Posts Tagged ‘Cornell University’

People who have made a difference in my life

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

It is often the people who are closest to us that get thanked the least. Maybe because we always feel that they’re “there for us” or at least present in our spirits. Many of those people are on my mind tonight…a build-up of reflective thought over the last few months. I’d like to acknowledge some of those people here, in a public space and on my personal blog – because perhaps it will make you reflect upon those that are important to you.

This is just a small snapshot of individuals who are near and dear to my heart – people who I have shared many laughs, smiles and personal thoughts with. There are many more that are yet unnamed but I will eventually share.  All of the people below have inspired me, supported my passion and encouraged me in my daily life and work, which is the most priceless gift any one can ever offer a person. Thank you. 

Tom Eisner: For always inspiring me with his words and vision, encouraging me to dance to my own drummer and never letting me forget why I love nature. 

My grandfather: For teaching me that you should never lose your sense of humor no matter what you go through.

Barbara Bedford: For teaching me to be a strong woman with conviction and for allowing me to truly spread my wings.

Cole Gilbert: For allowing me to know it’s O.K. to get excited about little things: Like a bug with a bubble on it’s butt – and to dive right in when you find one! Oh yes, and that some people can make Hawaiian shirts look good.

Tom Gavin: For always teaching me that it’s important to have light, love and laughter in all that you do.

The fashion press is not making sustainable style clear.

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
I had a chance this past April to swing by the Cornell Textiles & Fashion School and give a talk on sustainable fashion. Students are a good gauge as to how information is being dispersed and what effect it is having because they are more informed than the average person, but the information is obtained in drastically different ways.
How did they read sustainability in the press?

Answer: As a trend.

It wasn’t clear for the majority of them that “sustainability” was something that would be here season-to-season. They commented that how it is written about in the press makes it “feel” like a trend, more than something that is here to stay.

There you have it journalists: Now you got to start addressing the fact that this is a valid movement in the textiles and apparel industry.

For the fashionistas: I’m wearing AOI, which is a recycled kimono double-cuff jacket with an organic cotton “LOVE” tee by Katharine Hamnett .

Summer Rayne Oakes to speak in Ithaca, NY for Earth Day

Thursday, April 19th, 2007

For Immediate Release
April 19, 2007
Contact: Wendy Skinner, 607-277-7611; cell 607-229-0919

Ithaca, NY

Fashion Model Talks about Earth-Friendly Choices

New York City-based fashion model Summer Rayne Oakes will speak at the Tompkins County Public Library at noon on Saturday, April 21, about the importance of earth-friendly fashion. Oakes, a graduate of Cornell University, has taken the fashion track in a radically different direction. She is not only a glamorous model, she is an educator, spokesperson, TV host, and eco-fashion entrepreneur. Oakes frequently speaks on college campuses and she has designed a K-12 curriculum that introduces sustainability concepts into traditional subjects. Her career has been noted in numerous print and broadcast media, including Vanity Fair, Outside Magazine, E magazine, NPR and CNN.Born in the spent coal country of northeastern Pennsylvania, Oakes took an early interest in the environment. At 13, she was the youngest member to serve on her town’s environmental advisory council, and she helped reclaim land at old mining sites. Her leadership continued at college, where she researched and published several papers on natural resources. While at Cornell, Oakes became interested in the fashion world as a way to network and influence change.

To accompany her talk, titled “What is Eco-Fashion?,” Oakes will display examples of earth-friendly fashion and she will be available for a question-and-answer session. From 11 am to noon, a community fabric swap will be held at the library for sewing enthusiasts, crafters, quilters, or anyone who works with cloth and fibers. Items to exchange must be clean and folded. The talk and the fabric swap are free and open to all. For more information, contact Wendy Skinner, 607-277-7611, ws (at) twcny.rr.com.