Summer Rayne Oakes

Affectionately known as "The World’s First EcoModel," Oakes forged a career in sustainable style when she combined her degrees in Environmental Science and Entomology with her first sustainable design venture, The Organic Portraits Project, in 2001. She is now one of the leading authorities in sustainable design; author of best-selling style guide, Style, Naturally; and founder of her own consulting company, SRO, LLC. She has co-launched environmentally-preferable brands with Payless ShoeSource, Portico Home, and most recently the first certified-recycled line of eyewear and optics with MODO. Oakes graduated from Cornell University and is a Udall Scholar and PERC Environmental Fellow. Vanity Fair has named her a "Global Citizen," Glamour anointed her one of "The 70 Women of Green," AMICA called her one of "The Top 20 Trendsetters under 40," and CNBC named her one of the "Top 10 Green Entrepreneurs of 2010." Oakes enjoys caring for her two dozen exotic insects and can often be seen walking them in her local park. Visit her site at summerrayne.net.

Program Session
One Great Idea: Designing for Sustainability
What does sustainability mean when it comes to design? Summer Rayne Oakes will address sustainability trends in apparel and textiles, and the design implications for the product life cycle from pre to post-consumer