Fashion Issue

ADiSTinCTiveStyle FAShiOn 2010

THE GREEN QUEEN

Deborah Lindquist Natalie Merchant GIVE US YOUR POOR THE ULTIMATE

GREEN HOME FASHION DESIGNER

Cecelia Perez

Coal Country

Cloris Leachman’s

SALAD DAYS charity: water

Fresh MUSIC BY

Madeleine Peyroux HARRISON FORD

Conservation International DOT LASER THERAPY

Rachel Avalon

The GReen LivinG expeRT

Amid a flurry of tourists and cameras, PETA unveiled their "Let Vegetarianism Grow on You" ad in Times Square. In the ad, the always witty Cloris Leachman wears a dress of red cabbage and leaf lettuce. The release followed a publication of the results of the biggest medical study ever to conclude, that avoiding meat gives people a better chance of living longer. Who better to illustrate the point than Cloris, a vibrant 82-year-old vegetarian?

Cloris Leachman’s

SALAD DAYS

Deborah

LINDquISt Deborah Lindquist is known by many in the fashion industry as the Green Queen. The Deborah Lindquist Eco Fashion brand has become synonymous with innovative, environmentallyconscious beauty. Deborah has an eye for flattering lines and fabulous fabric combinations. Her desire to reclaim vintage elements and inspire the industry’s respect for our planet’s health has set her apart from many designers and established a place for her among the most highly-acclaimed designers today.

For Deborah, however, the eco-titles are interesting footnotes. After all, this farm girl grew up coveting attic finds, creating one-of-a-kind garments on her grandmother’s treadle sewing machine, being instilled with an appreciation of the earth and what it takes to nurture it. Indeed, Deborah was ‘eco-conscious’ before the term ever came to light, let alone a hip moniker. She has always had a love of old things and felt in a way their stories should live on in new and vibrant ways. At the same time, she knew that new designs could honor the earth by using fabrics that were produced in with organic growing methods.

“I remember in the nineties, when I lived in New York, approaching wholesalers and asking them for organic cotton and other sustainable fabrics. They said they didn’t carry such things because

GREEN

Queen

there wasn’t a call for them. I told them, ‘Well, I am calling for it and I bet if you let designers know the option is available, they will ask for it more and more.’ Within a week, I heard back from one of those suppliers and he said he took my advice and was receiving lots of call for organic fabrics ever since he got the word out. I really believe designers and their clients want to do ‘the right thing;’ they just don’t know what is possible.”

One look at Deborah’s designs and you will see that getting those possibilities from paper to hanger is her specialty. Her cashmere sweaters have an almost cult-following amongst celebrities—Sharon Stone, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, and more. Her current ‘Goth Girl Goes to the Country’ line reflects her rural roots and New York sass. You can’t help but find yourself immersed in the eco-sexy sense of it all. And that is exactly what Deborah wants a woman to feel and celebrate: a blend of edgy meets femme.

In 2010, Deborah hopes to expand her line to encapsulate her whole-life philosophy as it relates to eco-awareness.

“It’s not just about deciding to buy an organic tee, although, that is a start for many consumers who are new to eco-fashion. However, I want to create designs that educate and invite people into what the term ecoconscious really means, and has to be, in order to be meaningful and effective. It has to be a lifestyle, not just a single, isolated choice. It is a mindset.”

DEBORAH LINDQUIST

In that vein, Deborah is working on home design pieces, a men’s line, and children’s clothes. Why Deborah even makes cashmere dog sweaters! What is more, Deborah has a passion that informs all of her work and will continue to do so in this new decade. She was told early on in her career that certain ecofriendly business practices would not work, would not move her business forward. Still, she hung in there. She held true to her childhood experiences, her professional, Parsons School-training, and her gut-feeling that her choices have a long-lasting impact and, that if she stuck to her guns and her core beliefs, she would do okay.

Deborah has done more than okay. She is widely known for her designs, eye for finding new and exciting fabrics, and inspiring other designers to follow suit. Deborah is not just a designer with an incredible gift for beauty and innovation. Deborah is a pioneer in her field, raising the bar for the fashion industry as a whole.

WHy ORGANIc cOttON? For many of us, the main difference between organic cotton clothing and regular cotton items is the price. In a time where counting pennies prevail, one can wonder what is the real difference between organic cotton and conventional cotton. It is a question worth asking.

It boils down to the way in which the two are grown and the impact those methods

have on the environment. Conventional methods typically use seeds treated with fungicide or insecticides. Organic growers avoid these, using untreated seeds. The latter also avoids GMO (genetically modified organism) seeds. GMO seeds can cultivate and grow, through pollination and wind-borne flight, in areas not in the initial planting zone, affecting other crops, wild flora, and fauna who may feed on those plants.

Weed and pest control are also handled differently. Conventional farming uses herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides. Aerial spraying is the norm. Organic methods require hand-pulling and aeration, beneficial insect introduction (to eat harmful pests), and sometimes uses ‘trapcrops’ to lure pests away from the cotton. In addition, organic farming uses the natural evolution of seasons to handle defoliation, making hand-harvesting easier. Conventional methods use defoliation sprays to move things along.

As one can imagine, organic methods are more labor intensive and more costly to carry out. This explains the cost difference of final products using organic cotton. However, the investment is not only in a long-lasting, ecoconscious product; it is an investment in the land’s ability to keep producing, allowing us to leave a legacy of fruitfulness to our children. Something to think about the next time you go to grab your favorite t-shirt. Even these relatively small wardrobe purchases make a difference in the health of our planet.

DEbORAH LINDquISt.cOm

HARRISON FORD Conservation International Board Member Strongly committed to environmental concerns, Harrison Ford has served on the board of Conservation International for more than 10 years, actively participating in its design and growth. During this time CI has emerged as a leading force in global conservation. He presently serves as vice chair of the board and is on CI's Executive Committee.

He has played an instrumental role in the establishment at CI of the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, the first early warning system for global conservation efforts.

Additionally, he played a key role in the design and development of CI's Center for Environmental Leadership in Business, a coalition of conservation and business interests searching for ways to reduce the impact of development on the earth's biodiversity.

Mr. Ford serves as a board member of Conservation International's Global Conservation Fund, which has secured the protection of over 40,000,000 acres on 3 continents in the past 18 months. Mr. Ford lives in Jackson, Wyoming, where he donated 389 acres of his property for a conservation easement to the Jackson Hole Land Trust.

dale c

Dale Chihuly, whose medium is glass, says, “I call myself an artist for lack of a better word, I’m an artist, a designer, a craftsman, interior designer, half-architect. There’s no one name that fits me very well.” The difficulty of categorizing him notwithstanding, Chihuly is universally labeled a glass artist, and in the domain of contemporary glass art, he is probably unsurpassed in his artistic and technical inventiveness and boldness, professional success, and influence. “An unquestioned genius,” as Robert T. Buck, the director of the Brooklyn Museum, has called him, he has be-

come the most celebrated glassmaker in the United States since the turn of the century, when Louis Comfort Tiffany made stained glass a prominent feature of American interior design.

Dale Chihuly, who was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1941, has become an internationally celebrated personality in contemporary art and design whose prominence in the field of contemporary studio glass is unmatched. He is a generous and charismatic individual with a forceful person-

ality, who ceaselessly promotes himself and his material—glass—to audiences around the world. For those who might question the influence of a single artist on what has become a sizable international community, try imagining what the early American studio glass movement—or international glass today—would be without Chihuly. It is impossible to deny the magnitude and pervasiveness of his influence.

www.chihuly.com

ch i h uly

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Written by: Lara vander ploeg

From Ceci

Ever since she was born, Cecilia perez craved opportunity to create. The daughter of an art-loving fa and a mother with a passion for intricate handiw and stitchery, Cecilia was surrounded by beau even the smallest of details.

Today, Cecilia perez and her 24 years of cou experience, enlivens the runways of fashion sh around the globe. Haute couture is one of greatest loves and she counts herself blessed to in this trade. She vividly remembers her mo sewing when she was very young. Under mother’s tutelage and encouragement, Ce studied French seam finishes and received a gre appreciation of fine detail, line, and overall garment f She attended workshops and various courses, eventu graduating from Instituto de Bellas Arts. There, she dove another great love in her life: plastic arts. She has stud with world-class professors and practiced sculpture fo years.

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This eclectic upbringing, however, informs her current work: Haute Couture by Cecilia perez.

“With Haute Couture, each piece is a unique expression of art. Love and commitment go into every piece,” says Cecilia as her eyes light up with the thought.

But it is not beauty for beauty’s sake. No. perez strongly believes her role is to create a design that fully reveals the client’s essence, their personality as a whole. yes, it is important to maintain her own essence in each piece but not at the cost of losing the client in the creation of it all.

Again, it is an expression of respect, love, and admiration for the very character of haute couture.

What really makesCecilia’s heart race is lace

“My focus right now is on my bridal line. Lace blouses have been my passion since day one and will continue to be. I could talk about lace forever. It is what I know best. The only other place that lace can speak with greater femininity and charm is in the bridal gown. Love and lace. What a wonderful combination!”

Cecilia’s comprehensive bridal line will launch in May of 2010. Other great things in store for all of us from Cecilia in 2010? Why, a boutique shoe line, a designer handbag collection, and a personallycreated perfume to celebrate 25 years in the fashion industry.

With all of this going on in her life, Cecilia appre ciates her talent for what it is: a God-given gift, one she feels responsible to share with the world. She may find her designs adorning women all over the world but her adoration and daily devotion blossom from those closer to home: her children and her grandchildren. This day-to-day immersion in the loves of her life is truly what animates her designs.

The awe-inspiring detail, the gossamer flow of fabric, the careful selection of vibrant colour – all of these come together under her talented and yet loving touch. It is evident in her work. It is evident in her smile. It is evident in her approach to all of life.

We should all be so blessed to have a bit of Cecilia perez in our closet.

www.ceciliaperez.com

MADELEINE PEYROUX bAND mEmbERS Larry Goldings—B3, piano, keyboards www.larrygoldings.com Jim Beard—piano, B3, keyboards www.jimbeard.com Jon Herington—guitars www.jonherington.com Darren Beckett—drums Barak Mori—bass Johannes Weidenmuller—bass Jenny Scheinman—violin www.jennyscheinman.com Ron Miles—trumpet www.myspace.com/ronmilesmusic Martha Rodenzo—dancer in short films www.martharodezno.com/site-provisoire/site/# cHARItIES Since 2005, Madeleine has raised a small donation for a locally-based charity (by adding $1.00 to the ticket price) at all forprofit concerts. Recipient organizations have focused on addressing homelessness, domestic violence, hunger, and children's welfare.

"I believe every show is the essence of community, so this is another way for me to share that with my audience. With all my gratitude to the people that buy the tickets and make this possible: THANK YOU!" ~Madeleine peyroux

Plant a seed for the future, purchase these one-of-a-kind note cards and you’ll help a deserving young student go to college!

ArT HAS HEArT FoundATIon: www.arthasheart.org PurCHASE: http://cgi.ebay.com/Southwest-Artists-Themed-Cards

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oceana and Google Launch new Ted danson Video using Google technology, oceana created a powerful new tool for protecting the Arctic ocean. The new Google Earth tour, narrated by Ted danson, takes visitors on a tour of the Arctic and highlights the impacts of climate change: melting sea ice, ocean acidification and increasing industrialization from shipping, fishing and oil and gas activity. http://www.oceana.org/map

By Lara Vander Ploeg Each issue, we are privileged to interview inspiring people who are advocates, change-agents, authors, artists, entertainers, and so many others.

Every once in a while we meet someone whose words and experiences touch and stir something unique and deep within our consciousness. Carla Perrotti is such a woman. In fact, her words were so profound and her person so approachable, we simply chose to let her words speak to you as answered.

How ironic it is that her life-affirming words come from this woman’s time in the deserts. Indeed, ‘Lady of the Deserts’ is how she is known in many places. She has crossed these vast expanses all over the world, accomplished what some have never done, and dared to create opportunities for others to see the rich beauty and cleansing solitude of the desert. As you read, imagine the pictures she paints with her words. Imagine the good that a bit of desert therapy could do for you.

ADS: Carla, what drew you to crossing deserts?

Carla: Years ago, on a trip with my family in the desert, I fell in love with this magical place. One day when we arrived at camp in the evening, my young son realized that he had lost his shoe while riding on a camel. I decided to go back and look for it on my own. At a certain point I found myself in the middle of the desert, alone in the peaceful silence. A silence so complete it creates sound, a humming almost. Sitting for a moment in this magical land, I saw a caravan of camels carrying salt in the distance. I watched, mesmerized by

LADY Of THE DESERTS

their steady rhythmic pace. If I have to name one moment when I fell in love with the desert, this would be it. Peace, inspiration, internal wholeness and well being captured in one moment. This is when my dream of crossing deserts was born, and from here, with each crossing, my dreams grew.

ADS: You have quite an impressive record of crossings behind you. Is that what inspired you to move from one continent to another? The accomplishment itself?

Carla: I did not start crossing deserts looking to achieve new records, conquer feats that no other person had, or do ‘extreme’ sports. I started, and kept crossing deserts because it brought me internal well-being and balance, I learned about my personal limits, and discovered a strength inside myself I couldn’t have imagined existed.

ADS: Many think the desert is a barren place, void of life and beauty. What would surprise those who adhere to that stereotype?

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Carla Perrotti Carla: Inside the desert there are many surprises—the untouched beauty of nature, of the sunrise and set, of the stars, of the silence, of the peace, and of the need for so little.

ian desert, the red mountain of sand in the Australia, or the endless flat white plane of salt in Bolivia, everyday of every trip was different and picturesque.

ADS: So it isn’t just sand, sand, and more sand? ADS: You have now crossed a desert on every Carla: The beauty of this place is its emptiness continent – a goal that became a dream for you and its enormity. Many people think of sand once you started making these treks. Beyond when they think of the desert. Yes, there is sand, simply “checking off the continents,” what did lots of it, mountains of it. There is white sand, the preparation, execution, and accomplishblack sand, fire-colored orange/red sand, cool cream-colored sand, thick grainy sand, fine powdery sand. It changes from desert to desert.

Every day presents a new and unique atmosphere, each with its own challenges. Be it the giant white chalky pinnacles of the White Egypt-

ment mean to you?

Carla: It did not start off as a dream or an objective to do ‘One Desert per Continent:’ however, as I was drawn to different deserts in different parts of the world, I decided I would like to see the vast variety of “desert.” Each trip took years

and sun set on the sand dunes. He could ful site of palm trees waving in the dista The physical training is what most people ask me about, the desert was none the less beautiful f I want to share this magic of the des however this is just the tip of the iceberg. Before each trip there is the organization of the support team, permits, travel others to the desert and let them live w arrangements, sponsors, interviews, etc. Each time I arrive in in themselves a peace and strength they the desert it is like a reward for all the work I did to get existed. There are four trips coming up there. The crossings are physically demanding, but a mental Therapy, which will be February 6-14, Fe get-away. These crossings not only showed me what I am 5-13 and March 13-28, 2010. of preparation: physically, mentally, logistically, financially and personally.

physically capable of, they showed me the strength of my ADS: Any final thoughts, words of wis mind and that if I set out to conquer a challenge the limit is may feel they are experiencing a dese only inside of me. lives?

ADS: With the exception of your most recent crossing of the White Desert in Egypt with blind marathon runner, Fabio Pasinetti your journeys are usually solo ones. However, this is changing. Tell us more.

Carla: Never say you can’t. As I always only inside of us.” We believe that there

challenges in our lives, and we block ou ing our dreams. If you tell yourself you Carla: Now my focus has shifted to sharing my experience in yourself, you can do so much m with others. On my trip with Fabio, I had the privilege of see- thought. Step back, look at your resourc ing the desert for two people. One night, when Fabio and I and then do it. Don’t let fear or uncer were sitting outside of the tents before going to sleep, he way. thanked me. He thanked me for bringing him to this special place and for showing him the stars again. I was stunned.

For more details about Carla’s past and From this experience I learned that sometimes you don’t need eyes to see beauty. Fabio could not see the magnificent adventures including her Desert Therap chalky white pinnacles or the intricate coloring of the sunrise trips, visit www.carlaperrotti.com.

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AcquA LIANA

by FRANk mckINNEy Acqua Liana is the latest oceanfront masterpiece created by Frank McKinney, renowned for his oceanfront artistry.

Acqua Liana, the Tahitian and Fijian word for “water flower,” was bestowed with its unique name resulting from the home’s calming and soothing inclusion of many forms of liquid serenity.

From its water floors and water walls, to its water gardens and waterfalls, to its pools, reflecting ponds and fire spa, to the ocean beside and the Intracoastal waterway behind, each is found intertwined in a magical and eternal blossom at Acqua Liana.

ERtIFIED "GREEN"

s innovative "green" home featuring solar panels and nuous other energy saving products, is truly a home of the re." ~ Warren Buffet

e of the most impressive elements reflected in Acqua Liana is that it is the first ultra-luxury home to obtain triple “green” certification through the U.S. Green Building Council, the Florida Green Building Coalition and Energy Star for Homes.

By adhering to rigorous green applications, Acqua Liana now sets the standard for environmentally responsible, luxury construction practices around the globe.

The USGBC’s LEED-H (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes) program is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green homes.

Mr. McKinney and LEED-H promote a whole home • Use of enough reclaimed and renewable wood approach to sustainability by recognizing perto save over 10.5 acres of rain forest. Renewformance in eight key areas of human and able woods used regenerate at an average rate environmental health: innovation in design, of every 5 years vs. every 50 years for many sustainable site development, energy efficiency, hardwoods (one species of Columbian guada water savings, superior indoor air quality, envibamboo used regenerates by growing 90 feet ronmentally preferable materials, location and in a single year!). ease of use/homeowner education.

• During construction over 340,000 pounds of debris and trash was recycled. Over 75% of all A few of Acqua Liana’s green features include: debris was diverted, and will never reach a • Solar panels, insulative characteristics, envilandfill. ronmentally conscious lighting, ultra-high efficient appliances and air-conditioning that cut down on electrical consumption by nearly 60%.

On certain days the home will be energy neutral, and will generate enough electricity to run two average size homes.

• A system that collects runoff water from the roof and fills the water garden. The system collects enough reusable water to fill the average size swimming pool every 20 days.

• Ultra-high efficient air-conditioning and purification systems that make the home's indoor air quality 2x cleaner than a hospital’s operating room.

• An automated “bio-feedback” system that allows the owner to monitor resource consumption in real time.

Acqua Liana's significance is receiving acclaimed international media attention.

To learn more about this amazing home visit:

http://www.frank-mckinney.com

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity.

Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthurs 2008 Genius Award; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael pollans book, the Omnivore Dilemna; and supermarket owner, David Ball, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy. www.FRESHthemovie.com

Lisa Lichtenfel

By Jane Waide

“Lisa Lichtenfels wrote the book (literally) on Soft Sculpture. Like her art, her talent is multi-dimensional and she excels in the fields of design, engineering, sculpture, photography, writing and sheer creative imagination.

Imagine my delight at falling into the opportunity to interview Lisa. Imagine my dismay at simultaneously coming down with laryngitis. Not to worry. Even though the interview was conducted via email, I think you’ll find that Lisa, as well as her amazing work, speak so eloquently for themselves, that I was hardly even necessary.”

Not wishing to label the art you create, is there a term for your soft sculptures?

As for a term that describes my work, I like "Realistic Figurative Sculpting with Fabric." I have also used "Figures in Fabric," which is the title of the book about my work that was originally published in 2001.

I noticed a number of angels, elementals and goddesses on your web-

site. Did you work on each of these "groups" during specific periods in time?

My main interest as an artist is personality, and how this mysterious essence is revealed in our physical bodies. I have wondered what the nature of the "self" is for as long as I can remember. Currently I believe that developing a personality is the ultimate creative act of any human being. We invent ourselves, and we are, to a great extent, works of art.

To answer your question – why do I make angels, elementals and goddesses? As every personality is a one of a kind work of art manifesting an individual life, some personalities seem to represent more than one person. There is a universal quality to them. In exploring this I tend to create beings that are outside this plane of existence. For example, the "Cardinal Angel" started out as a portrait of virginia Wolf. As I sculpted her I could feel those emotions on her face, like they were part of a sadness and poignancy that everyone has somewhere in their core being, or range of emotion. Giving her the status of an angel seemed to realize those universal feelings. It also helped me to handle the emotions that were being generated within me in the process of sculpting.

The Elemental you mentioned – I call her "Maggie," or simply "The Elemental," shows a different kind "meta-

emotion." Elementals are a cross between nature and the world of human beings. They have the freedom to live totally in the moment and completely without the restrictions of society. Maggie is part woman, part otter, and was inspired by videos of river otters swimming. I never saw anything more beautiful and joyous.

To answer your question – I don't tend to do groups during specific times. Everything has to do with a specific person I am considering.

Angels and Elementals seem to come up as they wish. And occasionally a personality is so strong she demands to be a Goddess. Also there are some portraits of actual people who were metaphysical beings. The "Tlingit Shaman" was a real man. I find myself returning to the Shaman theme over and over.

I should also mention that my medium is perfect for capturing real people. There are other mediums that can produce super realism – I have been in gallery shows where the sculptures were so real you wondered if you were standing next to a man or a sculpture. Duane Hanson comes to mind. However, should you touch a Hanson sculpture the illusion would be immediately lost because the polymer would be cold to the touch. Fabric is warm and feels like flesh. When I make an internal skeleton I use wire and densely packed felt which simulate the hardness of

bone. My muscles are made of batting, again, when felt it "gives" like muscle tissue. Skin is made of layers of semi translucent nylon, the inner layers are reds and pinks and the outer layers tan, ecru or brown. As the light enters the fabric layers, and then bounces off the inner white batting, the skin tones are mixed in the reflected light. The result can't be seen in photographs, only when the sculpture is viewed in person – it is a kind of warm glow.

Where do you get the ideas for your sculpures? Do you ever dream about your art and then design a figure from that experience?

I get ideas for my sculptures from so many different places it would be difficult to list them all. I take photographs, do research, sketch from life, use memories – if someone really impresses me I can carry their image in my mind for years. Then it often becomes like a ghost that I have no choice but to sculpt.

It is interesting that you mention dreams. A few years ago I slipped on the ice. Because I didn't break a bone I thought I was okay, but the ligaments holding the muscles to the bone had been broken, and muscle dies when it is not connected. Dying muscle puts toxins in the blood, so for the next few days I was in bed being rather delirious. I had a dream where the cracks in the ceiling formed squares, which then lined up into filmstrips. Then the film was running in my head like a movie. A figure walked into the kinetic square and it was then that I saw a vision of the Angel of Death.

I could see her so clearly – she had wings that were held low behind her back, making crackling sounds within a magical black fabric she was wearing. She was a kind, compassionate harbinger, but it was the silky fabric of her dress that was Death. I could see a small child at

first comforted, and then gradually lost within the furls of the swirling fabrics. When I recovered I was obsessed with creating the sculpture.

Not being able to move it doesn't capture her completely, but the face is exactly the face I saw, so I consider the "Angel of Death" one of my best sculptures.

Each of the figures appear to be infused with spirit. They seem to carry and project emotion, like they possess their own personas. Was there ever a point in time where you felt you had achieved this? proportion and size are issues. I would love to make more life-sized figures, but nylon is universally manufactured in tubes now. To cut even the biggest size tube you rarely have more than 8 inches of width to work with. If I had a time machine I would go back to the 1930s and 40s when nylon was made in sheets.

The understructures are realistic in any size, but the more you stretch nylon, the less control you have over subtle features.

Thank you for saying my works seems infused with spirit. A huge part of me becomes the persona when I create a figure – it truly is a labor of love. To me they are more than sculptures, they are somehow real people. Over the course of my career it has been a pleasure to hear from those who own my

work – often say they feel like they are not alone in their homes. I especially enjoy hearing that someone saw something new in a sculpture they had been living with for years.

Some nuance or emotion not noticed before. I think that is the best compliment an artist can hear.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on a onewoman show for the CFM Gallery.

The location is 236 West 27th Street, Suite 4F West, Chelsea, NyC 10001.

212-966-3864, info@cfmgallery.com. www.cfmgallery.com. The show is planned for November of 2010.

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H O M E L E S S N E S S The process of recording of “No Good Reason” turned out to be equally impressive. One musician drove across the country in a car that had no business driving that far. Boston hotels donated rooms, local restaurants donated food.

Merchant, had less than three days to arrange and record the song—a process that normally takes weeks or months. Finally, working with several artists who had never set foot in a recording studio, Ms. Merchant completed the track.

“There is No Good Reason” is the documentary short by director Michael Mierendorf and editor Larry Marshall with help form many other people (full credits below). At present it has been featured in 23 film festivals across the United States thanks to the generous work of Larry Marshall, receiving the Indie Special Recognition Award at the Boston International Film Festival in 2008. A full list of film festivals with links where the documentary is featured appears to the left. please contact us if you would like to use this documentary short at your event.

“There is No Good Reason” is a provocative song from the CD, Give uS your Poor: 17 New Recordings to End Homelessness(Appleseed Recordings). Nichole Cooper wrote the song when she was 15 years old, living in a Minnesota homeless shelter, expressing the emotions and experiences that accompanied her homelessness. The song was so impressive and impassioned that, upon hearing it, celebrity artist, Natalie Merchant, decided to gather a group of homeless and formerly homeless musicians and record the track.

The journey of the recording session was captured by filmmakers Michael Mierendorf and Lawrence Marshall in a documentary by a same name. “No Good Reason” chronicles musicians and singers from around the country, people who had never met and who are or had been homeless. The diverse group gathered in Boston to record Nicole’s song. The documentary short, “No Good Reason,” has been shown in numerous film festivals around the country. please come see this captivating look at homelessness, collaboration and the power of music to bring us together.

Directed by: Michael Mierendorf Written and Edited by: Lawrence Marshall cameras: Michael Mierendorf and Lawrence Marshall Location Audio: Frank Coakley and Michael vitti Executive Producer: John McGah Production Assistance: Bryan How Give uS your Poor: 17 New Recordings to End Homelessness is now available through Appleseed Recordings www.appleseedmusic.com Our sincere thanks to all the people that made this recording session happen.

NATALIE MERCHANT

GIVE US YOUR POOR

This video was recorded over a 3 day recording session in which Natalie Merchant produced a song that was written by a 15 year old girl while she was homeless. The "GIVE US YOUR POOR" project is aimed at helping to eliminate homelessness and poverty. This particular video includes many musicians who at one point in their life were homeless.

A DISTINCTIVE STYLE PHOTO SHOOT

Green Search, a photo shoot of the Photography by Courtney Dailey Photo Assistant Katie Skolas Makeup by May Lindstrom for Green Blossom Beauty

new “It” girl seemed imminent.

As the winner of the contest, Rachel is considered this year’s “It” girl

Hair by Jessica Dunn Wardrobe Styling

by Caitlin Lamb

and is a spokes model for many of the great causes that the campaign supports. Since winning the contest, she has been busy spreading the word about important causes through many mediums, has an interview planned with CoCo Eco Magazine, and was recently interviewed for Rebecca Harrell’s new book which is launching in the spring that focuses on green business women. Rachel has also made appearances at Alicia Silverstone’s book signing, Gifts Given Back, hosted by Rachel Leigh Cook, and Anna Getty’s book signing at Environment Furniture, as well as other green events.

We got to see Rachel in action as she worked her magic during the photo shoot, while green fashion photographer Courtney Dailey photographed her in her downtown Los

By: Nicole C. Jones

I

Angeles loft. Rachel gleamed from

f you google “Rachel Avalon” you will find lots of pages linking her to topics such as: eco-friendly, green, holistic, health, detoxification, cleanses, and other environmentally friendly topics

head-to-toe and played a green vanna White to

that Rachel so strongly believes in. After reviewing her roster of support- worthy endeavors, it isn’t shocking to find that Rachel was the 2009 winner of project Green Search (pGS), an annual contest aimed at “Inspiring people to align their careers with their environmental, social, and humanitarian ethics.”

jewelry such as necklaces by prix-prix. A team of

five adorable outfits, all from eco-friendly clothing lines like Deborah Lindquist, Mothballs, and Recoiled, while accessorized with nature-friendly Earth loving specialists devoted their time to beautify Rachel in support of the cause. Every product used, from hair to make-up, to the outfits were green.

After a full day of shooting, I was able to snag Rachel for a few moments to get a glimpse of

Since A Distinctive Style magazine’s (ADS) what has been going on for her since winning the philosophy coincides with Project Green and they contest, and why being environmentally conwere one of the proud sponsors of the 2009 project

scious is so important to her.

Rachel Avalon THE 2009 ProjEcT GrEEn “IT” GIrl

How does it feel to be the new Project Green Search “It Girl?”

“It’s pretty amazing. I feel grateful and geared up to make the most of it.”

How has your life changed since winning Project Green Search contest?

“My community of friends and activists has expanded and deepened in amazing ways. I’m also having to practice what I preach about living a full, yet balanced life on a whole new level!”

Tell me a little bit about Project Green search and what initially attracted you to the contest. “project Green search is a newly created national contest that was organized by a team of environmentalists and green entrepreneurs. The title embodies being an advocate for the environment, holistic and healthy living, animal welfare, and social justice. I was attracted to the competition because of the people involved with it and because, like so many activists, I am deeply passionate about educating and inspiring as many people as possible. I saw the potential in pGS and how it could give me a stronger voice.”

How long have you been green?

“My parents taught us to recycle when we were really young and I always loved it. I also first began exploring vegetarianism when I was about 12. I was a total nature kid and it really horrified me that rain forests were being clear-cut so we could eat more burgers. In fact, by the time I was ASB president in 8th grade, I was organizing presentations of The Giving Tree and The Lorax for assemblies and planting trees and wild flowers on the school campus.”

How do you incorporate being eco-friendly into your day-to-day routine?

“I do my best to have my lifestyle centered in ecofriendly living. So, every choice I make whether it’s how I brush my teeth, what I wear, eat, drive, or buy is shaped by those values. Of course, I do make exceptions, but the important thing is that I’m aware of those exceptions and I do my best to counter-balance them in some other positive ways.“ Who are your favorite green clothing designers, products, etc?

“I’ve been a supporter of “Be Love” for a long time. They offer beautiful comfortable apparel that is sweatshop-free, organic, and incorporates

inspirational words and graphics. The designers involved with pGS are really wonderful too. “Begley’s Best Spot Remover” or “Citrus Magic” are two of the many products I discuss with clients for household cleaning products. “perfect Organics” makes a lovely shea butter (it’s vegan) lip balm called vanilla Twist. There are so many choices now, compared to five years ago and I love it. I can’t wait to see what the future brings!”

Is it expensive to be eco-friendly?

“It depends on how you approach it, there are overpriced, luxury eco items out there, but I’ve always been selective and happen to love a good deal. My first preference is getting used or locally made items, but even places like Bed, Bath & Beyond or Target have all sorts of green things to choose from now. I think more importantly, we as a culture need to really live the mantra ‘Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.’ Some people say that eco-friendly living is too expensive, but I honestly believe we, can’t afford to ignore going green any longer. It’s time to embrace our purchasing and creative power and reshape a world that works for all of life.”

What advice do you have for those just starting to green their lives?

“Start with something simple like supporting Meatless Mondays.

World-renowned scientists have determined that we can have a more immediate and dramatic impact on reducing pollution by eating less meat and dairy than by driving hybrids. Ideally, we want to contribute to a healthier planet through what we eat and what we drive (or ride). people can also make a major difference in minimizing their toxic exposure and healing the planet by switching over to eco-friendly household cleaners. I also recom-

mend going to websites like TreeHugger.com and shows like Focus Earth.”

RACHEL AVALON

When Rachel’s not representing project Green, she is a Holistic Nutritionist teaching people to be healthy, happy, and green. Many clients come to Rachel for her signature “Avalon Cleanse.” She also helps clients lose weight and works with those battling cancer. According to Rachel, “It’s phenomenal to continue to see how powerful holistic and green living can be in saving lives.” When asked about her greatest career accomplishment thus far, Rachel explained, “It’s funny how our society often measures accomplishments and success.

Once upon a time I aimed at working with A-list celebrities and making a certain income.

When I reached those goals I realized they weren’t as significant as I Photography by Courtney Dailey had thought.

Photo Assistant Katie Skolas Makeup by May Lindstrom for Green Blossom Beauty Hair by Jessica Dunn Wardrobe Styling by Caitlin Lamb

So, it’s a challenge to answer that question because I have cultivated, witnessed and participated in some extraordinarily ‘small’ and ‘large’ accomplishments. Sometimes it’s as simple as someone telling me they recycle because of me and sometimes it’s as profound as realizing that the knowledge and love I was able to share with someone could have saved their life. “ For more information on Rachel Avalon and her services, please visit: www.RachelAvalon.com Additional information on the project Green Search can be found at: www.projectgreensearch.com

CoAL CounTrY tells of the dramatic struggle around the use of coal, which provides over half the electricity in America. In Appalachia, miners and residents are locked in conflict: is mining and processing coal essential to providing good jobs, or is it destroying the land, water and air? What does this mean for the rest of America and the world?

AnoTHEr CIVIL WAr Passions are running high in the mountains of Appalachia.

Families and communities are deeply split over what is being done to their land. At issue is the latest form of strip mining called ‘mountaintop removal’, or MTr. Coal companies blast the tops off mountains, and run the debris into valleys and streams. Then they mine the exposed seams of coal and transport it to processing plants. Coal is mined more cheaply than ever, and America needs coal. But the air and water are filled with chemicals, and an ancient mountain range is disappearing forever.

CoAL CounTrY Executive Producer: Mari-Lynn Evans Written, Produced and directed by Phylis Geller www.coalcountrythemovie.com Photo by; Jim Clark

Courtney Dailey “I was raised during a decade of excess and waste. I was a 1980’s-1990’s teen ager, with my aerosol hair spray and ridiculous trends. I have always been very aware of the environment I live in, but not until I moved to LA did I realize how important it is that we clean up our act.”

Tell us about your background as a p “I always wanted to but never knew h I didn’t want to sho wanted to work in f cial photography. formation super hig paved, there was v searching my drea ing on my degree [ I started freelancin Soon I was shootin work, finding my v from MI and it was a knowledge I have years I’ve been in years I shot profess

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Have you done any other eco-themed shoots in the past?

“I started in the eco community as the photo Director of an eco-magazine called Coco Eco. While there, I worked on many fashion and beauty stories. It really opened my mind to the possibilities of working on amazing stories all while being socially responsible.”

By Nicole C. Jones

photographer. o be a photographer, how to get started. oot art photography, I fashion and commer. But because the ‘inghway’ was just being very little means of ream. While I was work[in Communications], ng as a Makeup Artist. ng some of my own voice. I moved to LA a fantastic move. The e gained in the two n LA trumps the four sionally in Detroit.”

generation but generations to come.

Everyday in LA, you’re reminded of the destructive behaviors we all have. The ocean is gray, the sky is brown, there’s trash everywhere, and it smells weird.

Knowing that I’m doing my part to help change this makes me a happy girl.”

What do you like most about photography?

Do you take an interest in eco-friendly “I like putting together the pieces of a and green products yourself? puzzle. I like when a client coo’s, and “Indeed. We are living in an exciting the models jump up and down when time. Small but significant changes are they see my camera screen. I like that being made in the way that we live our I’m self-taught. I don’t have rules that I everyday lives. I’m slowly converting my play by. I shoot the way my mind tells personal makeup, swapping out main- me things should look.” stream products for eco-friendly makeup. I recycle religiously, and try to eat Describe your dream shoot. organically.”

“A large budget, a gorgeous celebrity, a mind blowing location and a well What do you like about the whole stocked craft services table. It will all concept of a green lifestyle and an happen in a matter of time.” eco-friendly existence? www.courtneydailey.com “I think that eventually we’ll all be green, may not be [in] my

A DiSTincTivE STylE PHOT By: Nicole C. Jones

Photo

Love by: Isa

These fine folks volunteered their time and effort into making A Distinctive Style Magazine’s photo shoot a success.

Makeup Artist: May Lindstrom www.greenblossombeauty.com “I try to live a life that is conscious towards my planet and to those who share it with me. I'm a Prius driving, tree hugging, recycler who is just trying to do her part.”

What was the process and product you used to prepare Rachel for the photo shoot?

I started by prepping Rachel's skin by toning with Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera. I followed with a Sea Plasma mask for fifteen minutes dstrom n i L

by The Body Deli and finished with The Body May keup Artist Ma Deli's Creme De La Rose Fresh Cell Lux Creme.

Then, I tamed minor blemishes and under eye circles with RMS 'Un' cover-up in #11 and gently highlighted cheekbones with Living Nature Soft Lights Illuminating Tint in Dawn Glow. Jane Iredale's loose powder in Golden Glow added a touch of color and a soft sweep of Pure Luxe's April's Mix finished the flawless skin look. I smoothed 100% Pure Fruit Pigment Lip & Cheek Stain in Shimmery Cocoa Berry over the apples of her cheeks to create a natural, wintry glow. Brows were filled and shaped with Nvey Eco organic eye shadow in #155 and eye creases were colored in the same deep chocolate. Lavender shadow in #164 was tied into the brown on lid to add depth and color.

Lashes were darkened and lengthened with a coat of 100% Pure Natural Mascara in Black Tea. A final spritz of rosewater sets the look and refreshes. nATurAL HAIr ProduCTS uSEd WErE: John Masters Shine On Leave-In Treatment Intelligent Nutrients Organic Volumizing Spray Lulu Organics Jasmine Hair Powder Why do you use eco-friendly products on your clients?

“The cosmetics that fill my kit are comprised of ingredients that go beyond pretty colors—pigments come from antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables (vitamins retained), earth minerals (naturally anti-inflammatory, sun shielding, cooling), fresh herbal infusions, teas, coffee, cocoa, seaweed and salts, probiotics, active enzymes, nourishing honey, healing shea, a cornucopia of nutrient powerhouses, infusing your largest and most absorbent organ with glowing, gorgeous, health—free of harmful chemicals, synthetic preservatives and genetically altered ingredients. If I wouldn't put something IN your body, I will not put it ON your body.”

TO SHOOT cOnTRibuTORS Wardrobe Stylist: Caitlin Lamb www.caitlinlamb.com “I definitely try to wear eco-friendly clothing whenever I can. Not only is it better for the environment, but also I like knowing that I'm not wearing things with weird chemicals or harsh treatments. I also love vintage clothing!”

Do you consider yourself eco-friendly?

“I try to be as eco-friendly as possible, but I know there's always more I can do. I think it's important to have good habits when it comes to the environment, like turning off lights, unplugging appliances, shopping with reusable bags, and recycling. I'm also (mostly) a vegetarian, and I try to eat organic and locally grown produce, eggs, and dairy.”

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How did you go about finding green clothing and accessories for this shoot?

“It was so much fun pulling eco-friendly clothing and accessories for the photo shoot. I had the opportunity to work with some great local designers like Daisy Linhares of BreadandButter, who's known for her one-of-a-kind recycled cashmere sweaters, and Deborah Lindquist, who combines vintage and eco-friendly fabrics to create unique and stunning pieces.”

Can you tell us about the outfits and jewelry you picked for Rachel?

Purple Recycled cashmire Top: Mothballs- made from recycled cashmir Jeans: Vintage | Amethyst necklace: stylistís own Peace Silk Kneelength Trouser Short: Deborah Lindquist Top: Black Alpaca knit sleeveless sweater: Linda Loudermilk Tank: Silk Charthouse | Earrings: Stylistís own Peach necklace tank: Recollection | Jeans: Vintage Tank: Modelís own | Top: Green Plaid Flannel: ReCollection Denim Dress: Linda Loudermilk | Sweater: Mothballs By Daisy Linares Necktie Necklaces: Prix-Prix Available at Visionary.com Black leggings: Deborah Lindquist

A DiSTincTivE STylE PHOT Hair Stylist: Hair by JUXTA www.juxta-makeup.com “I truly believe that our souls, spirituality—whatever you choose to call it—are deeply connected to our environments, and I think that we are killing ourselves in more ways than one when we neglect our responsibilities to the generous world around us.“ Are you a fan of the eco friendly lifestyle?

“Yeah—breathable oxygen, potable water, and toxin-free foods rock! These aren't always easy decisions for our society to

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make, and it's imperative that we band together and help each other stay strong and make the right choices, kind of like a sup-

port group of sorts, if you think about it.”

How do you incorporate being green and eco-friendly into your daily life?

“I will be among the first to admit that it's not always easy. So many studies support the idea that people are more motivated by small, focused ways that they can contribute, so it's imperative that we allow ourselves to take a breath and just make one positive choice—buy an organic apple, donate a even one bottle of phosphate-free soap to a local business, pick up trash on a walk, swap paper towels for hand towels, turn off lights and water at all opportunities. As these choices become habits, we can each take on more and more as individuals as well as a collective.”

What was the best part about participating in the ADS shoot? “ The people—hands down. To be in a group of such intelligent, empowered and deeply beautiful women is absolutely intoxicating. And being able to act on that excitement and reach out and support others in the community is pretty swell, too! I feel like I'm a part of something that is going to make a difference.”

TO SHOOT cOnTRibuTORS Nicole Jones Cover Photo Shoot Writer http://www.modelmayhem.com/56674 What is it like on the set of a photo shoot?

It’s exciting. I love watching everything come together.

First you have the model walk in and the hair and make-up artists do their thing. Then, the stylist picks out an outfit that suits the scene and adds accessories for the finishing touch. The photographer then works their magic by setting up backgrounds, lenses, etc. The model steps behind the camera and poses and the stylist, make-up artist, photographer, and hair stylist are there to step in and make adjustments anytime they are necessary. It’s a great environment of teamwork, working together collectively to produce the best pictures that they can.

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Are you part of the "green" revolution? In what way?

I am not as far into the whole green revolution as some of the fabulous and inspirational people that I met on set of the photo shoot are, but I am doing my part and gradually making changes. I no longer use any types of plastic containers and have converted to things like glass food storage containers, in an attempt to keep toxins out of our systems. I recycle, buy recycled products when I can, and am currently replacing all cleaning products, dish soap, detergents, etc…with natural and eco-friendly products. I have a water filter and fill up re-usable bottles when I go to the gym instead of using disposable plastic bottles. I use all-natural ingredient face washes and lotions as well. I live within walking distance to grocery stores, and other shops and try to walk vs. drive when I get the chance.

When did you know you had a talent for writing?

I have always loved writing. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had diaries and journals and was always jotting down little stories onto pads of paper. I am fortunate to be able to make a career out of doing what I love. I really enjoy being able to tell someone else’s story or review a place or event thru my own words.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

I was very fortunate to be a part of this shoot and am so grateful for the inspiration of those that were involved on set. I look forward to continuing to make positive and environmentally friendly changes to my lifestyle and to spreading the word about how important these issues are to others.

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Things are not always what they appear to be,” says Cuban American photographer Abelardo Morell. Shadow of the House peers into his past and around the corners of his presnt to see what normally goes unseen. This film is a rare look nto the life of one of America’s renowned photographers.

A feature length film, Shadow of the House explores how Morell uses his art to make sense of a life up-ended by geographic, cultural, linguistic, and political dislocation. It is an ntimate portrayal of how one man’s personal struggle with he themes of loss, exile, and self-determination reflects the ways in which we all work to construct narratives that unite he past with the present and memory with desire. Morell has sed this tension to fuel a career as a remarkable artist.

Morell’s life is utterly ordinary on the surface but our undertanding of him deepens as layer after layer of the man and he impact of his experiences are revealed: his strange and ompelling flight from Castro‘s Cuba in the early sixties, his adolescent years in New york City; his life as an American amily man and photographer who is more comfortable working at home but whose career increasingly pulls him into he larger world.

Morell’s artistic process is central to the film. The film makes public the often unglamorous work that precedes the beauful photographs — the laborious process of finding locations and setting up rooms and the frustration of failed images. he film reveals the all-consuming nature of his drive to make mages, despite what may be going on around him.

Morell has gained international acclaim for his elegant, large ormat, black-and-white camera obscura photographs that urn the world upside down and marry the inside with the utside, and for his photographs of everyday images from is domestic milieu. When Morell creates a photograph, he mirrors back a transformed space: a paper bag becomes a aunting void; the ocean fills a room; Alice crawls out from within the pages of her Wonderland. The results are photographs of objects we think know, presented in ways that make us question what we know.

Working alone, the director of Shadow of the House filmed Morell and his family for over 7 years both at home and abroad. During the filming, Morell returns to Cuba for the first me since his escape in 1962. This decision, and the intense anger and fear it arouses in his family, forces him to wrestle with his sense of identity, familial allegiance, and cultural polics. Shadow of the House explores the intersection between hese issues and Morell’s idiosyncratic artistic vision.

n Morell’s words, “A lot of my work tries to disorient you once ou get invited in to something that seems normal. I like to uggest that what may be empty is not. When you feel alone there is actually a lot more of the world coming into

your space than you think.” The film showcases some of Morell’s extensive work and takes the viewer into his private life, uncovering his fascination with the magic of the ordinary.

Shadow of the House is an intimate portrait of photographer Abelardo Morell. I followed Abe for over seven years, uncovering the mystery and method of his artistic process, the role of family in his life and the impact of his background as a Cuban refugee. The narrative skips across time and space to reveal Morell’s journey from his early childhood escape from Castro’s regime to his status as a world-renowned photographer.

I first learned about Abe in 1991 when I stumbled into one of his lectures. I remember he said something like, “It is amazing how a good picture can make me want to get up in the morning.” That resonated for me.

I started making Shadow of the House in the summer of 1999. I went to paris with Abe, his wife, Lisa McElaney, and their son, Brady, planning to produce a short film about Abe’s process of making his camera obscura photographs which create an ambiguous marriage between the interior environment and the outside world. Abe had made oceans swim on an attic ceiling and 42nd street invade a hotel bedroom. In paris he wanted to make a camera obscura photograph with the Eiffel tower.

To create these seeming optical illusions, Abe finds a room with a compelling view and covers the windows with black plastic. He cuts a small hole in the plastic and the view from outside spills onto the wall opposite the window upside down and inverted. Suddenly a busy street is on the wall of a conference room. To capture the scene, Abe leaves his camera in the room and exposes the negative over the course of the day.

I imagined scouting endless numbers of rooms to find the perfect locale in paris. I wondered if he would find a place — maybe I didn’t even want him to find the room because a failed search could be an interesting metaphor for the artist’s struggle to keep moving forward.

But just the opposite happened. In ten days Abe made 6 or 7 images. I felt as though all of us had worked nonstop and I returned home exhausted. But during this trip I developed a deeper understanding of Abe’s drive and

how he feels most comfortable in the world when he is making art. I recognized that there was a more complicated story that I wanted to tell.

I began to film his daily life — Abe eating breakfast and reading the newspaper and talking on the phone with his parents. I was in his basement filming his fastidiously organized collection of chemistry bottles. We sat together and waited for the shutter release of a long exposure. I saw him carefully examining tiny details around him. Sometimes he took all day to transform what he saw to make one photograph. I came to understand that these observations were what kept Abe going day after day. It was by watching Abe that I realized that I needed to be patient and let the meaning of moments accumulate in order to make this film. I allowed myself to mirror Abe’s process.

In some ways Abe became my “excuse” to film. Because I was filming Abe, I found myself in a gallery in Barcelona watching people walking through the market stalls. But, I was not looking out the window; I was watching their reflections on one of Abe’s framed images. On his still black and white image, I saw color and people moving. I filmed it.

During the period of time that I was making this film, Abe returns to Cuba for the first time since his escape at the age of 14. He visits the house where he grew up. The scale is wrong, the details have changed, but he is finally there to witness what had been “home.”

I made a film about an artist whose work and methods I admire and whom I admire as a person. His life story gives rise to important questions about identity, commitment to family, and cultural politics. In Shadow of the House, the viewer sees the un-glamorous work behind Morell’s elegant images. And for 7 years, I was learning things about myself, framing my way though my own life as an artist, letting time unfold as I crafted my observations into a film.

More information on his publications, upcoming exhibitions, articles and representation can be viewed at www.abelardomorell.net.

Tong Ren Therapy is a powerful and exciting form of ene healing. It has been developed over the last 25 years by ditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner Tom Tam w combines the science of Western medicine with the wisd of ancient Eastern knowledge and insights.

The practice of Tong Ren is spreading rapidly, and it is n available in at least 40 of the U.S. states, and at least 8 co tries. Its popularity is driven by its success at curing or c trolling various cancers and other debilitating conditions have not responded well to traditional Western medicin to other forms of energy healing alone. A recent study Harvard Medical School proved the worldwide pheno non to be genuine. After testingOf 365 patients diagno with leukemia, 90 percent saw improvement after only treatment.

Tong Ren can achieve extraordinary healing by combin complementary elements of Eastern and Western medic Eastern medicine has long held that the body has a nat tendency to heal. Each organ is kept healthy by the nat flow of Chi energy, and interruption or blockage of that n essary bioelectric signal leads to disease.

Tam said Tong Ren deals with the power of the mind teaching the patient to tap into that source of healing.

“This tradition deals with the quantum not linear part of brain,” Dr. Shaw Sprague, one of Tam’s colleagues, s “Tong Ren does things that may seem miraculous, b merely consists of very repeated and specific techniq which is unlike typical healing systems that are very vagu

“A lot of people have opted to use Tong Ren instead chemotherapy,” Tam said. “It can be repeated, and peo can be educated very quickly on how the procedure. It a high rate of success and is very inexpensive. There are side effects and no one is left without hope.”

To learn more, visit www.tomtam.com.

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his year has been a challenging one in many respects, it is true.

With a return to simpler times and a greater respect for our pocketbook, women more than ever are looking for the familiar. They want garments that look and feel good – not overdesigned, overpriced pieces. As such, designer Suzanne Baldwin says, “More women are beginning to seek out small independent designers like myself to get personal service and good value for their dollar.” As women consider her TropiCouture line, they will be delighted if not transported to warm and welcoming shores.

Watching the breezes play with the edges of Suzanne B’s light, airy hems and you too will be swept away by images of palm trees, sun-kissed surf, and spectacular sunsets. Specializing in designs for warmer climates, Suzanne B’s TropiCouture brand uses natural blends of fabrics in a wide variety of colors and prints. Time spent in Hawaii, Florida, California and other tropical locales has become a lens of sorts for Suzanne. Even though she has been passionate about design since she was a young girl, she admits the way in which island life melds with her ability to create one-ofa-kind, perfect-fit pieces for her clients is really quite magical.

As much as she loves her warm climate design niche, there are challenges.

Fabric selection is crucial. Weight, texture, and color all must be considered. Tropical climates tend to be humid so anything that doesn’t

Miss Suzanne B

breathe can be uncomfortable to wear. Cut is also more important than people may realize. The right cut dramatically impacts how cool a garment feels.

For Suzanne, however, the design process is more than just fabric choice and manipulation. She delights in the opportunity to celebrate the women she meets on a day-to-day basis. As she gets to know them, she gets an idea of the colors and a sense of the styles that will complement a woman’s personality, body, and lifestyle. The result is a unique piece or collection of pieces that resonates with the inner and outer beauty of her client. It is a rather ethereal process – one that simply doesn’t happen when one moves from trend to trend, adding haphazard, hot-right-now bits to their closet.

Suzanne encourages women to find their own style and consult with a designer or stylist so you can learn what works for you. No wardrobe should go out of fashion in a week, a month, or even a year. Style, itself, is eternal.

Trends are fleeting. Invest in your wardrobe as you do in friendships and you simply cannot go wrong.

The New year promises more stunning designs and trunk shows from Suzanne B and TropiCouture. Make it one of your resolutions to add one of her pieces to your wardrobe. After all, everyone needs more good friends!

(To find out more about Suzanne B’s TropiCouture line, her travels, and special events, visit her website at www.tropicouture.net)

www.tropicouture.net

prior to the creation of Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program, worn-out athletic shoes had nowhere to go but the landfill. Recognizing the need to minimize the environmental footprint of its shoe manufacturing process, and to find an innovative way to recycle athletic shoes at the end of their usable life, Nike created the Reuse-A-Shoe program in the early 1990s.

Through exclusive technology created by Nike engineers, the company created a way to breathe new life into old athletic shoes by turning them into something new, a material called Nike Grind. This raw material, resulting from ground-up athletic shoes, is used in creating high-quality sports and playground surfacing products, Nike

footwear, apparel and equipment. Shoes with production flaws, along with scrap materials left over from the manufacturing process, are also looped in to become recycled, with the aim of minimizing as much waste as possible.

Shoes Collected: To date, the Reuse-A-Shoe program has recycled more than 23 million pairs of shoes – and counting – from worldwide collections in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

Today, the program recycles approximately one and a half million pairs of shoes per year globally. www.nikereuseashoe.com

Nate Organics is a trend setting, eco-

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reams of remnants and vintage clothing that already exists. I created a series of garments made entirely from remnants, second hand clothing and Nate T-shirts from previous seasons” explains the designer. Not only does Nate Orga nics pay respect to the earth with the Re-Find collection, but also to previous designers “our use of recycling vintage ties to trim and adorn our garments is a nod to those who have created great things before us.”

The ties embellish his designs on the exterior and they also find a purpose on the interior of the garment when they become a pinch tab label.

Nate stands for Natural Authentic Textile Experience.

The vast collection is created with both men and women in mind; for women, easily wearable dresses, tank dresses, hoodies and tank tops pop with interesting cuts, cheeky screen prints and vintage tie details. Men will find that their old mainstays of Tees, hoodies, cardigans and 3/length briefs have been given a new personality and individuality by use of “paneled patchwork” and screen prints. you wont find a wishy-washy “eco friendly colour palette” here; warm and sultry colours of hot pink, purple and Caribbean blue, are spring staples in the women’s and men’s collection. For those who prefer to be less fashion forward, the Nate Organics line

also provides pieces in down-to-earth tones of green, brown, black and white.

The varying collection has been created to transcend age barriers; because its inception began with none other than the t-shirt, Nate Organics aims to take a wardrobe stable and change it into something to motivate the masses. “There is plenty of style in our pieces to reach the young street freak and enough of the bare essentials to accommodate the eco-mama and papa’s who appreciate the feeling of doing something good for the planet by buying ‘green’” explains Adam.

The Nate Organics collection retails from $39.95$89.95 and can be found at the following retailers: vancouver: planet Claire (www.planetclaire.ca), Tutta Mia (www. tutta - mi a .c o m), and victoria: Not Just pretty (www.notjustpretty.com)

photographer

ANDREW WERNER supermodel

JESSICA SAUER des igner

WALID ATTALLAH

EDucAtION. Andres Aquino re- Luxury, a print and online fashion ceived his B.A. summa cum laude and M.A. and was awarded “Scholar of the College” from Boston College.

He has years of experience in show production, facility management, talent management, event coordination, publishing, and market research as well as teaching, writing, theater directing and business administration.

In addition, he has worked in international business consulting, export-

and lifestyle pictorial.

FASHION SHOW PRODucER. As founder and producer of COUTURE FASHION WEEK, launched in 2003, as well as other fashion show events, Mr. Aquino oversees all production aspects – from sponsors to designers, from venue selection to model casting, from technical staff operations to public relations.

ing and importing as well as fashion

FASHION DESIGNER.. Inspired by

design and fashion merchandising

his experience in the fashion field

to the boutique market.

and needing garments to showcase

PHOtOGRAPHER. As a fashion and

fine

art

photographer

Mr.

Aquino has covered hundreds of designer runway shows in Europe,

jewelry and accessories by designers participating in the fashion events, Mr. Aquino began to design gowns.

South America, Canada, Africa and

His fashion designs have appeared

the USA. His photography work and

in major magazines, websites and

editorials have appeared in numer- Tv broadcasts, and the collections ous publications around the world. have been presented in Europe, buSINESSmAN. Andres Aquino is the founder of Fashion Syndicate

New york and palm Beach to great reviews.

photo- ARtISt AND WRItER. He has writgraphic agency since 1997 with ten short stories, plays and a collecpress clients worldwide. This business tion of poetry as well as hundreds of press

a

leading

fashion

is complemented by a network of

fine art photography and mix media.

successful web sites related to fash- His work has been exhibited in a ion, beauty and photography number of galleries throughout North receiving millions of hits per month.

PubLISHER.

In

February

2008

Andres Aquino launched Couture &

America and has been featured in variety of newspapers and magazines.

ANDRES AquINO

It’s hard not to think about water today. In the western world, we face growing concerns about our stewardship of the world’s most precious resource. There’s talk of shortages, evidence of reservoirs and aquifers drying up, and of course, plenty of people who simply don’t care.

But forget about us.

Most of us have never really been thirsty. We’ve never had to leave our houses and walk 5 miles to fetch water. We simply turn on the tap, and water comes out. Clean. yet there are a billion people on the planet who don’t have clean water.

Here, we’d like to introduce you to a few of those billion people. They are very real, and they need our help. They didn’t choose to be born into a village where the only source of water is a polluted swamp. And I didn’t choose to be born in a country where even the homeless have access to clean water and a toilet.

I invite you to put yourself in their shoes. Follow them on their daily journey. Carry 80 pounds of water in yellow fuel cans. Dig with their children in sand for water. Line up at a well and wait 8 hours for a turn.

Now, make a decision to help. We’re not offering grand solutions and billion dollar schemes, but instead, simple things that work.

Things like freshwater wells, rainwater catchments and sand filters. For about $20 a person, we know how to help millions of people.

Start by helping one.

charity: water

It’s hard to imagine what a billion people looks like really, but one in eight might be easier. One in eight people in our world don’t have access to the most basic of human needs. Something we can’t imagine going 12 hours without.

One in eiGhT peOpLe On The pLAneT DOn'T hAve ACCeSS TO SAFe, CLeAn DRinKinG WATeR. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease, and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Many people in the developing world, usually women and children, walk more than three hours every day to fetch water that is likely to make them sick. Those hours are crucial, preventing many from working or attending school. Additionally, collecting water puts them at greater risk of sexual harassment and assault. Children are especially vulnerable to the consequences of unsafe water. Of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation, 90% are children under 5 years old.

GeT invOLveD. Learn how you can help:

www.charitywater.org

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