Speak Out!

As part of our most recent issue of ReThink, we asked three of our favorite leading ladies,

"How do you contribute to an eco-friendly way of life?"

Here's what they had to say.

Alison Sudol  The leader of A Fine Frenzy, Alison was named a "You Oughtta Know" artist by VH1 in 2007. The singer-songwriter’s newly released sophomore album, Bomb in a Birdcage, combines her whimsical language and love of the natural world with a New Wave-y dance-pop vibe. "I’m constantly trying to learn how to be more eco-friendly—and I know I have a long way to go—but right now I recycle, buy local and organic produce, use an aluminum refillable bottle instead of plastic bottles when I can, drive a hybrid vehicle and use organic products and homemade cleaning solutions as much as possible. When I travel, I unplug my electronics, and I have a clothesline, which is fun to use instead of a dryer...it makes my clothes smell like sunshine and grass. I also buy organic clothing for A Fine Frenzy’s merchandise and try to raise awareness in the people whose ears I have, both personally and professionally. The state of our environment is really quite grim, but it’s encouraging that green living has become the cool thing to do. If the general consensus is that we must develop new plans, fostering alternative ways of living that work with the earth instead of against it, then society will put pressure on big businesses and the government to make real changes. I am definitely optimistic."

Samantha Lockwood  An actress, painter, and innovator, Samantha most recently starred alongside Jason Mewes in the action-comedy Shoot the Hero. She is also the founder of Fleurings, a line of utilitarian jewelry designed to hold fresh flowers. "I live in Los Angeles; that means everyday I wake up and I can see the layer of smog over our beautiful city. Seeing is believing, and that is enough to make me want to change my way of living. I recycle and try to use less of everything—it’s common sense, really. If possible, I walk to get to where I need to go instead of driving. For clothes shopping and grocery shopping I go for organic as much as possible—even household detergents—and bring my own shopping bags. In my house, the lights are off whenever possible, and I use energy-saver light bulbs. I also donate old or used items to Goodwill on a regular basis. I have learned a great deal about being eco-conscious from the good recycling and efficiency habits of others. My friend Billy Lockwood, for example, has a solar wind farm, which I believe is the way of the future. I live by the philosophy that attitude is everything. Change your attitude, change your life—and then you can start to help change the world by living in accordance with nature."

Crystal Allen  When she’s not appearing in top-rated TV shows or starring in movies like the slithering sequels Anaconda III and Anaconda IV: Trail of Blood, actress and Canada-born beauty Crystal Allen is heating up the kitchen with her green cooking tips. "I grew up in a household determined to save money on energy bills. Now, one of my favorite ways to save energy is in the kitchen. I love having dinner parties for at least 14 people, and there are so many simple, easy ways to help the environment through green cooking. For example, run your dishwasher on air dry instead of heat dry; cover your pots when boiling water for quicker cooking; and don’t bother to preheat your oven when baking—there’s no need and it wastes energy. If you must clean your oven, set the self-cleaning cycle immediately after baking; when the oven is already hot, less energy is required for cleaning. I also like to cook with organic produce and grass-fed meat. I make it a point to go to the farmers’ market for locally grown produce—it’s better than buying organic from the supermarket, which has been shipped halfway around the world."

Wanna do your part to go green? Make a difference with what you wear. Check out brand new Spring 2010 styles & colors in Alternative's Eco-Heather fabric, part of our sustainable Alternative Earth collection. Shop new favorites like The Slouchy Pullover (pictured) for women, The Berke Urban Polo for men and more!

Comments

[Michelle]

Awesome post! I especially love Crystal Allen's tips on green cooking. Thanks for sharing this!