Issue #16: The Truth Behind A Green Burning Man, Design-Tok's Fav Sneakers, And Some Celebrity Skincare

Conscious News to Obsess Over

• Oh la la! The city of love plans to fight heat waves with the Seine, here’s how 🇫🇷

• Fast fashion just bet $7m on carbon removal

• Only wear these if you're stuck on Interior-Design Tiktok

• Sorry to say this, but it’s probably time to retire those old undies (you know the ones)– here’s how to toss ‘em, sustainably.

• You could say this skincare is… Victorious 🧖‍♀️

• There’s no reason to suffer through caffeine-induced anxiety, skip the 3rd iced coffee and sign up to enjoy a gummy.

Things to Buy: Sneaker Edition

If the pandemic taught us anything (okay, it taught us a lot, but bear with us), it's the undeniable importance of comfort. That's precisely why we're utterly enamored with this fresh take on comfy-casual low-rise sneakers by Cariuma.

Originally designed with skaters in mind, these kicks bring versatility to your daily hustle. New Yorkers, take note: your all-black wardrobe won't be complete without this canvas pair. And for those who prefer something a bit higher, check out these suede-y hightops.

What's truly remarkable is that Cariuma ticks all the (sustainable) boxes – crafted from responsible materials like GOTS-certified cotton, employing recycled materials, and adhering to ethical production practices. Honestly, when it comes to holiday companions, you can't do much better.

Deals to Shop Today ✨

Hate wet towels? These thirsty af towels dry fast and are 20% off when you use code VERTICALE (expires 09/17)

How Sustainable is Burning Man Really?

Burning Man, the annual nine-day "countercultural" festival set in the Nevada desert, has long since gained fame among influencers and social media enthusiasts. This outdoor "city" that seemingly appears overnight culminates in the spectacular incineration of the iconic 75-foot-high Burning Man structure. However, amidst the bikinis, tents, and pyrotechnics, one question looms: How sustainable can a temporary festival of this magnitude truly be?

Why is it Bad for the Environment?

Since its inception, Burning Man has often emphasized its “no trace left behind” setup, and yet each Burning Man festival is roughly equivalent to:

• Emissions from 20,188 gas-powered vehicles driven for a year

• 101.6 million pounds of coal burned (or 500 railcars' worth of coal)

• Electricity use from 17,652 homes for a year

• The electricity needed to charge 11 billion smartphones

As we’re sure you can imagine, with a festival set up in the middle of nowhere, transportation is a significant environmental factor. On top of that, constructing a temporary city for ten thousand plus people demands a LOT of resources, like construction materials, generators, and fuel. Despite efforts to minimize waste and promote recycling, the event's construction still places a strain on the environment. The location of the festival (i.e. the desert!) also results in the need for generations, and excessive energy consumption, to power art installations and camps.

A Hope to Party Sustainably

In recognition of this pollution, the Burning Man organization has created some initiatives to reduce its impact (including adding a Sustainability Department and creating programs like the "Green Man" theme camp). As always, attendees themselves also play a crucial role in shaping Burning Man's environmental impact by adhering to the "leave no trace" principle and adopting sustainable practices within the temporary city. Burning Man has set an ambitious goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, but there’s a lot of work to be done…. and our bet is that the Burners will make it happen!