ANNA KORTE VINTAGE JEWELRY
Anna Korte, Founder

What are your plans for Earth Day?

I'm going to celebrate Earth Day this year by becoming a member of 1% For the Planet! The only hard part is choosing which non-profit will get my donation. There are over 1400 environmental groups spread all over the world that benefit from the 1% For the Planet member donations!

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

Waste not, want not! I think there is always an opportunity to dedicate more attention to reducing our personal waste. Take another minute and instead of "kind-of" recycling, choose to be a conscious and proactive recycler! Also, whenever possible, buy preowned!!

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DEL FORTE
Tierra Del Forte, Founder/Designer

What are your plans for Earth Day?

It's so cool to hear Tobi is promoting Earth Day! We are participating in Project Earth Day in NY, so I will be celebrating there!

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

Since organic cotton is my special interest, I think it's important for people to understand how much of an impact buying organic cotton products vs. non-organic makes. It takes 1/3 of a pound of pesticides to grow enough cotton to make a non-organic tee shirt, and 2/3 of a pound for a pair of jeans.

To quote a recent article in The New York Times Style Magazine "buying organic jeans is the equivalent of buying a hybrid car."

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DOIE
Sara Kirsner, Founder/Designer

What are your plans for Earth Day?

I will actually be celebrating Earth Day the night before by attending an event at The Opportunity Network, which creates access for high-achieving minority public school students from low-income families to career development, professional networks and competitive colleges. They are doing a special event to educate their students about the many different careers in environmental fields and I am going to be there for them to talk to as a resource. I will be speaking with them in small groups so that they can ask me questions about my work and about the environment.

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

One of the issues that I think should get more attention is education about the environment, for young kids. Everything that we have learned about energy consumption, recycling, etc. should be second nature to them. This should start in the home, but there should also be plenty of educational opportunities in school and the community that help with this.

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EDUN

What are your plans for Earth Day?

Edun has teamed up with Brooklyn-based Carasan and newcomers PurePlay to present an environmentally conscious fashion show celebrating Earth Day on Aprill 22nd. Edun, Carasan and PurePlay will showcase pieces from current collections in a live runway show. Also, Edun Live, the sister ethical T-shirt brand of Edun founded by Ali Hewson and Bono, has partnered with Zazzle, the only on-demand retail platform to offer over 3 billion retail quality, one-of-a-kind products shipped in 24 hours. The collaboration empowers users to have a socially conscious voice and help raise awareness, as well as support impoverished regions of Africa through premade and customizable Edun Live products available through Zazzle's custom on-demand retail platform. Edun Live has produced a new exclusive tee shirt in support of earth day 2008. The limited edition tee is designed by the Edun creative team and is exclusively available at Zazzle. Zazzle and Edun Live will donate 10% of proceeds from every limited edition tee sold during the month of April to the Conservation Cotton Initiative program, Edun's joint project with the Wildlife Conservation Society which supports African Farmers in their transition from conventional cotton farming to organic cotton.

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

Creating sustainable employment in Africa.

We can all make a difference in our own way. Something as seemingly small as buying an item that is produced in Africa supports the mission of bringing trade in place aid to the developing world. Awareness is the first step.

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ENVIROSAX
Mark David-Tooze, Founder

What are your plans for Earth Day?

Belinda and Mark David-Tooze from Envirosax will be spending Earth Day with their three children, planting rainforest trees on their 10-acre property in the Currumbin Valley of south-east Queensland. They have been regenerating the rainforest on the property for the past three years, planting trees and removing noxious weeds.

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

Biofuels--using our food sources as fuel alternatives may have seemed like an easy answer but it is already causing problems such as global deforestation and rising food prices. The amount of energy and toxic chemicals needed to produce ethanol alone negates this so called "green" fuel. Instead we can convert our engines to run on "waste" fuels such as cooking grease while at the same time developing technologies such as solar power...that way we can have our corn and eat it too!

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JUICE BEAUTY

What are your plans for Earth Day?

We at Juice Beauty celebrate the earth every day, so we really won't do much different than our daily routines of:

- Making the most earth friendly, highest organic content skincare collection created from a 100% certified organic fruit juice base.
- Continuing to support organic and sustainable family farms.
- Striving to use all recycled paper and environmentally friendly practices.
- Continuing to recycle and reuse everything at our corporate office in Marin County, CA.

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

For a great start to creating change, we all should pay more attention to buying organic and sustainable products and supporting all those companies that are trying to make a difference.

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HELENA DE NATALIO
Helen Hoppock, Designer/Founder

What are your plans for Earth Day?

Unfortunately I have to work on Tuesday, but if I could, I'd spend the day outside. This weekend we are going camping in Big Basin, which is the best way I can think to spend Earth Day, close to nature in California's oldest state park!

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

One issue that needs more of our attention is the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest, which involves clear-cutting mostly to put in cattle ranches. People should educate themselves, and try not to buy tropical wood products or Mahogany from Brazil. Educating yourself on the topic is the first step to making a difference.

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KIMBERLY SAYER
Kimberly Sayer, Founder

What are your plans for Earth Day?

Be part of the group in NYC that meets in Central Park to bring attention to the general public about what each one of us can do individually to help counteract the effects of global warming, pollutants, water and food shortages etc.

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

40% of the growth of corn and palm is being used for alternative fuels. This will create such a food shortage and the prices of grains and basic foods will sky rocket and in some 3rd world countries they already are. We have changed our preservative system solely to Japanese Honeysuckle and removed all the palm and corn extracts from our line to help with this very dangerous practice.

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KORRES

What are your plans for Earth Day?

On Earth Day we will be sending our customers at our Wooster Street store in New York home with reusable, cotton tote bags, instead of standard paper/plastic. Our customers can then use our bags for shopping anywhere and anytime!

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

It's important to us that we promote conservation of our earth's natural resources.

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LIVITY

What are your plans for Earth Day?

We are participating in a community event which raises money for earth friendly causes. We are using this opportunity to inform the public about sustainable living.

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

I think the use of bamboo viscose fabrics are highly controversial, perhaps you could look into the debate whether these are truly green products.

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LARA MILLER
Lara Miller, Designer

What are your plans for Earth Day?

To walk and ride my bike only!

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

Biofuels--using our food sources as fuel alternatives may have semed like an easy answer but it is already causing problems such as global deforestation and rising food prices. The amount of energy and toxic chemicals needed to produce ethanol alone negates this so called "green" fuel. Instead we can convert our engines to run on "waste" fuels such as cooking grease while at the same time developing technologies such as solar power...that way we can have our corn and eat it too!

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LOOMSTATE

What are your plans for Earth Day?

In celebration of Earth Day, Loomstate has teamed up with Barneys New York on a nationwide T-shirt recycling program! From now until April 27th, Loomstate and Barneys New York invite people to drop off their unwanted T-shirts at all Barneys New York Co-Op locations nationwide. Barneys will offer a discount on Loomstate product to all participants and proceeds from sales will be donated to 1% For the Planet. Loomstate will collect the T-shirts and re-fashion them into a new limited edition collection for Holiday 2008.

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

Buy ORGANIC! Now that organic products are easily available in food, fashion and beauty products we should all make an effort to purchase organic goods, which eliminate the use of fertilizers and pesticides in our soil (carcinogens in our environment) and promote sustainable agriculture, soil fertilization and a healthier future for all.

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STEWART AND BROWN

What are your plans for Earth Day?

Every day is Earth Day at Stewart and Brown. We have dedicated our lives and our business to working towards sustainability. Stewart and Brown will be participating in the Earth Fair 2008 Fashion Show in New York City. Karen, Howard, Hazel and Huxley Stewart Brown will be heading to Santa Barbara on Sunday, April 20 for the South Coast Earth Day Festival. It’s a Stewart Brown family tradition.

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

The deluge of cheap cashmere from China. Stop buying it. Read below:

That low-priced cashmere sweater has a hidden cost
by Evan Osnos

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THREADS FOR THOUGHT
Erin Lockridge

What are your plans for Earth Day?

I LOVE gardening. I have recently started planting native trees and plants that seem to have disappeared in my area. Trying to keep the community at its roots is important to me.

Name one issue that needs more of our attention, and what can we do to make a difference?

I think that we need to support our local growers and Farmers Markets. Buying local food keeps your dollars circulating in your community. Getting to know the farmers who grow your food builds relationships based on understanding and trust, the foundation of strong communities. Local food doesn't have to travel far. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions and packing materials. Buying local food also helps to make farming more profitable and selling farmland for development less attractive. So everyone should hit up their local Farmers Market and support the community they live in.

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Yesterday at the Kasil Headquarters we had our weekly brainstorming session with the design team. I always look forward to these since we block out the full day with no interruptions and sit in the design room, put on music, draw, create and eat! These inspirational meetings are a great way for me and the design team to get together and put all our ideas out on the table. We came up with great new concepts for our Crusader back pocket campaign, new denim designs, chose fabric as well as discussed our new top secret project...I guess you'll just have to find out what it is when we launch it in July!

Until then!
-Sir David Lim

I drove my factory a little crazy working on my new models in such a short time, but they humored me and were able to finish everything in one week. I put together an album showing what I do in Argentina, the leather district, and images of the very talented artisans that make Helena de Natalio handbags. In addition to getting my fall samples made, I was able to see old friends, fit in some shopping at the best shoe boutique in Latin America, Sofi Martiré, and made it to a few of my favorite restaurants and stores to stock up on spring essentials.

The 8 days in Buenos Aires passed in a flash, before I knew it I was back on the plane flying back home just in time for L.A. Market Week.