Olympic volleyball gold medalist and “haute” mamma-to-be (for the second time) Kerri Walsh, actress and holistic lifestyle expert Anna Getty, and Tastybaby founders Shannan Swanson and Liane Weintraub gathered at the W Los Angeles in Westwood last night to host the launch of celebrated author Amy Tara Kochs new book, Bump It Up: Transform Your Pregnancy into the Ultimate Style Statement.

Koch, who is a renowned style expert and journalist, showed off her new book at the swanky hotel as guests received exclusive styling tips on how to be a fashion forward, conscious “pregnantista” without breaking the bank. With silhouette-based line drawings by several of todays top fashion designers such as Nicole Miller, Isaac Mizrahi, Diane Von Furstenberg and Milly, along with advice culled from editors at Vogue, Lucky, and W; Bump It Up is being touted as the modern pregnancy style bible. We headed poolside to chat to Amy (above) about her new book.

Anna Getty (above) also shared tips on how to be green and glam as well as the lowdown on Pregnancy Awareness Month, an empowerment campaign to help women feel comfortable as they move into motherhood.

When Jessica Rodriguez stepped up to address the audience in Washington, D.C. along side of Hillary Clinton at the first Pathways to Prosperity Women Entrepreneurs Conference in October, it was a step that few would have imagined her taking just one decade ago–least of all, perhaps Jessica herself.

But the journey that led her to be chosen as an honored guest at the U.S. State Department’s Pathways to Prosperity Program, recognizing woman-owned businesses throughout the developing world, was one that Jessica set in motion many years ago, with the support of Indigenous Designs, a fair trade and organic fashion company, based outside of San Francisco, CA.

Jessica’s story begins in a small, remote community in the Andes of southern Peru, where she was inspired to make a difference in womens lives. Jessicas artisan community was experiencing crushing poverty and hope for prosperity was as scarce as the jobs that never seemed to materialize. That is, until Jessica created a foundation to train women for job opportunities and connect the artisan knitters in her community to the U.S based organic fashion company, Indigenous Designs. Jessica committed herself fully to creating not only sustainable jobs, but a community connected by family, tradition, and commitment to mutual support and success.

Although there was no viable industry to speak of in Jessica’s isolated Andean community, it did possess a generations-old tradition of artisan textiles. Among those plying this knitting trade were Mario and Maria Huisa. In their one-room, 8′x8′ house that doubled as a knitting space, the Huisas worked on a single knitting loom to create handmade works of wearable art. The income stream was small, but it was honest work, and it honored their heritage. When Jessica met the Huisas, she saw a spark in them that deeply inspired her. “They had passion,” she explained, “and they wanted to make a difference within their village and family, but because of their distant location, the opportunity for work was scarce.”

Each night the cold high desert air would sweep through that room, leaving the Huisas concerned for their children’s health.

“Children are dying in the highlands during the winter months and it is a big problem,” Jessica said. “It is not their fault that they were born in a poor area with no opportunity for work and such desolate conditions. I met these people and I just wanted to do my part to bring them work and opportunity.”

One day in 1998, Scott Leonard and Matt Reynolds, two young social entrepreneurs and co-founders of Indigenous Designs, walked into the lives of the Huisa’s. They came with a unique, sustainable, fair-trade business model that respected both people and the environment. Jessica’s efforts to employ the women of the region appealed deeply to the young entrepreneurs, and the Huisa’s artful skill and determination was a catalyst for expansion. Soon Scott and Matt made plans with Jessica to oversee the Indigenous Designs fair trade production model in the south of Peru so that she could hire more artisan knitters and in turn, pay them better wages.

Jessica is now responsible for over 700 families, with each family earning good, fair living wages through Indigenous Designs production. The Huisas are still producing for Jessica and Indigenous. Through their hard work and initiative they have built a bigger, warmer home, and their workshop has grown to have ten hand powered knitting machines, providing work for more than 35 artisan knitters in their local community. The commitment and vision shared by the Huisas, Jessica, and Indigenous Designs has led to their joint success. “We shared a fundamental belief that with opportunity and sustainable planning, positive change would happen,” Scott Leonard said.

It was precisely this belief that the State Department sought to recognize when they invited Jessica to speak and tour as part of its Pathways to Prosperity for Women Entrepreneurs. The program recognizes woman-owned businesses throughout the developing world that provide an example of entrepreneurship and empowerment that can help lead communities out of poverty and into shared prosperity.

During the conference, Secretary Clinton discussed how empowering women was integral to progress, prosperity, and peace in every country, and praised women like Jessica Rodriguez for having the courage and commitment to work for a better future.

Fifteen years ago Indigenous embarked on a journey that required creating a unique, one of a kind foundation with community and the environment as corner stones. Sustainability, patience, passion and love define the seeds that took root to form Indigenous. It was these seeds that forged the Indigenous path in remote cottage industry communities throughout Peru and Ecuador.

“Working one step at a time, the growth we have helped accomplish within our cottage industry communities has been transformative, empowering and uplifting. Today, we provide work to over 1,500 artisan families throughout South America,” Matt Reynolds said.

Indigenous has won awards for its ability to form networks that provide education, fair trade and organic certification, opportunities for advancement, and other vital forms of assistance to help elevate these talented artisans onto the world stage. The company takes a sustainable approach to fashion, focusing on attention to style, detail, and luxurious eco fibers, while embracing fair trade principals and the time honored skills of artisans.

Indigenous provides shoppers with alternatives to conventional fashion by offering organic, eco-friendly creations and novel designs that result in a cohesive collection of go-to favorites for the modern woman, without submitting to a unethical manufacturing processes that are short-sighted and harm the environment.

“We design and produce fashion that honors both people and the planet,” says Leonard, “Our designs appeal to both the fashionistas and sophisticated consumers. Our customer is looking for premium quality ethical fashion with ‘go anywhere, always-appropriate’ styling.” Thats what we do, and we are proud to bring our designs to the world through empowering production partners like Jessica Rodriguez.

It’s time to start wading through that wardrobe, gathering up your once-loved fashion items, donating them to an organization who gives to those who need it. 2010 is the year of compassionate fashion.

While you’re at it, take a moment to find an item you love. And I mean really love. Regardless of your attachment to it, make a choice to give it away. No strings attached. You’ll not only feel great for doing it, but the person (or charity) you gift it to will be grateful and maybe even love it more than you. Makes you feel warm inside, doesn’t it?

If you can’t beat the shopping bug in 2010, it’s a great idea to make a pact to only purchase goods that are good for you and the environment. No more inorganic anything. Buh-bye pesticide laden tees. See ya chemical-ridden jeans.

There’s another great fashion choice we can all make this year, and that’s making the choice to avoid buying any fashion item that’s made from animals. We’re even talking leather shoes and belts people. Jackets too.

There are hundreds of fab fashion pieces that have been designed without harming an animal (or human for that matter). Stella McCartney is just one designer who will only promote cruelty-free fashion. Cows and sheep won’t be the only ones to thank you for saving them, the planet will also benefit greatly from your choice to only wear kind fashion.

To find out how to get started on your new compassionate wardrobe for 2010, check out Peta’s Clothing Guide. Another great way to introduce some cruelty-free chic to your life is learning how to upcycle, or frequenting stores that make recycling animal-free fashion their mission.

If you have great ideas on how to incorporate compassion into fashion, we’d love to hear about them. Feel free to share your hints and tips in the comments section.

Photo courtesy Stella McCartney

T-shirts made from soda bottles? Hoodies woven using leftover cotton scraps? New sustainable fashion brand Playback is leading the fashion pack with innovative ideas that are great for their customers and the planet.

“Our T-Shirts are made using soda bottles that have been sorted by color then broken down into fiber form and spun with our own unique eco-fabric,” says company spokesperson Valeria Carrasco.

“We’re able to keep the original color of the recycled item which is why we can provide such rich, color product. Our sweatshirts and hoodies (see picture below) are made using leftover cotton scraps that have been taken from bigger brands like Quicksilver, Levis and Juicy. We, again, break it down and spin it with our fabric which produces complex mÃ

Eco-fashion finds need not be hard to, well, find. We love ecofashionworld.com, a website dedicated to the hottest and latest must-have environmentally-friendly fashions.

Two of its founders Michael Braungart and William McDonough say their diverse backgrounds and collective goals are what have made the site so successful.

“We all believe in embracing personal style. And we’re all empowered by the possibilities of change,” they say.

“Today being aware of what you wear takes on a very different meaning than it once did! It begins with understanding the global repercussions that come with careless consumerism. It continues with realizing that we are all linked, from New York to New Delhi, Paris to Pakistan, Brazil to Bangladesh, Vancouver to Vietnam, by the very strings of our garments. It evolves with recognizing that when we support ethical fashion, we help reduce poverty and environmental damage. Our actions have an impact. Our decisions energize transformation.”

Green fashion is growing in leaps and bounds, according to the eco-preneurs, with new environmentally-conscious concepts and developments picking up pace, as consumers demand more responsibility from the manufacturing of their purchases.

“Every day an innovative designer creates a super-glam, socially aware collection. A boutique devotes itself to making ethical clothing more easily available. An admired celeb dons an eco-friendly gown on the red-carpet and declares the smartest style statement possible. Someone picks up her first bamboo fiber shirt or organic pair of jeans and instantly falls in love. Really, every day, a new ecofashionista is born,” Braungart and McDonough say.

“We are not selling anything on this site but, rather we aim to inspire with new ideas, ideals, information. Our goal is to keep you green, gorgeous and growing with a comprehensive ecofashion finder of the greatest brands, shops and resources around the globe.”

Check out ecofashionworld.com for the latest ecofashion news and reviews, designer Q&As, store profiles, launch updates, and interviews with our favorite ethical divas. Explore more with our always-expanding directory of important names, organizations and opportunities.

“Fashion is one of the most visible and seductive mediums there are. Arm yourself with the power of knowledge, indulge your passion for art and, suddenly, anything can happen,” the site’s creators urge.

“Just like the first industrial revolution started in the fashion industry, so will the second that leads us to sustainability.”

Posh-swaps.com is a new site for swapping, buying and selling second hand clothes. It’s also completely free to register, buy or sell.

Clothes swapping has become hugely popular since swishing parties caught on in the United States. Clothes swapping offers a sustainable and eco friendly way for people to refresh their wardrobes and update their style, without stepping foot in a department store.

It helps to combat the growing problem of textile waste in landfill which has heightened thanks to the latest trend for fast fashions. Second hand clothes also help to reduce the environmental impact of the manufacture and distribution of new clothing.

Eco fashion is a growing trend amongst consumers who are becoming more aware of the impact consumer choices have on the environment. Pesticides in cultivation of cotton has been particularly well publicized, with initiatives such as Estethica at London Fashion Week has further increased the public interest in sustainable style.

“We want Posh Swaps to be a free resource where anyone can buy, sell or swap second hand vintage and restyled clothes,” says Ceri Heathcote Director of Heathcote Communication.

“We hope to help create an environmentally and economically sustainable way for people to refresh and update their wardrobes. Swishing parties have become huge and this is just the next step in making the swapping a simple process, with plenty of choice that individuals have complete control over.”

The Posh Swaps blog will help people develop their own individual style instead of following trends as well as fashion on a budget and eco fashion, she added.

Gorgeous eco-friendly fashion is easy to find thanks to website ecoworldfashion.com-a family business set up by two eco-aware professional designers, with a commitment to support fair-trade and ethical choices in fashion and homewares.

Babette Kono studied design in London, Perth and finally in Japan where she met Mitch Kono, an Interior Design student at Osaka University of Art. She started her professional life as a designer for boutique agencies and became Art Director for an upmarket chain of Australian Department stores.

During this time, the designer says she became aware of the cyclic nature and trends intrinsic to fashion. The process also made her “deeply aware of a need to change from harmful conventional textiles to safe organic and ethical fashion choices”.

Babette and her designer partner Mitchs goal was to offer an online boutique which has integrity on every level-from the professional position of the design/buying team, to the transparency and ethical position of the companies they choose to do business with.

Thorough research and understanding of all aspects of textile clothing production process is an important part of their ethos.

“We do not take things on face value,” they told The Green Dove. “We hope to benefit our customers by our insight and ability to bring the very best certified organic, fair-trade and ethical choices from around the world.”

Ecoworldfashion.com was born with the desire to bring professional design and fashion retail experience, to the savvy and eco-aware customer looking for a company who they can trust.

To find out more, visit www.ecoworldfashion.com

Photo: Woven Henley Top by Stewart&Brown

Wearing earth-friendly fashion doesn’t mean you have to wear hemp sacks on your feet. Thanks to two passionate fashionistas, doing good for animals and the planet can be done in style (without forsaking comfort, either).

Veteran vegetarian footwear designers Nancy Dong and Carlotta Fiorini, wanted their passion for beautiful shoe design to have a positive impact on the planet-and to be very much part of the solution.

Inspired by the social entrepreneur business model, they created Do-Ni shoes: footwear that is feminine and stylish, while also being vegan and ecological. Made from high-quality Italian leather-free materials, their Do-Ni Nobilia ballerinas (pictured) are held together with water-based, animal-free glue and adorned with pre-consumer recycled components.

For Nancy and Carlotta, doing good hasn’t stopped with simply creating eco-friendly footwear. With the direct sale of each pair, 100 percent of retail proceeds are donated to non-profit organizations, with the buyer given the choice of exactly where the money goes.

To look great and give back, head to www.do-ni.com for more information.

Vintage has never looked so cute thanks to BenAndOliver, an online Etsy shop (a site dedicated to buying and selling all things handmade). Call us biased, but the vintage pale green dove silver plated hairpin set (below) is super sweet.