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Eco-fashion appearing at Oscars and popular clothing stores

By WTOP Staff

Joan Michelson, special to wtop.com

WASHINGTON – When you hear the word “eco-fashion” what pops into your head? Frumpy? Dirty? Confusion?

How about “elegant” and “Academy Awards”? Eco-fashion has permeated the fashion industry, from local ventures, to H&M, to Suzy Amis Cameron’s Red Carpet Green Dress Challenge and Livia Firth’s Green Carpet Challenge. The competitions started by the wives of Oscar-winning director James Cameron and actor Colin Firth inspired celebrities to sparkle in eco-friendly fashion at Hollywood’s most glamorous event of the year.

One woman who dazzled the 85th annual Academy Awards in eco-fashion was actress Naomi Harris, who starred in the James Bond movie “Skyfall.” Harris glided down the red carpet in a gold organic silk crepe de chine dress, with dyes from chamomile and goldenrod. Vintage glass beads, ornamentation made from candy wrappers and recycled zippers adorned the dress, according to the Red Carpet Green Dress Challenge website.

The designer is Michael Badger, a 20-year-old student from the Savannah College of Art & Design, who won the Red Carpet Green Dress competition to design an eco-friendly gown for an actress at the Oscars.

What is eco-fashion?

Organic cotton is one of the most popular fabrics. According to the United States Drug Administration, organic fabrics are produced with certified organic ingredients without genetic engineering or ionizing radiation and are overseen by a USDA National Organic Program.

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition developed the Higgs Index to “create and implement an index to measure the environmental and social performance of apparel and footwear products,” according to the coalition’s website.

A glossary of eco-fashion terminology can be found at www.ecofashionworld.com.

H&M eco-line launching March 4

Most of H&M’s Conscious Collection line launched in H&M stores nationwide this week, including in D.C. Clothing is made from organic cotton or organic silk — like Helen Hunt’s deep blue Oscars gown that caused quite a buzz.

The line includes items made from recycled polyester, denim and zippers, according to the H&M customer service center in Chicago. Some eco-friendly items are made of Tencel, which comes from wood pulp cellulose and is biodegradable.

Clothing manufacturing can use a lot of water, so H&M formed a partnership with the World Wildlife Foundation to set new standards for water use in the fashion industry.

A local eco-fashion tale

A remarkable story in eco-fashion is Riji Green, a company co-founded by Anna Leung in Manassas, Va. Riji, which stands for “Restoring International Justice Imports,” sells tote bags, kids’ bags and T-shirts made by women in Kolkata, India who have escaped from human sex trafficking.

“These women receive job training, basic math, reading and writing skills, salary above market rate, health insurance and retirement plan,” the website states.

Leung says Riji Green provides a lifeline for women and their daughters by helping them stay out of the sex trade and build a good life for their families. Leung has been engaged in rescue efforts the past six years and founded Riji Green to help victims break them free from the sex trade’s economic bondage.

Riji Green bags are made from jute, organic cotton and non-toxic inks, and wallets are made from recycled juice boxes. Riji also customizes bags for businesses, as it did for a few D.C. area Whole Foods Markets.

Watch a video about Riji Green’s story:

Having reached mass market stores and the Oscars, it looks like eco-fashion is turning an economic corner. When we can do well and look great doing it, that’s a terrific win-win.

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Joan Michelson is CEO of Green Connections Radio and a consultant on the green economy and cleantech. She can be reached at joan@greenconnectionsradio.com. Follow @WTOPLiving on Twitter.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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