Rain Tees Exclusive interview with Debi Nova!

BY raintees

January 16, 2012

At Rain Tees we are so lucky to have a range of amazing contributors. One of them is the incredibly talented Debi Nova, a renowned musician and dedicated environmentalist. Nova’s dual cultural background and multi-instrumental abilities create a unique sound and musical style that has become very popular in both the United States and her native Costa Rica. She has six Grammy nominated projects, a number one dance single, and has worked with the likes of Ricky Martin and Sergio Mendes. In addition to being a superstar, Nova is passionate about the health of our planet and uses her music and celebrity to communicate the importance of sustainability and environmental awareness. We recently had the honor of conducting an interview with Debi regarding her work, read below!

Rain Tees: Your musical career is amazing! As a songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, you are truly a talented artist. Have you always been interested in music? What drew you to this area?

Debi Nova: Thank you! Music has always been part of my life. I started playing piano at 4 and it was around 14 when I knew that music would be my path. There wasn’t any specific experiences that brought that realization, more like it was always there and one day I saw it with clarity. I always say that I never had to find my path, it found me.

RT: Your music encompasses a variety of sounds, styles, and languages. As a citizen of both Costa Rica and the U.S., you represent a growing group of bi lingual entertainers. How do you feel about being seen as a star in both cultures? Do you feel equally connected to both countries?

Debi Nova: Yes, my most recent album Luna Nueva is a testimony of that duality. The idea of the album was to bring to light that the world is becoming smaller. That like me there are millions of people that have more than one cultural background and that there is no reason why that shouldn’t be celebrated. When I wrote the songs for the album I had no barriers as far as language and if a verse wanted to come in Spanish and the next in English, I left it that way. Same goes with the musical inspirations for it. I listen to everything from Pop and Soul, to Ballenato and Salsa.

RT: Rain Tees is honored to have you as a contributor and supporter. Your dedication to environmentalism is wonderful and is highlighted in your lyrics, such as in the song “Ashes and Pearls”. What inspired you to write this song and how have environmental issues impacted your career?

Debi Nova: I think that we musicians have the responsibility to use our music as a tool to communicate positive messages and to create changes. It’s no secret that our planet is suffering now more than ever from centuries of abuse. We are in a moment when it’s imperative for us to be conscious about how we treat our environment. Ashes and Pearls talks about how our quest for material success is so blinding that we don’t see that everything is “burning down” around us. I felt the need to bring some light to these issues, specially cause I come from a country where a lot of times the rapid economic growth in the last decade has caused many environmental problems.

RT: What is your favorite Rain Tees design and why? How can our fans support your work?

Debi Nova: I love all of them. I love that the signature of the little boy or girl that drew it is on it making you relate so much more to the story of the t-shirt and what was going through their little heads while they were drawing it. I love what Rain Tees stands for and the ideology behind its process. I’m a fan!

My album Luna Nueva is available in stores and anywhere online and I love sharing new music and updates with my beautiful community of listeners on Twitter (@debinova) and Facebook.

Thank you so much Debi for taking the time to share your experiences and insight with us at Rain Tees. Your work continues to inspire us and your music adds fun and movement to our lives. We look forward to hearing what comes next for you! Check out Debi’s website and listen to her tunes at http://www.debinova.com/

By
Chloe Hallock
Rain Tees Contributor

About the Author:

Chloe Hallock is a yoga teacher, artist and model from Portland Oregon. For her 24 years, Chloe is an old and dynamic soul having traveled extensively, attending university in Victoria, BC, sailing around the world on Semester at Sea and teaching and modeling in Australia. She is a yoga competitor placing 11th in the USA and her passions for art, yoga and travel led her create her own yoga apparel line, Choco Designs. She loves interning at Rain Tees, writing, graphic designing and working on social media campaigns.

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Rain Tees Exclusive with Alicia Silverstone!

BY raintees

December 6, 2011

Rain Tees is honored to have had the opportunity to interview the inspiring and beautiful Alicia Silverstone. Alicia is not only a talented actress, but also an author and avid environmentalist, advocate for animal rights, veganism, green living, and and a kinder every day lifestyle. Below is our exclusive interview with Alicia – read on and be inspired!

RT: We love your website and book and the variety of information and tips it provides. What inspired you to start The Kind Life and what has been the impact so far? Do you plan on writing another book?

I started The Kind Life in October 2009 at the same time I published my book, The Kind Diet. Both were inspired by the transformation I experienced after adopting this way of eating. I saw others around me do the same and experience the same positive changes, and I realized it was just too good a secret to keep to myself. I had way too much to say to fit it all in one book, so the site is an extension of the book. While my book provides a strong foundation for getting started, the site inspires people to keep going and stay excited as they continue their kind journeys. I wanted to give everyone the tools to make this lifestyle as fun and easy as possible.

Since I started The Kind Life two years ago, the community has grown to over 40,000 members. Each week, I post success stories readers have shared with me. It’s inspiring to hear from people of all walks of life who have healed a variety of health problems, from acne to diabetes, to obesity, to post-traumatic stress disorder – just by changing the way they eat. The impact of The Kind Diet has been incredibly gratifying, and I definitely plan to write more books.

RT: You have done a lot of work with PETA and various organizations to help animals. Have you always been an animal lover? Is this dedication to animals what inspired you to adopt a vegan lifestyle?

I have always loved animals. When I was a little girl, my mom and I rescued them together. Anytime we were driving and saw a stray, we would pull over and help, even on the freeway! As an adult, I realized that farm animals aren’t that different from dogs and cats, or any animal that we think of as pets. I wouldn’t eat my dog, so why would I eat cows or pigs, who are highly intelligent and can show the same range of emotions as my pets? My love of animals is what inspired me to become vegan, and luckily, it’s a choice that has made me healthier than ever.

RT: Our fans would love to help out with your work – how can they get involved?

First, I would say read The Kind Diet, then visit The Kind Life and share your thoughts and questions with me and the community. You have to make the choices that feel right to you, but to become your best self, you also need to be well-informed. My experience has been that when people educate themselves about the food industry and learn about the health benefits of a plant-based diet, adopting a kinder way of life becomes a no-brainer. Follow your heart, and everything will unfold from there.

RT: We are excited for your new line of eco-friendly makeup brushes and bags. Do you have hopes of expansion for the line? If so, what do they include?

I am in my third year of collaboration with EcoTools, and we’re about to launch our third collection, so look out!

Thank you so much Alicia for your time and sharing your wisdom with Rain Tees and our fans. Your efforts and dedication to health and well being motivate us to become better human beings and make better choices for ourselves and others. We are looking forward to seeing your third collection with Eco Tools!

To learn more visit Alicia’s blog please visit The Kind Life!

By
Chloe Hallock
Rain Tees Contributor

About the Author:

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Rain Tees & Lindee Daniel in Port Au Prince, Haiti 2011

BY raintees

November 22, 2011

Our friend and sustainable fashion designer, Lindee Daniel, had the extraordinary opportunity to volunteer in Haiti for nine days and was thrilled to do a Rain Tees art session with the children there!

Lindee worked in some of the poorest areas of Port Au Prince, and the beautiful thing is that in an area where so much is lacking and continues to be destroyed, there is also a lot of good happening.

Two private schools have been built and the children in the community, through sponsorship, have a safe place to learn and at the same time are given meals, vitamins, and love.

Lindee took a couple days away from the manual labor of building a medical clinic and was thrilled to visit a handful of classrooms in the two schools!

The children were immediately excited when they saw Lindee walk in with crayons and paper. Not to overwhelm them, Lindee shared a little story about Rain Tees and the importance of trees and caring for our environment. Afterwards they enjoyed time drawing and coloring together about whatever came to mind.

Some of the kids were very shy, and some were very outgoing, but all of them have been through incredible challenges in their lives. Even though it was explained that there was no perfection required or a right or wrong when creating art from their hearts, they were focused on being precise and incredibly focused as students. Only one out of about 150 students actually colored with the crayons from the start! All of the others wanted to draw with a pencil and get it “right” before coloring.

They also loved the camera! And they loved taking photos with Lindee and their artwork even more! What a mutual blessing indeed!

Haiti is the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation, further devastated by an earthquake in 2010 that crumbled much of Port Au Prince. An estimated 316,000 people died, 300,000 injured and 1,000,000 made homeless. With no effective free public education program, Haitian children heavily rely on sponsorship to go to school. Haiti Outreach Ministries, through which Lindee volunteered, is one awesome organization doing so much good there.

THE COST FOR SPONSORING A PRIMARY STUDENT IS $25/MONTH. (This includes academic instruction, hot lunch and breakfast snack, vitamins, books, classroom materials, uniforms and Christmas and birthday celebrations.)

Feel free to also write Lindee if you want more information, or desire to send physical items (since shipments cannot go directly into Haiti) at lindee@lindeedaniel.com

*Photos and words by Lindee Daniel

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Sacred Awareness of Elders

BY raintees

November 1, 2011

The Amazon Rainforest holds thousands of plant species we in modern day Western Medicine are just beginning to discover.

Much of the knowledge of the inner workings and medicinal properties of the rainforest has been well known by the Elders, Shamans, Medicine Men/Women for centuries. Over time the Amazon Natives have accumulated years of knowledge of the intricate botanical plant system readily available to them. They already knew about the miraculous benefits of the plants growing all around them long before modern day man.

The Amazon Natives recognize and understand that the Rainforest is a complex interconnected web of life and delicate environments, which have been evolving for millions of years. Everything the Amazon Natives have ever needed has been provided to them in natural renewable resources from the Rainforest. This is exactly why the Rainforest is more valuable alive and green than cut down or burned; it should be nourished, protected and allowed to flourish.

That being said, if we choose to go into the forest, it must be done with the utmost care and understanding. To use the forest for medicinal values should be done with respect, not over harvested or exploited, and to protect the tribes living with in the forest. After all, the natives are the ones who hold the knowledge of these miraculous plants.

Consequently, nowadays with much deforestation, Amazon Natives land and way of life is being destroyed. Knowledge that is shared and passed down is slowly drifting further from their culture. With the passing of each Elder/Shaman, many valuable botanical insights, healing rituals, and medicinal knowledge is slowly lost in the passing down to the children, who are growing distant of their cultural ways.

But there is a group working towards saving the knowledge of the Elders and Shamans: The Amazon Conservation Team. They help by working with the tribes Elders and Children to educate and build strong relationships. The children are our future for education on the land.

By creating a Shaman Apprentice program from the help of a grant from Natures Path Cereal, the Amazon Conservation Team is helping to make sure the vast knowledge of medicinal plants, healing rituals, and culture will be handed down to the children. Each Elder of the many different tribes have valuable information and by keeping these Rainforests and indigenous peoples culture/environment intact, the information will be able to be passed down from generation to generation.

As the culture and environment is protected and sustained, those living amongst it can create a source of renewable income. Who better to work with the harvesting of the land than the people who are most familiar with it?

By
Jennifer Hoedel
Rain Tees Contributor

*Sources: Rainforest Facts and Shaman Apprentice Program the Amazon Conservation Team

About Jennifer:

Jennifer currently resides in creative beautiful Portland, Oregon where she is an artist of her cute maternity line MammaBellyLoveDesigns, a mommy of two, and an esthetician. Born and raised in Alaska, she loves and respects nature and finds true inspiration from it. While pregnant with her first child, she became very aware of the environment and what we put into our bodies and the mother earth. While browsing through a magazine at a health food store she discovered a really cool write up on Rain Tees and loved it! She had to support their cause right away and has been in touch ever since! She enjoys sharing the word of Rain Tees and contributing whenever she can.

Posted in: Conservation

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Rain Tees and Rue La La!

BY raintees

October 18, 2011

Rain Tees is super stoked to be a part of a special auction taking place on the Rue La La website in October – better known as a fashionista’s dream. The site is invitation only, but comes with loads of great perks for their users.

Members have the chance to shop exclusive designer brands, and premier boutiques, for a limited amount of time saving up to 70% on products.

Rain Tees will be part of an incredible auction on Rue La La, that will reach more than 4.4 million people! The seriously lucky winning bidder gets to spend the day with our own Rain Tees contributor, Lara Eurdolian, which includes a VIP tour of Elle Magazine to meet with editors, as well as a shopping spree, beauty package and culinary experience, with all of the proceeds from the sale going to the It Gets Better Project.

Oh and of course the winner gets a beautiful Rain Tee as well!

If you’re not already a member of Rue La La, you can get your special invite from them here: Rue La La – You’re Invited!

By
Maria Garcia
NYC Fashion District Fashion Examiner and Rain Tees Contributor

Posted in: Events, Fashion

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Earth Day Network’s CGI Recognition Award

BY raintees

September 30, 2011

We are pleased to share amazing news about our friends at Earth Day Network – on September 21st, President Clinton and the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) recognized Earth Day Network’s “A Billion Acts of Green® – Renewable Energy for All” campaign as an exemplary approach to addressing global environmental challenges.

The campaign, which Earth Day Network launched in collaboration with Applied Solutions, ICLEI, and Native Energy, seeks to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 1 million pounds by the UN Earth Summit in 2012, which will be held in Rio De Janiero, Brazil.

This amazing campaign is aiming to work with individuals, businesses, and local governments around the world to implement effective renewable energy methods through investments in energy credits, carbon offsets, new energy technology, and alternative energy solutions.

Rain Tees shares Earth Day Network’s belief that in the absence of national and international leadership on climate change policy, we are all individually and collectively responsible for securing a sustainable future! We are proud to support “A Billion Acts of Green® – Renewable Energy for All,” which more than deserved the honorable recognition it received at CGI!

Congrats Earth Day Network!

By
Erin McLaughlin
Rain Tees Associate Editor

Posted in: Conservation, News

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Christian Siriano with Aveda EarthLust water bottle

Catwalks for Water

BY raintees

September 29, 2011

The fashion industry isn’t always so nice to the environment with all the pesticides and chemicals sprayed on our cotton, the formaldehyde used to finish off our jeans, and the millions of pounds of water used the in manufacturing process.

Luckily for us, a greater amount of designers than ever before have opted to become more environmentally conscious in recent years and Rain Tees is always interested in learning about them and working together to support a healthier earth.

This year Aveda announced that for their sixth fashion week in a row they would be promoting their own eco fashion based initiative – CatWalks for Water – and partnered with Christian Siriano’s runway show among others for the Spring/Summer 2012 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Aveda, The Art and Science of Pure Flower and Plant Essences, has had one mission ever since its founding in 1978 — to provide industry professionals with products that would be of great service to their clients, and friendly to the earth. They’ve done just that through their hair care, skin care, makeup, and lifestyle products, putting them at the forefront of environmental sustainability. This made it no surprise that a company so focused on staying green would partner with fashion’s greatest week of events.

In an effort to stay as green as possible, Aveda collaborated with designers to reduce the environmental impact of their runway shows, and with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to supply free tap water at various New York City locations. Among the designers who chose to work with Aveda were Jason Wu, and Project Runway winner Christian Siriano.

The four steps Aveda established to advocate for a greener fashion week include:

1. Providing limited edition EarthLust water bottles backstage at shows, each designed with the signature of the participating designers. This in turn replaced the use of plastic water bottles, and increased the usage of NYC tap water.

2. Abolish the use of fur in designs.

3. Provided organic and/or locally-sourced food to fashion show staffs.

4. Printed show invitations and programs using paper that is at least 20% post-consumer recycled.

Aveda especially capitalized on their water efforts, working closely with the DEP on providing free tap water at stations throughout Manhattan.

Guests were able to refill their EarthLust water bottles, or own reusable water bottles, with NYC tap water at a total of six “Tap Water on the Go” locations.

Their goal was to reduce the amount of waste that comes from the use of plastic water bottles. For those of you shocked at their decision to use tap water, the Environmental Protection Commissioner, Cas Holloway, expressed that New York City actually has some of the best drinking water in the world! Holloway was ecstatic to work with Aveda on increasing awareness of this fact, and on the clean water system used by the DEP.

Here’s a little fun fact about Aveda’s efforts — ever since they began their CatWalks for Water program some seasons ago, they’ve helped prevent about 7,300 plastic water bottles from being thrown away in practically-filled landfills.

To go along with their pro-environment fashion week activities, Aveda also had a presence at the runway show of designer Christian Siriano. Among the guests at the show was Rain Tees’ very own founder, Beth Doane.

Aveda Global Creative Director Antoinette Beenders with Allen Ruiz and N.A. Creative Director Ricardo Dinis

Aveda’s leading hair stylist, Antoinette Beenders (pictured above), used Aveda products to create fun looks on the models. This season, Siriano’s collection was all about creating “a smart, flirtatious girl with captivating charm.” To accompany his vision, Beenders created long, wavy hairstyles for the runway.

“The hair for Christian Siriano this season is playful and looks effortless. We’ve updated the loose, beachy waves of the ‘90s with a more groomed look that’s smart, young and approachable,” she stated.

So whether you were looking to quench your thirst, or searching for products that can give you runway to everyday-ready hair, Aveda was the company of choice this fashion week, showing fashionistas that staying green is always in style.

To catch all of Aveda’s fashion week activities, visit the company’s Twitter, Flickr, Vimeo, and Facebook pages, where they posted actively during the week.

By
Maria Garcia
NYC Fashion District Fashion Examiner and Rain Tees Contributor

Posted in: Conservation, Events

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Wangari Maathai - Credit: Green Belt Movement

A Beautiful Hero

BY raintees

September 27, 2011

“She will be remembered as a committed champion of the environment, sustainable development, women’s rights, and democracy.” – Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General

I had the incredible honor of hearing the Nobel Laureate and one of the most incredible women I have ever known, Wangari Maathai, speak earlier this year alongside former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan. Sadly, Ms. Maathai passed away while undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer on Monday.

Wangari was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. who founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights, and through it she assisted women in planting more than 40 million trees.

In 2004, she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for “her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace,” and was also the first Eastern African woman to receive a Ph.D., elected to Parliament where she served as Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources in Kenya.

At Rain Tees we have built a model of sustainability and work with our charity partners around the world who clearly echo Wangari’s beautiful dedication and feelings about our earth.

In her words, “You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they must protect them.”

We are all sad to see her pass but know that her legacy and profound achievements will live on in all of our hearts and remind us all that we can indeed achieve what may seem impossible each and every day.

By
Beth Doane
Rain Tees Founder

Posted in: News, Stories

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Rain Tees at New York Fashion Week!

BY raintees

September 19, 2011

Rain Tees took part in the IT GETS BETTER Fashion Week Lounge September 9th and 10th, sponsored by Elle Magazine, Rue La La and the Sundance Channel, to benefit the It Gets Better Project.

The project is a global movement dedicated to ending youth bullying, specifically against the gay community.

In September of 2010, Dan Savage, a syndicated columnist, recorded a YouTube video with his partner sharing words of hope for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) youth. Their inspiration came from numerous news stories that depicted the suicide attempts of young kids, and teens, after falling victim to bullies in school. Dan and his partner, Terry, had a mission to let these young people know that everything does get better. The video has since then earned over 40 million views, and more than 25,000 response videos from the likes of President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Anne Hathaway, and the staffs of Google, and Facebook. Perhaps most importantly, Dan and Terry’s original video began the It Gets Better Project, which now hosts events nationwide, and allows individuals to pledge against anti-bullying in schools.

Guests at their most recent event, the It Gets Better Lounge during NY Fashion Week, had the opportunity to record their own PSA onsite for the It Gets Better Project, allowing them to share their own personal messages with youth all over the world. These messages are powerful and even have the potential to save lives, inspire action, encourage forgiveness, and foster hope.

Some of the notable attendees included: Paola Leva from In Touch Weekly, Anna Sekula from BizBash Media, Lee Alexander from ABC NEWS, Antaya Gardner from Examiner.com, Shannon Fitzgerald from MTV, Jennifer Cohen from New York Magazine, Ashley Baker from The Daily, Marissa Grumer from Seventeen Magazine, Joseph Errico from Nylon Magazine, Mauera Cheeks from IMG, Daniel Perry from Ebony Magazine, Miss Teen USA 2011, Creative Director Joe Zee from ELLE, Editor in Chief Robbie Meyers from ELLE, Mondo Guerra from Project Runway, author Jackie Collins, and Victoria’s Secret model Alina Pascou.

Guests of the VIP suite, at the Empire Hotel, also enjoyed onsite amenities including John Barrett’s Braid Bar & Bang Trim, Astrologist Susan Miller offering readings, Mario Badescu Massages, Eye Brow Shaping by Lilibeth, touch ups by Emmy Award winning makeup artist KJ Bennett, and a complimentary bar.

Check it out here!

By
Maria Garcia
NYC Fashion District Fashion Examiner and Rain Tees Contributor

Posted in: Events

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sOccket Launch!

BY raintees

September 15, 2011

Rain Tees was super stoked to get a personal invite to the swanky NYC launch of what CNN has called “Magic”, Bill Clinton has called “extraordinary”, and New York Magazine raves is, ” “Highbrow and brilliant.” So what is it? It’s a soccer ball and it’s changing the world.

Invented by an all-female group of Harvard undergraduates in 2008, including the super sweet Jessica Matthews who I happened to meet randomly in an elevator in Chelsea while working in NYC a few years ago, the award-winning sOccket is a soccer ball that harnesses energy generated during play to power small electrical appliances that are so critical to survival for many in the developing world.

The balls are made using up to 95 percent recyclable materials and can last between 3-15 years. The founders are also putting together an auction which you can learn more about here.

Two of the sOccket’s original inventors, Jessica O. Matthews, 23, and Julia C. Silverman, 22, founded the non-profit social enterprise Uncharted Play to develop fun toys that also address pressing real-world issues.

Matthews and Silverman invested thousands of dollars from their personal savings in the redesign and development of the ball that powers functional tools, such as water purifiers.

“Keeping the realities of the resource-poor child in mind, we worked very hard to develop a ball we feel can make a difference in the lives of people around the world,” said Uncharted Play Chief Social Officer and non-profit head, Julia Silverman.

For more information about sOccket and Unchartered Play, and to find out how to get your own and give one in the process, contact Zena Hanna at press(at)soccket(dot)com or visit sOccket!

By
Beth Doane
Rain Tees Founder

Posted in: Conservation, Stories

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