*

from haberdash.org...Conde Nast Traveler has put out an outstanding September 08 issue featuring many articles and resources on socially responsible travel. The feature article showcases Matt Damon's work with H2O Africa and his recent project Running the Sahara which he both narrated and produced. Other articles include The Power of Travel, pioneers in the field of sustainable travel including Anderson Cooper, War and Peace about the role travel plays in healing a country after war, and a listing of the 38 winners of their 2008 World Savers Awards. Not bad for a mainstream magazine. Conde Nast has long promoted travel that treads lightly on the planet, but the looks of it, they're going to stay on that path.

from haberdash.org...Kiehl's has long offered a line of men's grooming products that are effective, affordable, and use all natural ingredients. They recently upped their sustainability commitment by partnering with Brad Pitt on a aloe vera biodegradable liquid body cleanser with 100% of net profits going to Make it Right, dedicated to the construction of environmentally sustainable, affordable housing for the displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina which devastated New Orleans in 2005. But that's not all, Kiehl's also provides resources to educate consumers on actions they can take to protect the environment and most recently partnered with Parsons The New School for Design to create Sustainable Design Review, a student competition to highlight innovative sustainable design.

from haberdash.org...Finished pouring over GQ and Men's Vogue to see what's in this season? Why not pick up the latest issue of AutoBio and check out what alternative energy cars hot in Paris too. AutoBio just published their 5th issue and each gets better and better as they focus both on design and environmental attributes of the vehicles they profile and review. These cars may be familiar to the European crowds but they are sure to raise some eyebrows in the States since we rarely get a glimpse at the European auto industry's innovations.

from haberdash.org...If you're a jet set environmentalist you'll be glad to see this new product. Sustainable Cards has been working with the hotel industry to offer key cards made from wood...sustainably harvested wood from PEFC certified forests in fact. Not only do the cards have a great design and feel, they are biodegradable so they also reduce the over 1,300 tons of plastic waste that traditional hotel key cards generate in the U.S. annually which is equal to the volume of seven 777 airplanes. The wooden card has been used in Europe for several years now but is just now making its debut in the US. With over 70,000 hotel guests using them during the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver, the little key cards are creating a big buzz. Next time you're on the road, as the front desk if they will be making the switch too.

from haberdash.org...Flushing Meadows' blue tennis courts are going green. Sustainability in the sports world is pretty prevalent these days and the latest entry into the green arena is the United States Tennis Association (USTA) who has worked to create a green US Open this year. Leading the charge at USTA is none other than Billie Jean King. The efforts include waste recycling, green energy, financial contributions to nonprofits, donations of used tennis equipment to youth organizations, and a line of green sportswear designed by Billie Jean and Heidi Klum. Many of the athletes are behind the campaign as well making it even more impressive.

from haberdash.org...Whoever said giving ties as gifts was tired hasn't seen these ties yet. I came across Narwahl while attending the 2008 ECOLLECTION show at MAGIC. Narwahl's line of recycled tie accessories that includes wallets, ipod and iphone covers, wrist wear, and t-shirts stood out for me due to their great design and quality, as well as the fact that it's rare to find men's accessories that have a sustainable story. With the tie material, the items are both classic and contemporary at the same time and they even offer custom items. Great style, great story, great gift.

from haberdash.org...I've heard a lot about airlines making efforts to go green, but I'm quite confident that jetBlue has outdone them all with their initiative, Jetting to Green. They're doing everything from recycling and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to becoming more active in the community and educating both crew and passengers about environmental activism. Best of all they're out to inspire their industry to follow suit and make an even bigger impact. I've blogged about jetBlue serving organic goodies on their flights so it's great to see them reaching for the sky on sustainability.

from haberdash.org...Lauren Spa is a new line or organic bed and bath linens in the Ralph Lauren Home world. Given that many resorts are picking up the line already, it is sure to be around for a long time. Lauren Spa has set a new standard in organic linens in terms of luxury, design, and most importantly - sustainability.

I am so excited about my find this week! Finally I don’t have to feel guilty about all those wasted plastic lids and paper cups from my daily latte stop at my favorite socially and sustainably responsible coffee shop Gimme! Coffee. It’s a reuseable to-go “I’m Not A Paper Cup” cup that is so stylish, I’ve been showing it off to everyone. It’s porcelain with a silicone lid that can be washed and re-used. Keeps stuff hot or cold. I’ve already saved 4 cups and lids this week and am improving my eco-foot print daily. Find yours at the MoMa store on-line.

from haberdash.org...I'll be doing a new dispatch on my recent 2008 Maui trip finds soon but I just couldn't hold off on this one. While lunching in Wailuku I stumbled upon a little shop called MauiThing. They've got the coolest shirts around and their motto is "Stuck on Good". In fact, they are inspired by all 'things good' on Maui. Not only do they sport hipster American Apparel shirts with great graphics, they offer some organic options, and have some great local and community messaging ranging from peace and composting to equality and endangered species. The icing on the MauiThing cake is the staff, they are way cool and customer service rockstars. It's all available online if you're not headed to Maui anytime soon.

From haberdash.org...Its been a few days since my last entry so I have many things to report. First is a good, inexpensive lunch place called Da Kitchen. Da Kitchen offers a mix plate lunch that is the rage over here in HI. With locations in Kahului and Kihei on Maui, the food is fantastic, the portions huge, and the chicken...organic! I've been many times now and am sure will go many more.

Last Friday was possibly my most perfect day on Maui. I went with many family and friends to O'o Organic Farm for lunch, followed by the Ali'i Kula Lavendar Farm, and finished the night at the Feast at Lele luau (that features fresh organic produce from O'o Farm).

If Friday was my most perfect Maui Day, Saturday was my second most perfect. I spent the bulk of the day doing restoration work with Maui Cultural Lands (MCL) in the Honokowai valley. My specific tasks included removal of invasive grasses and coffee plants. It certainly wasn't an easy job but it was a great honor doing it as the valley has some of the oldest archaelogical sites in the islands. The taro patches and house sites that are several hundred years old stretch up the entire valley and are truly breathtaking. I found the project through the Pacific Whale Foundation volunteer on vacation page, but now that MCL's website is up you can find out much more on their own site.

Last but not least in this dispatch, Sunday was a great day for good finds too. I made another trip to Savers in Kahului and found some great local Maui retro t-shirts and some even cooler vintage mini vases [above]. And the last sustainable find of the day...a 'soft sculpture' nene by two local Tutus (Hawaiian for "Grandmothers")[above]. Being a conservation biologist and all, I like to support conservation projects whenever possible so the fact that this purchase goes to help out nene conservation Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is an added plus.

from haberdash.org...It's day two of my 2008 Maui trip and I think I've made my best find EVER!!! A local, organic gelato maker - on Maui! That's right, in downtown Paia there's a new gelato maker that features local and organic (whenever possible) flavors. Along with the classic gelato flavors they feature seasonal fruit flavors that are out of this world. Ono Gelato Company is not to be missed. They also have several other lines of goodies and the one that really got my taste buds all riled up was Jeff's Jams and Jellies. Jeff's strawberry butter was tasty indeed. I couldn't tell if the items were organic, but they certainly get points for local and seasonal. The gelato did come after a tasty lunch at the Paia Fish Market that features all local fish, meats, and produce.

Another great find of the day in Paia was vintage textile Aloha shirts at a men's store called Moonbow Tropics.

After some tasty local-fish sushi for dinner we dropped in on a local bookstore and I came across a great book called "West Maui Natural History. Being a conservation biologist and all, I can't wait to read it from cover to cover and start checking off the plants, animals, insects, and other 'must sees' in the book.

To end the evening, I wanted to track down a local fashion boutique that I read about in an article in the Hawaiian Airlines Magazine Hana Hou! titled "Green Chic". The designer was Maggie Coulombe. Maggie's business partner, the fabulous Mr. Arid Chappell, was in the house and gave us all the garmento scoop on their apparel...not only do they try to make everything on Maui - getting points for staying local - they incorporate social messages in many of their t-shirt designs and are starting down the sustainable fabric path. I couldn't help buying one of the "Black is always in style" t-shirts.

From haberdash.org...This is my third trip to Maui and I'm pleased to say its becoming easier and easier to find sustainable options. My latest find is a new grocery store in Lahaina (on the west side of Maui) called Lahaina Farms. They don't have a website up yet but you can read more about them in this On My Plate article. It's a small store but it scores right up there with Whole Foods when it comes to quality and selection. And they really take the time to source local and organic items. Down to Earth has been a great option for the sustainable grocery shoppers, but there aren't that many on the island and the closest one to Lahaina is about a forty-five minute drive. There are several Lahaina Farms stores throughout the islands so whether you're a local or a vacationer, take the time to track one down.

Of course I also made the requisite trip to Savers right off the plane. There's no better way to increase your Aloha shirt collectionn than buying them 2nd hand from Savers. Best of all, they have great vintage Aloha shirts that can't be found anywhere else.

I recently took part in the 2008 Paddle to Cowichan, BC, the destination for this year's Tribal Journeys event that takes place each summer in which Tribes from around the Puget Sound and Canada paddle traditional canoes to a host tribe. I was invited by Dannny Marshall, Tribal Leader of the Steilacoom Tribe to be part of their canoe family along with the Carver Camp Canoe Family headed by Phil Red Eagle. The group had just finished carving a hunting canoe called "Flicker" and were getting ready to take her on her first voyage. I've been volunteering with the Steilacoom Tribe for a couple years now, helping with the website and a ethnobotanical garden. Having grown up in Steilacoom, WA it's been great fun and very rewarding to help out since the Steilacoom are not a recognized tribe so have no state or federal funding sources. So it was a big surprise and great honor to be asked to help paddle. I met many wonderful people along the journey, took many pictures, and have many wonderful memories. One of groups that impressed me greatly was the Pink Paddle Canoe Family. They not only paddled many miles with the other 100 or so canoes on the journey, they did it to raise awareness for breast cancer and to honor the many people who have survived or have been lost to cancer of any type.

One of the first statements in our SSF vision is "seven generations" which honors the wisdom of native peoples to act today in ways that respect and benefit those who come seven generations after us. So the opportunity to participate in the 2008 Tribal Journey was very meaningful for me personally and for SSF. I am very humbled to have been part of the journey, to paddle alongside the Pink Paddlers, as well as the many other Tribes that took part in this year's journey.

At very long last I have found a solution to a dilemma greater than paper vs. plastic - what to clean your dishes with. Yes, I do use dish clothes but now and then you need something with a little more texture to get the caked on stuff off. Not being a synthetics fan I've steered away from some of the scary sponges out there. But oh how I've missed that green scratchy side. Now Twist has saved the day with their Loofah Sponge #50. It has a sponge on one side and a loofah on the other...just abrasive enough to get those stubborn scraps off your favorite kitchen kettle. I've had mine now for about two weeks and love, Love, LOVE it!!! Twist cleaning products have been around for a while but snazzy #50 is fairly new. I've now seen them at Whole Foods Market, coops, and local green markets so keep an out eye out for them.