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

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

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.

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

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

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

“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

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

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