Earth Hour Results

Interview with Kate Goldwater of AuH2O Clothing Shop

Two Brooklyn Green Team members scouted this great shop nestled away in the East Village and stopped by to shop and chat with the owner. . . 

BGT: When did AuH2O open and what inspired it?

KG:  I'd always wanted to do have a store ever since I was little.   You know how kids will make friendship bracelets out of embroidery floss indian-bead-loom necklaces and think they're going to open their own store someday and sell their jewelry?  I was definitely one of those kids.  I was a crafter ever since I was young- I loved drawing, painting, doing art projects, and making anything I could, and by about middle school I decided that I wanted to express my creativity with my appearance.  I pierced my thumb nails, drew magic marker tattoos all over my body, and wrapped my hair in yarn and rubber bands.  I realized that my favorite outlet was clothing, and I started going through my mom's old clothes (she used to be an aerobics and fitness and wellness instructor so she had crazy spandex prints and stuff) and cut them up and reworked them to make them fit me.  I sewed by hand, or I used a stapler and duct tape, until my mom got me a sewing machine for my 13th birthday (that I still use today!).  Then I was hooked on making clothes.  I would find anything unwanted in the attic- upholstery material, table cloths, even a fisher price tent, and rework it into clothing. Then I discovered the unlimited supply of unwanted materials at thrift stores, and started using t-shirts, scrubs, aprons, anything.  It never even occurred to me to go and buy fabric or a pattern from a fabric store and use for sewing projects. that wouldn't be nearly as unique.   I wanted to be sure that no one else would be coming to school wearing a pair of thick wool thigh-high hockey socks sewn on to cut off jean shorts with floral embellishments.   I just loved sewing and creating.   As I got older, my style started to chill out a little bit (though I was still voted "most outrageous style" in high school) but I still made my own clothes out of used clothing or materials, though the final products weren't as loud or mis-matched. at the same time, I started getting interested in social justice and the environment. I was a part of my school's "global action" and "students against social apathy" clubs. I wrote a piece for our high school school paper about how we should avoid buying new clothes altogether and only shop at thrift stores to take a stand against sweatshop labor. basically, making clothing out of recycled clothing was my passion at a pretty young age, though I wasn't thinking about what i wanted to do with my life at that point.   I'd always thought it'd be cool to open up my own shop, but I never considered it very seriously.  At NYU, I was in the gallatin school, or basically the "design your own major" program, and studied art, clothing, social justice, gender studies, and took a lot independent studies where I focused on art and clothing as activism.   I also did some internships that I strongly believed in the causes- one was NARAL pro-choice ny and one was the jewish women's archive (in Boston) to sorta feel out if that's what I wanted to do for a career.   Even though I loved the work i was doing, the people i met, and the change I felt was making, I was capital B Bored to sit at a desk.  I needed to be doing something creative. that was when I knew I had to go down the artistic path.   As much as I wanted to work for a non-profit relating to women's rights, or the environment, or social justice activism or something, I just couldn't.  Meanwhile, I was still making and wearing my own clothing daily, pretty much teaching myself.  I'm not entirely self-taught though; I worked at nyu's costume shop for four years, and I LOVED it.   Not only did I learn so much, but I was sewing all day long.  I loved it 80x more than my desk-job internships, so that juxtaposition helped me realize I had to go down the artistic/fashion route.  I took a graphic design class my senior year that taught me how to use photoshop and dreamweaver and make a website, and that was pretty much the start of my business.   I was able to sell online, take personal orders, and showcase my work.   I could contact boutiques  and show them my style and see if they wanted to carry my designs.  Finally, after selling on consignment for awhile, I realized that I wanted more- people said I should sell in those open-air markets, or on the street, but I was ready to really have my own shop.  I graduated NYU in May 2006 and spent the summer getting in touch with lawyers, bankers, accountants, real estate agents, etc, and formed an LLC, found a space, signed a lease in august.  Then I had a ton of work to do before opening, but I finally got a credit card processing account, bought a mirror, painted, renovated, bought mannequins, supplies, etc and was able to open up on october 1, 2006.

BGT: What is your favorite part about your shop and being a small business owner? 

KG: I think that when you own your own business, you love what you do so much that there isn't really a distinction between work and pleasure. If you're doing what you love and working for yourself, it doesn't really feel like work.  I'm so into making, selling, marketing my recycled clothing that I live and breathe it.  I love wearing my designs out and having people stop me and ask where I got it, then I immediately hand them my card.  Also, I get to shop for my job- it's the best!   Whenever I pass a store I can't help but stop in to get ideas for things I want to make, and if I ever pass a thrift store or button shop or antique store I always go in and buy material to cut up and rework.  Each time I go home to Wisconsin for winter break or a summer vacation I scour the garage sales and go to the goodwill and value village. Basically, every day is a great day at work. 

BGT: Anything else you want to tell people about your store? 

KG: My store is for people who are unique, who want to express their creativity, have strong political convictions, and want to wear clothing that gives that first impression. 

Visit the shop:Kate Goldwater  |  AuH2O Designs

www.blog.auh2odesigns.com
kate@auh2odesigns.com

AuH2O Recycled Clothing Store
84 E. 7th St. (b/t 1st and 2nd)
New York, NY 10003
212.466.0844

Get Your Green Fix at Pratt All This Week

This week is Pratt Institute's annual Green Week celebration which includes lots of free events open to the public, including lectures, informational sessions, and giveaways. On Tuesday from 11am - 3pm @ in front of Pratt Studios on the main campus (200 Wiloughby Ave) there will be be a FREE HELMET giveaway from the NYC DOT, encouraging safety and sustainable modes of transport for us residents. This giveaway is intended to not only encourage more sustainable and green modes of transportation such as skateboarding. As good quality, well-fitted helmets can be expensive, the DOT has agreed to distribute and custom fit helmets free of charge! This may be particularly interesting to parents because children's heads grow so rap will have all sizes available including toddler! Also on Tuesday from 12-2pm check out a performance by the solar powered band, Solar Punch.

On Friday from 11am - 6pm, there will be both a Free Market and a Green Market hosted on the campus. Vendors from various local organizations selling green and sustainable foods. Adjacent to that event will be a Free Market co-hosted by In Our Hearts. This event will include free services, entertainment, and lots of clothing, canned goods, art supplies, etc. In the spirit of sustainability, we hope to lengthen the life span of some materials that were prepared to be discarded by their owners from lack of use. All participants should feel free to bring items of their own, and expect to find some treasures to take home with them.

For more detailed and comprehensive information about events click here!

Two Green Team Members Honor EarthHour

We're Famous

In the spirit of shameless self-promotion, click here to check out the feature on the Brooklyn Green Team in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle this week!

TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS TONIGHT

Don't forget its Earth Hour tonight.   Join the world and turn them off from 8:30 to 9:30.  Learn More. 

Project Green Prom Dress Swap

We just thought this was such a great idea...

On Monday, April 6 @ 6pm, WHOLE FOODS MARKET^® and TEENS TURNING GREEN invite you to take part in PROJECT GREEN PROM DRESS SWAP

As part of the launch of Project Green Prom – a multi-faceted effort from Whole Foods Market and Teens Turning Green to raise awareness about making thoughtful, earth-friendly decisions and purchases around prom season – New York area high school juniors and seniors can participate in a Dress Swap program where they donate their previously worn and loved frocks in exchange for another dress as a way to promote repurposing items to preserve the environment. A green stylist will be on hand to demonstrate cost-effective ways for making something old new again.  In addition to the Dress Swap, attendees will enjoy the opportunity to engage in fun green activities that will include: eco-beauty makeovers and green spa treatments by John Masters, Mineral Fusion and PRITI Spa along with flower and décor preparation and healthy eating tips and menu ideas or the Big Day. Each attending teen will receive tips and experts advice on easy, eco-savvy ways to infuse sustainability into all aspects of their prom -- without sacrificing style.

Details: Monday, April 6 @ Whole Foods Market Tribeca,  270 Greenwich Street (between Warren and Murray)

The Water You're Eating

Good Magazine has a great chart on how much water you use in your daily life that is not easily calculated.  For example: Dinner

Curtain #1 - more water

Beef (1 lb.) - 1,500 gallons

Wine (one glass) - 31 gallons

Bread (two slices) - 11 gallons/slice

Dishwashing (by hand) - 20 gallons

Curtain #2 - less water

Chicken (1 lb.) - 287 gallons

Beer (one pint) - 20 gallons

Baked Potato - 7 gallons

Dishwashing (energy star dishwasher) - 4 gallons

Don't take our word for it, check out the chart. 

Let's Hear It For the Park

At a March 16 meeting of Community Board 2's Parks and Recreation subcommittee, Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation (BBPDC) President Regina Myer presented an updated construction schedule for Pier 6.

The BBPDC anticipates opening a portion of Pier 6 and its uplands by the end of 2009. This section of the park near Atlantic Avenue will include a 1.6 acre destination playground with a swing "valley," slide "mountain," wooden structures, and water play area; a dog run; a 30' wide promenade onto Pier 6; a park concession building with 1000 square foot restaurant and roof top deck; and three sand volleyball courts.

Construction company Skanska has begun prepping the site for utilities and base structural work. In the next few weeks, they will begin importing bulk fill to bring the site to grade level. Structural work on the playground area and preparation for a prefabricated park gatehouse (which will be clad with reclaimed timbers from the nearby Cold Storage Warehouse) will begin in the spring, as well as construction of the volleyball courts and dog run. In the summer, Skanska will import horticultural soil and begin planting trees and shrubs. Through the fall and winter, Skanska will complete the park finishes, including paving pathways, completing the lawn and ground cover plantings, and installing site furnishings and playground equipment.

For more information see the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation's website.

Interview with Green Theater Initiative

One Green Team member flew over the website of the Green Theater Initiative and flew down for an interview with Gideon Banner.

BGT: Where did the project idea come from?

GB: I am an actor by trade, and I've been performing with Blue Man Group for some time now. Several years ago I was an original member of their environmental committee. This encouraged me to wonder whether this type of work was happening at other theaters, and I found that it generally wasn't.

BGT: Why wasn't this happening in more places?

GB: Mostly a lack of time and information. Theater managers are very busy, and despite the environmental concerns of many, they just don't have the time to devote to taking steps to go green. Many don't know what to do or how to start: aside from using low VOC paints or installing more energy efficient lighting, what else does a theater do to be green?

BGT: Why should theaters get involved?

GB: Because going green is an opportunity for theaters to be sustainable in both senses of the word, ensuring their financial futures while working to create a sustainable future for their communities. Theaters have the opportunity to answer President Obama's call for a green economy. Also, theaters have historically been an arena for expressing social issues, yet there is a startling lack of theatrical works about the environment and our relationship to it. Change comes once we understand an issue. If we can't understand it, we won't be driven to change it. I hope to see new work that addresses this.

BGT: We see something on your site about visiting other theaters?

GB: We are gearing up to consult directly with theaters. While many theaters are struggling financially, there are steps that can save them money and will cost less. We start with the low hanging fruit items which can save money quickly. Also we are working to present at upcoming trade conferences, such as the Theater Communications Group national conference.

BGT: What is the most satisfying part of this work?

GB: Having an outlet for a passion of mine. Aside from acting, I have an ongoing concern for the environment. Through the Initiative, we are creating a network of people and building momentum. I look forward to making change on the ground by working directly with theaters.

Oh by the way, you can find Gideon as an eco-consultant with Green Irene. He likes this work because it's an opportunity to walk into someone's home and tell them easy things they can do to make their home more sustainable. Find him @ www.greeneirene.com or email gideon.nyc@greeneirene.com

Thanks Gideon. Keep up the great work.

Learn More about the Green Theater Initiative.

WORLD WATER DAY. TODAY!

Because water is a human right...

Today is World Water Day. Do something positive. Think about how wonderful water is. Take a shorter show. Go get a low-flow showerhead.  Stop using bottled water.  Reuse your pasta cooking water to water your plants once it cools down. Flush less.

Two green team members honored world water day by watching the film BLUE GOLD: WORLD WATER WARS. This film was scary, anger invoking, hopeful and mostly amazing.  We recommend it. Here's the summary: Wars of the future will be fought over water, as they are today over over oil, as the source of all life enters the global marketplace and political arena. Corporate giants, private investors, and corrupt governments vie for control of our dwindling fresh water supply, prompting protests, lawsuits and revolutions from citizens fighting for the right to survive.  Past civilizations have collapsed from poor water management.  Will ours too? Based on the groundbreaking book BLUE GOLD: THE FIGHT TO STOP THE CORPORATE THEFT OF THE WORLD'S WATER by Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke. 

Check their site. 

Buy the Movie. 

Some cool related sites: Ryan's Well Foundation (trust us it will make you cry); Think Outside the Bottle; Bottlemania; Food and Water Watch; The Polaris Institute; 

About World Water Day

The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.  Since 1993, the United Nations General Assembly has designated March 22nd of each year as WORLD WATER DAY (WWD), to recognize the importance of water as a basic requirement of life and the need to manage this precious resource wisely. The main purpose of the day is to promote public awareness of the need to conserve and protect fresh water supplies and to encourage people around the world to promote and carry out activities related to the use and care of water resources.Learn More.

Planet Saving Inventions

National Geographic presented some clever innovations which save lives and the planet. Here's one:

First Prize: Sustainable Technology
Air Conditioner Fights Global Warming

Though it may not seem like the most glamorously green invention, this redesign of the common air conditioner could save a quadrillion BTUs a year in the United States alone.

Replacing the conditioner's piston compressor and expansion valve with scroll compressors--more commonly used in automobile superchargers--and updating the power supply yielded power savings of 30 percent, wrote Create the Future contest winner Lindsay Meek of Australia.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that two-thirds of U.S. homes have air conditioners, producing a hundred million tons of carbon dioxide annually and consuming 5 percent of the energy produced in the United States -- which costs consumers more than $11 billion.

Check out the rest.