As we near the celebration of Earth Day this upcoming Sunday, I had to share my favorite monolog from the ever-brilliant Dr. Carl Sagan: his well-known reflection The Pale Blue Dot. It was recorded after he requested Voyager 1 to snap this famous photo of the Earth in 1990, while on the edge of the solar system (approximately 3,762,136,324 miles away). I do not think that there is anything that captures with such profound articulation the reality of this "very small stage in a vast cosmic arena." There is so much wisdom in Dr. Sagan's wonderful perspective and I love returning back to this as often as I can. While we mark Earth Day, let us celebrate the Earth with the awe, humility, and responsibility to protect that is due. 

We are fervent admirers of Patagonia and their consistent role as an industry pillar for the environment, mindful consumerism, and corporate responsibility. Their latest Common Threads Initiative, and this video put together to promote it, just blew our minds. As a brand that seeks to design with a conscience and produce with a positive impact, this initiative articulates everything that Holstee seeks to be and the lifestyle we seek to contribute towards.

The Common Threads Initative recognizes the need for a dramatic shift in the way in which we consume, realizing the responsibility to protect the world around us through the decisions that we make:

Our Common Threads Initiative aims to close the loop on the product life cycle - to make old clothes into new and keep them from ever reaching a landfill or incinerator. Reduce what you buy. Repair what you can. Reuse what you no longer need. Recycle what's worn out. Reimagine a sustainable world. -Patagonia

Adapting this way of thinking and living is not only better for the world around us, it is better for us. Dr. Andrew Weil recently wrote an article that was featured in Newsweek entitled "Spontaneous Happiness: Our Nature Defecit Disorder." In the article he notes the finding that the more stuff we have, the less likely we are to be happy. Instead, happiness is found in what cannot be bought--relationships and nature--and all of the benefits to be found as a result of cultivating the place of each within our lives.

At Holstee, we want the products that we offer in our shop to not be things that you buy on impulse. If you don't need it, don't buy it. We do not want to exist to add more stuff to the world. We want the products that we design to contribute to the values we want to incorporate into our lives. This means first and foremost that everything we make is produced in such a way as to respect the environment and create a positive impact. It also means that we want each purchase to be made as mindfully as the product was produced. Together we can make this world a better place, reduce our footprint, and live fuller lives based on more than the "stuff" we acquire. 

Mark your calendars! The fine folks at 350.org are mobilizing the community again. This time, it is a day set aside for celebrating action on moving beyond fossil fuels. On September 24, 2011, there will be events going on throughout the world to demand solutions and stand on the truth that, as a community of people gathered together for a united cause, we can and will make a difference for the environment. So grab your bike, your Razor scooter, or your roller blades and find an event going on near you (or you can even start your own :).

The goal is to get moving beyond fossil fuels—both symbolically by pouring into the streets in the thousands on foot, bicycle and other means of sustainable movement, and politically by bringing powerful demands to our leaders that day to move beyond fossil fuels to a 350ppm world. -350.org

This past April, I spent 3 wks running the Colorado River thru the Grand Canyon for a total of 226 miles and 25 straight nights sleeping outside (we road tripped down there). As you might assume, my head is still spinning from the exhiliaration, simplicity and raw beauty we often experienced. 

It's hard to communicate exactly what we went thru and felt during those 21 days away from the world. Without email, cell phones, newspapers, and chaotic schedules, it was easy to navigate the day. Most often, that meant 6-8 hrs on the river and the remaining 16-18 hrs spent riggin and unriggin the boats, setting up and breaking down camp, cooking, eating, washing dishes, talking, reading, socializing and sleeping. Sounds complicated, I know. Did I mention hittin the Groover early AM as well? I should probably save that for the in-person recountal. 

The most recurring conversation my buddy Matt and I (pictured above. Matt on the oars, me smashing the nuts!) had is one worth sharing. 

"What would it be like if we were down here for 3 months? Or 3 years?" 

This is when things got interesting. What we (Matt, myself + 14 strangers) essentially did for 21 days was test the human capacity to adapt, compromise and socialize. Once we started projecting how life would evolve 3 months out and even 3 years out, we began to see the basic blueprints of society take place. Rules would be negotiated, as well as consequences. Enforcement would be outlined, agreed upon and carried out, and we would naturally fall in line. Leaders would lead and followers would follow. Cowards would scurry and brave souls would thrive (for the most part). And life would remain simple and, of course, sustainable. 

In the canyon, there is a guideline we lived by- "Leave No Trace." What that means is whatever we pack IN, we pack OUT... including anything we... ahem, produce while in the canyon. You pickin up what I'm puttin down?... seriously, somebody's got to. 

The most educating component of the trip was the realization that ANY waste I or someone else produced (paper towels, food, beer/soda cans, food packaging, toilet paper, etc.) would have to go somewhere (most often a trash bag or ammo can) and be dealt with by someone (the Garbologist first, then the lucky boat captain and first mate carrying the group's waste). Yes, there were 2 guys carrying most of the group's waste. And yes, my friend Matt and I were the lucky guys carrying most of the group's waste.

That being said, I drew a fine line between necessity and luxury, the latter choice (read: lifestyle) being a sure way to get voted out of the canyon should it ever come to that, and I quickly adapted to a life of simplicity. Did I really need that paper towel to dry my hands or wipe my face, or could I figure out a more efficient and less wasteful option to get dry and stay free of food scraps on my face? Indeed I could find and adapt to an alternative, and after a short while, life wasn't so bad. 

My favorite part of Holstee is the Manifesto and one line in particular.

Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. 

Do yourself a favor and go get lost. :D 

From the shore of the famous Nankoweap campsite. 

Check out Matt and I running Lava Falls Rapid backwards here. 

Some people think living outside on a river completely disconnected from this man-made world is bizarre, but I'll tell you what, having been back for 3 wks now, life above the sacred rim of the Grand Canyon is equally bizarre. 

(fyi the first photo is for a campaign I entered with Clif Bar to "Meet the Moment") 

Almost forgot to mention- a BIG HIGH 5 goes out to the Holstee fam for being one of the coolest companies on the planet and encouraging me to roam for a whole month. Can't beat that. 

RDTFM

Last week I received this beautiful Organic Cotton Dress by One Mango Tree and it is perfect! The dress is made of 100% Organic Cotton Jersey and I love everything about it. The beautiful simple cut is super comfy and exactly how I would design a dress myself. The fabric feels light and soft on your skin and over the last week I have worn it out to party, to the park and the length makes it even wearable for biking. One Mango Tree is a truly family run business and works with artisans in Uganda. I love that each dress has a little tag, which shows you the name of the artisan, that made yours. We are so proud to work with One Mango Tree and Holstee truly supports their mission: economic empowerment to provide the foundation necessary for achieving peace and sustainable development! Meet the beautiful ladies from One Mango Tree and watch the video to learn more about their work! 

Click here to download:

Holstee_manifesto_passion-8.5x11-korean.pdf (132 KB)

(download)

Click here to download:

Holstee_manifesto_passion-8.5x11-korean.pdf (132 KB)

Several weeks back, we posted the Manifesto in Mandarin and one of our great supporters commented with a translation in Korean. 

It's humbling how the Holstee community continues to amaze us and we are beyond grateful for your passionate support. 

Big thank you to Chul Ho Kim for your time. 

If you or someone you know has also translated the Manifesto into another language (French, Russian, Hebrew, etc.), please let us know by emailing mikey@holstee.com so we can spread the good news and feature you and your translation on the blog as well. 

Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. 

Cradle to Cradle By  William McDonough and Michael Braungart

If you happen to make, design or consume anything, bump this up on your reading queue.

I think many of the design schools in ny have already made this book required reading for their freshman classes, and I can understand why. It's packed with a powerful timely message, but still very different from what I expected. Its not a super tree hugger, anti-capitalistic/ growth book. Infact it makes a case for how nature has always prospered from growth, just in a different way than humans have approached growth for the past couple hundred years.

Mcdonough and Braungart challenge the design fundamentals our society is built upon. They bring to light the difference between being eco-efficient and eco-effective, what it means to design beyond even the intended life of a product and sharply calls to question packaging in all respects. From a consumer's standpoint, it brings up jarring facts about the rates of our consumption, and the impact it currently has- but becoming more aware of these issues is the only way to confront and eventually solve them.  

By being educated, mindful consumers, we can better support and really elect how the next generations of foods are grown, products are made and people are treated.

If you haven't already, pick it up and read it. If you have, I'd love to learn your favorite takeaways.

A first for New York, the Festival will harness the power of the creative community to imagine the future city and explore the ideas destined to shape it. It will take place in multiple venues Downtown and is organized around three central programs: a conference of symposia; an innovative StreetFest along the Bowery; and over one hundred independent projects and public events.