los angeles
where sustainable style happens in the city of angels[city sourcebook] los angeles [posted on June 20, 2006]
The City of Angels is full of ways to incorporate easy, fun, hip sustainable choices into your lifestyle every day. Scroll down for each industry for sources of sustainable style in LA:
advertising, marketing & pr | architecture | arts | beauty | consumer products | entertainment | fashion | food & restaurant | gardening & landscaping | interior design | mobility | music | print media | sports | travel | urban planning
advertising, marketing & pr
Clean Agency [posted on March 2, 2006]
Founded with the idea that less is more, Clean Agency takes a fresh, values-based approach to marketing with an emphasis on eco-friendly processes. They believe in the preservation of resources and less waste. and their cost-conscious strategies are both fiscally and socially responsible. Clean applies to aesthetics, too; they think intelligent design should be purposeful, never frivolous. We think so, too. [Clean Agency]
Big Imagination Group [posted on March 2, 2006]
BIG prides itself on being a bit greener than most agencies. They support SSF-pal LOHAS ' sustainable living ethos, and have even helped celebs show up in hybrids at the Oscars. [BiG]
architecture
Rana Creek [posted on March 2, 2006]
Ecology is the foundation Rana Creek's work. As an environmental restoration and consulting firm, they attempt to replicate nature's cycles, structure, function and diversity; the goal is to restore biodiversity and preserve healthy ecosystems through an integrated design/build processs. They employ scientists, ecologists, planners, designers, contractors and horticulturalists to tackle just about any sustainable design project. [Rana Creek]
NBBJ [posted on March 2, 2006]
With offices in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Columbus, New York, London, Beijing and Shanghai, NBBJ is a truly global architecture and design firm that believes that ideas change everything. As the third largest design firm in the country (and fifth-largest in the world), NBBJ has experience with just about everything, and they do it all with a smart growth approach and a goal of fostering meaningful, socially reinforcing communities. [NBBJ]
Callison [posted on March 2, 2006]
Prolific around the globe, Callison provides planning and design services to retail, hospitality, mixed-use, healthcare and corporate clients throughout the world. They specialize in urban mixed-use developments, health care facilities and research laboratories and corporate offices and campus planning; wherever they go, Callison creates smarter places. [Callison]
arts
beauty
Lush [posted on August 28, 2006]
A cosmetics and skincare line with stores worldwide, Lush believes in making effective products out of fresh organic fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics, without animal ingredients or animal testing, and in writing the quantitative list on the outside. They believe in making their own fresh products by hand, printing their own labels and making their own fragrances. Lush also uses fair-trade ingredients where possible. [Lush]
consumer products
Wind Power [posted on September 30, 2007]
Stop buying fossil fuel power today! Support wind power by choosing 100% wind power. Did you know that burning fossil fuels to create electricity is one of the largest producers of carbon dioxide? By demanding to buy wind power we can help create more wind farms to decrease our dependency on fossil fuels. Look to this site for information on how you can buy wind power. [Wind Power]
West Elm Organic [posted on September 28, 2007]
Make conscious choices for your home with West Elm Organic designs. They use certified organic cotton, grown without herbicides, pesticides and all dyes are earth friendly. Their organic line sells bedding and bath linens. [West Elm Organic]
entertainment
modernProps [posted on April 18, 2006]
The Cadillac of prop houses, Modern Props has it all when it comes to props and rentals. From electronics and technology to furniture and furnishings, when it's play-time, movie-time or party-time, there's no reason to buy when you can just borrow. [Modern Props]
Hollywood Cinema Production Resources [posted on April 1, 2006]
Hollywood CPR offers free vocational training in the trades and skills required for careers in the art departments of the entertainment industry to at-risk, disadvantaged, and underserved or minority youth. It also offers exposure to the operation of a professionally operated non-profit "prop house," which helps fund the program; it receives donations of props and set dressings from the entertainment industry. The donated items are received, recycled and then rented. [Hollywood Cinema Production Resources]
Environmental Media Association [posted on April 1, 2006]
Created to mobilize the entertainment industry in a global effort to educate people about environmental issues and inspire them into action, the Environmental Media Association (EMA) was created with the simple but powerful concept that through television and film, the entire entertainment community could influence the environmental awareness of millions of people. Cameron Diaz, Amy Smart and Nicole Richie are on their roster of stars who help Hollywood go green. [Environmental Media Association]
Entertainment Industry Foundation [posted on April 1, 2006]
Responding to some of the most critical needs facing our society, the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) helps raise awareness and funds for important causes such as childhood hunger, cancer research, creative arts, education, cardiovascular research, and many more. Eric Clapton, Halle Berry and Brooke Shields have all lent their time and energy to EIF's efforts to leverage social change in the greater Los Angeles area and around the world. [Entertainment Industry Foundation]
Earth Communications Office [posted on April 1, 2006]
With a mission of using the power of communication to improve the global environmental, Earth Communications Office (ECO) employs celebs & other high-profilers to spread their message. Orlando Bloom, Mischa Barton and Kevin Bacon and more have lent their names and passions to both educate about and serve the planet. [Earth Communications Office]
fashion
SuperLuckyCat [posted on October 17, 2006]
Hand picking the best vintage out there is the first step in producing SuperLuckyCat's one-of-a-kind apparel. They believe that recycled clothing has a history and personality which just can’t be duplicated in new fabric and SuperLuckyCat takes advantage of those unique qualities to make clothes that are as individual as their wearers. They want people to have as much fun owning SuperLuckyCat as they have making it. [SuperLuckyCat]
Undesigned by Carol Young [posted on October 3, 2006]
Carol Young's line of eco-conscious clothing features environmentally friendly and recycled fabrices including organic cotton knits, bamboo denim and fleece made from recycled soda bottles. Undesigned was created for the eco-saavy urbanite to incorporate form and function. In addition to donating all fabric scraps to local children's craft and educational programs, Young fundraises for various non-profits and schools and is also a proud member of One Percent for the Planet. [Undesigned]
Buffalo Exchange [posted on June 12, 2006]
The purpose of this great company is to lead the resale fashion industry, provide a livelihood for its employees, a fair return to its owners, and achieve sustainable profitability by being the most beneficial place for its customers to buy, sell, and trade new and recycled clothing. Buffalo Exchange is unique because clothing and accessories are bought, sold and traded directly with store customers. [Buffalo Exchange]
Deborah Lindquist [posted on May 16, 2006]
Using recycled materials and vintage fabrics, Deborah Lindquist creates stand-out separates that are as environmentally-friendly as they are stunning. From cashmere sweaters to blouses and t-shirts to bustiers and corsets, her apparel for women has dressed A-listers like Charlize Theron, Gwen Stefani, and Christina Aguilera. She continues to impact the world of fashion with her mix of old "reincarnated" and new eco-conscious fabrications. [Deborah Lindquist]
American Apparel [posted on April 11, 2006]
A longtime supporter of fair labor practices, American Apparel's Sustainable Edition is a selection of their most popular styles in 100% USDA certified organic cotton, with the same comfort and sex appeal as all American Apparel products. Look for the Sustainable Edition with the distinctive green contrast stitching, as well as "store exclusive" organic styles not available online or through wholesale. [American Apparel]
Clothing of the American Mind [posted on April 11, 2006]
Feel as righteous as you look with Clothing of the American Mind. Dedicated to assisting forward-thinking organizations with their in-your-face messages, COTAM's t-shirts make a statement while simultaneously starting a dialogue of the real issues facing contemporary America. Not only are fair wages paid at all of suppliers, no animals or children are harmed in the making of our clothes. They are committed to bringing informed dissent back into vogue, figuratively and literally. [Clothing of the American Mind]
Ecoganik [posted on April 11, 2006]
Presenting a fusion of fashion and eco-consciousness, Ecoganik designs for the contemporary woman who wants to look young, hip and together, yet still planet-friendly. Using only certified organic or eco-friendly fabrics, Ecoganik is committed to promote the alternative cropping of organic, pesticide free and low impact dye fiber with their colorful, vibrant apparel. [Ecoganik]
Lucien Pellat Finet [posted on April 10, 2006]
Taking hemp from hippy to hip, Lucien Pellat Finet designed his first luxury streetwear collection in 1994. Delighting hipsters from New York to Paris with all-organic vegetable dies and ultra-hip, Lucien even has a design-your-own cashmere sweaters and tops on his website. [Lucien Pellat Finet]
Stella McCartney [posted on April 9, 2006]
Sir Paul & Linda's daughter designs conscious high-fashion that eschews both leather and fur. Her brand includes women's ready-to-wear, accessories and eyewear, and can be found in her flagship stores in NYC, LA and London. Stella was named the Organic Style Woman of the Year in 2005 for her achievements in fashion and social consciousness. [Stella McCartney]
Stewart+Brown [posted on April 9, 2006]
Using only organic cotton for their green-produced, downtown-inspired apparel, Stewart+Brown mix environmental consciousness with good, cool design. A member of 1% For The Planet, their cashmere also comes from a fledgling Mongolian cashmere co-op run by herders who process the woolly stuff themselves, and many of their materials also come from factory surplus; materials that would otherwise be tossed or just left to gather dust in a warehouse are given a stylish second chance. [Stewart+Brown]
Ecoist One-of-a-Kind Handbags [posted on April 2, 2006]
Made from recycled candy wrappers, food packages, and soft drink labels, these flashy, one-of-a-kind bags have been seen on the arms of Lindsey Lohan, Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton! Their growing collection includes Luna-bar bags, and they plant a tree for each bag sold. Above all, their goal is to inspire thought and a positive change in the way we treat our precious planet. [Ecoist]
Escama [posted on April 2, 2006]
Meaning fish scales in Portuguese, Escama bags are made from recycled aluminum can tabs, giving the appearance similar to the scales of a fish. The bags are handmade by two women’s cooperatives located in economically depressed ‘satellite cities’ of Brasília, Brazil; inside each bag is a card with the name of the artist who crocheted the piece. The bags are available in boutiques and stores from New York to Los Angeles to San Francisco and Seattle, and many place in between. [Escama]
Kim White Handbags [posted on April 2, 2006]
Made from vintage automotive fabrics, Kim White uses dead stock never-used textiles intended for use in American automobiles: cars, trucks and vans. Each Kim White Handbag is tagged with the year and make of the fabric, so you know exactly what car your bag comes from (i.e.: 1983 Camaro or a 1978 Ford Mustang). Kim White Handbags specializes in automotive fabrics from the 1970’s and 1980’s, when color was de rigueur in the automotive industry. [Kim White Handbags]
SalvationSacks [posted on April 2, 2006]
Each bag made by SalvationSacks is reconstructed from vintage, salvaged and recycled clothing, linens, accessories, jewelry, belts, and other objects from the 1920s through the 1980s. SalvationSacks proudly creates original, one-of-a-kind, wearable works of art with uniquely numbered hangtags that list the origins and sometimes era of the textiles and goods used to create each bag. [SalvationSacks]
Crossroads Trading Co. [posted on April 2, 2006]
With stores up and down the west coast and as far east as Chicago, Crossroads Trading Co. recycles contemporary fashion from the community and passes the savings along to you. They'll also take your gently used clothes and give you cash for 'em (provided they aren't full of moth balls and someone will still want to wear them after you). [Crossroads Trading Co.]
Luxury Eco by Linda Loudermilk [posted on April 1, 2006]
Luxury eco™ by Linda Loudermilk redefines sustainability with design that gives back to the earth. This "couture with a conscience" includes fabrics made of sasawashi, bamboo, sea cell, soya and other exotic self-sustaining plants. Seen on Sharon Lawrence, Daryl Hannah and other high-profile sustainable style-enthusiasts, Luxury Eco is all about refinement: polished, put-together looks that happen to be made from sustainable fabrics. [Luxury Eco by Linda Loudermilk]
food & restaurant
CRU Restaurant [posted on May 2, 2007]
With options including Provencal Saffron Cashew Cheese Ball, Deep Green Salad and Red Thai Curry, CRU offers sophisticated organic, vegan, raw food in Los Angeles. Drinks like ginger limeade and a chocolate maca smoothie and desserts like gelato and a banana split round out the menu that's "thoughtfully prepared, artfully presented and deeply satisfying." CRU is at 1521 Griffith Park Blvd, open Wednesday through Monday, 12 pm to 10 pm. [CRU] via [green LA girl]
Stone Brewery [posted on March 23, 2007]
Local San Diego Stone Brewery announced that it will use a B20 biodiesel blend to fuel its fleet of SoCal delivery trucks with plans to switch to 100% biodiesel later this year. With a brand new 50,000 sq ft brewery and bistro in San Marcos, Stone will produce its own biodiesel from greasy treats such as the Arrogant Bastard Ale Onion Rings made famous in past brewfests. [Read about it here]
Art of Tea [posted on February 19, 2007]
Offering the very best organic teas and select botanicals while ensuring the employees and the teas are treated with great respect, Art of Tea is committed to creating a great tea-drinking experience by combining aesthetics with passion, flavor, and high quality control. It's tasty enough that it's the tea of choice at many of LA's fine restaurants. Join the Tea of the Month Club, dive in to Blooming Teas...the possibilities are endless. [Art of Tea] via [green LA girl]
Hollywood Farmer's Market [posted on January 19, 2007]
With approximately 90 farmers, 30 local artisans, and 30 baked goods and prepared food vendors who sell their own products every Sunday, the Hollywood Farmer's Market offers stand after stand of organic farmers proudly showcasing a cornucopia of the earth's bounty; a reminder that good food makes for a better life. It is a direct-to-consumer marketplace with all produce and products from local, California vendors and growers. Check the website to see what's in season; hope to see you there! [Hollywood Farmer's Market]
Tender Greens Restaurant [posted on January 10, 2007]
Featuring a menu including free range chicken and line-caught ahi tuna, Tender Greens believes there should be a conscious connection between eating food and the source of the sustenance. They're able to get their fresh produce to the table within hours of harvesting, use organic whenever they can, and source everything from a handful of local farms who believe that organic and local aren't just better for the planet; they taste better, too. [Tender Greens]
Figtree's Cafe [posted on November 9, 2006]
A part of the Venice community since 1978, Figtree's Cafe specializes in sustainable foods like local organic fresh fruit & veggies, free-range organic eggs and wild & line-caught fish. Breakfast, lunch, dinner & dessert are all served in the unique and beautiful backdrop of Venice Beach; Figtree's also offers to-go service and cafe products, like organic granola and "Figwear" like t-shirts & sweatshirts. [Figtree's Cafe]
Le Pain Quotidien [posted on July 27, 2006]
The idea behind Le Pain Quotidien is simply to make good daily bread. Naturally, that means it's organic, supporting sustainable farming and bringing customers the best possible bread. Organic coffee, tea and milk help round out the menu; your visit might also include the "communal table," where customers can gather to share the organic food and create an organic experience. [Le Pain Quotidien]
modmix [posted on July 21, 2006]
Giving cocktail hour a healthy, modern makeover, modmix stirs things up with their organic cocktail mixers. With luscious flavors like lavender lemon drop, citrus margerita and pomegranate cosmopolitan, they encourage you to enjoy life slowly and completely, sip by sip. Used at events by conscious celebs like Heather Graham and Gwen Stefani, modmix has also been put to the task at the MTV Movie Awards, The Apprentice and designer Ben Sherman. [modmix]
Organic To Go [posted on April 30, 2006]
With branches in Orange County, Los Angeles and Washington State, Organic To Go is a great alternative to fast food and lunch box deliveries. Specializing in corporate delivery and small catering events, they create a new standard for "fast" food by using all organic and sustainably-grown ingredients in their sandwiches, salads, snacks and desserts, available for both delivery and pick-up for your next organic event. [Organic To Go]
Whole Foods Market [posted on April 23, 2006]
Nearly single-handedly responsible for transforming the organic food market and bringing it to the mainstream, Whole Foods Market the is world's leading retailer of natural and organic foods, with 184 stores in North America and the United Kingdom. They strive to offer the highest quality, least processed, most flavorful and naturally preserved foods, and are also leaders in alternative energy boosters, as a 100% wind-powered business for 2006. [Whole Foods Market]
Outstanding in the Field [posted on April 23, 2006]
A traveling restaurant-style evening showcasing the fabulous connection between farm and table, Outstanding in the Field roams the country putting on dinners that feature the best of local foods. Generally on a farm, ranch, sea cave, winery or other locale, the dinners are combine fabulous food, passionate people and local producers who pair dinner with wine and information to provide the best that the local food experience has to offer. Check the site to see when they'll come to your town. [Outstanding in the Field]
gardening & landscaping
interior design
West Elm Organic [posted on September 28, 2007]
Make conscious choices for your home with West Elm Organic designs. They use certified organic cotton, grown without herbicides, pesticides and all dyes are earth friendly. Their organic line sells bedding and bath linens. [West Elm Organic]
Maku Furnishings [posted on June 6, 2007]
Founded by two "Global Surfers, Travelers, Marketers and Lifestyle enthusiasts", Maku Furnishings offers "non traditional furnishings for a modern world." Their surf-inspired aesthetic is tempered by a distinctly modern feeling that yields a pretty unique set of products; Maku calls them "experiential, organic, and relevant to passionate lifestyle participants and design enthusiasts." All of Maku's products are made from sustainably-harvested teak from Indonesia, and they're also proud members of 1% for the Planet. [Maku Furnishings]
Low Impact living [posted on March 30, 2007]
At Low Impact Living, they want to help you lower the environmental impact of your home and your daily life. To do that, they help you find the best green products, practices and service providers to help you achieve your environmental goals. And they will also help you understand the environmental benefits and economic trade-offs of your choices. Their primary goal is to make the path from inspiration to implementation as short and as smooth as possible. They offer several services through their website, such as helping you find the best green products and a calculator that will help assess your environmental impact and suggest ways to lower it. [Low Impact Living]
Organic Interior Design [posted on December 5, 2006]
Offering a complete complement of design services Organic Interior Design specializes in creating extraordinary interiors using elegant furnishings that help to protect the environment and its resources. The Venice Beach store and online shop carries a wide selection of products that are both better for the Earth and its people, including bedding, bath, mattresses, sofas, paint, books and more, and it's all pure sustainable beauty. [Organic Interior Design]
Samuel Moyer Furniture [posted on November 28, 2006]
Out to change the way we look at modern furniture, Samuel Moyer's work offers an interesting contrast between old and new, minimal modernism and organic warmth. Working with reclaimed wood, he takes the over 100 year-old relics of another time and introduces them to the 21st century. Says Mover, “I love to use wood with a prior life. The wood leads; if you study it long enough, it will reveal what it must become." Each piece is made by hand in downtown Los Angeles. [Samuel Moyer Furniture]
YOLO Colorhouse Paints [posted on July 20, 2006]
Combining a premium, zero-VOC paint with a user-friendly designer's palette, YOLO's 40 hues are specifically designed for interiors and inspired by the natural world. Green Seal Certified, their paints qualify for LEED certification, and are better for you and the planet. Based in Portland, OR, their paint is available across the west coast, from Seattle to Los Angeles (and many more) and online as well. [YOLO Colorhouse]
Environment Furniture [posted on July 18, 2006]
Creating breathtaking, environmentally sustainable furniture, Environment Furniture takes reclaimed and responsibly-harvested wood and fashions original, timeless pieces that achieve the highest standards of production quality and create value, while striving to discover new and better ways to respect the environment. See how their furniture can improve your life at their flagship retail store in Los Angeles. [Environment Furniture]
Jonathan Adler [posted on May 20, 2006]
With collections of furniture, lighting and pottery, Jonathan Adler makes life witty, sophisticated and simply delicious. His pottery is internationally renowned for its sleek, modern sensibility, and he employs the help of Aid for Artisans in Peru, a non-profit that helps artisans in developing countries to make products for the American market. [Jonathan Adler]
Peter Dunham [posted on May 15, 2006]
Making extensive use of vintage furnishings and sustainable fabrics, Peter Dunham showcases interior designs as an art form. Based in LA, his work can be seen in showrooms across the country, from New York to LA and everywhere in between. For personalalized, individual design with a sustainable twist, Peter Dunham has you covered. [Peter Dunham Design]
mobility
Earth Friendly Moving [posted on April 24, 2007]
Helping cut back on wasteful moving materials like cardboard boxes, wadded-up newspaper, bubble wrap and packing peanuts, Earth Friendly Moving offers clients sustainable alternatives to the traditional (and wasteful) moving gear. You pack, stack and move their reusable gear; when you're done unpacking them, call 'em up and they come get the empty boxes and such and pass them along to another earth-friendly mover. Just in southern California for now, they have plans to expand across the country in the next couple years. [Earth Friendly Moving]
GeoGreenBiofuels [posted on March 2, 2007]
Helping LA-area restaurants save money, and doing their part to reduce our committment to foreign oil, GeoGreen Biofuels offers totally free waste oil recycling, and they use it to make biodiesel right there in the City of Angels. By recycling waste oil and generating cleaner energy, GeoGreen Biofuels is making the world a healthier, more sustainable place. Learn more and sign up at their website. [GeoGreen Biofuels] via [green LA girl]
Fox Rent A Car [posted on October 12, 2006]
Offering the Toyota Prius, Honda Civid Hybrid and Toyota Highlander Hybrid at many locations, Fox Rent A Car currently offers a 5% discount on all hybrid rentals. Headquartered in California, Fox has locations from Alaska to Vermont and affiliate locations around the world, from Chile to Costa Rica and the Netherlands to New Zealand. [Fox Rent a Car]
EV Rentals [posted on July 27, 2006]
As the first rental company in the United States to rent environmental vehicles to the public, EV Rental Cars provides the most technologically advanced environmental vehicles to the general public. Through its fleet of 350 hybrid electric vehicles, the company has succeeded in preventing more than 100 tons of air pollution and passed on to the consumers more than $1 million in fuel cost savings. [EV Rental]
CarSharing Network [posted on July 13, 2006]
Reminding us that it's as easy as hailing a cab, with the freedom of your own car, as affordable as a latte, faster than renting, all while helping you kick the car habit, the Car Sharing Network is a full-featured resource for finding a car-sharing service near you. With listings of cities in the US, Canada, Europe and Asia, the Network will help you find one near you; if there isn't one close by, there will be soon. [Car Sharing Network]
Flexcar [posted on July 13, 2006]
The perfect solution for city-dwellers who don't own a car, but need a reliable way to get around, Flexcar's car-sharing service has expanded from Seattle to Los Angeles, San Francisco and around the country. Once you become a member, just sign up for when you need it, pick up the car, and go. Gas and insurance is included; you just pay by the hour. Their expansive fleet (with over 40% hybrids) insures they have the car to fit your needs. [Flexcar]
music
Amoeba Music [posted on February 6, 2007]
California record store Amoeba Music -- with locations in Hollywood, San Francisco and Berkeley -- recently introduced "The Big Green Box" at its Hollywood location, encouraging customers to bring in their old electronics and gadgets for recycling instead of a trip to the landfill. Amoeba is also featuring a "Think Green" section on their website, with ten steps for a greener future, including "drive less," "recycle more," "check your tires" and "change a lightbulb." To make that last step easier, they sell CFLs alongside their rows and rows of music, which includes used CDs, LPs and DVDs that it buys and resells. They'll even put your new tunes in a biodegradable plastic bag! [Amoeba Music]
print media
Good Magazine [posted on September 12, 2006]
A smart bimonthly designed to inspire and encourage global citizens to come together to do good, Good Magazine wants people to "give a damn" about the planet, social justice, politics, culture, anything. The weighty topics are offset by an optimistic worldview, smart layouts and hip art, and a bit of irreverent humor, keeping it accessible without losing its edge. They're out to prove that doing good isn't just for do-gooders anymore; it's for us all. [Good Magazine]
sports
Arbor [posted on October 3, 2006]
Their use of environmentally friendly natural elements that improve performance and style is what separates Arbor boards and gear from the rest. Owned and operated by its founders and run exclusively by riders, Arbor believes in adding the beauty of wood to their products without adding to the worldwide degradation of the environment. Arbor asserts that their production mindset will never be cheaper and faster, only better and stronger, with more style. Just what we like to hear. [Arbor]