In which we are asked to consider the assinine.

I was so baffled when I came across this video that I had to watch it twice. It’s a spoof video about a health & safety officer (played by Chris O’Dowd) for the Topless Female World Trampolining championships, which, produced by the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign and CoppaFeel!, is intended to raise awareness about male breast cancer. Beyond the failed attempt at what appears to be a combo of an Eastern European and Scandinavian accent (because those people are good at gymnastics and being topless, right?) it’s pretty much just one long video objectifying women.

What do topless trampoline jumping women have to do with raising awareness about breast cancer? I am not entirely sure, except for the fact that if you’re wanting to talk about breasts there are A. Lot. Of. Them. And derrieres too, just for fun. Keep in mind though, there’s not a male breast in sight, which was supposed to be the thing we were being made aware of in the first place.

There is certainly nothing wrong with raising awareness through edgy campaigns, but when they come at the cost of objectifying women and sexualizing a serious issue you have to sigh and give a hearty, WTF?

The post WTF.com Coppafeel! Breast Cancer PSA? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Honey appreciation? Alpaca fur gratitude? Tinnitus awareness? Start Googling and you’ll soon find every month is everything month.

Dearest,

It’s September, my birthday month, provenance of the astrological Virgin (oh, hilarity), inaugural back-to-school bane of parents everywhere, potential promise of a sliver of summer in San Francisco, most likely the arrival of some constellation I cannot identify, and so much more. So very, very much more.

September, for example, is not only the annual celebration of my own fabulous existence, it is also Recycle Glass Month. According to a presser from one Ed of Recycle Glass Month, who would like us to know that “Recycle Glass Month was created following the success of Recycle Glass Week in 2010, which resulted in 55 events in 20 states generating 22 tons of collected glass,” glass recycling gatherings are kind of a big deal.

I like this. Geek debates over the true environmental cost of recycling glass versus plastic aside (and I’m firmly in Camp Glass, if you care), I had no idea there was a glass recycling tour going on strong the likes of your reasonably profitable ’80s hair band. Kudos, Ed.

But then I learned from our marketing manager and resident foodie, Anna Brones, that it’s also National Honey Month. And that while our savvy and sassy beauty editor, Katherine Butler, will be dishing green beauty tips in Boulder with our Yoga Journal pals and EcoSalon readers at an organic wine ‘n cheese soiree later this month (don’t worry, we’ll post details soon, Boulder babes), she’ll be missing out on the celebration of National Alpaca Farm Days. As will I, because while I am all for local, natural fibers from the obviously cuter versions of camels, it’s also Chicken Month, Baby Safety Month, Self Improvement Month, Better Breakfast Month, and National Courtesy Month. Frankly, I find the last to be eminently conscious, if foregone. I could be focusing on the wrong priorities, however, because it’s Blueberry Popsicle month, and who am I to argue with antioxidants?

It’s also Piano Month and Classical Music month; lovely. The fact is there is simply no shortage of awareness one can have no matter which month one is currently ambling, consciously, semi-consciously or unconsciously through. There’s probably even a day for celebrating prepositions at the end of sentences. Which I excel at.

It goes on:

September 3rd: Labor Day, just past (I labored, how about you?)

September 9th: Grandparents Day

September 11th: Patriot Day (They really couldn’t think of something more appropriate? No. This is Congress we’re talking about.)

September 16th: Stepfamily Day

September 17th: Constitution Day and Week (Sure to delight Michele Bachmann; perhaps she’ll set aside some time to read the Constitution during this sacred period.)

September 21st: International Day of Peace (Sounds cool.)

September 22nd: First Day of Autumn (Possibly the advent of summer in San Francisco, fingers crossed!)

September 28th: Native American Day (Why isn’t this a federal holiday?)

September 30th: Gold Star Mother Day (Grant me a millenialism: OMG WTF.)

I’m not saying we shouldn’t have appreciative holidays, and events about appreciative holidays, and lots more awareness generally. If we can have entire conferences devoted to furries and trekkies and porn stars, by all means, bring on the alpaca and honey. Or peat and loam. Maybe gojis and hypermiling? The possibilities are infinite, and I’m, like, deeply aware of this. So I’m not complaining. But while we’re at it, why can’t September be National Sara Without an H Month? Think about it.

Image: sudhamshu

The post All I Want for My Birthday Is Less Awareness appeared first on EcoSalon.

According to the 2007 WWF Deeper Luxury Report, the luxury industry lagged behind other brands of consumer products when it came to sustainability. They claimed the cause to be lack of consumer awareness and public demand.

The report ranked a number of companies that included Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Hermes on a sustainability scale, and no companies were given a score higher than a C+. Many brands even failed to get a passing grade.

Three years ago, this report was thought to be the tipping point of the industry. After all, many luxury consumers are increasingly well-educated and concerned about social and environmental issues. Yet the luxury brands were missing out on opportunities to become sustainable leaders.

So where do luxury brands rank today? Particularly the luxury fashion brands?

The answer is not an obvious one. In fact, it is very difficult to uncover the luxury fashion companies who are demonstrating ethical excellence. Given the increase in multinationals who report on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) behavior, it would seem that either luxury brands are slow to engage, or they are doing a poor job at communicating what steps they have taken toward sustainability.

Is it accurate to say that consumer awareness and public demand is still at fault? Or is it that executives have simply become complacent? There are likely a number of reasons why this sector has a poor track record.

But let’s start with the sustainable luxury consumer. Who are they? Let’s face it, they are not you and I. Rather, they are a small percentage of the population who, by definition, can afford indulgence. They are not driven to consumption by necessity, but rather out of pleasure.

I’m not convinced that the reason for this sluggish shift is entirely due to a lack of consumer awareness. It could be that the luxury consumer has simply become accustomed to a lifestyle of waste, and can’t be bothered to make any changes in their shopping habits. Given the resources available to them, awareness is at their fingertips. So if they are truly hungry for sustainable luxury brands, they should know where to find them.

But maybe they are truly concerned consumers, keen to indulge in products that have a lighter environmental footprint. The only obstacle they face, however, is the lack of options available to them. Certain sectors are undoubtedly leading the way in the world of sustainable luxury. There are many options for the home, the car, and even travel. It appears however, that it is the luxury fashion industry that is digging in its heels.

So if its not about a lack of consumer awareness, it may have something to do with the complacency of companies – particularly those where there is a generational gap in decision-making. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it right?

Wrong. Clearly it is broken. The reality is that we cannot continue to deplete our earth’s resources at the rate of those before us.

We must all come together in this crucial paradigm shift, and luxury brands have the ability to take a leadership role.

According to Graydon Carter, editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair: “For the new generation, luxury brands that will not take environmental issues into consideration will lose most of their appeal. Modern brands must address these questions. Ignoring them would be old-fashioned and would equal a return to the previous century.”

If we all aspire for luxury, then the same could be said of sustainable luxury. Will our younger generations flip through Vanity Fair and Vogue magazines, ogling ads for sustainably made Chanel bags, or hemp silk gowns by Versace? Possibly. One can only hope.

Images: chad davis, dr_vaibhavahuja, Sarah McD

The post Sustainable Luxury: An Emerging Trend? appeared first on EcoSalon.