David de Rothschild:Pt 1

We have the good fortune of having dynamic spirits stroll through the Starworks office on the random. David de Rothschild is one of those characters. I kept wondering who this 6′4″ rugged 29 year old was doing hanging around Sharon’s desk. I slowly overheard this man discussing his serious global expeditions … y’know … like setting records for crossing the Greenland ice caps, or crossing the Arctic ocean via the North Pole. Stuff like that.

(David de Rothschild. Photo by Harry Borden)

Outside magazine summed up David’s life mission in 1 statement — “to use the romance of adventure, and the power of the Internet, to unite the world’s schoolchildren in the fight against global warming and environmental degradation.”

Below is an essay he wrote for GQ a few months ago (re-edited)….. Food for thought.
– Jauretsi
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The Green Revolution
PART 1 (of 2)
Written by David de Rothschild

Having been the product of an 80’s education, not only left me with vivid memories of bad haircuts and rice pudding lunches, but it also left my psyche forever ingrained with a deep concern for the destruction of our rainforests alongside protecting the Panda.

In fact it seems that ever since the 80’s, the Amazon rainforest has never really strayed that far from headline news. The destruction of the world’s tropical rain forests had now reached global proportions, to the point where it is estimated that we are losing 10 million trees every day. What does 10 million trees look like? What does the space where 10 million trees previously existed look like? In all honesty, it wasn’t until I was on the ground in Ecuador’s Amazonian Basin, did the true magnitude of what had at first felt as an abstract (and maybe even overplayed) situation suddenly become very real.

(Ecuadorian Amazonian Basin. Photo by Lalo de Almeida for The New York Times)

The environmental and social damage was staggering. For the first time the issues of “paper vs plastic”, “dairy vs Soya”, “Bio fuel vs petrol” suddenly felt necessary and urgent. So as society slowly starts to embrace its newfound green-ness (spurred by a wave of entrepreneurs, celebrities and conscientious politicians), can we really see past all the comfort? Can we live without the organic moisturizer, free trade coffee, and carbon neutral clothing in order to take the real and lasting actions which the scientific community keeps showing us are needed if we’re to avoid the “tipping point” and predicted environmental catastrophes?

(Paper vs Plastic?)

All around us we’re reminded (via scientific reports, climate change conferences, documentaries, disaster movies) of the fact that if we don’t start reacting sooner rather than later, our chances of surviving on this world are slim. In which case, having soft skin and a nice pair of hemp-woven jeans will probably be about as useful as water wings in the event that the Greenland ice sheet melts.

If we can drag ourselves away from our low fat, gluten-free, locally sourced muffins for long enough, we will find that the warning signs have been circulating for some time within academic circles and peer review journals in which fringe parts of society label as emotive “tree-huggers” or “aggressive activists”. From the birth of the greenhouse theory in 1827 to Roger Revelle’s statement in the mid 50’s (that humanity was conducting a “large-scale geophysical experiment”), climate change warnings and predictions have been plain to see, right up to the all-pervasive barrage of imagery and commentary that we are now experiencing.

It can of course be argued that, despite this long-held knowledge, it is not the people’s responsibility to get motivated and prevent a catastrophe that will make Apocalypse Now look like a trailer for the new Bambi movie. Surely the buck must stop with the scientists, governments, and policy-makers — who for all their deep insights on this, only compound the lack of clarity when it comes to a proper understanding of the hard evidence. Their characteristic use of smokescreens and complicated jargon has only served to widen the gulf between the science of climate change and the sense that there is a need to take real action.

If we are honest, isn’t it all just a little too abstract? Truth is, we can’t afford to hide behind the abstract anymore… but the process of befriending “mother nature” again can actually prove to be a gratifying process.

– David

(Read Part 2 here.)
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Learn more about David’s work through the company he founded, Adventure Ecology.

David de Rothschild: Pt 2

(David de Rothschild)

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The Green Revolution
Part 2 (of 2)
By David de Rothschild

Read Part 1 here.

Professor Dan Gilbert famously wrote in the LA Times that “global warming lacks a mustache”. In other words, if climate change was a missile headed towards us from one of the “Axis of Evil” countries, that governments would waste no time in embarking on a “global warming” war. Until we change the typically emotionless rhetoric surrounding such things as atmospheric statistics and greenhouse gas concentration levels, the issues at hand are simply not going to make our blood boil enough to make us engage with this green revolution.

For most of us, nature is invisible. We roll from our beds to our cars, our cars to our offices, our offices to the pub, and the pub to a taxi — and if we’re lucky, to a bed. We’re creatures of routine. Ever since the Agricultural Revolution of the 18th century, it seems the barometers of success and modernity within society have been measured by our interaction (or rather lack of interaction) with the natural world. The formula of “normalcy” appears to be simple — the more we package, automate, and force nature into the background, the more developed and evolved our society will become.

(Japan’s Seagaia Ocean Dome)

Our desire to take nature and create a more linear, predictable, controllable commodity has produced an explosion of what can only be described as manufactured landscapes, embodied in Japan’s Seagaia Ocean Dome (the world’s largest artificial beach — THANKFULLY now closed). It has perfectly groomed white marble sand, permanent blue sky, and constant 30 degree temperature — a custom made pristine paradise — all built within 300 meters of the real beach.

(The fabricated Seagaia Ocean Dome by the Ocean)

It is conceivable that we have reached a point where whole generations are no longer aware of, or in touch, with the raw and unadulterated natural world. Nature is often not perceived as ‘natural’ unless it comes in a glossy plastic package with an instruction manual.

Admittedly, sometimes this self-prescribed nature deficiency disorder, this blurring between artificial and real, seems so perfect, so convenient.

I will be honest. I am the first person to put my hand up for easy-peel oranges; the ever-fresh scent of clean alpine air that wafts from my wall plug, or the new found possibility of wearing the same clothes all year round. But when the invisible becomes visible and the artificially-created barriers come crashing down, what lies behind comes as more of shock than if China would have freed Tibet in time for the Olympics.

There is nothing like an environmental disaster to open our eyes, albeit briefly, to the vulnerability and fragility that comes with externalizing our relationship to nature. Eco-phobia, the fear of one’s home surroundings (in this context, the Earth), is a surprisingly common phobia according to Phobia-fear-release.com.

As with many phobias, the cure is often to be found in confronting the fear. So where could we possibly find a better cure for Eco-phobia than within our natural world?

Perhaps a good way to understand the threat of climate change is to start experiencing the very thing we are trying to protect. The solution to doing something about climate change (individually and in your own way), might just be hiding in the back of your wardrobe, subtly disguised as a pair of walking boots or a dusty backpack.

The time has come for us all to shake off our planetary detachment, get in touch with our inner Bruce Parry and tackle our numbness to the natural world head on. If you have ever just wanted to lose yourself, now’s the time — as long as it’s somewhere wild.

Now more than ever, there really is no excuse. We’re spoilt for choice: Eco-Tourism, Adventure Travel, Sustainable Tourism, Responsible Tourism, Nature Based Travel, Green Travel, Multi-Sport Adventures – all these, to name just a few, are at our fingertips. Whether its mushing with huskies in Alaska, or white-water rafting in Wales, it has never been easier to explore some of the wild wonders of the world, as long as you don’t forget those all-important golden — or should I say green — rules.

My first bit of advice would be to make like a mole and dig. It doesn’t hurt to look beyond the flashy websites and brochures and ensure that not only will you get to embark on a ‘real’, boot-muddying experience, but that your hard-earned cash will go a little bit further to help protect and enhance the places you visit.

Should your adventure require catching a carbon carriage, remember to offset those emissions or you run the risk of upsetting your newly befriended Ecologist-reading, macrobiotic, backpacking buddies.

Choose wisely and you might just find that saving our planet will be the greatest adventure you’ll ever have.

– David

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Learn more about David’s work through the company he founded, Adventure Ecology.

The Vans Drip

Ok, I got this tip-off from a reader called Jen with an email that reads “Little Bat Face”.
It’s my last Drip trend plug… but I had to post it… Below are Vans doing the drip now.

Read the KR Drip here.
Read the Lindsay Drip here.
J

Lindsay does “The Drip”

(Lindsay’s Leggings, 6126)

(As seen in Sept 08 Teen Vogue)

If you’re wondering what I mean by “the drip” fever, go to my last post here.
J

Obesity & Speed

(Isabelle McNally for Obesity & Speed)

Obesity & Speed is a fresh line “poppin’ off” on the streets of New York lately. Fans like Agyness Deyn, the Misshapes, Cory Kennedy, Masha Orlov (stylist of the moment) are all wearing their gear with love. The two founders, Josh and Lyz, bonded while working at the store 7 New York, and then decided on a whim to go solo and create their own tribe.

(Founders Josh Conner and Lyz Olko)

Jauretsi: How did you guys come up with the name of the line and why did you “go there”.

Obesity & Speed: The name “Obesity and Speed” is derived from song lyrics of a punk band that Josh and I both were fans of when we were younger. The name, contrary to popular belief, is not a play on fashion’s standard of beauty, regarding weight and whatnot. It’s intended to be humorous without any serious underlying commentary.

J: Describe the style of the line, its fabrics, the Lookbooks, your graphics, the spirit — its overall mission statement

O&S: Our aesthetic is constantly evolving but firmly rooted in the darker side of things. The graphics are mostly hand-drawn or assorted from photographs and other images. As for the pieces themselves, our technique has definitely improved since its inception. We’re moving away from deconstructed pieces into more finished garments, and experimenting with new prints and colors.

The Look-books are a big part of the line’s aesthetic. We try to shoot each one a little bit differently to convey the feel and theme of each collection. Our overall mission statement is to do what we feel. We don’t have a firm mission statement, honestly. We started out doing very deconstructed pieces, perhaps reflecting more youthful dissonance. As we’ve progressed, however, things have been getting more complicated and, in our opinion, more intelligent. Ultimately our work reflects the things that interest us — for better or worse — and we move as our interests move.

J: What is your vision for Obesity & Speed in terms of where you see it going in the next 5 years?

O&S: We’re working right now to grow the business. We’ve collaborated with Earnest Sewn, Oak, Nylon, and most recently with Urban Outfitters, creating a women’s collection entitled Nothing Sacred. We started out in our apartment. In the next few years we’ll definitely be outgrowing this initial stage. We still print and sew most things ourselves out of our apartment as well. We have an extremely hands-on approach to our label. It’s our baby, and we like to be involved in every aspect of its “life”.

Our vision for Obesity & Speed is to continue to grow both creatively and as a business. We’d love to branch out further into other things as well. We are also very lucky to be able to work with many of our good friends, and we always want it to be that way.

(Agyness Deyn)

Sold in:
Oak (NY)
Seven (NY)
Trash & Vaudeville (NY)
Barney’s New York (for accessories)
American Rag (Japan & LA)
Ambush (Singapore)
High Grade (Canda)
….and many others.

The new line, Nothing Sacred, sells exclusively in all Urban Outfitters stores

ObesityandSpeed.com