Q&A with CampusDibs Co-Founder, Scott Poniewaz
Happy MLK Weekend everyone!! As you know we love to connect with other young entrepreneurs following their dreams...so today we are thrilled to bring you an interview with Scott Poniewaz, Co-Founder of CampusDibs. CampusDibs is a fully functioning sale site dedicated to the needs of today's college student. We are super psyched to be apart of this week's CampusDibs Newsletter and hope you check out our interview with Scott as well as their awesome site.
CampusDibs Team: Garren Givens, Manish Vora and Scott Poniewaz
CMar: What is CampusDibs and how did you originate the idea for it?
Scott: It wasn’t long ago that we were digging for change in the cushions for beer money, and realized it would be awesome if we could help students live large on the cheap with brands they already know, while also introducing up-and-coming products, services and brands (like c. marchuska). Students have similar needs across the country, so we offer everything from deals at the local pizza place all the way up to products like dorm furnishings, textbooks, or spring break travel. We also provide the opportunity for amazing experiences like NJ Nets basketball games or touring Broadway shows like Rock of Ages.
CMar: Who currently is a part of the CampusDibs team and how did you meet?
Scott: We have a great team with Garren Givens, Manish Vora and I as the co-founders of the company. We were all born in Wisconsin and somehow connected in New York through various entrepreneur and startup channels here in the city. We also have a few full-time staff and interns from schools like Baruch, Columbia, and Trinity (and we’re still looking for more).
CMar: What role has social media played in your business?
Scott: Colleges have inherent offline social networks that are tightly knit. One person telling their 3 roommates has been a great benefit with campuses. Facebook and Twitter referral programs are also key to helping spread Campus Dibs to different campuses around the country.
CMar: Where do you see CampusDibs 5 years from now?
Scott: We’ll still be putting together great offers for students and introducing them to the best things out there. Given the pace at which things move in modern times and in technology, we have a feeling there will be a much different experience we’ll be building on to bring everything awesome to students. Who knows, maybe we’ll have space travel for spring break by then!
CMar: Have you always been an entrepreneur?
Scott: I definitely did not take a direct path to where I am today. I grew up in Wisconsin and started college at the University of Montana studying art education, graduated with a photojournalism degree, landed a job teaching photo programs in Southeast Asia for a teen travel company, then ended up building their India operations and other Asian markets before leaving the safety of a salary and jetsetting to take the leap of faith to help launch Campus Dibs. Along the way, I’ve done everything from ski instructing to graphic design to cooking. Versatility is an important trait for entrepreneurs.
CMar: What inspires you?
Scott: Success, but not in the financial sense. Everything I do, I want to do well. I think Garren, Manish and I all share the same workaholic ethic, simply because we have that drive to succeed in everything we do. You should see us at our company bowling parties, you’ll definitely see that drive come out in all of us (laughing).
CMar: What's the most important thing you have learned from starting this business?
Scott: Aside from keeping all of our students happy and saving them money, it is the ability to reflect on how each decision effects the business, then move our strategy forward or pivot quickly based on that information. From my time in India for my previous company, it would definitely be that a cup of tea can go a long way.
CMar: Will you be featuring more green companies going forward? Is it an initiative for your site?
Scott: As we grow, we want to definitely feature more green companies on our site. One of our partnerships is with Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA and they have been very adamant about doing a series of local, green deals for their campus. We think college students today are more conscious and supportive of eco-friendly brands and of course, we love them too!
Thank you so much Scott!!! Have a fabulous weekend everyone!
Until next time stay eco-fabulous,
CMar xoxo
Tia Walker Takes c. marchuska on the ‘Quest… for “It”‘
Dear eco-fashionista/nisto,
I do apologize for being blinded by HOLIDAY bliss... but I figured it best that I let you all enjoy friends + family over the Thanksgiving break without making them compete for your attention with the weekly c. marchuska Q & A.
But I do have a special treat for you all!
"It" is in the form of a (Norfolk, VA-born) New Yorker whose passion - and passport - have made her a successful blogger. She's written about celebrity and society from Los Angeles to London for the past four years. Her "it" factor stamp has landed her gigs blogging for famed photographer Patrick McMullan, and her own blog's content has been picked up by UPTOWNMagazine.com for exclusive scoops on African American society, celebrity, fashion and culture.
Who is this "it" girl, you ask? What made her quest for all things lifestyle & luxury a sought-after brand?
Well, now that you've forgiven me for last week's Wednesday hiatus, it'll be my pleasure to introduce... Tia Walker.
[Photo courtesy of Ann Watt]
Angel: What is "The Quest for 'It'"?
TIA: "The Quest for 'It'" brand was initially based on my experiences in art, fashion and media. Since its inception, it has been directed to an aspirational lifestyle concept. Originally it spoke of my personal goal of being the influential, trend-setting, party chick that lies deep within most women. The beauty of the brand and its evolution has been that it is all very organic and is no longer in my personal voice but rather done in the 3rd person, which is more universal.
Angel: And how were you able to develop that persona into the voice behind your blog?
TIA: To date, my blog has NEVER received coverage or been written about by any other major news source (i.e. the Times, WSJ, NY Post, etc.), yet it still manages to be a highly-recognized resource for a lot of well-positioned people in New York and in other major cities. We’d certainly love press and recognition from a major news source, but as it never happened, we just keep growing organically and providing quality content with an aspirational lifestyle in mind - It’s ALL about the quest.
Angel: Why did you choose this as your career?
TIA: I never CHOSE being a professional blogger as a career it CHOSE me—I’ve been accidentally lucky with it all. I started in September 2005 and back then there were no bloggers to model yourself after, like there is now. It was more of a need to have something to say, to report, to inspire. This has always been a “journalistic” venture for me.
Angel: You said that not being able to register for Fashion Week in 2005 was one of the primary inspirations for starting your "it" blog. What other obstacles have you encountered that have helped you gain success and stay relevant?
TIA: The only obstacles I've had to overcome is the cropping up of similar blogs that are patterned after my blog's original style or content. That can be annoying, particularly when they "borrow" catch phrases or use wording that is clearly attributable to 'The Quest for 'It'" and my persona as a blogger. Like [recording artist] Pink once said, "Imitation is NOT the sincerest form of flattery." But other than that, I still feel I've never lost my relevancy, because I've never lost the joie de vivre that brought me into this field in the first place - PASSION.
Angel: What has been your favorite event to cover and why?
TIA: Definitely, the 6th Annual Tribeca Film Festival in 2007. I was wearing a long, navy blue, designer evening dress and reporting on the red carpet as an independent blogger by video. I was standing directly next to A&E, a few spots over from MTV News, and we were the ONLY ones directly on the carpet, besides "Extra" and New York One’s George Whipple. Christie Brinkley, Robert DeNiro, Chaz Palminteri... they all whisked by. It was AMAZING. First time out covering the event - ever - and ALL of the other press were standing behind the rope, clamoring for their interviews.
Angel: You and c. marchuska have had a great relationship over the past few years, and you've graced plenty of red carpet events in her designs. What has been your favorite?
TIA: After wearing so many c. marchuska looks: Sylvia, Lindsey, Chrissie Jean, Leslie, etc., I would have to say the Monika dress. I’ve worn it and been photographed in it in just about EVERY color.
Angel: What other sustainable businesses or products are you a fan of?
TIA: I am more of a fan of big-ticket items that are sustainable like cars - I think everyone should have a Prius.
No seriously, I like to think I start by being conscious and wearing eco-friendly clothing. I‘m also a fan of Earth Friendly brand cleaning products - they make dish liquid, laundry detergent, the works!
Angel: What's next for 'The Quest for "It'"?
TIA: A little of this a little of that. I'm not at liberty to share too much but I can say that we are examining new and exciting ways to make both the "traditional" and the "non-traditional" work for us; people enjoy what they can relate to.
If you're interested in all things Tia has to say about fashion, media and lifestyle, visit her blog, The Quest for "It," and catch up on her posts for UPTOWN Magazine here.
Til then, parting is such sweet sorrow... but another virtual meet-and-greet is right around the corner for next Wednesday. Until then, stay fabulous, stay green 
-Angel
Eco-Beauty Basics: Go Green, Buy YAMERRA
Love your skin, love your hair, love you. That's the tagline for 100% natural hair and skin care company, Yamerra. Its founder, Maryam Moma is a 25-year-old fashion model who blends the beauty benefits of shea butter and essential oils with luxurious scents that'll leave you wanting more.
Angel: Yamerra is 4 years old. How did you come up with the concept to start the line and what is your company's philosophy?
Maryam: I founded Yamerra a few years after I graduated from Temple University with a degree in architecture. I enjoyed studying architecture, however- it was not my passion. I have always been immersed in the world of beauty, skincare and haircare, and fashion, being a fashion model in the industry since I was 16. I was primarily inspired to create Yamerra by my own skincare and haircare needs to create functional and useful blends for personal use with affordable and natural raw materials. I discovered that Shea butter is extremely restorative and healing for the hair and skin. I decided to mix pure Shea with essential oils and herbs to even enhance it more.
Angel: As a young entrepreneur, what steps did you take to start Yamerra and what challenges did you encounter?
Maryam: One of the first steps I took when I started Yamerra was to work vigorously to create a nutrient-rich and titillating scent palette for its products. I wanted to restore balance and radiance to my skin and hair using raw shea, and also be left smelling delectable! Closer to Yamerra’s founding, I brought a chemist on board, Victoria O., to make sure Isure herbs and essential oils did not clash to irritate the skin and hair; rather, to rejuvenate, balance and heal.
Organic Yamerra body butters in Sultry Mango and Strawberry Lemon. These luxurious creams are available in 1/2-ounce, 2-ounce and 4-ounce sizes.
Angel: Why did you choose to build Yamerra as an organic skin and hair care line?
Maryam: One of the primary reasons for making Yamerra all natural and organic is because all natural ingredients and raw materials are not only better for the skin and hair but also for the earth and environment. Yamerra is a sustainable brand. It has been an extremely important decision to keep the line organic and all natural so that it can be used and enjoyed by all, safely. Yamerra is recommended for even babies.
Angel: Your products are sold in three U.S. states, as well as international locations, Dubai and Nigeria. How do you manage Yamerra as an international brand?
Maryam: I have managed Yamerra as an international brand by making strong connections with trusted, like-minded individuals, who have used and seen the benefits of Yamerra first-hand. All the distributors/ store locations that carry Yamerra now, locally and internationally, are owned by Yamerra clients who use the product themselves. I deal with these people personally, sending them requested samples and products for retail as needed. Connecting with a store owner that is aware of what the market/ clientele needs and wants are, is easily reachable and communicates efficiently and timely is important in dealing with an international account.
Angel: Tell me about some of our most popular/favorite products. Besides your own line, are there other natural and organic companies or organizations that you support?
Maryam: We have three product lines, a two-in-one hair and body butter, luxurious body soap, and a whipped body soufflé. They come in six, very unique varying scents: Lemon Fire Bliss Lemongrass, Sultry Mango, Home Sweet Home Honey Vanilla, Be Bodacious Tangerine Grape, Sensual Bliss Jasmine Sage, and In Spring Lusciousness Peach Peppermint.
Yamerra also carries a line for mothers-to-be, nursing mothers, and newborn babies (6-12 months), plus unique seasonal creations.
Another organic product I support and use personally is Selara Faces Skincare. I love their face masks- they leave my skin firm, supple and revived. My favorite mask is their Honey Almond Exfoliator and Mask- After a home facial, I follow with another amazing product in their line- Selara Faces Skin Brightening Moisturizer. It’s is high in Vitamin E, smells incredible and leaves the skin feeling moisturized and loved.
Angel: What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs, especially those who want to build sustainable, eco-friendly businesses?
Maryam: I advise that young entrepreneurs starting a small business to follow their hearts and stay true to their most original concepts. Innovation, persistence, and determination to succeed in business must factor in. Especially to individuals interested in building an eco-friendly business; do not settle for or include anything that is not from the earth, not natural and chemical-free.
Angel: Do you have any last words?
Maryam: Join the Yamerra Revolution! Enjoy Yamerra’s luxurious, affordable and long-lasting Eco-essential products made with love. Otherwise, stay far away from products containing chemicals- help sustain the earth by using and supporting Eco-friendly brands and do not forget to recycle!
For more information about Maryam and her luxurious, all-natural shea butter products, log on to her webpage or visit her blog. Follow her as she travels to and fro @Yamerra.
Kisses and cupcakes until we meet again,
♥ ✌ ☺
-Angel Lenise
C. Marchuska Partners With a Pure Citizen: Meet Amy Ludwigson
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word "pure" as:
"free from what vitiates, weakens or pollutes... containing nothing that does not properly belong."
Amy Ludwigson, an eco-conscious entrepreneur based in Chicago, took the meaning of pure and developed it into a sustainable online business. Pure Habitat and Pure Citizen are sister sites that Amy developed to bring business to companies that are organic, ethical and eco friendly.
Amy describes Pure Habitat as "a place where you can shop for your life from companies that are making our world a better place," while Pure Citizen is the site where buyers can get exclusive deals on eco-conscious companies.
In honor of my virtual Wednesday meet-and-greets... Introducing Amy Ludwigson.
Angel: For those who may be unfamiliar with your company, what exactly is Pure Habitat?
Amy: We carry everything from fair trade jewelry and accessories to organic beauty products and more... Pure Citizen is its sister site.
Angel: What was your inspiration for founding Pure Habitat/Pure Citizen?
Amy: I had been passionate about fair trade and organic for a long time and I knew of all these amazing companies. Yet, I still found it hard to shop consciously. I had always envisioned a place that brought together all of these companies, and realized that I needed to create it.
Join PureCitizen.com for discount exclusives on from your favorite eco brands!
Angel: How do you go about finding companies whose products are conducive with the Pure Habitat/Pure Citizen philosophy?
Amy: The first requirement that we always look for is social responsibility and if the company makes products that are people friendly. Where are the products made? Are they fair-trade certified? Are they made in the US? Are they handmade? Then we look at the environmental side... we look for things such as use of organic materials and ingredients, recycled materials, and generally just how well it is made. We want to sell products that last, not throw-away pieces.
Angel: What is your favorite eco-conscious company and why?
Angel: That is a hard question, it depends on the day. Right now I am loving Buddha Nose they make these fabulous bath salts which will honestly transform your life.
Angel: You started Pure Habitat in 2009. Now, you're prepping for the launch of Pure Citizen on November 1. Tell me more about this new venture.
Amy: Pure Citizen is a site that will feature daily deals from a different, conscious company everyday. It is a great way for people to discover new brands. Each company will also choose a non-profit to feature and customers can choose to donate a portion of their savings, if any, to that non-profit.
Angel: And what do you ultimately hope to accomplish with your company, now that you're integrating Pure Citizen into the fold?
Amy: I want to make it easy for people to live consciously - I want to create a place where you can shop for your life from 100's of conscious companies.
Angel: Any last words for someone trying to live a more "pure," eco-conscious lifestyle?
Amy: Live simply.
On November 15, C. Marchuska will collab with PureCitizen.com to give all you eco-fashionistas deals on exclusive C. Marchuska merchandise. Stay tuned for updates.
Until our next Wednesday rendez-vous... Love,
Angel
Why Being a #FAIL can be Cool
He's an Oklahoma City native, who ventured to upstate New York for film school at Syracuse... and now this Kindle enthusiast and author wants the world to join him on a journey that's sure to be a #fail. And I mean that in the best way possible.
Aaron Goldfarb is a Midtown Manhattan-based novelist whose first book, "How to Fail: The Self-Hurt Guide," is available in stores and on Amazon (click here to buy). He's just a few weeks shy of his national book tour and will be collaborating with C. Marchuska for some big - and I do mean BIG - projects next year.
I (@angELLEnise) had the chance to sit down with Aaron (@aarongoldfarb), and our own lovely blogger Christina (@cblacken), over coffee. And, I must say, I'm surprised that he's just a writer... he had us laughing the entire time.
So, heeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Aaron!
Angel: Why do you think the world needs a self-hurt book? What's the premise?
Aaron: The thing is, I'm not sure the world does need a self-hurt book. But I KNOW the world doesn't need any more self-help books. George Carlin once said, "If you're reading it in a book, folks, it ain't self-help. It's help." Well, I'd say, if you're reading a self-help book it's neither help, nor is it interesting. My book is a funny, satirical take on success in modern America. The world's FIRST self-hurt guide!
Angel: Now, you're an avid Kindle reader. Was that the reason you took an eco-route and made sure ''How to Fail'' was available as an e-book?
Aaron: It's funny, I'm about as eco-friendly as a writer can be, but I'll admit it's kinda through pure happenstance. I live in the tiny world of Manhattan where you can't have a lot of "stuff" which has caused me to thusly abhor "stuff." I live a very spartan lifestyle and there's nothing more simplified than whittling down an entire collection of books into one lightweight device. I love carrying countless "books" with me at all times, I love being able to buy a new book at any given time, I love how much easier it is to hold and read off a Kindle than it was to lug a huge hardback around. I'm such a Kindle evangelist, people assume I work for them!
Angel: On Nov. 9, you'll be starting your book tour with a release party here in Manhattan. From there you're headed to Brooklyn Bowl and some stops in Jersey to promote "How to Fail." That's not the typical book promo roadmap. Why'd you choose the ''30 Bars in 30 Days'' approach?
Aaron: Quite frankly, most book events are boring. I mean boooooooring. A fumbling author standing behind a lectern nervously reading an uninteresting passage to a funeral home type crowd of old farts just there for some free entertainment before bed time.
Angel: Whew, that's a mouthful, LOL.
Aaron: Thus, I decided to take my events out of the book store and to a place innately associated with fun: the bar.
Angel: Aside from your bar-book tour, you'll be teaming up with C. Marchuska for cross-promotional ventures. What plans do you have for working with C. Marchuska in the future?
Aaron: Yeah, I love doing cross promotional stuff with the kinds of people that might seem atypical collaborators at first. I'm not a "fashion type." Most of my friends and the target audience for the book probably aren't either. Likewise, most of C. Marchuska's core audience probably isn't into the kinda dark, vulgar comedy that "How to Fail" is. At least they've never thought they were. But I can tell you they are! C. Marchuska and I have discussed outfitting me for my tour as well as a few other fashion/book party type events that have never been done before (I'll just leave it ambiguously at that!)
Angel: That sounds interesting! But, I'm going to give you a head start with the the C. Marchuska lovers out there. Give me a tweet... In 140 characters or less... Why do people need to learn ''How to Fail?''
Aaron: Every one's trying so damn hard to succeed that they aren't having any fun. "Fail" a little and you might find yourself laughing a whole lot more.
Angel: You were almost there... 147 characters (with spaces). Do you have any last words??
Aaron: When you got something to sell, the last words can only be: BUY MY BOOK.
You can join Aaron's Facebook fan page here or visit his website at www.aarongoldfarb.com. He's open to all types of (fan)mail, so drop him a line at aaron@aarongoldfarb.com. Keep an eye out for his 30 Bars in 30 Days book promo, as well as his Nov. 9 release party at Amity Hall, right here in NYC.
That's all for now.
Signing off with hugs & kisses, and decked in plenty of goGREEN,
-Angel
Weekly Eco Fashion Wrap Up October 8th, 2010
Before we kick off our fabulous week in review, by new eco chic CMar blogger, Krystal Williams, we thought we would finally announce the Winner of our London Chic Vocab Contest! Lucky for us, we have a resident fashion forward Brit, Ajay Nayyar, on board at c. marchuska. Ajay looked through all of your awesome response, but quickly assured us that we Americans actually call the accessory in debate the same word used by our English brethren....yup that is right ladies and gents....Brits actually call scarves the same thing we, bold and sometimes brash, Americans call them....scarves! Somewhat a bit of a trick contest question, but still we think it stirred up some interesting debates on London fashion vocab 
Now, for the real moment we have all been waiting for.....drum roll please!!!!! The winner of one NYC made, super soft, super sexy and totally eco c. marchuska hunter scarf is.....Derek Sanderoff! Congratulations Derek and thank you for participating and of course, thank you for your support! Alright, let me hand it over to Krystal...
Greetings, Fashion People! It’s Krystal with the Week in Review. Things have been heating up this week in the Ecosphere. Check out our fav picks of the week!
"Q&A with new CMar blogger, Angel Lenise"
Here's an excerpt from the post - check it out here and stay tuned for future CMar blogger interviews including an upcoming Q&A with yours truly "Well it has been a little over six months since we started our new social media campaign and we have some new exciting changes as well as new additions to our team! So for the next three Wednesday posts we will be featuring our fabulous new team members and why they are passionate about fashion and the environment. Today we are kicking it off with Angel Lenise. We met Angel through a casting call for our latest web spot featuring some of our favorite c. marchuska dresses."
“Eco-Fashion: Going Green”
Photo courtesy of the The Shoe Dish blog www.theshoedish.com
From May 26-Nov 13, the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology will be showcasing ecofashion of today and yesterday. Ecofashion is often linked to the environmentalist movement and the hippie culture of the 1960’s, but rarely are fashionably eco-friendly styles before the mid-twentieth century discussed. This exhibition explores the ways in which the value of clothing has transformed in the past 200 years, putting into historical context of today’s eco-fashion movement.
For more info about this exhibition check out FIT’s website at www.fitnyc.edu.
Issey Miyake’s 132 5 Eco-Friendly Collection
The buzz on eco-fashion has been on high recently in the fashion world, but revolutionary Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake has taken things to a whole new level with the release of his innovative, origami inspired 132 5 Collection. What is the story behind the name you ask? One piece of clothe with a three dimensional shape that folds into a two dimensional shape. The space equates to the time that it takes from completion of the garment to the moment when someone puts it on and the five is equivalent to the number of permutations for each piece. Here at CMar this all adds up to 100 percent eco-fantastic!
Photo courtesy of evon-.blogspot.com
Some things I’d like to highlight before I let everyone get back to their fabulous weekends:
Eco Lover and Project Runway contestant Gretchen Jones is having a giveaway for a Pearl Crescent blouse. According to the EcoSalon website, “Her Pearl Crescent blouse is made from low impact, hand dyed, locally sourced silk and is versatile enough to wear with pencil skirts and heels or torn jeans and sneakers.” Go here for a chance to enter to win the blouse.
Photo Credit: www.ecosalon.com
Vancouver wrapped up its first bi-annual Eco-Fashion Week last week. Check out photos and a wrap up of the earth friendly fare here.
Photo Credit: Vancouver is Awesome (Blog)
Alright everyone - that's it for this week! Thank you for reading and if you like what you see - please feel free to tweet, share and comment!
xoxo,
Krystal, CMar & Ajay
What Is Fashion?
Ajay Nayyar
Happy Monday fashion followers!!! As we pack for our trip to Londontown, we thought it might be fitting to have our fav Brit and actor, Ajay Nayyar, give us his perspectives on fashion. Having lived in both, LA and London, Ajay, has some interesting insights on what style means for both sides of the pond. Check it out and let us know what you think…..
New Yorkers are nearing the end of another action packed Fashion Week while Hollywood is still digesting Lady GaGa’s get-up at last night’s MTV VMA’s (what was on her bloody head?!?!?!). Thus bringing me to the question that starts numerous debates around the globe - What is fashion exactly? Most of us are fed the answer to this question by the “fashion gurus” and general media to set the tone and style trends for another season of what is “in” versus “out”. But, as I stroll down the streets of London and seeing the same trends I observed as a child, it seems that preserving classic styles and timeless pieces becomes much more important then determining if what someone is wearing is “so last year”. This is the fundamental basis of most eco-fashion brands, such as c. marchuska. After all, don’t most trends and styles come back for a second and third run?
Lady GaGa at the 2010 VMAs
Having grown up surrounded by the garment industry, I’ve learnt that fashion, like beauty, is based on the eye of the beholder. Take for example my parent’s retail stores which have existed in the centre of London for over 30 years, and the “genre” of clothing has been dominated by influence of styles from the 1960’s. Fifty years later, and people still, on a daily basis, wear clothes that would be seen as “so last year”…well, actually, in this case, “so 50 years ago”. Now compare this to the last two years I have spent in Los Angeles, where less is always more when it comes to fashion. For most people in LaLa land, 1960’s style would only be appropriate for an evening gown worn by a Hollywood starlet to an award’s ceremony.
I could probably go on for hours on what fashion is, but as I mentioned earlier, fashion is what each individual deems it to be with most trends starting from the higher powers (remember the scene in Devil Wears Prada when Anne Hathaway’s character gets scolded for her negligence in why she picked her blue sweater to wear). As I write this, someone just changed his or her fashion sense. What do you think? What does fashion mean to you?
The Devil Wears Prada
Weekly Eco-Fashion Update Aug 29th
Happy weekend everyone! Here's our weekly update:
Blogosphere: Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame (when is that new movie coming out?!) has partnered with the Fair Trade fashion brand, People Tree, to bring us the winter collection, now on sale! The 20 year-old was curious about how the eco-friendly clothing line is made, so she took a trip to the rural towns of Dhaka and Bajshahi in July to visit Swallows, the Fair Trade production firm. Watch this video to see what she experienced!
Also check out the collection via OK Magazine - it's pretty cute!
Another celebrity getting involved with eco-fashion is Chrissie Hynde, who is the frontwoman of the band, The Pretenders. The company is called Fairground Luck and will contain no animal skins and all products will be made in an eco-friendly fashion. While the high-end is targeted towards musicians, almost anything could be worn by anyone since the collection includes stylish t-shirts, skinny jeans, faux leather jackets and cowboy boots. All in all, it should be a rocker-chic look! Read more about it here.
Want to make an impact easily? Wiloh, a green fashion line of hip t-shirts (each designed by an up-and-coming artist from around the world, dyed with water-based inks and made with bamboo fabric) has a philanthropic twist too. Like TOMS Shoes' One for One campaign, for every limited edition t-shirt sold, Wiloh will donate a t-shirt to a child in need through their charity, called "Tee for Tee" and a collaboration with Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) All men's and women's shirts retail for $38 and are available online at Wiloh.
"The Heist" by Tokyo Candies
"Melody D" by Puloverchito
Lastly, have you ever been curious about what the heck it means to be sustainable? Reuters (with content provided by Matter Network) recently published a pretty comprehensive article about the sustainable supply network, describing each and every step of the manufacturing process that can be made more sustainable. Go read it!
ok, have a great rest of the weekend
Weekly Eco-Fashion Wrap-Up – Aug 21st
Hi all! Happy weekend!
It's time for the weekly eco-fashion wrap-up!
c. marchuska: We've been featured! TreeHugger has listed c. marchuska as one of the top 5 green fashion designers favored by the 'Great American Apparel Diet' Founder hooray!
Also, we've been featured over on CasterineCouture! Go read it to find out about what it's like Inside the House of CMar.
Lastly - our favorite celeb blogger, Tia Walker, wore the monika dress to the Quintessentially and the Couture Council's annual Summer Party. Thanks Tia! you look awesome!
Blogosphere: There was a great article in the NYTimes this week about zero-waste design and how it's the new trend. Apparel industry professionals say that about 15-20 % of the fabric used to produce clothing winds up in the nation's landfills because it's cheaper to dump the scraps than to recycle them. But now there's a small but impassioned group of designers who are taking the scraps and creating garment patterns with gussets, pockets, collars and trim that fit together like a puzzle. It's not easy, but Parsons the New School for Design will offer the world's first fashion courses in zero waste. Pretty cool!
Great things are happening in NYC! This past monday, Mayor Bloomberg signed into law a new program that will try to reduce the amount of clothes dumped into landfills by posting clothing-recycling bins around the city in an effort to re-route the clothes from the trash to thrift stores. An initial 50 bins will be placed in public places, but the eventual goal is to have the majority of bins located in the basement and/or laundry rooms of apartment buildings. Personally, I've always wished that there was an easy way to recycle my clothes! I have been lugging bags of clothes up to Goodwill every year, but it sure would be awesome if I could just recycle it in my very own apartment building!
Fashion week is coming up in a couple of weeks! This means that we'll also be looking forward to the third season of the GreenShows! As the only premiere fashion event exclusively committed to eco-friendly, ethically sound, fair-trade fashion, this 3-day event will showcase some of our favorite designers, including Joann Berman and Samantha Pleet!
joann berman
joann berman
This week's reading also included an article about a great eco-fashion business supporting women of domestic violence. The Annie O. Boutique accessory collection was founded by Annie O. Waterman, who was inspired by vibrant Peruvian textiles and the desire to bring work to female cooperatives in South America. The boutique works with 80 women who are victims of domestic violence and/or living in impoverishment to help them attain financial independence by applying their skills in handcrafts to create beautiful hand-embroidered handbags, belts, scarves and more.
ok all - have a great rest of your weekend! make sure to go check out our c. marchuska store - we have some awesome stuff for the upcoming fall!
Weekly Eco-Fashion Update – Aug. 13th
Happy Friday the 13th everyone!
It's time to announce the winner of our c. marchuska giveaway!
Autum22 has won the Leslie dress! and we loved what she said about our SS2010 video: "Really loved the backgrounds and the sense of the girls being the only people there-It seemed like there should be traffic,noise and so much going on behind them but there wasn't. It allowed you to focus on the lovely outfits."
Thanks Autum22! Get in touch with us so we can ship your Leslie dress!
ok, now onto the weekly update
Events: Levi's is hosting the Care to Air competition - Levi's is asking consumers to let all their good green laundry ideas hang out! They're looking for green pioneers and inventors to submit original air-drying solutions with the chance of winning $10,000 in prizes. A panel of judges will pick the winning design on August 16th! Check out some of the finalist entries (how clever right??)
Nothing is What it Seems by Caleb Hill
Vogue and Fiat have launched an "eco-fashion" competition to design a bike helmet for the Fiat 500 folding bike to coincide with Fashion's Night Out in Milan, Italy. The winner with the best graphic design will win a €3,000-prize pot!
This is kind of fun (if you can find pictures of this online - send it my way!) At London Fashion Week, the Conscious Designers Collective staged a renegade roving ethical catwalk in the street. This featured a half-dressed man courtesy of Pants to Poverty and female models in ethical labels such as Elena Garcia and Tammam.
Blogosphere: I just recently found out about two inspirational up-cycle businesses!
The Clothing Bank, a non-profit organization that helps low-income and unemployed women prepare to enter the workplace, was founded in Capetown by Tracey Gilmore and Tracey Chambers when they recognized the potential of using excess clothing from retailers to drive enterprise development. Go read about them here!
RecycleMyDress.com is Nicole Kulp's business that takes your old bridesmaid dresses (with all the puffy shoulders and unflattering bulges) and transforms them into new creations sold for anywhere between $20-$200. Check out her etsy store and read the article about her business!
Another fabulous eco-friendly mission! Edun has worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) to create the Conservation Cotton Initiative (CCI) to improve the livelihoods of communities in Africa by investing in sustainably harvested "conservation cotton." Starting this week, Nowness.com is preventing a preview of a documentary that will air in October highlighting the efforts of the CCI to encourage African farmers to employ organic production efforts. Go watch the preview! Also - can I just say that Edun's fall line is pretty awesome?
have a great weekend! =)