tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51054767337220097932009-02-21T16:00:16.105+01:00sustainability * ethical fashion * conscious living * LOHAS * fair trade * green design * hip honest * sustainable communities * organic cotton * ethical consume * Berlin * social pioneers * creative projects * eco2.0 * environmental activism * green trends * ecologyFrans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-65665905816261904772008-08-28T10:56:00.003+02:002008-08-28T11:23:43.331+02:00

Dear readers of this blog, I am proud to present you our new Grass Routes website and blog. The old blog (this one) will soon dry up, and we try to arrange the feed to get redirected to our new blog. Anyway, please check if this really works!Grass Routes started as our personal journey to visit sustainable projects in Europe, and meanwhile we' re making Grass Routes an international organization

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-24688945324824417452008-07-22T23:06:00.007+02:002008-07-22T23:24:48.769+02:00

In London, NGO Oxfam has redesigned it's stores to become eco-fashion hotspots. Located in trendy areas, they sell donated designer items, and a mix of fair trade and organic clothing including chic stuff from Chloe, Stella McCartney and Junky Styling. "Re-invented" pieces designed by fashion students ad an extra vintage fashion touch. Cool concept!Via Treehugger

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-48286157882617790292008-07-21T18:08:00.008+02:002008-07-21T18:58:24.566+02:00

Last weekend during the Berlin Fashion Week we organized a network meeting with Karmakonsum for the German eko fashion scene. 35 designers, shop owners and bloggers got together in Bio Restaurant Diwan and had an inspiring and fruitful evening. It was fun, next time we'll be probably more again... the scene is growing...On the pictures: Magdalena Schaffrin, 500Godz, Bransparent, Jovoo,

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-88089711873714686852008-07-17T16:54:00.005+02:002008-07-17T17:09:53.549+02:00

Under the name Korekte Klamotten a group of German eco-fashion labels have started a collective blog to share their news about new collections and upcoming events. The blog is started by the shirtlabel Fairliebt and until now Slowmo, B-Green and Gluecksstoff have contributed to the blog.It shows that currently the ecofashion scene in Germany is developing dynamically. This weekend it's Berlin

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-11650222734490307582008-07-10T18:32:00.007+02:002008-07-11T11:16:49.091+02:00

In Uganda spraying of the highly controversial insecticide DDT has spoiled organic crops in Uganda. As Ecotextile News states in their report, over 11,000 farmers in Uganda are now stuck with cotton after it was rejected by buyers from the Dutch organic cotton firm BoWeevil due to DDT spraying in the area.Marc van Esch from BoWeevil, who I met in Uganda last November when I visited organic cotton

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-61611938101534445352008-07-08T15:38:00.011+02:002008-07-08T17:53:13.907+02:00

We all know Greenpeace from their mediagenic actions against Walehunting and other environmental crimes. Over the last couple of years, the activist multinational has gone a new way with some own business initiatives where they take responsibility for the issues they target.It is part of a trend where nowadays activists have grown up and have become eco-entrepreneurs. But who will tackle the

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-49192963883088976012008-07-03T22:25:00.005+02:002008-07-03T22:40:45.193+02:00

Greenwashing or not, Kraft Foods stepped in to a cooperation with Terracycle, a creative upcycling company that takes packages and materials "that are challenging to recycle and turns them into affordable, high quality goods".As the press release states, Kraft will become the first major corporation to fund the collection of used packaging associated with its products. Well, that's great, but

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-73084860784244511392008-06-30T11:11:00.007+02:002008-06-30T11:47:59.342+02:00

What's all those 15 year old kids running around with buckets and spouses by night? It's the new graffiti hype, stupid.Having a respectful amount of creative streetwaste on my account, I've always been a bit worried about the environmental effects of graffiti. The anti-graffiti propaganda claims tons of cleaning costs for graffiti, and maybe the're even a bit right. Time to get some more

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-75780954506670991522008-06-27T17:30:00.007+02:002008-06-27T18:19:34.163+02:00

Mediaspree Versenken from PappsattA group of activists against privatisation and gentrification gathered the highest amount of signatures so far for a public voting in Berlin for their call to have the Berlin river Spree for everyone. While the local government is selling out the whole river area in the district Kreuzberg-Friedrichshain in favor of a "Media Spree" filled with glass house

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-44421473160675950252008-06-19T11:12:00.007+02:002008-06-19T12:01:00.614+02:00

Carrotmob Makes It Rain from carrotmob on Vimeo.If shops and corporations do not react fast enough on our demand for ethical products and environmental responsibility, we will organize our consumer power to demand it. Well, that's what is really happening, and when we realize what difference that can make, the effect gets much stronger and we can really change things for the better.Carrotmobs

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-68389755297887244822008-06-11T23:20:00.003+02:002008-06-11T23:37:14.449+02:00

"This T-shirt is sewn by a child for Tchibo" stands on the shirt. Clothing company Tchibo offers a new print-on-demand service, where you can send in your own texts to be printed.Dr. Kirstin Brodde, German textile expert and editor for the Greenpeace Magazine, sent in some critical texts about the company and they were delivered to her as she ordered them.On her blog she describes her

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-60592287694073266052008-06-09T21:48:00.006+02:002008-06-09T22:20:40.366+02:00

While we at Grass Routes are still clearing the details for the next Fair Fashion in Berlin, the Bureau Gruen in Cologne comes with a concurring event in September: the ÖkoRausch, a "Fair for design with consicousness". The event wants to present the pioneering design labels in green design in Germany. Sounds like a promising event for those in Germany interested in design and sustainability,

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-60220699559672292802008-06-03T16:46:00.007+02:002008-06-03T19:09:40.288+02:00

This weekend I visited the Karmakonsum LOHAS Conference and Greencamp. Most of this kinds of events mix in some green washing elements within the program, and I was excited to hear rather critical or in-depth approaches on these items from the stage (see my report on the Karmakonsum blog).With this balanced program Organizers Christoph Harrach and Noel Klein-Reesink showed that they have a good

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-5061207374460729712008-05-30T15:30:00.003+02:002008-05-30T15:36:29.803+02:00

I am right now on the Karmakonsum Conference on LOHAS Marketing in Frankfurt, and in a few hours discussions hit the podium and heat up the athmosphere. An eclectic mix of people on the conference and an enlightening sunshine makes the conference hot: “Alte Ökos” (old ecos), Neogreens, conventional marketing agencies, representatives from sustainable businesses...Read my reports on the

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-85321157990745132832008-05-24T20:45:00.005+02:002008-05-24T21:02:35.089+02:00

Eco luxurious lifestyle? Check out the sleek and original presentation of the Norwegian luxurious eco fashion brand Fin (yeah, a bit confusing name in this case). Don't forget to press 'next'...Fin shows eco fashion from it's best LOHAS side. Their clothes are made from organic cotton, wild silk, and organic alpaca. Not something to wear while camping or mountain hiking. But half naked chic can

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-28072601786920870092008-05-19T21:27:00.013+02:002008-05-20T00:10:02.893+02:00

Today me and my daughter Gaya went to see his Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin. We were not the only ones, about twenty-five thousand people had the same idea, and so we stood pressed together, waiting for the leader of the Tibetan people in exile to arrive.There were also people who were not there, such as most of Germany's politicians. For all the social democrats

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-19594283845822471982008-05-13T16:38:00.005+02:002008-05-13T17:00:04.910+02:00

For some time I met Lars Schmidt, together with his partner Steffa Roth running their project Art & Ecology Education. Because of the name I guessed there was a connection with Grass Routes, as we work with creativity and sustainability as key values. We have been exchanging ideas and vision a few times, and for me it is interesting to confront our projects with ideas deriving from deep ecology

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-39225987674203019362008-05-13T00:08:00.006+02:002008-05-13T00:31:04.475+02:00

The Canadian athletes going to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will wear sport clothing made from organic cotton, bamboo and Cocona, made from Coconut waste.Not that all bamboo is always so environmental friendly (it consumes a lot of water and is hard to make only using chemicals), but it's a good step forward and can reach a large audience for eco-wear.“I’m happy that Hbc took the time to

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-29628872022097256682008-05-08T19:41:00.007+02:002008-05-08T22:08:26.067+02:00

Yesterday I was at a meeting organized by the German sustainability network 3plusX on "Engagement 2.0". Five fresh German online charity portals presented their work and vision. All of them intermediate online between concrete help projects and givers, may it be individuals or companies. All developed their web2.0 strategy to communicate the projects informative but sexy.What I like about these

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-41302199568686396252008-05-06T10:36:00.006+02:002008-05-06T11:32:59.843+02:00

With all the good news of growth for fair trade and organic products, and especially with the hype around green fashion, one can hardly believe that such a cool organic jeans brand as NAU has to give up, for financial reasons. The brand had a very fresh and forward approach, creative and stylish. I got the impression the people behind NAU where extremely engaged. Within a short time the company

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-6614794976178918242008-05-05T12:40:00.002+02:002008-05-05T13:01:48.372+02:00

It's getting a hot spring for eco-fashion in Berlin. We choose a good time to kickstart our own label Pamoyo. Yesterday we where on the show of the new organic streetwear label Treches, a label by designerin "JBR", Jeanette Bruneau Rossow. Cecilia had contact with Jeanette since the Berlin Fair Fashion Affair, and now she launched her first organic collection on the Lido

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-25978445599332364982008-05-04T14:53:00.002+02:002008-05-04T14:58:07.448+02:00

Yes, we are a dynamic organization. For all wishing to come to the Event "Change the World with Style", please note that it we changed the date. It is now taking place on the 15th of May and starts half past seven!for more info click here

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-47342977104106517962008-05-01T15:49:00.004+02:002008-05-01T16:08:37.294+02:00

We launched the new Pamoyo site and Pamoyo collection during a short trip to The Netherlands, making it a truly nomadic clothing label. And it took a few days before I noticed I did not even announced it here on the blog. Well, here we are. You are warmly invited to spread the word about this new born green fashion label!Pamoyo was founded by Frans Prins and Cecilia Palmer to design a fashion

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-29794138983141289982008-04-30T13:49:00.012+02:002008-05-04T14:53:41.951+02:00

The SelfHub is a 'club for people with ideas'. It fuses the best of grounders centre, library, cafe and office lounge. The SelfHub is part of an international network of Hubs around the world and the first one in Germany.We found this an excellent place to present our vision and create an inspiring evening for everyone in Berlin interested in our projects. Be there! Spread the word! Change the

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5105476733722009793.post-5186987020121870192008-04-28T15:25:00.013+02:002008-05-04T15:01:17.943+02:00

Dear friends and all interested,We invite you to a special evening on Thursday the 15th of May in the SelfHub in Berlin, where we will present you the projects and ideas of Grass Routes in a creative way, to inspire you and to provoke you to think and act yourself. Central topic of the evening is “How to Change the World with Style?”We invite you to a special evening, where we will present you

Frans Prinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02722103555574293072noreply@blogger.com0