Canines and Couture
By Sheila Appleby Williams

Luxury organic clothing company, GGO hosted Canines and Couture: “An evening to benefit the rescue and adoption work of the spcaLA” in their downtown studio, located in the historic Reserve building.

In keeping with the stylish and ecofriendly active wear brand, looking good and doing good was the theme of the evening’s celebration of LA’s Contemporary tradeshow. GGO attired staff, yoga devotees, fans, friends and even a couple of stylish canines, attended the animal fundraisingevent.

Guests enjoyed complimentary wine tasting from Fetzer Vineyards and local DJ, Marcelle Voomz spun tasty tunes. Prominently displayed were a collection of new contemporary paintings by GGO (Girls Gone Organic) clothing designer, and fine artist, Steve Sas Schwartz. His indemand paintings can be found in a number of prestigious collections, including MOMA and are popular with celebrities like Halle Berry, who refuses to go on location without a Schwartz work of art in tow. Schwartz created the former NYC based, GGO (formerly Global Ghetto Organics) in 1992, to reflect the clothing requirements and creativity of the city's skateboard culture. Schwartz’s street wear designs became the impetus for collaborations with established designers including Anna Sui and Kenneth Cole.

Steve’s passion for artistic details is mirrored in the unique color, styling and luxurious fabrics of the clothing line. His yoga-instructor wife, Vivica, serves as product ambassador and inspiration for GGO and muse/model for a number of his paintings. According to the GGO website “Vivica reviews, wear-tests and approves all of the women’s items to insure superior performance; she is deeply committed to creating a product line that is best in class both in terms of use and commitment to the environment.”

Co-partner, David Appel, brings his highly successful entrepreneur skills to the palette. An avid collector of Schwartz’s art, his concept for the line of clothing was inspired by Schwartz’s street savvy creativity and unique vision.

Mr. Appel explained his rationale for the line and his passion about bamboo. “People are doing healthy things but wearing unhealthy clothing. Wearing petroleum-based clothing (most fabric including cotton) does not make sense when you’re pursuing a healthy and organic lifestyle.”

“Bamboo is a sustainable plant with no natural predators and therefore no pesticides are necessary. No fertilization (chemicals) are required and most importantly- no agricultural water.” He gave the example of a pair of regular cotton blue jeans, which require 1200 gallons of irrigated water to be produced. GGO imports organically grown bamboo, which can be produced with minimal carbon footprint. The bamboo is imported from North Vietnam and Thailand. Bamboo is known to be the fastest growing plant on earth, making it naturally renewable. It grows to its maximum height in approximately 3 months and matures in 3-5 years. Bamboo's growth characteristics enable it to spread rapidly across large areas, and bamboo cultivation can improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas.

“All the GGO fabrics are created and the garments are sewn in Los Angeles within a few miles of the design studio, says Appel.

Appel’s passion includes his love of animals, which has manifested into Wag Hotels-luxury pet board and care hotels, located in San Francisco and Sacramento. He is a strong supporter of ASPCA and frequently holds animal fundraising events at his “ultimate stay and play pet resorts.”

While it’s important to know that your clothing is environmentally correct it is even more satisfying to love the feel of the clothing against your skin. The bamboo fabrics that are used in their designs are luxuriously soft with a texture similar to silken cashmere. These are fashions that will take you stylishly around town as well as looking like a yoga diva. The GGO Clothing mission statement reads: At, GGO, we craft garments for the active urban lifestyle. We are driven by authenticity, a simple, comfortable yoga aesthetic, and
kindness to our planet.”www.ggoclothing.com

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