The “average” American will reportedly have anywhere from five to seven careers in his/her lifetime. Since all I’ve ever wanted to be is a writer, I’m not quite sure how to work that one out.

Although after reading Judi Henderson-Town’s career change, a la retail love story – I’m open to the possibility that anything can happen.

See, if someone had told Henderson-Town 15 years ago that she would be working with mannequins and helping revolutionize the green aspects of mannequins, she might have said you were crazy.

She was part of the dot-com industry after all. A personal mannequin art project (bedazzled with mosaic tiles no less) and Craigslist led her to discover the possibilities of working with mannequins. Continue reading →

They’re doing it in San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and even in cities throughout North Carolina. It was only a matter of time before the uber-sustainable Portland, Ore., joined the ranks.

In July, Portland passed an ordinance to ban plastic bags at check-out stands of major grocers and some big-box retailers. The new ordinance will go into effect Oct. 15, 2011.

Plastic bags, once revered for their convenience, are no longer our friend. Their long-reaching negative impact on the earth’s wildlife and environment can no longer be ignored. Sure, they have made shopping convenient, not to mention have served as my garbage bags for years. Continue reading →

When I was growing up, second-hand shopping meant you were poor, and kids made fun of you because you didn’t wear brand-name clothes. Today, it means you’re a savvy consumer who loves Mother Earth. God, I love the evolution of our society!

Goodwill has never been cooler to shop at (and I’ve been doing it since I was 10!) – it even has its own documentary in the works.

A laid-off journalist, Jenna Isaacson, has decided to bring more attention to positive second-hand, sustainable consumerism with her documentary: "All Thrifty States: A Visual Journey through America’s Collective Closets." Isaacson is currently traveling the country in a fuel-efficient RV from Cruise America through Aug. Continue reading →

I’m a bit of a wine lover. When I say “a bit of” it’s only to downplay my love of wine. I’m one of those people who frowns at the screw cap (unless camping and sans wine opener), and relishes in the ritual of the cork. But here’s the thing, the cork isn’t just about wine, it’s also an important part of nourishing our world.

Confused?

Here’s the deal: Cork forests are one of the largest providers of oxygen to the earth, in addition to being one of the most sustainable and environmentally harvested forests in the world. Cork forests also have the world’s highest amount of forest biodiversity, including endangered species like the Iberian Lynx, the Iberian Imperial Eagle and the Barbary Deer. Continue reading →

In Oregon, legislature is working to ban the use of plastic grocery bags—forever. As a nation, we’re realizing how important it is to look at everything we do and make sure it’s not harming our Earth. Retail is, fortunately, on the same path – leading the way once again.

On March 1, 2011, a significant number of apparel and footwear brands, retailers, manufacturers, etc., along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency started the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. The purpose of the organization is three-fold (as taken from their first press release):

1)      Leading the industry toward a shared vision of sustainability built on an industry-wide index for measuring and evaluating apparel and footwear product sustainability. Continue reading →