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JOLIE, a German magazine knocks it out of the ballpark with their green issue and highlights my career focused on values-based modeling (Nov 08 issue), which the Germans really seem to appreciate- (perhaps I’ll need to travel out there come 2009-and visit family while I’m there). Seen here, a photo by Seth Karecha. I’m wearing Levi’s ECO and Ombre Claire jewelry. Click here to learn about the tales behind the jewelry pieces.
Chatting it up with Alex Melmid, founder of the Elephant Art Project. (Dress by Carasan)
We had 300 RSVPS for the Elephant Art trunk show at HOME/Guest House this past Friday. The trunk show and auction served as a fundraiser to purchase land so the elephants could roam freely and safely. Elephants in Asia are almost all domesticated and are either mistreated or neglected. Elephant Art is a rehabilitation program, in which they teach elephants to paint (sort of like art therapy). The paintings are then sold to help rehabilitate the domesticated elephants and conserve the wild ones. Ingenious. At this fundraiser, elephants teamed up with eco-designers to create one-of-a-kind pieces painted by the elephants. Yes, this is all for real! The crowd was young and gregarious; the show was practically on-time; the company was great; and I walked away with one of the dresses I wanted!
Outside Elephant Art (Getty Images)
Lauren and I outside Elephant Art event at HOME/Guest House
I forget what this instrument is called, but it’s tre cool.
An Elephant paints
I meet Jeff Garner from Prophetik before the show.
Vote Elephant.
An Elephant Art painting hangs on the wall
Makeup artist behind-the-scenes at Elephant Art
“I vant to do you hair.” The hair stylist extraordinaire.
Behind-the-scenes with the mods
David introduces the Elephant Art movie.
Andrew Bicknell captures a smile from the front row.
First look of the night: A Dayna Hall purple thai silk dress painted by the elephant, Noppakhao.
I got this natural organic silk charmeuse spaghetti strap cocktail dress designed by Prophetik and painted by Ging Gaow.
I was outbid on this dress by Velvet Leaf Designs and splatter painted by elephant, Ging Gaow
On stage with Lauren and David after the runway show.
“Thanks for coming!”
Alex chats it up with the models after the Elephant Art trunk show.
Models pose with Lauren Bush (Founder of Feed Bags) after the show.
I know it’s hard to believe, but all these eco-fashion dresses were “trunk-painted” by elephants and designed by a number of eco-fashion designers.
Hand-made guitar painted by elephant
The ambiance at Elephant Art trunk show at HOME/Guest House
I first covered Elephant Art on Treehugger’s gift guide. A friend of another Udall Scholar that I knew (Matt MacMahon) named Serge noticed me in the subway and passed on David’s Elephant Art card. He encouraged me to take a look at the organization. A month went by before I pulled out the card. I reached out to David to touch base with him about his organization; covered the organization for Treehugger/Discovery Networks; and the rest is history. Watch elephants actually paint and find out more about the rehabilitation and conservation efforts of Elephant Art.
As expected, we’re seeing a lot of energy on the eco-fashion front. More shows, more events, and even more awards for eco-designers. Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation is giving out an award for sustainability as well as London’s RE:Fashion Award on the other side of the pond. Check out the event highlights below. I’ll be at some of them and in some of them, but I have work to do in Mozambique smack-dab in the middle of many of the events, so unfortunately I’ll have to miss a few.
See any events that I may have not posted? Include it in the comments section.
September 4th
AVEDA Caps Recycling Program – Rodarte, Preen, 3.1 Philip Lim, and Alexander Wang are greening it up backstage. This is the kick-it-off cocktail party. Good event to connect with friends.
BeEcoChic – Stars are out to prove something – that environment is fashionable. Good star sighting at the show, pieces are one-of-a-kind.
September 5th-8th
PRÊT À PORTER PARIS®, a premier fashion event for the latest innovations in textiles and design will be center stage in Paris. Over the last couple years they have been increasingly adding “green” to their showcases. Hey, when designers ask, PRÊT listens.
September 6th
Alexander Wang after-party…Beautiful people in a beautiful setting. Try as you might, you may only can get in if you know someone on the inside.
September 7th
Hess-Natur and Miguel Adrover show – Miguel says he is “bored of the runway,” so he’ll be providing a mixed showcase that is guaranteed to pique some curiosity.
September 9th
Eko-lab and Ekovaruhuset present their highly-meticulous handmade creations. A must-see for people who appreciate beautiful, feminine designs. 3p-6p, The Gabarron Foundation, Carriage House Center for the Arts, 149 E 38th Street, NY, NY (Lexington and 3rd Ave.)
September 12th
The ever-lovely and ever-eccentric Elisa Jimenez from the acclaimed Project Runway will be presenting her Summer 09 “Urban Nomads” Collection – totally on par with this season’s looks. 9PM at the Country Club (b/t 7th and 8th Avenues).
September 13-15
Designers & Agents is at it again: Check out their New York gathering and the fresh green labels they represent.
September 14-19
London Fashion Week shows off Esthetica in it’s fifth season. Peruse the exhibition for the latest eco-desingers.
September 26
Washington, D.C. will get a little more fashionable and it won’t be because of Michelle Obama. Fashion Fights Poverty will be staging their runway show at the St. Regis Hotel.
September (TBD)
Eco-fashion Brazil is a new show discovering talented eco-fashion designers so if you’re in South America, stop on by.
October 9-12th
The Ethical Fashion Show is in its fifth year running in Paris and is slated to have the same great designers from all corners of the globe.
October 17th
Elephant Art “Trunk Show” at Home/Guest House will be a fun, cordial show with one-of-kind designer pieces created by eco-friendly designers and painted on by elephant “artists.”
October 17-19th
Designers & Agents will be taking La La Land by storm with some fresh green designers and a good ol’ green after party on the 18th.
I had some thoughts on strengthening green events and fashion shows. Fashion shows are fun, but they are fairly costly undertakings and we need to have some foresight on how to push the movement forward by leaps and bounds, not through a slow crawl. Check out my Top 5 Tips to Lean, Mean, Green Events here and weigh in with your thoughts.