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Global Cool: Snowboarders Gear Up Green

The epitome of cool in snow season is of course, snowboarding. And the biggest requirement for this most righteous winter pastime is of course, snow. Well, “uh, yeh brah, no duh” you may think to yourself, but in this day and age even snow in winter isn’t a sure thing anymore. Winter resorts, from the Rockies to the Alps, have been grappling with ever shorter snow seasons for years now-some of the resorts have even re-branded themselves as “sun and fun” destinations to try and recoup some of their climate change-related financial loss. Bummer, dude. Well, it comes as no surprise (actually, strike that, I am pleasantly surprised) that one of the biggest names in snowboarding gear, Quiksilver, is unveiling their eco-friendly outerwear line next week at SIA ‘08 as well as the inaugural Quiksilver Natural Selection in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Champion rider Travis Rice collabed with Quiksilver to design a signature jacket and pant which are 55% hemp and 45% recycled PET…PET being a type of plastic in this instance, not ice cream. Sweet.

Check out Quiksilver’s take on the line’s big launch…

“Because it needs to stand up to the elements, winter outerwear has historically been among the least eco-friendly apparel on the market. The challenge of combining waterproof, breathable and comfortable technology has relied on a great deal of innovation that has, more often than not, been developed with performance, not the environment, in mind. No more. On January 29th, Quiksilver will unveil an all-new line of eco-friendly winter outerwear. Recycled PET water and soda bottles combine with sustainable Hemp fabric and non-toxic natural dyes (free of heavy metals that contaminate waterways) to create outerwear that is highly functional, environmentally conscious and supremely stylish. Designed with the world’s most advanced earth-friendly textiles and production processes, the collection represents an entirely new orientation for designing, fabricating, wearing and recycling winter outerwear.

As a company of boardriders, we’ve always challenged the power and grace of mother nature in a way that is perfectly in tune with the environment, said Dave Rosenberger, VP Sales Quiksilver Wintersports. This new outerwear line reflects this ideal, because it meets the essential performance requirements of riders, while introducing a new, earth-friendly approach to winter apparel.

Eco-friendly fabric highlights and how they benefit the environment:

Biodegradable TPU Laminate
This waterproof, breathable, solvent-free laminate is the first of its kind. Low in toxicity and biodegradable, this laminate will break down completely in only four years. Others can last hundreds of years, turning your old jacket and pants from a fashion faux pas to full-on biohazard.

Nanosphere Finish ­ by Schoeller Switzerland
Created by spacesuitmanufacturer Schoeller Switzerland, this new technology provides a natural self-cleaning effect and an extremely high level of water and dirt
repellence. It is also highly abrasion resistant. It is based on Nanotechnology which makes it possible to copy nature and use the non-stick and self-cleaning process of certain plants and insects onto textiles. In order to do this the surface of the textile is altered by using the
nanoparticles.

Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is renewable, non-toxic and biodegradable. The production of commercial cotton is destroying farmland and is poisoning the waterways around the world. It takes approximately two pounds of pesticides to grow one regular, non-organic cotton T-shirt.

Hemp
Hemp is an economical, renewable resource. It is fast growing, taking about 100 ­ 120 days from planting until it is ready. Hemp, as a rule, does not need pesticides, and requires far less water than cotton during growing.

Non-Toxic Dyes ­
Most common dyes used in our fabrics and textiles/furniture/ carpets etc, are filled with heavy metals that are very harmful to animal, our habitat and mostly humans.

Recycled PETs ­ Recylced Polyester and Soda Bottles
With eight of 10 plastic bottles ending up in landfills, finding economically viable uses for
recycling is still a mandate for environmentally sound businesses. All polyester in the new Quiksilver eco-friendly line is created from PET (recycled polyester made from plastic soda bottles.) It reduces the use of other raw materials like petroleum, and cuts down on the process of refining crude oil into synthetic polyesters and nylons, which creates some of the worst types of pollution.”

Quiksilver pits high performance fashion against global warming…Cool.

Greenloop Upgrade: Planned Down Time

Just a quick not to let everyone know that www.thegreenloop.com will be down for a few hours between the hours of 10pm and 3am 1/22/08 – 1/23/08 for a software upgrade. The site will be up and running as normal after the upgrade, and any orders placed before or after this time will not be affected. This upgrade will improve our capabilities on a number of fronts and we look forward to working with the new version of the software. We thank you for your patience and understanding.
In the mean time, shop away!

The Organic Cotton Market Grows… and Grows and Grows

It takes three quarters of a pound of toxic chemicals to grow enough conventional cotton to produce a single pair of jeans and a third of a pound to make a T-shirt to go with them. Luckily for all of us, organic cotton production is on the rise. According to Organic Exchange’s Organic Cotton Market Report for 2007, production and sales of organic cotton has snowballed in the last couple of years. Between 2006 and 2007, organic fiber production increased by 53%. Sales of organic cotton worldwide reached the $2 billion mark. The top five organic cotton retailers for 2007 were Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club, Nike, Woolworth’s South Africa, Coop Switzerland and C&A. Large and small retailers alike increased their cotton programs over the last two years, from retail giants like Levi Strauss & Co and Nordstrom to smaller eco-fashion luminaries like Edun and Loomstate. Considering the cotton industry consumes 25% of all pesticides on the planet, the expansion of the organic cotton market means a major victory for soil and water quality, the health of people working and living near the cotton industry, and all of us who buy and wear King Cotton everyday. For a complete rundown of organic cotton factoids, check out Green Basics: Organic Cotton by Colin Dunn on Treehugger.com.

The Lazy Environmentalist: Your Guide to Easy, Stylish Green Living by Josh Dorfman, host of The Lazy Environmentalist radio show and founder & CEO of

A new must read selection of the modern, green living genre, The Lazy Environmentalist speaks to all of us, from the most devoted city hippy to the newly green, the book has options for everyone to incorporate a little more sustainability, without sacrifice, into their lives. As Josh puts it, “We can’t all camp out in old-growth forests, lying down in front of the bulldozers. And it’s not only that we’re too busy: Some of us just don’t want our fabulous threads to get caked with mud.”
“But that doesn’t mean we don’t care passionately about the environment. Luckily, the days when becoming environmentally aware entailed eating bread that tasted like dirt, wearing clothes that looked like frayed burlap sacks, and spending summer vacations assailing whaling ships with Greenpeace are passing away. It is now perfectly possible (and increasingly easy) to be well fed, well coiffed, well dressed, and well traveled while remaining deeply committed to an ecologically sustainable lifestyle.” Greenloop is featured in the section on fashion (thank you Josh), so of course this is a must read!

The Lazy Environmentalist, covering topics that range from clothing to electronic gadgetry, home decor to recreation, and gardening to financial investment, lets us know which trends to watch and which eco-conscious products—cars, toothbrushes, cell phones, pet accessories—to buy. Green, it turns out, can be an extremely stylish color.

From The Introduction:
“Designers are saving rain forests. Fashionistas are clearing toxins from the soil. Architects are rolling back global warming. A new wave of eco-conscious activists is stimulating fresh approaches to environmental challenges. The market is their arena. Organic cotton, bamboo, and certified sustainable woods are their materials. Hybrid engines and solar power are their technologies. Stylish, high-performing products and services are their tools of change.

These innovators make it easy for us to integrate environmental awareness into our lives. They understand that while so many of us are concerned about the environment, we don’t always have the time, energy, or inclination to do something about it.

We are lazy environmentalists. This is our moment.“

Watch out for Josh coming to a bookstore near you soon to get your copy personally autographed!

Praise for The Lazy Environmentalist:
“Every day most of us have to choose between products that either look the same or do the same thing. The Lazy Environmentalist is a useful guide toward making the right decisions.”
– Yvon Chouinard, Founder and Owner, Patagonia, Inc.

“Everything you always wanted to know about greener living but were afraid to spend the rest of your life researching. Here’s a great start…”
– Chris Paine, Writer/Director, Who Killed the Electric Car?

“Instead of thinking about it… DO IT..Buy this amazing book and get the scoop on products and ways to take care of this great planet. Become part of the movement that is loving the earth the way it truly deserves to be cared for!”
– Mariel Hemingway, Actress and Author of Healthy Living From the Inside Out

The Lazy Environmentalist In The Press:
“Driving a hybrid car is all well and good, but the truly committed earth friend needs clothes, shoes, furniture, kitchenware and even coffins that are free from environmental sin. And it’s all gotta look good, because what’s the point of saving a dowdy planet? Enter Josh Dorfman, style maven and environmental evangelist, with his book…”
- The Nashville Scene

“So what does Dorfman say to those who insist that widespread consumerism is a cause of environmental woes? “Well, I would say, I agree,” he says with a laugh. But from his perspective, offering alternatives in the market arena is the most effective way to green people’s habits, and to reach people who would otherwise be resistant to change.”
- Mountain Xpress

“Josh is smart and extremely informed on the subject of environmentalism. Don’t be fooled about the “lazy” moniker. There’s nothing lazy to his approach. The way I see it, Josh is bridging the gap between idealism and behavior, finding ways for everyone to live happier, healthier, and more plentifully.”
- Jetson Green

Available For Order:
Barnes and Noble
Amazon.com
Powells.com
Stewart, Tabori & Chang

Rave Reviews: White Heat

Every girl needs some sexy white pants. They work for all moods and styles. For example, wear with a crisp yellow polo and deck shoes for country club chic, or with a lace tunic and vintage cowboy boots for a more bohemian feel. And for those days when we feel like rockstars, wear with a studded belt, motorcycle boots, and a fitted pinstripe vest. Whatever your style, a pair of white jeans make for a crisp canvas to express yourself. Take this sexy pair from denim guru Del Forte; a skinny fit makes you look like you have legs for days, and a not-too-low rise means that you can feel sexy and still sit down without showing off your skivvies. Turn up the heat at Greenloop!

Ah, February… It’s that time of the year when we all get a bit anxious for spring to arrive. We wake up in the mornings and peer hopefully out our windows for some confirmation that we are getting closer to sunny days and warmer weather. And of course we can’t wait to shed our sweaters and coats for something a little lighter! After a long cold winter spent in jeans and wool socks, we want to wear something a bit more fun! Enter the Daphne Shorts by denim diva Del Forte! With a flattering trouser-cut and hitting just below the knee, these cuffed shorts are comfortable and versatile. Wear with a Loomstate hoody and some Vans slip-ons for an easy so-cal-chic day look or dress up with heels, a silk blouse and a trim jacket for meeting the girls for drinks after work! Spring into action at Greenloop!

Rave Reviews: Pucker Up

Since layering is not only fashionable, but necessary during the shifting seasons, we suggest making your life a little easier with this cute hoody tee from Stewart+Brown! A long slim fit makes layering over and under various tops and jackets a breeze, and a cute pucker detail adds a little something extra to this classic tee. Layer over a ruffled cami, and under a trim denim blazer for a fun look ideal for shopping with the girls or for catching a movie with your sister! . Add a funky cap and a long scarf in colder weather to keep toasty in style! Make like a parfait and layer up with Greenloop!

Rave Reviews: Under it, over it, in between.

Layer, layer layer…it applies both to dressing for snow sports and easy dressing in just about any weather. One essential piece to the layering puzzle is a lightweight, lengthened cami that is long enough to serve as a true layer under that scoop neck long sleeve, to be followed by the plunging V-neck sweater, and topped off with a multi-strand necklace of various found objects. This ultra soft, lightweight, organic pima cami by Stewart+Brown is the perfect solution. The arm and neck lines are satin edged, and the bottom is raw, so you can cut it to the length that suits you best. Happy dressing!

Rave Reviews: (Un)Mask it!

Health & beauty is more than Skin Deep, according to the Environmental Working Group and truly natural and organic is the only way to go with your bodycare this year as we vow to wean ourselves from all of those toxics laden creams, gels and serums for the healthier new crop of organic self care products out there. Here’s one way to get started, and while this might not be the perfect accessory for that masquerade party (tends to get a bit crumbly with excessive smiling), the MiEssence collection of mineral masks is one sure way to reveal a more youthful, less clogged, more balanced face this year that does NOT need any cover up! Packed with natural mineral clays, organic herbs, and essential oils, you can just slip into your robe, grab some cuke slices and treat yourself to a mini in-home facial…at a fraction of the cost, and sans the less than savory ingredients in typical skin care masks. Go ahead…slather it on, from your ears to your chest! Choose from Purifying, Balancing or Rejuvenating.