Alive! Expo Green Pavilion and Mix Media Luxury Lounge united for another sustainably stylish event. The 2011 Sundance Hospitality Suite at the Shadow Ridge Resort, located just steps off of Main Street in Park City was packed with eco-friendly products to wow the celebrity clientele.
Aubrey Organics are 100% Natural hair, skin, and body products from Tampa Florida. They were creating personalized scented
lotion samples right in front of guests, displaying exactly what goes into their products and how they are made. Their line of products is fully edible, and although it isn’t recommended, you could actually eat any part of it! Their company is cruelty-free and sell products for baby, men, and women. You can find all of their natural products at www.aubrey-organics.com
North American Herb & Spice were also displaying their natural products. With over 130 products to choose from on their website, www.p-73.com, there is plenty of ways to incorporate a natural product to help energize your day. They were giving samples of their Sinu Orega nasal spray which contains emulsified oils of wild oregano, bay leaf, sage, and clove in a sea salt base. It is said to be a great alternative to other over-the-counter medications to wash the nasal membranes and sinuses.
360 Vodka was keeping the guest’s whistles wet by being offered at the open bar. 360 Vodka is an all natural potato vodka that was created to be the first eco-friendly spirit in the world. Their bottle is made from 85% recycled glass and the bottle has a swing-top cap, so that you can actually put it to other use after the vodka is gone. They recommend reusing for items such as olive oil, spices, or even candy. Also, to help reduce waste and conserve resources, the company has the Close The Loop program, where you can actually mail the cap back to them and they’ll reuse it. So far, the company has recieved over 50,000 caps back, and for each one of those, 360 Vodka donates $1.00 to the Global Green USA program. Now, that’s drinking for a cause!
Another company who has the Earth in mind is Eaternal Plates. The plates are 100% biodegradable and made from Areca leaves. They are natural, leak-proof, microwave safe up to two minutes, and re-usable if you hand wash them. The leaves can be made in to many different shapes and sizes, and they look and feel very sturdy and expensive, even though a pack of ten is only about $7.00.
Actress Tia Barr with Eaternal Plates creator Manish Patel
Creator Manish Patel only started his company a few months ago, but has high hopes for the green element of his product, and the impact it could have on lessening the use of paper plates. Eaternal Plates was definitely a hot spot for the celebrities, and if you would like to purchase some eco-friendly plates for your barbeque or green wedding, you can order them at www.eaternalplates.com.
Back to the Roots, or Better Ventures, which is a fully sustainable company, was gifting the Grow it at Home Mushroom Kits that are available at Whole Foods stores. The company takes wasted coffee grounds and fertalizes them with mushroom seeds, then creates kits that enable you to grow your own mushrooms at home. The kits are simple, in that you only have to water them once a day for 7 to 10 days, and then you will have your homegrown mushrooms to eat. The kits sell for $19.95 nationwide, and while the main idea is to help take us back to the roots of growing our own food, these kits are also fun projects for kids. If you don’t have a Whole Foods near you, you can also buy the Mushroom Kit at www.betterventures.com.
Nappi clothing line, which is local to Salt Lake City, is all Japanese and Italian denim manufactured in Los Angeles. The creator and brilliant mind behind the up and coming brand, Danny Nappi, enjoys Sundance Film Festival because it brings the national stage to where his brand is locally. The Nappi brand is always loved by celebrities and film goers at Sundance, and this year was no exception. The company was giving out stylish scarves to the crowds which can be found for purchase online.
The denim jeans retail between $160 and $180 and you can only find them in LA and Utah boutiques right now, or online at www.nappiclothing.com. Along with denim for men and women, they have dresses, t-shirts, and accessories that can also be found on their website.
Envirosax was a crowd favorite with the bright colors and unique reusable bag designs. The bags are not only lightweight and functional, but artistic and stylish. Envirosax was started in 2004 and the company is located off of the grid in the rain forest of Australia. The bags go for about $10.00 retail, but are already a celebrity favorite. The bags come on different sizes and shapes with some over the shoulder, some with two long straps, and some with two handles, but they all compact and roll up for easy storage or carrying. The company actually had an extravagant couture dress custom made only using Envirosax, which was seen wandering up and down hot spots on Park City’s Main Street. The company also sells Aqua Water Bottles with funky and fancy designs for about $17.00. You can find out more about this amazing companies sustainability efforts and new products at www.envirosax.com.
FLESH – Bought and Sold in the United States, is a documentary telling the shocking stories of slavery, human trafficking, and prostitution in the United States. They just finfished making the film and are looking for a home for it. It’s main goal is to bring light to a subject that has been kept in the dark for so long, and it hopes to change the way we view the reality of these tragic situations. For more information or the join the mailing list, visit www.fleshthemovie.org.
The brand new jewelry line, Lusciouss, made it’s Sundance debut helping women to wear how they feel. With pieces from her Temptress and Goddess collections ranging from around $190 to $290, the sttyles are dainty yet seductive, and sure to match any mood you may be feeling. To see more of Kendra Bridel Weinman’s designs, head to www.lusciouss.com.
Wheatgrass Oasis, by Lynn-Ann Cuminotto, was also gifting the talent and film makers. Her natural wheatgrass products range from wheatgreass powder, to Bio-Coffee, to Bio-Woman, which is an all natural wheatgrass supplement which is designed to help nourish women’s reproductive systems. Wheatgrass Oasis and other products can be found at www.totaloasis.com.
Rubber Duck Brand Boots are the combination of a running shoe sole and a puffy top, which come in an array of bright colors and styles. Their missin as Rubber Duckers is to make people smile. Rubber Duck’s were being spotted up and down Main Street all week long as the celebrities loved the function meets fashion capability. THe Rubber Duck brand can be found all over the world, from Austria to Taiwan, but if you haven’t gotten a pair yet, you can buy them at www.rubberduck.com.
Bootzwalla accessories were a hot item in the corner of the suite. She had custom leather thigh highs, fur helmets, fingerless gloves and fur leg warmers on display. The feel that the company is going for is rockstar, hip-hop, and a bit fettish that they all know we have in us. Leg warmers and thigh highs can range from $225 to $900 depending on the custom order. Nikita Lynn wants luxury to be afforadable and has been featured in Real Housewives of Atlanta, W Magazine, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. Everything is custom made in New York, and to order email at www.bootzwalla.com.
An item that all could appreciate in the dry air in Park city was Bear Fruit Hair’s Climate Control Collection. Bear Fruit Hair was created arounf the idea that hair is hard to hydrate in dry climates, and now gives everyone the chance to customize their own hair care for use anywhere in the world. Bear Fuit Hair uses natural products that you personally pick, and you can even include real fruits if you like. BFH will give you $1.00 off your next purchase if you send your old bottle back to them to recycle, or they will fill any bottle that you send with your customized product. You can find all of the exciting ingredients to choose from at www.bearfruithair.com.
Michael Banks, a trainer in the Salt Lake area, gifted his Body By Banks workout DVD’s to the celebrities. Coming in a condensed package, they are great for traveling and taking with you wherever you may need to go. Banks has aligned himself with Michelle Obama and the Chidren’s Miracle Network, and has a new infomercial coming out called SWEAT in the Spring. You can find out more about his program and the new programs to come on www.bodybybanks.com.
Vuka Energy Drink out of South Africa kept everyone energized at this eco-friendly affair, by supply all natural energy through their four different flavors. Customized energy comes in four different types; “Workout” which is Berry Lemonade, “Awaken” which is Orange flavor, “Think” which is Pomegranate Lychee, and “Renew” which tastes like Mango Peach. Vuka uses all natural ingredients and no preservatives, which means no hard to pronounce names or harsh chemicals like the competing energy drinks. Plus, Vuka is only $13.99 for a 4-pack or $35.99 for a 12-pack. You can check out their full story and purchase the drinks and t-shirts online at www.vuka.com. Vuka was also being used as a delicious mixer with the 360 Vodka, which is just another way to use this intelligent energy!
Dragon Pearl Tea was also available to add some energy to the festival. The tea is grown organically and no chemicals are used in the growing or processing at all. The Dragon Tea shots are meant to give you a boost in real energy without jitters or anxiety like caffeine. These shots are great to take by themselves, but were also a great energy drink alternative to make cocktails with throughout the festival.
Heather Eastman‘s recycled jewelry was quite a hit at the lounge. Her jewelry is inspired by what she feels is going on in the optometry world with the lasik surgery and people not needing their glasses anymore. She uses old eye glass lenses, which would otherwise go to the landfill, and hand paints each one as a little canvas. She creates beautiful, one-of-a-kind necklaces that are chic, sexy, and fun. prices range between $69.00 and $99.00 depanding on the size. The company is based out of Atlanta, and it was Heather Eastman’s first time to Sundance. She loved being around like-minded people and hopes to be back in the future. You can find her creations at www.heathereastmandesigns.com.
Along with the RSVP’d guests Demi Moore, Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Tim Daly, Tom Malloy, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Bdgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Stanley Tucci, Adrian Grenier, Liv Tyler, Ellen Barkin, and Isabelle Rossel, many more celebrities enjoyed feeling Alive! and the festivities offered. Danielle Petty and Erika Ringor enjoyed the snacks and massage chair by Ian Betram, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist. Taylor Andrews Academy was also offering a bit of pampering to the guests with new hair do’s or makeup touch ups. And if you want to find an Organic Spa to do a little pampering yourself, visit www.organicspamagazine.com.
