Heart of Green

Eco Beauty in the Nude

The quest for perfect skin. A continual journey that has gained some new eco-friendly exits worthy of a stop. Let the beauty contest begin.

Nude: First up is the new Nude skin care line from Bono and Ali Hewson, the powerhouses behind the Edun eco-clothing line. Note that Nude is Edun spelled backwards, and vice versa.

Nude is happily devoid of the following ugly ingredients: parabens, sulphates, PEGs, propylene glycol, TEA, DEA, phthalates, mineral oil and silicones. Less is truly more.

Nude's packaging is green too. Bottles and jars are crafted from 40% post-industrial recycled plastic with rounded corners for high shipping efficiency. Products are encased in biodegradable cornstarch sleeves with natural inks. Gorgeous!  Available at Barneys for starters. www.nudeskincare.com

Why care about going buff? The average woman in the U.S. applies up to 168 different ingredients to her skin every day. I have certainly been guilty of that of many occasions. Only 11% of the 10,500 ingredients in personal care products have been tested and approved by the FDA. Outrageous. The remaining 89% have never been tested for safety and could be hazardous to our health. 

And we already know about the endocrine disrupting perils of the prevalent parabens and phthalates. Our skin absorbs what we put on it. Would we willing to eat our skin cream?  If not, then read on.

Care by Stella McCartney: If you care what you put on your skin, then Stella McCartney’s new premium Care line of certified organic skincare could be just what the dermatologist ordered. Care is formulated with 100% certified organic active ingredients with no petrochemicals or silicones. Everything your skin needs and nothing it doesn't. Available at Sephora and Nordstroms. www.stellamccartneycare.com

Eco-celebrity and vegetarian Stella McCartney also designs a fabulous line of eco-fashion and vegan purses in keeping with her sustainable lifestyle philosophy. You won’t find any fur or leather here.  www.stellamccartney.com

Farmaesthetics: Newsflash - I think I have found a new miracle cream. It is the Nourishing Herbal Cream by Farmaesthetics. I highly recommend it for moisturizing in the winter time. Its short list of ingredients includes sweet almond oil, calendula, witch hazel, and essential oils. And a whole lot of results.  www.farmaesthetics.com

Jurlique: If you haven't seen the new Jurlique green stores, run don't walk. They are a beautiful bucolic sight to behold.  I can't get enough of Jurlique's beyond organic, biodynamic skin care wonders like their Herbal Recovery Gel, masks, and hand creams. All new eco-friendly packaging too.  www.jurlique.com

Grateful Body: Pure organic botanical skincare from a certified green business in planet-friendly packaging. No synthetics or genetically-engineered ingredients or pesticides allowed. Divine. I was excited, and grateful, to discover this family-owned business.  www.gratefulbody.com

Note: After much experimentation, I believe that organic skincare without all of the impossible-to-pronounce suspicious chemicals is the healthier and safer way to go. That said, there are certain active ingredients like pure Vitamin C and Retin-A that are proven to be anti-aging. My working hypothesis is that combining these active ingredients with the organic skin care lines above is the magic formula. And a healthy diet, sleep, exercise, and lots of water help significantly too. But this is a working hypothesis, and I will continue to report on any new miracle creams, lotions, and potions discovered. Pure ones of course.

Expert Resources

Teens For Safe Cosmetics: Started by super teen Jessica Assaf, Teens for Safe Cosmetics is doing an incredible job spreading the eco-beauty gospel to young girls and their parents everywhere. They are holding their popular National Summit this weekend in Marin. Don't miss their Green Spa. Teens for Safe Cosmetics

Environmental Working Group: The authority on chemicals in today's beauty products, the EWG’s Skin Deep database lets you look up any product, see its ingredients, and find healthy alternatives. Beauty is truly skin deep.

New Year's Resolutions

Many people have asked me what my New Year's Resolutions are at Heart of Green. So here they are, in all of their embarrassing glory, the green ones. And the progress or lack thereof in the first month:

Starbucks Coffee Cups: I resolve never to go to Starbucks Coffee again without bringing my own cup. I resolve this because Starbucks coffee cups are neither recyclable nor compostable because they are paper with a plastic liner. They have to be trashed.

How Doing So Far: This has been tough because there is a Starbucks lurking on every corner calling my name, “Get your hot chai latte here!” But I have gritted my teeth and resisted thus far. Instead, I have been frequenting Tully's with their 100% compostable cup (bio-liner) and Peet's Coffee which has ceramic mugs for here, genius! It is a nice experience to drink coffee and tea out of a ceramic cup European style. I wish that Peet's would promote this civilized eco-friendly option more.

Made Here Not There, or Made Last Century: I resolve to buy things that are made locally in the United States first and foremost. I resolve to try not to buy things made in China because of the associated toxins, environmental pollution, carbon footprint, and probability for tanker oil spill disasters like the one that devastated the San Francisco Bay this fall.

How Doing So Far: This has been an interesting experience to date. When shopping, I have been asking the question, “Where was this made?” For example, I discovered today that Simon Pierce makes their glass and pottery in Vermont. Nice. They didn’t know whether any of their wood was sustainable or reclaimed though. For groceries, I am striving to buy seasonal from local farmers. It was shocking to learn that Whole Foods brand frozen spinach was made in China. (It has been pulled.) Vintage and antique are my first choice now wherever possible as they are the most eco-friendly, and they don’t make cocktail dresses like that anymore.

EMF Be Gone: I resolve to limit my exposure to unnecessary electromagnetic (EMF) waves, especially those coming from computers, Wi-Fi networks, and cell phones. EMF is not just for UFO watchers anymore. I believe that we are conducting a grand experiment on ourselves with all of this electromagnetic radiation that we may live to regret. The good news is that there are simple steps we can take to reduce our guinea pig status and regain some control over the situation.

How Doing So Far: This has been fun and empowering. First, I stopped using my laptop in my lap. Talk about irradiating oneself. Doh! My legs are much happier now. They really shouldn’t be allowed to call them laptops, as that sends the wrong message. Second, I now turn off my indoor Wi-Fi network when I am not using it. Who needs that EMF cloud over your head all the time? Third, I replaced my Bluetooth headset with a wired headset for the cell phone, and I try to use my landline whenever possible. I am also encouraging my male colleagues to take their mobile devices out of their pant pockets. Buzz. Fourth, I invested in several anti-EMF shields and devices, and I have absolutely no idea whether they are working or not. More on that in 2008.

Going Green in 2008

Here are a few of my favorite ideas for Green New Year's Resolutions:

1. Bags: Bring your own cool bag to the store. Collect your bag credit.

2. Bottles: Carry a stylish reusable water bottle like a Sigg and fill with filtered tap water. Give plastic water bottles the boot.

3. Reduce Toxins in your life by buying organic food, organic drinks, organic cotton, organic flowers, organic skin care, non-Teflon pans, and green cleaning products.

4. Energy Bill Game: Try to lower your electric bill as much as possible. Unplug chargers, and put electronics on power strips and switch to off at night. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs. Turn off lights in the other room. You will be amazed at how low your electric bill can go.

5. Recycled Paper: Switch to recycled paper products with 100% post-consumer content. Help to save trees and our majestic, carbon-absorbing, animal-friendly forests. Ask your favorite furniture company if their wood is sustainable or reclaimed or bamboo.

6. Travel Green: Maximize the average miles per gallon on your car. The Prius hybrid is still one of the most fuel efficient cars on the market 10 years after its debut. Cruise control, fully inflated tires, going 70 mph or less, and easing up on acceleration can save a lot of gas and a lot of money at the pump. If you can, try taking public transit or walking more, and breath in the fresh air. Ahhh.

7. Going Outside: Get out into nature once a week. This is probably the most important resolution for personal rejuvenation. Let’s get in touch with the beautiful planet we are trying to save and heal ourselves in the process.

These are just ideas. Try one, try none, or try them all. There are many other exciting possibilities like saving water, recycling more, starting to compost, eating wholesome whole foods and sustainable seafood, offseting your flights, planting a tree or a garden, and/or supporting your favorite organization because we can't do this alone. Happy New Year from Heart of Green!

Eco-Handbag Report

While we are on the topic of beautiful eco-fabrics, let's finish the thread by highlighting another fabulous find. I was thrilled to discover U.K. eco-handbag designer Sarah Donegan. Yes, an eco-friendly handbag that you would actually want to carry. Now that is progress.

I had practically given up hope on handbags for the moment. I just had my broken Prada bags repaired to give them a second life. Vintage from my own closet, purchased 10 years ago at great dollar value while working in Milan.

Then here comes the beautiful, fashionable eco-handbags from Sarah Donegan. Her limited edition pursues are made in the U.K. from 95% recycled vintage textiles, and gorgeous textiles at that. Sarah has a passion for collecting vintage fabrics, and it shows.  How can she part with her favorites I wonder?

It is nearly impossible to choose a favorite bag. The colors and patterns are elegant-exotic and conjure up images of a stylish sojourn to a far away land. Golds, reds, oranges, silvers, flowers, hearts, decorative leaves, wow. I also love the novel structure of the bags. Bows, ties, gathers, and buckles are all used to great effect. It is clear that Sarah Donegan has extraordinarily good taste and talent. It is easy to forget but exciting to remember that the fabrics are reincarnated vintage textiles.

Sarah will be collaborating for Spring 2009 with up-and-coming eco-fashion designer Amy Ozay's new line 4March.

How to order was my question. Sarah says that U.S. eco-fashionistas may order directly from the web site. Hopefully an enlightened local retailer will start carrying her line soon. In the meantime, we can have fun window shopping online. www.sarahdonegan.co.uk

Update:  I ordered and received the Metallica bag and let me just say, it is gorgeous. Beautiful, elegant, and very high quality. Vintage-fabulous!

In other eco-handbag news, I love the newest Ecoist collection of playful bags, especially the Ultra and Botero models, made from repurposed materials like candy wrappers in a fair trade way. The Ultra embodies nearly 500 cascading wrappers woven together.  www.ecoist.com

In addition, the eco-handbags constructed from recycled book covers like Gulliver's Travels are unique, inspired, and imaginative.  Many attractive models appear to be sold out, but let's hope that new bookish bags pop up soon. You will be happy to know that the Madness of a Seduced Woman Book Cover Bag is still available here.  www.eco-handbags.ca

Lounging in Lulan Luxury

What is the key to unlocking beautiful eco-interior design and smashing eco-fashion? It is the fabric, stupid, or rather, it is the fabric, friends!

For decades, there has been a dearth of fabulous eco-fabrics, which led to the perception (and reality) that there was no choice besides scratchy hemp for the eco-conscious. And having no choice is b-o-r-i-n-g. All of that is thankfully changing, and more exhilarating options are entering the market. Say goodbye to monotone beige, and hello to a world of color and beauty.

A case is point is Lulan Artisans, the sustainable fabrics company founded by architect Eve Blossom. And judging by her fabrics I saw recently, Lulan is truly blossoming.

Lulan’s colorful palette of 100% handwoven, hand-dyed silk fabrics is perfect for pillows, bedding, upholstery, and drapes (aka window treatments in fancy designer speak). I think some of her fabrics could also be excellent for fashionable scarves, wraps, skirts, and more.

Lulan aims to be sustainable through its values of community support, reverence for nature, and environmental stewardship. Natural silks are used, and dyes are natural or low-impact to be environmentally sensitive. Lulan partners with over 600 spinners, twisters, dyers, weavers and finishers in Southeast Asia, where master silk weavers use centuries-old techniques to create the collection by hand in small workshops. Lulan works to enhance the weavers’ economic standing and their community. Her fabrics do have to be shipped from Asia, but perhaps the travel could be balanced out with incremental carbon offsets?  Blossom’s is a holistic approach that bears beautiful fabric fruit with good karma.

The Lulan Artisans collection is currently on display at the Sundance Film Festival’s Project GreenHouse, an exclusive eco-conscious lifestyle suite. Check out Lulan online or in-person if possible at a showroom near you. Eve is also frequently in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. Handwoven Inspiration indeed. Let the eco-luxury home makeover begin, and don’t forget the sustainable wood, the zero-VOC paint, and the soy candles. Voila!  www.lulan.com

Heart of Ballet

We take a break from our regularly scheduled green programming to highlight one of life's greatest pleasures, the ballet. The environment is my passion and my purpose. As a former dancer, the ballet is my other great love.

I am fortunate to live in San Francisco, the home of the San Francisco Ballet. Founded in 1933, the SF Ballet is remarkably the oldest ballet company in the United States. Under the expert direction of Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson and Executive Director Glenn McCoy, it is now heralded as one of the top ballet companies in the world.

On Wednesday night, I attended the San Francisco Ballet’s 75th Anniversary Diamond Opening Gala, and oh what a night it was! Soaring dancers, glittering gowns, and over 3,000 ecstatic patrons who exclaimed "Bravo" and "Brava" during the epic program’s multiple standing ovations. Never mind that I got rained on and my vintage royal blue Marchesa gown became slightly marred, it was ballet bliss and I wish I could do it all over again. This time, I would bring an unglamorous umbrella, but no matter.

The San Francisco Ballet is one of the finest places to see George Balanchine’s masterful neoclassical choreography. Serenade, Symphony in C, Apollo, Themes & Variations, The Four Temperaments, Divertimento No. 15, Jewels, and more. A Balanchine ballet set to a Tschaikovsky score is a slice of heaven.

At the San Francisco Ballet Gala on Wednesday, we were treated to a wealth of dazzling works. Here are some of my favorite moments from the program:

The finale from Balanchine’s Diamonds was an ode to sparkling glory and the perfect triumphant finale to the 75th Anniversary Gala.

Pure splendor was the La Esmeralda Pas de Deux danced with fiery Spanish spirit by Maria Kochetkova, who had mastered the tambourine with grace and power.

Moments from New York City Ballet’s guest ballerina Sofiane Sylve’s dancing of Two Pieces For Het (for Rachel) are permanently etched into my brain. Wow. Such a commanding presence. And she is returning for the first five programs of the San Francisco Ballet’s season. I will be there.

Danced gorgeously by the supreme prima ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan, Edwaard Liang’s Distant Cries delivered some of the most innovative choreography I have seen in a long time. It seemed to blend the past and the future, and Yuan Yuan Tan’s artistry was positively breathtaking. That is she dancing Firebird pictured on the right.

Tina LeBlanc made a glorious return in Adagio from Sonata to Sergei Rachmaninov (it is all about the Russian music people). My friend turned to me and said, “Now that is ballet.”

Principal dancer Gennadi Nedvigin wins my prize for best male dancing of the night. In Helgi Tomasson’s Two Bits, he owned the stage and had the confidence and control to do anything, including multiple pirouettes ending in a single leg lift. Brilliance.

SF Ballet virtuosos Pascal Molat and Nicolas Blanc tore around the stage in Excerpt from Alles Walzer. “Top this!” they seemed to be saying to one another after a magnificent grand jete sequence. It was quintessential ballet opening night fun.

And let’s not forget the imaginative The Energy Between Us work by hip-hop and pop (and clearly now lyrical) choreographer Wade Robson. I have been a fan of Wade’s for years. He got his start channeling Michael Jackson moves on Star Search. A must watch on YouTube along with Wade dancing to Sexy Back. He choreographed for Britney Spears in her heyday and then produced his own show The Wade Robson Project on MTV, a dance contest show which I will admit I was glued to at the time. In recent years, he seems to be incorporating more lyrical, ballroom, Broadway, and African dance moves into his pieces. Even signature Charlie Chaplin and Bob Fosse movements. On “So You Think You Can Dance”, he created the now-famous Hummingbird dance among others and won an Emmy for Outstanding Choreography. It was a surprise treat to see him at the Gala, and his commissioned “ballet” did not disappoint.

Let’s get to your burning question. Was there anything green about the gala?  Well, the patron dinner was served on rented (and returned) reusable fine china, glassware, and cloth napkins. I didn’t see a plastic cup in sight which was fantastic. I did see the waiters pouring water from plastic water bottles, which could be substituted with City Hall filtered water next year. I'm sure there was recycling and composting occurring back stage and post-event delivery to a food bank. Was any of the delicious food organic or sustainable?  It could be wonderful to incorporate carbon offsets, high-quality recycled paper, and hybrid car service into the night somehow. I know of at least one biodiesel taxi that zoomed up to the red carpet. Several stunning vintage couture gowns were visible including a gold Halston dress worn by Shannon Bavaro and a rare jeweled Galanos gown worn by jewelry designer Amber Marie Bently. Many guests eco-carpooled to the gala, although I didn’t see anyone taking the bus which is right there on Van Ness. Wink.

The 2008 San Francisco Ballet at 75 Season promises to be the most luminous yet. An incredible 10 New Works will be premiered, three guest companies will perform, and the SF Ballet will pull out all the stops for Giselle, Firebird, Eden/Eden (an unbelievable must see), a Jerome Robbins tribute, and a reprise of Balanchine’s Diamonds in case you missed it at the opening. The San Francisco Ballet has never been more radiant, and I hope I look that good at 75. See you at the ballet, and remember to point your toes. www.sfballet.org

Ferris Bueller's Green Day Off

While my memories from Silicon Valley start-up land are fading, I do remember one thing. If you have limited time and resources (which most people do) and you want to succeed, focus on one important thing and knock it out of the park.

Hence, I was excited to learn about the upcoming event Focus the Nation: Global Warming Solutions for America. The magic day is January 31, 2008. On this day, millions of students, teachers, and leaders will help to Focus the Nation on solving global warming. And focus is a good thing! It will lead to hockey stick results, and keep the venture capitalists at bay.

The core of the program is a Teach-In, not to be confused with a be-in. Entire schools and universities will turn their attention to global warming with an ambitious and inspiring suggested Model Teach-In Schedule on January 31. Clearly someone who drinks a lot of coffee made this. Even a few sessions would be tremendous. Hopefully somebody will film and assemble bits and pieces from this day across the country, as I’d like to be a (clean) fly on the wall in these classrooms. Over 1450 teams have already signed up, and you can click on this cool interactive map to find like minds in your area.

There will also be a free, live, interactive webcast called The 2% Solution Webcast the evening of January 30 featuring celebrity Edward Norton, Stanford University climate scientist Stephen Schneider, sustainability expert Hunter Lovins, green jobs pioneer Van Jones, youth climate leaders, and audience participation. Help them achieve their goal of 10,000 screenings. That should be a slam dunk. Sign up to host a webcast - a great excuse to throw a party and serve organic vodka.

Why 2%?  To hold global warming temperature rises at the low end of 3-4 degrees F, it will require global warming pollution cuts by more than 80% below current levels by 2050. Put another way, we need to cut roughly 2% of current emission levels a year for the next forty years. Let's all help by turning off unneeded lights, driving high fuel-economy cars, and putting electronics on a power strip and switching to off at night!  Regarding the latter, you will be amazed at the decrease in your monthly electric bill.

Back to focus. We are all shareholders in the Fight Global Warming Start-up. Let's join together to launch this start-up into the carbon-free stratosphere. The returns will be huge. We will gain the benefits of a more secure planet for ourselves and our children, financial savings from energy efficiency, more vibrant forests, new cleantech industries, less pollution, a less violent world, and the peace of mind of knowing that we are doing all we can to save this beautiful blue planet of ours.

Let the Teach-In begin. Consider it Ferris Bueller's Green Day Off. Bueller, Bueller...  Focus the Nation

How Green is your Package?

It no longer matters how big your package is. It's how green it is that counts.

Packaging is here to stay, so let's make it eco-friendly!

While walking around San Francisco, it is amazing how many rogue Styrofoam packing peanuts you see. On a recent walk after the holidays, I gathered over 40 of these insidious S's. One can see how easy these lightweight Styrofoam pieces fly through the air and how they invariably end up going down a storm drain and out to pollute the sea, poison the birds and fish, and other fun things like that.

If these Styrofoam (aka Expanded Polystyrene, EPS) packing peanuts were biodegradable, it wouldn't matter as much if one or 100 of them got loose. They would be in the same camp as banana peels.

Let's send Styrofoam packing and replace it with planet-friendly materials. In that spirit, here is Heart of Green's Guide to Green Packaging:

Newspaper: This is the easiest solution. Use your old newspapers instead of bubble wrap or Styrofoam. And some of your recipients will even read the newspaper when your package arrives.

Biodegradable Packing Peanuts: GiveStyrofoam the boot and replace with these marvelous biodegradable packing peanuts. Made from cornstarch, these beauties dissolve in water and are compostable. 

Staples Biodegradable Packing Peanuts

Amazon Biodegradable Packing Peanuts

Uline Biodegradable Cornstarch Peanuts

U-Haul Biodegradable Packing Peanuts

What is up with Office Depot by the way?  Office Depot touts biodegradable packing peanuts in their green press release, but they are no where to be found on their web site. Hmm... They offer recycled polystyrene peanuts, but these are still Styrofoam. Perhaps they are out of stock due to popularity. That would be a good sign. Or perhaps they are only in the cool Office Depot Green Book?

Recycled Content Boxes & Envelopes: What could be better than a box with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content? And check out all of these Office Depot Recycled Envelopes. Remember that a high post-consumer % is where it's at (because paper was actually diverted from a landfill), and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) seal is far better than the industry-created SFI smokescreen.

Green Cell Foam: I was excited to find Green Cell recently as an eco-replacement for Styrofoam molds in businesses. Green Cell Foam from KTM Industries is made from high-grade non-GMO cornstarch, is naturally anti-static and dry, and is biodegradable and compostable. Green Cell Foam

ExpandOS: Check out these clever packing wonders which are made from 30% recycled paper and are 100% recyclable, pictured to the right. ExpandOS

Cellulose Wadding Custom Wrap: 100% recycled, recyclable, and reusable paper that can help with filling or wrapping. Cellulose Wrap

Styrofoam Recycling

I wondered for a long time where to recycle all of that pesky Styrofoam. It turns out that there is a 1-800 phone number you can call to find a Styrofoam drop off center in your area. A green miracle!

Call the Styrofoam Peanut Hotline at 1-800-828-2214 and ask for the nearest spot. Or visit the Styrofoam Drop Off Centers search page and chose your lucky target for your saved and now soon-to-be-recycled-and-reused Styrofoam. You can't buy cashews there, but it is still pretty darn cool.

Thanks to the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, there is also a list of Styrofoam Packaging Drop Off Locations.

The future for green packaging is bright. Wal-Mart is increasingly putting pressure on their suppliers to minimize packaging.  IBM, Nokia and Sony have joined the Eco-Patent Commons which initially contains 31 patents including a shock-absorbing biodegradable recyclable packaging insert made of corrugated cardboard, i.e. an alternative to Styrofoam. Hooray!

Let's encourage our favorite products to make their packaging as green as our packages. Net net, let's turn those Styrofoam S's into Biodegradable B's or Cornstarch C's. Let's turn our Styro into Enviro. It's a race to see who can make the best "Envirofoam" first.

Going Big for Species

It is time to go big for our local endangered species. Go Big Year to be exact, or go extinct. It turns out that the San Francisco Bay Area's Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is home to more endangered species than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Park combined. That is a lot of life that needs protecting!

Enter the GGNRA Endangered Species Big Year Competition launched this weekend by my friend Brent Plater, a biodiversity crusader in a suit. See all 33 endangered species in 2008 and win a big prize. There are 11 plants, 6 birds, 3 butterflies, 6 fish, 4 mammals, one frog, one snake and one crustacean (a shrimp).

The Brown Pelican is on the list, one of my favorite birds on the planet. So graceful, powerful, and mysterious. The Steller Sea Lion is pretty stellar, the Northern Spotted Owl is wisely cool, and the Mission Blue Butterfly is a beauty. See the full list of 33 species and help them recover.

Check off creatures on your list during one of the free group exploration trips or venture out on your own. Not content to be a species counter and voyeur? Take action too. There are 33 conservation actions available, one for every species, including habitat restoration, walking more in lieu of driving, switching to green cleaning products, and the always-fun weed pulling.

Want to go big for our local threatened plants and animals?  You can sign up for the contest here and also make a donation via Nature In The City in the name of Big Year. The rain has stopped for now. The California Red-Legged Frog is my first target. I'll race you to the trail.  www.ggnrabigyear.org

Gorgeous & Green Party Scene

I want to thank all of the people who made the 2007 Gorgeous & Green Party possible and the best one yet. The organic cocktails flowed, the green LED lights flickered, the eco-fashion show runway glistened, and the super star crowd partied for the planet in high eco style. It was truly a glamorous and green night with 700 plus guests in attendance and over $350,000 raised for Global Green and its green schools program, green affordable housing, solar fund, and the green rebuilding of New Orleans.

Who Was There:
The eco-minded celebrity guests included singer Michelle Branch, Sex & The City star Jason Lewis, Mayor Gavin Newsom, Jennifer Siebel, supermodel Josie Maran, Third Eye Blind singer Stephan Jenkins, Nick Graham of Joe Boxer fame, pro-surfer Gary Linden, actors KaDee Strickland & Jason Behr, actress Q’orianka Kilcher (pictured above) from The New World, Ecofabulous founder and fellow co-chair Zem Joaquin, Shaklee CEO Roger Barnett, Global Green President Matt Petersen, and a host of cleantech, Internet company, and green design VIPs. My hat is off to the amazing Cross Marketing and Claudia Ross who led the busy Press Room.

The evening began with an exceptional Patron’s Dinner for 100 guests who feasted on the mouth-watering sustainable cuisine of Michelin 2-star chef Joseph Humphrey. Joe will be presiding over the new Cavallo Point resort in Sausalito, which promises to become the Post Ranch Inn of the North Bay. Cooking classes at Murray Circle will be hard to resist in 2008. 

The nicest celebrity chef I have ever met, Joe pulled out all the stops and prepared a gourmet dinner featuring a delectable seasonal persimmon carpaccio, organic produce from the local Greenleaf, and a filet of grass-fed beef from Marin Sun Farms. I can hear you now. Beef? What? We wanted to serve all-natural, local grass-fed beef to show that the eco-conscious can have their meat and eat it too. Marin Sun Farms raises its cows responsibly in local pastures in the rolling grasslands of the Point Reyes National Seashore. Unlike conventionally raised cattle, grass-fed beef offers healthier and enhanced flavor, a far lower carbon footprint, and a more humane approach. Patrons quenched their thirst with the biodynamic varietals of Santa Barbara’s Beckmen Vineyards including a 2005 Purisima Mountain Vineyard Le Bec Blanc and a 2005 Beckmen Vineyards Estate Syrah from the Santa Ynez Valley.

The very talented singer Michelle Branch from Nashville (carbon offset flight) mesmerized the crowd early on. She sang her best-known songs including All I Wanted and Are You Happy Now, followed by an encore after a rousing standing ovation. She and her acoustic guitar were a true gift. I will admit that I am now addicted to listening to Michelle Branch videos on YouTube.

The intimate dinner room enveloped by marble columns was breathtakingly beautiful thanks to the creative and sustainable design talents of Sillapere. Black and white swirled eco-friendly wallpaper from Graham & Brown peeked through the glass tabletops, complemented by intricate organic flower centerpieces. The effect was stunning, and only pictures can do it justice.

At 7:30 pm, the green glitterati began arriving for the rocking cocktail party in the Bently Reserve’s main hall. The new Organic Beverage Alliance made its highly-anticipated debut with the best lineup of organic beverages around: Organic Vintners wines, Square One Organic Vodka cocktails, Butte Creek beer, Mateveza yerba mate ale, Sambazon acai juice, Guayaki yerba mate, exquisite flowering Numi teas, and wake-me-up fair trade Thanksgiving Coffees. The new green-certified bar masters and mixologists from Cocktail Ambassadors and Elixir made sure the ginger cocktails did not miss a beat.

Tequila eco-lovers got their fix thanks to El Duende de Don Felipe who poured organic ultra premium 100% agave tequilas, including their exclusive tequila liquor and creme liquor. The creme is amazing.

At the edge of the VIP Lounge, Veev Acai Spirit mixed up Eco-Mojitos infused with the superfruit acai, pear, cherry and a twist of charity to the Amazon rainforest. In the VIP Lounge, Iron Horse Vineyards served flutes of its delicious Russian Cuvee sparkling wine. This bubbly was remarkably poured at the historic Mikhail Gorbachev Summit Meetings that ultimately led to the end of cold war. Gorbachev is coincidentally the founder of Green Cross International, the international arm of Global Green.

One cannot live on organic cocktails alone, so guests enjoyed an ecornucopia of sumptuous organic foods from the outstanding Roots Restaurant at the green Orchard Garden Hotel, Lettus Cafe Organic, and executive chef Andrew Swallow from Mixt Greens. I personally love Mixt Greens for their organic goodies and uber-green operations (green building and compostable everything - eat your spoon, maybe), and rumor has it they are opening in Los Angeles soon.

Chocolate was flowing amidst organic strawberries thanks to San Francisco Chocolate Fountain, and I am happy to report that nobody jumped in. Three Twins Organic Ice Cream delighted our sweet teeth with their creamy all-organic ice cream, and guests vied to win the fashionable oversized box of Rococo Chocolates from MissDels. The super-green Clif Bar came to the rescue of the ravenous with their all-organic Clif Nectar bars. 

One of my favorite local musicians, Chris Clouse performed two of his popular songs for the enthusiastic crowd. Call me high on trees, but I think that Chris Clouse is right up there with Bono and Coldplay. His album Chimera is brilliant, and his songs Walk Away, Lay It On Me, If I Were The Sun, and Gravity are masterpieces. I’ve probably listened to them 500 times and never tire of their purposeful and soulful melodies. Chris, I hope you make it big and end up on the Grammy stage.

The Gifting Suite was a popular party spot for goodies. Guests made their own eco gift bag, requesting only what they needed and chatting with companies about their green assets.  The first stop was the new Rickshaw Bagworks ecofabulous organic cotton bag. Not your average canvas bag, it was designed with a gorgeous leaf and swirl pattern and could even make it through the door at Barneys. The SIGG water bottles were a huge hit, with party goers vying for their favorite pattern. No plastic water bottles were allowed into the building. Instead, guests took swigs of filtered water from their SIGGs all night. The plethora of Method cleaning products (going Cradle to Cradle in 08) caused corresponding ohs and ahs. The eco-inquisitive searched for all things green on TheFindGreen terminals, and the eco-beautiful coveted gifts from Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, my personal favorite natural skincare makeup line. In a special treat, Reproduct Cards distributed their cutting-edge recycled paper greetings cards that can be mailed back for repurposing as Shaw carpet backing, William McDonough Cradle To Cradle style.

Under the Eco-Spa canopy, Kamalapsa pampered revelers with ayurvedic oil massages and hair updos, all incorporating natural products from their Union Square spa oasis. At the bustling raffle stop, guests entered to win an IWC watch and a Vespa moto scooter, the eco-stylish way to scoot across town literally. Flashing on the big screen were images from Sebastian Copeland’s new epic photography book entitled Antarctica.

The hottest green furniture designer from LA, Robert Craymer, outfitted the Celebrity Lounge and Press Room with his one-of-a-kind, hip RC Green sofas, sectionals, cocktail tables, and more. Robert proves that a green loveseat can be cool and inspire romance. In a special treat, he brought Live Earth posters from his lounge at the mega concert. Catch Robert's green man self next on several TV shows and at Sundance.

People said it was impossible to outdo last year, but Sillapere did it. This miraculous sustainable event design firm once again rose to the challenge and created a stunning environment in the Bently Reserve that was truly gorgeous and green (and black and white and green). Salvaged architectural artifacts like marvelous ornamental wrought iron gates, statues, and even mermaids graced the hall, all from the local Artefact Design & Salvage. Antique furniture from Sarlo Wick, organic flowers, plant remnants, reincarnated votives, eco-green-carpet, non-toxic paints and a Marmoleum runway courtesy of Green Fusion Design Center, luxurious eco-fabrics from Wildflower Linen, sustainable woods, bamboo, boulders from Be Sweet, Xanita recycled panels covered with eco-wallpaper, and EcoSmart fireplaces from Marin Outdoor Living all added up to a resounding wow. Sillapere’s theme was Beauty Salvaged & Repurposed at its most Beautiful, and beautiful it was.

Putting the Green in Gorgeous & Green

It is important to me that the party is both glamorous and fun and very, very green. Here are some of the steps taken to help Gorgeous & Green tread lightly on the planet. The next generation carbon offset firm Climate Clean made the entire event Carbon Negative by 110% by offsetting 6 greenhouse gases from the party’s energy, transportation, and deliveries. I contracted with San Francisco’s Community Housing Partnership (CHP) to hire their outstanding people who are recycling and composting gurus from above. No greening job is too daunting. At midnight and the next day, the team was still going strong ensuring that items were either returned to their owners for reuse, recycled in the blue bins, or composted in the green bins.

Glasses, plates, and silverware were rented from and returned to the green-minded Classic Party Rentals. For the restaurant food stations, the green superstore GreenHome.com provided their invaluable biodegradable plates, biodegradable forks, compostable cups, BioBags (no plastic bags), and recycled paper napkins. SIGG bottles and a water filtration system from the Spring Store were employed to avoid the dreaded plastic water bottles. Programs were printed on 100% recycled paper with soy inks. Party invitations were electronic and gorgeous thanks to the Alyssa Warnock Design Studio. Vendors were asked to forgo excess brochures, and all materials were requested to be printed on recycled paper. On a side note, let’s make recycled paper with a high % of post-consumer content the new CFL in 2008.

Goodbye to foam core signs and hello to the awe-inspiring Priority Architectural Graphics. They printed beautiful party signs and wall panels on Xanita recycled and recyclable kraft-based board using VOC-free and wax-free inks that could all go in the blue bin at the end of the evening. Now that is off the hook.

Celebrities were transported in black Prius cars courtesy of the PlanetTran hybrid car service. Please don’t throw an organic tomato at us - the one private jet was carbon offset in the highest quality way by MMA Renewable Ventures’ local solar energy projects.

Let’s get real. It wasn’t perfect. One vendor, who shall remain nameless, showed up with a truckload of plastic containers the size of Mount Everest. They had to go home unfortunately, as that would have decimated our zero waste aspirations from the outset. Most plastic containers and plastic party cups, despite their deceptive recycling symbol on the bottom, are NOT recyclable in San Francisco’s facilities. All the more reason to switch to glassware or non-GMO compostable cups in the New Year. Party on.

A googol of thanks to the generous sponsors of Gorgeous & Green:
Gold: Google, PG&E, Passport Resorts, Cavallo Point, Don Marco Tequila
Gold Decor: Sillapere
Gold Food: Rabobank sustainability-oriented banking
Silver: Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, Bently Reserve, Artefact Design & Salvage
Green Circle: Ugobe Pleo, Sole Technology, ecofabulous, Heart of Green, Vespa, International Watch Company, Method, Clean Solar, Energy Innovations

The After Party went down at the super cool, not-open-yet club Apartment 24 located at 440 Broadway of prior Dolce fame. I predict smashing success for owner Peter Scully given the jumping scene on the Apartment 24 dance floor after Gorgeous & Green.

DJ Donovan got the crowd going strong with his sexy beats and then kicked it up two more notches for the Gorgeous & Green Eco-Fashion Show. The runway featured the top eco-fashion designers blending high style with sustainability. Eco-fashion advances the health of both the environment and the fashionistas who wear it. We are talking no pesticides, no formaldehyde dyes, and no sweatshops here. Producers Lily Achatz and Clarissa Nicosia scoured the globe for the designers who inspired us all with their master craftsmanship of bamboo, organic cotton, organic wool, reincarnated fabrics, sustainable silks, hemp satins, natural dyes, and even Goodwill vintage finds. Unlike last year’s couture gowns, most of the looks were ready to wear and available online or at eco boutiques like Eco Citizen, Kaight, and Wildlife Works. Hair was provided by the local diPietro Todd, and eco-makeup was applied by Iredale Mineral Cosmetics. A huge thank you to Stars Model Management for the striking models who strutted down the runway with professionalism, power, and grace.

Speaking of fashion, a special shout out to Torso Vintages, the high end vintage store in Union Square in San Francisco that was the source of my vintage green and gold gown, seen here glowing next to actor Jason Lewis. Thank you Torso and also SFBayStyle for the photo. Vintage is the ultimate eco.

By popular request, here is the full rundown of the sizzling Eco-Fashion Show.

Bahar Shahpar: 1. Supermodel Josie Maran in a crowd-pleasing Bahar Shahpar red and white candy stripe plunge cocktail dress in 100% silk crepe de chine made from designer surplus. 2. Colorful poppy print sweetheart house dress in 100% textured crepe de chine silk made from designer surplus (pictured below).

3. Bahar Shahpar Kaleidoscope print balloon blouse in 100% silk georgette made from designer surplus. Slate cropped vest and wide leg trousers in 50% organic cotton and 50% tencel yarn-dye poplin. 4. Gold pleated swing dress with pockets in 100% linen made from designer surplus.

Kelly B. Couture: 5. Lauren Wrap dress in sky blue made of 100% bamboo jersey. 6. Anna A-line pintuck dress in onyx black made of 100% bamboo jersey. 7. Caitlin Cropped Coat in fern green made of 100% organic cotton French terry.

Lara Miller: 8. Shay dress in onyx with soy jersey bodice made of soy and organic cotton. 9. Sylvia blouse dress in onyx with white hand-loomed knit in 100% bamboo. 10. Cream Erin dress made of a soy jersey body with 100% silk organza overlay.

Margaret O'Leary and Del Forte Denim: 11. Del Forte white Willow Trouser high-rise wide leg jean in 99% organic cotton. Lara Miller cream soy jersey Eileen blouse made of soy and organic cotton. 12. Margaret O'Leary cashmere floral jacquard dress knit with recycled renewable 100% cashmere. Paired with the Margaret O'Leary Rose Leaf scarf knit with 100% natural, vegetable-dyed cashmere. 13. Margaret O'Leary Hidden Stripe Hoodie knit with a recycled cotton blend produced from the scraps of 100% virgin cotton fabrics. Del Forte Denim Camillia high rise button front pencil skirt in100% organic cotton.

Eco Citizen Boutique: 14. Turk+Taylor zip sailor dress made of wool, hemp, and lyocell. 15. Kelly B. black keyhole turtleneck made of bamboo, paired with CIEL Bardot shorts in black satin/hemp and a Laura Wood necklace. 16. Sara Shepherd Elizabeth dress with curved seaming and a light grey top stitch made of soy bamboo with reclaimed white silk chiffon accents.

William Good: 17. Recycled gray wool cardigan and wool plaid skirt with chick appliqué. 18. A feminine take on a masculine garment, a white tuxedo shirt dress re-created from a recycled tuxedo shirt. 19. Belle seascape gown created from post-retail reincarnated materials using a myriad of fabrics, including silk charmeuse, velvet and wire. 

Cari Borja: 20. Burgundy fleece double layered hoodie empire coat with brown fleece appliqué detail made from recycled plastic bottles. 21. Umber striped linen and hemp Edwardian polonaise jacket and bell pant, with taupe and off-white tulle ruffle top, crafted using scraps of last season's designer fabric. 22. Deep sienna striped golfing gown in linen and hemp.

Linda Loudermilk Luxury Eco: 23. Bafin & Busel Jacket with Niuk pant in Paper Wool. Woven with soft premium wool, this ultra smooth fiber made from rice paper wicks away moisture and acts as a natural freshener. 24. Chalker Jacket and Chameleon Pant in Ingeo, a fiber created from corn and converted into the new PLA biopolymer which is made into yarns and fabrics. 25. Winter Dress in Hemp Silk (pictured on right), which is grown without fertilizer or pesticides and can be transformed into a lightweight, uniquely-textured elegant fabric when combined with silk.

Photos:  See all of the Runway Photos here from the fashion show.

Shoes & Jewelry: The models donned elegant animal-free vegan stilettos handmade in Italy by Charmone shoes. Necklaces by Amber Marie Bently and Kirsten Muenster accented the looks with sparkling eco jewels.

In true confessions, the tux from the upcoming PAS Collection (Pierre Andre Senizergues) made from recycled cashmere, repurposed audio tape, and a black bag bow tie arrived one day late, so stay tuned for next year!

Global Green USA: The $350,000+ was raised for the nonprofit Global Green. Based in Los Angeles, Global Green was the first to send celebrities to the Oscars in Prius cars in their Green Cars Red Carpet campaign, back in the day. In conjunction with Brad Pitt, Global Green is building the first zero-energy house as part of its green rebuilding of New Orleans. Global Green is also advancing the Green Schools Initiative and completing SOLARA, California’s first 100% solar-powered apartment community. On the advocacy front, Global Green will be continuing its efforts for the landmark carbon neutral building standard bill in Sacramento. At the international level led by Mikhail Gorbachev, Green Cross supports the dismantling of weapons and the provision of clean safe drinking water.

Pictures: To see the green party scene, please visit the photos by Drew Altizer. More pictures and press links are available here:

7x7 Social Studies

SFBayStyle Gorgeous & Green Celebration posted by Sarah Granger

TV20 Your Green Life Video Clips

Ecorazzi Gorgeous & Glamorously Green

San Francisco Sentinel Articles

San Francisco Chronicle Carbon Neutral Benefit for Global Green

Until next year...be green and glamorous!