Living in Eco Style
Fashion icon Cheryl Tiegs offers her thoughts on protecting the environment while remaining stylish.
CAMBRIA STYLE: As both a legendary fashion icon and a longtime advocate for green living, how do you successfully combine those two interests when it comes to forging your own personal style?
CT: Well, first off, let me say I don’t think that they’re not compatible. What I tend to focus on these days is avoiding that vicious cycle of consumption, which involves buying and then throwing away a lot of “stuff.” That idea extends into my decorating and fashion sense as well.
CS: Still, some people may remain skeptical, afraid that they’ll have to sacrifice their sense of style in order to be environmentally conscious. What do you say to that notion?
CT: Nowadays when it comes to design and personal style, there are all kinds of environmentally sound choices available, from natural quartz countertops like Cambria to organic fiber fabrics and textiles to furniture and flooring made from renewable resources. What’s more, many times these products are not only good for the environment, they’re also good for the individual. I’m reminded of all the harsh chemicals used to clean and seal my old Italian tile countertops before I installed Cambria in my kitchen. I had to leave the house for the day when the cleaners came in because the smell was so bad. Likewise, I now have several organic cotton blankets that don’t use all the harsh chemicals and dyes that go into the normal cotton textile manufacturing process. Now when I put my head on the pillow at night, I know I’ve done a good thing.
CS: When you wake up in the morning, where does this eco-conscious style sense begin?
CT: It often starts in my own home. I’ve become much more conscious about keeping my clothing for longer periods of time instead of always running out to buy the latest fashion trend. And when I am finished with an item of clothing, I donate it. I also recently bought new checks for my checkbook that use recycled paper and show my support for the Humane Society. These all seem like tiny gestures, but living with an awareness and a sense of environmental responsibility helps me hold myself accountable.
CS: Just as with the Cambria countertops and organic cotton blankets you mentioned, a number of other “green” materials, like hemp, cork, and bamboo are now increasingly common. Does that make your eco-style choices easier?
CT: Oh yes, cork and bamboo are great materials for both your home and your wardrobe. It’s so much better to use natural products like that as opposed to, say, putting in some sticky plastic laminate on your kitchen floor. Even products that use materials that may not have been natural or environmentally renewable originally, like plastic water bottles or glossy magazine paper, are now being recycled into worthwhile products like fleece jackets or rugs.
CS: When thinking about eco-conscious style, how important is it to consider not just the product itself but how and where that product is made and brought to market?
CT: Thankfully it’s easier than ever to find out about those issues these days. In fact, the way in which Cambria products are created, with all of the water used in the manufacturing process being recycled through the plant and all the quartz used in the products being mined in accordance with the strictest environmental standards, was one of the things that attracted me to Cambria in the first place. With the Internet and a bit of persistence, it really is possible now to find out more about what you’re buying and what its environmental impact is. It may require making a change or two around your home, but we all know how worthwhile that effort is. My whole house isn’t fully “green” just yet but, one step at a time, I’m getting there.
CS: How critical is it for people to realize that taking a series of small steps eventually does add up to something larger and more positive?
CT: Of course we can’t expect people to just tear their houses down and start over in order to be more environmentally sensitive. But I’ve found that taking a host of other smaller but nonetheless important steps can have a genuine impact. For example, I have lots of wonderful sheets and blankets that aren’t necessarily made from environmentally sustainable products or methods, but every time I have to replace one, I now go the organic cotton route. Two years ago for Christmas, I sent out as gifts these KOR reusable water bottles that don’t have the chemical BPA in them; last year I bought some fabulous hemp T-shirts and gave them out. I’ve found that giving gifts is another way to plant that seed of eco-conscious thought.
CS: What’s been the reaction from people when you give them a gift like a hemp T-shirt?
CT: You mean, are they surprised when it feels more like silk than it does a burlap bag? [laughs] There’s no question that people have been excited to discover something new that they haven’t encountered before and I’ve gotten nothing but enthusiasm and happiness in return. I think most people are really excited about finding ways they can help the environment through the style and decorating choices that they make.
CS: Any final thoughts about eco-style?
CT: Buying locally really is a big thing to me. Up until quite recently, that simply meant going down to the farmers market for fresh fruits and vegetables, but now the concept has been extended to include a wide variety of products we use and consume such as wine, clothing, and furniture. It’s not always an option to buy locally, but it’s important to do your research when you’re shopping and win the battles that you can.
Cheryl’s Green Picks
RECYCLED CHECKS
At the Check Gallery online store, you can reduce your carbon footprint by choosing checks made from recycled paper and printed with vegetable-based ink. The site also lets you personalize the checks to show your support for other worthy causes, such as the National Wildlife Federation or National Breast Cancer Foundation. $13.95/box, www.checkgallery.com
KOR WATER BOTTLE
These stylish water bottles feature a unique hinged top and are made from BPA-free plastic. In addition to being a personal choice of Cheryl’s, they’ve also been seen satisfying the thirsts of Oprah Winfrey and Gwyneth Paltrow. $29.95, www.korwater.com
BAMBOO FLOORING
The bamboo floors at EcoTimber Flooring are three times stronger than red oak, but come from a highly renewable grass plant that is harvested just five to six years after planting. EcoTimber’s products are also plantation-grown—meaning no wild grasslands were sacrificed—and manufactured without potentially harmful chemicals like formaldehyde. From $6 to $8 a square foot, www.ecotimber.com/ecobamboo-flooring.php
ORGANIC T-SHIRTS
Made from 100% organic cotton, the Women’s Live Simply Pelican T-shirt from Patagonia features original art by Geoff McFetridge that’s printed with easy-on-the-environment PVC- and phthalate-free inks. The shirt is fully recyclable through Patagonia’s Common Threads Recycling Program, which allows consumers to return worn out clothing to stores to be transformed into new garments. $30, www.patagonia.com
