Sarah’s travels brought her to Kyrgyzstan after college, where scarcity of many things (including wardrobe choice) was the rule, as were long, cold winters and lots of time to sew. But it was in San Francisco that she started for real, taking City College classes and considering the design path.

She debuted in the 2006 GenArt Styles International Design Competition as a finalist and since then has been developing clothing that keeps in mind the scarcity of the world’s resources. Made from “only high-quality reused and remnant silk, wool, cotton, and cashmere,” Sarah’s self-titled clothing brand is a vital view into the future of fashion.

I recently had the pleasure of being Sarah’s first interviewer. Read on for our chat about disco, frivolity, big brand clothing and eco-activism.

Victoria Everman: What first drew you to fashion?

Sarah Zins: I think I’ve got this DIY mentality that maybe comes from my hippie parents. We should all know something about how to grow food, cook, build, and craft everyday necessities. I loved imagining and making all kinds of things, and making clothes just grew out of that. So when I didn’t have whatever crazy-ass outfit that I dreamt up to play dress-up in, I dug out my mom’s needles and pinking shears and tried to sew it. My Barbie got some very slick things to wear, too.

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The eco-answer has arrived with Good Bug, Bad Bug by Jessica Walliser. Printed on water-proofed, laminated pages and wire-bound, Good Bug, Bad Bug is written in easy to understand language. You can quickly identify invasive and beneficial insects. Walliser provides expert organic advice on how to attract the good guys and manage the bad guys without toxic chemicals.

From container gardens to acre-sized plots, Good Bug, Bad Bug is the perfect reference guide for every grower. Thanks to climate change, pests are invading regions they aren’t native to. That means more destruction and increased confusion. Walliser’s approach is simple and green: get rid of the bad ones and encourage the good ones to stick around. Color pictures, an informative introduction, glossary, and product directory round of the books’ awesome qualities.

Haven’t started planting yet? Don’t fret - it is never too late! Check out my review of Walliser’s other book, Grow Organic, for sustainable growing methods from seed to table.

Widely publicized green maven Starre Vartan (founder of Eco-Chick) has been hired Greenopia’s Editorial Director. She hired me, and a few others, to take Greenopia’s website to the next level!

Thanks to our continuing hard work, Greenopia is now the go-to source for local eco-living in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City. Along with green ratings, you’ll find:

• National and Local Environmental News and Events
• Community Interactions: submit reviews, blogs, business listings, tips … and win prizes!
• Interviews with National and Local Eco-Celebrities
• How to be Greener Guides
• Green Gripes Blog: real solutions to everyday eco-living problems and challenges
  

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After studying at the Marilyn Institute College of Arts in Baltimore, Emily returned to Portland in 2003 to start her first clothing line, Bonnie Heart Clyde, with her (now-former) sweetheart. After they went their own separate ways, Emily started her self-titled line last year to much fan fare.

GLO: How does your self-titled Emily Katz line differ from your first fashion label, Bonnie Heart Clyde?

Emily Katz: Bonnie Heart Clyde was a freehand embroidered line of separates for men and women. It was crafty and whimsical. The Emily Katz line is the grown up version. More sophisticated, modern, and clean. Simple and elegant. The line has organically grown with my own growth as a designer and person as a whole.

Have you always wanted to design with sustainable fabrics or were you introduced to them recently?

My dad always told me to wear natural fabrics, and organic and sustainable seemed like the right way to go. I can’t believe I used to wear so many polyester shirts in high school!

As a new, small fashion brand, do you find it even more difficult to afford to produce your line with sustainable fabrics?

Yes absolutely. I have financed the line by myself, and when you look at the difference between conventional baby jersey ($1.50 per yard), and soy/organic cotton ($6-9 per yard)! You can see how it can be stressful. However, I believe in what I am doing, and thankfully lots of other people do too!

Also a musician, food lover and visual artist, how do you other creative endeavors inspire your fashion creations?

Everything inspires everything else. (more…)

With all that growing going on, you can’t help but wonder just how much of it is sustainable. “Anytime you introduce a foreign substance into an ecosystem, it can throw a wrench in the works. Chemical pesticides and fertilizers are foreign substances that start altering the garden ecosystem the moment they are applied,” says Jessica Walliser, co-author of Grow Organic.

Many have heard of commercial farms using organic growing methods, but these methods can be applied to the lawns and gardens of individual homeowners and apartment dwellers as well.

The easiest way to enjoy your growing experiences and support a sustainable planet at the same time is to grow organically. What exactly is organic gardening? Many debate the difference between using fewer chemicals and no chemicals, but one thing about organic gardening is clear: strong soil. “[Organic gardening] means building up the soil through compost and mulch. The heart of organics is healthy soil,” says Jeff Gillman, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota and author of The Truth About Organic Gardening. “The key is to build the soil up by adding organic matter [i.e. leaves, newspaper; anything that can be composted or will decay] each year. When the soil is fertile, plants will outgrow just about anything,” says Walliser’s co-author Doug Oster.

[[ KEEP READING! THE FULL ARTICLE, WITH 9 INSIDER TIPS, IS AT LIFE.GAIAM.COM]]

[Image courtesy of *Susie* on flickr.com]

Time to Grow Organic! A new book by Pittsburg greenies Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. Not only about gardening, Grow Organic helps with flowers, lawns and more. For “first-timers and old-timers alike,” those without a naturally green thumb are saved. Color pictures, graphs, step-by-step instructions - it’s all here.

Live in the city?  Grow Organic’s info applies to your small space too. Don’t let a lack of “real” land stop you grow the joy of truly fresh food and flowers. Container gardens are even easier to maintain than lawn spaces, so grab a trowel and get growing!

My favorite section of Grow Organic is chapter 6 - all about veggies!  When I have a house, I’ll grow fruit trees too. Until then, its spinach, herbs, and other edibles. My apartment building’s fire escape offers enough extra space to cultivate more than expected.

Space? Time? Skill? You don’t need any of these to grow! It’s a simple, quick and space-conscious hobby. Grab a copy of Grow Organic by Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. You’ll see what I mean in no time. Well, it may take a few weeks for the seeds to sprout. Then, you’ll see.

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Time for another weekly edition of Carnival of the Green, organized by the nifty folks at TreeHugger. Last week, the COTG was hosted by Blogfish; next week, hosting duties are covered by How Ethical.

LET’S GET TO THE POSTS!

Law Matters tells us about The Implementation of the Forest Rights Act.

Rebecca Dean at Miss Copy features a beautiful image of an ancient tree on the island of Yakushima, Japan.

AdmirableIndia talks about the second day of their trip to Chikmagalur in western India.

Kevin at Xtreme DIY presents 10 Eco-Friendly Trips for Going Green Under $10(ish) - perfect for our supposed recession.

Alisa at EcoTrekker features 53 Easy Tips to Use Less Water, with suggestions for every room of the house.

Phil for Humanity talks about The 4th of July Pollution conundrum.

Cindy at MyRecycledBags shows how to make a Greenie Pot Scrubber out of recycled cotton and plastic netting.

Lane at Vegan Bits discusses Why We’ve Got Salmonella In Our Tomatoes, which has already started a considerable discussion.

Preston at Jetson Green presents the Top 5 Green Building Products As Voted by Builders, chosen recently at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference.

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Now living with her husband and son in Brooklyn, Lotta lived in San Francisco for many years and seemed delighted to be back in the “City by the Bay.” With stencils, linoleum blocks, and potatoes stamps featuring designs from her new book, Lotta showed nearly 50 people how to add personality to plain textiles. I’ve never seen so many people crammed into the Craft Gym before, proving just how much Lotta is still loved on the West Coast.

I personally didn’t have a chance to give any of the printing a shot, but just by watching and listening to Lotta’s techniques, I gained valuable knowledge for an upcoming home decorating project. Of course, a few folks from Chronicle Books were on-hand to sell copies of Lotta Prints. The book is a bit different from Lotta’s well-known Simple Sewing. Instead of featuring expansive step-by-step instructions for specific projects and detailed patterns, readers are given the basics of each printing method, a few stencils and encouraged to play around.

As a person who has always been interested in printmaking, this book is a joy! Drawings, scrap prints, finished projects and photographs taken by Lotta herself accompany the book’s instructions, showing the reader that inspiration can come from anywhere. Whether you are looking to achieve something similar to Lotta’s signature style or hoping to develop a style of your own, Lotta Prints is the book for you. I’ll be using my copy as a reference for both printing instructions and stimulating visuals - as they say, “the sky’s the limit.”

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I hate to burst your bubble - but no. There is no bad blood between Summer and I, at least not from my end. Why did she end up at #1 and not me? Was it her college degree? Her brown hair? Extensive appearances in the press? Who knows, but I’m not worried about it. I am more than delighted to see that Summer has come so far, so fast. Would I love to be in her position? Of course! That doesn’t change the fact that we both live separate lives and have developed different paths that we gladly follow.

It may come as a surprise to hear that I actually worked directly with Summer while I was still living in New York City. We did a winter fashion show together and while she seemed quite distracted, Summer was still enjoyable to be around. Even after only spending an evening with her, I had a feeling that would not be the last time I heard of Summer Rayne Oakes. Since that event, we have not come face-to-face again, but it would be interesting to see her and congratulate her on all her success - I bet she wouldn’t even remember me.

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First, the EarthFirst.com blog ever-so-graciously included me on their list of “Hottest Girls in Green”. Out of 25 women, I landed at spot #17 - not too shabby, especially since I didn’t even expect to make the list! Only spots #25 through 16 have been revealed - new ladies are posted every day this week, so make sure to tune in to their countdown. At this point, I can’t help but be curious who made it higher up on the list; call it “female investigation.” (I’m only joking!)

Second, and even more astonishing, edgy Canadian sustainable fashion brand Chopper Couture has created a design based on me for their Holiday 2008 Eco Celebs collection (see picture at left, model is NOT me). Out of the 24 ladies they based designs on, I’m the only one who hasn’t stared in a blockbuster movie or released an award-winning album - not that I wouldn’t like to do BOTH of those things (hint hint, I’ve been training for both for years).

In case you are curious, here are the other women featured in the collection: Daryl Hanna, Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Alanis Morissette, Alicia Silverstone, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek, Cate Blanchett, Penelope Cruz, Cindy Crawford, Sheryl Crow, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hilary Duff, P!nk, Sienna Miller, Chloe Sevigny, Kyra Sedgwick, Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera

As a long-time fashion model, I’m taken aback by the fact that an eco-clothing brand included me in such a prestigious range, especially with so many other awesome green ladies around these days (just see EarthFirst’s list). No doubt I am working on getting a shirt in my design, but I’ll be making sure to get an extra one for my mom (my biggest fan) - she’d love it. Maybe I can convince Chopper Couture to let me give one of my designs away here on Victoria-E.com; stay tuned!

BIG THANKS to both EarthFirst and Chopper Couture for featuring me - I’m honored and humbled.

Ah, denim - the “all-American classic.” I don’t mean to take attention off of the entire world’s love of this versatile wardrobe staple, but denim has a special place in the heart of most U.S. citizens. Now that “conventional” cotton has been widely outed as one of the most chemically-intensive crops around, finding organic cotton denim is Operation Numero Uno for sustainable fashion fans. Having personally tried on over 50% of the organic, fair trade brands on the market today, I can easily say that Del Forte Denim is my perennial favorite.

Made from Texas-grown organic cotton in Texas and Los Angeles factories, Del Forte Denim is the epitome of U.S. production. Most sustainable brands use eco-fabrics grown and woven in China, Turkey, Egypt and other foreign countries. Keeping production more local helps to reduce the carbon impact of the entire brand and stands as a shining example of what eco-success can be. Del Forte is also a proud member of the Sustainable Cotton Project, helping to “educate farmers, agricultural students and the general public on ways to increase the sustainability of farms and supports those farmers who are sustainable and/or organic.”

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Happening every two months, this isn’t usually much of a post-worthy event. That all changed when I turned to page 17 to see two of my photography images printed on the page.

This is the first time my photography work has been featured in a magazine - hooray for a new milestone! You can view the specific images they printed here and here.

“From old cell phones and E-waste to expired medicines and motor oil this little guide shows you where you can send your unwanted items and how you might make a bit of money while you’re at it,” says Chelsea Publishing’s website. Along with an A-to-Z guide on ways to reduce, reuse and recycle every item in the average home or office, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle also features short chapters on how to furthur incorporate the first two R’s (reduce and reuse) instead of depending on being able to recycle all you buy.

One key element of reusing is composting, which is featured in detail in Chelsea Green Guide: Composting, also by by Nicky Scott. Some cities, like my current home San Francisco, accepts items for weekly composting in a green bin. Unfortunately, this process is not as popular in many other locations, so starting your own compost bin is likely on the agenda. Most people avoid starting or using a compost bin because they think it will … well … stink! There is a key to composting, which is often called “getting the mix right” - that means having the right mix of nitrogen-heavy (soft/wet) and carbon-heavy (dry/absorbent) items in the bin, along with how they are layered.

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Now that my boyfriend and I finally plan to stay put for the next few years, buying furniture that we really enjoy and plan to keep (and hopefully pass along to future generations) has been bumped further up our to-do list. It is time to move on from our Swedish, big box friend but … WHERE DO WE START!? That question answered itself when I was reminded of Toronto’s Greentea Design last week.

Embracing traditional Asian styles, all Greentea’s original designs are made from salvaged wood from Korean farmhouses, barns and other structures, in their own factory. Along with their own line, Greentea’s founder Dale Storer, visited Asia on a regular basis to find traditional antiques to sell on the company’s website and in their 5,000-square-foot showroom. From bed and bath to kitchens and living rooms, Greentea Design has readily available options for every area of your home. Each piece has its own custom options available as well, from different stains and hardware to shelving and door design options.

With a passion for Buddhism, yoga and manga, it is easy to see why Greentea Design is our kind of furniture collection. (more…)

Many people simply see it as a day off from work, school or their other duties. Both of my grandfathers and my half-uncle were in the military and while I would never personally join, I am thankful for their effort and personal sacrifice on behalf of the entire country.

For the past few years, Memorial Day has been peppered with frustration for many residents of U.S. due to our involvement in the Iraq War. I personally believe that we do not need to be in the Middle East anymore.

While I know that my sentiment is shared by millions of the world’s citizens, many still believe that the war is justified and that we are “doing good.” No matter your belief, today is a day to remember those we have lost in the short time we have existed as a nation.

War has been a source of pride, power and sorrow in every nation on our dying planet. Fighting only breeds more fighting - I fear the cycle shall never end. We must not forget where we have come from and what has brought us to our current state. Let us not make the same mistakes countless times.

Tomorrow, Victoria-E.com will return to its regular, sustainable-focused posts. Until then, I’ll be spending the day is thankful, contemplative silence.

[Image courtesy of soldiersmediacenter on flickr.com]

A favorite among celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Sharon Stone, Jessica Simpson, Demi Moore and Charlize Theron, Deborah Lindquist is well-known for her trendsetting eco-sweaters made from recycled cashmere. Trained at the infamous Parsons School of Design in New York City, Deborah is always working on integrating new sustainable fabrics and styles into her line, including her first full green bridal collection.

Green Living Online: Your self-titled brand is one of the most well-known sustainable clothing companies around. Could you have imagined your work would have grown to such proportions when you first began?

Deborah Lindquist: Not really. When I started out, eco fashion wasn’t even a term!

When were you first introduced to sustainable fabrics and recycling vintage/second-hand fabrics?

I started using recycled materials when I first started making accessories under my own name in 1983. My first belt was made of recycled leather.

In your Spring 2008 collection, you use a notable amount of hemp, organic cotton, peace silk and some vintage cashmere. Do you have a favorite eco fiber?

I love vintage cashmere. I’m known best for my sweaters. My favorite new eco fabric is hemp because it can be grown without the use of pesticides and herbicides. It is so pest-resistant as a crop that it even makes neighboring plants pest-resistant.

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These are just two of the many intelligent facts, along with simple and effective tips, featured in the Chelsea Green Guides book series. I’ve gotten the pleasure of receiving four of the six guides in the mail and will be reviewed two of them in this post (the next two in another post).

First up is the Water volume from Chelsea Green Guides. Written by Jon Cliff (environmental consultant with Masters degree in Sustainable Environmental Management) and Amanda Cuthbert (freelance writer and marketing consultant), this 78-page book is a handy reference meant for every bookshelf. Along with staggering water usage facts, there are 100 short and simple ways to conserve water all over the house (backyard, garden and car washing included).

Second on the review block (you know, like the chopping block only healthier?) is the Energy volume from Chelsea Green Guides. Also written by duo Jon Cliff and Amanda Cuthbert, this guide also includes 100 conversation tips in a wide variety of areas. From lighting and cooking to renewable energy and gadgets, energy options are abound and covered in basic detail throughout the book.

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