Sarah Zins didn’t start out in fashion, but her Barbie doll would beg to differ. Using scraps from her mom’s sewing basket, she pieced whatever she could into some sophisticated modern-art wonders for her first, tiny client. Later, as a broke English lit student, her work was more of a reworked vintage variety, and she branched out to make costumes for friends.

Sarah’s travels brought her to Kyrgyzstan after college, where scarcity of many things (including wardrobe choice) was the rule, as were long, cold winters and lots of time to sew. But it was in San Francisco that she started for real, taking City College classes and considering the design path.

She debuted in the 2006 GenArt Styles International Design Competition as a finalist and since then has been developing clothing that keeps in mind the scarcity of the world’s resources. Made from “only high-quality reused and remnant silk, wool, cotton, and cashmere,” Sarah’s self-titled clothing brand is a vital view into the future of fashion.

I recently had the pleasure of being Sarah’s first interviewer. Read on for our chat about disco, frivolity, big brand clothing and eco-activism.

Victoria Everman: What first drew you to fashion?

Sarah Zins: I think I’ve got this DIY mentality that maybe comes from my hippie parents. We should all know something about how to grow food, cook, build, and craft everyday necessities. I loved imagining and making all kinds of things, and making clothes just grew out of that. So when I didn’t have whatever crazy-ass outfit that I dreamt up to play dress-up in, I dug out my mom’s needles and pinking shears and tried to sew it. My Barbie got some very slick things to wear, too.

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Let me preface this post by saying that I grew up in Indiana and have a certain fondness for corn. With that being said, just how much this unique crop has been homogenized and commercialized is nothing short of disgusting. Released last year, the eco/foodie documentary King Corn presents a dramatic and grounding perspective on just how much corn is now a part of our lives … even in ways we didn’t expect.

If you are looking for my final say on the movie, I’ll save you some time and tell you right now: buy this movie. Don’t just go see it - buy it. Now, if you want to know what I’m such a fan of it, feel free to keep reading along.

The documentary starts off a bit slow, but it takes much-needed time to introduce everything that is going on. For the first half hour, it seemed like it is going to be all about how fantastic corn is and how it is ok for it to be such a freakishly massive part of our lives. Thankfully, that all changes pretty quickly as co-producers and co-stars Ian Cheney (left, in the picture above) and Curt Ellis (right) are shown the error of America’s ways in rapid succession. You almost feel as though your are right there with them, every step of the way, feeling their shock and awe at just how much our food system has changed in a matter of two generations.

Even though I grew up in part of the heart of the “corn belt”, I was unaware that a large percentage of these questionable changes to our industrial food system happened in 1973, thanks to a man named Earl Butz. (more…)

Karen Stewart is half of the husband-and-wife team that started the California-based Stewart+Brown in 2002. After the birth of their daughter Hazel, Karen and Howard combined their professional experiences from companies like Patagonia, Urban Outfitters and Microsoft to create a company with an organic brand.

Dedicated to timeless design and sustainable, American-based production, Stewart+Brown quickly became a pioneer in the fashion field. They continue to lead the way in using sustainable fashions like the Mongolian cashmere in their luxury goods. Other fabrics in the women’s line include organic cotton, hemp, linen and surplus fabrics from other companies. The company also donates a minimum of one percent of all sales to non-profits via the 1% For the Planet program.

When were you first introduced to fabrics like organic cotton?
I was first introduced to organic cotton in the early 1990’s. I began working with it in 1998 when I was designing for Patagonia. During the time I worked with them I attended, in the summer of 2001, a tour of California’s organic cotton farms, including an optimistic and inspirational visit to the Sheppard’s Ranch. The Sheppard’s farm is 550 acres in Madera County and at the time they were leaders in the industry. The Sheppard’s admit that their entry into organic farming began as a personal decision. At the time they made the switch, Linda was pregnant and asked Claude not to spray pesticides. He subsequently found that his fields yielded nearly the same as the previous year. They admitted they were “completely amazed at how well it worked.” Claude also noted, “After that, there was no turning back — we ended up going completely organic. We stopped using commercial fertilizers and herbicides.” The Cotton Tour, a day of visiting sustainable and organic farms, education and networking is organized by Sustainable Cotton and CAFF.

Was the decision to donate one percent of your profits to charity (via 1% For the Planet) a goal from the start? Is there any one charity or cause that has gotten your attention as of late?
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“I draw, paint, sew, and make prints in my studio in Portland, Oregon … and I love to get email.” Betsy Walton is a woman after my own (and everyone else’s) heart! The quoted sentence is from Betsy’s short-but-sweet biography on her website. Who doesn’t love to get a nice e-mail?

There are oodles of folks out there who draw, paint, sew, and make prints; especially in Portland; so what makes Betsy special? If you have seen her work then you wouldn’t fathom asking that question. “I was hooked … on the soft vibrant color palettes she chooses, the dream-scapes she cleverly creates and the way her characters peek my imagination,” is what Jolayne of Urban Preschool had to say.

Along with running a successful Etsy.com store, Betsy Walton frequently features her work in gallery shows and most recently had her art mentioned on Domino Magazine’s website (#13). “I’ve always been interested in the ways art can have multi-layered meanings,” Betsy said to me during our interview. “I think my drawing style comes from both an aesthetic preference for clean lines and a reflection of my state of mind when I am working, which tends to be somewhat meditative and contemplative.”

Without furthur adieu, I share with you the intelligent and introspective interview I recently had with Betsy Walton. Read on for details about her casting off the shackles of cubicle life, what all those years in offices taught her, the joys of sewing, her connection with nature, meditative creation process, and what is coming up next.

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Do not fear - the Portland Series is here! There are still oodles of other creative and eco-conscious individuals in Stumptown to chat with, so this series is far from over. Now is as good a time as any to announce that I am officially moving from San Francisco to Portland in June of 2008! My time in the Bay Area has been a blessing, but lower costs and curiosity draw me to Portland, and I am not one to ignore my instincts. Now … on to the interview …

What do comics, craps and coloring books all having in common? They form the childhood of today’s artist extraordinare, Tripper Dungan. Raised among the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, Tripper hightailed it out of there the first change he got.

After a short stop over in San Diego, Tripper found himself in Eugene, the “other” creative capital of Oregon. Artistic exploration ensued, leading to the creation of a shadow puppet troupe and a menagerie of unique paintings.

Arriving in Portland a few years later, Tripper is now working on establishing his ultimate masterpiece and residence, The Cartoon Bungalow. “Here is where it all comes together with strange and silly music, prehistoric cartoons, and an environment that will host the unraveling of minds. Within these walls there is no cap on the silly jar; that is to say if you do a front flip in a flip flop just don’t stop ‘till the beet drop,” says Tripper.

Read on to find out more about Tripper’s creations (did I mention they were 3D?), shadow puppet shows, inspirations, eco-actions, and robots … everything is more interesting with a few robots.

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Eep - Monday has come and gone, but I have yet to post my weekly interview with one of Portland’s finest. Though I am a day late, I’m no less excited to bring your my chat with Ryan Jacob Smith. Inspired by the beauty of the past and the ever-morphing punk scene, Ryan’s work features versatile narratives that range the environment and spirituality to survival, hurt, and healing.

In a previous interview, Ryan had this to say about how he expresses his range of concepts: “These themes are expressed through branches (which resemble arteries and veins), crystals, birds, moths, and anvils. Each of these elements represents the beauty of life, a hardship, or both.” Formally educated at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Ryan now spends his days creating subtle yet powerful works of art (and some kick-ass vegan barbecue) in Portland, where he moved not long after graduating with honors in 2001.

Unlike those type-A artists, Ryan embraces the mistakes he makes on his own works, leaving scratches and slip-ups for all to see. Thanks to his formal education and desire for experimentation, Ryan’s pieces are a combination of illustration, painting, and collage; as well as the usage of acrylics, spray paint, silk-screening and graphite. Which one is his current favorite? You’ll have to read the interview to find out (wink wink).

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Another week, another kick ass interview with a creative Portland dweller. Today I bring you the down-low on Trish Grantham: a self-taught painter with a playful imagination that comes through in her works. She didn’t start painting until she was 28 and now, almost 10 years later, her pieces are some of the most recognized in the Northwest art scene.

Featuring anime-esque, large-eyed creatures; such as Panda, Girl, Carl the Squirrel, Think-Monster, Toast, and Birds; there is one thing that you won’t find much of in her creations: a storyline. While Trish often does have a specific idea or emotion in mind for her cast of characters, she leaves the opportunity open for her audience’s mind to wander, creating situations and outcomes based on her individual images.

The focus on most pieces is on the characters, all the while exciting things are going on in the background, thanks to Trish’s consistent use of vintage maps, books, and newspapers to create her mixed media base for her paintings. “I find paper texts in foreign languages to be a most beautiful and intriguing medium to work on,” she said in a previous interview.

Trish is also one of the few Pacific Northwest artists and illustrators who have had the “privilege” to work with major companies - her art has appeared in ads and billboards for Visa and Converse (among others). The future is already looking bright for her and her three animal companions with a new webstore in the works and a solo show opening up tomorrow in Seattle. Keep reading for my interview with Trish Grantham and details about her distinct style, green habits, and how to get your hands on one of her original creations.

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How are you enjoy the Portland series so far? Have all the pictures of artist’s work and sustainable fashion driven you batty with inspiration? Are you just sick of all the interviews? Come on … leave a comment and let me know.

I have over 20 posts (all of which aren’t interviews) waiting in the wings; I simply have to find the time to write them all. So, very soon (a.k.a. before the end of the year) there will be an increase in the number of my posts to at least two or three a day. Don’t fret - it’s all good stuff. You know me, I wouldn’t post anything that would be a waste of your time to read.

Now back to your regularly scheduled Monday interview post … with Martin Ontiveros. He has a entrancingly intense start, doesn’t he? As is customary, I found his work through a link on another Portland artist’s site. Seeing his colorful yet mildly morbid work and finding out that he has a college degree in Experimental Animation made me wonder why I hadn’t come across his work before.

I could write a nice little background paragraph on Martin - you know, how he has done a bunch of illustration work for West Coast newspapers, comic books and magazines; his interest in the ever-growing vinyl toy market; his life-long curiosity with unusual, conspiratorial, and forbidden history … but why do that when Martin is so much better at telling his own life story?

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As you might have already realized, I’m still have issues with my email AND didn’t make it to Portland due to a menagerie of events. Despite this, I still have a lot of Portland Fashion Week content coming up this week, so make sure to stay tuned. On top of this, I have at least 5 interviews with members of the Portland creative community in the works, so lots of good things are still to come!

The beginning of each week has, inadvertently, become the “interview day” - what better way to start off the week than with some behind-the-scenes info? One look at the work of Evan B Harris and I was, to put it mildly, entranced. The fact that he lives in Portland is a bonus; I would have interviewed Evan simply because of his highly obvious use of natural elements and images. Muted colors and fluid movement also feature in his largest pieces, adding to my bubbling curiosity.

Growing up in the backwoods of Oregon left Evan isolated to the reaches of his own mind. Thankfully, he decided to use those fables and folklore that he dreamed up to beautiful the worlds of others, instead of destroying it like so many in our society today. With no formal art training, it is clear that a strong vision and a will to practice was all Evan needed to let his true talent shine through. In a 2006 interview, Evan said that one of the books he loves is The Little Prince; this was also the #1 favorite of American star of the 1950s James Dean - coincidence?

Following this paragraph is my interview with Evan B Harris and a few samples of his ever-growing collection of artwork. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed conducting it.

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Truth or Dare, Spin the Bottle, easy break-ups and your own locker … those were the days of middle school and, most likely, your first boy-girl party. OK, I was a dork and didn’t get invited to a lot of parties, but that’s not the point. Those days of passing notes in class still give me butterflies in my stomach (the good ones), so it’s not surprising that Chicago-born, San Diego-based “illustrator, musician and stuff maker” Susie Ghahremani named her business after such exciting times.

If you’ve never heard of boygirlparty, then you’ve probably seen her creations on just about every crafty site and in every popular magazine known to man. In the course of 5 years, Susie’s work has gotten an unheard-of amount of attention from the media and fellow creative minds. As a professional freelance illustrator, she as worked with some big names, such as: Martha Stewart Kids Magazine, The New York Times, GQ, the ASPCA, Shape Magazine and Utne Reader … just to name a few.

You’ve probably noticed by now that this interview is not a part of my ongoing Portland series, so what gives!? Hey, cool your jets and I’ll tell you … spaz. At the beginning of 2007, Susie made the conscious decision to begin printing all of her creations “as eco-friendly as possible.” That means adorable indie art on 100% recycled paper with soy ink - Al Gore would be proud. When I heard about her eco-leanings, I had to get an interview with this crafty maven.

After browsing the boygirlparty store for over a half hour, I compiled a list of questions for one of the best interviews I’ve done on this blog so far. Read on to find out more about the logic behind Susie’s green transition, her love for finches, making music, and her packed creation schedule.

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As you likely read in my previous post, my first-ever trip to Portland has been set! A week of cutting-edge green fashion and city exploration is just what I need to combat the chill that is setting in this fall. This great little “Portland Series” that I have going is likely to continue for another month or two, thanks to the immense amount of talented people in that one city alone.

Speaking of talented people, artist Justin “Scrappers” Morrison is one of them. After being born in Vancouver (British Columbia) and growing up in Los Angeles, Justin and his wife have settled happily into the Portland creative community. With a versatile mind, Justin “makes all sorts of things out of junk that is lying around. The simple truth is that I think of what I want, then use what I’ve got on hand to make it.”

Often described as an urban folk artist, his visions do have a bit of a banjo-playing, toe-tapping vibe to them (and I mean that in the best way possible). Full of color and curves an animator would love, Justin’s paintings, sculptures, doodles, and murals have been displayed in galleries all over the West Coast - there are event two rooms at Portland’s Ace Hotel that he painted. In addition to creating, Justin is co-owner/founder of Portland’s Grass Hut gallery, featuring a new show the first Friday of every month and selling quality zines, crafts, prints and random goodies.

What’s all this leading up to? An interview, of course! My recent chat with Justin was most pleasant, covering everything from forest rangers with Legos and college to thrifting and clay creations - you don’t want to miss this, so read on!

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New York, London, Paris, Milan - when most people think of high fashion and runway shows, these are the cities that come to mind. For the average person, couture fashion doesn’t mean much, except possibly fodder for a one-night fantasy. Destinations like Chicago, Toronto, Seattle, and Los Angeles are emerging with their own take on “fashion week,” often featuring independent, local, and more wearable designers.

Often referred to as the City of Roses (and the less appealing title of “Stumptown”), Portland, Oregon is developing into an incomparable outlet for cutting-edge fashion, especially brands based around sustainability. This year, Portland Fashion Week is being billed as the greenest fashion week ever - quite a title to apply to a 6-day series of events, especially with so many other cities vying for that title.

What did celebrities at New York Fashion Week have to say about Portland? Allison Janney from “West Wing”said, “Raincoats and a good pair of walking shoes; bluejeans and rain boots. Portland is having a fashion week? I love it!” Singer Maya made a great point that I can relate to: “Portland is so far removed from the entertainment world I would think the designers there would relate well to everyday people. Sometimes when I buy clothes in L.A. or New York, I can only wear them in L.A. or New York.”

What makes an event green? How is Portland stepping up its efforts to hold on to the title of Greenest City in the United States (according to SustainLane.com)? My curiosity was piqued, so what a joy it was to chat recently with Tito Chowdhry, Executive Producer of Portland Fashion Week. He was very excited to tell me all about what PFW Productions was doing to create the greenest fashion week they could, including the largest collection of sustainable designers on any runway.

Read on to find out more about the importance of green fashion, support from local businesses and media, the cost of dressing sustainable, and more.

STAY TUNED for a special PFW announcement from myself and Greenloop later this week!
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My serious interest in the Portland, Oregon area began about two months ago after noticing that many of my favorite crafters and visual artist were living in the area. Knowing a lot about San Francisco (thanks to living in the “city by the Bay” for the past year), I couldn’t help but be curious as to why so many indie folks were making their home in one of the greenest cities in the United States. With my first trip to the area (and a possible move in June 2008) on the horizon, I’ll be featuring a host of interviews and features on the local area’s green and crafty communities.

Artist, Illustrator, Photographer, Animator, and Web Designer - if I had finished college, that’s probably what my resume would read; thankfully, Amy Ruppel did invest in an advanced education and now graces the world with her spectacular talents. From growing up in rural Wisconsin to becoming the “it”-girl of the Portland artist scene, Amy’s life has been a beautiful journey, filled with many creative pursuits.

With her 2003 wedding featured in the local paper and countless collaborations with notable design brands, Amy is on her way to being one of the most recognizable faces (and companies) in the ever-expanding independent creative community. All of the articles saying she is a pleasure to talk to couldn’t be more right - her bubbly personality comes through even in her emails; personally, I think it is because she is doing what she truly loves (which is a good lesson for all of us).

In one of my most extensive and exciting interviews ever, my chat with Amy includes information about her college studies, the source of her fondness for feathered friends, her must-read blogs, upcoming shows and the very-soon-to-open restaurant her and her husband established … and that’s not all!

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Already featured on every major modern design blog (along with Treehugger, naturally), Night Owl Paper Goods has quickly become a familiar name in stationary, thanks to their line of eco-friendly wooden postcards. Made from sustainably harvested wood, thinly sliced using very little power and no water, the collection features Night Owl’s unmistakably modern-with-a-touch-of-vintage graphics.

Started in 2004 by Alan Henderson and Jennifer Tatham, Night Owl Paper Goods was more of a side project to their respective professional design careers - until recently. The letterpress-created brand has become so popular that it is now a full-time job for the both of them. Though the sustainable postcard collection has garnered the most attention, it is by no means the full extent of their creations. Also available from Night Owl Paper Goods are: baby and moving announcements; holiday cards and photo mailers; birthday and correspondence cards; and everyday notecards.

With all the green hype around Night Owl, I couldn’t resist the urge to chat with them. Thankfully, Jennifer was nice enough to spare some time from her letterpress-filled schedule to answer a few of my questions. Read on to find out more about Night Owl Paper Goods’ future eco-plans, where their name comes from, how they have become so successful, and what wood goods are coming out next.

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Big businesses aren’t the only ones who are seeing than many benefits of going green these days. Smaller companies and the ever-present indie start-ups are getting in on the act too. Being an advocate for the “little guy”, I’m honored to feature a woman with vision and beauty who sees sustainability as the best biz option, Tara Hogan.

Raised in Connecticut (oddly enough, the state where I went to high school and move from just a year ago), Tara now spends her days and nights in central New York state. With a Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University, Tara has established herself as a skilled independent designer and illustrator, working with non-profits, technology corporations, beauty companies, and hotels.

After establishing such a diverse portfolio in just 5 years, Tara started Ink & Wit in 2005. It’s no surprise that in just 2 years working on Ink & Wit, the company has been featured on key design blogs, such as Decor 8 and Indie Fixx, as well as in major media, such as Domino Magazine and Venus Zine. So impressed was Decor 8’s founder and writer Holly Becker that she hired Tara to create a new business card design for the blog.

Tara’s artistic creations and Ink & Wit creations are available both in her Etsy.com store and on the official Ink & Wit website. Most recently, Tara released the first of a collection of limited edition t-shirts, featuring her modern yet touching digital illustrations. What’s next? Much more! I very much enjoyed speaking with Tara recently about her transition to a greener business and lifestyle, why the world needs more postcards, and her future career in yoga. Read on for the fantastic interview and images of her simply swank creations.

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