I recently had the pleasure of meeting Natalie Mundy who introduced me to the beautiful hand spun silk scarves made by Federation SAHALANDY. Located in a tiny mountain town in Madagascar, Sandrandahy, is made up of 7 silk/cotton weaving co-operatives and associations.  Natalie first started working with Sahalandy through a volunteer project with the UN.  However when her official duties in Madagascar were complete, her life had changed and although back in the US she has continued her work helping to spread the word about this amazing project of hope and empowerment.  Each scarf is made of naturally dyed, hand-spun raw silk.  The natural colors are subtle and sophisticated, and the unique weavings make each piece true one of a kind luxury.  
Meet Natalie and experience the beauty of the Sahalandy collection this holiday season at the Columbus Circle Holiday Market from Nov.28-Dec.24, daily from 10-8 pm.
If you're interested in learning more about Sahalandy  or volunteering with Natalie, contact [email protected]  www.sahalandy.org

It's Thanksgiving day, probably my favorite holiday, not just because I love pumpkin pie but because it's a time to remember everything we are grateful for.  There is such contagious joy in those who emanate gratitude, just think how good you felt last time someone thanked you, and how small that favor felt in return for that beaming smile.
Today I can't help but recall one of my favorite moments in our recent trip to Costa Rica.   The caribbean side of Costa Rica is known for the most beautiful beaches and exotic flora and fauna, however, its public schools are neglected. I learned this when I met Eva Percich, an Italian artist who lives in Puerto Viejo and has single handedly made it her mission to provide an art curriculum in the local school.  Can you image no art class in elementary school?  Within a few years Eva has achieved her goal and the little school now has a small art classroom.  The local kids enjoy it so much that even on a school holiday they still show up and Eva is there to open the door and hold an unofficial session.  
I met Eva earlier this year and she had asked me if I would give the students a fashion design class just for fun.  When I returned in October for our workshop I followed up with Eva and we spent an amazing day introducing a small group of students to the fashion design process.  I explained that a designer's first step is to find their inspiration, develop a mood board and decide their color palette.  From there each student was to design a garment or accessory.  This was a group of ages from 10-16 but all enjoyed the day.  
Eva has been working to help the students develop their talents and I have also posted some photos of their paintings.  She told me that many had offered to volunteer to teach a class there but that I was the first who truly followed up.  In all truth, with the workshop and all the traveling, I too was close to canceling, we can all think of million reasons to postone a plan with a friend, but I am so glad I didn't.  Visiting the school was such an eye opening experience for me. I had never thought that such a beautiful place with visitors from all over the world does not trickle down any of its wealth to its public schools.  We don't need to wait for a tragedy to make a difference, chances are if you look around there is someone who would love a little care and recognition, wether a 5 or 75 year old, you'd be surprised how effective a simple gesture can be.  Scroll down to enjoy photos of that day and some paintings by the young artists.  

We are pleased to announce our next Ethical Fashion Academy event Thursday, Nov. 29 from 6:30-8:30 at 
GGrippo art+design 174 Grand St, Brooklyn, New York.
After party from 9-11 at Le Comptoir 251 Grand Street, Brooklyn.
RSVP on facebook or [email protected]
Scroll below for info on our talented panelists, and click on images for larger view!

Join this inspirational discussion with ten talented New York based designers who incorporate re-cycled or up-cycled materials in their designs. Once again, the space is provided by GGrippo art+design 174 Grand St, Brooklyn, New York.  
Last time it was hard to stop the conversation, so this time we've reserved an "after-party" lounge 2 blocks down from the event at French lounge Le Comptoir, with music by nu-disco DJ Dezy.

Natalie Frigo is passionate about promoting ethical jewelry design on a local and global scale. Every step of the design process, from inception to finishing, occurs in New York City. All of her pieces marry 100% recycled metals, mainly sterling silver and 18K gold, with personally selected, conflict-free gemstones. By implementing these approaches with her creations, Natalie helps to lead the wave creating a new paradigm in jewelry design.

Natalie uses the ancient practices of metalsmithing and 'cire perdue' (also known as lost-wax casting), sculpting all of her designs by hand. Her inspiration ranges from early metallurgy and textile design to recent architectural developments, culminating in a collection that is contemporary, but by referencing venerable artifacts, also feels timeless. Natalie has been featured in September's Vogue as well as Allure, Lucky, and Marie Claire. She lives and creates on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
http://bynataliefrigo.com/

Bao-Khang Luu works exclusively with commonly discarded materials to create fashion, art, and design-inspired home accessories. He officially launched Relevé Design in 2011, unveiling his inaugural collection of upcycled lighting and an expanded blog, which documents his unique perspective on craft and DIY. 
Since then his work has been featured in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Apartment Therapy, The Huffington Post, Surface Asia, Inhabitat, and Krrb. He and his designs have also appeared on The Nate Berkus Show and HGTV’s Flea Market Flip. Bao-Khang graduated with a BFA in Design from The University of Texas at Austin and an MFA in Design and Technology from Parsons.
www.relevedesign.com

Adrienne Antonson is the designer behind STATE, a sustainable clothing label that utilizes repurposed, domestic, and natural materials. While living and working on an alpaca farm, Antonson launched STATE, and the label is a reflection of the beauty and resourcefulness of rural living. STATE's products are made in limited quantities using thoughtful methods from Antonson's Brooklyn studio. http://www.shop-state.com/
http://adrienneantonson.com/sculpture/

HIMANE SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS is an independent sewing and design studio founded by Catherine Edouard Charlot and based in NYC. The company injects a heavy dose of style, precision tailoring, and visual interest into its upcycled garb. HIMANE has been and is continuing to exceeding peoples’ expectations of what recycled fashion can be.

Shop Online- http://himane.bigcartel.com/
Site- http://www.himane.com

Tamara Leacock is a fashion artist and ethical fashion writer who uses recycled clothing donations and repurposed objects to create wearable fashion statements. Through her work, she works to engage others in the myriad of ways in which fashion can be used to facilitate empowerment and social change.
www.reciclagemny.com

Madeline Jacobs studied painting and jewelry at Rhode Island School of Design. After moving to New York she took a job in the corporate world, and has now left that behind to develop her knitwear and jewelry line, MADELINE and to write a DIY column for TeenVogue.com. 

Sara Mennona is a marketing program manager, jewelry designer and vintage enthusiast. She is interested in traditional artisanal crafts, as well as new developments in sustainable design.  In 2010 she earned a sustainable design certificate from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
http://saralies.com/

Bambi Orban is a fashion industry professional with extensive experience in all product categories. Her childhood was populated with women who had strong interests and high talent levels in textile arts and crafts. In adulthood this translated into gravitating towards a career in fashion design, which has given her a wide range of exposure to fabrics and techniques that find their way into many of her personal projects. 

Special thanks to Dj Dezy who will be spinning Old Boogie and Nu Disco at the after party at Le Comptoir.