James Blunt, RFK Jr., Lexus Hybrid Living and Green Fashion Unite for Rivers (Whew!)

Sara Brancato of The Four Hundred sustainable design showroom, Starre Vartan of Eco-Chick, and Lara Miller, eco fashion designer. Check out our awesome shoes! I'm wearing the Melissas by Vivienne Westwood.

Last week was a busy one, kicked off by the Lexus Hybrid Living/Waterkeeper salon at the home of William Wachtel and Annie Zabar.


James Blunt performing in the living room!
Image by Remy C.

It was a fairly intimate evening, with RFK Jr. speaking and James Blunt performing in the host's living room. Delicious organic food, VeeV acai liquor cocktails, and green networking was enjoyed by all.

I especially enjoyed meeting Kristine Solomon, the director of Waterkeeper (which is the umbrella organization for the Riverkeepers, which started on the Hudson River and now watch over the environmental health of 182 rivers around the world).


RFK Jr.'s speeches always make me cry a little. I love the Hudson River so much, and he speaks about it so eloquently!
Image by Remy C.

I got to tell Kristine how I interned with Riverkeeper when it was still based in my hometown of Garrison, NY in an old farmhouse just a few miles from my beloved Hudson River. I was only 20 when I worked with them; that internship was one of my first lessons in how to take environmental passions and put them into action.


Lexus Hybrid Living brand specialist in a Linda Loudermilk suit, and Elizabeth Harrington of Greenopia!

Greenopian Elizabeth Harrington and I were so busy talking to all the fabulous folks in attendance, we didn't even realize the other one was there until later in the evening! I'm glad I found her! Greenopia has been growing by leaps and bounds and is now the web's largest source for vetted green business listings (available on your iPhone, Palm or Blackberry), so you can find eco-friendly resources wherever you go.


Starre Vartan, Nicky Deam (PR Coordinator for Stella McCartney), and Adi (model for Stella's Eco Line)
Image by Remy C.

I was really excited to see some of Stella McCartney's organic capsule collection designs being modelled, live, by Adi, who changed from the suit above, into a gorgeous sheath later in the evening. Besides being a top-tier fashion designer, McCartney's commitment to animals and the environment is long-standing. I'm looking forward to her upcoming collections, both her eponymous line and those for LeSportSac and Adidas (both of which contain some ecofriendly materials and some conventional).


RFK Jr. posed with the awesome valet staff in front of all the (hybrid!) Lexuses. Cute!
Image by Remy C.


The lovely and fabulous Pangea Organics ladies wearing gorgeous frocks by Bahar Shahpar and Lara Miller, respectively.


All images by Starre Vartan unless otherwise credited.