One of my best friends, Daniel Klein, who you may have seen on this blog from when we went campaigning for Obama, left the city last year and moved to Minnesota to start up his own local food project. Though I was super sad he left, I was really excited for him to do what he loves. Just like I combined my love for fashion, sustainability and feminism through this store, Danny’s combining his activism and ability to make things delicious in his new documentary series about eating local, sustainable food: The Perennial Plate. I’ll let him explain it, but I can’t stress enough: watch the trailer, you’ll see him kill his own turkey for Thanksgiving.

In Danny’s words:

“I’m very excited to announce my new project: The Perennial Plate, a weekly documentary series about sustainable and adventurous eating in Minnesota. Imagine if Michael Pollan, that guy from Man vs. Wild, and Mario Batalli teamed up to make a show — they would create something like The Perennial Plate.

In addition to my website, check out KICKSTARTER to hear more about the project.”

I’m incredibly happy for him and excited to follow this project, and I hope you will too. Eating and living as sustainably as possible is really important to me, especially when it comes to meat. I rarely eat meat since it’s so hard on the environment. Some statistics you’ve probably heard:

-Of all raw materials and fossil fuels currently used in the U.S., more than one-third goes to raising animals for food.
-The world’s cattle alone consume a quantity of food equal to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people—more than the entire human population on Earth.
-It takes 5,000 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat, while growing 1 pound of wheat only requires 25 gallons. A totally vegetarian diet requires only 300 gallons of water per day, while a meat-eating diet requires more than 4,000 gallons of water per day. You save more water by not eating a pound of beef than you do by not showering for an entire year.

Though eating meat that was locally raised and killed is a different story. I can get on board with that. And I AM. You should be too! Check out Danny’s site and watch the trailer, and check back for new episodes every week.

And donate to his KICKSTARTER if you can, it’s a free series and needs funding somehow!

More press lately! This time it’s from the Examiner, written by friend/customer/model Rachel Northrop. First, she covered the Haute Eco-ture fashion show: http://www.examiner.com/x-34299-Manhattan-Green-Living-Examiner~y2010m1d31-Haute-Ecoture and included a slideshow with photos of AuH2O’s best looks and Chris Roma’s hand-painted tees, sold at AuH2O.

Rachel also wrote an article on the store in general: AuH2O: 7th St. Green Dream. She says:

Kate embodies fashion as innovation, as do the other designers whose products she carries. A trip to AuH20 inevitably gives the shopper not only several fantastic, one-of-a-kind pieces your friends will envy, but a new outlook on style and what it means to wear something ‘new.’

And again, includes a slideshow of AuH2O as well as my designs, often modeled by Rachel at one of my many shows. Thanks Rachel!

One more thing! My friend Semir Chouaibi interviewed me for the German Fashion and Lifestyle Blog SuperStrudel, here’s a taste:

What do you like about fashion and how would you describe your own style?

Kate: I think fashion is the best form of self expression. Before I even open up my mouth people can see from my appearance that I’m unique, I’m creative, I care about the environment, or I support Obama, or that I’m Pro-Choice. In general, fashion just makes life more fun. It’s something to look at – people’s outfits are walking works of art – constant stimulation.

Photo credit: Ann Sanfedele

Read the full interview here: http://www.superstrudel.com/2010/02/11/kate-goldwater/

Thanks Semir!

Press update! Agence France Press did a segment on eco-fashion and featured AuH2O and Samathan Pleet. Info from their YouTube video:

“Start-up designers like Kate Goldwater are taking recycling to the extreme by reusing old clothes to make new fashionable garments. High-end designers are also getting in on the green kick, too. Samantha Pleet is using sustainable fabrics to make green the new black during New York’s Fashion Week.”

Watch the video on AFP’s Youtube Channel.

Also, a friend/customer/model, Maya Macdonald, shown in the AFP video, wrote a very complimentary blog post about the shop on her blog, Have you heard that we’re already there? She says:

“I love the way her clothing always feels like different parts of a person glued together.  How sexiness can also be casual and represent something really important all at the same time.”

Thanks Maya!

And one more thing. Two weeks ago I visited the Holstee headquarters, a company that uses 100% recycled polyester to make tshirts and FINs with pockets- so useful. They’re eco-friendly, local, cool guys and an all around awesome company and I encourage you to check them out: holstee.com. We talked about a future collaboration, so expect that in the future! They wrote a short post about my visit since they were especially interested in my tattoo. See their post and photo of my ruler tattoo. Dots at the inch and half-inch marks. I use it almost every day.

Hope I never quit my job!

Happy Valentine’s Day! 7th Street’s having a party this Thursday, February 11th to celebrate:

Join AuH2O, Solena Chaniago, and TEICH Thursday night for a night of shopping and romance-inducing refreshments. Be your own Valentine and get yourself a treat, or shop for someone special.

AuH2O will be having a sale: 10% off clothing and jewelry, and we’ll have a bunch of necklaces for just $10. Also, we’ll have 25% off winter clothing in hopes that winter will end soon!

TEICH is hosting Ryann clothing and Nosipho jewelry. Ryann clothing and TEICH bags will all be 20% off, select jewelry will be 50% off. TEICH will be raffling off an item from each of the designers- no purchase necessary!

Earrings by Nosipho

Clothing by Ryann

Clutch by TEICH

Most importantly, there will be wine! And chocolate and heart-shaped cookies! And that is how to celebrate. That, and of course, seeing the Vagina Monologues. Happy VDay!

Eco-Fashion Week at Gallatin was such a success! Below are some photos from the fashion show from The New York Photoblog:

Start of the show!

Introducing my collection

Model walking in AuH2O

Model walking in AuH2O

Model Marie Asinovski in AuH2O

AuH2O

AuH2O

Marie Asinovski again in AuH2O

Designs by Posture Magnetic (WANT THOSE TIGHTS!)

Designer Seanne Sharpe in her design made from umbrellas

Designs by Amia Yokoyama

All the designers with models and producers at the end of the show

Designers taking a bow

For more photos of my designs and other designers, click here to see all of New York Photoblog’s images.

AND watch NYU Local’s video of the show on their site.

NYU’s newspaper, the Washington Square News, had this to say about AuH2O’s looks:

Kate Goldwater, an alumna already making waves in the world of eco-fashion, also debuted clothing from her eco-friendly East Village boutique, AuH2O (the chemical symbols for “gold” and “water”). Goldwater’s quirky skirts and sweater-like tops and dresses came down the runway in funky, floral prints and rich earth tones that were reminiscent of nature.

Read the Washington Square News’ whole review of the Eco-Fashion Show here: http://nyunews.com/life/2010/01/28/29ecofashion/.

Thanks for all the nice press!

CBS is full of shit! CBS is airing an anti-choice ad from Focus on the Family during the Superbowl, even though in the past, CBS has rejected ads from MoveOn.org, PETA, and the United Church of Christ because they were too “controversial” and they have a “no advocacy” policy. But this year, CBS is airing an ad produced by the ultra-conservative, anti-gay, anti-choice, and anti-birth control group Focus on the Family. The ad FEATURES TIM TEBOW (football fans love him and his little religious sayings under his eyes!) and his mother because she didn’t have an abortion when she was very ill and advised by doctors to do so. So, apparently they changed their “no advocacy” policy.

Oh wait, they didn’t. Guess what still is too controversial, or too much advocating? A gay dating site ad from Mancrunch.com. Here’s the ad from Mancrunch that they won’t air:

So showing two guys kissing isn’t okay. But telling women that they shouldn’t have the right to choose even if their life is in danger because ONE WOMAN chose to have her baby who turned out to be a Heisman trophy winner is just fine. F THAT S!

…AuH2O won’t be putting on a “regular” fashion show like I usually do during Fashion Week. This year, I’m participating in Gallatin’s first ever Eco-Fashion Week. (Gallatin is the make-up-your-own-major college at NYU where I went to school.) There will be several events, and the full schedule can be found here: http://www.nyu.edu/gallatin/news/2009/12/ecofashion.html. Flier below:

AuH2O will be participating in the following events, all held at the NYU Gallatin School, located at 1 Washington Place, New York, NY, 10003.

Monday, January 25

Opening Night
“Eco Chic: Art Representation & Green Living” panel discussion
5:30 – 8 p.m. (FREE and open to the public- I’ll be speaking about my work and “area of expertise” hehe)

Wednesday, January 27

Workshop
“Up-cycling for Accessories”
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Please RSVP (only open to the current NYU community- I’ll be teaching how to sew a recycled tote bag)

“Haute Eco-uture” Fashion Show
Featuring designs by Gallatin students and alumni
6:30 p.m. (FREE and open to the public)

Here are some photos for a preview, shot by the very talented Rebecca Yale at Greenhouse. This is just a taste, AuH2O will show 15 looks total:

Photo credit: Rebecca Yale, http://RebeccaYale.com

Photo credit: Rebecca Yale, http://RebeccaYale.com

Photo credit: Rebecca Yale, http://RebeccaYale.com

Photo credit: Rebecca Yale, http://RebeccaYale.com

Photo credit: Rebecca Yale, http://RebeccaYale.com

Hope you can make it to one of the events! Go to http://www.nyu.edu/gallatin/news/2009/12/ecofashion.html for the full schedule!

Friends of AuH2O! Since I’ve had such great interns in the past, I told my friend I’d help him find one for this coming semester. Internships are great real-life experience, and my friend is very established (and an all around cool person), so check out this post and pass on to anyone you think may be interested!

Internship with award-winning writer

Award-winning writer of fiction, nonfiction, and humor (published by McSweeney’s, The New York Times, New York magazine, Wine Spectator, Men’s Health, Agni, ARTnews, The Threepenny Review, and many others) seeking an intern.  The work will include some combination of:
-background research for a novel, a nonfiction book, and/or a screenplay;
-article pitches to magazines
-keeping a finger on the pulse of which publications are new and hot
-help with applications for fellowships/residencies at artists’ colonies

I want you to enjoy the work you’re doing and feel comfortable being creative in how you approach it.  A couple of other things to keep in mind: my office is in the Village; this is an unpaid position, but I cook good lunches.
Please send me a resume, and tell me briefly 1.) why you think you would be good in this position and 2.) why you think you would have fun doing it.  Also, let me know if you have a blog, website, or social-networking page that would give me a greater sense of your personality.

reply to:
writemeupwritemedown@gmail.com

A friend of mine, Natasha Malinsky, owns a shopping tours business, Shop-NYC, where she takes customers on tours of the best shopping in the city. Of course, AuH2O is one of her stops!  She hosts a web series so people can watch videos of all the different stores and decide where they want to go most. Here’s the video on AuH2O:

Recognize Natasha from somewhere? That’s because she was recently on VH1’s “Tough Love,” so she’s a reality TV survivor, and that’s fun and cool.

You can watch all of her web videos on other great stores in Manhattan on her Youtube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/nlm5844. Check her website for more info on tours- an especially good thing to do when friends come to town and they want to shop and you have to work: Shop-NYCtours.com. She takes you to the best stores in the city where you get exclusive discounts from all the boutiques. There’s even a special “recessionista” tour for the tough times.

Watch, and shop!

Another Holiday shopping event since Hanukkah’s coming up in just a few days!

A new store recently opened by students of Parsons, Absolute Beginners, is having an event on Friday called the 50 Dollar Bill Event. Everything in the store will be exactly $50- and featuring work by several designers, including AuH2O. See flier and info below:

Absolute Beginners 50 Dollar Bill Event:

Also, I’ve started to add items to my online shop, including these Yankees earrings that are selling like crazy. Something about a World Series win. Check out my online store here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/auh2odesigns

And two more gift recommendations!

Check out my very good friends’ documentary: Klein Pictures “What Are We Doing Here?”

Four years ago, the four of us (Brandon, Nicholas, Daniel and Tim Klein) set out to cross the continent of Africa hoping to make a film that would challenge, entertain and inspire. After six months of filming, a year and half of editing, and two years of film festivals, TV appearances and University screenings, we are happy to finally announce the DVD release of “What are we doing here?” This controversial documentary investigates why after 50 years of Western involvement, billions of dollars in foreign assistance and countless promises, Africa is still so poor.

Buy the film & help spread the message for $25 HERE: http://store.whatarewedoinghere.net

And finally, check out the WAM! (Women, Action, and Media) bidding for good auction. WAM! is an  organization dedicated to building a robust, effective, inclusive movement for gender justice in media that is transforming into an independent, national non-profit. Click here for more info, and HERE to bid on the goods, like getting Margaret Cho to take photos for you, or a guitar signed by Ani DiFranco.

More info on WAM!, why I love it, and why it needs to be a national non-profit:

Every day, WAM!mers help each other place op-eds and articles, get powerful media jobs, leverage new technology, hold the media accountable, produce and promote books, films, and other projects, get stories told about our lives and work, and change the very structure of the media itself.

In the next two years, we can launch thriving local WAM! chapters in major cities across the country, which will foster on the grassroots level the kind of cutting-edge thought and action WAM! already inspires nationally. We can build an engaged online WAM! community through monthly webinars on timely topics, a brand-new WAM! website designed to foster action, and of course, our ever-flourishing listserv. And we can ensure that the next WAM! conference is the largest and most influential yet, creating an unstoppable force for gender justice that will change the media landscape for good.

So go bid for WAM!

And hope to see you Friday at the Absolute Beginners $50 Event!