ECO-MAGIC

Well, I'm back from The Magic Show in Vegas, and inspite of all of the economic doom and gloom we hear today I feel inspired, and even more motivated to continue our sustainability goals - Sure everyone commented on the less than stellar turnout of attendees this year, but I still felt a high energy level..these are fashionistas after all..and although I am not a veteran of these kinds of trade shows as some folks I spoke to, we all just have to move forward albeit cautiously and intelligently.

And those of us in the sustainability sector, I believe strongly, are positioned to be leaders when this economy does get back on track.

(The Vegas 'Strip' is truly a bizarre place to vacation....but those mountains are 'spectacular'!)

Most importantly, I want to thank Matt Grigsby and Elizabeth Redmond from 'Ecolect' http://www.ecolect.net/ for graciously inviting Oliveira Textiles to join their panel of super sustainability speakers. I was honored to be included and look forward to future opportunities.
Eco Materials Panelists were:
Matt Grigsby - Founder and panel moderator - www.ecolect.net
Marci Zaroff - Founder http://www.underthecanopy.com/
Mark Dwight - Founder www.rickshawbags.com & http://rickshawbags.wordpress.com
Jonathan Shaun - Founder - http://connectchicago.blogspot.com
Charlotte - www.ellavickers.com
Dawn Oliveira - http://www.oliveiratextiles.com/ & http://oliveiratextiles.blogspot.com/


What I take away from this trip is:
* a feeling of incredibly deep respect and admiration for those panelists and companies who have
made the commitment to create , healthy, sustainable, successful products,
* inspired by the positive, youthful exhuberance of the speakers ,
* motivated to improve our product, educate and excite our customers and excell, sustainably,

as we continue to grow our small company, always keeping in mind, the bigger picture of health for
ourselves and the planet.

I got to chat with Jill Dumain - Textile expert from Patagonia! and listen to Eric Ryan - Founder of the incredibly successful,San Francisco based, 'Method'- the environmentally safe cleaning products company... So, admittedly, I did spend more time at Eco-seminars and other Eco-product booths than in the larger 'Magic' experience, but what I did see in the S.LA.T.E, STREET, & POOL fashion exhibits were some fabulous, hip, chic urban fashion companies...now if they were only taking those first steps to manufacture with the environment in mind, we'd all be golden!