Teens Turning Green for Prom

In an exciting lead up to Earth Day, California-based Teens Turning Green hosted the NY launch of their newest initiative, Project Green Prom. The highlight of the April 6th launch party, hosted by Whole Foods Tribeca, was the teen fashion show featuring eco-dresses by designers such as Eileen Fisher, Bahar Shahpar and Stewart+Brown, as well as a few hot vintage numbers.

One Texas teen, winner of the PGP online video contest, was flown in for the event.  Notable players in the green scene, hair stylist John Masters and model/author Summer Rayne Oakes were both contest judges along with Zem Joaquin of EcoFabulous and Eva Chen of Teen Vogue.

The simple, prom-achievable decor (of hanging local greens and adorable cardboard ReplayGround butterflies) was done by my very own sustainable design firm, dvGreen.  OlsenHaus vegan shoes, Burt’s Bees care products and Revolution Rickshaw no-impact transportation were among the many vendors showing their wares as tables around the space.  Inspired by the event, here are a few tips for hosting a Green Prom of your own or really any teen-oriented event.

Serve Mock-tails
Get the party started with some wonderfully sweet and festive mocktails.  Mix two parts club soda with one part Stirrings Organic Apricot Bellini in a champagne glass rimmed with Stirrings Bellini Rimmer.

Arrive In Style
Skip the stretch limo and instead make a statement with a fun, fresh and funky alternative… the rickshaw!

Tie One On
Think local and organic when planning your boutonnieres and corsages.  Or, opt for a keepsake that can be put to use for years to come by choosing a funky felt pin instead (search etsy.com for great, homemade options).

Project Green Prom educates teens and teachers on how they can reduce the impact of their proms.  The modus operandi is the fun, fact-filled online toolkit (of which I wrote the “The Prom” section), where you can find interviews, resources and tips on introducing sustainability into Prom. Also, if you’re on the west coast swing by the PGP pop-up shop in The Village at Corte Madera.

For more green entertaining tips for teens, visit the Project Green Prom tool kit here.

Contributing green writer Danielle Venokur is the founder of dvGreen, a sustainable event design  and production firm.  She hosts The Green Party on MNN.com, and has  been featured in GOTHAM, The Knot, Treehugger, Vogue, and Modern Bride as one of their 25 Trendsetters of 2008.