I’m a denim girl - plain and simple. Maybe it has something to do with being raised in the United States, where denim is as closely connected to national pride as baseball and barbeques. The source of my love for jeans is not important however, but finding just the right pair is. Considering the hundreds of denim brands (both eco and non-eco-friendly) on the market, it is clear that I am not the only one trying to find just the right pair of blues.

A few months back, I saw a collection of magazines featuring high-waisted jeans. Some of those I know were disgusted by the “trend”, saying they looked like granny pants. For me, this is one of my all-time favorite styles, harking back to the epitome of American culture - the 1950s. Also, like wearing a corset, having the waistband up around your natural waist (instead of hovering just about your crotch) gives a woman a certain kind of confidence that you can’t fake.

Imagine my delight when I found out that one of the best organic cotton denim collections, Del Forte, would be releasing a high-waisted jean for Spring 2007, called “Ivy”. Green living magazine like Plenty featured the style months before it was to be released, making me salivate all the more. Finally, just this month, Beklina began selling these coveted pants on their website. Not one to hesistate, I snapped up a pair in size 30 (yes, I have big hips, learn to love it!) and stared at my mailbox.

Upon their arrival, I was greeted with an ever-so-sweet hand-written note, and I squeeled with joy as I removed the jeans from their packaging (all of it recyclable, by the way). Trying them on, that rush of confidence that I so enjoy filled me in record time. These pants go seamlessly from the office to the dinner table to an evening on the town. Though I am always tempted to wear them with sexy heels, my feet don’t fancy that, so my hemp Converse sneakers look quite snazzy as well.

So, what’s the moral of this story? You can be sexy, stylish, and green - all at the same time.

Image courtesy of Del Forte

As mentioned in a previous post, I went to the Loomstate Trunk Show earlier this month here in San Francisco. Unfortunately, I was too excited about getting to see lots of new eco styles that I didn’t take any pictures - I’m a dork. Nearly all of what was on sale can be seen in the Azalea online store or on Loomstate’s official site. Anyhoo, the woman that was there to represent the brand was quite nice and intelligent. We chatted a lot in between my boyfriend and I trying on clothes; turns out she used to work for Ecoganik (yet another green clothing brand I enjoy), which came up because I just happened to be wearing a shirt from them. She asked for my business card, so I hope I hear from here again in the future.

I completely spaced that a woman from REN skincare was supposed to be there, so I didn’t get a chance to partake in that part of the “show”. Tis all for the best because I would have likely ended up buying too much anyhow. After at least 30 minutes at the event, I bought myself two t-shirts and a pair of jeans, and my boyfriend a pair of chinos and a pair of jeans. We also both got a free reusable cotton bag, which has a nifty print of a dog surfing. Oodly enough, I’m wearing the new pair that I bought right now … oohhhh, organic (quite comfortable, I might add).

So, I dropped the ball a bit on this one due to no pictures and no video, but next time, I’ll pull out all the stops, so STAY TUNED!

Being featured eight times in the daily Most Huggable posts on TreeHugger.com is quite an honor in itself. Now, I can add some TH Blog Love to my list of accomplishments as well! My interview with “Design Futurist” Natalia Allen, posted on GroovyGreen.com, is featured in this week’s top five post.

Through no influence on my part, Twice Shy is featured in the latest (April 2007) issue of Yoga Journal Magazine. There are a number of great, green articles in this issue as well, so make sure to pick up a copy!

Co-founder and head designer of Twice Shy, Jen, is one of four finalists for a design competition in Whistler. The winner is chosen by an online vote, so click here and select “Twice Shy”! If the company wins, they’ll get to showcase their unique, organic cotton threads at the Ski and Snowboard Festival Fashion Show.

Voting ends Monday, March 26th, so make sure to show your support for sustainable style today!

Slopeside style is not just about rotational tricks. This high-octane runway performance translates the cuspiest cultural apparel into a showcase of signature moves. Joining 18 leading brands in urban-street and lifestyle wear is a West Coast wildcard entry – the BC winner of the Designer Search and Expose contest. An all-out sensory assault. Whistler is the place where mountain people express themselves through their threads, their turns and their taglines, so it’s the obvious Ground Zero for scoping the latest ski, snowboard, street and action wear for 2007/08.

Fashion EXPOSED revolution will explore an urban theme of “freedom of expression” and “power to the people” on your mountain, in your city & throughout the world. With undercurrents of anarchy, grassroots and rebellion Fashion EXPOSED is a movement for the people. Fashion, just like riding, is a way for people to express themselves, and Whistler is a place where people are exploring all the forms of self-expression. Make love not war, kiss don’t kill, It’s time to stand up and shout!

If so, you might want to grab a pad of paper and a pencil, because I’ve got an exciting contest opportunity for you! Azalea, a fashionable retailer here in San Francisco and online, is having a t-shirt design contest based around global warming.

Our intention is to spread knowledge of the environmental threats posed by global warming and to stimulate further action within our community. You are invited to submit up to three T-shirt designs that express your reaction to the effects and consequences of global warming and climate change. All interpretations of this concept are welcome. 5 designs will be chosen to be printed by Azalea in a limited edition run to be sold at our store and online. All of the proceeds from the T-shirt sales will be donated to a cause or organization acting against global warming. Each winning artist will have the opportunity to choose the recipient of their donation.

Please mail, drop off or email your entries to nyssa@azaleasf.com by midnight Sunday, April 1st, 2007. Winners will be notified by April 16th. All entries must be submitted as a viewable .pdf or as a physical T-shirt. FOUR COLOR MAXIMUM per shirt. A launch party unveiling the printed T-shirts will be held at Azalea Boutique on Friday, April 27th, 2007.

You’ve got less than three weeks to submit your designs, so get those creative juices flowing and help to change the world through art and fashion. You can be sure that I will be at the launch party; how about you?

Random note: I hope the t-shirts will be printed on organic cotton or bamboo with eco-friendly inks [hint hint].

Random note 02: A few weekends ago, Loomstate held a nice little trunk show at Azalea that I am still behind on writing about, so stay tuned for that!

I was starting to think the folks at TreeHugger had lost their love for me. Thankfully, the Huggs have returned! Featured today is my most recent post for GreenOptions.com, where I profile Mission Playground.

I’m a big fan of animation - you’ll find me choosing a cartoon over a show or movie with humans in it any day. Though I’m not certain where this distinct interest comes from, it probably has something to do with all those cartoons I watched with my dad when I was a kid, but I digress. Teaching children through cartoons is as old as the media itself. You’ve likely already heard of The Unsustainables from SustainLane.com, but there is a new set of characters on the web as of today: The Greens.

Just two days into the 2007 TED Conference, this new online animation for kids has been launched from the same program TED used to fund WorldChanging.com. Ed Burtynsky, infamous modern “landscape” photographer, came up with the idea for The Greens and teamed up with the folks at TED to make it all happen.

This broadband project comes from WGBH in Boston, the producer of TV shows like ZOOM, ARTHUR, & FETCH as well as Frontline, Antiques Roadshow & NOVA. But THE GREENS is not on TV. Kids can watch THE GREENS’ comedy cartoon adventures online and then find related games, news, downloads, a blog, action tips, links, and much more.

If that wasn’t enough credibility for this non-profit program to stand on, the Director of Education for Earthwatch Institute is the official Project Advisor, making sure all the info is accurate and educational. The Unsustainables is a cute show, but there is more than enough room for another eco-conscious cartoon to premiere on the web. I’m very much looking forward to future episodes of The Greens and I recommended that everyone check it out (whether you are a kid or not).

As 2007 rolls out we’re going to jump into a whole bunch of weird adventures. Each will launch us into ideas about green living and suggest action that YOU can take to make a difference. We’re starting later this month with FASHION.

Now THAT’S my kind of cartoon.

The exciting news just keeps rolling in! Just a few weeks ago, I was amped about getting my first writing piece accepted to a major magazine. This particular magazine just happened to be one of my all-time favorites, Yoga Journal. Not long after that, I was told by a woman who I did an interview with about the SF Craft Mafia (Caitlin) that she was working part-time at the magazine but had to leave her position. Her reason for doing so was a good one (she got a full-time job at the SFMOMA), and the magazine was looking for someone to take her place.

I think you probably see where this is going.

Yes, I will be working in the Yoga Journal Magazine offices for the next two months as the Interim Production Assistant. At first, they were just looking for someone to take Caitlin’s temp job, but since she left a week or two ago, the current Production Assistant (Elizabeth) was called away for a family emergency. Since Elizabeth won’t be back until May 1st, I’ll now be doing Caitlin’s previous temp job (which is mostly data entry) and Elizabeth’s job.

My interview for the position was today; I was hired on the spot and did a bit of intro work before I left around noon (all of which I got paid for). I also got introduced around the office and had a chance to meet the editor of my piece that got accepted to the magazine (July/August 2007 issue, by the way). The whole crew is fantastic and I know that this will be wonderful experience. Needless to say, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well and that there might be a full-time, salaried position open for me come the beginning of May.

Also, for all my fellow greenies out there, make sure to pick up a copy of the upcoming April 2007 issue of Yoga Journal; there are oodles of fantastic shorts and articles about green living!

Despite living in a big city with one of the best parks around (Golden Gate Park, thank you), San Francisco is still a big city - there’s no escaping that fact. One of my favorite aspects of this unique metropolis is that even though millions of people live in this seven-mile square of land, it doesn’t feel all that “packed”. I’ve visited many a-big city and even when you are in the business district of SF, it still doesn’t feel as congested as, say, New York City or Boston. Keep in mind that I am now comparing a West Coast city to East Coast cities, and that is just not fair - they are truly two separate worlds.

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of having my mother in town, visiting from Connecticut. It had been almost a year since I had seen here, so I was quite grateful for her company. Though the first few days of her trip were rainy, one day was impeccably clear. On this beautiful day, we decided to head to the previously mentioned Golden Gate Park; more specifically, to the Conservatory of Flowers. First opened in 1879, this is North America’s oldest existing public conservatory. It does not surprise me that such a unique place was treasured here in SF, and it makes me all the more proud to be here.

While roaming through their beautiful variety of plants, my mind shifted to the idea of just where my passion for nature came from. I believe I have my mom’s side of the family to thank for this gift. My grandmother (my mom’s mom) loved to take her grandkids to the nearby National Parks in Indiana at least once a month. Any vacation that my family took had a connection to nature in some way, whether it is the ocean, forests, or gardens. My mother has a clear love for nature, though I wish that caring extended more into an overall care for the environment. These recollections stand as a strong remind of just how impressionable children are; you have to wait many years before you find out the effect of your words and actions on them.

I’m unsure if it was my mom being there, the beautiful day, the breathtaking plants, or having such great subjects to photograph (another one on my long-standing hobbies); either way, that connection with nature was just what I needed to reignite the spark I have for helping to change the world. Working yourself into a rut is common on our society, but that does not mean we should all follow that path. This disconnection from nature that so many cities and towns have come to establish is exactly part of what is wrong with our country and our world. Thankfully, many in San Francisco know just how important this interaction and absorption of nature is, helping to preserve it amongst office buildings, buses, and restaurants galore. If you live in a city of nothing but concrete, it is so very easy to loose sight of just what is important and what society has imposed upon us.

That’s enough philosophical rambling for one day. As mentioned, I enjoy taking photographs a great deal, especially of nature and food. Below are just a few of the best 67 images that I took while at the Conservatory. If you are so inclined, feel free to explore the rest here.

Are you on Zaadz.com? If not, it is quite easy to join and more than worth the time. Here is a bit more info about the site from their Mission page:

We’re gonna change the world. Our math goes like this: you be the change + you follow your bliss + you give your greatest strengths to the world moment to moment to moment + we do everything in our power to help you succeed + you inspire and empower everyone you know to do the same + we team up with millions like us = we just affected billions = we (together) changed the world.

To make a long story short, it is like a MySpace site for environmental and spiritually minded folks that are helping to make change happen. I’ve been a member of the site for over a year now and I enjoy any and all time I spend on it.

Today, I established the first Pod (group) all about green fashion and beauty. If you have a spare moment, please take the time to join up and share your questions/favorites/ideas.

We all know that when it comes to living green, the fashion and beauty realms are two I have written on a lot. I love sharing unique businesses with others, especially those that are trying to make a difference. One of the many brands that I have written about in the past year is The T-Shirt Project from Canada. All of their items are sweatshop-free, hand-drawn, and hand-printed; simply put, they are funk-tastic!

Just yesterday, TSP was nice enough to devote an entire post in their new blog to me. Ok, so it is only a few paragraphs, but it means the world to me that my is appreciated. Make sure to head over to their blog, show them some love, and peruse their online store (it’s delicious, I promise).