The Sands of Time
The Louvre Abu Dhabi: Marrying an age-old method for measuring time with very modern notions of precision, ‘The Hourglass’ by Marc Newson is made from the finest mouth-blown glass and 7,727,248 miniature gold-plated steel nano balls ⌛
Hello, and Happy New Year and New Decade!
My family traveled halfway across the world for the holiday. We started in the Maldives, which literally feels at the end of the Earth (I know it's a sphere!), but it is a place with very little evidence of humanity. There is no here there and nothing but sand, water, and a few man-made structures. What strikes me most about this place is the sheer power of nature relative to that of men. The sun is a bit too strong for the coverup and suntan lotion (super close to the equator). The wind howls at night, I would think twice before sailing or kite surfing. The sea is too vast, and the currents too strong for my ability to swim (I drifted very far while snorkeling and marveling at the beauty of the creatures below). Alarmingly, a small tsunami or slightly elevated/elongated tide could make this land disappear rather quickly. It is a place where humanity has barely attempted to mold it to its needs, and it makes it unadulterated and amazing. No litter, no smog, no noise pollution affects its ethos. With these absences, it occurred to me that we (earth's inhabitants) are not killing Mother Earth, we are killing ourselves and our ability to relish in its glory.
The next stop on our Carbon Utilization tour couldn't be more different ... the home of carbon production itself, The United Arab Emirates. This is a place where man has bent the land to its will, where oil has literally been converted into hotels, malls, and skyscrapers. Tourism mostly includes seeing the "biggest" and "greatest" man-made structures. In fairness, the UAE has set ambitious sustainability goals, but you can't help but think while it is a good start, but (like all metropolises), they have a long way to go.
Sands through time. In the New Year, the New Decade, and this very Loupe, I vow to not only be mindful of my use of the planet's limited resources but also to make an effort to leave it better than it started.
Arcadia Earth
718 Broadway, New York City, NY 10003
Knowing you/we have a problem is is the first step to recovery. Arcadia Earth is the Museum of Sustainability, informing patrons about some of the issues attributed to humanity. The Exhibit includes 15 collaborations with artists that will hopefully inspire you to take some action that will begin to improve and lengthen our ability to enjoy this beautiful planet. I acknowledge the reality that the habits of the individual may not alter the course of events, but collectively they can have a massive impact. Founder Valentino Vettori has ambitions to inform millions of people by expanding beyond New York in the very new near future.
Fashionopolis
Book
There is a cost to your beautiful, fashionable wardrobe beyond the purchase cost. I don't say this to make you feel guilty, only to help make you a more educated consumer. Fashionopolis covers the history of fashion, fast fashion, and its massive impact on the world. The author argues that the impact is significantly negative upon both human rights and the environment. One choice fact is that the average American throws out 80 pounds of clothes every year; she calls this fashion bulimia (possibly my favorite new term!). I witnessed an act of fashion bulimia as my daughter threw out ~10 sweatshirts she no longer wanted or needed, the very definition of waste! The tide indeed seems to be changing. I call attention to H&M's mea culpa, asking consumers to consider the true impact of purchasing one of their hoodies. I am also encouraged by brands like Kardo by my friend Rikki Dar in India who makes slow fashion, where each worker earns a living wage, and his/her handiwork is identified on each label. I know these are complex issues of comparative labor advantage, etc. but I think we all would benefit from shifting the demand curve down and holding brands to a higher standard of production. I would like to thank my new friend Jeff T. for this recommendation and his important work on improving supply chain standards.
Re/Done
Apparel
Here is a way to solve the fashion glut problem, buy recycled jeans that are so expensive that you can't afford anything else! No seriously, each pair of jeans by Re/Done are unique ... this is jean couture! This LA-based denim company transforms vintage Levi's into designer jeans by taking them apart and remaking them into more modern shapes. The founders, Jamie Mazur and Sean Barron realized that the most beautiful denim was a result of years of being worn by someone to perfection. Hence, Re/Done was born out of a fashion-need, as well as a desire to waste less. Textiles make up 6% of the trash in landfills. Re/Done buys verified old, leftover, and over-ordered fabric from other designers and fabric warehouses and then re-purposes it. Fact: Remanufactured clothing can save more than 13,000 pounds of CO2 emissions a year. So, if you're in the market for "new" jeans, why not consider Re/Done? After all, everything old is new again; it's no longer just about recycling, now it's about upcycling, and Re/Done is leading the way.
Zero Fasting App
App, Health
Another sustainable goal of mine is to consume less of everything, but especially food. Many diets focus on what to eat and what not to eat, but Zero focuses on when to eat. The concept of intermittent fasting is not new; in fact, denizens on the West Coast have been at this for years. I am new to this app, but it merely provides information about the benefits of fasting and reminders, so you know when you can actually eat. I have chosen a 16:8 plan, which has been used by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Hugh "Wolverine" Jackman. In a short time, it has eliminated a bunch of unnecessary eating and snacking. After I get this down, I plan on eating healthier and working out more ... stay tuned for Bryan V. 2.0.
Here's to slowing down the Sands of Time, and consider Arcadia Earth, Fashionopolis, Re/Done and Zero Found!