Where else? Miss Vermont Goes With "Green" Gown

[cali]

updated 9:17 a.m. ET, Mon., Jan. 5, 2009
COLCHESTER, Vt. - Miss Vermont will be wearing a green dress when she walks out on stage at the Miss America Pageant on Jan. 24. But, Ashley Ruth Wheeler is not talking about the hue of her dress. It's an environmentally friendly gown made from hemp, organic cotton and silk, and all of the lace and beads are recycled.

"I really feel like I'm carrying the state of Vermont with me," said Wheeler.

The dress was crafted by a Northeast Kingdom designer.

Wheeler wants the dress to be a conversation starter. She wants to talk about going green and environmental responsibility. She also said it's important to buy local.

"I thought, ok, keep the money local, and also go with environmental responsibility; it's the perfect fit," Wheeler said.

Wheeler said she thinks she's the first contestant to "go green" to the Miss America Pageant.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28497179/

[Cha]

1. What a brilliant statement Miss Vermont,

Ashley Ruth Wheeler, is making. Vermont is a credit to our country!

[cali]

2. and I get a kick out of knowing that a Kingdom designer

is responsible for the dress.

[Cha]

4. And, I had to look

that one up..

<snip>

"The Northeast Kingdom is a term used to describe the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Vermont, comprising Essex, Orleans and Caledonia Counties. In Vermont, the written term "NEK" is often used. The term is attributed to the late George D. Aiken, former Governor of Vermont (1937-1941) and a U.S. Senator at the time of a 1949 speech, the first recorded use of the term. The area is often referred to by Vermonters simply as "The Kingdom."

<snip>

The area is a year-round recreation destination known for skiing, fall foliage viewing, and maple syrup.

As of 1997, the last year for which there are statistics, 80% of the Northeast Kingdom was covered by forest.<2> 59% was northern hardwood, 29% spruce or fir.

The Northeast Kingdom has been listed in the North American and international editions of "1,000 Places to See Before You Die", the New York Times best-selling book by Patricia Schultz. In 2006, the National Geographic Society named the Northeast Kingdom as the most desirable place to visit in the country and the ninth most desirable place to visit in the world."

<more>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Kingdom

Looks like I'm going to miss that Phenomenon..well, at least I know about it.

[cali]

6. I'm a long time Kingdom dweller. It's a magical place

the minute I set foot here, I was a goner- and that was over thirty years ago. The Kingdom is filled with quirky, wonderful people, a mix of artists, (some very well known), hippies, locals, etc.

There are some wonderful novels set in the Kingdom, written by Howard Mosher.

[Cha]

8. Sweet! And, thanks for mentioning

the author, Howard Mosher, cali. I'm going to order a book of his from the library right now(A Stranger In The Kingdom).

[cali]

9. Good choice, zidzi

Stranger in the Kingdom is a gripping story (that doesn't paint the Kindom too kindly) based on a true event. My late father-in-law was involved in the real event- he was the local country doc. It was also made into a movie.

[Cha]

10. Wow..thanks for the

inside preview:)

[tpsbmam]

3. Hate pageants, love this! Go Ashley! n/t

[Cha]

5. Ashley Wheeler

is bringing some reality into the pageants!

[JuniperLea]

7. It's cool to be smart again!

Kudos to Ms. Wheeler!

[cali]

15. And a liberal. Turns out Ashley volunteered for Bernie when he ran for Senate.

[JuniperLea]

16. That's very good to hear!

She has me rethinking this whole pageant thing. If it keeps shifting to the "whole woman" perspective, it could be very beneficial for young women to see that intelligence, education, and a social conscience is a beautiful thing.

[Sanctified]

11. I think some of the other contestants should 1 up her and go naked, 0 carbon footprint there. n/t

[islandmkl]

14. stay tuned in..

at least one of them, more likely several, will show up in Playboy at some point in the near future...

[Javaman]

12. oh, okay, was the dress sewn by hand?

was the material milled by hand? was the hemp, cotton and silk grown without fossil fuels to power the trackers?

how does she plan to get to the event? walk, ride a bike?

does the designer power it's store with solar or wind?

sorry, more green washing.

[cali]

13. The designer's studio is powered by solar

kind of funny. I know you weren't expecting that answer. And c'mon, you have to walk or bicycle everywhere to be concerned about the environment?

"Tara Lynn’s studio runs off solar electricity. The shelves are stocked with vintage and recycled materials collected over years of yard sale shopping. The ceiling is adored with inspirational pictures hung over a floor of antique sewing machines. Since the company started in 2005 it has become a team of talented women. They all stand behind the same mission to increase awareness of biodiversity, promote sustainability and be proud of what they do and the clothing they make. The designer of Miss Vermont's evening gown shares, "Beauty is not artificial. Natural clothing is sexier than lifeless textiles made from hazardous materials"

http://www.earthbitch.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=1

[Javaman]

18. Glad to hear they are powered by solar and no, I'm not surprised...

but the term "green" is thrown about so much these days, that very few people actually know what it means, let alone practice it.

and if the contestant wants to be green she should be chauffeured by an electric car to the event. (even though an electric car still isn't all that green either)

[cali]

19. I'd give her points just for having a dress designed by

someone whose company name is earthbitch and is situated in the tiny hill hamlet of Sutton.

[crispini]

17. Yay Miss Vermont!

I'll K&R that!