ISSUE 21: JAN / FEB 2012
SMART. SEXY. SUSTAINABLE.
CEO AND EDITOR IN CHIEF DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL PUBLISHING DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA VP OF PARTNERSHIPS
ANNA GRIFFIN DAN BROOKS NICOLE LANDERS LUKE TRIMMINGS COLIN J. SWEENEY
DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS
ANGELICA OTT
DIRECTOR OF TRANSMEDIA
KAREN SNYDER
EDITOR-AT-LARGE
STARRE VARTAN
FASHION DIRECTOR SARAH GRIFFIN BERNS FASHION EDITOR JOHANNA BJÖRK BEAUTY DIRECTOR
EMMA PEZZACK
BEAUTY EDITOR LEILAH MUNDT EUROPEAN EDITOR SASS BROWN FEATURES EDITOR
BETH DOANE
EVENTS EDITOR
VICKI GODAL
NY EDITOR MEN WE LOVE EDITOR
JOHANNA BJÖRK NIKKI LIN
WOMEN WE ADMIRE EDITOR
NICOLE LANDERS
TAKE ACTION EDITOR
HEATHER CARTER
AUSTRALIAN EDITOR
NICHOLA ZED
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
ZEM JOAQUIN MICHAEL LLANOS
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
ERICA J. EDDINGS KELLY GALLAGHER
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
JEFFREY FITERMAN NRICCO MASSIMO RUSSELL BAER
ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER
ANGEL ROMERO SPENCER AMON
KEY STYLIST
ADEEL KHAN
ASSISTANT STYLIST
ANNE DEMME
KEY HAIR STYLIST
JUDD MINTER
CONTRIBUTING HAIR STYLISTS
BRIAN BOWMAN GLORIA NOTO
KEY MAKE UP ARTIST CONTRIBUTING MAKE UP ARTISTS
JULIANNE KAYE YESSICA FAMOSO GLORIA NOTO MIHO SUZUKI
COCO ECO MAGAZINEd is published by Coco Eco Magazine. a Copyright 2008-2012 Coco Eco Magazine. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher.
EDITOR LETTER TO YOU BY ANNA GRIFFIN CONTRIBUTORS COCO ECO EDITOR LOVES... Look Good,
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Feel Good, Be Good!
FASHION THE AGE OF ALCHEMY
Sheathed in sequins and gilded embellishment, armor-like structure and seductive texture gives Renaissance to this Spring’s heroine.
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FASHION EDITOR LOVES . . . GREETING THE NEW YEAR IN STYLE!
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SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION: BRANDS THAT GIVE BACK
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RE-IMAGINED:
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BEAUTY DIRECTOR LOVES
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A STRESS FREE YEAR
BEAUTY EDITOR LOVES DETOX YOUR SKIN
SPOTLIGHT ON BEAUTY: RARE ELEMENTS
ON THE ASCENT, WITH HER FEET ON THE GROUND
WOMEN WE ADMIRE
MEN WE LOVE FOUR TRAILBLAZERS TO WATCH Jeff Garner, Michael B Jordan, Mayor Gregor Robertson, Aydogan Ozcan
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BE ARTISTIC, BE SWEET, BE A VIXEN!
SHAILENE WOODLEY
Lauren Bush Lauren, Torrey Joel DeVitto, Rebecca Harrell Tickell, Summer Rayne Oakes, Marianne Williamson, Susan Miller
FASHION SPECIAL . . . CHILE
BEAUTY
COVER STORY
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GO THE ECO-CHIC GUIDE TO PERTH EXPERIENCE ECO-CHIC CHILE
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LIFE ABUNDANCE AND BLISS DETOX FOR THE REST OF US BE YOUR OWN TRAILBLAZER FEATURES EDITOR LOVES . . . A NEW YEAR, AND A NEW YOU
TAKE ACTION
TRAILBLAZERS OF GLORY
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Project Angel Food, David Lynch Foundation, Virgin Unite
CONSCIOUS REVELLER DAVID LYNCH FOUNDATION GALA GORGEOUS AND GREEN DIVINE DESIGN OPPORTUNITY GREEN
SHOPPING CONCIERGE GET IT ALL HERE!
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THE TRAILBLAZER ISSUE Jan/Feb 2011 / ISSUE 21
LETTER TO YOU A YEAR OF PURPOSE.
Photo Credit: Russell Baer L-R: Mia Hansen, Gloria Noto, Shailene Woodley, Sarah Griffin Berns, Adeel Khan, Anna Griffin, Russell Baer
As we entered 2012, the monumental and global shift that was occurring was obvious to me. I was feeling unusually calm, certain and grounded, and whilst not having a detailed road map of the next 12 months, had an uncompromising knowledge that this was going to be a positive year. 2011 was tumultuous for many people personally but also for the world in general, and already almost two weeks into this New Year, the shift in attitude is inspiringly apparent. It’s not as if our problems disappeared with a change in chronological date, and I know many people still face challenges. However, what I have noticed is that after the hard lessons of the last 12 months, people are taking a different approach, and doing it with a sense of passion and purpose. Change is definitely in the air!
to the health of the earth and its inhabitants. The perfect role model to begin our year at Coco Eco, beautifully shot by celeb photog Russell Baer.
After reflecting on 2011 in our Nov-Dec Issue, we wanted to embrace 2012 by celebrating the game changers in our world, those who are taking us on a new and much needed path. The Trailblazer Issue was born and what better cover girl than Shailene Woodley? This young Golden-Globe nominated actress steals the show in Alexander Payne’s hot Oscar contender, ‘The Descendants,’ yet remains unfalteringly committed
Enjoy our first issue of 2012. We wish you a great year where you discover your sense of purpose, blaze your own trail, and we look forward to exploring it with you!
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As we get into our groove and make choices that will define the coming year, it’s a great time to inspire ourselves with those blazing a trail for a better planet. In our Men We Love column, Editor Nikki Lin profiles Mayor of Vancouver Gregor Robertson, eco couturier Jeff Garner, actor Michael B Jordan, and scientist, Aydogan Ozcan. In our Women We Admire column, Editor Nicole Landers highlights philanthropist and entrepreneur Lauren Bush Lauren, astrologer Susan Miller, best-selling author Marianne Williamson, activist and model Summer Rayne Oakes, actress Torrey DeVitto, and documentarian Rebecca Harrell Tickell. Gifted photographer Nricco Massimo, defies convention in our fashion story The Age of Alchemy, and in our Eco Chic City Guide, we visit two very diverse yet relevant destinations, Perth and Chile.
Anna Griffin Editor In Chief, Coco Eco Magazine
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CONTRIBUTORS HIGHLIGHT
RUSSELL BAER
BETH DOANE
LEILA MUNDT
NICHOLA ZED
Celebrity Photographer Russell Baer has been shooting Hollywood’s most famous faces for the past several years. His photographs have graced the pages of almost every magazine on newsstands today including Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Time, Elle, Teen Vogue, People, Movieline’s Hollywod Life and Newsweek. Russell has worked with some of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces including and this year he has photographed fashion spreads debuting the upcoming lines of Carolina Herrera and Jean Paul Gautier. www.russelbaer.com
Beth Doane is a fashion designer, author, and consultant. She works with companies on how to be sustainable with their brands and manufacturing processes and is also founder of her consulting firm, Andira International, and CEO of the apparel brand, Rain Tees, which she created in 2008. Beth speaks all over the world about her work with tribal cultures in the Amazon and has been featured in press globally for her contributions to eco fashion and environmental causes.
With over a decade of work in the beauty industry, Leilah Mundt has emerged as a leader in the eco-beauty movement. She is passionate about bringing awareness to products that blur the line between health and luxury. As a healthy living and whole foods advocate, Leilah believes true beauty to be something that begins on the inside. She currently works in beauty sales and marketing in Los Angeles and resides at the beach with her husband and new baby girl.
Global traveller, Nichola Zed, has recently returned to Australia after studying and working in Paris, Florence, Brussels and the UK at some of the most respected contemporary art galleries, including Haunch of Venison in London. Nichola has an abundance of experience in design and sustainable architecture. She now works as an interior designer and is thrilled to be following her passion for writing with Coco Eco Magazine.
Contributing Photographer
Features Editor
www.raintees.com
Beauty Editor
Australian Editor
GLORIA NOTO
NRICCO MASSIMO
ERICA J. EDDINGS
SASS BROWN
Gloria Noto grew up in Detroit, Michigan and spent much of her time as a child in Sicily, Italy. She was constantly surrounded by the arts as her mother was an interior designer and her father an ironsmith. She attended art college at the College for Creative Studies, but ultimately left school to pursue a career in makeup. Her work can be seen in Vogue (Australian), Elle (Japanese) and Qvest. Gloria has worked on numerous advertising campaigns including BCBG MAX Azria and Herve Leger, as well as with young celebrities Christina Hendricks, Ashlee Simpson and Anna Kendricks..
Nricco Massimo came to photography via the world of fine art. Having studied sculpture and exhibited in the South African National History Museum amongst others, he keeps a very conceptual approach to all his work. The collaborative aspect of working with a wide selection of talented artists attracted him to fashion photography and videography while living in London. He recently moved to California with his family and continues to work on commercial and personal projects that might blow your mind.
Born and raised in the DC Metro area, Erica J. Eddings spent her early years in theatre, choir, and writing for the school newspaper and yearbook. Erica held several positions at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, planning events and the annual conference. Now a resident of Los Angeles, she is a Program Coordinator for outreach at UCLA. Erica is developing her writing craft in several areas. She is working on a few scripts for television and film and writes daily for her two blogs, The Talking Reel and F-Everything.
Sass Brown is the Resident Director for the Fashion Institute of Technology’s study abroad program in Florence, Italy. Originally from London, England, Sass established herself as a designer with her own signature collection selling in the UK and across Canada. As a researcher, writer and blogger, her area of expertise is eco fashion, in all of its different expressions, from slow design and heritage craft skills to recycle, reuse and new business models. She has published papers and spoken around the world on the topic of sustainable design.
Contributing Make Up Artist
Contributing Photographer
www.nricco.com
Contributing Writer
thetalkingreel.tumblr.com www.f-everything.com
European Editor
www.ecofashiontalk.com
ANDREA GUTIERREZ VINTAGE CRYSTAL CUFF Using upcycled leather scraps, vintage crystals and brass and a recycled clasp, this stunning cuff is as chic as it is sustainable, and never far from my wrist! $300, www.andreagutierrezjewelry.com
THE MID RISE SKINNY FROM SECOND DENIM CO. Second Denim Co. is a premium Canadian brand committed to local production and fair trade working conditions. By fusing perfect fit, diagonal stretch, and positive karma, these jeans embrace the natural movement of every woman’s body, leaving you feeling confident, beautiful and at peace. Rachel McAdams, Hilary Swank and Jessica Biel are already fans! $120, www.secondclothing.com
STRANGE INVISIBLE PERFUMES FAIR VERONA Made with certified organic, wild crafted, biodynamic, and hydro-distilled essences, Fair Verona is verdant, sparkling and worldly. Organic Italian citruses, sandalwood, mimosa, and a precious array of jasmine essences sweetly conjure Shakespeare’s heroine, Juliet, and inspire clarity and charm. Eau de Parfum 1.7 fl. oz - $150 Pure Perfume .25 fl. oz - $250
MYPAPERBAG Designed by Ramón Middelkoop, these bags are handmade in EMA’s fair-trade certified factory in India supporting artisans in need of food, healthcare and education. Produced without using heavy metals or harmful chemicals, Goodforall believes that a product which has been produced in a fair and ecological manner makes the world a more stylish yet conscientious place! $225, www.goodforall.eu
COCO ECO EDITOR LOVES Look Good, Feel Good, Be Good! CURATED by: Anna
Griffin
SEPTEMBER ROSE September Rose is a British ethical jewelry designer/maker who use only the purest materials available, certified as conflict free and sourced from traceable, sustainable, ecologically sound and morally responsible projects. Isabella, the signature heart pendant is inspired by the designer’s Celtic heritage. The flowing knot-work symbolizes eternal love, which has no beginning or end. $1450 www.september-rose.co.uk
ECOTOOLS BAMBOO BUFFING BRUSH
ROSE AND GERANIUM SHOWER CARE COLLECTION BY NYR ORGANIC With one of the world’s largest organic farms, all NYR Organic products combine traditional organic plant extracts with the latest advances in green chemistry for the most effective, natural and innovative treatments that exist. We love anything from their Rose collection! $18.50, us.nyrorganic.com/shop/corp
Let your natural radiance shine through with the ultimate base tool that gently buffs your skin, whilst providing custom coverage and a flawless finish. A leader in eco-conscious personal care products, EcoTools has joined with 1% For The Planet, and donates 1% of their annual sales to the organization. $6.99 www.ecotools.com
MAY LINDSTROM SKIN The Youth Dew Hydrating Facial Serum from May Lindstrom Skin’s bespoke collection of beauty products, is superhydrating whilst transforming skin with a power-packed bouquet of 20 ambitiously regenerating and indulgent plant and botanical oils. Infused with time-stopping CoEnzyme Q10, for radiant, soft and beautiful skin. $120, www.maylindstrom.com
COCO ECO |
FASHION!
Black leather & silk textured jacket, price upon request, Izmaylova www.izmaylova.co.uk Taupe bodysuit $335, Malia Mills www.maliamills.com Silver Earrings & ring, vintage at The Way We Wore www.thewaywewore.com 16 | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | January / February 2012
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THE AGE
of
ALCHEMY Sheathed in sequins and gilded embellishment, armor-like structure and seductive texture gives Renaissance to this Spring’s heroine... PHOTOGRAPHY by: Nricco Massimo ASSISTED by: Spencer Amon STORY by: Sarah Griffin Berns STYLING by: Adeel Khan ASSISTED by: Anne Demme MAKE-UP by: Miho Suzuki HAIR by: Brian Bowman MODEL: Stefanie Wood from Photogenics
Shot on location Malibu
Lavender & grey silk jacket, price upon request, Georges Hobeika www.georgeshobeika.com Gold sequin & silk dress, price upon request, Stella McCartney available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills 310-275-4211 www.saksfifthavenue.com Gold earrings, price upon request, Nashelle www.nashelle.com Ivory satin peep toe $695, Giuseppe Zanotti www.giuseppezanottidesign.com
Ivory hemp gown, price upon request, Prophetik www.prophetik.com Crystal lace & silk ribbon, price upon request, Johanna Johnson www.johannajohnson.com
Black & white paillette gown, price upon request, Douglas Hannant www.douglashannant.com Silver earrings and ring, vintage at The Way We Wore www.thewaywewore.com Silver gladiator heels $895, Giuseppe Zanotti www.giuseppezanottidesign.com
Black sequin cape $1725, Johanna Johnson www.johannajohnson.com Black silk textured gown, price upon request, Johanna Johnson www.johannajohnson.com Gunmetal Earrings & ring, vintage at The Way We Wore www.thewaywewore.com
Sand silk & tulle gown, price upon request, Georges Hobeika www.georgeshobeika.com Gunmetal earrings $112, Nissa www.nissajewelry.com Silver and sapphire ring, vintage at The Way We Wore www.thewaywewore.com
White silk & tulle embellished dress, price upon request, Falguni & Shane Peacock www.falgunishanepeacock.com Silver pearl cuff $120, Nissa www.nissajewelry.com Gold and crystal stone ring, price upon request, Nashelle www.nashelle.com
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COCO ECO |
FASHION SPECIAL!
Chile
FASHIONING
A new take on an old tradtion
WRITTEN by: Sass
Brown
Chile, like much of Latin America, has strong cultural ties to textiles, craft and artisanship. My recent trip to Santiago and Valparaiso opened my eyes to the wealth of design talent reinterpreting age-old skills and crafts for a much younger, hipper audience than ever before, with respect for the environment as well as tradition and artisanship.
CARMEN EVA CHANTAL BERNSAU Based in Santiago Chile, Chantal Bernsau produces a jewelry collection made from a diverse range of organic and natural materials, including horn, bone, wood, horse hair, crystal, copper, bronze and silver. Inspired by indigenous tribal societies, and informed by Reiki and gem therapy, Bernsau works with symbolic talismans and amulets to create items in touch with indigenous belief systems and spiritual concepts, to communicate, balance, and express your spirituality. Working only with natural processes, including traditional and artisanal techniques such as crochet, weaving and macramĂŠ, Bernsau supports sustainable development and traditional craft communities within Chile. www.chantalbernsau.cl
Carmen Eva is a textile and accessories designer creating contemporary designs with the ancient technique of nuno felting. Working mostly with sheep wool on a linen base, Eva reinterprets the ancient technique with extreme delicacy and sensitivity, to create exclusive fashion accessories. Made from sheep wool, alpaca, llama, angora, and mohair from small producers in the northern and southern regions of Chile, Eva also works with the highest quality organic cotton, linen, and silk, the pure materials she specializes in, making her creations suitable for the most sensitive of skins. Eva also offers personalized workshops, and is happy to undertake custom orders, available through Etsy. www.carmeneva.cl
LABORATORI TEXTIL LaboratoriTEXTIL is an ongoing textile experimentation in jewelry, clothing and accessories, based in, and inspired by the port city of Valparaiso. The collection is created entirely from textile materials, made mostly from industrial waste. With no more than five products per collection, each piece is truly unique and a labour of love. The products are timeless, not governed by fads or fashion, but instead motivated by art and created with emotion as a means to demonstrate craftsmanship. The collection by Rosio Peters consists of handmade purses from vintage ties, patrchwork skirts from upholstery scraps and remnants, and ribbon and fabric-wrapped necklaces and bracelets. www.laboratoriotextil.cl
KIRO Kiro first started working with resin as an experiment and a hobby. Instantly fascinated by the material, which allows for a range of experimention, led Kiro to work with unconventional Chilean materials as a means of rescuing domestic materials and revaluing them in a new context. Kiro works with a palette of materials including seaweed, goat horn and alpaca (it all began with a bag of discarded seeweed from the pantry). All pieces are designed with simple clean lines, with minimal elements, structures and composition. Playing with light, transparency and color, Kiro pieces have a modern simplicity that belies the small unvierse hiding inside. www.casakiro.cl
JUANA DIAZ Based in Santiago, Juana Diaz’s work is in diametric opposition to the waste, redundancy and poor labor standards of the mainstream fashion industry. Working with discarded textile scraps, Diaz produces her collection by working with female homemakers, mothers who need a flexible work schedule, as well as socially vulnerable persons from marginalized communities, including prison inmates and recently released prisoners. Her no cost materials allow Diaz to pay her workers a wage well above industry standard, while the garments can still be sold at competitive prices. Diaz’s collection is quirky/cool and features her unique stitching method that bridges and patches otherwise incongruent pieces of fabric together. tiendastextileria.blogspot.com 30
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PITTI PALACIOS Pitti Palacios works with combining traditional hand-woven textile art with contemporary design and form, using pure, hand spun sheep’s wool, woven on antique looms. Palacios creates original, one-of-a- kind pieces inspired by the city she lives and works in,Valparaiso. Working with small communities of artisanal spinners and dyers from the Chilean countryside, wool utilized in Palacios designs come from sheep raised by rural families, focused on small-scale production. Designs are defined by coarse, irregular threads and brilliant colors, communicated through organic harmony, form and structure. Palacios work is always evolving and changing, but never fails to be creative, diverse, and free spirited. www.pittipalacios.cl
ACLLAHUASI Acllahuasi in Quechua, means “House of the Chosen Women.” It refers to onstructions found in Incan cities that housed skilled weavers and spinners who produced the finest, most elaborate textiles. Founded by archeaologist Isabel Martínez and designer Camila Moraga in 2006, and based on their joint love of Andean pre-Columbian textiles, Acllahuasi creates a collection of textile objects and accessories based on rescued techniques, colors, and iconography from pre-Columbian times. Crafting unique jewelry items based on a technique known as Cross-knit looping, and rooted in extensive research, the designs and color combinations are inspired by traditional motifs, accented with silver finishings, and packaged in exquisite hand-tied boxes. www.acllahausi.com
APU DISEÑO APU Diseño is a textile design studio that creates exclusive, hand crafted fashion accessories and clothing in limited editions. Producing contemporary items from traditional textile techniques as part of ongoing archeological and ethnographic textile research. APU Diseno fosters creative partnerships between craftsmen and designers, for the best way to achieve a singular, profound and contemporary expression. Working with textile heritage reinterpreted into a contemporary context requires designers to rethink, deconstruct and rebuild historic and cultural codes. Incorporating traditional textile techniques and working with noble materials, sustainable production processes are central to APU Diseño, along with respect for work, culture, our planet, and their customers. www.apudiseno.cl
MUAN EARRINGS BY DLC BROOKLYN These stunning brass beads earrings by DLC Brooklyn (previously Dirty Librarian Chains) are upcycled from deadstock pieces that were rescued from shuttered jewelry factories in the North Eastern United States. Like all of DLC’s jewelry, it is made by hand in their Brooklyn studio. $85, dlcbrooklyn.com
EDUN BELTED TRENCH COAT WITH QUILTED SLEEVES Trench coats just never go out of style. This one by Edun is classic enough to be good for many years to come, yet features edgy details that make it unique. Edun is the fashion line started by Ali Hewson, wife of U2 frontman Bono, with a mission to develop sustainable trade with factories in developing countries such as Africa and China. on sale for $299, edun.com
RAVEN + LILY UZMA NOTECARD SET These beautiful notecards are hand made by marginalized Muslim women in Northern India from 100% recycled cotton paper. Perfect for all those thank-you cards you have to write after the holidays, proceeds from the collection go to fund literacy programs for the women artisans and children in the community. $14, ravenandlily.com
FURTHER TIN CANDLE From the first time I smelled this signature fragrance made from the oils of bergamot, olive and exotic grasses, I was kind of obsessed. If you care about where the things you buy comes from and what they are made of, you will be amused by the fact that Further candles are made from purified waste grease from Mario Batali’s MOZZA restaurant. Thankfully they smell nothing like cooking oil. $28 ($24, not tin), furtherproducts.com
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UNITED BY BLUE SIGNATURE ORGANIC BAG Made from 100% organic cotton canvas with an adjustable strap and brass hardware, this versatile bag will go anywhere with you. By organizing seaside cleanups, United by Blue removes one pound of trash from the oceans for every product you buy. Every little bit helps. $53.00, unitedbyblue.com
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FASHION EDITOR LOVES
Greeting the New Year in Style
CURATED by: Johanna
Björk, Goodlifer.com
SUSTAINABLE HOUSE SHOES Maybe it’s because the floors in my house are still freezing, but I’ve been obsessed with slippers lately. These elfin-like ones are 100% hand-made in Chile with natural free-range Patagonian wool and upcycled and repurposed salmon leather. Each pair comes in a recycled cardboard tube and has a QR code that gives you information about the artisans that made them and where they were made. $59.99, kellygreenhome.com
RIBANDHULL BRIDLE WALLET / IPHONE CASE This gorgeous bridle wallet not only stashes your cash and cards, it also works double duty as an iPhone case. Handmade from premium Italian vegetable tanned bridle leather, it will only grow more beautiful with age. If only the same was true for my phone. $95, etsy.com/shop/ribandhull
PACT LIGHT BOY SHORT I love the swimming fish pattern on these seriously comfy boy shorts from the PACT for Japan collection.The give-back undies company works in collaboration with non-profit organizations on each pair they design; in this case the partner is Architecture for Humanity. Proceeds from sales will support the design and construction of a work-house for a cooperative of 15 fishermen in Shizugawa, a town nearly destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami in March. When the fishermen can go back to work, so can the people who support them and the local economy gets a well-needed kick-start. $22, wearpact.com
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COCO ECO |
SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION!
Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS in 2006 with the simple idea of giving one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair sold. As of September 2010, the company has given one million pairs of shoes to children in 23 countries. Photo courtesy of TOMS.
BRANDS THAT GIVE
BACK WRITTEN by: Johanna
Björk, Goodlifer.com
Fashion brands have to do way more than just make beautiful clothes to be relevant in today’s world. The two first Ps in “triple-bottom-line” — people, planet, profit — have become just as important as the last and consumers are starting to look for something more than just a garment when they shop for clothes. The good news is that there are plenty of great companies out there that have made it an integral part of their business model to give back. SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION | Continued
SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION | Continued
GOODFORALL Goodforall is a Dutch company created in 2007 with one simple idea: Products for a better world. The company recently expanded sales to the U.S. and aims to create jobs where the need is the greatest, promoting employment on a large-scale by producing beautiful high-quality products using a cooperative and completely transparent process. Goodforall has set an ambitious goal to create 2000 jobs for those in need to create and produce their 100% fair made and eco-friendly design products by 2020. There are 400 million people today without access to basic means of existence; empowering these people from the bottom of the pyramid enables them to have access to decent shelter, food, education and healthcare.
familiar raised to a new level by being rendered in a different material is interesting and beautiful. Speaking from experience, I can promise you’ll get a lot of questions and comments from strangers wearing one of these bags around — a great opportunity to strike up a conversation about the story behind it and the importance of supporting companies that do good. goodforall.us
TOMS Since launching their One for One giving model — where the company gives one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair that you buy — in 2006,TOMS have now branched into eyewear and clothing as well. They rely on local experts and carefully vetted NGOs to help identify communities in need. In order to minimize waste and ensure the shoes are actually used by those they are intended for,TOMS only make the sizes that the children need. They are also constantly evolving the shoes to fit the lives of the children that wear them. As of September, 2010, TOMS has given one million pairs of shoes to children in 23 countries, and they seem to have no plans of slowing down the pace of giving any time soon.
There are 400 million people today without access to basic means of existence; empowering these people from the bottom of the pyramid enables them to have access to decent shelter, food, education and healthcare.
Goodforall has decided to focus on three main product lines: Patch8, a line of iPhone, iPad and laptop sleeves made from ecologically tanned cow leather and eco-cotton velvet padding; Allpure, a line of luxurious 100% fairtrade eco-cotton bedding; and MYPAPERBAG, a line of bags made from ecologically tanned buffalo leather. The bags are made without using heavy metals or harmful chemicals in a fairtrade factory in India, by skilled workmen from the lowest caste. MYPAPERBAG is designed by Ramon Middelkoop and is inspired by the lowly grocery store paper bags that you see everywhere. Seeing something so
toms.com
WARBY PARKER Who would have thought hipster eyewear could help bring the gift of sight to people in developing countries? New York-based company Warby Parker does just that through their Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program, which provides a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair you buy. They also partner with non-profits that provide training for low-income entrepreneurs to start their own business selling low-cost glasses. Over one billion people worldwide do not have access to glasses. Eyeglasses can improve productivity by 20% — the equivalent of an extra day of work every week — and have proven to be one of the most efficient tools for alleviating poverty. So far, Warby Parker has distributed 85,000 pairs to people in developing countries. For them, being able to see better is the first step towards a better life. warbyparker.com
SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION | Continued 40
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The design of the MYPAPERBAG is based on a grocery store paper bag. It’s made from vegetable tanned leather in a fairtrade factory in India. One new job is created for every 700 bags sold. Photo courtesy of Goodforall.
As of September 2010, TOMS has given one million pairs of shoes to children in 23 countries. Photo courtesy of TOMS. Jamidah holding an ULTRA jacket
The design of the MYPAPERBAG is based on a grocery store paper bag. It’s made from vegetable tanned leather in a fairtrade factory in India. One new job is created for every 700 bags sold. Photo courtesy of Goodforall.
There are a billion people in the world without access to glasses. When you buy a pair of Warby Parker glasses (which sell at the affordable price of $95 a pair, including prescription lenses) someone in need receives the gift of sight. Photo courtesy of Warby Parker.
Raven + Lily employs HIV positive women in Ethiopia to make their jewelry, using metal from old artillery shells found in farm fields.
The PACT for Japan collection was made in partnership with Architecture for Humanity and benefits the design and construction of a work-house for fishermen in the town of Shizugawa, badly damaged by the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Photo by Chloe Aftel.
Once the contents are gone, an old can quickly becomes trash. With the help of a little folding and a little hammering, an old ULTRA collaborated with Shiseido to design a limited ediPepsi can becomes a cool bracelet. By purchasing this Signature tion perfume bottle that reflects the brand’s piece for the Organic you will help UBB remove one pound of trash 42 |Bag, COCO ECO MAGAZINE | January / February 2012 www.cocoecomag.com Weiling Gallery project. from our oceans and waterways around the world.
RAVEN + LILY Founded by Kirsten Dickerson, a former set and wardrobe designer and Sophia Hirokawa Lin, a former graphic designer, Raven + Lily is a company dedicated to empowering women to discover their full potential. In Ethiopia, they employ HIV positive women to make jewelry from old artillery shells supplied to them by farmers who have found these remnants of war on their lands. Using traditional techniques learned from ancestors, the shells are melted down to produce the handmade, delicate beads that are used to create Raven + Lily’s jewelry designs. This partnership helps employ women that would otherwise be shunned by society, and proceeds from sales help provide micro loans, healthcare, and education for women in the company’s partnership communities. Raven + Lily’s recycled paper, wood products and soaps are made in Northern India, by women from minority groups who have been marginalized, and face severe poverty and discrimination. Through this work the women can earn income to develop crucial infrastructure, and provide better healthcare and education for their families. ravenandlily.com
National, Forest Ethics, Green Belt Movement, Citizen Effect, EarthSpark International, Creative Growth and the Sierra Club. The current collection, PACT for Japan, was made in partnership with Architecture for Humanity, and benefits the design and construction of a workhouse for fishermen in the town of Shizugawa. When project is complete the fishermen can go back to work, and so can the people who support them, such as the local lunch lady, the delivery men and the ice suppliers, helping kick-start the local economy in a town nearly destroyed by the tsunami. Next time you get dressed, maybe you should think about what your underwear is doing to change the world? Trust me, it’s kind of interesting finding yourself at a party talking about the underwear you are wearing.
“Eyeglasses can improve productivity by 20% - the equivalent of an extra day of work every week - and have proven to be one of the most efficient tools for alleviating poverty.”
PACT Organic underwear company PACT’s motto is “Change starts with your underwear.” What they mean by this is that by purchasing their underwear, you are participating in a social movement supporting organic cotton farmers, responsible labor practices, and businesses dedicated to creating positive change in the world. Each season PACT partners with a non-profit organization to design a collection around benefiting their cause. Previous non-profit partners include Global Green USA, Oceana, 826
wearpact.com
UNITED BY BLUE Every year, over 14 billion pounds of trash enters our oceans and 80% of that trash comes from land sources. United by Blue has made it their mission to do something about this — for every product sold, they remove one pound of trash from our oceans and waterways. To do this, United by Blue works with retailers, local universities, environmental groups, service organizations, municipalities, townships, schools and business to organize cleanups and recruit community volunteers to help. When purchasing an item through the company’s website, you can pick from a list of upcoming cleanups and choose which one you want to support. Show your dedication to the well-being of the oceans by sporting one of UBB’s tees, that come with messages like “Support Sustainable Seafood” and “Overfished,” or get one of their sturdy yet stylish utilitarian bags to carry with you the next time you volunteer at a beach cleanup.
“Next time you get dressed, maybe you should think about what your underwear is doing to change the world?”
unitedbyblue.com
COCO ECO |
BEAUTY!
upon request, custom/ by stylist 2012 44Tulle| bollero, COCO price ECO MAGAZINE | January February
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RE-
IMAGINED WRITTEN by: Emma
Pezzack, Beauty Director
The new year is a brilliant opportunity to reinvent yourself, create a brave new face, be an agent for change and an architect of your destiny. With that all that vision in mind, your personality is multi-faceted, why shouldn’t your new beauty looks be. Daring. Dazzling. Dramatic. It’s all in you. A little lack luster after the holiday season? We show you how to detox your skin and kick-start the glow. And Beauty Director Emma Pezzack shares her beauty picks for what is shaping up to be a stellar 2012... Enjoy!
PHOTOGRAPHY by: Jeffrey Fiterman MAKE UP by: Julianne Kaye HAIR by: Judd Minter STYLING by: Adeel Khan MODEL: Marga at Photogenics
be Artistic COCO ECO BEAUTY | Continued
You don’t like to look like everyone else, preferring instead to make a unique statement, blazing a trail when it comes to makeup...
ECCO BELLA SOFT EYELINER PENCILS When one color simply won’t do, a set of unusual eyeliner shades is sure to capture attention - especially when applied with a creative hand. $15.95 each www.eccobella.com
JANE IREDALE PURE GLOSS - GOLD FLING To get lips that speak volumes, this sparkly gold gloss is super sexy over the top of any color. $20 www.shopjaneiredale.com
PHYSICIANS FORMULA ORGANIC WEAR MATTE FINISHING VEIL BRONZE FAIR SKIN Perfect for achieving just a touch of color on cheeks in a handy brush-on pack that’s also eco-friendly. $14.99 www.physiciansformula.com
JANE IREDALE ARTISTS EYES EYE SHADOW PALETTE The sheer number of looks you can create with this color selection (black, canary yellow, deep teal and more), will only be limited by your brilliant artistry. $96 www.shopjaneiredale.com
AFTERGLOW COSMETICS - PURE SOUL MASCARA Just the right amount of color without clumping, smearing, or smudging. $27 www.afterglowcosmetics.com
DR HAUSCHKA LIPSTICK NOVUM SAND DUNE Moisture rich with rose wax & shea butter for luscious lips. $23.95 www.drhauschka.com
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Tulle and leather embellished dress, price upon request, Falguni & Shane Peacock www.falgunishanepeacock.com
Tulle blouse with embellishment, price upon request, Johanna Johnson www.johannajohnson.com Feather & sik neckpiece, price upon request, custom by stylist
be Sweet
JOSIE MARAN ARGAN BLUSH - BLOSSOM This soft peach color gives a beautifully soft flush to cheeks that mimics your own glow. $20 www.josiemarancosmetics.com
Sweet doesn’t have to be boring and with the right tricks and tools, nor is it...
NVEY ECO EYE SHADOW PALETTE 5 COLOR SYSTEM The perfect combination of colors for a soft, natural looking eye. $63 www.zappos.com
RAWCOLOR PERFECT BALANCE CONCEALER AND HIGHLIGHTER TRIO This all natural set contains a slew of active botanicals and the three shades are everything you need to achieve a flawless finish. $38 www.rawnaturalbeauty.com
JUICE BEAUTY PERFECTING FOUNDATION Exactly as it says, this organic foundation gives a light and fresh look to skin that doesn’t look made-up. $35 www.juicebeauty.com
VAPOUR ORGANIC BEAUTY TRICK STICK - DAZZLE Get lit-from-within skin with this foolproof illuminator that’s a makeup artist fave. $20 www.vapourbeauty.com
SUNCOAT LIPSTICK - ALMOND FROST Housed in renewable bamboo compact, this moisturizing lipstick delivers long-wearing, entirely natural color. $20.99 www.suncoatproducts.com
be a Vixen COCO ECO BEAUTY | Continued
JANE IREDALE MYSTIKOL - AMETHYST This pencil is surprisingly versatile and doubles as a deep, rich purple lip shade when coupled with the built in shimmer and some shiny gloss over the top. $20 www.shopjaneiredale.com
There are times when you want to attract more attention than your neutral brown shadow and pink lipstick allow. You’re not a wallflower and neither is your makeup......
BARE ESCENTUALS MINERAL VEIL REFILLABLE BUFFING BRUSH A look this strong requires a flawless finish and the award-winning mineral veil gives an airbrushed look to skin in a handy applicator that can also be used for their other products. $15 www.bareescentuals.com
SUNCOAT LIQUID EYELINER - CHIC BLACK A look this strong Draw the perfect winged eye with this sugar-based liquid eyeliner. $16.99 www.suncoatproducts.com
INTELLIGENT NUTRIENTS LIP NUTRITION LIP GLOSS - CLEAR FROSTING Loaded with antioxidants and good for you organic ingredients, it also delivers a super glossy finish that’s not tacky. $24 www.futurenatural.com
HONEYBEE GARDENS NATURAL MASCARA - BLACK Build va va voom lashes without clumping and apply as many coats as you like. The lightweight formula allows for multiple applications. $10.99 www.honeybeegardens.com
JOSIE MARAN LIMITED EDITION EYESHADOW QUAD BuThis Argan oil infused quartet multitasks as highlighter, eyeliner and eyeshadow for creating the perfect dramatic eye. $24 www.josiemarancosmetics.com
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Silk, tulle & ribbon top, price upon request, custom by stylist
BUMBLE & BUMBLE HAIR PINS This adorable tin houses 50 custom designed hair pins in winter white, along with a tutorial for creating six different hairstyles - I love these! $15 www.sephora.com
REN KEEP YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL SH2C SERUM This sophisticated potion contains a slew of hexapeptides, vitamin c and sirtuin activators that boost collagen, enhance cell turnover and trick your skin into thinking it’s 20 - in case you’re not. $65 www.renskincare.com
KJAER WEIS CREAM BLUSH - SUN KISSED This cream blush gets rid of any winter pallor in an instant making you look like you’ve been for a brisk walk. $54 www.spacenk.com
BEAUTY DIRECTOR LOVES CURATED by: Emma
Pezzack
If you’re anything like me you barely scraped through 2011 and here we are, off and racing into a new year with hardly time to breathe, much less spend time and energy on how we look! Here are some of my can’t-live-without items to help me ring in a stress-free new year...
PLEASANT RIVER SOAP CO. - LIME & ROSEMARY BAR SOAP Bar soaps seem under-rated these days but I’m a major fan of these vegan, hand made soaps from Maine using locally sourced ingredients. This fragrance in particular gives me a much needed boost in the shower in the morning & leaves my skin really soft. $3.99 www.pleasantriversoap.com
LOTUS WEI TRANSFORMATIVE PERFUME PURE ENERGY Infused with flower essences and essential oils, this scent will give you vitality, radiance, strength and a more powerful presence. Because it’s 100% natural and organic it’s recommended that you use several times a day to get the most aromatherapeutic benefits. I’m officially addicted to the whole collection. $45 www.futurenatural.com
BOOST OXYGEN This is one time it’s ok to inhale. Oxygen is making a comeback (as if it ever went away) in the form of a handy can that can boost energy, productivity and performance - just what you need to start a new year right? From $7.99 - $12.99 www.boost-oxygen.com
EPSOM SALT BATH A treatment dating back to Shakespearian times, just a cup or two of these salts in your hot bath help to purify your skin and reduce muscle swelling. For a really enjoyable experience, add a few drops of your favorite essential oils and a sprig or two of lavender. www.saltworks.com
ISUN RHASSOUL REFINING EXFOLIANT Skip the pricey microdermabrasion treatment at the spa and treat yourself to this exfoliating mud, made with Moroccan Rhassoul Clay and oceanic floor, sure to scrub away the last month of parties and stress, and take your skin to a brighter place. www.greenlinebeauty.com
ISUN RHASSOUL-NEEM MASK With antimicrobial herbs and clay, this mask draws out impurities and reduces excess sebum. Simply smooth on after exfoliating, cleanse fifteen minutes later and voila! Clear, glowing and detoxed skin is yours! www.greenlinebeauty.com
BEAUTY EDITOR LOVES CURATED by: Leila
Mundt
January is a time for new resolutions and great expectations, personal trainers and financial advisors. However, all too often, it is also a time of dull, dry skin and excess inches. Kick that holiday hangover with these tried and true cures for skin detoxification and get your glow back! Rooted in ancient knowledge, these tools have never been so relevant.
INFRARED SAUNA Spend more time this year in the red. The infrared light in this sauna penetrates your tissues to promote deep detoxification and relaxation. Look up a spa or wellness center nearby or even buy one for your home to experience deep cleansing all year long. www.sunlighten.com
SKIN DETOX YOGI TEA Formulated with herbs and botanicals known around the world to cleanse and calm the skin, this tea promises to purify your body’s largest organ from the inside out. www.yogiproducts.com
DRY BRUSHING Known to stimulate the entire lymph system, dry brushing will increase circulation and detoxification. Start with short, quick brush strokes at your feet and work your way towards your heart, finishing with your arms and chest. This is a perfect pre-shower or preworkout practice. www.earththerapeutics.com
COCO ECO |
SPOTLIGHT ON BEAUTY
Rare
ELEMENTS WRITTEN by: Leila
Mundt, Beauty Editor
The day a girl realizes her entire arsenal of pricey beauty must-haves, the ones that fill her vanity and stock her shower, are nothing more than toxic, harmful chemicals disguised by toxic, harmful fragrance is never an easy one. Years of brand loyalty are suddenly insignificant and the truth can leave a fresh, new “eco” girl feeling lost and confused. But soon enough she will find products she can count on- products that feel like the ones she used to love-but better, because her mind and body know that that they are safe and healthy. When she meets this new product, it’s as if cupid’s arrow has struck. True love… and so a new loyal friendship begins. 56
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Enter Rare Elements. If the all-natural hair care options you have encountered leave your hair fuzzy, frizzy and poofy in all the wrong places, take heart; the champion of beautiful eco-tresses everywhere is here. Born in Beverly Hills to John Amato, a former salon owner, and Teri La Verne, a former model, the Rare Elements product lineup is truly a savior to the eco-chic woman who is frustrated with health-food store hair products. John and Teri spent years scouring the globe for effective, pure ingredients that could treat myriad hair and scalp issues. The result is a fabulous product trio that gives hair the ultimate in cleansing and nourishing without harmful chemicals and preservatives, leaving you with silky, shiny hair like you just stepped out of a hot Beverly Hills salon. This is how it works: Formulated with potent botanical ingredients, such as camelina, borage and macadamia, El Treatment goes on first to deep condition each strand. This oil was designed to leave on for 10 minutes prior
to shampooing, and overnight saturation can give even more beneficial results. The Pure Shampoo is next. This luscious formula will purify the scalp and deeply hydrate your hair, while Geranium and Ylang Ylang flower oils delight the senses. Lastly, condition with a rich, luxury balm that turns even the driest of manes into shiny locks that bounce around happily all day. Rare Elements is endorsed by hair pros and celebrities nationwide and is considered to be one of eco-beauty’s best-kept secrets. The simplicity of the program makes it easy to use for all types of hair and the pure formula and beautiful scent keep loyal followers coming back again and again. And what about those expensive bottles of shampoos and conditioners, lotions and sprays, which were tossed into the trash years ago? They are long forgotten. I have a new love, and I plan on being forever faithful. www.rare-elements.com
KEEP THE GLOW | Continued
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COCO ECO |
COVER STORY!
PHOTOGRAPHY by: Russell Baer ASSISTED BY by: Angel Romero STYLED by: Sarah Griffin Berns and Adeel Khan MAKE-UP by: Gloria Noto| January / February 2012 60 | COCO ECO MAGAZINE
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SHAILENE WOODLEY:
ON THE ASCENT A Young Talent On the Rise,With Her Feet Planted Firmly In the Earth!
WRITTEN by: Anna
Griffin
When Shailene Woodley breezes into our December cover shoot, I am immediately taken aback by her warmth as she greets each of us with a hug, and is genuinely enthusiastic to be there. And she’s game. Having initially been suggested that she would style herself using her own clothes (in an effort to avoid promoting consumption), she is soon scouring the racks of our sustainable wardrobe, and graciously agrees to be photographed in her favorite pieces. Pink silk gown, price upon request, Wink www.winknyc.com
COVER STORY | Continued
COVER STORY | Continued
At 20 years old, Shailene is incredibly grounded and seems wise beyond her years, whilst still possessing a refreshing youthful exuberance and an infectious passion for life. Education and the environment excite her, and she is embracing living in harmony with nature, carefully considering her impact on the planet. Choosing a lifestyle inspired by indigenous culture, and studying the effect of diet on both health and the environment, she is extremely knowledgeable on the subject, and even draws her own spring water firmly believing in its wellness properties. With a Golden Globe nomination for her role in ‘The Descendants,’ Alexander Payne’s hot Oscar contender, Shailene is remarkably unaffected by the attention she is receiving. In an industry not known for placing a value on role models, she stands out as a talented force unwilling to compromise herself in the pursuit of fame, instead choosing gratitude and conveying a wisdom that belies her 20 years.
so when I was about fifteen and in high school, I was watching the trees and the leaves blowing in the wind. The juxtaposition of the wind blowing, and the leaves and the trash from the school lunch in the air, made me so mad. Ever since then I have just had this really intense passion for educating myself and other people, on the environment and what we’re doing to the planet. We are part of the environment. There’s this big green initiative right now, which is exciting and great, but I think people forget that we are nature and so if we intend to treat our planet with love and fix it, we have to fix ourselves and treat each other with love. It’s more than just recycling or picking up a piece of trash, or turning off the water when you’re brushing your teeth. It’s about treating everything with compassion and love, including humanity.
“The amount of waste we have is so frustrating . . . and is what
inspired me to start researching health, and In ‘The Descendants,’ she plays Alexandra King, the surly teenage daughter of George Cloowhat we can do to live ney’s Matt King, who has to cope not only with a boating accident that leaves her mother in more minimally.” a coma, but also exposes her unfaithfulness to Alexandra’s father. This girl can act, and handles the emotionally charged role with a maturity and intelligence that defies her age. We couldn’t wait to hear what she had to say . . . Coco Eco: Shailene, I know you’re excited to be here. Can you tell us why you wanted to shoot with Coco Eco today? Shailene Woodley: I think anything that has something to do with the environment, and anybody who is passionate about educating the public about what can be done to live more sustainably and in stride with nature, is amazing. To be able to shoot with a magazine that has integrity about what it means to be eco-friendly is exciting. I’ve honestly been so looking forward to this shoot! CE:Thank you. What inspired your passion for the environment? Did your parents raise you to be eco-friendly? SW: No. I was raised in a family that said, “We’re not going to eat white bread, but we’ll eat wheat bread,” but of course that still has artificial colors and flavors. My parents knew the basics about health, but not the depths of really eating healthy, or about the environment. I’ve always had this thing for trees; I think they are just so profound, 62
CE: Well if you don’t love and respect yourself first, how can you love and respect anything else? SW: Exactly, and each other. There’s so much hate in the world toward other humans, and I think if we plan to fix our environmental problems we have to also fix our human problems. CE: You mentioned health. We always say that if it’s bad for the planet, it’s bad for you, and vice versa. When did you actively decide to combine your passion for both your own health and that of the planet? SW: It was probably about a year ago. I’ve always been fairly health conscious and would eat a lot of vegetables, but I would eat chips that are all genetically modified nowadays. I read a book called “Farm Sanctuary,” and it was about how animals are treated. I always knew it was bad, but I didn’t know how bad. This book de-
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COVER STORY | Continued www.cocoecomag.com
Grey wool knit dress, price upon request, Johan Ku www.johanku.com
Mint green knit bodysuit, price upon request, vintage Azzedine Alaia available at The Way We Wore www.thewaywewore.com Black leather shorts, price upon request, Rachael Cassar www.rachaelcassar.com
scribes how when chicks are born, a machine plucks them from the egg, they don’t even walk. They get thrown on a conveyor belt and human beings look at them, and if they are males they get tossed in a blender, chopped up and fed back to the female chickens. We don’t eat male chickens. When you go to the grocery store, they’re all female, and males don’t lay eggs so few roosters get to survive. That right there, and then everything else with the cows and the pigs, made me start researching. I started watching a lot of documentaries on genetic modification, and about animal treatment, the transportation of meat and how it’s soaked in ammonia to kill E Coli. It’s an amazing journey that I have been on, and when you start researching one thing, so many things get thrown in your life that reinforce your passion for it.
bodies, but because it’s so important for the environment. His response was that he and I could afford to eat organic, but 98% of the population can’t, but it’s so true. Our population is so large, and there hasn’t been a company or an organization that has stepped up and provided organic food to people on a lower income level. So one of my goals in life is to start a giant organic, biodynamic farm, and have it run like a community, but sell the produce for less than conventional prices. I think the education is an important element for me too.
“I felt like I got in touch with myself, I got in touch with what was important in life, and with who I wanted to be and surround myself with.”
Recently I have been meeting a lot of people who study indigenous cultures, and learning how their diets affect their bodies and the environment, so that’s where I stand. That, and the fact people will go to a drive-thru and get a burger, and with that burger comes a paper bag, the paper the burger is wrapped in, a bunch of napkins, the straw and the lid for the cup, the actual cup, and the paper the straw is wrapped in. The amount of waste we have is so frustrating, so at home I try to only buy bulk, and I only go to the farmer’s markets. The amount of waste is what inspired me to start researching health, and what we can do to live more minimally. CE: How do you handle your frustration, for example, about the meat industry? I listen to you speak, and I get it, but what about the billions of people in the world who don’t? People who are affected by hard financial times, or lack of education or resources? SW: That’s the thing. I was speaking to a family friend the other day about the importance of eating organic, not just because it’s good for our
CE: Is the educational aspect something you want to be a part of?
SW: Absolutely. Right now I am learning so much from talking to people who inspire me, reading books and watching documentaries, and I would love to set up a program. My Mom and I started a charity last year called All It Takes, and there’s three branches; health, the environment, and social awareness within schools which is our positive affirmation of anti bullying. We take middle school kids, half at-risk and the other half are high achievers, to a camp where through team building workshops and courses, they learn to accept one another, and it opens a lot of room for awareness within schools. They see that the perfect cheerleader isn’t just a blonde, beautiful girl, but maybe she has an alcoholic parent, and that kid who wears the same shirt everyday perhaps lives in a car. So it’s really beautiful how we help these kids and stop a lot of bullying. Another thing that we do is talk about composting and gardening, the importance of buying locally, and reusing clothes and buying from thrift stores. It’s really inspiring to see these kids at such a young age being educated about these things, so I am focusing on that. One day though I would love to do a blog, or a conference or something where I could reach a lot of people and talk about the things I’m passionate about. I’d love to inspire people to go after their passions. CE: So everyone can utilize their passion to make a difference? SW: Exactly, and I think education is an important part of that. The lack of education in what we eat is shocking. My Uncle is a very successful caterer up in the Bay area, and last year I was talking to him about eating organic. His response was that eating organic was dumb and it would fade away. I said, “You spend so much money feeding these giant companies and these huge sports teams, and you’re feeding them foods that might taste good, but in the long run you’re breaking down their bodies because you’re feeding them foods full of hormones and preservatives.” He didn’t know anything, and was using plastic forks and plates, but now he has shifted into eco-friendly compostable ware for the food, and although most of the food is still not organic, the meats are and he is try-
COVER STORY | Continued
ing to source from local farms. It inspires me to see the baby steps people take, but the lack of information is really frightening, and something needs to be done about it. Quickly. CE: As the next big thing in Hollywood, in an industry that isn’t always associated with doing the right thing, are you finding it hard to carry your voice, or are you committed to going against the status quo?
one ever asked me if I felt like a hypocrite pushing those clothes, I would tell them how those dresses get used over and over and over again. There’s one dress that gets worn by so many people, and it gets recycled and it gets reused. And I think it’s a great message to send. I do wear those fancy dresses and suits, but I am not keeping them. I wear them and then return, then someone else wears and returns, and on, and it’s this beautiful re-use and restore process.
“ . . . I already have so much to look back on and be grateful for, so I have zero expectations for what might come, or what might happen.”
SW: No, not at all. I think my biggest fear is falling into mediocrity! I think it’s exciting that I have been given this beautiful gift of reaching a lot of people that maybe I wouldn’t have been able to reach through a different outlet in life, and I am so fortunate. Sometimes I think that the only reason I was able to act was to talk about and spread this message, and to help other people find the messages that they want to talk about. I’m so grateful because it’s such an amazing opportunity, and it’s exciting too because I can talk about things that most people have never even heard of. Most people have never heard of clay, or spring water, or chlorophyll, which shocks me because that’s what I revolve my life around, but then it shocks them that I know nothing about a big designer, or director, or producer. CE: How do you find a balance between having to look fabulous on the red carpet, and your core believes about the environment and consumption?
SW: In my personal life, I only buy used clothes, so thrift stores, trade-in stores, vintage stores, friend’s closets . . . Sometimes I find it hard to find a good pair of used shoes and jeans, but 97% of my wardrobe is all used. I struggled for a while, going on these red carpets, and wearing makeup that didn’t represent my morals, and looking like something that I wasn’t. Then I realized that it’s kind of a great message to send, because if any66
CE: Changing direction, tell us about the Descendants, and by the way, congratulations on all of your award nominations.
SW: Thank you. The film was one of the most majestic moments in my life. I call it my Spiritual Awakening. I had never been to Hawaii before, but at least for me, there’s an energy that is so overwhelmingly calm, and within ten minutes of getting off the plane, I am grounded and centered. The people there are so full of love, for other people and for the environment, and the trees and the hikes you can go on, and the fact you can just go swimming in the ocean and all of a sudden a giant manta ray swims under you. It’s such a different world than the concrete buildings of Los Angeles, where I grew up. Literally, a Spiritual Awakening is the best way to describe it for me. I felt like I got in touch with myself, I got in touch with what was important in life, and with who I wanted to be and surround myself with. CE: Inspiring to hear, and what about the actual experience of working on the film? SW: Every single person got along, and that doesn’t happen in any profession, let alone this industry. Everybody was happy at 6 o’clock every morning and greeted each other with a smile on their faces. Everyone hung out together, and George would hang out with the local Polynesian transportation guys and play basketball, and there was no #1, no one was better than anybody else. It was all about making this beautiful piece of art. CE: What was your impression of working with George Clooney? SW: I am so fortunate to have got to know him as a person, and continue to get to know him. He is so incredibly down to earth, and he knows that it’s probably intimidating to work with him if you’re a young actor. He goes out of his way to make you feel comfortable, wanted and necessary, and I’m so grateful for that. He really is an amazing guy from Kentucky with a heart of gold, who would never
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COVER STORY | Continued www.cocoecomag.com
Dress in bamboo satin, SANYUKTA SHRESTHA www.sanyuktashrestha.com Ivory tulle and silk blazer, price uponSTAMO request, Jacket in linen with recycled camouflage fabric, Christian Cota www.christiancota.com www.stamo.co.uk
Wool evening dress, wool opera coat with inside ruffles, STAMO www.stamo.co.uk Evening clutch bag, MT LABELS www.mtlabels.com Ivory tullegold and rings, silk blazer, price upon request, Fairtrade LINNIE MCLARTY www.linniemclarty.com Christian Cota www.christiancota.com
hurt a fly. He would do something for anyone, regardless of whether he knew you or not. You hear about him being this goofy guy, which he is. He’s a totally goofy prankster, but also the most philanthropic man I have met in my life. He does things for people on a daily basis, never talks about them, and is so sly about it you’re lucky if you catch him doing it. He’s just a giver, he’s someone who has really embraced the word gratitude, and I love talking about him because I have never met a more generous man in my life. CE: Did you all leave the set knowing that this was a very special project, bound for serious award-contention?
see how lucky we are to have trees that give us oxygen.That’s so beautiful, and I think it’s something people need to start recognizing more, the small things in life. I have scoliosis, and people are always saying they’re sorry, but to me it’s such a beautiful thing because I have it. CE: That’s a really healthy way to look at it. Now, what’s next for you in your career? SW: I am working on the show The Secret Life of The American Teenager right now. I would love to do another film, but until I read something that I am really inspired by and passionate for, I refuse to do another movie because I’m on the wave and I have to ride it. CE: Is it possible to be successful in Hollywood without being on the treadmill of having to take roles, or be in the public eye?
SW: We definitely came from set knowing this was going to be a very special movie. Not because people were going to like it, not because of Award Season or critics, but because of our experience. We had a second annual wrap party this year in LA, and everyone came who was in town, whilst there was a sister party in Hawaii for all the locals who worked on the film, and we Skyped between the two parties. I’m sure we will have a third one next year, and in 15 years we’ll still be having them, because it was such a unique experience. Everyone was so grateful to be in Hawaii working on an Alexander Payne film, and everyone loved each other. The word Aloha, if you break it down, means breath and spirit, so when Hawaiians say Aloha, they are not only saying hello and goodbye. They are saying, “I’m seeing your spirit, and I am giving you mine.” And everyday that movie was Aloha. Everyone exchanged their spirit with one another, and it was so special. I think every single person would say they would pay to be there.
SW: For me, yes, because working is just as important as attending an outdoor education seminar, and I think it’s important to have more than one passion in life. I’m really fortunate to know my passions, and to keep expanding them, so if I don’t work for another two years, I see that as an opportunity to focus on another aspect of my life. I hope it’s not two years till I do another movie, but if it is, then it is, and it’s totally fine.
CE: It’s so refreshing to hear you express such gratitude. Being grateful is obviously important to you.
www.allittakes.org
SW: Yes, and I often think that there is a lack of gratitude in life. If people recognized that we are even able to breathe on a daily basis, so many things would be put into perspective. So many people, including myself, get wrapped up in materialism, arguments and things that aren’t working, that’s when we need to take a step back and
CE: With Award Season buzz surrounding you, and your Golden Globe nomination, are you feeling the pressure or do you just go with the flow? SW: I don’t think there’s any pressure. My work in Hawaii is done. My job was to do the film and be passionate about that, so all of this is exciting and a fun ride, but if nothing else happens, I already have so much to look back on and be grateful for, so I have zero expectations for what might come, or what might happen. With her role on the successful TV show, ‘The Secret Life Of The American Teenager,’ Shailene Woodley’s career is rapidly on the ascent. Will she get the Golden Globe? Well, that’s still to be determined. However, after spending an afternoon with her, one thing is clear. Whatever success comes her way, this poised and passionate young heroine for the Earth is keeping her feet firmly on the ground.
COCO ECO |
WOMEN WE ADMIRE
DR. GOODALL 70 JANE | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | January / February 2012
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COCO ECO’S
WOMEN WE ADMIRE COCO ECO HONORS SIX WOMEN, BLAZING A FORMIDABLE TRAIL, AND IMPACTING THE WORLD ONE INITIATIVE AT A TIME.
Lauren Bush Lauren, Torrey Joel DeVitto, Rebecca Harrell Tickell, Summer Rayne Oakes, Marianne Williamson, Susan Miller.
WRITTEN by: Nicole
Landers
We celebrate the innovation of six trailblazers, who are each pioneering a course for a better world. Coco Eco honors these Women We Admire for their dedication to the planet, and its people. WELLNESS GODDESSES | Continued
WOMEN OF THE WORLD | Continued
LAUREN BUSH
You already know that this pioneering conservationLauren Bush is the niece of former President George W. Bush, a Princeton alum, and recently married Ralph Lauren’s son, David. She could have chosen to simply sit back and enjoy her enviable life, but this incredibly talented young woman is on a mission, choosing to give back and lead by example. Starting in 2004, she became an Honorary Spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme (WFP), wherein she traveled the world to learn about the realities of poverty and hunger first hand. That trip led to the creation of FEED, a charitable company that creates products that help feed the world by supporting UNICEF’s Millennium Villages program (among others). Lauren shared openly about the sometimes overwhelming issue of global hunger: “The idea for FEED was to try to break this issue down into small, tangible solutions - so by buying 1 bag or 1 FEED product, our supporters are able to provide meals and nutrients in a simple, measurable way.” To date, FEED Projects has partnered with companies like Whole Foods Market, Barnes & Noble, the Gap, HSN, Pottery Barn, and many more to extend the reach of the eco-friendly products, garnering over $6 million dollars for the UN World Food Program’s school feeding program. This equates to over 60 million school meals that have fed impoverished children. Lauren is also the Chairperson and Co-Founder of the FEED Foundation, a non-profit that supports programs and organizations that work to fight hunger and eliminate malnutrition throughout the world. And if feeding the world’s hungry children weren’t enough, Lauren is also working on her own fashion brand, Lauren Pierce; so far collections have included super wearable, quietly refined pieces that will never go out of style, much like their big-hearted designer. To learn more about FEED Project log on to, www.feedprojects.com
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TORREY JOËL DEVITTO
REBECCA HARRELL TICKELL
She shares, “To most, death is an incredibly scary and taboo idea. Hospice provides a shoulder to lean on... and the important duty of easing the fears and doubts that naturally reside in our minds as we approach the end of our lifetime. There is nothing I am more proud or passionate about than being a part of this work. It is a life-long commitment for me. My hope is to inspire others to join me in this fulfilling journey.”
After spending close to two years documenting the impacts and root cause of the BP oil spill for ‘The Big Fix’, she was left with permanent damage from exposure to the oil and dispersant in the atmosphere. Doctors say she can’t expose the skin on her neck and chest to the sun for the rest of her life and that, because of the high levels of toxins she was exposed to, that she should not have kids. “Women down in the Gulf who were exposed to high levels of oil and dispersant like I was, are having miscarriages and malformed babies. It has been a real wake up call for me.”
Success doesn’t always equal fulfillment, a lesson actress Torrey Joël DeVitto learned early in life. Having achieved the actor’s holy grail – a regular TV show – (she currently stars on the hit CW television series, “Vampire Diaries” and in a recurring guest role for ABC Family’s hit show, “Pretty Little Liars”), she found herself on a path she never even thought of: End of life care via hospice. Torrey is now the first ever Hospice Ambassador, and has been volunteering for almost five years with a hospice outside of Los Angeles. Having never heard of this kind of volunteer work prior to finding it on the Internet, she did some research and gave a local group a call. After her training, she went right into helping her first patient and knew instantly this was exactly what she was looking to do.
Growing up in New York she spent most of her early years traveling on the road with her parents (her dad played drums for Billy Joel for 28 years). By the time Torrey could walk her heart was in music and acting. In her wildest dreams she never thought she would be a caregiver. “When I first started my training, the woman training me shared the Hospice slogan, “No one dies alone.” I love that slogan! I think that really sums up perfectly what Hospice is all about.” Torrey knows first hand that this is not easy work. “The greatest challenge doing this work thus far has probably been being around moments of sadness that the patients go through. But all the good outweighs the bad in doing this because meeting the people and being there for them at such a crucial time is incredible,“ she says. To join Torrey or learn more, log on to www.caringinfo.org/torrey
You might not have heard of her by name, but you’ve most certainly heard about her documentaries, including “The Big Fix” (an Official Selection of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival) and FUEL, the 2008 Sundance Award winning documentary about America’s addiction to oil. Rebecca Harrell Tickell is the force behind them, and as a filmmaker, musician, activist, public speaker and author, she thinks there’s something fundamentally wrong with the way we portray and perceive environmental issues. She wants to change it for herself and for the women, especially, who have been affected by these and other environmental crises. She should know.
But Harrell-Tickell sees a much larger issue at play than just specific environmental disasters. “Somewhere along the way we fell asleep. ‘We,’ being the tribe of people who once knew how to survive on planet Earth,” Rebecca shares. “We forgot how to live naturally and intuitively. Mother Earth will survive, but whether or not we will is up to us.” Rebecca’s husband, award-winning filmmaker Josh Tickell, is a fifteen-year veteran of green energy, including support for alternatives to oil, coal, nuclear and “natural” gas. In the last few years the Tickells have made three feature documentary films together: ‘FUEL,’ ‘The Big Fix’ and ‘Freedom.’ Harrell-Tickell is currently in pre-production on two new movies and also co-chairs the non-profit, I’ll Be the One, and penned the book, ‘Hot, Rich & Green,’ about redefining feminism and the role of women in the environmental movement. She firmly believes she can heal herself and, that we can turn this crisis around. But first we are going to have to take different actions. “We can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. It is up to us each one of us.” For more info log on to, www.thebigfixmovie.com
WOMEN OF THE WORLD | Continued
SUMMER RAYNE OAKES
Changing the way the fashion industry does business is no easy task. Summer Rayne Oakes, the environmental activist, first-ever eco model and author of the guide Style, Naturally, is taking it on with her newest project, Source4Style (S4S), cofounded with her best friend Benita Singh. The first trends-driven B2B online marketplace that connects designers to sustainable material suppliers around the globe, Source4Style was recently honored with the prestigious 2011 Cartier Women’s Initiative Award. Soon after, the 2.0 version of the site registered users in over 70 countries and suppliers in 25 countries. Why this project? “So many of the challenges the world faces are opportunities for us to create meaningful change, but only if we set out to make it happen,” says Summer. Source4Style is the first online portal in the industry (let alone the eco fashion industry) to connect designers and fabric suppliers in such an easy-to-use, groundbreaking way – this site has the potential to transform the way fashion designers do business, enabling them to spend less time and money on sourcing responsibly and more time on what they love (designing clothes!). But the site will continue to evolve: “Maintaining momentum is key while finding the right technology solutions that adequately address a designer’s sourcing needs,” says Summer. While getting this project up and running, Summer works as a brand ambassador and consultant for companies and organizations looking to develop more environmentally responsible products and services. She has worked with some big brands to help them break their unsustainable habits, including Payless ShoeSource, Aveeno, Portico Home, the Discovery Channel, and most recently created Eco by Summer Rayne Oakes - a collection of 95% recycled eyewear with Modo. If that isn’t enough, she also makes time to be the Editor-at-Large for Above Magazine and has recently written-produced her first film – an environmental art short called eXtinction, which debuts at film festivals throughout 2011 and 2012. To find out more and keep up with Summer Rayne Oakes & Source4Syle, log on to: www.summerrayne.net and www.source4style.com 74
| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | January / February 2012
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MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
Marianne Williamson is a self-proclaimed spiritual goddess, a leader in divine growth, and an internationally acclaimed author and lecturer of almost three decades. Six of her ten published books have been New York Times bestsellers and four of those reached the number one spot. A Return to Love is considered a must-read by those interested in spirituality, and here lastest bestseller is A Course in Weight Loss: 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever. That book was inspired by as well as selected by Oprah to be one of her Favorite Things in 2010. Marianne’s other books include The Age of Miracles, Everyday Grace, A Woman’s Worth, Illuminata, Healing the Soul of America and The Gift of Change. Beyond writing, in 1989 Marianne founded Project Angel Food, a mealson-wheels organization that serves homebound people with AIDS in the Los Angeles area. Today, Project Angel Food Program is going strong and has prepared as well as delivered more than 7 million meals. Last year, alone over 735,000 meals to 2,200 individuals were served. Why did Marianne choose this problem to tackle? She says, “In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.” Marianne’s latest workshop is all about romantic relationships. “How do we attract them? How do we keep them? Why are they sometimes so challenging? What is the key to making them joyous and fulfilling?” In February 2012, she will be doing a 3-day workshop called The Enchanted Love Workshop: The Inner Temple of the Sacred and the Romantic. All of those who are looking for romantic inspiration should check it out. To learn more about Marianne and see where she is speaking next log on to, www.marianne.com
SUSAN MILLER
A true pioneer, Susan Miller is an internationally known astrologer, author, columnist, and TV personality. She’s also a single mother of two who, against health odds as a child, overcame a crippling leg ailment that forced her to spend years in the hospital. This is what led her to study astrology with her mother, be home schooled, and attend NYU at 16. While Susan owns Astrology Zone® outright today, it was originally part of Time Warner’s Pathfinder, then Walt Disney’s GO.com when AOL bought Time Warner. When GO.com changed, Astrology Zone® moved to its own servers, and Susan began self-publishing on September 10, 2001. Founded in December of 1995, Susan now publishes her forecasts to 6 million unique visitors and garners 18 million page views every month from around the world. She writes the most comprehensive monthly astrology forecast available anywhere in any medium. Her intimate writing style justifies her loyal following. And best of all, her forecasts are free: “I write Astrology Zone® so I can support my readers in their lives. I take on other writing jobs and personal appearances in order to keep the site free. The people who need Astrology Zone® are, most likely, least able to afford a paid site. I could easily charge for the site, but I won’t. I do it because I love my readers, and I want to help them,” Susan says. A prolific writer who contributes to eight wellknown fashion magazines worldwide, Susan is currently working on her eighth book. She’s known for her Year Ahead series, (the most recent being The Year Ahead 2012 book and calendar), which are all self-published and available for a limited run exclusively through Susan’s website. If you haven’t already, treat yourself to your monthly forecast, and log on to: www.astrologyzone.com NANA FOSU-RANDALL
COCO ECO |
MEN WE LOVE!
MEN WE LOVE COCO ECO RECOGNIZES FOUR TRAILBLAZERS, LENDING THEIR VOICE AND INNOVATION TO SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND SUSTAINABLE IMPACT WORLDWIDE.
Jeff Garner, Michael B. Jordan, Mayor Gregor Robertson, Aydogan Ozcan WRITTEN by: Nikki Lin and Erica PHOTOGRAPHY by: As Noted
J. Eddings
We recognize the drive and compassion of four men, dedicated to change and helping the voiceless globally. Coco Eco pays tribute to the Men We Love for their admirable efforts to better the world in which we live.
JEFF - PROPHETIK 76 | GARNER COCO ECO MAGAZINE | January / February
2012
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JEFF GARNER In an industry more focused on results than processes, Jeff Garner’s ability to create romantic wearable art using sustainable materials and resources, makes him a fashion pioneer. Growing up on a farm in a civil war town in Tennessee, his connection to nature and his surrounding environment led Garner to create the eco-friendly and organic fashion brand, Prophetik. He uses organic dyes straight from the garden, recycled bottles greenspun into fleece, hemp, and provides fair pay to employees producing these materials by hand. Garner prides himself and label on its mission, and hopes to influence the rest of the industry to follow suit. Working with Lipscomb University in Tennessee, he is planning to build a school of sustainability. Garner says, “The school program will educate on textiles, natural dyes, and manufacturing principals and ethics, that will help revolutionize the next generation of thinkers and designers.” Garner also works with the International Humanities Center on a project called Garner Eco-Fashion. This program provides education training through sustainable fashion design showcases, media impact, and guest lectures, hoping to create more awareness of best eco-fashion practices. Garner is currently preparing for a touring exhibit with the Smithsonian American Art Museum called, “40 Under 40: Craft Futures.” The exhibit would highlight 40 artists under the age of 40 who specialize in sustainable craftwork and materials in artistic areas, such as industrial, sculpture, and fashion design. The exhibit will live permanently at the Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C. at the end of the tour. Dates are July 2012 – February 2013. The efforts of Jeff Garner are both honorable and fashionable, and as he states, “A social conscience will never go out of style.” www.prophetik.com americanart.si.edu ihcenter.org/projects/garner-eco-fashion
MEN WE LOVE | Continued
MEN WE LOVE | Continued
MICHAEL B. JORDAN Michael B. Jordan is well known for his work on HBO’s The Wire, ABC’s All My Children, CBS’s Cosby and NBC’s Friday Night Lights. In 2012 he will appear in two feature films, Chronicle and Red Tails. At the young age of 24, Jordan is also making a major impact as a humanitarian while his acting career takes on new heights. Through his efforts with several non-profit organizations he implores society to be more informed, because “sometimes just becoming aware is important enough to make a difference.” Falling Whistles’ (FW) campaign for peace in the Congo is the most recent cause Jordan has worked with. Seeking partners with vision, courage, sacrifice, capacity, and dignity, FW provides a broad range of services, especially to children ripped from their families by war. FW provides rehabilitation and opportunities for victims of sexual violence, children living with HIV and also war affected children. By utlizing local resources, FW creates a sustainable environment and jobs within the community. The foundation closest to Jordan’s heart is Lupus LA. His mother has the debilitating disease, and he says, “Just knowing her struggle motivates me to help increase the knowledge about it and help find a cure for this disease.” This organization supports patients and their families with workshops, resources and youth programs. He also works with Help USA, an organization with sustainable initiatives. Help USA provides homes, jobs, and support services for the homeless by way of green job training, and the construction of green housing for those in need. Jordan is a force to be reckoned with in life and on screen, and says, “The most challenging aspect of my career moving forward is to continue this journey and fulfill expectations.” www.fallingwhistles.com www.lupusla.org www.helpusa.org
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MICHAEL B JORDAN - PHOTO BY RUSSEL BAER
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MEN WE LOVE | Continued
MAYOR GREGOR ROBERTSON Reelected for his second term in November of 2011, visionary Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson plans to continue his efforts to make the city one of the greenest in the world. Under his leadership, Vancouver was ranked one of the most livable cities on the planet. Known as an international capital of green living, Robertson says, “Going green is good for business.” Robertson is also aiming to end homelessness with emergency winter shelters and more social housing options; making housing more affordable for families; and improving public transportation across the city. Robertson has also led the organization of the city’s first comprehensive Economic Action Strategy, which has established a more sustainable and thriving economy through clean technology, renewable energy, and digital media. By 2020, Mayor Robertson and the city of Vancouver hope to reach 10 goals towards a greener city. They hope to generate a green economy, producing more green jobs; develop green buildings and neighborhoods; eliminate the use of fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emission levels; have a lighter carbon footprint; produce cleaner, quality water and reduce consumption by 33%; provide cleaner air; encourage green transportation options and reduce the use of cars; zero waste; support local food, farmer’s markets, and community gardens; and more access to nature, developing parks, beaches, or greenways within five minutes of all residents, and planting 150, 000 trees in the city. Before he was elected Mayor, Robertson was nominated as one of the “Top 40 under 40” by The Globe and Mail, one of the main news sources in Canada. A true visionary and leader, Robertson believes the city of Vancouver can , “…think big and… accomplish great things.” ww.talkgreenvancouver.ca
AYDOGAN OZCAN AYDOGAN OZCAN Selected as one of the top 10 innovators by the U.S. Department of State, Aydogan Ozcan is a trailblazer in nano and bio-technology photonics research. He completed his undergraduate degree at Bilkent University in Turkey, and received both his MS and PhD from Stanford University. He currently holds 17 patents and has 12 more pending for his innovations in nanoscopy and other areas such as lens-less imaging and fiber optics. He is an Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering and a member of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA. Inspired by the need in countries with limited resources, Ozcan created the lens-free cellphone microscope for more cost-effective and portable microscopes. “…computation is the best thing that you can rely on. This is mostly because cell phones are now everywhere, and that was the starting point for our lens free cellphone based microscopy project,” he says. Recent progress with this technology includes pap smear slide imaging, conducting blood tests, and finding pathogens in local water supply. This technology could also assist in detection and diagnoses of diseases like malaria, TB, and HIV in developing countries. Receiving support and funding from UCLA, the NIH, and the NSF, Ozcan’s innovative and sustainable research is creating jobs within the community and helping to train future engineers in fields like telemedicine technology. He believes that finding something you have a passion for is the key to success. He continues working to create more lensfree devices for the environment, because “After all, that is the main goal of engineering as a discipline – to make life simpler and better.” www.innovate.ee.ucla.edu www.cnsi.ucla.edu
MAYOR GREGOR ROBERTSON CITY OF VANCOUVER
MEN WE LOVE | Continued
COCO ECO |
ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE!
Photo THE FAIRMONT| WATERFRONT 80 | Provided COCO by ECO MAGAZINE January / February 2012
www.cocoecomag.com
ECO CHIC
GUIDE to...
Perth
WRITTEN by: Nichola Zed With special thanks to Jayde Little from Tourism Western Australia
Perth is the capital of the Aussie state of Western Australia, a vast land that has a living Aboriginal history dating back more than 40,000 years. The city, one of the most isolated in the world, is literally an “Oasis in the Desert.� Surrounded by mountains, ocean, rivers and vast spaces, Perth is friendly, relaxed, sunny and secure - the perfect place to spend time on lush beaches and relish the healthy goodness.
ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE | Continued
STAY! THE PAINTED FISH
Located just three blocks from South Beach, The Painted Fish boasts sustainable accommodation in a beautiful seaside garden. Three uniquely “Bohemian Fremantle” dwellings, set amongst air-cooling ponds and organic vegetable gardens, offer guests the perfect setting for relaxation and contemplation. The Painted Fish is an oasis within a stone’s throw of the excitement of Fremantle, one of Perth’s most vibrant suburbs. With sustainability as its focus, guests will notice (or maybe just enjoy) photovoltaic solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and innovative heating and cooling systems housed a series of climatically sensitive, retrofitted dwellings. 37 Hulbert Street, South Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia, 6162, Phone: +61 (0) 8 9335 4886 www.thepaintedfish.com.au
HIDDEN VALLEY ECO SPA LODGES & DAY SPA The Painted Fish
Set amidst 14 acres of private Jarrah forest and only 30 minutes from the centre of Perth, this is a unique and indulgent getaway. The luxury, self-contained accommodation is perched within a “bush” (that’s Aussie for woodsy) setting. On each veranda there’s a jacuzzi to relax in while enjoying the surrounding natural landscape. All eco lodges have been architecturally designed to have minimal impact on the forest. Mountain bikes are free to use and if you choose to pamper yourself with a spa treatment, all the materials used are eco friendly and organic. 85 Carinyah Road, Pickering Brook, Perth, Western Australia, 6076, Phone: +61 (0) 8 9293 7337 www.hiddenvalleyeco.com
ECO BEACH RESORT, BROOME Hidden Valley Eco Spa Lodges & Day Spa
Photo Provided by VISIT LONDON IMAGES
Eco Beach is a multi award-winning eco resort set amidst a pristine and untouched environment. The core business philosophy is to provide guests and visitors with unsurpassed wilderness and memorable cultural experiences whilst having minimal impact on the unique local environment.The owners are passionate in their belief that Eco Beach stands at the very forefront of global ecotourism. Accommodation at the retreat includes 25 superbly appointed Eco Villas interlinked by over 1km of elevated wooden boardwalks, and 30 luxurious safari style Eco Tents. Each solar powered Eco Villa has been interior designed and comes complete with air conditioning and luxury furnishings.The resort has won a plethora of awards since opening at the end of May 2009, including a Silver Medal in Ecotourism at the Western Australian Tourism Awards in November 2011. Virgin Australia flies directly to Broome from Perth in less than 2 hours. 16 Carnarvon Street, Broome, Western Australia, 6725, Phone: +61 (0) 8 9193 8015 www.ecobeach.com.au
Eco Resort, Broome 82 Beach | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | January / February 2012
Eco Beach Resort, Broome www.cocoecomag.com
ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE | Continued
EAT! THE RAW KITCHEN
The Raw Kitchen began out of a love and passion for raw, fresh, living foods. It is Perth’s first exclusive raw food cafe. Co-owners Heath, whose background is as a naturopath, and Emma, a current medical student, combined their interest in food as medicine. Their ‘ethos’ is relatively simple—to provide wholesome, delicious, raw food that is as close to its natural state as possible, with minimal alteration, refining or additions. This involves using nature’s smorgasbord of incredible flavors and colors that abound in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouts and sea vegetables, combining these into beautiful, fresh and flavourful dishes that are naturally free from any refined sugars, dairy, wheat/gluten, preservatives or artificial additives. It’s an incredibly light and nourishing way to eat and feed your body. Most importantly, though, is the way it makes you feel! As alive and energised as is the food on your plate. Shop 14 Piazza Arcade, 36 South Terrace, Fremantle, Perth, Wa, 6160 Phone: +61 (0) 432 966 933 www.therawkitchen.com.au
THE NAKED FIG
The Naked Fig is one of three privately owned coastal cafes and is situated at Swanbourne beach, the sister beach of the world famous Cottesloe.The Naked Fig is strict with its produce, uses only free range eggs and chicken and fair trade coffee. There are vegetarian and vegan options and a ‘VEGO’ feast night once a week. Plenty of dishes are gluten free and organic, along with spelt and sprouted breads. Even more sustainable is the architecture of the building—the front of house is almost entirely recycled, from the timber used on the deck floor, to the bricks on the front of the bar, the wine racks and all of the furniture.The tables are made from old doors, some complete with doorknobs, and the light fittings are made from car and motorbike headlights.The café has won many awards and gold plates, and their future plans include offering more organic fare and becoming carbon neutral.
The Raw Kitchen
278 Marine Parade, Swanbourne, Perth, Western Australia, 6010, Phone: +61 (0) 8 9384 1222 www.thefig.com.au
GREENHOUSE
Located in the center of Perth City, this restaurant is completely in touch with natural materials, understands the importance of where things come from and the great taste of fresh food straight from the garden. Designers, engineers, builders, scientists, farmers, chefs and others are among those whose knowledge and advice have gone into every aspect of creating the Greenhouse, from the lighting and architecture, to the menu, to the fresh baked bread and the worm farm. The two young chefs behind the eatery have created an eco storm in the culinary world. The Greenhouse aims to harness the growing understanding of the human footprint to offer alternative solutions that tread a fine balance between functionality, sustainability and beauty. 100 St. Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Phone: +61 (0) 8 9481 8333 www.greenhouseperth.com
The Naked Fig Getting there and getting around Many carriers visit Perth International and Domestic Airports. Most airlines that fly into Perth have introduced strategies to reduce emissions and promote alternative energy. Qantas, for example, has reduced its emissions by 1.5% annually and since 2004 it has avoided over one million tons of CO2 emissions through fuel conservation. Flights within Western Australia are provided predominantly by Virgin Australia, which is leading its peers in reducing emissions and environmental by operating a young and fuel-efficient fleet. In addition to developing commercial sustainable aviation biofuel in Australia, in 2007 Virgin Australia also launched the world’s first government certified airline offset program. Visitors can access Perth City via public buses or trains. When you get into Perth, you can find your way around easily on the train, bus or free CAT (Central Area Transit), buses that run around the city and to other suburbs at regular intervals.There are also ferries available to cross the river.
Photo Provided by CAFÉ MEDINA
ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE | Continued
SHOP!
The Eco Shop
THE ECO SHOP
This new shop has just opened (in August of 2011), and is the brainchild of two Perthbased designers. Justine Davis, (whose organic label is Eco Peko), and Robin Gage, who upcycles jewellery on her eponymous label, have created a space to show local and national independent eco art and design. Located in the Iconic Fremantle Markets, the shop is filled with organic, recycled and handmade giftware and designs. Picture jewelry made from china plates, messenger bags crafted out of coffee sacks, vintage fabric hats, books, magazines, kids toys, organic cotton & bamboo clothes and much more.. Shop 32, Fremantle Markets, Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia, 6111, Phone: +61 (0) 432785522 www.thefremantleecoshop.com.au
BKIND ORGANIC BEAUTY BAR
Bkind Organic Beauty Bar is Australia’s leading organic beauty store, dedicated to bringing you the best in organic and natural skincare, make-up, hair care, perfume and cult organic beauty products from Australia and around the world. Every item has been carefully selected to support biodynamic, organic or fair trade farming practices and ethical companies who are committed to developing products without the use of 84
Tierra ecologica
Bkind
synthetic chemicals, minimising their impact on the environment, and are as passionate about the planet and wellbeing as Bkind is. They offer In-Store skincare consultations with professional makeup artists. The Bkind team believes that along with the right product, you can experience the amazing difference that natural and organic choices can make in your life. (You might also want to pop next door to the Inspiration Factory for a bit of spiritual healing.) 341 Churchill Avenue, Subiaco, Perth, WA, 6008, Phone: + 61 (0) 8 9388 2185 www.bkind.com.au, www.theinspirationfactory.com.au
TIERRA ECOLOGIA
Charlene O’Brien’s eco couture label, eco logika, is hand made using natural fibers and dyes. Each piece is individually made and the colors are influenced by the seasonal plants available. Charlene creates no waste in her garment creation and practices low impact manufacturing by using solar power and collected rainwater and locally-grown botanicals for dyeing. It really is ‘eco chic lifestyle designer wear’. Eco logika couture is also sold in Paris, Singapore, London and Los Angeles.
SODASHI
Wholeness. Purity. Radiance. That’s the meaning of the Sanskrit word Sodashi, and it perfectly describes the values by which all of Sodashi’s chemical-free skin care products and spa therapies are created—without compromise. Sodashi products include only therapeutic-grade, ethically-sourced essential oils and plant extracts to effectively heal and nurture. Founded by Megan Larsen in 1999, Sodashi offers a range of products that work holistically to nurture the skin and enhance overall wellbeing. Catering to both men and women, the extensive range of Sodashi products are formulated using a unique combination of biochemistry, aromatherapy and Ayurvedic principles. Sodashi has international success and is used in resorts and spas worldwide. It was the proud winner in the Bazaar Australia Beauty Awards in 2011. 126 Stirling Highway, North Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia, 6159, Phone: +61 (0) 8 9336 6837 www.sodashi.com
Visit her Kelmscott Studio directly, by appointment only. PO BOX 390, Kelmscott, Perth, Western Australia, 6991 Phone: +61 (0) 411 548 964 www.tierraecologia.com
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ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE | Continued
INDULGE! INJIDUP SPA RETREAT
V Spa retreat
For the pampering of a lifetime, venture three hours south of Perth to the heart of the Margaret River wine and surfing region, to the Injidup Spa Retreat. Injidup Spa Retreat deftly combines sophistication and luxury with casual comfort, while paying homage to the surrounding national parkland and some of the best coastal views in the country. Nestled inconspicuously on the edge of national parkland and with majestic views to the Indian Ocean, the spa provides soothing, invigorating massages, body treatments and uplifting baths to soak away any stress. Perth’s internationally acclaimed Sodashi products are primarily used, complemented by imported ecological herbal compresses. The signature treatment, the Herbal inFusion massage brings together the best of techniques learned by the truly talented therapists in their extensive studies and travels. It’s two hours of sheer bliss, and an essential extravagance everyone should experience once in his or her life. 32 Cape Clairault Road, Yallingup, Western Australia, 6282, Phone: +61 (0) 8 9750 1300 www.injidupsparetreat.com.au
BODHI J DAY SPA
Bodhi J is a natural and organic day spa made up of six beautiful treatment rooms designed to channel the purity of nature, from plant extracts and product bases, through to natural treatments such as hydrotherapies, steam and massage. Bodhi J uses only organic and natural beauty products in all treatments. The spa also features a gorgeous “Wet Room” with double Hydrotherapy Geisha Spa Baths and wooden wet tables to accommodate body exfoliations and mud wraps.The retreat also features a stunning Balinese Bath. Bodhi J offers a range of signature Sodashi treatments including the Crystal Opulessence Facial, the Chakra Balancing Treatment and the amazing Samadara Ultimate Age-Defying Facial. 42C Grantham St, Wembley, Perth, Western Australia, 6014, Phone: +61 (0) 8 9387 5152 www.bodhij.com.au Sodashi
Bodhi J Day Spa Samudra
SAMUDRA
For a different kind of indulgence for the soul and spirit, eco lovers must visit Samudra. For the perfect place to unwind and escape, Samudra is located in the heart of Dunsbourough, just two and a half hours south of Perth, very near Injidup Spa Retreat. Surrounded by native tress and a beautiful organic garden, Samudra has a café serving vegetarian al fresco nutritious meals. They use their passion, knowledge and research in health, well-being and sustainable living, to consciously engineer the highest quality, most delicious and nutritionally superior food. Also for sale are Samudra’s Bio-Live foods, which are plant-based foods in their ideal nutritional state. Next to the café is the Eco store, which offers a fantastic range of organic eco clothing that is 100% fair trade and designed in-house. Furthermore, you can enjoy an excellent yoga session in their studios. The vision at Samudra is to create an atmosphere of people and planet living in optimum health, happiness and in celebration of life. 226 Naturaliste Terrace, Dunsborough, Western Australia, 6281, Phone: +61 (0)8 9779 9977 www.samudra.com.au
ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE | Continued
EXPLORE! KINGS PARK
Perth’s Kings Park and Botanic Garden is one of the world’s largest inner-city parks. You can chose to take a picnic, feel like a giant on the Lotterywest Federation Walkway through the trees, browse uniquely Australian arts and crafts in Aspects, admire the giant Baobab tree (which was transplanted from Western Australia’s Kimberley region and is thought to be around 750 years old), join an Indigenous walking tour, visit the Aboriginal Art Gallery, or simply relax and take in the breathtaking views.The park is over 400 hectares and is located adjacent to the Swan River. Fraser Avenue, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, Phone: +61 (0) 8 9480 3600 www.bgpa.wa.gov.au
ROTTNEST ISLAND
A short high-speed ferry ride from Perth, Rottnest Island is a car free zone, which is easy to explore by bike, or take the hop-on-hop-off bus. On arrival, pick up a map from the Centre near the jetty and start exploring to discover the island’s many sheltered bays and pristine beaches. Go snorkeling, surfing or catch some windsurfing action. Learn some history at Rottnest Island Museum, Lomas Cottage and the Pilot Boat House. It takes between 2 to 5 hours to cycle around the entire island. Administration: Level 1, E-Shed, Victoria Quay, Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia, 6160 Phone: +61 (0) 8 9432 9300 www.rottnestisland.com
BIBBULMUN TRACK
Photo Provided by TOURISM VANCOUVER
kings Park
The Bibbulman Track stretches 965 kilometres, from Kalamunda in the Perth hills to Albany on the south coast, taking walkers through one of the world’s biodiversity hot spots. From karri forest to coastal heathlands, the Track traverses some of the most beautiful and wild areas of the South West, and offers facilities unrivalled on any long trail in Australia. The Track passes through nine rural towns and many popular scenic spots.Visitors can also enjoy day walks and the hospitality of local accommodation. The 48 campsites spaced every 10 to 25 kilometres along the Track are situated in delightful locations and provide a welcome haven at the day’s end. Facilities include a rustic three-sided timber shelter with bunks, a picnic table, water tanks, tent sites and a pit toilet. Level 1 Mountain Designs Building, 862 Hay St, Perth, Western Australia, 6000 Phone: +61 (0)8 9481 0551 www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au
ECHOES
Situated amidst a beautiful and peaceful Japanese Garden with meandering pathways on a sacred Aboriginal Dreaming Path, Echoes’ vision is to awaken society to the wisdom of the ancient cultures and deliver the earliest sounds of healing to body, mind and spirit. As the name suggests, it is an ”echo of ancient wisdom,” where gongs, Aboriginal didgeridoos and crystal singing bowls are used in conjunction with sandalwood, an aromatherapy oil, to cleanse the body from spent energies and vibrations. These sound healing sessions take place in a tepeelike structure, in which you lay in a circle on your own individual bed. For over an hour you lay still while the vibrations of the aforementioned musical instruments move through every cell in your body. Afterwards you feel rejuvenated, relaxed and in harmony with yourself. Dorothy Coe, the founder, developed Echoes after many years of research in the science of rhythm and vibration. 459 Nicholson Road, Canning Vale, Perth, Western Australia, 6155, Phone:+61 (0)8 9456 3023 www.echoesgong.com
86 | Provided COCO by ECO MAGAZINE | January / February 2012 Photo TOURISM VANCOUVER Rottnest Island
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ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE | Continued
EXPLORE!
bibbulmu Track
Echoes
COCO ECO |
TRAVEL EXTRA!
experience
ECO
CHIC
Chile
Epic Cafe
WRITTEN by: Sass Brown
Designated as a World Cultural Heritage site by the United Nations in 2003, Valparaiso is known as the “Jewel of the Pacific,” a city renowned for its artistic expression, and home to architects, poets, painters, musicians and the ubiquitous street artists that the city is famous for. Colorfully painted and graffiti covered homes, and a geographical layout that’s reminiscent of Santa Theresa in Rio, with its multiple, steeply inclined hills mean that though Valparaiso may be cash poor, it is rich in artistic and cultural expression. To access Valparaiso, fly into Santiago, the capital of Chile, which is serviced by multiple airlines. LAN Airlines, which specialize in flying to South America from the US and Europe was recently voted the Best South American Airline by SkyTrax, and is a member of the One World Alliance, for those of you thinking frequent flyer miles. LAN operates one of the most modern fleets 88
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Valparaiso
There’s no shortage of hotels and hostels in Valparaiso, making it accessible to all pockets and tastes. Two of my favorites are the Cirilo Armstrong and the Acontraluz Boutique Hotel. Overhanging a hill, the boutique hotel Cirilo Armstrong is the result of a creof aircraft in the world, resulting in an efficient service, as well as significant reductions in CO2 emissions that are inherent to newer planes.
ative partnership between an artist and an architect. With local art adorning the walls, an art book library, comfy chairs and couches draped in hand loomed woven
There are multiple transportation options to get from Santiago airport to downtown Santiago, including mini bus and taxi, and getting from the main bus terminal at Universidad in Santiago to Valparaiso couldn’t be easier. Several companies operate transfers between the two cities, with departures every fifteen minutes; the journey lasts around ninety minutes, and costs less than $10 US. Getting around Valparaiso is a multimodal activity: First and foremost on foot, as every corner conceals another colorful building or piece of street art. In the port area, the electric trolley buses are cheap, regular and safe, and a great and ecological way of getting around the city without missing a thing. The third option is less common than walking or trollying; the many ascensors (elevators) that transport visitors and locals alike up the sheer cliff face of this hill town are a must do. The oldest of these vertical transporters is the Conception ascensor, opened in 1883. Instead of weights, it utilizes water as the counterweight that lifts the elevator up the hillside. Bazar La Pasion
fabrics made from locally spun yarns, the hotel offers a warm, inviting, creative ambiance. Boasting dramatic views, the largely glass-fronted hotel incorporates eleven unique suites, each with their own balcony, and a fresh, local and organic breakfast is served to guests each morning.
The vintage interior and colonial furnishings of the Acontraluz Boutique Hotel echo the European cultural heritage of the Cerro Alegre quarter wherein the hotel is located. Welcoming guests with a warm, cozy interior, the hotel features terraces on all three
Streetcar Trolley
levels, with incomparable views of the bay of Valparaiso. The self-sustaining ecological hotel uses solar photovoltaic panels to heat the water and generate electricity for lighting in all the common areas. The shopping in this historically intellectual and artistic city is unique and enchanting. Evoking and inspiring a romantic elegance, Bazar la Pasion coordinates the work of multiple local artisans and design-
Alconatruz
ers with sophistication in a collaborative,
photographer and a designer. Set in two garages, this inspiring
creative location. Committed to sustain-
shopping destination is furnished with salvaged raw materials and
able design, the bazaar collects influences
architectural finds including exposed brick, wood and recycled
from the port, and nostalgia from the
glass screens.The store carries a sophisticated range of labels, in-
‘golden age’, all of which is incorporated
cluding naturally dyed felt accessories, copper jewelry, hand wo-
into their eclectic interior. Fusing mod-
ven alpaca coats, hand knitted sweaters and accessories, wools
ern and rustic, eco design and vintage, in
scarves, embroidered purses, and a range of household items
clothing, accessories and furniture, they
such as ceramic tiles.
act as a creative hub in the center of Valparaiso.
Not surprisingly for anyone who has ever traveled to South America, there is plenty of fresh, flavorful food to enjoy in Val-
Mercado Moderno is a multi label store
paraiso. Epif is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant located just
owned by four partners; two architects, a
steps from the Reina Victoria funicular (elevator). Owned by a
90
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young Chilean American couple, the name Epif is short for Epiphany. The funky antique-filled restaurant is well known for an inexpensive weekend brunch. The menu incorporates a broad range of tapas style dishes, as well as burgers, soups, crepes and desserts, all vegetarian and vegan. Epif also offers an extensive range of local and organic wine. The brightly colored, and aptly named SaborColor, is a gourmet bar located in an early twentieth century building in Valparaiso’s Conception district. The lovingly restored bar features rescued and original fixtures from salvaged wood, bright red and orange interior and exterior walls, and a fabulous representation of local art. The menu includes local seafood as well as vegetarian fare, all exquisitely prepared and presented. The casual bistro style bar
Mercado Modern
has a warm, comfortable ambiance, with a chalkboard menu, and live music.
Sour; a strong citrus flavored Chilean cocktail made from grapes, created by
Café Vinilo takes its name from the scratchy vinyl jazz and
a professional sommelier, the bar also
tango records playing in the background of this bohemian
features five brands of their own label,
hang out. The décor incorporates a communal marble
home brewed beer. The bistro serves
dining counter, upcycled from the butchers the building
fresh local Chilean cuisine with produce
housed in a previous life. Famous for their artisanal Pisco
sourced from the surrounding region. Whether you are stopping by for a day trip or planning a week’s stopover, Valparaiso is a vibrant place with plenty to discover for all your senses, and a respect for the past and the local environment that is tangible.
Vinilio Cafe
COCO ECO |
LIFE
ABUNDANCE and BLISS Creating your Best Ever 2012 with Feng Shui
WRITTEN by: Beth
Doane
For thousands of years, people lived with the knowledge of how to create balance in their lives.Their societies were in touch with the earth, the seasons, the stars, and their tribes. Today, our separation from nature, our reliance on technology, and our inability to connect from within has become so common that we are becoming stressed, depleted of energy and even physically ill. However, by rediscovering some of the methods that ancient cultures created we can bring back the natural state of bliss and harmony we are capable of experiencing every single day. The start of a new year is the perfect time to embrace new changes and explore these methods and one of the most powerful places to begin is right within our own homes, with the principles of Feng Shui. “Feng Shui is the art and science of balancing the energy within a home. Feng Shui can also be calculated as a mathematically based science, which makes it not only accurate but also fascinating to study as changes begin to occur in our lives,” says Janet Mitsui Brown of The Joy of Feng Shui, a Los Angeles-based Feng Shui practice. 92
Improved self-esteem, health, career, relationships, and prosperity can all result form changes using Feng Shui as a guide, says Janet, and her life is a testimony to the power of the practice. Janet was diagnosed with cancer in 1985 but with proper treatment and support, she was healthy and vibrant by the following year. She married her husband Roger in 1987 and together they built an incredible home near Mar Vista, California using only Feng Shui principles. Once the furniture and Feng Shui elements were all properly placed, the transformation was mystical. Their lives changed dramatically, their careers expanded, and the home was featured in the Los Angeles Times. Anyone can use Feng Shui to improve their lives, without having to build a new abode or invest in all new furnishings. The practice is about working with what you already have, Janet reminds us, and creating powerful cures using those items. In a basic consultation Janet assess the formation of property and home, reviews precise calculations and measurements, or assesses the visible and invisible influences of the home on the environment to create a report. The analysis may also include a birth chart consultation, to understand the home resident’s relationship to the energies of a home. Remedies and recommendations are made to maximize compatibility and, on occasion, there may be a special adjustment or a clearing to dispel negative energy. Directly translated, Feng Shui means “wind and water” – as it implies, Feng Shui is used to determine the energy of nature, also known as “qi” and the placement of structures to make the energy positive. There are two main schools of traditional feng shui – and several other schools have been derived from them internationally. Form School feng shui is said to have been inspired from the hills
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Janet Mitsui Brown
and mountains in south China, and from the yin concept of gravesite feng shui. Compass School uses a compass to determine the alignment of energy in homes, cities, & villages. The Black Hat School is a recent school of Feng Shui founded by the late Grandmaster Professor Lin-Yun. This school superimposes a set bagua (an 8 element grid) over a property floor plan, and the mouth of the qi, or the location of the entranceway determines the front. The 8 sides identify life areas in your home. Before you do a feng shui analysis, you need to be clear about the school of feng shui you are using, for accuracy. Also, you need to remember that energies are in constant transition, so you need to check the balance of your home annually. Janet says there are basic principles that apply to all schools and this is your first step to feng shui your home: 1. Be Clutter Free Clutter in your space will block the flow of energy. Don’t forget to clear your closets, attic and garage, and give away or rid yourself of all the items you don’t need.This helps make room for new projects, a new romance, and extra money!
2. Check your Gateway The front door of your home is literally the gateway to your life and your living space. It’s very important that it’s functioning perfectly and that your entire entrance is welcoming, bright and friendly. A well-lit entrance invites positive chi energy which is an important life force for overall feng shui luck.You might even add a lush green plant or a fish tank as an indoor greeter. 3. Add Water Janet recommends bringing water into one’s home as it brings positive, powerful energy to all of its occupants, and is always associated with prosperity. The location of the water feature in your home can be arranged according to your home’s position and direction, and in a consultation Janet can help you determine exactly where this may be. 4. Bring About Balance The energies in a home are most beneficial when both yin and yang are present and balanced. Yin and yang represent the gentle balance that exists in the entire universe. Yin is moonlight, quiet, or shade, while Yang is sunlight, activity, or sun. This naturally occurring polarity is constantly changing cyclically and the best way to ensure polarity is to balance the five feng shui elements: earth, metal, water, wood and fire. Always try to incorporate these elements using plants, fountains, or perhaps a metal object or wood furniture in the home.
If you are looking for something very specific, such as a new love, Janet also recommends using a cure such as rose quartz. This crystal is associated with romance and can be purchased at most stores that sell crystals or other healing products. If the crystal is placed in the southwest portion of your home or bedroom you can begin to attract love or enhance a romance you already have in your life. There are numerous cures like this one in Feng Shui and specific ones will be prescribed to you depending on your current situation and what goals you are looking to achieve in the coming year. Feng Shui expert Deborah Kagan, Los Angeles based founder of Sacred Interiors, also reminds us that, “2012 is a water year and we are coming off of two metal years in a row - 2010/2011. Water is represented by the color black and by incorporating a touch of black into your home and your clothing you will put yourself in the ‘flow’ of the element of the year.” Deborah also notes that you can enhance the element by utilizing white, grey, green, or some blues. However you choose to incorporate these ancient principles in your life is up to you, but even just one small step can make a difference. Janet reminds us that believing in the endless possibilities of Feng Shui gives it all the more power to work for us within our lives. And Janet said to remember that energies are shifting – the lunar Chinese New Year begins January 23, and the solar New Year begins February 4th. A feng shui analysis will help you to navigate the year of the dragon! For more information or to book a personal consult visit: Janet Mitsui Brown www.thejoyoffengshui.com 310-678-4850 Or Deborah Kagan www.deborah-kagan.com 323-650-4433 94
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COCO ECO |
LIFE
DETOX FOR THE REST OF US WRITTEN by: Leila
Mundt
Smoked salmon canapés , cranberry cheese logs, Egg Nog White Russians, and those little almond Christmas cookies dredged in soft confectioner’s sugar…these are a few of MY favorite things. Sure, I am (mostly) good all year; I eat my organic greens and practice my yoga, sprinkle superfoods on my yogurt and steam fresh veggies for dinner. But there is just something about the holidays. First, it’s the chilly weather. Suddenly that ice cold salad seems a little, well, ice cold. Then, it’s the fabulous parties. Decadent treats on pretty silver trays swirling all around you in a sea of groovy people and even groovier conversation… its not your fault you cant keep track of how many made it into your mouth! And finally, the booze. From the wine to the nog to the… tequila shots? Whatever your poison, it goes down so much easier in front of a fire with your most cherished family and friends. And suddenly you find yourself, a generally healthy person with a sense of self-restraint, wolfing down an entire cheese danish cake from Panera at your mom’s kitchen table, with a whiskey and coffee in your hand and the aftereffect of excess pounding in your head. 96
Ok, so maybe that’s just me, but there is no denying that those six weeks of holiday food, party and stress can definitely take its toll on your body. So what is a busy person, one who has no time (or desire) for workout boot camps or hardcore cleanse retreats, to do? Here are a couple solutions for the rest of us; simple, gentle ideas for the gal or guy on the go that will have you detoxed in no time, and ready to take on 2012 head-on!
The Zero-Depravation Juice Cleanse In times of detox desperation, many of us turn to juice fasts. In fact, there is almost nothing better to give your gut a much-needed vacation and shed those extra toxins (and pounds). Often times, however, these cleanses can be brutal and leave you hungry and grouchy. I don’t know about you, but hungry and grouchy are not on my list of New Year’s resolutions. So I turned to The Juice Maids, a team of super hip ladies in the artsy Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, who put together the most delicious and satisfying “cleanse” I have ever experienced. Danielle and Sarah, who met at art school in New York, make some of the best tasting juice around. Sure, the standard cleansing tonic of greens with apple and lemon is on the menu, but they also whip up delectable herb and spice infused drinks that hardly qualify as juice. My cleanse included a mix of green drinks, fruit drinks, smoothies, soups and spiced nut milks, each one more delicious than the last and all of them named after old rock songs. Who said cleansing can’t be fun?! In the morning I hydrated with Gypsy, a blend of coconut water, seasonal greens and cucumber, followed by the unbelievable Scarlet and Gold, pomegranate juice blended with persimmon and spiced with cinnamon and ginger. For lunch I sipped on a warm fermented
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veggie broth, rich in probiotics for the belly, and just the savory fix I needed. A thick chocolate smoothie held me over till dinner, which was a creamy cauliflower soup, with herbs and pepper. For dessert, Dear Prudence, a rich nut milk with vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg, and hot jujube tea filled my belly before bed, and I slept soundly all night without a hint of hunger pang. And best of all? After three days of thoroughly enjoying every taste of these natural, cold pressed, organic and healing treats, the holiday knot in my tummy was gone, my pants slipped right on and I felt like I could finally face my long lost friend, the yoga mat, without fear of passing out midway through a class. The Juice Maids have employed a team of handsome fellows that deliver the juice directly to your Los Angeles area door in darling Mason jars tied with twine in reusable baskets, so you can start your year off with a smaller waistline and a smaller carbon footprint! www.thejuicemaids.com
The No-Fuss Supplement Super Cleanse Sometimes there is just too much going on in life to do anything more than pop a pill. Luckily, pill popping has never been so good for you. Dr. Schultze, the supplement superhero and living Los Angeles health guru, can help you clean out your gut and get you back to feeling good in no time with his 5-Day Bowel Detox. OK, so it doesn’t sound pretty, but this system is formulated with the purest and most effective organic and wild-harvested herbs that powerfully remove toxins, poisons, bacteria, and yes, that second helping of pumpkin pie, from your body. Almost every Angeleno 97
I know frequents Dr. Schultze’s pharmacy in Marina Del Rey, CA to pick up brilliant, all natural formulations for all that ail them. So if the gut is what ails you this post-holiday season, you can count on his detox to make things right. Step one includes aloe, senna, and cascara sagrada for stimulation, oregon grape root and garlic for antibacterial work, and habanero pepper for circulation. Step two is what the doctor calls an “intestinal vacuum” and includes bentonite clay, activated willow charcoal and apple pectin to draw out toxins and “move things along”. Simply take these as directed in five days and prepare to be amazed with the results, which will no doubt be a lighter, cleaner you. Later in the year try the Liver Detox and Kidney Detox and continue to clean house! Don’t live in LA? Don’t worry - Dr. Schultze’s potent product lineup is available online and by phone. You can even speak to someone as knowledgeable as Hilda and Greg, the two employees who helped me find my perfect health solutions. www.herbdoc.com
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COCO ECO |
LIFE
BE YOUR OWN
TRAILBLAZER WRITTEN by: Kelly Gallagher PHOTOGRAPHY by: Kelly Gallagher
2011 was a bit of a struggle for almost everyone I know, on numerous levels. Despite this being the supposed time of ascension, anxious thoughts about 2012 predictions, a failing economy, the housing market crash and increasing unemployment rates have rocked our cosmic serenity. Personal turbulence was at an all-time high, making it a constant challenge to get “self ” centered and even more difficult to get “heart” centered. Setting goals, spending time in nature and completing tasks ahead of deadlines were just a few of the altruistic insights I was sharing with you in my last column, “Attitude Adjustment.” I wish I had taken more of my own advice. Despite all my great intentions, I still felt like I was hurled into January like a hailstorm. Happy 2012! 98
EMOTIONAL HEART Now that it is a new year, let’s get back on the quest for balance and peace. As February approaches and the color red springs up everywhere, my heart is set on having a healthy happy heart this Valentine’s Day, with or without a man in my life. It’s time for us all to be our own Valentine. Not that there isn’t a fabulous man in my life, but I finally realized it isn’t his job to make me happy. It is my job to get a grip, take care of myself, improve my heart health and share what I know with all of you. I am not a doctor, I am not a psychologist, but I am a five-time cancer survivor thriver, powered by my fifth pacemaker and a new heart valve. My heart was broken on so many levels that I thought I would reveal some tidbits of what I’ve learned about the journey of the heart. My physical heart issues came from prior cancer treatment. They call it “Radiation Induced Cardiac Disease.” Sexy huh? On an emotional level, there literally is a syndrome called “Broken Heart Syndrome”. The emotional pain impacts the physical body to the point of destruction. My doctors told me if I didn’t lose the toxic people in my life, I could never get well. My perceived problem: I was adopted and have abandonment issues. Any time anyone did something that my psyche interpreted as being discarded or given away, my heart perceived abandonment further impacting my already radiated heart. I was so resistant to opening my heart that it literally took a skill saw to crack it. I don’t recommend this method of opening your heart. It hurts. There are other ways to heal emotional wounds, consequently improving one’s physical health. In addition, improving your physical health assists in the emotional healing. The heart is complicated and connected to
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everything in our body. If your heart doesn’t work, nothing really does. So for that reason I need to share with you what I know about heart health, that you may not learn at your family doctor or cardiologist. PHYSICAL HEART Get fit. A Healthy heart = A Happy life. February is Heart Month, and there are numerous ways to strengthen your physical heart so that your emotional heart is balanced and ready to step into love when you see it. I learned when my heart stopped suddenly… that I had been ignoring the signs of heart disease. I blamed my nausea on stress, my shaking on coffee and my clammy episodes on whatever was going on at the moment. I didn’t know my thyroid wasn’t working and that the thyroid controls the heart. I didn’t know that heart disease was the number one killer of women and that 42 million women are at risk of heart disease. In the past, heart disease and heart attacks have been predominantly associated with men. Historically, men have been the subjects of the research done to understand heart disease and stroke, which has been the basis for treatment guidelines and programs. This led to an oversimplified, distorted view of heart disease and risk, which has worked to the detriment of women. Because women have been largely ignored as a specific group, their awareness of their risk of this often-preventable disease has suffered. An organization called WomenHeart, based in Washington DC is the coalition for women with heart disease. They are on a mission to educate women about the signs of heart disease and how to
prevent it. Only 55-percent of women realize heart disease is their No. 1 killer, and less than half know what are considered healthy levels for cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol. Our worst enemy is our own ignorance. Women quite often ignore all the early warning signs of heart disease, opting to take care of their family and friends before getting “self-centered”. WomenHeart and The Go Red For Women movement work to make sure women know they are at risk, so they can take action to protect their health. For a healthy heart regimen, I follow Health Trailblazer Dr. Steven Sinatra’s Metabolic Cardiology program. He is a board certified cardiologist who is also an Integrative Doctor. This means nutrition and “fuel” for the body are at the core of the heath protocol. Dr. Sinatra recommends boosting heart nutrition to give added power. He taught me about the five basic supplements for the heart; CoQ10, D-Ribose, L-Carnitine, Magnesium Malate, and K2. I call it heart food. The heart uses the most energy so making sure it is getting additional power is important. Dr. Sinatra believes a healthy heart begins with
a healthy lifestyle. You don’t need to wait until there is a problem to start taking care of this central organ. Literally everything you do for your health has an impact on how efficiently your heart functions—and how efficiently your heart functions determines your quality of life. You can visit Dr. Sinatra’s Principles Health Center to learn more about the six principles he recommends everyone live by, regardless of age or health status, to achieve optimal heart health and peak overall health. Educate yourself about food; reduce the amount of packaged and prepared foods you consume. Preparing organic or “clean” food yourself gives you control over what you put in your body. Get active. Dr. Sinatra says, “Take the stairs, plant a garden, wash the car, walk, swim, bike, hike and turn off the TV.” REMEMBER, if you want to be your own trailblazer you have to be your own Health CEO. Putting trash in or on your body is no longer acceptable. Read the ingredients of everything. If you are seeking permission to misbehave, keep asking ridiculous questions. Sugar is bad in any form. Period. Genetically Modified Food is unproven and our ability to access nutrition is becoming restricted. It is your body. Take care of it. You would never put crummy fuel in your Prius or Bentley, so why would you put crummy fuel in your body?
Bottom line: If getting physically and emotionally healthy and “self –centered” isn’t our priority, any relationship we enter into will be built upon prior pain and desperation, quickly turning to quicksand. Quicksand is not on the list this year. Removing the poison arrows of anger, frustration, and betrayal from our hearts is. In conclusion, I recommitted to blazing a trail for love, life and a love of life this year. And guess what? When I made the priority self-love, self-improvement and self-discovery, my relationships improved and now my love life is awesome. Remember we are Goddesses in Progress. And it is progress, not perfection. If a temporary pity party or relapse occurs, there are always tricks to combat that feeling of spinning out of control. If I feel out of balance, I know I am not coming from my heart. It is time to get quiet, stop, regroup and ground myself again. A note, a picture of something beautiful, a yoga class or a trip to the Korean Spa, can turn my day around. Sometimes I just read a quote from my big book of WISDOM. Free yourself from anger and desire, which are the causes of sin and conflict, and thereby make yourself whole. This is the essence of yoga; this is the means by which you come to know the soul, and thereby attain the highest spiritual state. Learn to meditate. Close your eyes, calm your breathing; and focus your attention on the center of consciousness. Thus you will master the senses, the emotions, and the intellect - and thereby free yourself from desire and anger. Aaaahhhhh. Breathe. Happy 2012!
What if you go to your doctor and they don’t listen or want you to take vitamins? I am respectful of my doctors’ education and knowledge but I still do my own research. Medical school doesn’t teach doctors about nutritional deficiency, toxicity or the dangers of mercury in dental fillings. We must be aware of these health traps on our own. I highly recommend you doing your own additional research. If they taught us more about how our bodies worked in junior high school, or maybe kindergarten, we might not have a health care crisis today. In fact, we could put an entire industry out of business if we educated people about how to keep their own bodies healthy. Oops! I may have just stumbled upon the reason we don’t learn this in grade school.
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ESSENTIA Essentia makes the world’s only Natural Memory Foam which breathes 80% better than all other memory foam and is outrageously comfortable. This classic eco pillow is a dream to sleep on with material that molds itself to your exact body shape. www.myessentia.com
BIOMAT A truly luxurious way to heal, energize, and be well, the Amethyst BioMat is a state-of-the-art FDA-approved medical device that delivers therapeutic Far Infrared rays and Negative Ions to relieve pain and stress providing an amazing sense of calm, deep relaxation. www.biomat.com
BLACK CHICKEN REMEDIES This Australian brand has established a cult following worldwide with their 100% natural body oil remedy for dry, dehydrated skin. Their ‘ Love Your Body Oil’ contains 12 therapeutic oils that smell exotic and keep skin feeling silky and dewy. www.blackchickenremedies.com
OSEA OSEA skincare was inspired by the coast near Malibu, uniting the elements - Ocean, Sun, Earth and Atmosphere - to refresh, rejuvenate, and restore skin to its highest level of healthy beauty. The products are marinebased, beautifully organic, and loaded with naturally abundant vitamins and minerals. oseamalibu.com
WELLICIOUS Wellicious offers luxury athletic and lounge apparel and a unique online platform for friends and fans to share tips and trends for a glamorous and healthy lifestyle. The brand exclusively cooperates with partners and suppliers that adhere to its standards and all products are ethically made in Europe to maintain a low carbon footprint. www.wellicious.com
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FEATURES EDITOR LOVES
A New Year, a New You! CURATED by: Beth
Doane
ABBEY TOP by Saivana
MALIE
SAIVANA
SWEET E’S
All Malie Organics products contain the gentle, soothing essences of wild-crafted and organic ingredients through pure Hawaiian Hydrosols, the therapeutic floral waters that infuse each product. These delicate floral waters capture every element of the plant and all its benefits at the molecular level. www.malie.com
A brand dripping in rich colors and elegant fabric, Saivana’s mission is to empower women to be self-reliant, economically independent leaders in the community. They sponsor one female child for every full time employee to receive their primary school education (K-6) and have sponsored over 100 young women. www.saivana.com
Vegan Cake Pops? Yes please! Sweet E’s Bake Shop specializes in custom Vegan and non-Vegan options including cupcakes, cake pops, brownies, and much more. They ship anywhere in the world via UPS and have been featured on the Food Network hit series “Cupcake Wars,” and Style Network’s “Tia and Tamera.” www.sweetesbakeshop.com
COCO ECO |
TAKE ACTION
TRAILBLAZERS
of GLORY
WRITTEN by: Heather Carter PHOTOGRAPHY by: Courtesy of Project Angel Food the David Lynch Foundation and Virgin Unite
Coco Eco takes a look at the some of the most innovative and pioneering organizations that are making a difference. PROJECT ANGEL FOOD Project Angel Food is an L.A based organization that delivers food to those who no longer have the financial or physical ability due to HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses. Meals are prepared by chefs and volunteer assistants, each nutritionally appropriate to the needs of the individual and then delivered by volunteers through Los Angeles County. Initially the program, which was founded in 1989 by Marianne Williamson, was part of a community outreach program, but due to the rapid increase in HIV/AIDS, the program shifted focus to help those affected. By 2004 The Project Angel Food Program’s mission has expanded to include illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and others. Director of Development Wesley Hall talked to Coco Eco about the significance of the program. “Project Angel Food is in its 22nd year of delivering free food, and over the course of 2010, 3,500 volunteers delivered 735,000 meals. We deliver on average 2,000 meals a day, and each meal costs around $5. Our monthly shopping bill is over $60,000, we rely mainly on private donations with only around 8% funded by the government, it is costly to feed all these people, but it is essential we do”. To help with fund raising, PAF holds fundraisers, the largest being the Design Divine Gala held annually in early December. Designers sell their goods at a major discount that increases by 10% every day of the 104
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David Lynch
five day event with all proceeds benefiting Project Angel Food . Project Angel Food’s work is remarkable and trailblazing in its ethos and approach. Not only are they providing people with a basic necessity, they are offering comfort, company, and a connection to people who may otherwise feel forgotten. For those battling life a threatening illness it can be an isolating time, the world still turns unaware, as their world stands still. PAF truly gives food to the souls of the sick, and acts as angels on Earth. To learn how you can get involved go to www.angelfood.org
DAVID LYNCH FOUNDATION In July 2005, revered Hollywood film director David Lynch established the David Lynch Foundation, with the goal to bring inner peace to people through Transcendental Meditation. The reasoning is clear: A person’s inner mental state serves as his or her navigation on life’s journey and can lead an individual down many roads. In order to travel down the desired path, a healthy mind must be in alignment with its owner’s core values and goals, because actions derive from thought. “Diving within,” as Mr. Lynch describes meditation, serves to ensure that those thoughts are never derailing or destructive. Lynch’s Foundation aims to help underserved students, military veterans suffering from PTSD, American Indians (80% of tribal members suffer from diabetes), homeless who are rehabilitating from addictions, and incarcerated juveniles. The common factor at the basis of all these seemingly divergent populations is that most everyone have suffered from high levels of stress, trauma, violence, and misfortune - and all have high risk of remaining in their circumstance, or travelling even further down their respective path.
Extensive published research demonstrates that Transcendental Meditation, when practiced twice daily for 20 minutes, has significant benefits in overcoming deeply-rooted stress. This is vital since research has proven that stress is a contributing factor and catalyst behind 80 to 90% of all illnesses - both physical and mental. The David Lynch Foundation operates on the trailblazing notion that we all possess the infinite resource to change our circumstances intrinsically, which will then have extrinsic benefits. No handout or temporary cure can compare to remedying the root of the problem within. According to Bob Roth, the Vice President of the David Lynch Foundation and a TM teacher for over 40 years, nature’s most effective antidote to stress is rest - the deeper the better. “Scientific research over the past 40 years has found that Transcendental Meditation produces a unique state of restful alertness, during which time the body gains a state of rest and relaxation deeper than sleep,” Roth said. “The deep rest gained during TM practice naturally eliminates the buildup of stress, fatigue, and tension which has been fueling acute anxiety, depression, and a whole range of sleeping, learning, eating, and behavioral disorders. As a result, with far less stress, meditators spontaneously live healthier, more creative and productive, and fulfilling lives.”
Sir Richard Branson and Rusty Robertson, Co-founder of SU2C
The David Lynch Foundation is working in collaboration with government agencies as well as veterans’ service organization to bring into mainstream awareness the terrible plague of traumatic stress—as well as evidence-based solutions to immediately aid soldiers and first responders, such as police and firefighters, who risk their lives to safeguard society. Data from the Veterans Administration reveals that a shocking 18 veterans die through suicide every day as a consequence of PTSD - more than who die every day in combat in Afghanistan. At the same time, more than 500,000 U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001 suffer from PTSD and 40% of all homeless people are veterans. “You cannot put a price on something as substantive and helpful as Transcendental Meditation - it is literally priceless,” Roth said. “But TM teachers need to be compensated for their work. So the David Lynch Foundation is raising funds to pay teachers so that veterans and their families can learn to meditate at no cost.” Roth also stated, “The David Lynch Foundation raised over $1 million to support its Operation Warrior Wellness initiative to teach TM to 10,000 veterans. This is just the beginning - we want to reach everyone. It is a national shame of the highest order that our brave young men and women, who put themselves in harm’s way to ensure our freedoms, are now returning home crippled by PTSD - unable to transition back to their families and friends, incapable of holding a 106
job. Talk therapy and drug therapy provide some relief but not nearly enough. That is why our mission is to provide every veteran, and every family member of a veteran, with the tools to overcome traumatic stress and reclaim their lives.” For more information, please visit www. OperationWarriorWellness.org and www.DavidLynchFoundation.org
VIRGIN UNITE / STAND UP TO CANCER Sir Richard Branson encompasses the very definition of the word trailblazer, making the two almost synonymous. He’s an innovator, a pioneer who boldly blazes his own path with fire and passion. The seemingly fearless Branson, under the umbrella of the Virgin Group, owns over 400 companies worldwide including his non-profit foundation Virgin Unite. Branson saw a unique opportunity to join forces with another trail blazing organization - Stand Up To Cancer. Together they aimed to take raising money and awareness to new heights, literally. Virgin America passengers would be given the opportunity to donate to SU2C through their inflight entertainment system, right from their seat and in midair. Virgin America has also initiated a series of online promotions to encourage donations from the ground. Laura Ziskin, the late Co-founder of SU2C said of Branson and the venture “There were those on our team who thought the public wouldn’t be interested. Why donate to cancer just because an airline asks you to? Yet, since September, we have received tens of thousands of dollars for innovative cancer research projects from passengers, crew and Virgin America “teammates” who have engaged in Virgin America’s pledge to fight cancer. This is just the start of Sir Richard’s plans to combat cancer from 35,000 feet -- he wants to name planes, donate portions of sales, and maybe host benefits from the sky. He has an idea a minute, and they are usually extraordinary. “ Perhaps this is because Sir Richard Branson is extraordinary. To more of the program visit www.virginunite.com and www.standuptocancer.org
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COCO ECO |
THE CONSCIOUS REVELLER!
STARS TURN OUT FOR DAVID LYNCH FOUNDATION’S
CHANGE BEGINS
WITHIN GALA
WRITTEN by: Vicki Godal PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED by: The
David Lynch Foundation
Comedienne Ellen DeGeneres and Master of Ceremonies Russell Brand lightened up a tough issue, when they tackled post traumatic stress disorder at December’s David Lynch Foundation “Change Begins Within” Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The Foundation implements transcendental meditation programs for at-risk students and veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Quiet Time Award winner, San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Carlos Garcia, supported widespread adoption of the Quiet Time program in schools. Veterans spoke about its healing effects on combat-induced stress. Hip Hop pioneer Russell Simmons, Chairman and CEO of Rush Communications, was honored with the Enlightened Giver Award. The Resilient Warrior Award recognized Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. www.davidlynchfoundation.org
David Lynch speaking at Change Begins Within Gala
Russell Brand
Russell Simmons and Angela Simmons
Chimpanzee at ease
Russell Brand and Ellen DeGeneres
Kristen Bell
Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou
COCO ECO |
THE CONSCIOUS REVELLER!
OPPORTUNITY
GREEN
Mayor Honors Opportunity Green by proclaiming official Opportunity Green Day in Los Angeles WRITTEN by: Vicki Godal PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: Opportunity
Green
and Vivien Killilea
Nearly 1000 attendees converged on the Los Angeles Center Studios for Opportunity Green’s 2011 “Accelerate” Conference. OG 2011 featured distinguished sustainable business leaders including OG’s Green Governor of the Year, Vermont’s Peter Shumlin, LA government, Fortune 500 executives like Starbucks’ Ben Packard and Nike’s Hannah Jones, as well as Mad Men’s Vincent Kartheiser. This year’s OG Eco Maverick Award honored United Nations Ambassador Don Cheadle and SHFT founders, actor Adrian Grenier and Peter Glatzer. PrintEco was the 2011 OG 25 Startup winner, selected via Twitter after 25 contestants gave a one-minute pitch. To the delight of attendees, on the second day, Opportunity Green was recognized by the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, by making November 11th official Opportunity Green day in LA. www.opportunitygreen.com OG co –founders Karen Solomon and Mike Flynn with Mayor’s Proclamation. 110
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OG co- founder Karen Solomon, Eco Maverick Award honorees SHFT’s Peter Glatzer and Adrian Grenier and OG co-founder Mike Flynn. Project Freewaters team digging a well in Kenya
OG 25 Start Up Award winner PrintEco
Starbucks Ben Packerd
Nike’s Hannah Jones
COCO ECO |
THE CONSCIOUS REVELLER!
GORGEOUS AND GREEN Gorgeous And Green 2011 Gala & Eco-Fashion Show Rocks Schools
WRITTEN by: Vicki Godal PHOTOGRAPHY by: Drew Altiz, ecofabulous.com, heartofgreen.org, globalgreen.org
San Francisco’s annual Gorgeous & Green Gala 2011 was held in December at the Bently Reserve to honor eco-fashion, sustainable technologies and eco-initiatives making a difference in the lives of students. Host Global Green USA announced its National Green School Makeover Competition winner, Austin’s Texas School for the Deaf before unveiling a Green School Mobile App. Co-chairs Zem Joaquin and Nadine Weil along with Global Green USA President Matt Petersen also showed a video describing the green schools program. Musical performances by Michelle Branch and DJ Donovan entertained guests was followed by an eco-fashion runway show featuring California-based designers. Global Green USA, the American affiliate of Green Cross International, fosters a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future. HEART OF GREEN
heartofgreen.org
GLOBAL GREEN
globalgreen.org
Gorgeous and Green 2011 cochairs Joaquin andMAGAZINE Nadine Of Rags design 112 Zem | COCO ECO | January / February 2012 Weil with Matt Petersen.
www.cocoecomag.com
CSI Miami’s Omar Miller and Chef Michael Mina
Michelle Branch, Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Donovan Friedman and Selin Sintac
Karen Caldwell, Oliver Tolentino and Sara Shepherd
Eco-designs by Oliver Tolentino
Lily Achatz and Clarissa Nicosia
Karen Caldwell eco-designs
Designers Olya Dzilikhova and Mina Yazdi designers of Minolya
Karen Caldwell eco-designs
COCO ECO |
THE CONSCIOUS REVELLER!
DIVINE DESIGN
DIVINE DESIGN CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF HIGH STYLE WITH PROJECT ANGEL FOOD WRITTEN by: Vicki Godal PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED by: Divine
Design
& Project Angel Food
The Platinum Anniversary Celebration of Divine Design benefitted Project Angel Food, during a luxurious Opening Gala at the Beverly Hilton in December. Co-chaired by Darren Star and Marc Friedland, the benefit was hosted by America’s Next Top Model runway coach, J. Alexander. Events included a benefit auction and entertainment by singer Kristin Chenowith of Glee. The gala honored recipients Iconic Chef and Restaurateur Thomas Keller, Iconic Fashion Visionary Patricia Field, and Woman of Style Viola Davis, for style and achievement in their work. Divine Design features an assortment of cause related, luxury fashion mini-boutiques promoting the stylish life. Last year, Project Angel Food cooked and delivered 735,000 nutritious meals to people with cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. ** www.projectangelfood.org www.divinedesign.org J. Alexander, host of
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Margaret Steele, CEO, Project Angel Food, with Eric & Janet McCormack.
Pauley Perrette
Octavia Spencer presents Woman of Style Award to Viola Davis
Patricia Field
Kendra Wilkinson with husband Henry Baskett
COCO ECO |
SHOPPING!
COCO ECO
SHOPPING CONCIERGE
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Black leather & silk textured jacket, price upon request, Izmaylova www.izmaylova.co.uk Taupe bodysuit $335, Malia Mills www.maliamills.com Silver Earrings & ring, vintage at The Way We Wore www.thewaywewore.com
PAGE 18 Lavender & grey silk jacket, price upon request, Georges Hobeika www.georgeshobeika.com Gold sequin & silk dress, price upon request, Stella McCartney available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills 310-275-4211 www.saksfifthavenue.com Gold earrings, price upon request, Nashelle www.nashelle.com Ivory satin peep toe $695, Giuseppe Zanotti www.giuseppezanottidesign.com PAGE 19 Ivory hemp gown, price upon request, Prophetik www.prophetik.com Crystal lace & silk ribbon, price upon request, Johanna Johnson www.johannajohnson.com PAGE 20-21
Black & white paillette gown, price upon request, Douglas Hannant www.douglashannant.com Silver earrings and ring, vintage at The Way We Wore www.thewaywewore.com Silver gladiator heels $895, Giuseppe Zanotti www.giuseppezanottidesign.com
PAGE 22 Black sequin cape $1725, Johanna Johnson www.johannajohnson.com Black silk textured gown, price upon request, Johanna Johnson www.johannajohnson.com Gunmetal Earrings & ring, vintage at The Way We Wore www.thewaywewore.com PAGE 23 Sand silk & tulle gown, price upon request, Georges Hobeika www.georgeshobeika.com Gunmetal earrings $112, Nissa www.nissajewelry.com Silver and sapphire ring, vintage at The Way We Wore www.thewaywewore.com PAGE 24-25
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White silk & tulle embellished dress, price upon request, Falguni & Shane Peacock www.falgunishanepeacock.com Silver pearl cuff $120, Nissa www.nissajewelry.com Gold and crystal stone ring, price upon request, Nashelle www.nashelle.com
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