All cracked up over iPhone 3.0

By the time June arrives, I will have experienced the pattern of a new, cracked, new, old iPhone 3G. It begins with my  8GB iPhone purchased in August 2008 – love at first sight. By December I had ineptly dropped my prized possession in a cement parking structure, cracking the glass face into a deformed mess.  A small scratch of my hand was possible, but not probable.  Luckily, after a visit to my local Apple Store and grudgingly parting with $200 to replace the entire device, I was able to move on blissfully.  What I didn’t know then was the replacement fee the girl at the Genius Bar charged me was very fair compared with the new contract-free price of $599 reported 10 days ago.

So that was new, cracked, new.  Today marks the entrance of ‘old’ as an article on cnet clarifies what Apple enthusiasts have been buzzing about since February. Essentially, the company plans to launch a 32GB iPhone along with a low-end 3G version in June. This is great for the non-user but slightly frustrating for me.  Had I known a third-generation launch was imminent, perhaps I would have trudged through and dealt with the legible and functioning handheld for six months.  Unfortunately, I’m a techonista (fashionista who loves tech) and Apple built a piece of greatness – so why substitute perfection?

Basically, developers from across the globe are going to converge in San Francisco on June 8th for the World Wide Developers Conference and listen to the official announcement of what was buzzed about today. In general, all is well in my land of 8GB.  I’m not even using half of the memory and will not participate in the overnight wait to snag the snazzy 32GB.  What I will lose sleep over is the wait to upgrade to the iPhone 3.0 software, which Apple hails as the world’s most advanced mobile platform.  The features are not groundbreaking but long overdue. Copy and paste – why did it take you three generations to come to life? MMS – thank you for taking a seat at the table. Landscape keyboard – I look forward to working with you!

Eco-friendly fashion – a sustainable choice

Think the green mark left from your imitation metal ring qualifies as green fashion?  Think again.  True eco-friendly purchases can include clothing made from 100% woven bamboo, reusable shopping bags (just bought my first two from Ralphs last week), a recycled candy wrapper clutch or  recycled metal jewelry.

This necklace is one in a series from Debby Arem Designs. Titled "Three Ring Circuits" this necklace uses both recycled circuit boards and vintage beads

An increasing number of designers and producers are choosing a sustainable strategy that aims to reduce the industry’s huge environmental footprint, better audit clothing firms’ sprawling supply chains, boost the use of organic cotton and increase levels of precious metal recycling.

Recycling of gold and other precious metals can occur in many ways, but one growing source comes from people who are recycling their broken or unwanted jewelry. A  U.S. Geological Survey reported that 120 tons of new and old scrap, equal to about 67% of reported consumption, was recycled in 2008.  Essentially, the jewelry you sell must go to a precious metal refiner for purification with the minimum purity of 99.99 percent.

There are a myriad of companies that produce superb jewelry using recycled materials.  One company, greenKarat, claims there is enough gold above ground (already mined) to satisfy all demands of the jewelry industry for the next 50 years.  Makes sense, as much of it sits in bank vaults in the form of old and unused jewelry.  Fundamentally, greenKarat conceives that we have the ability to liberate this idle gold through our purchasing decisions and, in effect, reduce the demand for gold and other precious metals from harmful mines.

Another company, Alkemie, creates collections that are forged from 100% recycled metals.  All pieces are handmade locally in my native California and are featured in many of the finest boutiques around the world.  They effectively combine artisanship with sustainable principles.  One of my favorites from Alkemie is the Owl Coin on a vintage chain on the right.

According to the Earth Day Network Footprint Calendar, I currently consume 14.4 global acres and 15.3 tons of CO2 a year to support my unsustainable lifestyle. The reusable shopping bags I purchased were my first attempt towards reducing my carbon footprint.  While I can’t buy my air-powered car of choice just yet, I understand that sustainability starts from buying fewer consumer goods.  Consequently, I chose not to buy a new car until my current Honda Civic breathes its last CO2-emitting breath.  Am I doing more damage from not converting to available hybrids? Possibly.

In the end my unsustainable buck stops here.  Through my research for this post, I have found enough organic cotton t-shirts, organic cotton jeans, bamboo woven dresses, and recycled metal jewelry to appease my styling needs for the next few fashion seasons.  What green fashion will you favor?

Just in time for Jacko, 80’s fashion is back

It’s almost as if someone wrote a grandiose fairytale last year.  Today Michael Jackson, The King of Pop, officially announced that he will be doing his “final curtain call” with a minimum of a 10-show Las Vegas-style “residency” in London.  His timing couldn’t be orchestrated any better, for the 80’s, according to the fashion world, are back.  Fall 2009 fashions are full of 1980’s fashion including “Dynasty”-esque dresses, exaggerated shoulders, and torn-up jeans.

Like Return of the Jedi, the exaggerated shoulders come back fighting in full force. A myriad of designers, like Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander Wang and Diane von Furstenberg featured the added baggage during their Fall 2009 runway shows.

The look originally came from what was known as the “Power Suit”.  The phrase, first coined in the 1980s, refers to the exaggerated shoulder pads and skirt suits worn by American businesswomen to make them more “visible” in the workplace.  But such “wardrobe engineering” is centuries old and has been recycled yet again.

Not withstanding the boisterous applause from fashion critics and celebrities, proof that the throwback looks are bankable does not exist.  However, the trend does makes us nostalgic about  a similar recessionary period that began in 1981.

Undoubtedly, the styles that surfaced this past month are strickingly comparable to those sewn during a time where several key industries were also suffering—including housing, steel manufacturing and automobile production. The icing on the cake is the release date of Michael Jackson’s  “Thriller”.  The album was scooped up by millions of fans starting on November 30, 1982, right as the recession was ending.

Could the King of Pop returning to the spotlight be a sign the current recession might end? We won’t know until the completion of his tour, but as it stands his stars are aligned for 2009.   Just like a prayer, let us hope Madonna makes an appearance at his show in London, exaggerated shoulder jacket in tow and all.