PACT Organic Undies By Yves Behar Help Save The Planet

With six styles (12 variations) of underwear in three patterns; boxers, boxer briefs and briefs for men and thong, bikini and boy briefs for women, PACT donates 10% of their sales to three charitable organizations that are helping to save the planet.

Based in Berkeley, PACT's motto is CHANGE STARTS WITH YOUR UNDERWEAR. The purchase of PACT underwear is participation in a social movement: when you buy PACT underwear, you are supporting and encouraging organic cotton farmers, responsible labor practices, and businesses that form partnerships with nonprofit organizations dedicated to positive change in our world.

Designed By Yves Behar and his Fuse Project, the three patterns reflect the three causes and non-profit organizations they support: ocean conservation (Oceanic), forest conservation (Forest Ethics) and the mentoring and inspiring of our next generation of young writers (826 National).



This video was a collaboration between Terri Timely Studios and PACT. Terri Timely is the awarding-winning directing duo of Ian Kibbey and Corey Creasy:


styles for men

Boxers (shown in Forest):

Briefs (shown in Oceana)

Boxer Briefs (shown in 826 national):


styles for women

Boy Briefs (shown in Forest):

Thong (shown in Oceana):

Bikini (shown in 826 National):


Each of the six cuts and three patterns are also available in a neutral color with a simple accent of the pattern as shown in the image below:


The Production:
Beginning with the farmers and ending with the final package arriving at your door, PACT strives to be as environmentally and socially responsible as possible. The farmers and cotton pickers involved in the growing and harvesting of the organic cotton were paid a fair price for their product.



All fabric is dyed and printed using dyes and inks that are low-impact and free of heavy metals. Before it is shipped to PACT's fulfillment center in Illinois, every element that goes into making your PACT underwear - growing the cotton, processing and spinning it, knitting or weaving, dyeing and printing, and cutting and sewing the final garment - occurs within a 100-mile radius in Turkey.



PACT underwear is made of 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane to give it the perfect amount of stretch. While some underwear is 100% organic cotton, these garments tend to lose their shape quickly and have shorter lifespans - meaning more of them end up in landfills. A garment containing 5% elastane is still considered organic.



Nothing that is shipped to you - the underwear, fabric bags, or compostable shipping bag and labels - should end up in a landfill. They're hoping that by the time your PACT underwear is well-worn and you're ready to get rid of it, they'll have figured out a way to recycle it. They are constantly searching for innovative ideas about how to best accomplish the cradle-to-cradle goal and move away from the idea of consuming and then discarding.




The Causes:
For more information about ForestEthics and their essential work, visit www.forestethics.org
To learn more about 826 National and their programs, visit www.826national.org
For more information about Oceana and their campaigns, visit www.oceana.org

Who's Behind This:
PACT is the brainchild of two unlikely business partners who joined forces in the most unlikely of places. Jason Kibbey is a born-and-raised Berkeley leftie who started his own land conservation nonprofit, drives a Prius, and loves his bike(s). He also likes business: he helped start a few, and oddly began his career at Bain & Company. His wife sings opera; they don't own a television; and his dog gets acupuncture. Jeff Denby, on the other hand, was told that he was "too artsy for business school" when he showed up with multi-colored hair. A Facebook, texting, and Twitter addict who personifies young, fabulous, and broke, this wayward Canadian has shopped his way around the world. He definitely owns a television. (Otherwise, how would he watch all of that reality TV?)

The Designers:
Yves Behar and his design team at Fuse Project
Yves Behar is the founder of the San Francisco design studio fuseproject. Yves is focused on humanistic design and the "giving" element of his profession, with the goal of creating projects that are deeply in-tune with the needs of a sustainable future, connected with human emotions, and that enable self-expression.
all information images and videos courtesy of PACT.

Buy PACT Organic Underwear here.

The Top Modern Wood Christmas Trees For 2009 (updated for 2011)

Last year was the year for retro and flocked trees. Bright funky colored synthetic trees or tinsel and glitter trees were a big trend in 2008. This year, the flat packed wooden tree is a great alternative. Perhaps it's because of the economy, or the increasing awareness of the state of our environment, but alternatives to live spruce, pine and evergreens for the Christmas holiday seem to be sprouting up everywhere.

Usable year after year and supposedly more eco-friendly (there's some debate about that), the following trees are nicely designed by various companies, range in style, woods and price.

Many of them are already sold out, so if you want one, better shop quickly!


The Possibilitree:


PossibiliTree® wooden trees are made in Minnesota, produced as a family business venture. Our mission is to provide you with a beautiful and unusual art piece that functions as a natural alternative to a live or artificial Christmas tree. Each possibiliTree® wooden tree is handmade and distinct with its own color and grain pattern variations.

Available in either a 2ft tabletop, 3 ft. tabletop or 6 ft suspended version. Depending upon the size, the tree comes in a a variety of woods like birch, cherry, wild cherry, walnut or butternut, and arrives flatpacked.

The 2ft tabletop:



The 3ft tabletop:



The 6ft suspended:



The story behind this tree as told by the daughter of the designer:

My father, Richard Babcock, an architect who built furniture in his spare time, came up with a simple and non-messy alternative to real Christmas trees.

Tired of finding, hauling, displaying, watering and disposing of the bulky, needle-dropping, space-guzzling evergreen every Christmas, he designed two wooden trees to use instead. Dick’s first tree, life-size at 6 feet, suspends from the ceiling with a thin wire. The second, a 3 foot tabletop version, uses a base stand for support. Dick designed both to be easy to set up, take down and store compactly.

The suspended tree is a real show-stopper, appearing to float over wrapped presents. With track lighting strategically placed, it casts surprising and beautiful shadows in a room.

The tabletop tree is the perfect size to highlight favorite holiday ornaments. It can be used throughout the year, too—decorated for such celebrations as graduations, birthdays, and other holidays. The possibilities are boundless. I enjoy displaying both trees in my home without ornaments, as art.

In 2002, the suspended tree placed as a finalist in the national Hammacher Schlemmer Search for Invention® contest. Prompted by that recognition and our long-standing affection for the trees, my family speculated that others would value them as well. We patented the design and formed a business. Inspired by the open-ended ways to display the trees, we named our company possibiliTree LLC. We produce the 6ft suspended tree and the tabletop tree—now in 2ft and 3ft versions. PossibiliTree® wooden trees are made in Minnesota. When available, we use reclaimed or “deadfall” wood. -- Pat Babcock Sorenson, Artistic Director, possibiliTree LLC

buy them here.


Modern Tannenbaum Trees by Silver Cocoon:


Available in a 3ft tabletop or 6 ft standing floor version, this modern wooden dowel tree is designed by a company in Minneapolis named Silver Cocoon.



The table-top version or full-size tree have a tall tapered cedar trunk with basswood dowel branches - on an interlocking solid-cedar X-base. The tree dismantles easily for storage. Each tree is individually handmade with care. And yes, they sell the great wood ornaments as well.




buy the 3ft tall tabletop version at their etsy store or check these retailers for either size. Silver Cocoon

Buro North's Buro Trees:
Buro North's Three fabulous looking flat packed Christmas Trees; The Rindd, Gryder and Frigg:



The Buro Trees are made with 100% environmentally considered ingredients. To make the Buro Trees, a low-energy production technique has been used and waste material minimised.

The Trees can be flat-packed for ultimate transporting and storage convenience and lower transport emissions. So we’re not asking you 
to give up your Christmas icon, we’re just offering a much more sustainable way to celebrate...

All three trees, the Rindd, Gryder and Frigg, take their inspiration from the three wives of pagan God Odin, the father of all gods in Norse mythology.

The Rindd:



The Gryder:


The Frigg:



Each is available in your choice of three different stains; natural, walnut or japan black as well as in various sizes. Buy any of them here.

The Rindd Buro Tree was the proud recipient of a Premiers Design award in 2008.
Büro North

Matteria Lasercut Eco-certified Birch Christmas tree:

Available in three sizes, this eco-certified laser cut birch wood tree comes in natural wood or stained green color. Comes flat-packed and is super easy to assemble.



The smallest measures 30cm tall (just under a foot tall):


The medium tree stands 60cm (just under 24" tall)

the largest, 120 cm (or 74.25"):

As an added bonus the manufacturer will plant 1 new tree for every small one sold, 3 new trees for every medium one sold and 5 new trees for every Large Christmas tree sold. They also sell the wonderful wood ornaments as well.
buy them here.

Muji Wooden Trees
Muji makes a tabletop wooden tree in 2 sizes as well:

buy them here.

Roost Driftwood Trees:

Available in 2 sizes, 24 " tall and 31" tall, these trees are crafted from actual Shoreline Driftwood and made by the home decor company, Roost.
buy them here.

Roost Lasercut Wooden Trees:


Not necessarily designed for Christmas, these three tabeltop wooden laser cut trees by Roost are beautiful. They also seem to be sold out at most places at the moment:

Roost


The X'Mas Wooden Tree by Sandra Lindner und Lindner im Norden:



A modern Christmas tree made from solid oiled larch by Sandra Linder. Each squared timber 1.5 X 1.5" has two drillings with metal sockets for the candles. Each arm has a different length. A central wooden pole lets you turn each arm individually, w 29/h 21.25".

This was a project and is not available for purchase.
lindnerimnorden.com

And some cardboard ones for those who want to spend a little less:

The Alpine tree from Cardboard Safari comes in white or natural, flatpacked and measures 12" x 26" inches:


buy the 2 ft tall Alpine Tree here.

And even smaller ones, The Snowflake Tree (with ornaments), that measure 9" x 14":

buy the Snowflake tree here.
And no messy pine needles to clean up!

NEW ADDITIONS:
The Superstar Holiday Tree is a wooden lasercut tree that combines Hanukkah's Star of David with the shape of a Christmas Tree:



available in two sizes
buy the Superstar Holiday Tree here

The Filigree Tree designed by Trine Find for DWR:


buy the Filigree (or Filigrantrae) Tree here

Interested in modern wreaths, ornaments, nativity scenes, stockings and more holiday decor? Then check these out.