Gossip Girl Artist Richard Phillips Teams Up with Intermix

 

If this looks familiar, that's because you probably remember seeing it featured on Gossip Girl in the Van der Woodsen loft - albeit re-created as "Prop Art."  And for a limited time, you can buy a limited edition, ready-to-hang printed canvas reproduction of "Spectrum" by Richard Phillips measuring 30"x 36.5" for $250 exclusively at the Soho INTERMIX (98 Prince Street). Better yet, 100% of the proceeds benefit the Art Production Fund, a non-profit dedicated to facilitating ambitious art projects, reaching new audiences, and expanding public participation & understanding of contemporary art.

Amnesty International & Temperley London Candle for Human Rights

Recalling a favorite Chinese proverb, "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness," Amnesty International founder, Peter Benenson once asked one of the original members of the group to design an emblem.  The candle encircled by barbed wire became the now-iconic symbol of the organization, and the first Amnesty International candle was lit in London at St Martins-in-the-Fields parish in 1961.

This year, to mark Human Rights Day on December 10th, long-time Amnesty International supporter Alice Temperley has partnered up with the human rights organization to help shine light on the world's darkest corners with a gorgeous fragrant candle.

Louis Vuitton Celebrates 150 Years of Fabulous with Charity...& Bags!

Louis Vuitton's storied Asnieres workshop turns 150 this month, their sole production facility from 1859 to 1977 and where all hard-frame luggage, special orders, exotic leather and limited-edition bags are still made today. To celebrate, Louis Vuitton North America is donating a percentage of sales made during November from LouisVuitton.com on four of their iconic bags - the Keepall, Noe, Alma, and Speedy - to the American Red Cross. "We are delighted to be able to support the Red Cross as part of our tribute to Louis Vuitton's tradition of exceptional know-how," says Daniel Lalonde, President & CEO of Louis Vuitton North America. "The Red Cross is committed to preventing and appeasing the sufferance of people weakened by instability and ever-growing de-humanization of our society. Louis Vuitton is honored to be aligned with such a significant and impactful organization."

Holiday Comfort Food: Bailey's Irish Cream, Shoes & Giving Back

Few things are as irresistable as shoes, and when the proceeds go to charity, even better.  This Holiday Season, Baileys Irish Cream has invited five designers - Shree Moni, Vanessa Noel, Farylrobin, Alejandro Ingelmo and Rafe - to create a one-of-a-kind pair of shoes inspired by the tasty beverage.  The shoes will all be auctioned off on Clothes Off Our Back, with all proceeds benefiting the children's charities.

Ginnifer Goodwin Shows How Chic Eco Can Be

Discarded hospital scrubs - normally destined to further clog our overflowing landfills - recently got a complete makeover by a group of enterprising young designers from the Academy of Art University.

Using entirely sustainable practices, the students - Priscilla Guimarais, Kumiko Haruyama, Nui Tanapornwattana, Audrey Wang and Tramaine Tillman - treated, dyed, and pleated the former hospital garb into a collection dubbed 1OAK (One of a Kind) - of which this standout piece was worn by the stylish Big Love star to the recent 20th Anniversary Environmental Media Association Awards.

- Lesley Scott

Levi's & Goodwill Want to Put Your Used Clothes to Good Use

A staggering billions of pounds of unwanted clothing - much of it still in excellent condition - continues to clog up landfills each year. So beginning in January 2010, Levi's will be adding something new to their product care tags: A Care Tag for Our Planet - with instructions on how to care for their clothes after they’re no longer wanted. 

Help spread the word and you could win a special Levi's laundry bag for taking your clothes to Goodwill:

Emerging Eco-Chic Fashion

The recent Portland Fashion Week showcased 5 days of fashion with a conscience.  From printing promotional material on recycled paper printed with soy-based inks, to a nail-free bamboo runway, to LED lighting which required no electrical tape - thus saving approximately 3000 rolls from ending up in landfills - everything about the event was consistently on-message. Sponsorship included Lufthansa, SPIN Magazine, 24Notion, and Fashion Wire Press - demonstrating that a growing mainstream interest in supporting green fashion.  We were fully in support of the gift bag: a reusable tote stocked with goodies from Boots, Honest Tea, Lush, and local fave Missionary Chocolates vegan truffles!

Held in the northwest corner of the city at the Vigor Industrial Shipyards, local, national, and international designers congregated to present their Spring/Summer 2010 Collections and continue pioneering the standard for eco-friendly clothing and ethical business practices worldwide.

The Pink Mosaic: The Estee Lauder Companies Fight Breast Cancer

In keeping with their commitment to support breast cancer awareness, fifteen divisions of the Estee Lauder Company are creating the world’s largest online photo mosaic in the shape of a Pink Ribbon, with participants from around the world sharing their support for breast health and the desire for a world without breast cancer. The online campaign will reach an estimated 200 million people worldwide. Whether you're a survivor, supporter, or someone who's been touched by the disease - be one of the first to create a World Pink Mosaic Square as a way to virtually "wear" - and share! - your pink ribbon. Simply choose a frame for your photo - choices include: Survivor, Supporter, Touched - and upload your pic.  Add in your first name, location, and a brief anecdote about your experience.  Your little square will then become part of the larger Pink Mosaic that joins squares from everyone who cares around the world into the world's largest online Breast Cancer ribbon!  To encourage as many people as possible to participate in this virtual tapesty, they've made it really easy to post your entry to your social network profile, email it, or tweet about it.

Stand Up for The Cure

 

Without a cure for breast cancer, one out of every eight women will be affected each year. Here is a round-up great products that are fighting the disease, one step at a time:

For the Cause, Naturally, with Ajne & Kate Walsh

Celebrities love Ajne’s natural fragrances and now Kate Walsh’s signature scent, Printemps, is available in a new, petite hand-wrapped bottle with 10% of all proceeds of going to Susan B. Komen Foundation during the month of October.

Normally $205 an ounce, Printemps is now available in a special 1/8 oz. bohemian bottle for $55. “You can smell like a movie star for a third of the price,” notes Ajne’s founder and Natural Perfumer, Jane Hendler, "and feel good doing it.”  Named Printemps because it smells like blossoming trees after a spring rain in Paris, this complex floral includes white gardenia, South Pacific barks & driftwoods, a hint of flowering lime...and fans such as Odette Yustman and Alanis Morissette.