When I heard about the Vanity Fair/Planet Green/Lauren Bush (with her business partner, Ellen Gustafson)/ Kenneth Cole – FEED Heal+h backpack “Send Poverty Packing” event, my first thought was, this must be a very important charity if so many people have come together to support one cause. And I was right!.

In an exclusive EcoDivas interview, fashion model and designer Lauren Bush graciously informed me that she’d made a trip to some of the Sub-Saharan African villages and she wanted to find a way to deliver medical supplies, vaccines and birth control to the villages. She then explained that for each FEED Heal+h backpack purchased at Kenneth Cole, a second bag would be donated and delivered to one of the villages filled with all the medical supplies. All this was made possible in conjunction with the Millennium Project, an organization that provides solutions to improve lives and lift people out of poverty. The amazing thing about this bag is that it’s made from eco-friendly recycled plastic-based nylon, which is durable, waterproof and reusable.

Having been to Zambia myself, I realize the necessity of paying attention to my own actions and how they alter the environment on the other side of the globe. So the epiphany I had again last night was: What I do here in Los Angeles actually affects the health and lives of people in Africa.

Not only does my choice to purchase a sustainable bag help humanitarian efforts, but because the FEED Heal+h backpack is made from eco-materials that will last for a long time, I can also do a small part to help lower, or at least sustain, the temperature in Africa. Sickness, drought, the inability to grow crops and global warming all go hand in hand.

It was also wonderful to see so many young Hollywood stars and starlets really analyzing environmental issues and connecting the fun sides of making a difference. I had the opportunity to talk about eco-divalicious environmental issues and tips with the lovely Lauren Storm, the animated Vanessa Lengies and the sassy Alex Krosney. Not to mention, it was great to run into Alexa Vega who I hadn’t seen in 4-5 years. I must add it was nice to see her all grown up, environmentally conscious and with her natural blonde hair vs. the constantly dyed-darker-hair she had to maintain throughout the ‘Spy Kids’ series. Let’s not forget the fabulous EcoDiva herself, Rachelle Carson-Begley, who was there with her daughter, Hayden, and husband, Ed Begley.

Other celebs at the event: Ali Larter, Erin Cummings, Reid Scott, Aly Michalka, Krysten Ritter, Erin Cummings, Ethan Erickson, Brandon Barash, Ryan Kwanten, Madeline Zima, Rhada Mitchell, Enzinga Blane, Paul Haggis and Lauren Conrad.

Photos © Mark Savage

- Lauren Bush revealing when she went VEG in an exclusive interview with VegetarianStar.com. When did you go VEG? Chime in and let us know!

We’re big fans of Lauren Bush — not just ’cause she’s the greenest of the famous Bush clan — but also for her commitment to helping others through her FEED campaign. So, it’s no surprise that we’re thrilled about the launch of her new socially conscious fashion brand “Lauren Pierce“. True to form, each collection (Spring, Summer Fall, Winter) will partner with a different women’s cause. For spring ’09, she worked with Women for Women International, which teaches women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo how to hand-dye fabrics.

Of course, the line is also rooted in green with “environmentally friendly fabrics that are of the highest quality as well as handcrafted fabrics from artisans around the world,” says the official site.

And what about the name of the collection? Did an unpopular Presidential uncle have anything to do with it? “The mission is about the fabrics and the cause,” she said at the collection’s launch. “I didn’t want it to be about my personality.”

Check out the official Lauren Pierce site here. And congrats again Lauren!

photo credit: prphoto

You know those elephants that spend their free time painting beautiful works of art? If not, allow me to blow your mind by sending you to this video. For those already sufficiently awed by this animal talent, let me next tell you about an organization called The Asian Elephant Art & Conservation Project. This non-profit works with those domesticated artsy elephants to raise funds through donations and the sale of artwork. All of the cash is then used to protect elephant habitat and help save those few still living in the wild.

Anyways, these guys just don’t paint wall pieces — they’re also quite clever at fashion too. This past Friday, Lauren Bush was honored at The Trunk Show –  a one of a kind fashion event that features garments made from eco-friendly fabric and locally produced silk that has been painted on by elephants in Thailand and Indonesia.

Bush was honored by the AEACP for her her work with FEED, the charity she launched to feed school children in Africa. (Check out our video on Lauren’s launch party back in May!) “We want to honor Lauren for the FEED bag and the work she has done on behalf of children and animal rights around the world. The award is a token of our appreciation for the awareness she has raised for these causes”, said David Ferris, Director of AECP.

Host Summer Rayne Oakes presented the award to Lauren. After the event, the clothing was auctioned off with all money raised given to The Asian Elephant Art & Conservation Project. Check out the pics from the event below!

Photo credit: Tricia Viola

Last Monday saw the celebration of the FEED 100 bag, created by activist and model Lauren Bush, and partner Ellen Gustafson of FEED Projects, a socially conscious company with a commitment to feeding the world.  The intimate catered event, held at the Whole Foods Lifestyle store in West Hollywood, attracted Desperate Housewives star, Marcia Cross, and Elizabeth Berkley of Step Up and Dance!  Both are huge fans of Lauren’s and the FEED 100 bag. 

Modeled after the grain bags that the UN distributes in the field, it retails at $29.99 at Whole Foods in the US, Canada, and the UK, and is an eco friendly organic cotton tote which conveniently folds up into small burlap pouch.  A full one-third of the purchase price ($10) goes to provide 100 school meals to the children of Rwanda through the UN World Food Program.  The meals are served in schools as an incentive to get the children back into the classroom, and receive both education and a nutritious meal that they might not otherwise get in a day.  And girls can get additional rations to take home if they stay in school, an incentive aimed at closing the educational gender gap.   

As Ellen told us, “Everyone remembers the terrible history of Rwanda in the 90’s, and we thought it really important to pick a country everyone would know of and make a measureable difference for those children.  The goal is to sell 580,000 bags and be able to feed the entire school population of Rwanda for 2008.”

Marcia Cross, who got together with the “Desperate Housewives” cast and bought the entire crew an original “FEED” bag last Christmas was effusive in her praise.  “In this day and age when we spend so much time thinking about celebrity and other silly things young women are doing, these two incredible women have come up with this genius idea and are doing something so vital and important on the Planet.”  Marcia, who is really aware of her own family’s abundance, is committed to passing it on and giving it to people in need, whilst teaching her daughters how to take care of the Planet as they grow up. 

Elizabeth Berkley was also proud to be supporting FEED Projects and of her friend Lauren’s commitment to being of service to hungry children worldwide.  Elizabeth, who is not new to living a green lifestyle, told us, “It’s much easier, cooler, and sexier to be conscious and if we start demanding from companies, they’ll take note.  It’s empowering to take care of yourself in that way.”  She’s taking that message throughout the country, and soon the world via her “Ask Elizabeth” self-esteem based workshops created for adolescent girls. 

It’s tragic to consider that there are children in the world who do not get a single meal a day and that a child dies every five seconds from malnutrition, making it a bigger killer than TB, Cholera, and AIDS combined.   This is definitely one small way we can all make a contribution to end childhood famine.  In addition, for all you Eco-Fashionistas, the FEED 100 tote is quite stylish, and possibly the Anya Hindmarch “I’m Not A Plastic Bag”

Bag of 2008!  Luckily for us, these fab hold-alls are in plentiful supply, and with the goal of selling 580,000 (approximately 40,000,000 meals) and feeding the school children of Rwanda for an entire year, we can all buy one without having to get on a list or stand outside a store at 4 am in line!  Most importantly, for every single bag we buy, $10 of our purchase price feeds 100 children.  Now, what could be more eco chic than that?

For more information on the project, please click here. 

The New York City-based Go Green Expo had its Big Apple debut this past weekend at the Hilton New York. The green weekend kicked off with an inaugural awards gala which included a runway fashion show featuring eco-wear by Maggie Norris, a former designer for Ralph Lauren. Host Nigel Barker of America ’s Next Top Model auctioned several couture pieces – topping at $7,000 – benefiting Riverkeeper’s Amazon Conservation Association. Award recipients included Congressman Steve Israel, Captain Planet Foundation’s Laura Turner Seydel, Live Earth Founder Kevin Wall and NYT best-selling author David Bach for their individual contributions to the green movement this year. Celebs in attendance included the always-stunning actress Sissy Spacek, model Lauren Bush, Playboy model Lindsey Vuolo and TV personality Pat Mitchell.

The weekend continued with a three-floor, green-living and sustainability event including vendor booths, panels and film screenings. Goodies ranged from bamboo-clothing by Carole Wang to green printers, ride-share companies, bags, jewelry, cosmetics, to organic foods and beverages like Sobe. Many of the products featured boasted free-trade production.

One of the most notable extra-curriculars was the Fields of Fuel, film screening chronicling Josh Tickell’s U.S. road-trip in a “Veggie-Van” fueled by vegetable oil from fast-food eateries. He also breaks down green energy and major myths and misconceptions. Who knew (aside from Josh) that Rudolf Diesel, who created the first diesel engine, had designed it to run on vegetable oil, not petroleum?! To call this film eye-opening would be a great understatement. Despite its current grass-roots marketing effort I would confidently put all bets on this powerful, film as a shoe-in for the next Best Documentary Oscar. “Fields of Fuel” already won the Audience Choice Award at the Sundance Film Festival. The inspirational Josh Tickell took park in Q&A with expo-goers and has been working on this film for almost 10 years and has loved inspiring others. Check out a clip of the movie here or visit the official site at http://www.fieldsoffuel.com/.

For pictures from the fashion show and the gala, please click more below to view Ecorazzi’s gallery!

You know it’s a good thing I hide behind your screen everyday because the truth is I’m a pretty crappy dresser. I’m not bad like you can’t take me out, I’m more just a Casual Joe who prefers to live his life in jeans and a t-shirt. Anyway, I always get a nice chuckle when I find myself in the middle of a fashion event surrounded by clothes that hold powers far behind my capability of understanding. Such was so this Sunday when I attended an Earth Day event at Caravan in New York City.

The event was held to celebrate Earth Day and to promote Lauren Bush’s new Feed 1 Bag – which she designed in partnership with the World Food Program. The bag was on sale for 60 dollars and my source told me 20 dollars of that will provide school lunch for one child for a whole year. It’s not surprising that Lauren’s involved with the World Food Program, as she recently told New York Magazine, ““I’ve kind of stepped away from modeling to really focus on my company, on my nonprofit work.”

The event also featured a talk by Danny Seo and Sylvia Heisel which I wasn’t able to stay for due to an upper respiratory infection that was making me a definite party pooper. I also talked to a guest that’s about to open her own green business (which I’ll keep under raps…for now) and who just bought an apartment in Leonardo DiCaprio and Tyra Banks’ building. GROOVY!!

To find out more, or to purchase one of Lauren’s Feed 1 Bags, visit FeedProject.org!