Passionate environmentalists may be known for their willingness to go the extra mile for a greener alternative, but the majority of people who understand the importance of environmental responsibility intellectually still lack the motivation to make an inconvenient or costly adjustment to their life. So, recognizing the power of incentives, companies are finding creative ways to encourage green-minded behavior.
Riding Green: Perhaps the most congested city in the country, Los Angeles is resting its hopes on California’s bullet train project. But with the costly proposition still under debate, less complex and more immediate alternatives are emerging. One of those, Riding Green, is cleverly raising awareness about available public transportation options by leveraging one of LA’s most attractive commodities: its nightlife. The new company partners with local bars and restaurants to provide individuals with food and drink discounts upon proof of public transportation use. We suspect that more than a few creatures of the night will find it quite liberating to not have to designate a sober driver.
It’s true that April showers bring May flowers, but autumnal downpours also have a bright side this year with the advent of intelligent clothing. In one instance, modern raincoats are keeping savvy wearers dry while making use of recycled raindrops. True, erratic weather forecasts may be on the horizon, but these other science-minded slickers stand to make even the most dedicated sun worshippers beam.
Raincatch: This summer’s solar film swimwear left many wondering what other weather-efficient garments would follow. A strong contender to become the Pacific Northwest’s newest fashion commodity, Raincatch is a multipurpose poncho that funnels precipitation through its collar, filters it through a charcoal and chemical purifying system, and then stores the water near the hips where it’s least obstructive, and most figure-flattering. Designed by two students at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, the poncho’s transparent tubing displays the process, while the water reserve remains hidden. As drought stricken locales are reluctantly turning to last resorts—and with clean water concerns at an all-time high—this concept may be just in time.
Even with the ascendant appeal of locally grown organic food, many people live in areas that lack the abundance of fresh goods they crave and are thus forced to default to less nutritious options. Fortunately, in response to the mounting demand for better accessibility, convenience stores, restaurants and markets are finding new ways to bring farm fresh food to anyone, anywhere.
Stockbox Grocers: From its outside appearance, Stockbox may look like any unassuming shipping container but, after stepping inside, shoppers will discover a miniature grocer packed with fresh fruits, vegetables and dry goods. The mobile market was conceived as a solution for “food deserts,” those densely populated, often low-income, neighborhoods that lack pedestrian access to healthy, affordable food. Delridge, Seattle is home to Stockbox’s first location, where more than 300 essential grocery items are available in just 160 square feet of space. With the help of Kickstarter funding, Stockbox hopes to expand into dozens of locations around the country, enabling everyone to have access to food that makes them feel good.
Given the recent Netflix controversy and the increasing cost of movie tickets, many film fans are finding safe haven in pop-up movie showings. At no cost to the viewer, these spontaneous cinematic gatherings are a growing trend among those seeking less expensive and/or more purpose-driven silver screen outings. Here are a few sneak previews.
YouTube Theater: Everyone loves a good viral video, but this unique cinema allows viewers to enjoy the viewing experience on a grander scale than that of a smartphone or computer screen. The YouTube Theatre, by artist Aaron Jones, is a kit of interlocking pipes that, when assembled, creates a 500-square-foot cinema. After the structure is built, a smartphone plugs into its dock and, with the implementation of basic audiovisual equipment, uses surrounding WiFi to project footage onto a screen that can be rolled up quickly after use. The goal is to show that with public wireless Internet, entertainment can materialize in any location, even in neighborhoods that are typically disregarded.
Our phone-addicted culture has rendered the traditional timepiece all but unnecessary. But this once-beloved accessory is now re-emerging as just that—a small wardrobe accoutrement that can make a big statement about personal style. In varieties ranging from digital to analog to biodegradable, watches are appearing on more and more young wrists every day.
May 28th: When Latvian designer and wristwatch-fanatic Agni Tilla failed to find the fun and colorful watches her heart desired, she decided to make her own. Her resulting line of affordable analog timepieces features clear and colored plastic bands and bold, limited-edition designs at the watch face. A likely progression of the organic materials movement, Tilla’s designs are inspired by natural shapes, materials, and textures –then revved up with her hipster-friendly sense of humor. For those too cautious to rock such bright colors and eye-catching patterns on a daily basis, Tilla’s recently debuted Architect line offers a subtler alternative, featuring black-and-white styling, clean lines at the face, and the same affordable price point.
