Zumba. The workout craze taking over the way we burn calories around the world.

What’s more…is Zumba Love; Fostering charitable initiatives that raise funds and awareness for important causes through dance, fitness, friendship, and love.

One way Zumba does this is by donating proceeds from select Zumba apparel merchandise.

Right now, The Great Calorie Drive limited edition Zumba wear collection will donate 30% of the sales price from the collection to the World Food Programme and Feeding America.

Think about it…By purchasing the apparel, you are motivating yourself to exercise AND making a charitable contribution while seamlessly looking chic during your workout. It’s a win-win all around.

Visit www.zumba.com

In the Now at Village of Merrick Park is the center’s first annual fashion and trend event on May 4th.  It will introduce fashionistas to the latest collections at Village of Merrick Park, while raising funds for charity.
 
The event will include a special appearance by Nigel Barker, who will be on hand to take photos with some top shoppers from the day, and discuss the latest beauty and fashion trends from around the world. The event will also feature runway shows by Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, in-store experiences, and trunk shows. Guests will meet style icons and have access to what’s usually reserved for fashion insiders during Fashion Week.

Barker will unveil his latest photo exhibition RAW: Presented by Rock Paper Photo, with 10 percent of all sales of the photos going to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

This is an event that will combine philanthropy with fashion to benefit an amazing cause. I will be reporting from the event on May 3rd,  so stay tuned for coverage.

For a list of what is going on that day that you can participate in, visit: 

 http://www.villageofmerrickpark.com/events/in-the-now-village-of-merrick-park

This week, I got to meet with Mark and Dawn Oliver of YOGiiZA at their studio to learn more about the conscious clothing brand. What I love is how YOGiiZA moves beyond the idea of a typical eco/sustainable clothing line. Everything from their packaging to their work space has conscious ideas in mind. Mark and Dawn work to promote a sustainable lifestyle all around. They gifted me my own ‘short & sweet’ organic cotton tee that you can purchase for yourself on Abes Market which I cannot wait to wear to the next yoga class I attend.

During my visit they also told me about the PachaMama Uprising event they organized with their local Whole Foods. This event is an Earth Day celebration taking place in Miami Beach that I will be attending as well. A beach sweep, yoga, and live music event will be taking place as a part of a unified community effort to manifest positive change. The $30 ticket will benefit Surfrider (Miami Chapter) which works to protect of our local beaches. This is a wonderful way to spend Earth Day and I hope you can attend as well.

Purchase advanced tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/371670

Jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz honors her mother by teaming up with Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation to create one-of-a-kind fine jewelery with young patients that will be auctioned off to fund art therapy programs. Lorraine’s mother passed away from lung cancer, and often found it therapeutic to design jewelery during her treatment. Lorraine is carrying on the idea in honor of her mothers love of art and children. The young patients designed pieces inspired by their favorite celebrities. The piece of jewelry was then worn by the celebrity the young patient was inspired by such as Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce. 100% of the proceeds will fund a grant to provide jewelry and art therapy programs at Children’s National Medical Center through a partnership with Gabrielle’s Angels Foundation.

visit www.gabriellesangels.org to support this program

We are Aware.

We use ORGANIC Cotton, Free of poisonous chemicals.

We use RECYCLED materials.

We believe in FAIR trade labor.

We are committed to Community, Family, and UNITY.

We practice daily YOGA.

We are a company by YOGIS for yogis.

YOGiiZA is an organic yoga clothing line that caught my eye as a yoga enthusiast myself. The mission statement is simple; they are a company by yogis FOR yogis. They understand the type of clothing you need to be wearing more than anyone else would. When talking to Mark of YOGiiZA, he spoke about wanting to give yogis a choice of clothing to represent true yoga values. Wearing synthetic toxic fabrics while practicing yoga just wasnt an idea he could understand; therefore leading him to start his own line of apparel made from breathable organic cotton.

Mark believes the environment is a reflection of the self. If you are harmful to the environment, the whole world is a reflection of that. If you look after yourself, you are in return nurturing the earth. If everyone had this mentality and stopped hurting themselves, this would manifest into love for our earth and the whole world would be better off.

That is the concept behind YOGiiZA.

YOGiiZA practices what they preach by using organic cotton in all of their apparel. The organic cotton is produced in Nicaragua by the Jubilee House Community (stay tuned for more on this amazing outreach program). The cotton is also grown through sustainable irrigation. More importantly, YOGiiZA preaches action. They have partnered with the local Whole Foods Mission Specialist in Miami to teach autistic children how to surf, and they also volunteer with the Lighthouse Foundation  to teach blind children yoga with yogi Paula Garmaz who Marc admires as an amazing and giving person.

To join in all of the amazing work YOGiiZA is doing, you can attend one of the many beach clean ups they participate in with Whole Foods. Check out their website www.yogiiza.net for more information and of course to shop the collection!

Peace Love World Apparel is a Miami-based lifestyle brand that specializes in casual clothing and accessories. Their philosophy is as simple as it sounds: the intention to spread peace, love and happiness wherever and whenever possible. They do this by spreading peace, love & happiness through their apparel design with inspiring messages. As a big believer myself in being able to spread your own happiness and peace onto those around you, I completely relate to the ideas that Peace Love World is spreading. Who wouldn’t feel happy when their wearing inspiring words right on their own back. Spread the love through the clothing you wear!

visit www.peaceloveworld.com

Today in school, I saw the documentary ‘Half the Sky’ for the very first time. The cause struck such a chord in me and I just needed to share it with you all.

Half the Sky Movement is a platform turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide. By  igniting the change needed to put an end to the oppression of women and girls worldwide, Half the Sky is raising awareness of women’s issues, but to also providing concrete steps to fight these problems and empower women.

One way that we can all support this cause is by becoming advocates for these issues. Just like I am spreading awareness to you all right now, if each of you do the same, it will become a greater issue worldwide that people will understand needs to be worked on.

Watch the documentary, read the book, and spread the word. Change is possible.

www.halftheskymovement.org

Designer Stella McCartney has been commemorating UK Red Nose Day by designing the official campaign t-shirts featuring famous faces like The Beatles, Tommy Cooper and Marilyn Monroe with red noses every year.

Red Nose Day is a UK televised event and the main fundraising initiative for British charity Comic Relief. The charity aims to bring positive and lasting change in the lives of the most vulnerable people and communities in the UK and Africa by investing in initiatives that address their immediate needs as well as tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice.

This year the T-shirts are entirely manufactured in Africa with 100%  organic cotton that is pesticide and GM free.

Support the cause by purchasing your own Red Nose Day Tee- http://shop.rednoseday.com/Group.aspx?GroupId=44

Karla Dascal is a Miami native and creator of KARLA Conceptual Event Experiences. This is one of the most exclusive event planning and design production companies around. Recently I got to meet Karla at one of her events at The Space Miami (which is also owned by her). I was in complete astonishment and admiration of the incredible work Karla does. What I learned is that Karla is not only a prominent style icon and business powerhouse, but she also makes philanthropy a huge focus in her business and personal life. Project Newborn, Humane Society, and Viscayans are just a few of her charity commitments. Karla also lives a holistic lifestyle—personally and professionally. Karla also hosts a series of holistic events including The Sacred Space, Conscious Bite Out, and Prayer Danse. Karla is a conscious entrepreneur I am glad to have met, and I am truly inspired by her efforts.

The latest issue of TAP Magazine has just been released! In this issue I did an interview on designer NiiLartey De Osu of fashion label Neodandi. NiiLartey is known for his avante-garde designs and he showed for the first time at New York Fashion Week this past February.  I also wrote an article that talks about shying away from ‘fast fashion’ in the industry. Due to the harsh labor enforced in sweat shops across seas, designers are beginning to reject ‘fast fashion’ methods.

You can check out the entire online issue at www.tapmagazine.net