Feelgood Style

Shown above and below is a little inspiration from the following features in the new February issue of Coco Eco:

1. On page 16 there’s a spread on Libertine recycled clothing. It’s fierce, and concludes with a fantastic interview with the designer Johnson Hartig through page 29.

2. Check out Coco Eco’s Guide to Sydney, Australia on page 79 too.

3. Turn to page 105 and learn more about how the latest Opportunity Green event went. Read the rest of this entry »

What a great new earth-friendly and stylish product!

Introducing FLOAA Dish-sposables made from sugarcane. Yet it’s not just the material that’s eco-inventive, but the design. The bowl’s cavity catches the excess incase you happen to pour too much food or water in it. Perfect to prevent messes, especially for travelers. They’re stack-able and reusable too. Read the rest of this entry »

When challenged recently with the question of where to stay in Vancouver for the Winter Olympics, only one choice qualified as “comfortably green” – The Pacific Palisades Hotel on Robson Street.

The property’s yellow high-rise perches just a couple blocks off the beaten path but still nestled in downtown and close enough to walk to the Convention Center and other downtown Vancouver landmarks, says Lydia Miller, the property’s Director of Sales and Marketing.

The hotel recently reverted back to independent ownership after doing a stint as a Kimpton property. That was when it earned its Green Keys Award – a rating of 4 out of 5 – and as an independent boutique hotel, it offers many of the same services and amenities as four and five Diamond properties. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you planning a wedding in Michigan and you are hoping your big day will be a shade of green?

Then look no further than the Traverse City area which boasts beautiful resorts, wineries, and bed and breakfasts-many that have gone green. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you interior designers learned about the USBGC Suite Design Competition? This is not only for professionals, but students as well. And it’s global!

Beware the entry deadline is fast approaching on August 31st, 2009 and judging will be completed by October 1st, 2009. The competition is sponsored by USGBC, The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), and The Hospitality Industry Network (NEWH). Read the rest of this entry »

Urban environments beg for a breather – especially when summer rolls around. This holds true even for urban seascapes such as L.A., our country’s second largest city and known for its metropolitan sprawl. Thanks in part to Guru Energy Drink, a recent sponsor of Greening Hollywood, and Whole Food’s most popular energy drink, I was able to invite a couple of friends to join me day tripping up to a nature estate in Ojai.
Not too long ago, I befriended a fashion designer specialized in sustainable leather goods – one who makes chrome-free leather boots, jewelry and accessories. Her name is Calleen Cordero and she has a following both in L.A. and internationally, in cities like Berlin. Her pieces are       [Pictured: Main House at Calliote]

fashionable, infused with quality craftsmanship and it’s only after the fact that one realizes their environmental aspect.

While speaking with her initially, however, we found ourselves on the subject of Ojai and the Ojai Foundation which has been teaching the arts of permaculture and sustainability back when these were “fringe” paths pursued by the hippie-culture. Ojai is the small “art town,” set back in the hills off the 101, between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. These days The Ojai Foundation is focused on “Council” a program they have been taking out to area schools in the local and surrounding counties.  What is “Council?” Read the rest of this entry »

Funny what turns me on and this one hits the spot! It’s a biodegradable shower cap that can be used again, composted, or thrown straight to the trash. Guilt free is the key emotion here. Read the rest of this entry »

The Sea Spa at Santa Monica’s Casa Del Mar encourages a regimen of wellness for the everyday traveler.

These hoteliers have given it some considerable thought and arrived at their  modern philosophy that, even though you’re a traveler, even though you’re away from home, you needn’t sacrifice your sense of well being nor suffer a disruption in your wellness regime.

“The owners of the hotel have me here as a liaison to help people remember how to take care of themselves,” Amber McMahon, Casa Del Mar’s Wellness Director, informs me.  She adds that the Sea Spa fully integrates the mind, body, spirit approach to wellness and services catering to all of these wellness needs are offered in their spa menu. Read the rest of this entry »

Spring Break, Summer Vacation…time to travel, but what do you do if you get motion sickness? Psi Bands offer drug-free relief from nausea with stylish reusable bands.

Psi Bands (pronounced sigh bands) are acupressure bands that can help relieve nausea by putting pressure on the Nei-kuan pressure point on the wrist which will alleviate the symptoms of nausea-without drugs. Read the rest of this entry »

Environmentally-Friendly Car Service is the New Black

A new Parisian company called Verture would like you to take a green turn away from your standard taxi service. If you’re tired of uncourteous service, an invasive musical environment, torn seats and an overwhelming sense of guilt for the 3.5 minutes you just stood still in bumper-to-bumper traffic, then Venture is for you.

Venture’s fleet of all black hybrid electric/gas Toyota Prius offer similar prices to regular taxi fare, without the regular hassles. Flat screens, TV’s, DVD players, IPod hook-ups, a laptop with Internet access, a baby seat and a universal battery for recharging your must-haves are just a few of the accoutrements that Venture has to offer. And how ’bout those carbon neutral journeys? The Toyota Prius emits 1/2 the carbon dioxide of a regular car, and Venture works with Climat Mundi to offset the miniscule amounts of carbon dioxide that do manage to slip out to fund international eco-projects.  Read the rest of this entry »