Fresh Friday Finds

1. Military punk.
This summer, go for above-the-knee cargo shorts and tucked in, rolled up button-downs like this look from Edun’s Spring/Summer 2008 menswear collection. Choose a monochromatic color theme, and accessorize with a wallet-chain, your best-beat up shoes, and a dissenting attitude! This look is easy to put together at any thrift store, military surplus store – of if you’re feeling like dropping a paycheck, directly from an Edun retailer.

Edun Summer 08

3. The Loudermilk Man is a conscientious bad-ass.
Stay tuned in the following week for my exclusive interview with the Duchess of Eco-Lux herself, Linda Loudermilk.Where to buy.

Linda Loudermilk MenswearLinda Loudermilk Menswear

3. 500 NYC Cats to be killled this Tuesday. Trap-Neuter-Return
Attend the Rally to Save JFK cats. Tuesday, June 3rd, 11:15am- 1pm (Rain or Shine) at Port Authority headquarters, 225 Park Avenue South, between 18th and 19th Streets, Manhattan.

According to Super Vegan:

The hundreds of feral cats living at JFK airport are facing death once again. Today, AMNY reports the Port Authority plans to capture the cats and turn them in to animal shelters. The organization continues to refuse assistance from The Humane Society of the United States and other animal protection groups offering—at no cost—a humane and effective solution towards feral cat management through a Trap-Neuter-Return program. The Port Authority seems unsympathetic to the fact that placement in a city shelter is a near death sentence for the wild critters, most of whom aren’t tame enough to be adopted into homes.

Click HERE to find out how else to help, and how to contact NYC officials who can stop this!

4. Tea Boxes from recycled pallets in Calcutta.

Typically in Clacutta, boat loads of pallets arrive and are simply discarded every single day. An enterprising young box-maker salvages old and discarded shipping pallets, strips them down, and creates these unique hand made boxes. Each box contains 2 ounces of tea. For the full story, click HERE. From the’carbon free’ company, The SImple Leaf:

The Simple Leaf Logo

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5. Vegan Cowboy Ankle Boots.

They “Wayne” and “Ankle Harness Gusset” from Alternative Soles is an awesome, affordable vegan ankle boot for men. The sleek sole, stitching details and choice of two colors makes these boots kick ass. Wear ‘em with fitted chinos or skinny jeans – steer clear of wearing these with wider/baggier pants and shorts. Only £25.00 !

Men's Wayne Cowboy Boot - BlackMen's Ankle Harness Gusset Cowboy Boots - Tan

6. Artisana Nut Butters are OBSESSION worthy. I can’t stop eating the entire jar of the whipped cashew butter – and at a party the other night I was dunking chocolate cookies into the coconut butter. Healthy fats, raw, vegan, and tons of nutrients and protein – what’s not to like?

Artisana Raw Cashew Butter

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7. My other new obsession is Bikram Yoga. If you ever craved a workout that leaves you feeling as light and clear as air – bikram yoga, otherwise known as ‘Hot Yoga’ might be right for you. The first class tests your limits, no doubt. But as it gets easier, the benefits come through.http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/players/08/07/core0814/t1_core.jpg

Vivisection Takes Front Stage in New York Times, Today

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The journal Nature, and the NYT today displayed a cold-hard celebration of vivisection at University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. In what was purported to be a scientific breakthrough for advancements in brain-machine interface technology, two macaque monkeys – who were shot at a very specific angles to hide the hideous science-fiction-like wires connecting their brains to computers (notice the big metal tube conveniently covering the monkey’s head in the NYT video, and the black box in the Youtube Video below) – were forced to fetch food with a robotic arm using their brain implants.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfE_PUtzMe8]

The resounding result of this study should be a call to end horrific experiments on animals. If these monkeys are intelligent enough to master the complexity of controlling robotics, and intelligent enough to be considered suitable models for humans – then how can we justify imprisoning them and conducting disgusting and torturous experiments that we wouldn’t conduct on dissenting humans? In short, if their brains are so similar to ours, why is it OK to do this?

There are many paralyzed and/or limbless humans who would gladly participate voluntarily with the potential of regaining lost motor skills.

“…the new report “is important because it’s the most comprehensive study showing how an animal interacts with complex objects, using only brain activity.” – NYT

Over 100 million animals are used in experiments worldwide every year.Vivisection effectively reduces sentient beings to the status of disposable tools, to be used and discarded for the benefit of others. In the words of Mark Twain:

I am not interested to know whether vivisection produces results that are profitable to the human race or doesn’t…The pain which it inflicts upon unconsenting animals is the basis of my enmity toward it, and it is to me sufficient justification of the enmity without looking further.

Had the Monkey’s been given a key to unlock themselves and return to their friends and family in a natural habitat, I’m sure the grapes and marshmallows would not be missed. For more info on  vivisection and alternatives, please visit NAVS.

Please write to the New York Times and express your opinion, and ask why the ethics of such experiments were not even raised.

Puppy Love in the Sun

This summer, the hottest thing happening is rescuing shelter dogs! Open your heart and your home to a loyal friend that will greet you with electric-enthusiasm every time you walk through the door and who will love you unconditionally. Save a life!

Here’s my Enzo adoption story. I can’t wait to hear yours!

These dogs are currently up for adoption at New York Animal Care and Control.

If you are in New York City, search HERE

If you are outside NYC, Search:

Petfinder.com

If you don’t know about puppy mills, last month, Oprah did a special on Puppy Mills and breeders:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=Km1_h7eGiKU]

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=T1jXoNYtN3s]

DB Etiquette Recommendation: For every pet bought from a breeder or pet store, over 800 are put down. Yep – 800. Per day. In each State. Simply because there are already millions of dogs being euthanised because no one wants them. And the devastating thing is – you can definitely adopt pure breeds from shelters!

Mottainai: Fall 2008 Preview & Interview with Luke McCann

Luke McCann’s mom was a hippie. He says he learned to do a lot with a little. That might be one reason he’s spearheading a line of menswear that embraces organic denims, all natural vegetable dyes, organic Italian cotton shirtings, organic cotton knits, korozo nut buttons, and small-scale production in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

“Mottainai is about not wasting anything period..whether it be food, your time, your words, your money…a necessary, respectful almost lost way of life in a time of conspicuous consumption.” - Luke McCann

Mottainai is not 100% organic yet, but Luke is working towards that. The name Mottainai (moe tie nie) roughly translates from Japanese into “what a waste”, and can be used to describe when natural resources are squandered. The Japanese have folk tales of a Mottainai Ghost who comes after people who waste things to punish them.

I recently interviewed Luke about making clothes and making change. Here is our interview:


DB: What inspires you to create garments?
LM: To make clothes that are worthy to cover our bodies. We were frustrated with almost everything out there for young men and wanted to fill in the gap.

DB: Were you always an environmentalist? What does that word mean to you now, and how do you apply it to your life?
LM: Well, being born in Eureka, California to my healthy hippy mom definitely forced me to be environmentally conscious, all the time. Now, the word means what it has always meant to me. Someone who has a deep reverence for nature, and as a result, for themselves.

DB: What has the response been like to your “eco lux” collections so far?
LM: So far so good! Its not all peaches and cream but the reaction has been better than I predicted. A lot of people are very surprised and happy to see the use of eco-friendly fabrics and low-impact production methods coming from a younger, Brooklyn-based brand. The green movement will only get stronger with time and awareness.

DB: If destroying the earth isn’t making us happy, why do you think it’s still happening?
LM:
To me its like when you see Wiley Coyote in the Loony Tunes falling off a cliff and then vanishing – only he doesn’t know he is falling. We think we are flying and everything is okay, but really we are falling, deeper and deeper into our demise. I think it will take a lot of educating and as sad as I am to say it, something very, very catastrophic may need to happen to really evoke change that will actually better our situation. Speaking of change, check this out: http://anz.theoildrum.com/node/4016

DB: What role can the fashion industry play in making sustainable = sexy?
LM: A leading one, if you create a eco-friendly brand, it must still be attractive, sexy, of great cuts, colors, lines, and texture. After visiting Premier Vision in Paris for the past 2 years, I have seen the Eco-lux textile industry explode and offer a lot of great products that at first, do not strike you as “eco-friendly”. So I think soon that will trickle down into the masses. But it may take a long time. Price is still a big factor.

DB: Is fashion more than just clothes and accessories?
LM: No not really, fashion is what is offered, fashion fades, fashion and vanity is what some believe to be the destruction of the soul. I think Style on the other hand, is eternal and unique to the man/woman, and as important as the feathers on a peacock or the mane on a lion.

DB: What is your opinion on animals exploited for clothing and fibers?
LM: Well that’s obvious, animals should never be exploited. Was it Ghandi who said something like you can learn everything about a country by looking at how they treat their animals? I think it sad, tragic, and evil what happens everyday to animals in terms of profits. However, if the animal is honored, the food and products are appreciated and used as nourishment or protection, then we maintain that balance that is missing from our society.

DB: Fill in the blank: In a perfect world_______
LM: …bill collectors lose their voice and have to call in to work sick everyday.

DB: What is the biggest failure of our culture right now?
LM:
Our inability to prepare for a better future…and also family life and healthy social living has been destroyed over the past century…but it’s not too late to bring change.

Holiday

1. Wearing:

Summer Wallets from DB Clay

0-swim-full0-thrower-full

Fair-Trade, organic Low-tops from Ethletic

Beach Shorts from Gilded Age

2. Listening to Ratatat and Bon Iver (thanks to Karl of Partybots)

3. Eating

Holy Moley! The Cheezey- Spinach Artichoke Dip, Chef’s Salad, Vegan Quiche and Pumpkin Chai Latte at Teany are so amazing it made me want to eat the dish-ware. They also have around 100 teas to choose from.

Josh and Melissa at Teany!


4. Reading “An Unnatural Order: A Manifesto for Change”, by Jim Mason (thanks to Gene Baur of Farm Sanctuary)

A Manifesto for Change Cover

“An eloquent, important plea for a total rethinking of our relationship to the animal world. Mason analyzes the West’s ‘dominionist’ worldview, which exalts humans as overlords and owners of other life…. His powerfully argued manifesto will change many readers’ attitudes toward hamburgers, animal experimentation, hunting, and circuses.” -Publishers Weekly

5. Going to:

Check out these events in the next couple of weeks!