House Beautiful Magazine asked 8 designers what traditional element every house needs: Click Here To Visit House Beautiful Magazine.  They list: books, a mudroom, fireplace, candlelight, a Louis XVI desk or chair, crafted moldings, lampshades and movable chairs. We agree with all these beautiful elements in terms of creating a sensible, stylish and comfortable home. However, what about color? Or pattern? A bold cranberry accent wall; a classic paisley print throw pillow; chocolate brown table linens…   these are all very important elements in every room - so let’s add them to the list!

With attention to global warming and Al Gore winning the Nobel Prize we have to pay close attention to how this movement is affecting fashion.  Fashion as we know is what is current.  And going green or “botanic” or environmental is clearly fashion.  In fact every time we see the “eco” prefix we get a knee jerk reaction with our company and brand name (yes we have looked into the legal side of this as well).  The good news is Echo has goes deeper than fashion here.  We have been innovating with yarns for years and have been associated with natural fibers and sustainable natural fibers for as long as we can remember.  Working with silk and wool doesn’t stop us from exploring what is new and wonderful.  This year we launched a modal acrylic blend, called Msoft, in coldweather.  Modal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modal_%28textile%29) is a natural high quality fiber derived partly from beechwood.  It brings with it wonderful soft properties and takes color beautifully. 
We have also worked hard to knit and weave bamboo in wraps, scarfs and loungewear.  Bamboo is one of the fastest growing evergreen plants known.  And they return perennially year after year. 
Most people don’t know that during WWII we had to stop using silk.  The government mandated this, as they needed all the silk they could get their hands on for parachute cloth (yes, the name parachute silk).  During those years we printed on  rayon or even nylon instead.  So we are used to going with the times, always trying to do our best.
So go Al.  We are with you all the way.  - SDR

Some days, you just don’t know. So why limit yourself? Imagine getting to work and realizing, wow, I really hate these shoes. Or ‘wow, did I get dressed in the dark?’  Then spending the whole day trying to hide your feet. Come on, we all do it. Sometimes, even, the shoes hate US. Their wrath manifesting itself in blisters and squished toes. We love them. They hate us. It’s a daily battle. So I add a few points in my ‘win’ column by overpowering the one pair with the threat of possible exchange: I have an arsenal of shoes under my desk. Some ladies put their shoes in a drawer. Some of you have a closet in your office. But the shoes are there. And we know it. Do you have shoes in your office? Maybe you don’t ‘keep’ them in your office, instead you ‘carry’ them in your bag for the ever-popular yet oh-so-stealthy shoe switcheroo. I see you in the foyers of the big buildings - or even in the elevators, ditching the nikes for the jimmy choos. It’s out of respect, I understand. For if we can afford the jimmy choos, some of us must still remain subway straphangers, and why subject jimmy to cement stairs and old gum? And, besides, not everybody can trot as delicately as Carrie Bradshaw in her Manolo’s. And where is she going anyway?

(Stay tuned for the next episode:  The scarf drawer.) - Jen

On a recent trip to Alexandria Bay in the 1000 islands region in Upstate New York, I came upon a book ‘The Secret Life of Water’ by author Masaru Emoto. He is an internationally renowned Japanese researcher and an independent thinker. Certified as a Doctor of Alternative Medicine from the Open International University, he is also a graduate of the Yokohama Municipal University’s department of humanities and sciences, with an emphasis on International Relations.

“Masaru Emoto’s research has visually captured the structure of water at the moment of freezing, and through high-speed photography he has shown the direct consequences of destructive thoughts and the thoughts of love and appreciation on the formation of water crystals. The revelation that our thoughts can influence water has profound implications for our health and the well-being of our planet.”

Emoto has done thousands of tests with not only the effects of words in many different languages but music and prayers.  The actual physical shape of the water crystals changes for each word and musical piece.

So next time you pour a glass of water, say “Thank you” before you drink it. The crystals will thank you in return.  - Jen

October 15, 2007
Happy Birthday Ralph.  Yes, today the Ralph Lauren organization is celebrating their 40^th anniversary.  Truly remarkable all of his and their achievements.  We have worked with Ralph Lauren for over twenty four years now developing mens and womens scarfs and coldweather product.  We can’t say enough how proud we are to be associated with such world class people.  Their creative vision has always been an inspiration.  And their neverending quest to be the best is a key driver to our initiatives in their regard.  They are no less inspiring today as they were the day we started. 

Congratulations and happy birthday, Ralph Lauren

Chill is in the air.  Yes, in parts of the country it is time to put on a little outerwear.  But not so fast.  It is not time for a coat.  More Americans like Europeans before them don a scarf and glove and feel plenty warm during the morning and evening chills.  What our customers tell us is that they prefer to accessorize with wraps, ruanas, ponchos and capes.  What is a ruana anyway?   The definition is: