The green page

I am so happy to introduce an amazing woman called Abigail Doan. I have met her through our mutual dear friend Hélène Sananikone who created the hip eco concept store "Green in the city" in Paris.

Abigail is an environmental fiber artist and writer on textiles, sustainable fashion initiatives as well as environmental issues. I found myself really inspired by her! For sure you will be too!

Also, enjoy the reading of her blog http://eccoeco.blogspot.com/

Tell us about your green life!

I am an environmental fiber artist and writer on textiles, sustainable fashion initiatives as well as environmental issues at large. I divide my time with my husband and four year old twin boys between homes in NYC, Eastern Europe, and Siena, Italy. This is something that we decided to do while our boys were young so that they could absorb the cultures, languages, and rich textures of these places. My husband grew up in Europe and I was raised on a small family farm in New York state's Hudson river valley, so it has been a dream to have our family experience all of these places in a way that is meaningful, connected to place, and full of colorful memories. I am very conscious, though, of trying to live lightly in these places and also give back to the communities that we are a part of. I feel that it is important to not just take while traveling or living on the road. We therefore are active in cultural preservation and educational efforts in Bulgaria where we have been traveling together since 1995 as well as working to green our lifestyle and outreach efforts in NYC. As an artist, I also am a big advocate for the use of green materials and low-impact strategies for site specific environmental fiber projects. I love working with fiber as a material as it is eco friendly, easy to transport, and also leaves no trace in terms of installation and/or sculptural requirements.

What are the addresses that inspire you the most in Paris, New york or elsewhere?

While in NYC, I am always trying to make time to go to the highline, as I feel that it is an amazing expression of urban renewal and smart design. I love running in the parks wherever I travel, and Manhattan's central park is somewhere that I spend a lot of time with my children. I feel as if the central park conservancy has done a remarkable job during the past decade in introducing native plants, grasses, and trees into this urban oasis. I also am a huge museum and gallery lover. I always try to go to the metropolitan museum of art, whitney or guggenheim when I am in town on the weekends. the parks in Paris are also so poetic and magical for me, and I love visiting london's tate gallery and estethica showcase during london fashion week. I also think that the piazza in siena is a remarkable civic project and the people watching is equally fantastic. I love having a piece of ricciarelli and a glass of chilled prosecco on a warm summer's night there.


What are your favorite shopping stores & shopping web - addresses in Paris, London,  or elsewhere?

Some of my favorite shopping destinations include Green in the city and storie in Paris, Kaight on the lower east side and pachute on the upper east side in NYC as well as cow jones industrials for vegan offerings and loup charmant for my organic cotton finds online; eco age and 123 bethnal green road in london as well as the victoria and albert museum store. when in Sofia, Bulgaria, I tend to shop at sassa bjorg as well as the ethnography museum gift store as they support artisan initiatives in villages throughout Bulgaria. 

Tell us about what is green in your beauty routine and... what is not green about it ?

I  am definitely an advocate for green beauty products - particularly as some one with extremely sensitive and dry skin. I use kahina giving beauty's argan oil on a daily basis as well rich facial moisturizers that are not always green per se. i have spent a lot of time in the outdoors over the years, so my skin probably has more sun damage than it should. I try to use non-toxic nail lacquers from priti nyc and butter london. i also love josie maran cosmetics, particularly their 'bear naked wipes'. I have been wanting to try doux me, particularly after my last visit to paris and green in the city, where i know that it is stocked. I really spend as much time as possible hiking, doing yoga, and even running when i can, so this is how I tend to get my healthy glow. I have learned over the years, that one's thoughts and actions really influence one's countenance and facial expression, so I am a big believer in thinking positively in order to eradicate worry lines and signs of stress. I would say that although i do love organic perfumes like a perfume organic, I do have a soft spot for some signature perfumes here in europe, although I always try to avoid cosmetics that still use animal testing. I believe that cruelty-free beauty is the most modern expression of conscious style.

What are the most important things to teach to children ?

Honestly, my children teach me things on a daily basis, and i just feel privileged to be a part of this process and have them open my eyes for me all of the time. I try to make a point of having my entire family be conscious of the flow of goods and materials through our home. I am always showing my boys innovative ways that we might re-use paper products, packaging and disposables for creative art projects and play. I also feel that it is essential that they have a profound respect for nature and the outdoors, both rural and urban. I also want them to love and cheris animals, so this is something that we talk about and explore all of the time. In the end, I feel that if they understand the goodness of natural foods and the source of where their food comes from, this is essential for their having respect for their own bodies, other beings who are a part of their community, and the environment at large.