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Celebrating the Holidays Safely with Ereka Vetrini

D S Simon Media

The holidays aren’t canceled. We have to reimagine them for the pandemic era.There are still a few ways to keep family traditions at the holidays alive, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus on the Traditions that we CAN Do It’s so easy to focus on what we can’t do right now. No matter how small the gathering, focus on keeping the traditions that bring you joy just as they have every year. Go all out with decorations. You can make grandmother’s pineapple bake for Thanksgiving or build gingerbread houses. And, you can even drive around town and look at everyone else’s holiday decorations. (Don’t forget the hot cocoa!) Stay positive by getting really excited about all the things you can still do and put your energy into them. Forget the Formal and Spend Time Together Safely Even though the size of your gathering may change, the tradition of eating a good meal and spending quality time together should not. As the 5X Thanksgiving host, Ereka suggests to keep safe and simple. In a recent Chinet® brand survey, 35% of respondents said they’ll be using disposable tableware for the holidays. Many said their focus is less on a formal setting and more on spending time together safely. In fact the CDC encourages using “single use items”. Fortunately, Chinet® Cut Crystal® collection allows us to get fancy without the fuss. Chinet® Cut Crystal® plates, cups and cutlery are so elegant and come in a completely coordinated collection perfect for holiday celebrations. They have the right combination of strength and style. Chinet® Cut Crystal® collection is the right call if you are looking to spend less time cleaning up and more time with loved ones. Hostess Tips for the Small Group Many are talking about ditching the turkey, but Ereka says go for it- either choose a smaller turkey or go big and enjoy leftovers for days! Another tip for those hosting… Target is here to save the day. You can now use their contactless services Drive Up, Order Pickup or same-day delivery with Shipt to get everything you need for your holiday meals and more, including fresh and frozen groceries nationwide – no membership required. Whether that be a whole frozen turkey, green beans, ready-made sides like garlic mashed potatoes, or apps like these Fig & Rosemary crackers with Brie cheese… Target’s ready to get you what you need, when you need it. This holiday, Target has enhanced their pickup and delivery services to make it even easier and safer to shop for holiday meals and more. They’ve added nearly 8,000 Drive Up spots to serve more guests quickly and 100,000 Shipt shoppers to make getting whatever you need to feed the family as easy as pie. Final Tips to Enjoy the Season Connect any way you can. Take your zoom parties up a notch with playlists, themes and virtual games. FaceTime family members and let them know you care. Enjoy the traditions you love. Bake plenty of goodies. Celebrate and find joy in the smaller moments and appreciate what you have. About Ereka Vetrini Ereka Vetrini is a TV Host, Lifestyle Expert, Brand Spokesperson, Producer, Blogger and proud mom of two who got her start on Donald Trump ‘s “The Apprentice” season 1. Ereka is currently the host of Lifetime’s Access Health. Access Health brings you the latest cutting-edge developments and innovations in medicine, nutrition and fitness, so women everywhere can take charge of their health starting today! She is also a regular contributor to NBC’s 1st Look and NY Live. As an on-air correspondent for NBC she covers the hottest spots to dine, travel and shop! Ereka was previously the host of TLC Sunday Brunch where she brought you the very best brunch & cocktail recipes, styling tips and so much more! As a mother of two, Ereka enjoys spending every spare minute running after her 9 and 7-year-old. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 25, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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DoorDash Helps You Give the Gift of Food this Holiday Season

D S Simon Media

The holidays are a time to connect with loved ones, celebrate family traditions, and give back to those around you. While that’s going to look a little bit different this year, DoorDash wants to help you keep those traditions alive, savor the flavor of the holidays and treat the ones you love near and far with our new Gifting feature. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/DKm8_Og3PEE Whether you’re looking for a unique holiday present, a Thanksgiving gift, or simply want to show friends and family that you’re thinking of them no matter how far apart you are this year, DoorDash and Caviar now offer a new way for you to give delicious gifts to loved ones this holiday season and beyond. To celebrate the launch, from November 19th through Black Friday on November 27th, all customers on DoorDash or Caviar who spend $20 or more in gift-giving will get $10 off on their next order to treat themselves. Now more than ever, local restaurants and shops need our support. That’s why we’re challenging gift receivers to pay it forward, keep the spirit of giving alive all season long, and support local businesses. And for every gift given from November 24th through Giving Tuesday (DEC. 1), DoorDash will donate a meal to Feeding America. We’re inviting you to join us in fighting hunger during the season of charitable giving by gifting others and giving back at the same time. DoorDash will be matching your gifts by donating a meal to someone in need through Feeding America. Ereka Vetrini partnered with DoorDash and Your Update TV on a nationwide media tour to discuss giving the gift of food this holiday season, how to spread cheer, and give back. During her nationwide media tour talking with television and radio stations across the country, Ereka Vetrini also discussed: ● Creative solutions to connect with loved ones over the holidays and how to keep the season of family traditions alive ● How giving the gift of food can be a way to show someone you are thinking about them during this unprecedented holiday season—from birthdays to holidays gifts, to get-well-soon and thinking-of-you notes, ‘tis the season to spread cheer no matter how far apart you are ● Why edible gifts are the best gifts for everyone on your list ● How DoorDash and Feeding America are joining together to fight hunger ● The importance of supporting local restaurants this year who need us now more than ever to keep their doors open Through Gifting, you can send everything from sweet treats to savory meals and more, ranging from holiday baked goods and chocolates to celebratory cake and champagne, to soothing, get-well food and convenience items like chicken noodle soup, cough drops, and bath bombs. And with thousands of restaurants across the country to choose from ranging from national favorites like Baskin Robbins, Crumbl Cookies, See’s Candies, Krispy Kreme and Chipotle, to local heroes like Levain Bakery, Magnolia Bakery, Milk Bar, Salt & Straw, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and more, there’s a perfect range of options for everyone on your list! Customers can choose from a wide selection of virtual cards to commemorate all types of gifting occasions, add a personalized gift message, and with just a few taps you can surprise and delight your loved one with a unique, customizable gift delivered instantly to their doorstep. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 24, 2020 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Quarantined and Engaged:They Said ‘Yes!’

D S Simon Media

The coronavirus outbreak has affected the wedding industry in many ways. Large wedding gatherings might be on hold, but what isn’t on hold is are couples showing their love for one another and getting engaged According to a report by The Knot, more than 6 in 10 engaged couples say that stay-at-home restrictions due to the coronavirus have strengthened their relationships. Jewelers say that despite difficult economic times, they are seeing consumers spend more than ever on diamond engagement rings. The reasons for this include: Increased sense of intimacy and desire to sacrifice for each other More budget available because of canceled weddings and honeymoons Pent up demand to spend after months of nowhere to go This holiday season, fine jewelry retailers are reporting that their diamond sales are strong, with bridal being the primary driver for consumer demand. Strong anecdotal evidence shows that engagements are up over the period since COVID hit in Spring 2020, and jewelers say more couples than ever are choosing diamond engagement rings – eschewing industry concerns that the difficult economy would impact the bridal market. Sally Morrison, Director of PR for Natural Diamonds at De Beers Group conducted a nationwide media tour to explain the latest trends in engagement rings and discussed: What research has shown when it comes to an increase in the number of people getting engaged What should a customer look for when it comes to picking a diamond For more information visit: forevermark.com About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 24, 2020 10:15 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Travelling More Safely During the Holidays: Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk

D S Simon Media

While the CDC recommends that you reduce your risk of contracting or spreading COVID by avoiding travel, there is recognition that many families will be gathering during Thanksgiving and the holiday season. What are some things they can do to reduce their risk? Emmy-Award winning medical journalist Dr. Bob Arnot conducted a nationwide media tour with AIrQueen.com to discuss tips, advice and resources to help increase safety. During the nationwide media tour Dr. Bob Arnot highlighted: The latest recommendations from the CDC to reduce risk when traveling Tips for proper mask wearing including when to change them and what you need to know to protect yourself in addition to protecting others Proper methods for staying sanitized Gift ideas to help keep your family safe during the holidays The AirQueen is made with a highly advanced nano-fiber material to provide extreme protection with a minimum of 95% protection and an average in excess of 97% particle filtration (see the Nelson Labs reports on the website for more details). The nano-filter allows extreme breathability and comfort which, in addition to the excellent protection provided, is one of its strong value propositions. Another major advantage of the AirQueen mask is that it can be cleaned up to 10 times with a simple 75% ethanol spray wash (also available on AirQueen.com) making it the most protective mask available which is also affordable. Even better is that the AirQueen is allowed to be sold to the general public which means you can provide the highest level protection for you and your family and loved ones. Lastly there is also a highly protective kids version, the Airbon mask, which is made from the same filter and manufacturing process as the AirQueen making it one of the safest masks for children on the market. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Media Contact: Michael O’Donnell D S Simon Media 212-736-2727 modonnell@dssimon.com Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 24, 2020 10:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

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How to Avoid Leaving Benefits on the Table

D S Simon Media

Navigating health plan offerings can be challenging, so it’s important for consumers to understand whether they qualify for more benefits that may help save money and improve health, which can help provide for a more secure and active future as a person ages. Recently, Dr. Stephen Cha, the Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealthcare Community & State, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to explain how people can qualify for a dual complete plan. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/MpNGLmYGmnA People who have Medicare and find that money is tight may qualify for a UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete plan – a dual special needs health plan, which may allow them to get better benefits, including dental, hearing and vision coverage at no extra charge. It can also include credits to buy healthy food and help purchase approved health items. Although requirements vary from state to state and by circumstances, if you are a family of one making less than $16,000 a year or a family of 2 making less than $21,000 a year, you may qualify. You will also have someone to help you manage and coordinate your care to help manage through health concerns, which is so important during this pandemic. Putting off care, especially annual wellness visits, can leave health risks undiagnosed and untreated. People eligible for a dual plan can usually enroll for no monthly premium, which may make it an affordable option. These plans are designed for people with low income who could use some extra help because of disabilities, health conditions or age. To learn if you are eligible and getting the most of your benefits, visit http://www.getdual.com or call 1-855-799-3199. About Dr. Stephen Cha Dr. Stephen Cha is Chief Medical Officer of UnitedHealthcare Community & State, where he oversees clinical strategies and programs while acting as the liaison for critical clinical initiatives. He also plays a key role in clinical thought leadership and serves as a subject matter expert in care decisions throughout Community & State. Prior to joining UnitedHealthcare, Dr. Cha served as the Group Director in the State Innovation Group at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). He has also served as the Chief Medical Officer at the Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services (CMCS), and is a practicing physician. Dr. Cha has a strong background in dynamic health policy thought leadership, health care transformation, and quality reporting. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 24, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Supporting Doctors on the Frontlines: How to Become an “Ally of Doctors”

D S Simon Media

2020 has been a tough year, and doctors and healthcare professionals have been working hard on the front lines – more than ever before. While the coronavirus pandemic has upended life for nearly everyone, healthcare workers and doctors have had to face more risks than most. So many of us are in awe of how these professionals still care for patients despite tremendous challenges. Mucinex is rallying Americans coast to coast to become an “Ally of Doctors” to show health care professionals and frontline heroes how much we support, appreciate, and trust them. With only 16% of consumers having reviewed their doctor in the past 12 months, Mucinex is making a nationwide call to action for patients to give back to those who have helped them get better by advocating for their doctors and health care professionals. Consumers are encouraged to review and recommend their own trusted doctors and health care professionals, providing them with the admiration and support they are deserving of, and helping them build a more robust patient network. For every new doctor review left on Healthgrades.com, Mucinex will donate $20 to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), with the goal of donating $20,000 to the next generation of frontline heroes by the end of 2020. This is in addition to Mucinex parent company, RB’s larger pledge of donating 100 scholarships to UNCF – the nation’s most successful minority higher education organization. This support will benefit the organization’s hard-working students who aspire to become the next generation of frontline heroes. Consumers can visit Mucinex.com for more information and Healthgrades.com to review their doctor. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Media Contact: Michael O’Donnell D S Simon Media 212-736-2727 modonnell@dssimon.com Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 23, 2020 01:16 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Buyer Beware: Don't Let Counterfeit Goods Ruin Your Holidays

D S Simon Media

Counterfeit goods are a problem all year long, but demand for gifts, household products, virtual learning items, and even health products, means the holiday season is an especially busy time for crooks. Counterfeit products cost the global economy over $500 billion dollars a year. Ahead of the holiday shopping season, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Innovation Policy Center is raising awareness with consumers about the dangers of counterfeit goods and how to avoid falling for scams. Because of the global pandemic and shifts in shopping habits more consumers than ever will be looking for a good deal online, and with that, the likelihood of coming across counterfeit items increases. Kasie Brill, Vice President of Brand Protection & Strategic Initiatives at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce conducted a nationwide media tour in conjunction with YourUpdateTV and D S Simon Media to discuss: How big of a problem the sale of counterfeit goods is in the U.S. Why the current Covid-19 pandemic is increasing the number and sale of counterfeit goods Details on why health products are also susceptible to counterfeiting How the U.S. consumer can protect themselves against buying counterfeit goods About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Media Contact: Michael O’Donnell D S Simon Media 212-736-2727 modonnell@dssimon.com Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 23, 2020 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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CIPIO.ai completes a $1.25M pre-seed round in stealth mode to accelerate R&D for AI-Infused Customer Intelligence Platform

CIPIO.ai

CIPIO co-founders Growson Edwards (Ex-MicroPact CCO), Manoj Kumar Goyal ( Ex-Marketo CPO and Ex-Oracle GVP), and Dharm esh Trivedi ( Ex-Motionsoft SVP ) announced the completion of their pre-seed round of $1.25M, led by DX.Partners, a pre-seed Venture Studio, with participation from the co-founders and other angel investors. DX.Partners Founder & Managing Partner, Sundeep Sanghavi (ex-CEO & Founder of DataRPM, acquired by Progress Software (NASDAQ: PRGS)) is very bullish on the founders’ vision and focus on the B2C member/subscriber intelligence. “COVID-19 has accelerated the unprecedented changes in consumer behavior, causing massive disruption in the traditional brick & mortar industries like fitness, faith & spirituality, restaurants, live event venues, who now must transform digitally at an exponential pace,” said Sanghavi. Mr. Trivedi has scaled multiple startups from zero to $100M in revenue with two exits, Razorsight acquired by Synchronoss (NASDAQ: SNCR) and MotionSoft acquired by Daxco. “We have been heads down since the pandemic working on a minimum valuable product and have made tremendous progress,” said Trivedi. With our insights and industry expertise, early adopters like Crunch Fitness, World’s Gym, and the Xponential Fitness streaming platform called GO, which operates brands like Pure Barre, Club Pilates, AKT, YogaSix, Cyclebar, Row House, Stretch Lab, and Stride have seen significant ROI.” Mr. Trivedi reached out to Growson Edwards, an advisor at that time, to methodically launch CIPIO out of stealth mode. Mr. Edwards led MicroPact’s growth from $1M to $84M in revenue and has a knack for customer success resulting in a 106% net dollar retention. “I have launched and scaled five SaaS products across multiple markets. As an early advisor, I saw immense value in CIPIO’s IP, inspiring me to join Dharmesh and invest in the pre-seed round,” said Edwards. He quickly sought out San Francisco Bay area veteran MarTech platform executive Manoj Kumar Goyal to lead CIPIO’s R&D team. Mr. Goyal previously led Oracle’s Customer Data Platform (CDP) team and launched the platform in a record time of 12 months. Before Oracle, Mr. Goyal served as Marketo’s Chief Product Officer, meeting the performance and scalability needs of the most demanding CMOs (such as Google, AWS, and Microsoft), and driving annual revenue growth at a 25% pace to $300m+ revenue for 5000+ customers. “Whether you are a massive franchisor or the operator of a neighborhood corner gym, a church, a restaurant, or venue, the pandemic has impacted one and all like never before. All the idling forced by the novel coronavirus has necessitated that brick & mortar businesses go digital at warp speed. What’s lost in this rapid digital transformation is understanding the customer beyond the 360-degree intelligence that traditional CDPs provide. To understand the customer journey in this new hybrid world will require unparalleled intelligence that can only be produced by combining the power of AI & domain expertise,” said Mr. Goyal. “It’s very rare for a startup at a stealth stage to have such a strong customer validation along with a killer team,” said Sanghavi. CIPIO expects to launch commercially in Q1 of 2021 and expects to raise additional capital at that time. Contact Details Jennifer Isaac +1 315-398-9541 Jennifer@CIPIO.ai Company Website https://cipio.ai/

November 19, 2020 12:30 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Cashmere Eco-Designer Fights Fast Fashion During Pandemic Holiday Season

Agility PR Solutions LLC

In a year when most craft fairs and festivals have been cancelled, ekologic cashmere clothing designer Kathleen Tesnakis of Troy, N.Y., is joining other artists in making the shift to online retail while keeping up the meaningful interaction between customer and creator. “This is the first November in eight years that my partner and I haven’t had to wake up at 4 a.m. to pack a rental van with a year’s worth of ekologic inventory, then drive from upstate down to Manhattan to set up an entire shop in Grand Central Terminal for the Holiday Fair,” said Tesnakis, who recycles cashmere to create new sweaters, skirts, hats and gloves. “Normally, we would spend the next month-and-a-half running our shop in Grand Central, overseeing our bustling studio in Troy and traveling between the two locations weekly to replenish inventory. It’s nice to get a little more sleep, but in normal years the Grand Central show accounts for about two-thirds of our annual revenue.” This year, ekologic is a featured artist in the first ever Grand Central Virtual Holiday Fair, a web-based version of what organizers claim to be New York City’s oldest and largest indoor holiday market that beckons customers from across the world to shop in the Terminal’s historic Vanderbilt Hall. Though Grand Central is most lucrative for her, Tesnakis said other art shows that occur across the nation throughout the year are no less important for designers like herself. She typically spends the spring and summer touring the country to sell her clothing line at various curated art shows in places like Dallas, Texas, Jackson Hole, Wy. and Portland, Ore. Those shows, all of which were cancelled this year due to COVID-19, account for the rest of ekologic’s annual revenue. Though the company has maintained an online store for more than two decades, the majority of her customers have preferred to shop in person, sometimes returning year after year to the same festivals and fairs. “I think people really put a value on the experience of purchasing handmade items directly from the artist who made them,” Tesnakis said. “When you shop our online store, you’re still purchasing directly from us. But I recognize that some customers need a bit more help deciding what colors to chose, what size to pick… which is why I’m available for virtual personalized shopping appointments.” Another way she connects with customers is through broadcasting on Facebook Live each Wednesday at 3 p.m. to share her production process and progress in the studio, as well as her philosophy on sustainability that guides her business practices. Climate change and environmental pollution are major crises facing humanity and we have to keep pushing for more sustainable practices,” Tesnakis said. “We have to be more eco-conscious, even during a pandemic, because our planet’s ecosystem is in a health crisis, too. I hope people will keep that in mind as they do more of their shopping online this season. Also, there are so many small artisan businesses that need your support this year and the gifts you find will have an extra special meaning.” FAST FASHION AND WASTE The average American throws away approximately 80 pounds of cheap textiles per year, choking landfills with “fast fashion” garments sold by mass-market retailers. “‘Fast fashion’ is clothing that’s made fast and cheap, with questionable labor practices and ends up in a landfill quickly,” Tesnakis said. “It’s a wasteful, environmentally destructive industry that has to change.” Since 1996, Tesnakis' ekologic company has practiced an alternative to “fast fashion” by recycling cashmere to create high-quality pieces including sweaters, dresses, hats and mittens in women’s and men’s styles that can be worn and cherished for generations. The ekologic mission is to make clothes that inspire a movement of sustainability and environmentally aware customers. “We’ve been on the front lines of the slow fashion revolution for over 20 years,” Tesnakis said. “Our clothing is made to last and to spark conversations about the clothes we wear and the products we purchase.” FASHIONABLE, GREEN, AND ONE-OF-A-KIND Every item made by ekologic is unique because of the way Tesnakis gathers and assembles her materials. After hunting down discarded cashmere treasures, she dismantles each article of clothing while taking the time to recognize its individual character and beauty. Finally, she transforms the material by joining it with other pieces to give an old garment new life and purpose. The random nature of recycling means Tesnakis must work with the materials she finds. While ekologic’s product lines are consistent, each ekologic item is uniquely individual. “Recycling informs my design and production,” Tesnakis said. “I don’t get to order trendy materials. It’s my job to make trends happen.” ekologic clothing is sought after by the environmentally conscious and fashion conscious alike. Celebrities, like Lee Ranaldo, of the iconic rock band Sonic Youth, and celebrated actress Halle Berry have been spotted wearing ekologic apparel. “In recent years, ‘green’ has become a powerful marketing tool that is sometimes used in cynical and disingenuous schemes,” Tesnakis said. “ekologic has been making genuinely ‘green’ fashion long before ‘green’ was fashionable.“ LOCALLY HARVESTED, ZERO WASTE, NO HARSH CHEMICALS In 2003, the eco-clothing company moved from Portland, Ore. to Troy, N.Y. to be closer to the fashion epicenter of New York City and family. All of the cashmere that ekologic recycles into new garments comes from within a 150-mile radius in the “Tri-State” area, qualifying it as “locally harvested.” Since moving to New York state, ekologic has repurposed more than16 tons of post-consumer clothing that would otherwise have ended up sold to international barges or landfilled. The ekologic process of washing and deconstructing post-consumer clothing uses only environmentally-friendly soap–no harsh chemicals or dyes—while striving to use a minimal amount of water. In 2014, ekologic adopted a “zero waste” production facility goal, meaning that even the smallest scraps of material are put to some re-use. ekologic has inspired other artists and manufacturers to use only post-consumer products and has forged new partnerships in order to achieve the “zero waste” goal. "We know that being green isn't easy. It's a lifelong process. Don't be intimidated and feel like you have to change your life overnight," says Tesnakis. "What we're asking you to do is take the steps that are closest to you to change. If each one of us did this, we would have an incredible impact on the world." WHY RECYCLE CASHMERE? Clothing was far more expensive in the early 20th century than it is today, and therefore there was a greater incentive to transform and re-purpose old clothing items into quilts or toys, or even a smaller version of the same garment—a damaged or worn dress for an adult would often be repurposed as a dress for a child. As clothing became cheaper, through outsourcing labor to developing nations, Westerners increasingly began to discard clothing items after one lifecycle or sometimes after a single use as in the case of seasonal fast fashion. By the early 1990s, nearly all new clothing was destined to be landfilled within a matter of a few years. But Tesnakis says she recognized that there are a few materials, such as wools, that have characteristics that made them prime for recycling. “Cashmere and wool are strong, antimicrobial natural fibers which helps them stay in good condition for generations,” Tesnakis said. “It's not uncommon for a beautiful cashmere jacket or a cashmere sweater to be still viable 20 to 30 years later.” REMADE BY HAND IN AMERICA: CONTINUING A HISTORY OF WOMEN & TEXTILES IN TROY, NY “Most people don’t know where their clothing was manufactured. Buying directly from the designer is a rewarding way to shop,” said Tesnakis. “When you shop ekologic, you know who made your clothes. You know how your clothes were made and what materials your clothes were made of. Those are the tenets of the slow fashion movement that will lead us to a fashion revolution.” Tesnakis noted that Troy is nicknamed the "Collar City" because a woman, Hannah Montague, invented the detachable collar here in 1827. Later, in 1864, Kate Mullany started the all-women Collar Laundry Union in Troy, one of the first women's labor unions in history. Tesnakis’ first studio in Troy was in a building that housed the Troy Waste Manufacturing Company which produced garments created from textile waste from the shirt collar industry 100 years before she got there. This year she opened a new studio at 184 4th Street in Troy’s “Pottery District” neighborhood. NEW DESIGNS FOR 2020 This year, ekologic debuted the newly-designed “Jackson” sweater, a modern mosaic piece that achieves zero waste, and a French-inspired beret. Accessories by ekologic cost between $72 to $88, while clothing prices range from $235 to $480. HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS & VIDEOS For high resolution fashion photos of ekologic products and models, and broadcast quality video of ekologic Designer & Founder Kathleen Tesnakis in her Troy studio, visit the following Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/to8qae7vlp88gvc/AAAUuH5wEXR-hNEGFEXF3nyMa?dl=0 CONNECT WITH EKOLOGIC For information, call (518) 274-0813 email info@ekologic.com or visit: http://www.ekologic.com, https://www.facebook.com/ekologicny, https://www.instagram.com/ekologic/ @ekologic_ny YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC36T7s993TqhZuQkvudAlHg ART PARTY CENTRAL To help other artisans pivot to the virtual world, Tesnakis and four other women-owned businesses founded ArtPartyCentral.org to connect independent designers, artists and lifestyle brands with discerning, fun-loving shoppers online. Art Parties are festive, engaging and intimate hour-long virtual events presented by six makers showcasing their newest pieces, current inspirations, a peek at their techniques, and sharing the love of their work in their own environments. Contact Details Kathleen Tesnakis +1 518-867-1864 info@ekologic.com Company Website http://www.ekologic.com

November 19, 2020 10:33 AM Eastern Standard Time

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