The Green Festival, which took place at the end of April in New York City, brought 200 vendors to Pier 94 on the West side, all promoting sustainability and green living with a range of brands and services — from food, health and beauty products to furniture and home items. Attendees could enjoy fare at the vegan/vegetarian food court, try different yoga styles through workshops at the yoga pavilion, and learn from a range of speakers about a variety of topics including “Greening Your Closet with Style,” “Ethical Fashion,” and “It’s Easy Eating Green.”
The good news is you don’t have to wait until next year to explore green living. There are plenty of vendors and services based here in New York all working toward a greener way of life. Here are just a few.
If you want to furnish your apartment with sustainable, eco-friendly pieces, check out Environment. Environment’s pieces—including beds, tables, cabinets, bureaus—are made using reclaimed wood from Brazil. They also incorporate unique upholsteries into pieces, including old army tents. Pieces reflect the company’s concept that sustainability and sophistication go hand-in-hand. Browse the catalog online or visit their showroom at 350-352 Bowery.
Designer Julia Ahrens offers a variety of eco-friendly and cruelty-free fashion and accessories with her line Miakoda. Ahrens hand crafts her crochet pieces and jewelry; her clothing is manufactured in an ethical factory in New York City. Make sure to browse her collection!
Entrepreneur Jyll Brown has an incredibly unique spin on handbags. Her company, Remember me Green, offers tote bags, pouches, and cross-body bags made from old New York City billboards. Each bag is a unique statement piece. The fascinating process of turning a billboard into a bag is detailed in one of Brown’s blog posts. Don’t forget to shop her collection online.
No dairy? No problem! Get ready to cool down this summer with delicious treats from New York company DF Mavens. Their booth was consistently packed at the festival, with attendees eager to try flavors like Peanut Butter Fudge Mash, Mocha Almond Chip, and Madagascar Vanilla Bean. I sampled the vanilla bean and I wouldn’t have been able to tell you it didn’t have dairy; the vanilla bean flavor was the same robust taste that I’ve grown accustomed to in dairy ice cream. DF Mavens is available in retail stores along the east coast and this summer a shop will be opening in the East Village.
Speaking of staying cool this summer, CoolNYC is a free program offered through ConEd that will help city residents maintain a comfortable apartment while conserving energy during the sweltering summer months. Apartment-dwellers can sign up to get a smartAC kit, a device which connects to a window AC unit and then allows residents to control and monitor the AC from a smartphone or computer. If you have pets, this means you can schedule the unit to go on and off and intervals, so your pet can stay comfortable and safe without having to run the AC all day long. Or, you can program the AC to come on before you get home, so your space will already be comfortable when you walk through the door.
These are just a few of the many wonderful vendors that showcased their goods and services at this year’s Green Festival. We loved having the opportunity to learn about all of the unique brands and can’t wait to go back next year!
Twisted Talk: Do you believe in being green? Have you tried or heard of any of the companies mentioned above? Discuss below!
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