What do you do when your eco-conscious clothing gets popularized by — Sarah Palin?
Many eco-fashion companies can only dream of getting on the cover of mainstream national magazines — but for eco-ethical New Zealand sportswear company Icebreaker, that dream came true in the strangest, oiliest of ways when the latest Newsweek magazine featured Sarah Palin in Icebreaker’s Long Sleeve Chase Zip.
Naturally, Icebreaker sent out a press release:
Not only can former Governor Palin see Russia, but apparently she can see New Zealand too.
It’s great Ms. Palin has discovered the benefits of running in natural, sustainable Icebreaker merino, which doesn’t hold odor like synthetic running tops (made from oil).
As opposed to the ‘Drill Baby Drill’ mantra of the last U.S. election cycle, Icebreaker has been campaigning for consumers to switch from synthetic running tops made from oil.
The Newsweek cover photo came from a recent Runner’s World shoot. Apparently Sarah Palin doesn’t wear what she preaches — which sort of bodes well for eco-fashion advocates — and for Icebreaker, whose press release also pointed out that the Long Sleeve Chase Zip Sarah Palin’s wearing is available in a variety of colors for $99.99 in Icebreaker’s online store.
Icebreaker makes its sportswear from New Zealand merino wool — harvested from sheep that are raised free range on the country’s southern Alps. A big advocate of non-synthetic fabrics made without oil, Icebreaker tags its clothing with “Baacodes” that let customers track exactly where their clothes originated from.
Whether the fact that Sarah Palin wears Icebreaker will make the eco-ethical company’s fashion line more or less popular remains to be seen….
Image via Newsweek
“Apparently Sarah Palin doesn’t wear what she preaches — which sort of bodes well for eco-fashion advocates — and for Icebreaker, whose press release also pointed out that the Long Sleeve Chase Zip Sarah Palin’s wearing is available in a variety of colors for $99.99 in Icebreaker’s online store.”
So are we only interested in ecological action from people who share other opinions as well? Seems limiting and counter-productive.
Comment by How Green Is My Valley — November 18, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
Did you miss the “sort of bodes well” part?
Comment by Siel — November 18, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
Sorry–to me it reads like she doesn’t really wear sustainable workout clothes in her daily life.
Comment by How Green Is My Valley — November 18, 2009 @ 1:44 pm
Um, she doesn’t. She’s wearing it for a mag shoot. A sense of humor helps when reading this blog and others, like Wend mag:
“Hey Sarah, if you knew about Icebreaker’s progressive environmental stance you’d probably tear that top off, shred it and call them America-hating Kiwi fascists or something.”
Comment by Siel — November 18, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
So…my original point still stands.
Obviously a sense of humor is good in most situations, and I think the recycled Marie Antoinette dress in the adjacent post is really funny. But a sense of when your writing is ambiguous helps your readers, too–as does a lack of defensiveness when you slip up, as we all do.
But then in the years I’ve been reading your blog, I’ve noticed that you’re not able to take constructive criticism or really even see that there are different perspectives. And that isn’t funny to me. It’s just kind of sad.
Seriously, you’re so in love with your cutesy wording that you can’t even say, “Yeah, that might not have been as clear as I wanted”? I’m not sure why I’m the one who needs to change how I’m looking at this!
Comment by How Green Is My Valley — November 18, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
Actually I do appreciate and respond to constructive criticism often. But of course you’re welcome to draw grand deductions about my entire blogging career based on my not finding your one comment constructive / helpful.
Comment by Siel — November 18, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
Since they’re my comments, it’s possible that I’m more aware of the responses they’ve gotten over time!
Eh, we’re both beating a dead horse. And that can’t be good for anyone’s environment.
Comment by How Green Is My Valley — November 18, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
I don’t understand this line:
“A big advocate of non-synthetic fabrics made with oil”
did you mean to write “not” made with oil?
Comment by Remy Chevalier — November 18, 2009 @ 6:22 pm
Good catch! I meant without oil. Will correct :)
Comment by Siel — November 18, 2009 @ 7:01 pm
loved your post…really cracked me up
Comment by Nancy Richler — November 19, 2009 @ 10:56 am
hey siel,
does it say mz. palin doesn’t wear the eco-friendly wool (so nice against the skin…) in the article? just curious. i totally believe she would be a fleece lover at heart being that oil used to be a top priority for her. oh yah, you betcha.
;)
Comment by the calitexican — November 24, 2009 @ 7:31 am
Ha! Glad you enjoyed the post, Nancy and calitexican :)
Comment by Siel — November 24, 2009 @ 5:49 pm