History” (although, with ’06 average temperatures 2.2 degrees above the 20th century mean, that’s also technically true). Ever since Al Gore first inconvenienced a roomful of slide-show-goers, the masses have been red hot and bothered for all things green. And nowhere is environmentalism’s newfound cachet more evident than in the meteoric rise of eco fashion. “People are more conscious today of what they’re wearing, why they’re wearing it and how it affects the environment,” trumpeted The New York Times. “To ignore such issues is just not sexy today.”Hear that, climate change nay-sayers (and other nefarious conventional-synthetics-wearing-folk)? Just in case sparing innocent farmers and little birdies from pesticide exposure wasn’t enough to convince you, The New York Times says you are not sexy! Now let that heady combination of guilt and fear of ridicule settle in for a moment… Okay, excellent! Ready to do some worldchanging? Even if you think fashion is capitalism at its most superficial, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate its eco-incarnate. The outcome of the environmental movement might not rest on what brand of denim you’re wearing — but that doesn’t mean it can’t help. Like Mark Twain said, “clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” Or consider the words of WLT writer Lou Bendrick, who delivered a Carson Kressley-style bitch slap to fashion-averse greenies in her piece “Queer Eye For the Green Guy,” all the way back in April of ’05. “I know it’s repugnant to suggest that we focus on sartorial matters while trying to save our steamy, doomed planet, but the other team is running up the score. Image consultants are working around the clock to ensure that next-generation oil barons keep their pudgy bottoms in the seat of power. These consultants know that even the simplest tactics can produce enormous results. If you don’t believe me, slap a cowboy hat on your head and pepper your speech with folksy malapropisms, and see if you can sell a war.”Simran Sethi — the face of Treehugger TV, Oprah and Martha’s chosen green guru, and the host of The Green, a new eco lifestyle show debuting next month on the Sundance Channel — ranks eco fashion at the top of her list of the most exciting green ideas out there. As she tells us in this issue, it’s a key point of entry to bring newbies into the fold. “Eco fashion is a strong indication of the way environmentalism is changing and evolving,” says Simran. “Before, people felt like they had to make a compromise; if you want to be green, you’re going to have to suffer. Eco fashion and architecture are helping people understand: things can still be stylish and have a modern aesthetic — and be sustainable.”If you’re wondering where to find the most cutting edge green design in LA, check out our shopping guide on page 62, or join us on the eve of Saturday, March 3rd, at the WLT -sponsored launch of a new eco lifestyle store in Venice. Owner Deborah Guyer Greene aims to turn the corner of Abbot Kinney and Venice Blvd. into a green lifestyle hub — first with her enviro-inspired epOxybOx art gallery, and now with the new epOxyGreen, featuring the latest in organic décor and apparel, alt-powered transport, and people and planet-friendly furniture and building materials. If you miss the party, head down to the epOxy campus on Sunday, March 4th for the Sustainable Marketplace, a showcase of local green vendors and community sustainability workshops every first and third Sunday of the month. (For more info, visit epoxybox.com or call 310.862.4242).And if you go, be sure to stop by the WLT booth and say hi. I’ll be the one in the ten-gallon hat, spouting folksy malapropisms, trying to sell a new way of living. —Eliza Thomas, Editor in Chief
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