H4H

Movember Menswear Clothing Swap

2024-11-12T22:30:00.000-08:00

November 9, 2024. The first H4H menswear clothing swap is in the books. Even better, it was a Movember menswear clothing swap so along with sharing information and resources from Remake.World, we got to share information on important men's health challenges including prostate and testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide. HUGE THANKS to Anchorehead Coffee in Seattle for hosting the event and to all those that helped to promote the event including JeLisa Marshall with The Stylist Way and Zakiya Nicole with The Chaya Movement. We look forward to doing more in the future in Seattle and in Tacoma.

Kindred Motorworks

2024-09-23T23:53:00.000-07:00

We've fallen hard for these EV retrofitted Ford Broncos by Kindred Motorworks. Great style, quality, and workmanship. Kindred shows some hefty love for a variety of vintage rides, but their EV Bronco conversions have become their calling card. They are great examples of what has become known as restomods that restore and modernize vintage vehicles.

SeanBlog | Event | Co-creating a Circular Fashion System: Solutions & Actions

2024-07-01T21:59:00.000-07:00

SeanNotes - I'm super excited to be part of a panel discussing circular fashion that is part of 2024 PNW Climate Week. To kick off PNW Climate Week we'll be having a discussion with sustainable fashion experts from diverse backgrounds, including design, repair, activism, and academia.

Details:

Date | Sunday, July 7, 2024
Time | 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location | Anchorhead Coffee & Bakery, Capitol Hill Location
Registration | Free but space is limited, register at: https://lu.ma/bjoup74y

More Information from the Invitation:

Are you aware of the (many) problems with fashion but want real, tangible solutions? Then join us for a hopeful and action-oriented discussion on co-creating a circular fashion system!

The Topics:

Current and future solutions for individuals and businesses
How you can affect positive personal and systemic change

The Panelists:

Janelle Abbott, Zero-waste Designer:
https://janellerabbott.com
Calley Dawson, Founder of The FXRY:
https://www.thefxry.com
JeLisa Marshall, Re/make Community Organizer:
https://remake.world
Sean Schmidt, Founder at Future-ish:
https://www.future-ish.com/
Moderated by Timothy Parent, Founder at Reforme U:
https://www.reforme.style/

This 2 hour event will feature time to connect with fellow attendees, a panel discussion, a Q&A session, and a chance to check out some pre-loved clothes from the Clothing Swap organized by panelist JeLisa Marshall (same day, same place from 11am - 1pm!).

The Schedule:

2:00-2:30 - Networking & Clothing Swap
2:30-3:15 - Panel Discussion
3:15-3:30 - Q&A
3:30-4:00 - Networking & Clothing Swap

**Capacity is limited so please register ASAP to guarantee your spot!

Amager Bakke | Copenhagen's Eye-catching Waste-to-Energy Innovation

2021-01-26T22:17:00.002-08:00

Copenhagen's Amager Bakke is easy on the eyes and easy on the planet. The "Amager Hill" (also referred to as Amager Slope and Copenhill) is part heat/power waste-to-energy plant and part sports facility. Designed by architect Bjarke Ingels, the facility opened in 2017 and burns through 70 tons of trash each hour which produces hot water and energy for 120,000 homes in the city. Oh, and Ingels included a footpath and ski slope on the building's roof. Multitasking at it's best.

Indianapolis Colts 'Kicking the Stigma' Campaign

2021-01-22T23:18:00.003-08:00

Great new campaign by the Indianapolis Colts to raise awareness about mental health, Kicking the Stigma. The effort to reduce stigma around sharing mental health challenges gained national attention after several television ads began appearing in early 2021. The platform that athletes and sports teams have to shine the light on such issues continues to grow and it is impressive that mental health is one subject matter that the Colts has chosen to highlight.

GMC Hummer EV

2020-10-20T21:52:00.005-07:00

Coming fall 2021. GMC's Hummer EV was launched at Super Bowl LIV in February 2020 and we've been eagerly awaiting it's release ever since. Marketed as the worlds first all-electric "Supertruck", it comes with features and options that are as exciting as the fact that it is electric, including 'crab mode' and 'extract mode'. We can't wait to take one for a test drive!

>> More on GM's sustainability efforts

Vogue's Annual Forces of Fashion Event | November 16-17, 2020

2020-09-10T20:16:00.005-07:00

It's time again for Vogue's annual Forces of Fashion event, November 16-17, 2020. The event goes virtual this year, but promises once again to offer thought-provoking conversations on everything from creativity and sustainability to social responsibility and fashion's role in our rapidly changing world.

Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

Bloomberg Green Festival

2020-09-10T18:12:00.003-07:00

The Bloomberg Green ecosystem seems to keep growing. Fresh off the Bloomberg Live Bloomberg Green Summit in July 2020, the Bloomberg Green Festival is set to bloom Septmber 14 - 18, 2020. The festival is aiming to foster solutions to climate and other social and environmental challenges through innovations in sustainability, design, culture, food, technology, science, politics and entertainment.

Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

SeanBlog | New Film, "A Most Beautiful Thing" Documents How Rowing Brought Rivals Together: Gangs in the Past, Police & Community Today

2020-09-09T23:31:00.010-07:00

Alumni crew preparing for 2019 Chicago Sprints

September 9, 2020. As a former rower myself, this story really caught my atteniton and inspired me. A new documentary, A Most Beautiful Thing, shares the story of the Manley High School crew team, the first black high school rowing team in the US and how rowing helped addressed gang violence in Chicago in the early 2000s. The team's reunion and preparation for the 2019 Chicago Sprints included a new element of community healing, police officers.

Skyler Aikerson reports on the film in the June 2020 issue of Chicago magazine, in his article A crew to remember.

NBC's Kate Snow shares the story of the unique partnership with the Chicago Police Department in her story, Rowing Together for Change (video below).

Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

2020-09-01T13:20:00.002-07:00

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the US where one out of every nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. For an interactive map of rates of prostate cancer around the world, along with rates of other cancers, visit the PRI Global Cancer Map.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) created the Eat It to Beat It challenge for the 2020 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to invite supporters to eat 30 healthy foods in 30 days. Visit the challenge website to take pledge and join many others in making health choices and raising awareness about prostate cancer.

Extra kudos to PCF for their annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show each February that brings together the fashion, entertainment, sports, and media worlds to raise awareness and funding for prostate cancer research.

Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

British GQ on Burbery Owning Earth Day 2020

2020-04-22T22:45:00.001-07:00

April 22, 2020. According to British GQ Magazine, Burberry just owned Earth Day 2020.

SeanBlog | Nordstrom Earth Day 2020

2020-04-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

The front page of Nordstrom.com on Earth Day 2020
April 22, 2020. A post for Earth Day 2020 that I am quite exited to share.

Understanding and addressing how human behavior impacts human health and the environment has been the string that connects a pretty diverse career for me. One of the first chapters in my career was launching the initial Sustainable Business & Development program at Nordstrom back in the early 2000s. You can read a little bit about how I and several other colleagues at Nordstrom to sparked the program and philosophy that exists today in this post from 2006, Sean in the Loop.

Following my 13 years at Nordstrom I co-founded the Sustainable Style Foundation (SSF) which some people described at the time as an oxymoron since it would be hard for fashion and sustainability to co-exist (although SSF actually worked across 15 design and style industries). In 2014, H&M created a global campaign titled "Sustainable Style" and the term has been used extensively over the years.

So, on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, to see the Nordstrom home page and their dedicated Earth Day page share their philosophy and goals around 'sustainable style' makes for quite a proud papa for this father of the term 'sustainable style'. There is still much work to be done around sustainability in style and design industries, particularly around bringing social and cultural sustainability into the conversation, but it does feel good to know that some headway has been made. A snapshot of the dedicated Earth Day 2020 page appears below.

Nordstrom's dedicated Earth Day 2020 page.
One thing remains the same since my early days in high school when I first took an interest in international environmental issues, I am not and don't try to be 'perfect' in these matters, but I can continue to make more and better sustainable personal lifestyle choices that continue to respect people and place going forward.

I continue to be a firm believer in my thoughts long ago at Nordstrom and SSF's motto...that we can look fabulous, live well, AND do good.

Just one of Nordstrom's several pages dedicated to 'sustainable style'.

H4H Habitude 010 | Support a Cause

2020-04-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

Image credit: Pexels from Pixabay
The last of our top ten H4H Habitudes is also quite easy and perhaps one of the most satisfying.

Finding and supporting a cause that you are passionate about can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding sustainable personal lifestyle choices you can make. Whether it is pet adoption or breast cancer, supporting Veterans or the wildlife conservation, connecting to causes that you care deeply about and then investing time and/or financial support to those causes will provide the opportunity to make an impact in an area in which you

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Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

H4H Habitude 009 | Be a Role Model

2020-04-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

Image credit: SnapwireSnaps from Pixabay
One of the easiest things we can all do to make the world a better place is to be good role models. We can be role models for our family, our friends, and for anyone that we might interact and/or engage with. By sharing the sustainable lifestyle choices that you have made with others, you become a model and an inspiration for others to make similar sustainable personal lifestyle choices.

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Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

H4H Habitude 008 | Celebrate People and Place

2020-04-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

Carving of navigator Ngatoroirangi on the cliffs at Mine Bay, Lake TaupoMaster by Māori Master Carver Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell. View a video on the carvings below. Image credit: holgerheinze0 from Pixabay.
Perhaps one of the most important things we can all do to live sustainably and make more sustainable lifestyle choices, is to learn about and to celebrate people and place.

In every part of our world, cultures that have existed for thousands of years are working to keep their culture and traditions alive and available for generations to come. From Azerbaijan to America, Ireland to India, and New Zealand, Zimbabwe, if you look you will always find a long standing host culture that is active, thriving, and persisting in our modern world. Whenever you move or travel to a new location, take some time to learn about the past, present, and future of the place-specific host culture of that area and you will find your experience much more rewarding.

Once you've learned about the cultural heritage of a place you live in or are visiting, take some time to learn about the key geographic features. We all know that visiting a major natural landmark can be life-changing. So it should come as no surprise that living near a certain river, in a certain valley, or next to a certain mountain range has shaped the way the local host culture views the world and if you let it, it can help shape your worldview. Find out what rivers and mountains define the area and bioregion, learn about waterfalls and prairies nearby, and plan to spend a lazy afternoon walking through a forest or hanging out by a pond to watch wildlife. Speaking of wildlife, take some time to learn about the native plants and animals of the places you live and visit. From butterflies to bats, you'll most likely be quite surprised by the number of species that occur only in the place your are living or visiting.

Do all this and you'll have a whole new appreciation for the people and places where you live and travel.

The story of the Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings in New Zealand

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Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Additional Resources

Hosagrahar, J. 2017. Culture: at the heart of SDGs | The UNESCO Courier

H4H Habitude 007 | Be Waste Aware

2020-04-16T16:47:00.001-07:00

The Noble Narwhal's Bamboo Cutlery Set.
Being waste aware is just as important as being a resource aware (see H4H Habitude 006). Taking the time to consider what the options are for a product at the end of it's life can help reduce the overall impact of your purchases.

According to zerowaste.com, the average American sends 4.4 pounds of waste to the landfill EACH DAY. Between the actual products that get thrown away, from food and clothing to appliances of all sizes, and the packaging they come in, there are many, MANY ways to reduce waste.

Buying second hand, buying higher quality, buying the right amount of a product, taking care of products, and buying products that can be recycled or upcycled at the end of their original useful life are all ways that you can proactively reduce waste. Plastic waste is especially problematic due to the overall amount of plastic waste being produces and the fact that it breaks down into microplastics which has additional negative impacts on human health and the environment.

Resources

>> EPA Reducing Waste: What You Can Do
>> Medeline Olivia's "30 Ways to Reduce Your Waste

Aditional Reading

Readfearn, G. 2019. How worried should we be about microplastics?The Guardian.

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H4H Habitude 006 | Be Resource Aware

2020-04-11T00:26:00.000-07:00

As of March 2019, Levi Strauss's water programs have saved more than 3 billion liters of water and recycled more than 1.5 billion liters of water. Image credit: manusama from Pixabay.
In our modern world, it can be very easy to pick up a bottle of wine, a new pair of jeans, or new couch, or even a new car. What is not easy is to know or understand the resources that go into that item that you just purchased.

Levi Strauss calculated that it takes 713 gallons of water to produce one t-shirt (most of which is used in irrigating cotton fields) and 2,113 gallons of water to produce a pair of leather shoes. There are also energy inputs, chemicals that are part of the production process, shipping, and packaging (did you know most apparel items arrive at stores individually wrapped in plastic?).

Taking the time to learn about the resources that go into the products you buy is very important because when you know more, you can make more informed purchases. Water usage, energy inputs, materials, and packaging are all elements of products you can explore to learn about the resources involved with their manufacturing.

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H4H Habitude 006 | Be Resource Aware

2020-04-11T00:24:00.000-07:00

H4H Habitude 005 | Take Care of Your Stuff

2020-04-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

Image credit: Insa Osterhagen from Pixabay
It goes without saying that if you take care of your things, they will last longer. Whether its proper care of your shoes and clothing, your home, or your car, you can extend the life of all the things you've come to love by simply taking care of it.

Of course it starts with buying better quality, durable items (see Habitude 004). But once that precious item is part of your world, it's important to take good care of it. Mend and alter clothing, repair shoes, fix or update home furnishings, and get your auto tuned regularly, whether it's a state-of-the art electric care or a vintage Ford truck.

An additional value to maintaining your goods is that it supports local artisans that specialize in keeping high quality items in the best shape they can be in.

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H4H Habitude 004 | Buy Better Stuff

2020-03-29T08:37:00.003-07:00

Machete & Sons at Denver Bespoke make exceptional hand-tailored suits.
Purchasing high quality items is another great way to reduce your impact on the environment. Whether it is apparel, furniture, or a household good, items that offer great design, are well-made, and are built to last, will reduce the need to replace items frequently.

High quality items also tend to be an investment. As an example, 'bespoke' items (items that are made-to-order or custom made) are designed and created specifically for an individual and will very likely be passed down to family members as family heirlooms.

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H4H Habitude 003 | Buy Sustainably-made Stuff

2020-03-26T23:15:00.000-07:00

Pact Apparel believes that the best ingredients make the best clothes and products, that people who make the clothes are as important as the people who wear them, that Style & sustainability can coexist, and that doing more-with-less is more. There’s beauty in simplicity.
One of the most satisfying ways to reduce your impact on people and the environment is to buy sustainably-made products. Whether it is an environmentally-friendly product or a product that features a social responsibility aspect of production such as fair labor, being a conscious consumer allows a small personal choice to have a big impact.

Examples of sustainable personal lifestyle choices include buying local & organic food, organic cotton in apparel, and sustainably harvested wood in furniture. Chemical free grooming products, environmentally-friendly cleaning products, and natural fillings in furniture are additional options that we can all make.

We will be posting more H4H Habitudes that explore each of these industries in detail so come back soon and often for more ideas on how you can make more sustainable personal lifestyle choices.

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H4H Habitude 002 | Buy Secondhand Stuff

2020-03-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

Image by Linda Lioe from Pixabay
Consignment, gently-loved, antique, pre-loved, hand-me-down, vintage. Oh, and of course, secondhand.

There are lots of names for it but our Habitude 002 is all about buying items that aren't new. There are lots of benefits to do thing. First, of course, is that it often saves you a LOT of money. Next, there are the environmental reasons: it reduces the use of virgin resources, whether that is cotton for apparel, wood for furniture, or some synthetic material for a household good and it reduces landfill waste.

Another benefit often overlooked is that the reuse of goods is a large industry that employs many thousands of people, from local antique and vintage clothing stores to giant corporations like Ebay.

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of buying secondhand is that it allows the buyer to truly express themselves and their individuality. Anybody can follow a trend but when you buy an amazing cardigan sweater at the thrift store of pick up a mid-century designer couch from the flea market, your personal sense of style just got bumped up one more notch.

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Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SeanBlog | Bill Nye Strikes a Pose for Prostate Cancer Awareness

2020-02-09T10:55:00.073-08:00

February 9, 2020. Bill Nye the Science Guy proved once again that scientists can be stylish. Nye took part in the 4th Annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show hosted by the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The event invites designers to reinvent the traditional men's blue jacket and brings together the fashion, entertainment, sports, and media worlds to raise awareness and funding for prostate cancer research. Nye is wearing a design by Nick Graham.

Read the full story here:

Kacala, A. 2020. Bill Nye struts down catwalk in viral video. Today

Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

H4H Habitude 001 | Buy Less Stuff

2020-01-19T22:58:00.000-08:00

That's right. We know it's hard to hear but the #1 thing we can all do to respect people and the environment is to buy less stuff. Don't worry, we'll get back to buying things in future H4H Habitudes quickly enough, but step one is indeed to buy less stuff.

Consider the fashion industry. We throw away over 50 million tons of apparel each year around the world (Farra 2019). Americans alone throw away over 80 pounds of apparel each year on average.

Buying the new things is always fun and we do want to promote commerce but buying too much or buying something that you may only use once is simply not sustainable. "Shop till you drop" but only buy what you really need, what you really want, and what will really get a good amount of use.

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Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Additional Resources

Farra, E. 2019. The Future of Fashion Is Circular: Why the 2020s Will Be About Making New Clothes Out of Old Ones. Vogue

Leading Ladies | Juliette Binoche

2018-10-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

Juliette Binoche at Le Grand Rex, March 2017. Image credit: DohanionJuliette Binoche is a French actress, artist, and dancer. She has appeared in over 60 films, appeared on many stages, and has also won numerous international awards. Binoche has brought attention to many charitable organizations and is well known for her political activism as well on issues ranging from freedom of press to immigrant rights. In the autumn of 2018 she became especially involved and vocal in raising awareness on climate change.