Green at the Seams, August 12 Friday, September 25, 2009

Sustainable Fashion

Columnist Whitney Kessler
Posted on Wednesday 12th August 2009

Sometimes it is hard to see how our choices affect our world. This statement is especially true of our addiction to fashion. How can we justify overflowing landfills and polluted air? How do we disregard sweatshops and child labor? Clothing has been produced for ages in ways that we would rather not mention, but we claim to know no better.

A huge proponent of sustainable fashion, the organization Earth Pledge notes: “Fashion uses more water than any industry other than agriculture. At least 8,000 chemicals are used to turn raw materials into textiles and 25 percent of the world’s pesticides are used to grow non-organic cotton. This causes irreversible damage to people and the environment, and still two thirds of a garment’s carbon footprint will occur after it is purchased.”

However, the movement toward affordable and responsibly-produced clothing is already visible in fashion today. Consumers have begun to seek greener options and the fashion industry has no choice but to deliver. On one hand, this increased demand forces supply to inevitably follow. On the other hand, the rate and price at which the supply can actually be delivered is debatable. The issue is complicated, but more discussion leads to more interest, which leads to new and improved methods of fashion production. No one can say we have found the optimal system yet, but it is apparent that green fashion doesn’t have to be a contradiction.

Many myths have been distributed on the topic of green fashion, either by the industry itself or by misunderstood fashion forecasting. Meanwhile, not enough information has been publicized on the environmental woes within the industry. Even if the world sometimes feels saturated with information on the environment, the terms used to describe eco-friendly options are easily skewed and twisted.

Read the full story >

Green at the Seams, August 18 Friday, September 25, 2009

Green, the New Red

Columnist Whitney Kessler
Posted on Tuesday 18th August 2009

It makes sense to start our journey of green fashion at the core of daily clothing — underwear.

All too often, consumers assume that green clothing is harder to find and will be more expensive. What consumers need to remember is that when we argue against the way clothing is made, the fashion industry will be forced to answer with a more agreeable product.

I used to buy my underwear at normal department stores. I had very little knowledge of how they were produced and how they arrived at the store. I might not have even wanted to know because then I would have become responsible for my own clothing choices.

Here is what I now understand:
The issue isn’t what underwear is made out of, as much as how underwear is made.

According to Pollution Issues, a website that monitors responsible eco-practices, more pesticides are used to produce conventional cotton than any other crop worldwide.

Read the full story >

Green at the Seams, September 1 Friday, September 25, 2009

Back to school or back to bank

Whitney Kessler, Columnist
Posted on Tuesday 1st September 2009

“Globalization has made it possible to produce clothing at increasingly lower prices, prices so low that many consumers consider this clothing to be disposable. Some call it ‘fast fashion,’ the clothing equivalent of fast food.”

Luz Claudio made this statement in his article “Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry” for the Environmental Health Perspectives website. Fast fashion has taken hold as lines from top designers have hit almost every large retailer, including Target and H&M. It’s not that it’s a bad idea for high-end designers to create fashion lines for the masses; the issue is the cycle that Waste Couture promotes.

The quote above is important because green fashion doesn’t just mean organically grown or locally produced clothing. It also signifies the difference between a cheap sweater and one that will last for years, which saves money and reduces landfill waste. For a simple and easy way to advance this attitude in the industry, look to the three R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle.

Read the full story >

Green at the Seams, September 23 Friday, September 25, 2009

Second Time Around – Resale Goes Upscale

Whitney Kessler – Columnist
Posted on Wednesday 23rd September 2009

With over 20 locations mostly located along the East Coast, resale store Second Time Around began as a venture that encourages consumers to recycle designer and high-end clothing. Each store buys and sells clothes, bags, shoes and accessories. I met with Sophie Newman of the New York location in SoHo. She told me about how she became involved in the resale movement and why she thinks it’s one of the best green fashion options.

What is your history in working at Second Time Around?

I met the owner [Jeffery Cassler] about a year and a half ago as I was interested in getting involved in the company and learning how they operate. Living in Boston for six years, I was familiar with the Second Time Around stores [and thought not only, “What a great concept, but a smart business venture as well!”]

The owner and I kept in touch over the next year and specifically spoke about when they were ready to open in New York. I moved here with my previous company […] I left my company in April, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Second Time Around was ready to open in Soho (sic) in mid-June and I accepted the offer to come in and manage the store. It has been a great experience thus far.

How many locations are there?

We have roughly 20 locations right now. We have stores up and down the east coast (sic) ranging from Portland, Maine, to multiple locations throughout Massachusetts. Greenwich, CT, Providence, RI, Georgetown, DC, and most recently […] Chicago.

What is the mission behind the store?

The whole idea behind our store is “resale goes upscale.” Within this idea we offer contemporary, new and designer resale clothing. Our mission is to promote the idea of reusing and recycling clothing, and then reselling the items to our clients at a value that is less than retail.

Does the store partner with any other organizations or stores to promote the three R’s [reduce, reuse, recycle]?

All of our stores partner and work with various charities and local organizations. At our Soho store (sic), we work with Bottomless Closet. We donate unwanted [consignment] “dress for success” clothing to their organization. We also work with The Salvation Army to donate other unwanted goods and items.

How has Second Time Around made a difference for you in its campaign to reuse and recycle clothing?

It’s certainly made a difference as to where I shop. There are few items that I will actually pay full retail for after seeing what great deals you can get on gently used clothing. Full retail prices disgust me.

Personally why is environmentalism important to you? Or is it?

As human beings we are so wasteful in everyday life. I believe people are making more of a daily effort to become greener, but we still have a ways to go before the majority of society is on the same page. Recycling clothing is one way to cut down on […] over-consumption […] as well as a great way for people to earn a little cash and support local businesses. I look at the majority of my clothing in my closet and it makes me happy that most of it has been bought here secondhand. I also consign my clothing here as well, so for me I have a constant green cycle going on which make me feel less wasteful in life.

Read the full story >

Bowling and taquitos Thursday, September 17, 2009

I’ve made two discoveries. With great deals, it is always a great night.

A popular NYU spot, complete with authentic salsa and late night dancing, El Cantinero has made it’s mark on the weekly Whitney schedule. The strong and refreshing classic margarita is part of the $3 happy hour “all night” deal that also includes the beer offerings. Beneath the dim lighting and reggaetone, a buffet of taquitos and wings come free during HH. Yum!

The second discovery happened by chance. I’m interning for The Uniform Project, a non-profit raising funds for an education foundation in India, which was featured as a top 100 innovative and entrepreneurial endeavour in New York. In order to help the tops hobnob, we were invited to Brooklyn Bowl. (I know right? Long story.) Anyway, the shamelessly hip warehouse has two bars, a dance/skate floor and several alleys. That night $2 of the $4 drink specials went toward Goods for Good. Indredibly generous! I felt right at home.

Other recent finds include: Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden, The Dove, St. Nick’s Pub

Möbius strip blog post Monday, September 14, 2009

September 13, 2009

So when life gave her tape, she made a cowl. The sculpted scarf, which Sheena wore to the ARS festival on Sept 6th, was created from reclaimed materials Scully found or happened upon. She used a saffron-hued caution tape from Con Edison (dangerously fabulous) and Geämi’s sustainable packaging material (not oil-based) to create the electric piece.

To read more…

Party in Ireland! Sunday, September 13, 2009

The international push for The U.P has begun. Eliza and Sheena have been in London/UK for the past couple weeks promoting and partying with supporters we’ve already gained over there. The press is picking up too! Glamour just did a spread on us for its October 2009 issue. Woot!

As the editorial/research intern, I’m spending all of my Mondays/Fridays/weekends putting together press shorts for the blog and writing posts about our progress. It is incredibly opportune to work for something like this and be at the base level where I can glean knowledge on running a foundation.

Here is my first blog post published on the foundation’s blog. It was a shout out for the party hosted for us in Ireland last night.

http://theuniformprojectblog.com/annoucements/the-uniform-party-in-ireland

the new columnist in green town Sunday, September 6, 2009

For the past month or so, I’ve been working with a team of very talented writers to produce weekly columns for GreenandSave.com. The resource Web site invited writers to pitch ideas and become a part of the project. I decided to go with the green fashion idea as it is something I am interested in exploring. They loved it! Now I’m researching and writing — two of my favorite things — again.

So far I’ve had three columns:

Sustainable Fashion

Green, The New Red

Back to School or Back to Bank

Check them all out and make comments!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Thursday, July 16, 2009

The inimitable “they” refer to the magnificent Metropolitan Museum of Art as “The Met.” And I like it. There’s no reason culture snobs shouldn’t have a nickname for such a huge and amazing place. It has a right to be loved that much. And it isn’t free, but it is donation only. So, NAME YOUR PRICE!

I went for the first time ever with a few friends. We entered the museum a little late and so only had an hour to explore. NOT enough time by any stretch of the imagination. However, we saw some really awesome stuff. I myself really enjoyed reverting to my third-grade self while in discovering Egypt. (Yes, I was one of those weirdos who checked out books on hieroglyphics. But it’s OK, that faze of my life is over … or so I thought.)

It was interesting to see that humans have always wanted to leave their mark. The 1800’s were popular years for vandalism. Names and dates are scrawled all over the reconstructed temple inside the museum.

We also discovered two great things about New York through the experience: 1) You aren’t a real New Yorker until you pay $.25 to get into a donation suggested museum (and receive a snubbing for it), and 2) If you are there when the museum closes they will escort you out.

No hard feelings. I like a little bit of a dramatic ending.

The Radical Approach Monday, July 13, 2009

When I call them radical, I mean it in the best, most complimentary way possible. The gals at lifeiscarbon® blow my mind!

The group of mix-matched mind-globetrotters founded lifeiscarbon® to not only change their lives, but to change in an impressively self-less direction. They have vowed that within their prospective careers and outlets and lives the environment, other human beings and the world will no longer be negatively affected. The Web site also is done without any financial support as of now, and thus, directly out of the contributors hearts in their spare time.

The list of writers?

Birgitte Lund – Copenhagen, Denmark
Anu Maijala – Helsinki, Finland
Soffía Gísladóttir – Reykjavik, Iceland
Sara Bunting – Oslo, Norway
Mikæl Marticki – Stockholm, Sweden
Amanda Herman – Berlin, Germany
Francis Anderson – New York, USA
Tomoko Higuchi – Tokyo, Japan
Nils Andersson – Beijing, China

Pretty sweet origins, right?

They explore topics in my immediate interest like art, music, fashion and design, making it an encouraging and exciting read every time. Although there hasn’t been a recent post in a while, the site is worth perusing and even supporting with your own words of encouragement.