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Press Coverage
 WINTER 2009-2010 
As more people choose to live healthier lifestyles — from exercising regularly to
eating organic produce — they're looking to bring other products into their homes
that are just as healthy and organic, including cotton
By Joyanna Laughlin | Photography by Amy Haskell
Cotton is the single best-selling fiber in America today, but its popularity is not new. This versatile fiber has been cultivated and woven into fabrics for at least 7,000 years. And most of us can't get through a day without using cotton in one form or another. From drying off with bath towel and putting on your favorite jeans and T-shirt to taking off makeup and slipping between crisp sheets, cotton really is "the fabric of our lives."
Did You Know?
Cotton is one of the most chemically sprayed crops in the United States. It takes nearly 4.5 pounds of pesticides to grow one acre of it conventionally. What this means for you is that the half pound of cotton it took to make your favorite cotton T-shirt also required .03 ounces of pesticide. And while that doesn't sound like much, those pesticides are designed to kill living organisms, not just weeds and pests, and you might not want the residue next to your skin.
In comparison, organic cotton is grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers, where the ground has been certified organic. And organic cotton is typically grown on smaller (sometimes family-owned) farms, and must be grown without the use of the genetically modified seeds that are often the source of conventional cotton, according to Cindy Clyde, director of product development/sourcing, and Caren Pomar, manager of product integrity for Gaiam, a healthy-lifestyles company that sells organic products through catalogs and online.
Why Buy Organic?
Many people choose to buy organic because they're earth-conscious and sensitive about fabric choice, says Margrit Laman, owner of Limited Additions, Tapestry, and Finalé. Jay Gunter, owner of J Renee Fine Linens and J Renee Sleepwear & Temptations, agrees. "By including organic cotton in your life, you help preserve delicate ecosystems around the world and protect your skin from carcinogens that may be found in conventional cotton," he says.
People also like soft fabrics close to their skin, and organic cotton feels considerably softer than conventional cotton, says Pax Broder, store/web manager for local outfit Blue Monkey Trading Company. And when it comes to a baby or grandchild, most people think it's even more important to have soft, safe fabric next to tender skin. These days, along with organic baby clothes, you can also find a range of other organic cotton baby products from toys and rattles to cribs, sheets, blankets, and mattresses, available locally at Aldrich Baby News.
The next time you're out shopping for baby clothes, T-shirts, bedding, or bath towels, consider this: Choosing organic cotton is taking one positive step toward a healthier lifestyle—for you and the planet.
How Do I Know It's Organic?
Want to be sure that T-shirt you're about to buy is really organic? Here's how:
Check the product label. It should list what percentage of organic cotton is in the product.
Ask your retailer to show you certificates to back up the organic claim.
Visit the manufacturer's website for more information.
Where Do I Find It?
Looking for organic cotton jeans, T-shirts, linens, or baby clothes? Check out these local retailers:
Aldrich Baby News
5665 E. Speedway Blvd., 795-2400, www.aldrichbabynews.com
Organic cotton baby clothing, bedding, mattresses, toys, and rattles
Blue Monkey Trading Company
910 E. University Blvd., 624-3272, www.bluemonkeyclothing.com
Life is Good "Good Karma" organic cotton T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and pants
Finalé
4320 N. Campbell Ave., Ste. 43, 577-1960, www.limitedadditionstucson.blogspot.com
Organic cotton clothing
J Renee Fine Linens & Indulgences
7121 N. Oracle Rd., 219-1515, www.jreneeonline.com
Organic cotton bedding and towels
J Renee Sleepwear & Temptations
7111 N. Oracle Rd. 219-8568, www.jreneeonline.com
Organic cotton robes, as well as baby and children’s clothing
Limited Additions
4300 N. Campbell Ave., Ste. 20, 577-1356, www.limitedadditionstucson.blogspot.com
Organic cotton clothing from Eileen Fisher, Flax, and C.P. Shades
Summit Hut
605 E. Wetmore Rd., 888-1000, and 5045 E. Speedway Blvd., 325-1554, www.summithut.com
Organic cotton clothing
Tapestry
6360 N. Campbell Ave., Ste. 160, 577-1929, www.limitedadditionstucson.blogspot.com
Organic cotton clothing from Eileen Fisher, Flax, and C.P. Shades
Toque de Pasion Boutique
3000 E. Broadway Blvd. #13, 881-0411, www.toquedepasion.net
Apparel, linens, bedding, also carries popular 10,000 Villages fair-trade line
W Boutique
4340 N. Campbell Ave. #185, 577-3470, and 7049 N. Oracle Rd., 877-8790
Organic cotton clothing and denim from Park Vogel and Kate Organic |
Thursday, September 6, 2007Globally Green Get-Ups
Toque de Pasion
Today I visited an adorable South American boutique just right on Broadway called Toque de Pasion. Having been in its location for just a year, Toque de Pasion prides itself on its use of earth-friendly materials. Along with using organic cotton for the clothing, Toque de Pasion also carries necklaces and bracelets made out of various types of South American seeds such as acai, tento, jupati, patua, and many others as well as pieces of coconut shells and bright Brazilian gemstones.
The owner of Toque de Pasion, Cesar Zegarra, is originally from Peru and landed in Tucson permanently after traveling for some time throughout the states. His family still resides in Peru, but Zegarra lives here in Tucson with his young son and has decided to stay in America to raise him. Zegarra was originally a mechanic, but said that he always wanted to have his own business. He said that he knew he wanted a clothing and jewelry shop and selling hand-crafted, fair trade items was not a question for him because it is very common for South Americans to work with organic materials.
The co-owner of Toque de Pasion, Melissa McCormick, is also a researcher at the UA's Mexican American Studies & Research Center and eco-friendly fashion and companies are very important to her. She mentioned to me that Toque de Pasion carries their own line of Peruvian organic cotton tops, skirts and dresses as well as designs from a new fair trade company in Paraguay. Along with the South America-based items, Toque de Pasion carries clothes (mainly jackets and vests) created by local designer Cindy Cook-Keller. Cook-Keller uses indigenous materials that she finds all over ther globe, including Shipibo cotton, made by the indigenous Shipibo women's group, based out of the Peruvian Amazon.
Toque de Pasion carries clothing, jewelry and handbags created in varous countries, from Brazil to Peru, Paraguay to Ecuador. The handbag collections include organic canvas-cotton styles with intricately placed and styled gems, as well as distressed-looking synthetic leather bags. The bangle-style bracelets on the right were hand painted with organic materials by Columbian children. Talented kids! After my trip to Toque de Pasion, I felt sure that it would not be my last. Not only are the chunky necklaces, Brazilian-gem bracelts and brightly-colored dresses stylish, but they are good for the earth and support small, cultural groups all over the world. If you are interested in checking out more of Toque de Pasion's global designs, they will be attending the "Girl's Night Out Shopping Extravaganza" in the Kiva Ballroom & Patio at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort on October 11th, from 2pm-9pm. You can purchase tickets to the event at The Girls Night Out Website
Thanks for reading and you will hear from me again in a week!
Amy Strand |
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Tucson CitizenWEEKEND PLUS It's a lot easier buying green when the prices come down RANDI EICHENBAUM Published: 05.25.2007 With so much eco-friendly merchandise from high-end designers and fashion houses, environmentally savvy consumers are forced to give up a load of green to support the green. Eco-friendly fashion has been all the rage among fashion publications lately, many featuring high-fashion pieces from the likes of Stella McCartney, who omits fur and leather from her line. Then there's the luxurious French fashion house Hermes, which recently began offering re-usable grocery bags for $960 apiece. But how does one help the environment without hurting the savings account? Fortunately, more and more affordable options are popping up, offering aesthetically pleasing goods (no hippy-dippy stuff here) that are friendly to Mother Earth. The hipster sportswear go-to American Apparel, which opened a location at 988 E. University Blvd. last year, offers a T-shirt line made of organic cotton. The Sustainable Edition comes in both tank and T-shirt cuts at under $20 a pop. If your eco-conscience craves something more glamorous, however, there's environmentally friendly sparkle out there, too. Gwen Davis, 34, founded her eco-ethical jewelry line in Tucson two years ago. Now based in a Los Angeles suburb, Davis initially was inspired by organic desert materials. Add to that her knowledge of working with bamboo from a Hong Kong upbringing, and the results are the fun but elegant pieces in the collection she calls Verde Rocks. In addition to organics, Davis adorns her pieces with used knickknacks and vintage Swarovski crystals. Her "nouveau-vintage line" is influenced by multiple artistic styles, including baroque, art nouveau and art deco. "I wanted to create a collection that I can draw from for a very long time," Davis says from her Culver City home/office. The line includes a wide range of pieces - bangles, necklaces, earrings - priced from a modest $30 or so to about $200. "It has gotta be a crossover product, it's gotta be really good," Davis says. "If you're talking to tree huggers, you're preaching to the choir." Davis' ideals fall right in line with Toque de Pasión, a boutique that opened in September at 3000 E. Broadway and carries women's clothing and accessories by South American designers and fair-trade companies. Co-owners Melissa McCormick, 46, and Cesar Zegarra, 34, strive to ensure that every piece they carry, whether it is an ethnic-print dress or Brazilian bikini, is made to the best of the designer's ability by fair trade and eco-friendly standards. While people such as McCormick and Zegarra are doing their best to take part in creating an ethically and environmentally sound retail sphere, it's the shopper, whatever his or her fancy might be, that can make their ideas work. "The single most thing we can do is to choose where we spend our money," Davis says. "It's the consumer that has the power." |
TOQUE DE
PASIÓN BRAZILIAN SWIMWEAR + MORE FEATURED IN
THE
MAY 2007 ISSUE OF TUCSON'S SW
STYLE Espiritual
hand-painted silk tunic, $280; White bikini by Ponta Brasil, $60;
Tan Brazilian wedges, $44 (Toque de Pasion) Tropical
mismatched bikini by Ponta Brasil, $68 (Toque de Pasion) The Exotic Jewelry: Nothing says classy
like the right jewelry for the right occasion, and even poolside
has its own set. Tropical and wild, this matching Bakana ring and
bracelet set is made of crocheted 18-karat gold wire and
semiprecious stones and beads. Your friends will be "desperate" to
know where you got them, since there's only one store in Arizona
that sells this exclusive brand worn by Teri Hatcher and Eva
Longoria on their hit show, Desperate Housewives, $96 (Bakana
Paulina kiwi bag, $190) at Toque de Pasion at Broadway
Village. http://www.tucson.com/southweststyle/gallery1.php?category=swimsuit |
Published: 03.04.2007
Fashion show benefits Tucson women
By Loni Nannini
SPECIAL TO THE ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Woman power. For Melissa McCormick and Cesar Zegarra , it's more than a catchphrase: They have built their business on it.
And this Saturday, along with the Pima County/Tucson Women's Commission and Adelante, Nuestro Futuro, they will celebrate it at the International Women's Day Fiesta.
"We feel very strongly about women's economic rights and other rights, and as business owners we want to conduct ourselves in a way we think is appropriate," said McCormick, co-owner with Zegarra of Toque de Pasión, a South American fair trade boutique featuring Bakana Brazilian jewelry and handmade clothing from Brazil, Paraguay and Peru. "We want to help people become aware of organizations in our community doing great things for women like the Women's Commission and Adelante, Nuestro Futuro."
The boutique is a passion for Zegarra, who came to Tucson five years ago from Peru. His family has worked in the textile trade for generations, and he said their experiences as sweatshop laborers shaped his aspirations to provide a venue for apparel produced by South American artisans, women's cooperatives and small companies.
"My cousins and aunts worked for pennies, and it didn't seem right. . . . Fair trade is the best way for everyone," Zegarra said. "I feel like I am helping give people opportunities so they can live a little better — at least they will eat a little better."
Zegarra and McCormick also hope the community will appreciate the opportunity to celebrate women's struggles, achievements and untapped potential at the International Women's Day Fiesta they are sponsoring. The fiesta, which includes a South American Fashion Show, Brazilian entertainment and free Peruvian food and drink, is a fundraiser for the Women's Commission and Adelante, Nuestro Futuro.
For 30 years, the Women's Commission has focused on attaining equality for women in all aspects of life through education, resources, information, advocacy and outreach. The nonprofit organization has a strong emphasis on pay equity and anti-discrimination in the workplace, according to Executive Director Sandy Davenport. Services, which reach more than 500 women annually, also include networking forums and activities dedicated to improving women's status. One such opportunity is the Skills For Women Program, which provides basic computer and job-search training for low-income women (a series for Spanish-speaking participants begins Tuesday. Call 624-8318 for more information.)
Adelante, Nuestro Futuro offers networking opportunities and career inspiration designed for young Chicanas/Latinas. The community of women volunteers promotes health and education awareness and works to increase the incidence of Chicanas/Latinas pursuing secondary and post-secondary education through cultural activities and an annual conference.
Ultimately, the International Women's Day Fiesta will promote awareness about women's issues locally as well as in youth America and around the world, McCormick said.
"We all have a mutual interest in women's voices and women's well-being," she said.
For his part, Zegarra said it is important to become involved as a local volunteer, and the community has been very supportive of the fiesta.
"Everyone has been very helpful and friendly and supports me, and that is better than money sometimes. Money doesn't mean everything," he said.
How you can help
Toque de Pasión's International Women's Day Fiesta
When: Noon-2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Where: La Placita Plaza, 110 S. Church Ave., Downtown.
Cost: $45 per person; free for children younger than 10. Festivities include a South American Fashion Show with creations from Toque de Pasión; entertainment by the Brazilian percussion and dance ensemble Batucaxe, free Peruvian food and drink; a free gift from Toque de Pasión Boutique and drawings for South American jewelry and apparel. All proceeds benefit the Pima County/Tucson Women's Commission and Adelante, Nuestro Futuro. To buy tickets, go to www.toquedepasion.net, or for more information, call 881-0411.
● Contact freelance writer Loni Nannini at ninch@comcast.net.
All content copyright © 1999-2006 AzStarNet, Arizona Daily Star and its wire services and suppliers and may not be republished without permission. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the expressed written consent of Arizona Daily Star or AzStarNet is prohibited. |
Tendrán desfile de modas
Boutique local apoya a grupos locales en pro de la mujer
Por Carmen Duarte
LA ESTRELLA DE TUCSÓN
César Zegarra aprendió de las mujeres en su vida, mucho sobre la moda y la cocina. El oriundo de Lima, Perú es propietario de la Boutique Toque de Pasión, que este sábado rendirá un homenaje a las mujeres al ofrecerles un desfile de modas y cocina de América del Sur en la fiesta del Día Internacional de la Mujer.
En la fiesta, que se llevará a cabo en La Placita Village, habrá un desfile de modas con la participación especial de la diseñadora brasileña Juliana Queiroga, así como joyería Bakana, piezas de plata esterlina hechas a mano de Sao Paulo, Río de Janeiro.
Queiroga es graduada en diseño de moda y también estudia diseño y estilos de textiles en L'Institute Supérieur des Arts Appliqués en París, Francia. Trabajó en París como asistente de diseño en las casas de moda Christian Dior y Givenchy Couture antes de regresar a Brasil y diseñar su propia línea. Además de su línea de ropa, cerámica y decoración de interiores, Queiroga trabaja con un equipo en la producción de ropa para el deporte del Surf, así lo indica su página www.julianaqueiroga.com.
Por medio del desfile de modas, evento celebrado para recaudar fondos, Zegarra indicó que espera poder aportar algo a las mujeres recaudando fondos para la Comisión de Mujeres de Pima County/Tucson y Adelante, Nuestro Futuro.
Dicha comisión es una agencia oficial la cual colabora para promover la igualdad de oportunidades para las mujeres, ésta se reporta ante el Consejo de la Ciudad de Tucsón y la Mesa de Supervisores del Condado de Pima (City Council and Pima County Board of Supervisors).
"Adelante" es un grupo de mujeres voluntarias quienes promueven la salud y la educación en las jóvenes latinas de preparatoria y universidad.
"Quiero compartir la cultura Sudamericana en esta fiesta y queremos que todo Tucsón se ponga a bailar con nosotros al ritmo de la música Afro-Brasileña. Batucaxé ofrecerá el ritmo alegre", dijo Zegarra, de 34 años de edad.
Además del baile, Zegarra también demostrará sus talentos culinarios ofreciendo Pollo en Escabeche, un platillo que su madre, Magda González, le enseñó a cocinar, siendo un jovencito en Lima, Perú.
Este platillo peruano de pollo se prepara con especias y se marina en una salsa hecha con cebollas, aceite de olivo, vinagre, sal, pimienta y comino. Se sirve frío sobre una cama de lechuga y adornado con aceitunas negras. Rebanadas de papas cocidas acompañan este platillo.
Zegarra también preparará chicha morada, una bebida fría preparada con maíz azul, piña, limón y azúcar.
"Queremos que el público se sienta libre con nosotros al aire libre – bailando en el mero centro de la plaza", insistió Zegarra, quien creció aprendiendo sobre la moda de sus dos tías quienes eran dueñas de boutiques en Perú.
Una de esas tiendas fue la Elizabeth Boutique en Trujillo, a unas ocho horas por auto al Norte de Lima. En esa boutique, Zegarra siempre estuvo rodeado de diseñadores brasileños, peruanos y argentinos.
En 1989, Zegarra se mudó a Miami, Florida con su familia y eventualmente estudió y se certificó como mecánico en aviación; trabajó para diversas compañías en varias partes de los Estados Unidos. Visitó Tucsón en 1999 y decidió mudarse acá porque, según cuenta, le gustó "el ambiente amigable" del Viejo Pueblo.
Compró casas, las remodeló y las vendió, haciéndose así de un capital para poder invertir en otro de sus sueños. En septiembre del 2006, Zegarra abrió la Boutique Toque de Pasión, ubicada en Broadway Village, en el 3000 al Este del Boulevard Broadway. Su socia es Melissa McCormick.
La boutique exhibe ropa y accesorios de artesanos de sudamericanos, cooperativas de mujeres y compañías pequeñas, indicó McCormick.
Ella comentó que decidieron recaudar fondos para diversas causas concernientes a las mujeres por medio del desfile de modas en el Día Internacional de la Mujer. "Es la ocasión de mirar atrás y ver las luchas y los logros pasados y, de mayor importancia, es mirar hacia delante a los potenciales y oportunidades todavía no aprovechadas las cuales esperan futuras generaciones de mujeres", declaró McCormick.
Diana Jiménez-Young, miembro de la comisión de mujeres y Adelante, informó que el grupo está agradecido por el evento para recaudar fondos el cual beneficiará a la organización. Agregó que ambos grupos se manejan con un mínimo de fondos y, cualquier dinero extra ayuda a poder dar a conocer más sobre los servicios para mujeres.
César Zegarra learned fashion and cooking from the women in his life.
The owner of Toque de Pasión Boutique is a native of Lima, Peru and this Saturday he is honoring women by sharing South American fashion and cuisine at an International Women's Day fiesta.
The fiesta at the Downtown La Placita Village includes a fashion show highlighting Brazilian designer Juliana Queiroga and Bakana jewelry, which is handmade sterling silver pieces from Sao Paulo, Rio de Janiero.
Queiroga is a fashion design graduate who also studied textile design and styling at L'Institute Supérieur des Arts Appliqués in Paris. She worked in Paris as a design assistant in Christian Dior and Givenchy couture houses before returning to Brazil and designing her own line.
In addition to a clothing line, ceramics and interior decor, Queiroga works with a team in the production of surf wear, states her Web site at www.julianaqueiroga.com
Through the fashion show — a fundraiser — Zegarra said he hopes to give back to women by raising money for the Pima County/Tucson Women's Commission and Adelante, Nuestro Futuro.
The commission is an official agency that works to promote equal opportunity for women and reports to the Tucson City Council and Pima County Board of Supervisors.
Adelante is a group of women volunteers who promote health and education to young Latinas in high school and college.
"I want to share South American culture during this fiesta and we want all of Tucson dancing with us to the beat of Afro-Brazilian music. Batucaxé is providing the up beat rhythms," said Zegarra, 34.
In addition to dancing, Zegarra also will share his cooking talents by preparing escabeche de pollo — a dish his mother, Magda González, taught him to cook as a young man in Lima.
The Peruvian dish of chicken is prepared with spices and marinated in a sauce that includes onion, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and cumin. It is served cold on a bed of lettuce topped with black olives. Slices of boiled potatoes accompany the dish.
Zegarra also will prepare chicha morada, a cool drink made from purple corn, pineapple, lime and sugar.
"We want the public to be free with us in the open air — dancing right in the heart of the plaza," said Zegarra, who grew up learning the fashion business from two aunts who own boutiques in Peru.
One of those shops was Elizabeth Boutique in Trujillo, about an eight-hour drive north of Lima. In that boutique, Zegarra was surrounded by Brazilian, Peruvian and Argentinian designers.
In 1989, Zegarra moved to Miami, Florida with his family and eventually studied and became a certified aviation mechanic working for companies across the United States. He visited Tucson in 1999 and said he decided to move here because he liked the Old Pueblo's "friendly atmosphere."
He bought houses, remodeled them and sold them, eventually earning capital to invest in another dream. In September 2006, Zegarra opened Toque de Pasión Boutique at Broadway Village, 3000 E. Broadway Blvd. His partner is Melissa McCormick.
The boutique showcases clothing and accessories by South American artisans, women's cooperatives and small companies, McCormick said.
She said they decided to raise money for women's causes through the fashion show on International Women's Day. "It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and oportunities that await future generations of women," McCormick said.
Diana Jimenez-Young, a member of the women's commission and Adelante, said the groups are grateful for the fundraiser to benefit the organizations. She said both groups run on minimal funds, and any additional money helps get the word out about women services.
● Contacte a Carmen Duarte al 573-4104 o al e-mail: cduarte@azstarnet.com
● Contacte a Carmen Duarte al 573-4104 o al e-mail: cduarte@azstarnet.com Por Carmen Duarte
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Toque de Pasion's exclusive line
of Bakana jewelry, purses, & belts is featured in the January
2007 issue of Tucson Lifestyle's "Scene Around Town"
department. |
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Click on the
following link to see Toque de Pasion's Bakana jewelry and
accesories featured on KOLD TV's (December 4) morning show segment
on unique holiday gifts offered by independent Tucson
retailers: http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?s=5763467
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Toque de Pasion
means "touch of passion," and that's exactly what this stylish,
classy little boutique has. Native Peruvian Cesar Zegarra, one of
the owners, opened the store last September, wanting to provide
Tucson women with an outlet for authentic fashion from his home
continent. So, making use of
up-and-coming designers from throughout South America, he's stocked
the store with beautiful handmade clothing--flowing skirts (around
$75), intricately embroidered blouses ($99) and lots of sexy,
colorful tank tops. The jewelry display case is
full of accessories from the Brazilian Bakana line (bakana
is Portuguese for "hip, fun, cool"), including crocheted gold and
silver wire jewelry interlaced with semi-precious stones, beads and
freshwater pearls; and earrings, necklaces, and bracelets made of
things like jarina, patua and jupati seeds, all of which come from
plants in the Amazon rainforest. This stuff is totally
affordable considering its exclusivity--a beautiful patua and
pupuranhana necklace is just $34.99. And you don't have to
worry about supporting far-away sweatshops or contributing to
environmental destruction when you shop here. Zegarra only works with individual artisans and
fair-trade companies, and he deals with textile manufacturers who
use progressive environmental and employment
practices. BY Anna Mirocha,
NOVEMBER 16, 2006 TUCSON WEEKLY GIFT
GUIDE |
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Boutique Hours
Of Operation:
Tuesday – Sunday,
10am – 6pm
PHONE:
520-881-0411
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