“Envirosax bags are ‘a move in the right direction’ and are targeted at people who would normally not use an eco-friendly bag.  We are making the whole concept of reusable bags (previously dull, boring and ugly) something which is trendy and fashionable, and thus spread the message of re-use to as many people as we can.” -Envirosax 

Top 10 reasons why reusable totes are beneficial:

1. Each reusable grocery bag has the potential to eliminate 1,000 plastic bags the average family uses in one year.  One single person will reduce about 156 plastic bags in one year by using just one tote.(considering they may forget their tote once in a while).
2. Most grocery stores offer discounts on each tote that is used to purchase your groceries, offering a credit of 5-10 cents for every bag used, depending on the location and store. 
3. The Convenience Factor: It may be convenient to just have the checkout bagger put your groceries in a bag that the store supplies, however the use of a reusable tote is just as convenient, if not more, and will positively effect the environment.  An Envirosax Tote is more durable, holds more groceries, is reusable and also washable.  This in turn creates less bags breaking while carrying your food items and less trips from the car to the kitchen.
4. About 100 billion plastic bags are used each year in the US alone, requiring an estimated 12 million barrels of oil used for their manufacturing.
5. Plastic bags are detrimental to our wildlife.  100,00 whales, sea turtles, dolphins and other marine life die every year directly caused by the disposal of plastic bags.  This is due to the 3.8 million tons of plastic bags that end up in landfills or incinerators every year in the US.  Only 1% of plastic bags are recycled every year. 
6. Plastic bags do not fully deteriorate.  They decompose in a process called photodegrade (which takes anywhere from 500 to 1,000 years since sunlight and UV rays are needed in this process).  This process breaks the plastic bags down into smaller and smaller toxic particles which end up contaminating soil and water. 
7. 500 billion plastic bags are consumed worldwide ever year, which is a million a minute.  Manufacturing 10 plastic bags creates 5.5 kilograms of air pollution, which equals 2.75 trillion kilograms of air pollution worldwide every year. 
8. Most people will think that paper bags are better, this is not true.  About 14 million trees are cut down each year to supply America alone with paper bags.  The production of paper bags is just as harmful to the environment and to us as the production of plastic bags that grocery stores use.  It requires toxic chemicals like sulfurous acid (which can lead to acid rain and water pollution) and requires hundreds of thousands of gallons of water to manufacture the paper bags used every year by Americans. 
9. The chemicals and dyes that are used in plastic grocery bags contain cadmium, lead and other toxins that will leach into the environment during their use.  Envirosax graphic bags use inks and dyes that are eco-friendly and do not contain carcinogenic amides, while the bamboo and linen totes are printed with soy inks.
10. Envirosax reusable totes are very affordable.  Ranging from $8.00 for a durable, polyester bag to $25.00 for organic bamboo and organic linen, create your own collection of colors and styles for a personal grocery experience.

Shop the Editor’s Summer Picks

From July 2nd through July 5th save on select summer fun items at Rain Collection.  You may view these sale items here.

Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

They’ve wowed us at New York Fashion Week, impressed us with their impeccable garments, inspired us to step outside the boundaries in fashion and taught us that anything goes when it comes to one’s own sense of style…

and now…America’s top designers ditch the runway to bring their beloved recipes and family secrets from their dinner table into your home.

Isaac Mizrahi’s Mushroom Truffle Spaghetti, Carolina Herrera’s Pommes Toupinel, Mark Ecko’s “Adults Only” Chocolate Chip Cookies, Derek Lam’s Yellowtail Crudo, John Varvatos’s Calaloo Soup-food can be fashionable too!

Published with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and with a foreword by Martha Stewart, American Fashion Cookbook is a chic objet containing recipes and original illustrations by more than 100 American designers. Brimming with color, flavor, and personality, here are the fashion community’s favorite dishes and preparation tips. From the flirtatiousness of Strawberry Shortcake to the minimalism of Chocolate Ganache to the zip of Andalusian Gazpacho, here are all the recipes a stylish soul needs to whip up a tasteful brunch, a romantic dinner, or simply prepare comfort food, in a collectible volume. Blank culinary-themed Proustian questionnaires that can be filled out by the hostess and guests appear at the back of the book-a fashionable hors d’ouvre or digestivo sure to add spice to any occasion!

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association whose membership consists of 350 of America’s foremost fashion and accessory designers. Texts by Lisa Marsh. Lisa Marsh is a fashion industry veteran. She has worked on staff at Women’s Wear Daily, DNR, and The New York Post, and currently is a freelance journalist.

So, it’s Friday, and as the weekend approaches, my mind drifts off to Tuscany…a captivating countryside with old world sensibilities.  I think back to the times of my life I spent there, how the entire city shuts down so families can eat together, my morning cappuccinos from the ever-so-sweet barista Marcos, and trips to the country for wine and cheese.

This got me thinking… Cheese and wine, so simple, so elegant, so tasteful.  How fun it would be to host a soiree with  my closest family and friends.  And then the wheels kept turning. What would I need to pull this off?  An extraordinary set of wine glasses.  A glass that’s strong, medieval.  A glass that, when held by an individual, creates a mood of opulence as the wine infuses the senses.  A glass like Jan Barboglio’s Goblet Wine Glass.  And just like that I’ve chosen my glasses, which wasn’t difficult, as I have been eyeing them for some time now.  This was just the beginning…

What comes next?  No cheese and wine party would be complete without the perfect serveware for, you guessed it, a selection of the most interesting and pungent cheeses.  For a strong, sophisticated look I adore wooden pedestal trays.  Available in different sizes, they can be stacked one on top of the other for a monumental display within a small gathering or scattered throughout the room with a variety of different cheeses and fruits for a larger get together.  And to top it off, ceramic cheese markers, already inscribed with the names of 6 different cheese varieties.  How simple is that!

To accomplish the Tuscan ambiance I need just a few more things...

A wine chiller.  Which doesn’t have to be a wine chiller at all really.  Instead I opt for Jan Barboglio’s Ballinito Canister set.  With stainless steel inserts, they are a great option for ice and wine and allow for a variety of wines to be chilled at once.  Not only that, but they mesh perfectly with my chosen wine glasses and compliment the traditional wooden trays.  And when the party is over, they can be used to store my favorite snacks!

A memento.  As a hostess, I always recommend a parting gift.  Something that your guests can take with them, to remember the enjoyment and laughter, intelligent conversations, and perhaps inspire them to enter into the world of decanting, a delectable art form.  With a large selection of Stone Wine Coasters available, I could grab a couple of sets and divide them into individual gifts.  Great for use at the party and to be kept as a memento when it’s over.

Wine and Cheese.  Kind of a given, but we mustn’t forget the purpose!  Choosing wines from different regions and offering a wine tasting of sorts seems like the way to go, and perhaps even asking guests to bring their favorite cheese gives an immediate sense of belonging and allows for instant conversation.

And that’s that.  Stemming from an inspiration of years ago and influencing friends and family to be their own connoisseurs; a Tuscan-inspired wine and cheese party at it’s finest!

For a complete selection of wine party gifts and ideas, visit our Wine & Cheese page at RainCollection.com.

“every season we gather inspiration from all over the place - fashion, architecture, travel, flea markets and we post it all around the studio until our ideas become concrete - it’s a visual feast” -DwellStudio

A fresh interpretation to effortless textiles with graphic prints and bold colors, DwellStudio designs for the modern family and for the well-designed, decorative and minimal home.  It’s a company who finds inspiration anywhere from Mexican folk art to an ornate trellis from a European garden and translates it into modern and simplistic home decor and accessories.  We love the way that table linens and kitchen decor can compliment one another while being in simplistic contradiction, such as the placement of color or the intensity of a design.  Or how an artistic, ergonomic placemat is derived from the influence of mid-century Danish art and culture.  And the practical and PVC-free kids collection brings us back to the days of playing with chalk on the sidewalk and baking with Nonna.  How perfect a Paper Dolls Petal Apron would have been.

DwellStudio was founded by Christine Lemieux in 1999, originally known as Dwell Home Furnishings, in an effort to bring modern textile design to the world of the home.  With roots in modern print and pattern, and a strong focus on the environment, DwellStudio has become an established leader and innovator in textile design.  All prints are made using low-impact dyes, packaging uses eco-friendly alternatives and completely eliminates PVC, and an organic line of baby products has recently been introduced.  With a philosophy to create designs that suit you no matter where in life you may be and are as effortless as possible, DwellStudio makes being chic simple - and accessible.

My eye is always on something new at Rain Collection, and my wish list always growing.  I have this obsession for constantly reinventing my space and myself, and a love for finding the perfect piece for that perfect statement.

When the Jan Barboglio Pajaros Vessel first arrived I fell in love.  This type of love only comes around every so often, and I have already mentally placed this vase in multiple vignettes in my home.  As one of the most inventive and creative artists of our time, Jan Barboglio creates a world of perfect juxtapositions with each piece she designs: masculine yet feminine; rustic yet elegant.  An artist sure to bring a statement piece to every home, one to be loved and used time and time again.

Quartz Salt and Pepper Shakers anyone?  A perfect solution to having a set that can go from your cupboard to your dinner table in two seconds flat.  I love the natural raw element of the quartz this set brings to any situation, not only because it’s oh so elegant, but the risk of breaking these as they fall out of my overstuffed cupboard is highly unlikely (yes, this has happened one too many times).

And what woman’s wardrobe wouldn’t be complete without the perfect go to handbag?  When Rain Collection introduced Kisim last year, I made an omen to carry every bag in this incredible collection.  What I’m craving now?  Kisim’s Cutout Bag in Brown.  A menswear inspired, nylon tone on tone striped bag with leather trim.  Classic combination = Instant chic for a girl on the go.