June 2009 - Courier Times - “She’s more than a model with a cause”
She’s been dubbed “The Eco-Model” but Summer Rayne Oakes is much more than just a pretty face.
Oakes has been compared to environmental activist Al Gore, and will speak at the second annual Greenfest this weekend at Brisbane’s City Botanic Garderns. “I don’t necessarily just call myself a model, because it diminishes the point of what I’m trying to bring across,” she said.
“I hated the term [Eco-Model] first because you want people to take you seriously and my background is in environmental science and sustainable development.
Oakes will only work with environmentally- and socially-relevant companies, designers and programs, which often use her [not only as a model/spokesperson] but also as a sustainability strategist.
“I didn’t want people to reduce it to ‘Oh she just wears eco-clothes,’ because that’s not what it is all about,” Oakes said.
The American model also hosts shows on Discovery Channel’s, Planet Green network, and is now the sustainability strategist and face of a U.S. shoe brand that launched a line of more sustainable shoes [zoe&zac].
“It’s not as if I’m going on casting calls like most girls do,” she said.
“It’s oftentimes speaking with the CEOs, Presidents or founders of companies on a business level.”
Oakes says the environment is her passion.
“The environment defines my work and is who I am,” she said. “I’m happy I’ve been able to trailblaze a new career.”
I’ve taken so many videos over the last few weeks - blue jean factories and shoe manufacturing in China; environmentally-responsible print shops and cool eco-boutiques in Sydney; photo shoots in Brisbane…got a lot of editing and catching up to do is I guess what I’m saying, but in the interim, enjoy the nice little video compilation Coco Eco put together from our photo shoot and beyond.
And you can take a look at our full editorial here, compliments of photographer Courtney Dailey.
We kicked off the last (I think) book party in what better city than my ultimate fave: San Francisco, CA. We had about 150 guests pile in at the Jurlique store on Fillmore Street. It was a great venue - reclaimed hardwood floors and walls - and a definitive scent of rich, woody biodynamic body lotions and oils. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to have friends from all walks of life there - Cornell folks; Udall alums; old BFs (yikes!); Greenies; Fashionistas + Designers; tech folks (even though the latter group was mostly tied up at another event). We didn’t get to do the after-pool party at Max’s house until the night after…so sorry folks that the photos from the pool party didn’t make the cut ;o) (well, that is assuming that there were photos taken to begin with). Gustavo Fernandez was nice enough to find me via Twitter and offer his services to capture the evening’s affairs. Thanks Gustavo!
And thanks to all the sponsors. Shout out if I forgot anyone! Jurlique, Payless zoe&zac, Chronicle Books, 7×7 Magazine, Veev, Teira Wines, Honest Tea, Sellers, Pangea Organics, Duchess Marden, Rishi Teas, EcoTools, and probably some more that I happen to be missing.
Tom Van Dyck (RBC Dain) dropped by to celebrate.
Nadine Weil was a total rockstar and invited a bunch of folks to the book signing.
Jewelry designer Kirsten Muenster looking like an Earthen Goddess
Thanks to Jurlique for letting us use their space (and stay until 9:45!)
Veev: Acai guaranteed to get you shit-faced if you drink too much of it.
So I went back home to PA recently and my mother told me I could be “one of those body builder chicks” if I wanted to be. Nice. I mean look at those bulging biceps and back muscles. Push ups people. That’s all from pushups. Sheesh. Gotta hold off on those a little. Don’t want to start looking like the Incredible Hulk. God knows I’m “Green” enough.
Sapna and Charlotte (Udall Scholars)
I love Charlotte’s smile!
“Did you know that you can absorb up to 60% of what you apply on your body?”
Why does it always look like I’m shushing people?
Chen on one side; Tom on the other.
Bret, Andrew (fellow Udallers) and David (fellow climate activist)!
Elisa Reed, Becca Guthrie, Teresa Gonzalez, and Janice Heley
Wendi Goad (Spring Home) and Margo Haney
Sapna Thottathil and Charlotte Ely - fellow Udall Scholars.
Lynda Grose and her daughter Daniella Silva
Amy Darland, Kirsten Muenster and I.
Susan Jones, Jessica Jackson, Jonathan Schrambroom, and Billy Sind
Teri Shaw, Shirley Shook, and Nadine Weil
Gotta love Honest Tea!
Kenlynn Wilson and her daughter
Parmeeta and Raj Ghorman (Examiner)
Shirley Hornstein and Adriana Ameri
Robert Stricker and Daniella Silva strike a pose
Whitney Patterson and Tisas Pickering
“Oh girls, it was THIS big.”
I think my dress that I got at No. 6 is a bit blinding, no?
Nelly Barrios, Cindy Vo and Joana Mendoza
Kirsten Muenster, Andrea Shelly, Sara Goulder and Deidra Aldman
Joseph Ternes, Kirsten Muenster, Nadine Weil and Joel Makower
Laughing at Stan from Pacific Shave Company. He was chatting how thick my book is. I told him I made sure it could be used as a weapon…you know, just in case. You never know these days!
Avital Binshstock and Alana Fields. She looks surprised, doesn’t she?
Joel Makower totally surprised me and jetted from his plane right over to the party. SO nice to see him.
Lovely back-of-dress detailing
SJR Curmudgeons
Kristina Robinson and Allison Zhang
Angie Kim, Garrison Cohen, and Maggie Kim. Aren’t they so precious?
My guns are striking fear in Nick Chen’s eyes
A family of Strickers. Sweet sneaks Gabe!
The lovely Nadine.
Heidi Pettit and Rowena Ritchie
My two little fairy princesses + Jon Harriman in the background
There I am “shushing” Linda again
Ted Serbinski, Jon Harriman, Andrew Lee, and Raymond Rouf
Casey Larkin, Matt Birdseye, Peter Shanley and Pauline Montupet
Emily Eberhardt (who invited a bunch of peeps) including Erin Turner and Victor Torres
Ahh, me and Gustavo!
A little behind the scenes at View from the Bay and the party, compliments of Chronicle
Brains, beauty and a cause are quite the triple threat.
Summer Rayne Oakes, widely considered the world’s first eco-model, has broadened the environmental movement using her striking image as the hook to draw people to her cause.
“Many people still think environmental activism looks like Birkenstocks and hemp sacks and you want to fly in the face of that,” Oakes told 24 hours from Brooklyn, NY. “Fashion in many forms is an artistic impression. I like doing images that are thought provoking and 99.9 per cent of the time the clothes that I’m wearing are more sustainable.”
Oakes, an environmental sciences graduate of ivy-league Cornell University, established a consulting firm, which works largely with socially or environmentally relevant clients.
“A lot of times people will say, ‘We need a pretty face for a brand but we also need somebody to help us along the way,’” she said. “In a lot of ways it’s a two for one deal because my expertise is in this space.”
Major fashion labels are following Oakes’ lead.
“Mainstream trending towards sustainable fashions shows that it’s permeating the cultural swerve. But, a lot of times, the envelope is being pushed through independent designers who are incorporating more fair trade elements.”
Sapna and Charlotte (Udall Scholars)
