Alternative Apparel Blog

A Fine Frenzy - A Friend to the Planet

A heap o' good stuff today!  First, we've got a new track up on our music player today by A Fine Frenzy.  The track, entitled "Happier," is a whimsical tune that comes from their recently released sophomore album Bomb in a Birdcage.  Alison Sudol, the driving force behind A Fine Frenzy, says of the new album, “I felt like being daring; I wasn’t interested in doing more of the same, that doesn’t inspire me."  For those of you who were fans of the first album, you're definitely in store for something different.  And for those of you who haven't heard anything before? Prepare to be wowed!

But before we get to the giveaway (because I know you're all waiting for it), we've got another announcement - it's an extra special day because this new song comes alongside the launch of our ReThink campaign!  Our ReThink magazine (printed on recycled paper) features Alison speaking out about what she does day-to-day to be gentle to our planet.  She also shares her outlook on the future of the planet:

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.

As a celebration, we've got some really good gifts up for grabs!  You can enter to win one of SIX gift packs which contains

• the album Bomb in a Birdcage by A Fine Frenzy in CD format; comes in a special cardboard sleeve made from 30% recycled materials
• a special photo and lyric book, a companion piece to the album, autographed by Alison of A Fine Frenzy
• one of our limited edition unisex Think Earth tees printed on our Eco-Heather Crew, which is made using organic cotton and recycled polyester; all proceeds from the sale of these shirts go to benefit Global Green

How do you enter to win? Just leave a comment on this post through Sunday, Nov. 22.  Our six lucky winners will be announced on Monday, Nov. 23.

Blog Action Day 2009 - Climate Change

It’s possible that climate change will end up being the biggest issue that our generation will face one day, and it also happens to be the topic of this year’s Blog Action Day. Climate change has the potential to affect almost all aspects of our lives, from the food we eat to the weather outside. Whether it’s our fault or just the grand scheme of nature isn’t really the issue any longer, as much as it is the acknowledgment and acceptance that we all have the ability to change what’s happening for better or worse.

If you’re still a little confused about it all, climate change basically refers to the warming of Earth’s atmosphere and the effect it has on the planet. Today, most scientists believe that we excessively emit harmful gases (think carbon dioxide) that thicken the atmosphere. This thickening serves as insulation and traps excessive heat and energy within the atmosphere, like an oven. Trees normally play the important role of converting these harmful gases into oxygen, which is great, but as the world develops more, we have fewer and fewer trees. The effects of climate change can be seen far and wide in the melting of the polar ice caps, changes in rain patterns, or a rise in the sea level, and its continued impact on plants, wildlife, and humans will only increase in the future.

The good news is that there is a lot that we can do to decrease our impact. If everyone did the basics we hear daily – to recycle, turn off your lights, carpool when you can, shop for local produce – the impact worldwide would be enormous! From recycling a single plastic bottle (which can conserve enough energy to light a light bulb for 6 hours) to offsetting your own personal footprint (check out our friends at CarbonFund.org) to wearing an eco-friendly tee, we are all presented with choices and opportunities daily to make a difference. On the upside, fashion companies are are making huge strides every day to decrease their impact, so you can look great and feel good about what you’re wearing.

Want to make a difference with what you wear? Check out our Alternative Earth line. You can’t go wrong with one of our 100% Certified Organic Cotton Tees or our Eco-Heather styles, which contain a combination of organic cotton and recycled polyester.

And in the spirit of Blog Action Day, keep your eyes peeled for what happens in December at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where our world leaders will meet up and make some pretty major decisions that affect us and the future of our planet.

Photo: Dan Crosbie

Photos from San Francisco Outside Lands 2009!

The Alternative gang is back in the office after a really amazing weekend in San Francisco, where we sponsored the 2nd annual Outside Lands music festival (in case you didn't know...)  In addition to a small pop-up store where we sold our tees, hoodies and more to festival attendees, we also had an exclusive VIP lounge for all of the artists performing at this year's event.

Check out the slideshow below, or you can just go to our Flickr photo album if you want to view the photos at your own speed...

Alternative Apparel Sponsors the 2nd Annual Outside Lands Music Fest in San Fran!

 
We're gonna be out in San Francisco this weekend because, once again, we are the official apparel sponsor for the Outside Lands music festival! (Yay! Get excited!)

The coolest thing about the Outside Lands festival is that they are dedicated to producing the entire event carbon neutral.  What is carbon neutral?  Unhealthy levels of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels like coal and natural gas.  In order to prevent this, all of the stages at Outside Lands are solar powered!  The festival is also host to massive recycling efforts and the use of biodegradable materials.  We applaud their respect for our environment, as well as their strong initiative to take action and make an impact.

This year's line-up includes acts like Pearl Jam, TV on the Radio, M.I.A., Bat for Lashes, Modest Mouse, Deerhunter, Band of Horses, and many many more; check out the Outside Lands official site for a complete list of artists.

In addition to our VIP lounge for all the musicians playing in this year's festival, we'll also have our pop-up store at the event, so you can take home some of our organic cotton tees and eco-heather hoodies at a special discounted rate for Outside Lands attendees.  If you're in San Fran this weekend, come and see us!

Not going to Outside Lands?  No sweat - Outside Lands 2009 is going to be the first ever music festival that is broadcast LIVE via YouTube!  You won't be missing anything!

David Arquette and the Amazing Plexiglass Fundraiser

You know, there's a lot of strange ways to raise money for something (like Hooters for Neuters, which I'm totally not making up).  But living in a plexiglass cube in the middle of Madison Square Garden?  That's just plain bizarre!

The weird factor may be precisely why David Arquette has chosen said approach for his upcoming fundraising efforts.  Next Tuesday and Wednesday, this Think Earth participant and Scream franchise dude will be living in the transparent box for 8 hours each day to raise $250,000 for hunger-combatting charity Feeding America. Donations can be made on location, via text messaging (somehow), or on Facebook.  Kudos to Snickers (Mars Inc.) for sponsoring!  (And to Mr. Arquette for, you know, hanging out in a plexiglass box.)

Photo Credit: huffingtonpost.com

Going Green with GOOP Gets

Cute, eco-friendly features from the Goop Gets newsletter

When it comes to environmentalism, Gwyneth Paltrow really gets it.  Not only that, she sees our current ecological challenge as an opportunity for innovative design - as she points out in the intro to her most recent GOOP Gets newsletter:

“Going green” is no longer just the ideology of left-wing hippies. Nor is it a trend. We are living in exciting times. We are confronted with the challenge of sustaining our food, our water and our environment.... The more commercial it goes, the better off we all are, and not only from an ecological and environmental standpoint. Design-wise, inspiring options are becoming available. It’s a win-win.

She's right, and she proves it by sharing some of her favorite eco-smart items, including a Voltaic solar-powered backpack for charging electronics, a grid-free phone charger by Solio (solar-powered, as name implies), and the adorable (and dare I say semi-affordable?) Peapod electric car (which starts at a modest $12,500).  Her eco-recommendations also feature some great reads (like Al Gore's Worldchanging) and fabulous fashions - Stella McCartney's stunning Green Collection and (wait for it) Alternative's own 100% Organic Cotton tees (available for men, women, and babies/toddlers).  For more, be sure to check out the GOOP site...and to get the most up-to-date info, sign up for the newletter! 

Happy greening! <3

PS Like eco-friendly and socially responsible living? Check out Think Earth...and get involved!