new york

where sustainable style happens in the big apple

[city sourcebook] new york city

The Big Apple 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 NYC:

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

Fenton Communications

Covering topics from environment to youth, Fenton Communcations is one of the elder statesmen of the sustainable marketing genre and the largest public interest communications firm in the country. Their services range from advertising to media relations to message and strategy, and they have offices in three corners of the country. [Fenton Communications]

architecture

The Solaire Building

America’s first environmentally advanced residential tower was developed by Albanese Organization, Inc., a nationally recognized developer of premier properties, together with their joint venture partner The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. With over half a century of professional experience, The Albanese Organization is dedicated to the creation and management of environmentally responsible buildings of distinction, quality and architectural merit, which impact positively on the lives of their occupants and the surrounding community. [Solaire Building]

Robin Reigi

Robin Reigi Inc. is a unique architectural resource company that provides innovative materials and processes to architects and interior designers worldwide. They are a source for the architect or interior designer to call upon whenever they are looking for anything in the area of materials; artisan related services or manufactured products. The Robin Reigi collection boasts practical aesthetic solutions for a wide range of interior architectural challenges. [Robin Reigi]

Green Ground Zero

A non-profit dedicated to innovative sustainable answers to urban needs, Green Ground Zero seeks to improve the quality of life in high-density areas through design, education, and policy. These efforts are creating solutions for a brighter future by developing projects that are ecologically better for people and the planet. Green Ground Zero is advancing green design for urban spaces around the world in fresh, new ways. [Green Ground Zero]

NBBJ

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]

Croxton Collaborative Architects

Recipient of the National AIA Honor Award and the National AIA COTE ‘Top Ten’ Award, Croxton originated and developed much of the practice of environmental, sustainable and human-centered architecture and design. The NRDC, National Audubon Society, Environmental Defense and US Environmental Protection Agency have been all beneficiaries of Croxton Collaborative's research into the nature of materials, levels of toxicity and high quality, benign alternatives. [Croxton Collaborative Architects]

Callison

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

Brooklyn Rockwerks

Sculptor Adam Distenfeld reclaims granite rocks from New York City construction sites and creates fountains and sculptures from them. Each new piece is an absolutely unique, one-of-a-kind work of art that expose the dense inner space of rock. The addition-through-subtraction, meditative pieces are great for gardens or for installation indoors and out. [Brooklyn Rockwerks]

Greendot

Through the use of recycled and chlorine-free paper, vegetable-based inks, and responsible business practices, GreenDot has become an industry leader in the printing services market and is proof that a company need not sacrifice its principles in the pursuit of profit. GreenDot exists because there are people out there who care about the Earth. People who believe that you can make a difference through small changes in how you live your life and how you run your business. [Greendot]

Design for Good

Design for Good works with businesses that take care of their employees, protect the environment, make sure their products are safe and healthy, and provide services with integrity. They work with nonprofit organizations, sustainable businesses, community centers, charities, artists, publishers, schools...helping those who do good do better. [Design for Good]

Gen Art

Gen Art is the leading arts and entertainment organization dedicated to showcasing emerging fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians and visual artists. Gen Art strives to provide access to the film, fashion, art and music worlds for those that are interested in these areas, but often are intimidated and made to feel unwelcomed by the exclusive nature of these art / entertainment realms. They enjoy life to the fullest. [Gen Art]

beauty

Shecky's New York

This multi-platform media company keeps you up to date with the latest fashion, beauty tips, nightlife, and everything else you need to know to keep you "city-savvy". Shecky's is currently spotlighting tips for sustainable spa going throughout the hottest cities in the country. Services range from body scrubs to deluxe facials including spas completely stocked with the latest organic products and materials. With this chic online spa guide there is no reason why you can't treat yourself as well as the environment.

Lush

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]

Ling Skin Care Spa

Ling helms a burgeoning skincare business that includes three upscale salons in New York, boasting an impressive list of celebrity clients. Her skincare range features natural healing botanicals such as chamomile, almond oil and aloe (all free from alcohol, lanolin and fragrance) alongside today's buzzword ingredients: from oxygen to collagen, alpha hydroxy acids to vitamins. [Ling Skin Care Spa]

Great Jones Spa

The Great Jones Spa incorporates the Eastern ideas of spiritual harmony with the best in therapies from around the world to create a unique experience for you. At the Great Jones Spa, our goal is to do more than beautify and relax your body; we strive to give you a new perspective on life and the world around you by promoting harmony and balance in all things. [Great Jones Spa]

IIKH

Seeking to help people live a simple, stylish and sophisticated life while also being in balance with the world, IIKH is the place to go in New York, as well as online, for smart, stylish, sexy and green living products. They've got a good selection of things like linens and towels, as well as some things to make your house a home, like tableware and accessories. Lots of groovy furniture and beauty products round out the selection from the store that combines substance with style. [IIKH]

consumer products

Greene Street Greetings

The perfect canvas to deliver any message while maintaing your standards of quality, sophistication, and consciousness, Greene Street Greetings are made on one hundred percent post-consumer waste recycled paper that is processed chlorine-free and printed using soy and vegetable based inks. Even their website is hosted on a solar and wind powered server. For customers located in Manhattan, they offer carbon-free bicycle messenger delivery. [Greene Street Greetings]

Delano Collection

Delano Collection is the home of sustainable luxury lifestyle brands ranging from sophisticated apparel to furniture and homeware. Their products are created with the highest quality sustainable and organic materials - including bamboo, soy, organic cotton and organic wool. All of our pieces are designed and manufactured in the United States, and their constantly expanding collection of pieces is the culmination of style, social responsibility and eco-consciousness. [Delano Collection]

3R Living

3R Living favors manufacturers and artisans who dedicate their talents to creating clever, modern, and earth-affirming products out of unwanted everyday items. In addition, they look for fairly-traded products and those made from organic ingredients. The products that you’ll find both in the store and online are carefully selected with the principles of reducing waste, reusing unwanted or discarded materials, and recycling in mind. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. 3r. [3rliving.com]

entertainment

Gen Art

Gen Art is the leading arts and entertainment organization dedicated to showcasing emerging fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians and visual artists. Gen Art strives to provide access to the film, fashion, art and music worlds for those that are interested in these areas, but often are intimidated and made to feel unwelcomed by the exclusive nature of these art / entertainment realms. They enjoy life to the fullest. [Gen Art]

Pop Sustainability

Pop Sustainability uses popular culture-such as film, fashion, music, sports and food - to deliver a message that communicates to the most culturally influential sector of society today - young adults. Pop Sustainability is building a critical mass of commitment to sustainability among young people, thereby causing measurable progress in social, environmental and economic conditions-changing minds will change the planet. [Pop Sustainability]

The Creative Coalition

Bringing together artists and entertainers to learn about pressing issues so they can better inform and influence the community and nation, The Creative Coalition empowers celebrities and other high-profile people to use their influence for good. Sean Astin, Marcia Gay Harden and Rob Lowe have all lent their time and efforts to the cause that tries to make the world a better place for everyone. [The Creative Coalition]

FilmAid International

Throughout the world, millions of people are living in refugee camps, having fled violent conflicts and upheaval in their home countries. FilmAid International is a nonprofit organization using the power of film to promote health, strengthen communities, and enrich the lives of these people, the world's vulnerable and uprooted. [FilmAid International]

fashion

Green Apple Cleaners

Using CO2 technology instead of carcingenic chemicals like PERC, Green Apple Cleaners is "the cleaner dry cleaner." Using liquid carbon dioxide (the same stuff that puts bubbles in sparkling water), their process is better for you, better for your clothes and better for the planet. They even offer a "Green Apple Cleaners" reusable garment bag, to cut back on all those clear, disposable, non-recyclable plastic garment bags. In New York City & Brooklyn, and expanding soon! [Green Apple Cleaners]

Moral Fervor

Born of the assumption that business, art and activism are not mutually exclusive endeavors, each of Moral Fervor's collections is inspired by an issue of social or environmental importance. They are committed to providing comfortable, quality clothing, without depleting the Earth’s resources in the process. All of the materials Moral Fervor uses are on the cutting edge of sustainable technology – from fabric made from annually renewable crops, to biodegradable packaging, to all-natural inks. [Moral Fervor]

Hairy Mary's

After ten years of selling their vintage collections and reconstructed vintage designs to stylists, designers, photographers at the Chelsea Annex Flea Market (also known as the Sixth Avenue Flea Market), Hairy Mary's has joined the burgeoning and creative fashion scene in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Hairy Mary’s sells an exciting range of vintage clothing, accessories and foot ware along with a design line of reconstructed vintage dresses, tops and jackets under the "Hairy Mary’s Original" label. [Hairy Mary's Vintage]

KAIGHT

An eco-boutique dedicated to advancing the image of green fashion, KAIGHT stocks only the hottest emerging green designers from the U.S. and the U.K. that strive to make clothes that push the boundaries of fashion in an environmentally conscious and ethical way. All of the lines carried by KAIGHT, from Ciel Ltd. to Linda Loudermilk to Stewart + Brown and more, use textiles that are gentle on the environment and are produced in an ethical manner. [KAIGHT]

MooShoes

Founded in 2001 by sisters Erica and Sara Kubersky, MooShoes, Inc. is a vegan-owned business that sells an assortment of cruelty-free footwear, bags, t-shirts, wallets, books and other accessories. MooShoes offers its services through an online store as well as in its retail store in New York City, the first cruelty-free store of its kind in New York City. If you're in the market for some footwear or accessories that are both stylish and sustainable MooShoes is the spot. [MooShoes]

Sodafine

With a brand-new location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, things at Sodafine are looking better than ever. They specialize in unique, handmade clothing, accessories and gifts, with an emphasis on collections using eco-friendly materials and sustainable labor practices. With a DIY-inspired attitude, they assist young artists and craftspeople by helping them market their wares, providing an intersection of art, craft and fashion at work in everyday life. [Sodafine]

Organic Works Marketing

Since launching in 2001, Organic Works has been making big waves for clients large and small by infusing undeniable cool into the organic and eco-lifestyle. Using their unique blend of savvy and marketing public relations expertise, they have built buzz, and business, for high profile clients in all shades of green. From companies founded on a sustainable vision, to the more traditional brands that are moving in a down-to- earth direction- Organic Works has moved the masses for one and all. [Organic Works Marketing]

Gen Art

Gen Art is the leading arts and entertainment organization dedicated to showcasing emerging fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians and visual artists. Gen Art strives to provide access to the film, fashion, art and music worlds for those that are interested in these areas, but often are intimidated and made to feel unwelcomed by the exclusive nature of these art / entertainment realms. They enjoy life to the fullest. [Gen Art]

NatureVsFuture

Mixing sustainable fibers like organic cotton, hemp, soy and bamboo with recycled fiber fabrics such as recycled soda pop bottles and INGEO (created from corn) along with synthetic fabrics like polyethylene and spandex, NatureVsFuture creates pieces that have a futuristic edge yet are inherently classic. Designed to embody designer Nina Valenti's belief that there is a constant struggle between nature and future, NvF is an artistic statement in the form of clothing, fusing classic with cutting edge. [NatureVsFuture]

To Tie For

Using lush fabrics and vintage/recycled neck ties, To Tie For's unique hand-made accessories, tank tops and halter tops have made a big impression on some big names. The one-of-a-kind statement pieces have been picked up by Mandy Moore, Alicia Keys, Serena Williams, Salma Hayek and Sarah Jessica Parker. Her quirky, "unexpected" creations will turn heads, no matter who's wearing them. [To Tie For]

aGaiN NYC

The one-of-a-kind bags from aGaiN transform rescued and repurposed materials into stylish handbags that'll accessorize your modern life. Environmentally and socially conscious, the bags are made here in the US, with a portion of their profits donated to environmental charities. The fabrics may be old, but the looks are new! [aGaiN]

Buffalo Exchange

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]

coolnotcruel

Styling the world of change, changing the world of style, coolnotcruel caters to the urban chic, fashion conscious, socially and environmentally responsible consumer. Their dedication to environmental responsibility begins with the materials used in our clothing and accessories: certified organic cotton, undyed Alpaca wool, silk, hemp, Tencel. Skilled craftspeople in the United States and abroad use these materials to make high quality clothing and accessories in a responsible, sweatshop-free environment. [coolnotcruel]

Delano Collection

Delano Collection is the home of sustainable luxury lifestyle brands ranging from sophisticated apparel to furniture and homeware. Their products are created with the highest quality sustainable and organic materials - including bamboo, soy, organic cotton and organic wool. All of our pieces are designed and manufactured in the United States, and their constantly expanding collection of pieces is the culmination of style, social responsibility and eco-consciousness. [Delano Collection]

Drapeta

With roots in New York City culture, Drapeta shirts are designed on the principle that style and substance are not mutually exclusive, for the aesthetically conscious and are made from all natural fibers and ink; they operate under the idea that the primary purpose of a business should be to better the world, not to profit at expense of the world; to this end, they exercise socially and environmentally responsible business practices and give ten percent of our profit to non-profit organizations. [Drapeta]

Headline Shirts

Creating provocative designs from themes in the news, Headline Shirts are all designed, stitched, printed and washed sweat-shop free on either American Apparel or The Apparel Agent shirts. Most of their shirts are printed with water-based ink; in addition to designing clothing, they also contribute a portion of each sale to progressive nonprofits. [Headline Shirts]

Loomstate

It doesn't get much hipper than Loomstate's 100% organic cotton denim. Designed for people who want responsible clothes and are committed to treading lightly on the earth, Rogan Gregory and Scott Hahn think sustainability is the way forward, and have a pair of the most comfortable jeans you've ever worn with your name on them to prove it. [Loomstate]

Loyale Clothing

Using only organic cotton, designer Jenny Hwa creates sophisticated activewear with the goal of transforming the uninspiring activewear market with a fashion-forward, organic cotton collection for stylish gym and yoga mavens. The alluring fit and organic textiles for the fashionably conscious set. Taking an ecological stance, while creating frocks with beckoning silhouettes and charming details are Loyale's signature criterion. [Loyale Clothing]

Lucien Pellat Finet

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]

Margaret O'Leary

A strong supporter of breast cancer and children's causes especially in the Bay Area, Margaret O'Leary's bamboo silk and hemp/silk blended knitwear and fashions look good and do good. With boutiques in New York and Seattle as well as San Francisco, her upscale apparel and accessories is available all around the country. Her luxurious knitwear and unique sportswear is as stylish as it is comfortable. [Margaret O'Leary]

Speak Clothing

Featuring kids' and women's 100% organic cotton t-shirts, each shirt by Speak Clothing features an American Sign Language hand symbol. A fun and creative introduction to this unique style of communication, a percentage of each sale will go directly to a program that benefits children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Words like "play", "laugh", "run" and "breathe" are silk-screened; the shirts can be found in San Fran and at SSF pal 3r Living in NYC. [Speak Clothing]

Stella McCartney

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

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]

Escama

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]

food & restaurant

sparky's all american food

Discovered by SSF co-founder Rebecca Luke on a recent trip to the Big Apple, sparky's all american food is a great little mom n pop burger shop serving family-farmed organically-raised chow. Among the hustle and bustle of the big city, Sparky's provides the purest and best-tasting food at the lowest possible price...and they deliver! The convenience of quick and easy food paired with organic family-farmed produce and meats...sheer sustainable style! 333 lafayette st, nyc [get directions to sparky's]

Le Pain Quotidien

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]

Zen Palate

Zen Palate's goal is to enlighten the individual through their sense of taste by providing delicious, vibrant and versatile vegetarian foods and food services. Zen Palate's menu is composed of a diverse mixture of Eastern and Western ingredients and New York fusion cooking. Rather than buying processed ingredients from manufacturers, they produce most of their foods on site from daily-fresh, top quality vegetables and fruits. [Zen Palate]

The Organic Grill

At the Organic Grill, 99.9% of the foods, drinks, pastries, and desserts have been prepared using clean, sustainably raised materials. Serving brunch, lunch, and dinner, the Organic Grill is committed to promoting organic agriculture, and supporting local growers and artisanal food producers whenever possible. [The Organic Grill]

Happy Buddha

The gourmet fare at the Happy Buddha is inspired by traditional Buddhist culinary techniques and artfully done with a modern twist, setting new standards for modern vegetarian cooking! It is a priority at Happy Buddha to use organic ingredients in all of their dishes. Happy Buddha is the fusion of innovative vegetarian cuisine, Zen surroundings, and respect for all living things. [Happy Buddha]

Earth Pledge

Earth Pledge identifies and promotes innovative techniques and technologies that restore the balance between human and natural systems. Through demonstration, education, and research, they deliver viable models to government, industry, and communities. The New York region is the laboratory for implementing replicable solutions that will inspire and facilitate a global transition to sustainability. [Earth Pledge]

Earthmatters

Earthmatters organic market was created to bring a change and a chance for better community life these days where junk food is taking over everywere. Earthmatters felt the need to bring you better and healthier foods, believing that if we take care of each other we actually taking care of ourselves. [Earthmatters]

Counter

Delicious vegetarian food using only the finest organic ingredients, including vegetables, fruit, herbs and edible flowers from Counter’s own roof top garden. Counter boasts an eclectic selection of over 150 organic and bio-dynamic wines from around the world, a unique selection of organic Martinis made with house made infused vodka’s, and organic beers. [Counter]

City Harvest

City Harvest exists to end hunger in communities throughout New York City. They do this through food rescue and distribution, education, and other practical, innovative solutions. Millions of pounds of good, edible food are thrown away each year by New York City food businesses. At the same time, more than one million people are hungry, including nearly 350,000 children and more than 140,000 senior citizens. City Harvest is the link between those who have so much and those who have too little. [City Harvest]

Eco Meal

Eat farm to table in New York and New Jersey with OrganicDirect.com, who offer organic food of all kinds for delivery at wholesale prices. Get goods from organic dairy, meat and poultry, pastries and peanut butter to cheesecake, beer and chocolate. They also tailor their services to specific diets such as vegetarian, gluten-free and raw food lovers, by offering a huge selection of fresh organically grown fruits, nuts and soy products. [Organic Direct]

Brooklyn Brewery

Since it began in 1988, the Brooklyn Brewery has been deeply involved in and committed to the community it serves. From support of local and international non-profits to donations of time, money, beer and the tasting room of the brewery, the Brooklyn Brewery believes that civic involvement is good for the community and their business. They are also powered by 100% wind-generated energy, helping insure their beer is as responsibly-made as it is tasty. [Brooklyn Brewery]

Whole Foods Market

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

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]

Green Drinks

A lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business, Green Drinks is a monthly occasion for people who work in the environmental field to meet up for a drink. It's a great way to catch up with people you know, to meet some new greenies and build a green network. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organizing network that has spread to fourteen countries around the world. [Green Drinks]

gardening & landscaping

Brooklyn Rockwerks

Sculptor Adam Distenfeld reclaims granite rocks from New York City construction sites and creates fountains and sculptures from them. Each new piece is an absolutely unique, one-of-a-kind work of art that expose the dense inner space of rock. The addition-through-subtraction, meditative pieces are great for gardens or for installation indoors and out. [Brooklyn Rockwerks]

Earth Pledge

Earth Pledge identifies and promotes innovative techniques and technologies that restore the balance between human and natural systems. Through demonstration, education, and research, they deliver viable models to government, industry, and communities. The New York region is the laboratory for implementing replicable solutions that will inspire and facilitate a global transition to sustainability. [Earth Pledge]