Is green the new black?

(ARA) - Before rushing out to buy the latest looks in emerald, teal or chartreuse, the question of "Is green the new black?" isn't referring to the season's "it" color, but rather the current trend of going green.

Not sure if green and recycled fashions are for you? Fashion experts at The Art Institutes schools discuss green fashion and how you can go green by adding some recycled fashion into your own wardrobe.

Green fashion is all about clothing that is environmentally friendly and made in a socially responsible way. Qualities that make clothing "green" or "eco-friendly" are the "use of organic materials, fair-trade manufacturing, eco-friendly dyeing processes and the use of recycled materials," according to Maria J. Aguerri, academic director of Fashion Marketing and Management at The Art Institute of Michigan.

The green fashion movement "is less about consumption and more about self-expression and fashion we can feel good about as consumers," says Amber Davis Huber, a Fashion and Retail Management instructor at The Art Institute of Indianapolis. People are "becoming more aware of where products come from and how they affect the environment. There is a story with the product."

Recycled fashion is a great way for consumers to add green fashion to their wardrobes. Designers take recycled fabric or articles of clothing and refashion them to create completely new looks. Recycled fashion opens opportunities for smaller designers and "allows them to enter the market in a more manageable way," says Huber.

Not only does recycled fashion offer more opportunity for up and coming designers, but also provides more selection and unique looks for anyone wanting to stand out in a crowd. "Recycling old clothing and textiles is a great opportunity for designers to be creative, says Jo Dean Tipton, a Fashion Design instructor for The Art Institute of Indianapolis. "Each garment made from recycled textiles is one-of-a-kind, and shows originality from the way they connect together. We are living in a time when people buy clothing to reflect their personalities, and owning a garment made of a mixture of fabric and trims is a great way to do that."

Recycled accessories are another way to go green. Huber, who is the designer of the handbag line Cynthia K, offers customers the opportunity to choose from a variety of recycled leathers and styles to create a custom-made handbag. Aguerri says designers are also starting to recycle denim and metals for accessories.

Aguerri also recommends bringing old clothes and accessories to thrift stores, shopping for vintage clothes and participating in clothing swap parties as ways to add some recycled fashions to your closet. "A growing trend is to recycle bridesmaid dresses, which until now were usually worn once and discarded," she says.

Green fashion can mean higher price points, but Huber says that this hurdle can be overcome by educating consumers on how products are made. She also stresses that "it's important as a consumer to really understand what makes things eco-friendly" and recommends researching companies to make sure their eco-friendly claims are more than a marketing strategy.

As for the future of green fashion, Huber says that five years ago she wouldn't have expected it to be going full-throttle, but now it's more of a lifestyle.

Mother's Day Outings 2011

Mother's Day is May 8th and it is quickly approaching. Do something special with your mom this year. Check out these events in the Delaware/Pennsylvania area.

• Run Like a Mother 5k: Gather up the important women in your life Sunday, May 8th at 2:00 PM for a 5k run/walk. All proceeds go to support Mommy’s Light, a charity which brings comfort to children by keeping the traditions they shared with their Mother’s alive. Join the runner in Downtown West Chester at the corner of Church St. and Market St. The first 750 registered runners recieve a pink brooks tech t-shirt. For more information visit http://5kformothersday.com/.

• Point-to-Point: The annual steeplechase falls at Winterthur falls Mothers Day this year. Enjoy a glorious day of steeplechase racing and celebrate Mother’s Day at this year’s Point-to-Point, set amidst the splendor of Henry Francis du Pont’s Winterthur estate. Pack a picnic lunch or tailgate spread, treat mom to a special day, and get ready to enjoy one of the Brandywine Valley’s most stylish sporting events! See http://www.winterthur.org/?p=867 for more information. 

• Mother's Tea at the Cauffiel House:  Bring the women in your family and celebrate Mother’s Day in the beautiful Cauffiel House at Bellevue State Park. A casual tea will be served, followed by a staff-led walking tour of the home. Call (302) 761-6963 by May 3rd to reserve your space.

• Mother's Day Buffet Dinner Train: Treat Mom to dinner aboard the train at Wilmington & Western Railroad train as it travels through the bucolic Red Clay Valley on a 2-hour round-trip to Ashland. Dinner is served buffet-style, and includes appetizer, salad, entree, assorted desserts and non-alcoholic beverages. Visit the Delaware's Operating Railroad Museum for more details. 

• Wilmington Flower Market: For three full days May 5th-7th, Wilmington’s Rockford Park is a local tradition that Flower Market is most well known for. You will find a large selection of plants, flowers, merchants, crafts, rides, games, entertainment and food. All events and proceeds are dedicated to improving the lives of Delaware's children. To see additional events at the Wilmington Flower Market visit http://www.wilmingtonflowermarket.org/.

Earth Day Activities

Join the world on April 22, 2011, and make a difference. Here are several ways you can encourage your family to go green. 

1. Reduce electricity. Advise your family to turn off the lights when they leave the room or turn off the tv when they are no longer watching. 

2. Take small steps. Shut off the water when they brush their teeth. Hand clothes on the line instead of putting them in the dryer. These small acts keep the world cleaner and greener. 

3. Recycle. 

4. Compost. Its easy to collect your own food scraps and garden waste and turn it into healthy compost in your own yard. 

5. Donate. A great way to get across the message of “reuse” and “recycle” is to encourage them to donate their old toys and clothing. 

6. Become Aware. Talk to your family about the environment and hazards such as pollution. 

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Need a reason to go green? Read how plastic has created a landfill in your oceans. 

Most of our waste today is comprised of plastic. Plastic, which is made from petroleum, is a material that the Earth cannot digest. Every bit of plastic that has ever been created still exists, except for a small amount that has been incinerated, releasing toxic chemicals.

In the ocean, plastic waste accumulates in swirling seas of debris, where plastic to sea life ratios are 6:1; where birds and mammals are dying of starvation and dehydration with bellies full of plastics; where fish are ingesting toxins at such a rate that soon they will no longer be safe to eat.

The largest of these garbage swills is known as the Pacific Gyre, or The Great Garbage Patch. It is roughly the size of Texas, containing approximately 3.5 million tons of trash. Shoes, toys, bags, pacifiers, wrappers, toothbrushes, and bottles too numerous to count are only part of what can be found in this accidental dump floating midway between Hawaii and San Francisco.

What can we do about it? First, we need to understand the size of the problem. Then, together, we need to find the solutions. For more information visit www.greatgarbagepatch.com. 

How the First Earth Day Came About

For over 40 years, Earth Day has inspired and mobilized individuals and organizations worldwide to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. Here is how the first earth day came about.

On April 22, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day will be celebrated from coast-to-coast; a day which was first realized by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson who wanted to find a way to increase environmental awareness and to promote urgently needed federal legislation to deal with an alarming ecological crisis.

It wasn't until visiting Santa Barbara Calif in August, 1969, and reading about the popularity of "teach-ins'' at college campuses as way of educating students about the Vietnam War that an idea caught hold in Nelson's head to hold a similar "teach-in'' only with a focus on environmental awareness.

Since the first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, when a chorus of demonstrators around the nation (some 20 million strong) voiced their concerns about the environment, specifically about the pollution of air and water, that a significant amount of federal legislation was passed to protect the environment.

Bill Clinton awarded Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor, in 1995. 

Spring Trend: Eco-chic

Eco-chic: Spring 2011's hottest beauty and fashion trend
(ARA) - Sunshine, green grass, and buds popping out on trees and flowers everywhere - all those signs of spring may have you thinking about getting your hands on the season's newest beauty products. But think beyond sheer foundation and floral hues; this year the hottest trend in beauty and fashion is "eco-chic." Soaking up some sun on the beach or relaxing in the green grass of your backyard can remind you just how important it is to protect the environment. Eco-chic products, manufactured using sustainable, environmentally friendly ingredients and/or processes, can help you do something good for the planet and look great while doing it.


Here are some nature-friendly ways to help keep you and the environment protected:


Skin is in: Winter can leave your skin in serious need of nourishment to restore its moisture. Look for products that have natural or organic ingredients to help revitalize skin. The Nutriganics natural skin care collection from The Body Shop provides a certified organic alternative to anti-aging products and helps smooth skin in as little as four weeks. And you can feel good while looking good, because the company sources many of the ingredients through its unique Community Fair Trade program, which benefits more than 25,000 people in some of the world's poorest communities.


Sustainable accessorizing: The accessories you wear can, in their own way, have a significant impact on the environment. When you're checking out the season's latest handbags or fashion jewelry, consider the manufacturing processes and materials used to make the product. You can look great and feel responsible about your accessories when you shop for items made from recycled or organic materials. You can find plenty of totes, bags and fashion jewelry made in eco-friendly ways with environmentally responsible materials. A quick online search for "eco-chic accessories" will yield enough results to ensure you can find items to fit every look and mood.


Brushing up: While at the same time featuring spring's irresistible colors. The products' cruelty-free status make them especially appealing for vegetarians, plus they're made from high-quality, naturally derived ingredients.  


Cleaning up: Recycling your empty water bottles and volunteering to help remove litter from a local stream are great ways to help clean up the environment. And when you're engaging in your everyday personal cleaning tasks, you can also help the earth - and start your day feeling fresh in body and spirit. The Body Shop Shower Gels for Earth Lovers are made from a soap-free base (so they're non-drying), plus feature a blend of herb and fruit extracts, are 100 percent biodegradable and contain Community Fair Trade aloe vera. They're also free of sulfates, parabens or colorants - all things that have been associated with a negative impact on the environment.


Dressing up: When you try on a new outfit or shoes do you think of the materials it's made from and how manufacturing those materials has impacted the environment or people in the developing world? Chances are you, like many other American women, are now thinking about whether or not your fashions are environmentally responsible. Eco-chic is in style for clothing as well.


Many innovative designers are now offering trendy attire made from earth-friendly fabrics like hemp and cotton. They're buying their materials from fabric-makers in the developing world who practice sustainable, environmentally conscious harvesting and production.


Spring is a great time to find new ways - and great new products - that nourish your body and soul, and help the planet as well. For more information on eco-conscious beauty, visit TheBodyShop-USA.com.