Global Green USA holds annual pre-Oscars party

Eco-conscious celebrities gathered on the green carpet at the 11th annual Global Green USA party at the Avalon in Hollywood Wednesday night as one of the major events leading up to the 2014 Academy Awards this weekend. The party raised $20,000 for the nonprofit's ongoing programs.

Hollywood environmentalists Orlando Bloom, Ed Begley Jr., and Dylan McDermott helped host the zero-waste party, where guests feasted on a gourmet plant-based dinner by Akasha, a Culver City-based restaurant known for using locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. Event sponsor Cadillac also brought its newest plug-in ELR electric hybrid coupe to the event.

Vegan musician Moby and electronica duo The Crystal Method performed at the party while eco-friendly singer Michelle Branch modeled a conflict-free, lab-grown diamond ring by eco-jewelry company Gemesis, which sold at the event for $12,000.

The best fashions of the night included sleek gowns and midi-dresses, along with the color emerald fitting the theme of being green.

President and CEO Caren Brooks of the Brooks Family Foundation dazzles in a violet gown.

Actress Tehmina Sunny from FOX's The Following wore an Adrianna Papell Grecian-inspired silver gown.
 

Actress and eco-living expert Rainbeau Mars, also on the hosting committee, modeled a loose-fitting sparkly emerald pantsuit.

DJ Shy, who performed at the event, also decided on emerald with a chic party dress by Sue Wong.

Actress Malin Akerman, currently starring on ABC's Trophy Wife, wore a Wes Gordon light lemon midi-dress.

Actress Maggie Grace of Taken fame wore a vintage 1920s silk nightgown with a vintage beaded clutch and pendant necklace, according to Red Carpet Fashion Awards. Vintage fashion equals eco-fashion with the recycling or repurposing of old clothes and accessories.

From Global Green USA's Twitter timeline, there was more eco-fashion at the event.

Love this dress on the right made from bamboo! #ecofashion #domoregreen #GreenPreOscar pic.twitter.com/dGd3bPM0Qe
— Global Green USA (@globalgreen) February 27, 2014

 All images from Global Green USA's Flickr photostream. 

Esperanza Spalding shines in eco-fashion at Grammys

Musician Esperanza Spalding, a longtime eco-fashion supporter, didn't disappoint Sunday night at the 2013 Grammys when she wore a Eden Diodati gown and Natalie Frigo and Red Earth Trading Company jewelry.

Eden Diodati, dedicated to using sustainable fabrics and practicing fair trade, adorned Spalding in a golden multi-colored gown with sleeves. Natalie Frigo uses recycled metals, conflict-free diamonds, and sustainably sourced gemstones in the rings like Spalding wore. The Red Earth Trading Company hires rural artisans in underdeveloped countries to create 100% handmade jewelry while Maiyet, the company responsible for her heels, practices the same economic philosophy with shoes.

Image: nydailynews.com.

Spalding, who famously beat Justin Bieber in the Best New Artist category in 2011, took home two more Grammys. She wasn't the only one wearing a designer with eco-fashion ties. Kat Dennings of 2 Broke Girls donned a Vivienne Westwood dress. Last year, the designer lent her skills to making organic cotton tees to raise funds for climate refugees.

Image: nydailynews.com.

Natalie Portman's eco-friendly ring

Images: Getty Images/ WireImage.

With the weekly bombardment of celebrity engagement news, there's one eco-friendly story that's stayed in the headlines.

Oscar-nominated actress Natalie Portman received a ring studded with antique, conflict-free diamonds surrounded by recycled platinum metal from her fiancé and Black Swan co-star Benjamin Millepied.

'Antique' and 'recycled' are key terms in our eco-vocabulary, but conflict-free diamonds are a major issue as countries deal with wars centered around bankable natural resources. Remember fair trade is an important asset in making sure the world goes round peacefully. 

My post on conflict-free diamonds and other valuable ecojewelry terms. 

Eco-blingin'

With my obsession with jewelry and newfound eco-consciousness, I wanted to see what made certain pieces of jewelry more environmentally friendly than others.

CONFLICT-FREE DIAMONDS This week, the news has been swirling about supermodel Naomi Campbell allegedly lying about receiving a blood diamond because, truth is, we all love diamonds regardless where they came from.

But knowing its origin may be an ethical issue. Because of conflicts raging in mostly African nations dealing with an illegal diamond trade system, more people prefer diamonds that come from a government- and industry-approved, fair situation. Before purchasing diamond jewelry, ask where it came from.

FAIR TRADE GEMS These are like blood diamonds with the illicit trade of gemstones, so still ask where they came from and make sure their birthplaces don't have issues with conflict over some sapphires and rubies.

RECYCLED METALS & JEWELS Recycling is usually always eco-friendly, so buying recycled metals and jewels to create your own pieces is green approved. In today's economy, people are taking their old gold and silver to those Gold For Cash places, so there is more recycled metals out there although they are hard to find as separate pieces.

Usually anything that can't be agriculturally grown from the ground is mined like gold, silver, etc., which has detrimental effects on the environment like erosion, water pollution, etc.

VINTAGE JEWELRY Vintage is always in. Old pieces can be found at garage sales, rummage sales, thrift shops, vintage shops, and other places. Reusing antique jewelry lets you have the luxurious metals and jewels without buying new pieces at generally higher prices.

Some eco-friendly jewelry websites like greenkarat.com and brilliantearth.com sell recycled metals and jewels, fair trade gems, and conflict-free diamonds and provide background information on the jewelry you want to buy.