Model Lily Cole introduces jewelry line with sustainable rubber

Today, British model/actress Lily Cole introduced her jewelry collection with Sky Rainforest Rescue and Stylistpick made from sustainably sourced rubber from the Amazon rainforest.

The Sky Rainforest Rescue approached Cole on producing jewelry with sustainable rubber from Acre, Brazil, an area my organization works with on reducing carbon emissions from deforestation. Since rainforest-derived rubber will always be in high demand, the Sky Rainforest Rescue wanted to promote a way to extract rubber without harming the tree.

Rubber tapping in
Brazil. Image:
rainforestalliance.org.

Rubber tapping works with a tapper, who cuts the latex vessels of a rubber tree to allow the latex to flow from the tree. With rubber tapping, the tree is not cut down, and if the process is done carefully, the tree can be fine and latex can be extracted through tapping for up to five years. It also provides jobs to the indigenous groups living in the area.

Over the years, rubber tappers learned to not make deep incisions that would harm the tree. There are about 25,000 rubber tappers in the state of Acre, according to the Inter-American Development Bank, which funds the Acre Sustainable Development Program.

In the marketplace, Amazonian wild rubber is still overshadowed by cheap synthetic rubber and unsustainable rubber from plantations created post-deforestation.

“One of the reasons I was excited to join this campaign was to explore the rubber industry as a vehicle for green economics, which, if scaled, I see as offering real hope to the rainforest," Cole said. "However, if in the future the value of wild rubber can exceed what can be made from products that cause deforestation, then there is the real potential for a sustainable green economy.”

The limited edition line already sold out on the first day. The total 100% of profits will support Sky Rainforest Rescue and World Wildlife Fund’s work to help save one billion trees and provide opportunities to the local communities.

Eugenia-Khaki, stylistpick.com.

Rollinia-Nude Bracelet, stylistpick.com.

Inga-Ochre Necklace, stylistpick.com.

The eco-fashion designer of NBC's Fashion Star

Last week, NBC's Fashion Star crowned designer Hunter Bell the season's winner of the reality series. But towards the end, I began cheering for the underdog, Daniel Silverstein of 100% NY.

A few episodes back, I noticed in the corner of the screen celeb judge Nicole Richie mention Daniel's Twitter handle: @ZeroWasteDaniel. For those who are eco-conscious, "zero waste" is a giveaway phrase, and that's when I saw he creates "contemporary designer sportswear for the eco-conscious woman."

Zero-waste fashion designers use all materials, including sustainable fabrics, so they cut textile waste out of the equation, and, in turn, reduce their carbon footprint. We generated 14 million tons of textile waste in 2010 with only 15% of it being saved for recycling purposes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

During the show's season finale, the remaining contestants created pieces for Express, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macy's. Below are some highlights of Daniel's zero-waste fashions:

With factory collapse in Bangladesh, should we care about where our clothes come from?

Ethical fashion grabbed the spotlight this week with the news of a garment factory collapse in Bangladesh killing over 400 workers. The sweatshop conditions are a problem throughout the world, and as we pick up clothes from our favorite stores, should we care about where they were made?

Currently, 98% of clothing sold in the U.S. is made in other countries, according to NPR. From looking at the tags in my closet, China, India, and Indonesia are top producers.

Though I support eco-fashion, it doesn't necessarily include ethical fashion. With eco-fashion, we think sustainable fabrics, dyes extracted from organic sources, or reductions in water and energy usage. We see "fair trade"  a lot but "sweatshop-free" hasn't been as visible. My pajama pants, for example, are 100% organic cotton but made in India. The major company could assure consumers the factory in India has met its requirements, but we would never really know.

This case made the news because scores of people lost their lives, but there has to be similar cases elsewhere. Companies should be more upfront to consumers about where they produce their clothes and make an effort to pay fair wages, set fair hours, and provide stable facilities for garment workers.

With the digital age, companies can even use social media, video production, and other skills to start campaigns on showing the work done inside these factories to show the consumer ethical fashion is a priority. Most companies won't, but now the companies willing to make this effort will stand out.