Wondering what styles will be in eco-fashion this fall and winter? Earlier today, green-thinking fashionistas got treated to an eco-vegan fashion show at the Green Blogger Convention at Environmental Furniture in Los Angeles. Here’s what gorgeous green fashions hitting stores this and next season:

EcoSkin’s line featured rayon-from-bamboo dresses, with a style for every body type.

Deborah Lindquist combined upcycled materials with organic cotton to create her unique designs. Earlier: Deborah Lindquist brings goth to green fashion.

Stewart + Brown’s casual-chic fashions are made almost entirely out of organic cotton. Earlier: Me in Stewart + Brown, twice.

Doie Designs showed off its simple, flattering dresses.

The models showcasing these fashions are the finalists of the eco-model competition Project Green Search — which is having its finale party tonight! I’ll be heading over there soon — and hope to see some of you there!

Today’s freebie is a unique Yak Pak Messenger Bag — made of upcycled billboards by a collaboration between Yak Pak and Terracycle.

Vinyl billboards aren’t recyclable — but are upcyclable into nearly indestructible products — which is why this Yak Pak bag comes with a lifetime warranty! Made in a hydroelectric-powered facility in El Salvador where workers are paid fair wages, Yak Pak bags cost less than $35 each, making them as affordable as they are green.

Find these Yak Pak bags at Urban Outfitter stores nationwide — or win one here! Comment by Thursday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen Friday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

Earlier:
>> Book review: Revolution in a Bottle — Pot-inspired eco-capitalism
>> Saturday surveys: Terracycle’s holiday line
>> Eco-fugly: Drink pouch pencil case
>> Upcycling my wine corks
>> A Reuse program for Scotch tape dispensers and cores

“People told me it was insane and crazy to do this,” said Karen Solomon, co-founder and CEO of Opportunity Green, ” but I thought people will create a whole new level of networking. They’ll share, they’ll know what they’re up to, and then they’ll support one another.”

The intrepid cyclists arrived in Santa Monica just a couple hours ago for a small finish line party, which I got to on my bike. Notice in the photo above how one of the bikes just doesn’t belong? Yes, that pink townie would be my ride.

Tour de OGers included no original gangsters as far as I know, but did include some long-term environmentalists like Anna Cummins (left, with me) of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and Bring Your Own. Despite the fact that she completed the JunkRIDE bike ride from Vancouver, Canada, to Tijuana, Mexico earlier this year, Anna said the Tour de OG was a tough ride, covering 80 – 100 miles every day. “That was ferocious,” Anna said, “I mean, there were some powerful bicyclists in this group.”

“It was pretty aggressive in terms of the miles covered,” agreed Nick Aster (above) of green business blog TriplePundit, who helped with some aspects of organizing the bike ride and whom I hadn’t seen since we were still young idealists on a green blogging panel together back in Feb. 2006! But Nick already plans to ride again next year. “We can a little cheekily say we’re walking the walk or riding the ride.”

Last year, I felt like I was the only one who went to Opportunity Green without driving, but this year, at least a few of the attendees will be biking. All the Tour de OGers I talked to said they planned to get back on their bikes to get to the conference.

Opportunity Green happens this weekend, Nov. 7-8, at the University of California, Los Angeles. Featured speakers range from Mayor Villaraigosa to controversial major corporations like Nike and Johnson & Johnson to Annie Leonard of The Story of Stuff and James Sutandyo of Causecast. Registration costs $995 ($495 for students).

Top image via Opportunity Green; photos by Siel

The answer is not jaywalking crackdowns. These tend to be hard to enforce, lower the public opinion of the police, reinforce the idea of car dominance on city streets, and, most importantly, do not provide an effective bang for the buck.

Instead, here’s what should be done. First, spend more money on making walking safer; despite the fact that pedestrians make up a large part of the traffic deaths in many states, funding is always disproportionately scant. Second, provide good places to walk. People instinctively strive for the conservation of energy, and failing to provide proper crossings in the presence of clear “desire lines” invites a jaywalking problem.

Read the whole article to see what Tom’s third, fourth, and fifth recommendations are. Tom’s ideas have a lot in common with Christopher Beam’s ideas about what to do about traffic law-breaking cyclists; both authors focus on larger infrastructure issues that tend to be car-centric in most places.

>> Canned food often means BPA-tainted food because most cans have BPA-containing epoxy liners. However, BPA was even found in “BPA-free” cans of tuna sold by Vital Choice:

Dr. Urvashi Rangan, director of technical policy at Consumers Union, said the cans did not have epoxy liners, the usual source of BPA. Rangan said the BPA likely leached into the packaging from the factory where it was made or came from environmental sources — seawater or the fish itself.

Vital Choice CEO Randy Hartnell said his firm was an early adopter of BPA-free packaging. “We’ll get to the bottom of it and fix it,” he said.

Earlier: BPA industry seeks PYM (pregnant young mother)

>> Schools are using toxic cleaners with chemicals linked to cancer. Environmental Working Group held an event earlier this week at Santa Monica High to bring attention to the issue — and to support Cali legislation pushing for greener cleaning in schools. Earlier: Sunday solutions: Green cleaning.

>> Somewhat relatedly, you can now support green schools by bidding on a celeb. Spend time with Stephen Colbert, Oprah, or Dave Matthews Band by putting in a winning bid in the 6th annual Chevy Chase Green Auction.

Photo by splorp

I attended the Santa Monica meeting a couple weeks ago, where about 80 people gathered to discuss the 4 stations furthest west. After a couple powerpoint presentations talking about the progress on the subway so far, the neverending lack of funding issues, and the different types of stations being considered for each location, we broke up into station-specific groups, with each person getting to choose to join a group discussing the station she’s most interested in finding out more about or weighing in on.

I’d describe the mood at the meeting as antsy, because pretty much everyone there wanted the subway built yesterday — yet we still don’t know where we’re going to get funding for this western end of the subway, since Measure R money doesn’t even stretch that far west. Add to that the fact that with current funding, the Subway to the Sea wouldn’t get to Westwood until 2036, and the situation almost sounds hopeless for Santa Monicans.

That said, Metro’s Jody Litvak reminded people that just a year ago, there was no money at all. Now with Measure R funding — and with the Metro Board passing its Long Range Transportation Plan, which prioritizes the Subway to the Sea — we at least have some money.

Plus, Villaraigosa’s revealed his 30/10 plan — to complete in 10 years the transit projects currently expected to be done in 30 years. If the mayor walks his talk, I may be able to take a 35-minute subway trip from Santa Monica to downtown LA before I retire!

Tonight’s meeting — which happens from 6 pm – 8 pm at the Veterans Administration, Wadsworth Theatre, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles — will discuss Century City, Westwood/UCLA, and VA Hospital stations. Missed the meeting near you? Metro said powerpoints from the meetings are expected to go up on the Westside Extension site this week.

What happens after that? A recommended locally preferred alternative — that would be the draft plan for the subway, with all station locations and formats set — will hopefully be annouced in summer 2010. You can see what the two options are above — though clearly, a few station locations have yet to be set. A final plan will hopefully be adopted by the Metro board in fall 2010. Stay involved to make the subway a reality!

Images via Metro; photo by Siel

L.A. Times reports that Mayor Villaraigosa’s behind the plan, that California Foundation’s “conditionally agreed to provide $20,000 to fund a ciclovia in Boyle Heights,” and that “plans are being negotiated for a test run in the spring of 2010,” route TBD.

>> Intentionally injuring cyclists will get you in big trouble. The doctor with road rage who intentionally braked in front of cyclists — severely injuring them — on Mandeville Canyon Road battery has been convicted with mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, serious injury and reckless driving causing injury. According to the L.A. Times, “he faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 3.”

>> Especially ironic’s the fact that this road-raged cyclist-hater is a doctor, who’s supposed to want to save lives and heal people. “Why Does Driving Bring Out the Worst in People?” asks Stephen J. Dubner in Freakonomics: “The same person who might flip you off while ensconced in his or her car would almost certainly never do the same while passing you on a sidewalk.”

Image via CicLAvia

Why throw out that empty wine bottle — when you could wear it down a fashion runway? For artist Kathleen Plate, dumpster diving for old glass bottles is a frequent first step towards creating her upcycled chandeliers, glass wall installations, pillows — and even high-fashion dresses.

Kathleen’s perhaps best known as the founder and designer of Smart Glass Jewelry — also made using upcycled bottles — since her work’s been worn by celebrities like Amy Smart and Christina Applegate. Now, Kathleen’s expanding her oeuvre to include home accessories. Last night saw the launch of Kathleen’s new recycled glass home collection at Environment Furniture in Los Angeles.

Guests milled about admiring the intricate chandeliers, glass “curtains,” and framed glass wall art. Of course, because all the works are made incorporating recycled glass, the pillows and dresses raised some questions about practicality. After all, glass decorative pillows don’t exactly invite leaning, sitting, or lying on. And glass dresses don’t seem to allow for comfortable sitting.

Are the dresses fashionable clothes, or decorative art? “I think in some ways the highest of fashion is art, really, because it’s not what you’d wear every day,” Kathleen said last night. “I’d say they’re more art — conceptual art.” That said, every dress on show at the event has made its way down a fashion runway — though Kathleen hasn’t worn any of thm herself. “They’re sized for models, not for me,” she said, laughing.

Want to own a Kathleen Plate work of art? Visit Environment Furniture to see the collection firsthand. The home pieces cost roughly $250 a square foot, and the dresses about $3000 each. More affordable upcycled glass jewelry by Kathleen Plate’s available at Smart Glass Jewelry, where prices range from $38 for a glass bangle to $248 for a large charm necklace.

Photo of Kathleen Plate by kathleenplate.com; all other photos by Siel

Earlier:
>> Beca Designs: Kahlua and Belvedere bottles become eco-jewelry
>> Eko-Lab’s necklace: Made with a recycled Heineken bottle and hand-crocheted yarn

Today’s freebie’s a pair of red tote bags with the Sundance Channel logo.

While the bags — made by 1 Bag at a Time — are emblazoned with the slogan “This bag is green,” the bags themselves aren’t actually green, being cheaply made in China out of polypropylene — a plastic that’s recyclable, but can’t exactly be considered eco-friendly. Of course, the reduce-and-reuse habit you could develop with these bags could certainly be green.

These bags held the shwag given out at the Kathleen Plate party last night, which I’ll write more about later today. Comment by Tuesday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen Wednesday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

>> The L.A. Bicycle Master Plan meeting for Northeast Los Angeles happens Wed., Nov. 4, 6 pm – 8 pm at Ramona Hall, 4580 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles.

>> Project Green Search’s wrap up party’s free and open to all! Come mingle with green models and their judges on Fri., Nov. 6, 7 pm – 10 pm at ECCO Ultra Lounge, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles.

>> The Yes Men Fix the World starts an open run at the Laemmle’s Sunset 5 and Laemmle’s Playhouse on Fri., Nov. 6. Go make friends with the Survivaballs!

>> Take a FREE Beginning Smart Gardening Workshop from the LA DWP to “learn more about backyard composting, worm composting, grass recycling, water-wise gardening, and fire-wise gardening.” Compost bins will be on sale at subsidized prices! The lessons begin Sat., Nov. 7 from 9:30 am – 11:30 am at Ocean View Farms Community Gardens, 3300 Centinela Ave., Los Angeles.

>> True Blood’s Kristin Bauer wants you to join her to support The International Fund for Animal Welfare’s Tails for Whales Campaign. Meet her, learn about whales, and get free chips and a bath bomb on Sat., Nov. 7, from 1 pm – 3 pm at LUSH Cosmetics, 1404 Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Calif.

>> California State Parks Foundation wants you at its film series, “California State Parks Starring in Hollywood Films” at Paramount Studios this weekend. Watch The Adventures of Robin Hood, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Vertigo on Sat., Nov. 7 and Sun., Nov. 8 at Paramount Studios, 555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets — which include popcorn — cost $19 for adults or $9 for children per film. Weekend and VIP tickets and packages are also available.

>> Santa Monicans can get info and rebates on rain barrels and cisterns at the city’s FREE first annual rainwater harvesting products showcase and sales event. Be there Sun., Nov. 8 from 10 am – 2 pm at Santa Monica Airport, 3050 Airport Ave., Santa Monica.

>> Organic wine lovers won’t want to miss the Alma Rosa Organic Wine Tasting! Try out a flight of 4 wines while learning about sustainable winemaking from Alma Rosa Winery’s partner Robert Szerwo on Mon., Nov. 9, 7 pm – 9 pm at Pourtal, 103 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. Cost: $15.

Image via Project Green Search

Eco-fashionistas and natural beauty seekers in Los Angeles have a lot to look forward to this week! Get green makeovers and sustainable fashion deals while sipping organic drinks, nibbling on green eats, and mingling with fellow environmentalists in Southern California:

Wednesday: Eco-fashion lines Popomomo and Curatorial plus LA Vintage Exchange will host their first Open Studios, when everyone’s invited to stop by to sip champagne, eat sweets, and shop for steeply discounted eco-fashions on Wed., Nov. 4 from 1 pm – 7 pm at 4006 N. Figueroa, Los Angeles. Cost: Free except for the fashions you buy.

Thursday: Online eco-fashion boutique Green With Glamour’s having a pop up party with vegan treats, drinks, and music — plus a raffle and shopping discounts — on Thurs. Nov. 5 from 6 pm – 10 pm at 2912 Rowena Ave., Los Angeles. Cost: Free except for the fashions you buy.

Friday: An eco-fashionable Green Blogger Convention’s bringing green thinking bloggers together for coffee, churros, a Q&A panel (featuring me!), and a vegan eco-fashion show featuring Deborah Lindquist, ecoSkin, Stewart & Brown, Wasteland, and others. Be there Fri., Nov. 6 from 9 am – noon at Environment Furniture, 8126 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. Cost: RSVP online for $20; $30 cash at the door.

Saturday: Visionary Boutique will host a Green Beauty Day, where you can get a free half-hour organic facial or green makeup application while enjoying organic refreshments. RSVP to info@visionaryboutique to book the free appointment anytime on the half hour from 11 am – 5 pm on Sat., Nov. 7 at Visionary Boutique, 5285 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles.

Enjoy a fabulous week — and remember: A closet full of organic fashions you never wear still isn’t really green — so shop (or just window shop) with an eco-plan!

Image via Popomomo