c. marchuska Featured on WEtv’s Bounce Back
Happy Wednesday Everyone 
We had the pleasure of being a part of the new web series, "Bounce Back", for WEtv and would like to take the time to introduce all of the people featured on the show. Check it out!
Special thanks to our amazing team which unfortunately was not given justice by this clip.....so let's give them serious accolades here Click on their names to find out why these peeps are SO AWESOME!!!
Blogger Meeting scene from clip:
Angel Lenise Robinson, Christina Blacken, Tia Walker & Peggie Walker & Aaron Goldfarb
Skype Discussion scene from clip:
Video Footage scene from clip:
Jonathan Monina & Sean Cunningham
Fabulous team member who was out of town during the webisode taping: Krystal Williams
Thank you SO much to all of our fans and community members who continue to help us live out our dreams! Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog coming from our newest CMar correspondent in our nation's capital 
xoxo
CMar
Eco-Pita: Eco-Fashion All Wrapped Up…November 12, 2010
The approaching holiday season has me in a rather reflexive mood. I woke up this morning not only excited for the weekend but also thankful for....eco-fashion. For fear of sounding corny let me be clear that eco-fashion encompasses two of my favorite things. Being fashion forward while remaining eco-conscious. The two are so harmonious--the union is a match made in heaven. The pair have produced wonderful offspring and this week has been no different, but the changes that have been taking place have me wondering: will I still have something to be thankful for a year from now? Is this all an eco-fad or is eco-fashion really here to stay?
Monique Pèan, Costello Tagilapietra, and Maria Cornejo are the Eco-Fashion Challenge Winners (Photo Courtesy of LivingEcho.com)
1. The CFDA and Lexus awarded three fashion forward, eco-conscious fashion designers $250,000 each for their earth-friendly designs. The designers entered the Council of Fashion Designers of America's Eco-Fashion Challenge, where they were judged mainly on aesthetics but the criteria was that their company has to be 25% sustainable or use 25% sustainable material. But is 25% really enough? Are leaders in the fashion world really moving towards full sustainability or are they capitalizing on the moment by taking a wade in the eco-dipping pool? My hope is that this is just a start and that the stakes will get even higher from here on in. My gut tells me that this is just the beginning. People are beginning to realize that we either change or risk ruining the earth permanently. Though change is slow to come, it is still coming.
Dame Vivienne Westwood (Photo Courtesy of DesignTaleStudio)
2. In addition to the financial assurance that the CFDA gave sustainable fashion reports have been swarming the blogosphere that world renowned fashion creative genius Vivienne Westwood gave this piece of advice at a London speaking engagement last month: "give up shopping for at least six months." In addition, she pushed fashion lovers to wear a towel instead of a coat. She proclaimed that at the moment, it is all about do-it-yourself."
So before you all head off to enjoy your weekends, sound off! The CFDA, the largest, and frankly, one of the most influential unions of fashion leaders, has taken note of the importance of sustainable fashion and one of the most influential creative minds in the industry has become a leading voice on the importance of eco-consciousness in lieu of fashion forwardness. Do the points I've made show that eco-fashion has a stronghold in the overall industry? What do you guys think? Do I really have something to be thankful for this holiday season? Are we experiencing a fleeting eco-trend or have we hit the jackpot and eco-fashion is something that is here to stay?
Eco Weekend Round-up: Nov 6th, 2010
What to Wear:
Boot season is definitely here and we are onto a super cool eco brand out of the UK called Po-Zu. As our favorite fashionable male, Brian, wrote in a recent AskHim blog, Uggs are still all the rage and are the perfect pairing for a casual day around town. But, we are thinking of trading in those Uggs for Po-Zu Piper Tans which, not only are a lot more stylish than those standard brown suede boots, but are also organically tanned with vegetable extracts. Oh and did we also mention that they give 3% of each purchase to the charity of your choice?? If that doesn't get your feel good shopaholic hearts racing then we don't know what will
Photo Courtesy of Po-Zu website: http://po-zu.com/eu/
What to Check Out:
Tired of paying $250 for a mediocre hair cut?? Yeah so were we - so we hopped on the 6 train to Union Square to check out the Carsten Aveda Institute. For $19 you get a wash, hair cut, blow dry, scalp massage and hand massage. Apart from all of this, they also use all Aveda products which are composed of naturally derived ingredients. Make your appt today at the 22 East 17th Street!
Photo credit: Christine's Blackberry
What to Eat:
Did you know how many amazing nutrients are in pumpkins? Better yet, did you know how tasty pumpkin seeds can be? Check out this awesome recipe from Emeril Lagasse for some delicious roasted pumpkin seeds with a spicy kick. We made them and now are a bit addicted to this yummy snack 
Kicking it up a notch with Emeril's spicy pumpkin seed recipe
News from C. Mar:
As you end this fabulous first week of November be sure to check out our design process post Monika's Story: The Journey of an Eco Friendly Dress, how to get your guy's attention with this week's AskHim and a Q&A with one of the new member's of our CMar Team, Krystal Williams. Last, but not least, don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour this Sunday as Daylight Savings Time comes to an end for 2010...and luckily gives all of us some extra time to catch up on those much needed Zzzzzs!
Keep it real & keep it eco chic
CMar xx
Weekly Eco Fashion Wrap Up October 16th, 2010
Happy Saturday from the Big Apple's Upper East Side....CMar here giving you the latest and greatest in eco-fashion So let's get to it!
What to Read:
ECO Fashion by Sass Brown
Awesome new book from FIT professor, Sass Brown. Brown examines eco-fashion trends around the globe in this fabulous new read. Check it out today at your local book store or online. We can't wait to get our hands on a copy
What To Eat:
Photo Courtesy of http://girliegirlarmy.com
We are HUGE fans of The Girlie Girl Army weekly blogs with awesome recipes for the healthy chick! Check out this great and yummy recipe for Raspberry Ganache Fudge Cake by Raw Food Star Ani Phyo.
What To Do:
Photo Courtesy of Refinery 29 Blog
We aren't going to lie....Halloween is one of our favorite days of the year! Make it eco fab by picking up some cool finds at your local thrift store and then letting creative juices flow.... Once you have the perf outfit then rush over to a cool haunted house in your city to really get in the Halloween spirit! If you are in NYC be sure to check out the recommended Haunted Houses by one of our favorite daily blogs, Refinery 29! We are thinking Blood Manor tomorrow....anyone want to join??? Hehehe
News from c. marchuska:
Lots of awesome new posts for our amazing friends and fans to check out including new features like: AskHim and new posts: Introducing Christina Blacken: Six Questions in Six Minutes and How's My White Tee Bad: Demystifying Eco Fashion
Oh and some new projects in the works....let's just say CBS News stopped by....and a new web series has contacted our fav eco-fashionista.....SHHHHHH! Can't give more deets at this time, but stay tuned
Alright stay eco-chic my darlings and enjoy this amazing weekend!
xoxo
CMar
Introducing Christina Blacken: Six Questions in Six Minutes
Hello eco-fashionistas! It's been seven, whole days since I was introduced to the C. Marchuska world. Now, it's my pleasure to return the favor and give you all the scoop on another member of the team, Christina Blacken. She's an Ogden, Utah native and Cornell alumna. Christina balances dual roles as a paralegal in midtown Manhattan and a blogger for C. Marchuska's sustainable web presence. So, you green guys and gals, without further ado... meet Christina.
Angel: So which came first, your work in fashion or your introduction to eco-conscious living?
CBlack: Eco-concious living crept up on me. I started wanting to know the when's, what's, and why's of the things I consumed and how they affected both myself and the world around me. And thrift shopping came from the fun of the find, and the necessity of needing to be fashionable on a student's budget (lol). Those two passions melded into me taking a course on eco-clothing at Cornell, and it went from there.
Angel: How did you partner up with C. Marchuska?
CBlack: I met Christine through a Woman's Entrepenuership Course at Cornell. She was giving a speech about transitioning from one career field to another (which she had done by juggling a finance job and starting the C. Marchuska line). I really loved what she had to say, so being the gung-ho person I am, I stayed after class to chat with her. She complimented me on my outfit and mentioned having some opportunies that she would love to have me help with. And now, I'm happily blogging away for the C.Marchuska site!
Angel: Besides eco-fashion, what other green alternatives, projects or organizations do you support?
CBlack: Well, I am a semi vegetarian so that counts for something right? I also volunteer at Housing Works (http://www.housingworks.org), a social enterprise that provides rehabilitation and housing shelters for the homeless and individuals suffering from AIDS through the monies generated by their profitable businesses (a thrift shop being one of them). I am still on the hunt to find a great cause or org to join, so if anyone has any suggestions, I am open to them!
Angel: Do you have any advice for people who are interested about breaking into the eco-fashion industry?
CBlack: Read-Learn-Step Out. That's my three-step program to breaking into any passion or interest you love. Read up on an industry, learn the ins and outs, and places to be, and people you may be interested to meet. Then go out to groups, events, shows, and clubs that are apart of that interest.
Angel: Besides C. Marchuska, what other projects are you involved in?
CBlack: I am a singer and am on the hunt for great musical groups to be apart of (any suggestions NYCers??). I am still transitioning into the city, so I'm just taking everything in. Hopefully I'll be apart of some other great causes and activities very soon.
Angel: Any last words??
CBlack: Don't talk about it, be about it! So run and tell dat (what's a post without my favorite quote? lol)
Well, that's all for now, folks. Tune in next Wednesday for my sit-down with C. Marchuska blogger, Krystal. Until then, sit tight, take care... and go green.
-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
Introducing Model, Fashionista & Eco-conscious Blogger….Angel Lenise
Before we kick off today's blog I want to remind everyone to enter our hunter scarf contest!! Check out Monday's blog post here - then comment on the blog on what the Brits refer to scarves as, share the blog post on facebook and like the blog post on our facebook page...then tune back in Friday evening for the winning entry! Easy enough, right?? Okay enough about Monday's contest... 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.
CMar: First off Angel, how did you get into fashion modeling? How long have you been in the industry?
Angel: Modeling by no means has been a full-time priority... although I wish it was! I started a little over a year ago while I was still at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga. I did local fashion shows, worked with some great photographers, and really saw it as a platform to build a career in media and entertainment reporting. Moving to New York for grad school has seemingly put me in a position to really focus on modeling as a career, but managing school and work has been difficult enough. Once I finish my program, it will definitely be a full-time pursuit... although I try to do a shoot every now and then for my portfolio. Eventually, I'd love to do more print work and end up in television, either as talent or in production.
CMar: Have you ever worked with an eco-fashion line before? What intrigued you about working with c. marchuska?
Angel: This is my first time working with an eco-fashion label... or with any fashion label for that matter. I've been involved with fashion, and even interned for one of the Bloomingdale's stores in Atlanta. But I felt it would be great to be more involved with the people behind a line instead of a more corporate setting. After working with c. marchuska for a promo video and learning that eco-friendly fashion does not mean my sense of style had to be sacrificed, I was glad to hop on board.
CMar: Why are you interested in eco-fashion? Are there other green organizations you are also involved with or passionate about?
Angel: I'm really about living a healthy lifestyle... eating right, staying fit, using natural products... so I felt that the same effort I put into recycling or buying organic, I can put into my wardrobe too. Besides recycling on my own or buying local and organic foods, I haven't joined any other green orgs as a permanent member. That's why I chose c. marchuska. Why not blend fashion - something that I absolutely love - with an effort to live a greener, eco-conscious lifestyle? It's the best of both worlds.
CMar: Outside of modeling, we also are very lucky to have you on board with writing and reporting on green start-ups, style trends & tips and of course everything eco! How did you get into writing and blogging? Do you currently write for any other blogs? What is your fav topic to write about?
Angel: Like I said earlier, I went to college in Atlanta. I got my undergrad degree in Mass Media Arts with an emphasis in journalism and a minor in French. While in Atlanta, I worked for my school's TV station, CAU-TV, and was an events correspondent for popular college outlet, "The YARD Radio Show." Now, I'm pursuing my M.S. at Columbia University in Broadcast Journalism. But since I was involved in the arts at an early age (piano for 7 years, dance for 3, acting in high school), I'm avid about arts and culture reporting. Plus, at Columbia, most of the curriculum focuses on hard news and news features. So, any chance that I can report on something I'm truly passionate about, I'll take it. If it involves art, fashion, pop culture, music, or movies, I love to write about it! And the c. marchuska blog is the first one I've written for... I'm ready to get started and join the team!
Thank you Angel for an awesome interview!! We cannot wait for your upcoming posts and insights into eco-fashion!!
And to all of you fabulous readers out there - check out Angel wearing the red erin dress in her CMar debut and our latest 2010 web spot. The erin dress is available for sale on our site as well as various retailers in the US and at Sherry's London in the UK. The web spot is written, directed and filmed by HeroStatusFilms ~ Jonathan Monina and Sean Cunningham....yeah we think it is pretty amazing too
Check all of our web spots, fashion show coverage and much more on our You Tube Channel!
xoxo,
CMar
Monday’s Fashion Focus: London Chic Vocab
Happy Monday Everyone!
We are starting a new weekly blog series at c. marchuska this week. We have received your feedback and want to give you, our community, what it wants So every Monday we will be demystifying what fashion means to the masses. As most of us return from a social media filled weekend (totally recommend the Social Network movie - go see it NOW!) and get back into the grind of the week I thought we could focus this week on our brethren on the other side of the pond. I mean after all Prince Charles is now singing the praises of eco fashion so what better time to decipher the terms used by most fashionable Brits....
Whenever I travel to a new city, country, etc I want to go into the experience well informed. I want to know where the locals eat, where they play and more importantly how they speak. So on a recent jaunt to London I realized none of my Lonely Planet or Zagat's Guides could give me what I really needed....the fashion terms they used and embraced. I mean c'mon now....fashion is my passion and no amount of fish and chips will ever satiate me when it comes to Ted Baker, John Smedley....and (gasp) Burberry.... So here goes nothing your Monday fashion guide to the UK:
Jumper: no that Hugh Grant look alike is not referring to a cute little silhouette you wear over your button down... a jumper is a sweater in London....preferably one made of cashmere...
London Fashion Lesson #1: a Jumper is a Sweater
Pick up a John Smedly jumper today at: http://www.sherrys.co.uk/
Waistcoat: actually not a coat, nor is it some random too short to wear to the office dress pants...a waistcoat is a vest...hopefully Dolce & Gabbana and found under a suit
London Fashion Lesson #2: a Waistcoat is a Vest
Braces: oh I know this one....yeah those horrendous things that the dentist puts on your teeth to make puberty about a million times worse...sorry kiddies - but not in London....braces are suspenders....so classic and found frequently at Hermes....
London Fashion Lesson #3: Braces are Suspenders
This trivia is fun...but what is even more exciting is giving out some c. marchuska ecofashion swag.....as we enter my favorite season ever in NYC...um, yeah, FALL....check out the three web spots below and tell us what the hottest accessory (hint: hunter scarf) would be called in London and win yourself your very own sexy bamboo viscose unisex hunter scarf. Here's what you need to do to win:
1 - Comment on this blog and tell us what they call scarves in London
2 - Share this blog on your facebook page (more points rewarded to those that share it on twitter, gchat status, etc)
3 - Like this post on our c. marchuska fan page
Get it? Got it? Good! Now for your inspiration....check out these fab web spots we filmed to inspire your senses....
xoxo,
CMar
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
Can eco-fashion be considered sexy?
As we get one step closer to the weekend which will encompass scantily dressed females on hot summer nights, especially here in Manhattan, I have a question to pose to our fabulous readers and community: Can eco-fashion be considered sexy??
When we think of the connotations that come to mind when hearing eco, most people would say it is anything, but sexy. Most people think about an organic lifestyle, farming, compost piles, hemp fabrics, etc. Not to say these things can't be sexy....I mean a 5'10" blonde model in overalls farming probably would equal sexy to most of the male population. However, I think this is a common stigma that many eco-fashion designers battle with everyday. If you are a young, talented, but strapped for cash designer, you are limited by what fabrics you can use in the eco space. You need to make careful decisions on a cost basis, but still have a competitive edge with fit and style.
So not only are we overcoming stigmas attached to eco-friendly lifestyles and the green space, but we also are working with limited capital and options. Well, my personal opinion is you have to step outside the box and really get creative, especially when it comes to your marketing. Last year I had the pleasure of working with the ever talented Danny Brothers. Danny and I believed in several of the same mantras of life....we also subscribed to intriguing marketing and beautiful talented clothing and people. The result is the following 3-part short film/web spot series featuring c. marchuska clothing and two hot young things coming home after a long night out on the town.
CMar & Danny Brothers striking a sexy pose
After you watch one, two or all three videos....let us know what you think....can eco-fashion be considered sexy?
Happy Thursday,
xoxo
CMar