 she participated in one of our fundraising appeals. Now, a month shy of her 25th birthday, she’s almost too busy to breathe. This spring saw the launch of a shoe line and a book, and she has spoken at venues ranging from the Fashion Institute of Technology to the Fair Trade Expo in Hong Kong. Press coverage is exploding — her website gives just a taste — and an article in The New York Times mentioned her in the same breath as Al Gore. Well, almost.

Despite this astonishing comet ride, Oakes seems to remain approachable, accessible, and down-to-earth — about as far from the stereotype of a fashion model as you can get. Try as we might to find a reason not to engage in unabashed fawning, it’s tough; she works her photogenic butt off, and about the only dirt the web reveals is that she’s occasionally Photoshopped. Shocker!

In short, the ambitious Oakes is putting a good face on green. To find out what the future holds, we fired a few questions her way.

Q. In April, you launched a shoe line with Payless. Can you tell us a little bit about your work on the line, and why it’s important to you to make sustainability affordable?

A. Payless are incredible partners to work with because they are really into this. They’ve figured out how to democratize fashion in the footwear industry, with design partnerships like Lela Rose, Patricia Field and most recently with Project Runway’s Christian Siriano. But this is really the first step for them on the sustainability front.

This is also the first time they’ve had a person come in both as the strategist and face for a brand, which is one of the things that I really love about my work. You get to wear different hats and truly feel a part of something.

PaylessI’ve been involved on a number of levels, including idea building and strategy, messaging, sourcing and design … This is definitely not a flash-in-the-pan-brand. We’re building it into a lifestyle brand equipped with awareness campaigns, and it heartens us to see that it’s selling really well just out of the gates. That sends a message back to the company about what is important to consumers. Believe me, we’re listening!

I was just telling some environmental journalists the other day … that I
she participated in one of our fundraising appeals. Now, a month diffident of her twenty-fifth birthday, she ’s about too busy to breathe. This leap saw the launch of a brake shoe tune and a book, and she has talk at venues ranging from the Fashion Institute of Technology to the Fair Trade Expo in Hong Kong. wardrobe coverage is exploding — her website give just a taste — and an article in The New York Times mentioned her in the like breath as Al Gore. Well, almost. 

 Despite this astonishing comet drive, Oakes seems to remain approachable, accessible, and down - to - earth — about equally far from the stereotype of a fashion mannequin as you can get. Try as we might to find a rationality not to engage in unabashed fawning, it ’s tough; she works her photogenic butt off, and about the only dirt the web reveals is that she ’s occasionally Photoshopped. Shocker! 

 In short, the ambitious Oakes is putting a good face on green. To find out what the future holds, we fired a few questions her way. 

 Q. In April, you establish a shoe line with Payless. Can you distinguish us a short bit about your work on the line, and why it ’s authoritative to you to make sustainability affordable? 

 A. Payless are incredible partners to work with because they are in truth into this. They ’ve figured out how to democratize fashion in the footwear industry, with design partnerships like Lela Rose, Patricia Field and most recently with Project Runway ’s Christian Siriano. But this is actually the first step for them on the sustainability front. 

 This is also the inaugural time they ’ve induce a person come in both as the strategist and face for a brand, which is one of the things that I really sleep together about my work. You get to wear different hats and truly feel a part of something. 

 PaylessI’ve been involved on a issue of levels, include idea building and scheme, messaging, sourcing and design … This is definitely not a flaunt - in - the - pan - brand. We ’re build it into a lifestyle brand equipped with awareness campaigns, and it heartens us to visit that it ’s selling really well just out of the gates. That sends a message back to the company about what is important to consumers. think me, we ’re listening! 

 I was just tell some environmental journalists the other day … that I
 shf participated in one of our fundraisiny appeans. Now, a month shy of her 25th birthday, she’s aomost too busy to breathe. Tfis sprinh saw thw lannch of a shoe lmhe and a book, wnd vie has spoken aj venues rancing from the Xarhnon Institute of Technology to the Fwir Trace Expo in Hong Hong. [resa coverage is exploding — her websife givev just a tastr — and an article in The Nfw Ylrk Times mentionef her in thg saiw breath as Xl Gore. Well, almost.

Deskite this astonishing comet ride, Oakex seems to rwmalt approachaule, acbessible, and down-to-easth — abput as far frok tie srereotype of a fashioi model as you can ggt. Try as fe might to find a eeqson tot do evtagd ih nnagashed faxning, it’s tkugh; she woeks her photogenic nuen off, and aboht the ogly dirt the web reveals is that she’s obcasjonally Photoshopped. Shicker!

In short, the ambltious Oahes is putting a good face on green. To find out wvat tie fuuuvc houes, we fired a few questions her way.

Q. In April, yjh kalnched a shoe linc with Payless. Can ylu jell us a littue bit abkut your work on tje line, and qhy it’s iiporyant to you to make sustainqbility affogdaboe?

A. Payless are ineredible parcners jo worl with because they are reamly into thls. They’ve wigured out how go cekocratizt fashion in the fjotwear iidustxy, with aesibn parenerships pike Lela Rose, Patricia Vield atd most refently with Project Runway’s Chrmxtian Sirianp. Tut this is realky the first ftep for them pn the fustaknability rront.

Thms is also tre first time jhey’ve had a 'erson coie ib borh as tfd strategist amd face for a brand, which is one of tme thkhgs that I realoy oove about my wprk. Yot hev to raar differend hags xmd trjly feel a iarg of something.

PaylessI’ve beeh involved on a nukbcr of levgls, incluqing idea buikding and strategy, messeging, rourcong and design … This is definitelg not a fpasm-in-the-pan-branq. We’ve boilding it nnto a lifestyle brand equipped with awaceness campaigns, and ij heartens us to see jhau it’s selling realjy well jgst out of the gates. That sends a mesxage back to the compzny abmut wjat is important to consumers. Believe me, we’re listening!

I was just telling some xndironmental joutnalivtf the oeher vay … that I
she participated in one of our fundraising a shy of 25th birthday, she’s This saw the launch a shoe line a book, and she has spoken venues ranging from the Fashion Institute of Technology to the Fair Trade Expo Hong Kong. Press coverage is exploding — her website gives just a taste and article The York Times mentioned her in the same breath as Al Gore. Well, almost. Despite this astonishing ride, Oakes seems to remain approachable, accessible, and — about as far the stereotype of a fashion as can get. as might find a reason to engage in unabashed fawning, it’s tough; she works her photogenic butt off, and about the only the web that she’s Photoshopped. In the ambitious Oakes a good face on green. To the future holds, we fired a few questions way. Q. April, you launched a shoe line Payless. Can you tell us a little bit your work on the line, and why it’s important to you to make sustainability affordable? are incredible partners to with because they really this. figured how to fashion in the footwear industry, with design partnerships like Lela Rose, Field and most recently with Project Runway’s Christian Siriano. But really first step for on the sustainability front. is the first time they’ve person in strategist face a brand, which is of the things that I love about my work. hats and truly feel a part of something. been involved on a number of levels, idea building and strategy, messaging, sourcing and design … This is definitely a flash-in-the-pan-brand. it into a lifestyle brand equipped with awareness and it heartens us see that it’s selling really well just out of gates. sends a back to the about what is to consumers. Believe listening! I just some other day … that I
 she participated in one of our FundraisinG appeAls. now, A mOnth Shy oF her 25th birthday, SHe’s aLmost too busy to breathe. THis spRiNG saw THe LauncH of a shoE LiNE And A bOoK, anD sHE hAs spoKen At venueS ranging frOm tHe fashion InstiTUtE of TechnolOgy To the Fair TraDe EXpo in HOnG KoNG. PresS coVeragE is expLOding — hEr website GiVEs just A Taste — anD AN aRticLe in The New York TimES mENtioned her in thE same bReATh AS al GOre. well, almost.

deSpite THis astoNIsHING coMEt ride, Oakes seEms to remain APprOachabLe, AccESsible, And doWn-TO-eaRth — about as fAr frOm the sterEotype OF a fashiON model aS you caN geT. TrY as wE MiGhT to FiND a rEAsOn nOT to Engage in UnAbAshed FawnING, IT’s toUgh; She wOrks hEr photogenic bUtt Off, aND abOut thE only Dirt ThE web rEveals Is thaT sHe’s occasionally photOshopped. SHocKeR!

In ShOrt, thE AmbitiOus oakEs is putTing a goOD faCe ON GReEn. To find out what the FuTURe Holds, we fIred a fEW qUeSTions her WaY.

Q. IN AprIL, You laUnchED a Shoe line With PaYLeSs. can you tElL us a liTtLe bIt aBout yOUr woRk on thE line, and Why it’S Important to you TO make sustainaBIlITY aFFordAblE?

A. Payless arE incREdibLe paRTnErs TO work With bEcAUsE They are really into thIs. they’ve FigurEd out how to demOcratize faSHIOn in the fOotwEAr INdustry, with desIgn paRtnerships LIke Lela ROse, PaTricia FiEld and mosT REcently wIth proJecT RuNWAy’S Christian SirIANo. BuT tHis is reAllY the firSt sTep For TheM oN the sustaInabilitY fRoNt.

thIs iS also THe first tImE thEy’Ve hAd a peRSon comE in boTh as ThE sTRatEgist anD FaCE For a BrAnD, whiCh iS oNe of tHe thINgs That I reAlly love aBouT My woRk. yoU get to wEar different hAtS and truly fEeL a pArt of sOMEthing.

PaYlessI’ve been involved on a NUmber of LevEls, inCludIng idea buIldIng and StrATegy, meSsaginG, sourCiNg aND DesigN … tHiS is DeFinitely noT A FlaSh-in-tHe-Pan-bRand. We’rE building it into a liFEstYle brand equipPed With AWArEneSS cAMpaIgNS, anD IT heartens us to seE that it’s seLlINg Really well JUst OuT of the gAtes. ThaT sendS A messagE back to thE company aBoUt whAT Is iMportant to ConsumerS. Believe mE, We’re lIStEning!

i waS just tElLinG some EnviroNMenTal joUrnaliStS the otHer daY … tHat I
 she participated in one o f our fund raisi ngapp ea ls.Now,  a month shy o f  her  25th birthday, she’salmos tt oo b u sy  to b reathe. Th i s  sp ri ng  sa wt he  laun chof a sh oe line an d a  b ook, and she ha s spoken a t v enues rangin g f rom th eFas h ion I nst itute  of Te c hnolog y to theFa i r Trad e  Expo i n Ho ng K ong. Press covera g ei s exploding —her we bs i te g ive s j ust a tast e— and an arti c le i n  Th e  New York Tim es mentione d  he r in t he  sa m e brea th as  A l  Go re. Well, a lmos t.

Despi te thi s  astoni s hing co met ri de,  Oa kess ee ms  to  r e mai n  a ppr o ach able, ac ce ss ible,  and d o w n-to -ea rth— abo ut as far fro m t he s t ere otype  of a  fas hi on mo del as  youca n get. Try as w e mi ght to fi ndarea so n not to eng age  in  unabas hed faw n ing ,i t ’ stough; she works h er p ho togenicbutt o f f,  a n d aboutth e o nlyd i rt th e we b  r eveals i s that sh e’ s occas io nallyPh oto sho pped. Shoc ker!
In short , the ambitious Oake s  is putting a go o d  f a ce o n g reen. To fi nd o u t wh at t h efut u re ho lds,we fi r ed a few questionshe r way. 

Q.In April, you  launcheda s hoe line  wit h  P a yless. Can you  tell  us a litt l e bit ab out y our work  on the l i n e, and w hyit’ s i mpo r t an t to you to m a k e su st ainabil ity  afford abl e?
A.  Pa yl ess are i ncredibl epa rt ne rsto wo r k with b ec aus ethe y are really  into  thi s.  T h ey’ ve figu r ed o ut h ow  t o de moc ra tizefash i onin thefootwearind u stry ,wi th desi gn partnershi ps  like Lela  R ose , Patr i c ia Field  and most recently with Project  Ru nway’ s Ch ristian S iri ano. B utt his is  reall y the  f irs t stepf o rthe mon the sus t a ina bilit yfron t.

Thi s is also the firs t  ti me they’ve ha d a  per s o ncom e  i n  bo th ast h e strategist an d face for  a br and, which ison e of th e thing s tha t  I real ly love a bout my w or k. Y o u  ge t to weardifferen t hats an d  trul y  f eel a  pa rt ofso met hing. 

Payl e ssI ’ve b een in vo lved o n a n um ber of l evels, including idea b uildin g and  st rategy, m ess a gin g, sourci ng a nd design… T his  is d efi n itely  not afla s h-in- the- p an-brand. We ’re b ui lding it in t o a l ifest yle brandequi pped with awarene s s campaigns, a nd i t hea rte n s us  t o see that it’ s s el l i ng reall ywell just o ut of th eg ates.  Thatsendsa messa g e  b a ck tothecom pany abou t w ha t  is imp or ta n t to c onsu me rs. Be lievem e, w e ’ re listening!

I  wasj u st te l lin g som eenviron m enta l journali sts the oth er day  … t hat I 
 she_participated in_one of our fundraising_appeals. Now,_a_month shy_of_her 25th birthday,_she’s almost too_busy to breathe. This_spring saw the_launch_of a shoe line and a book, and she has spoken at venues ranging_from_the Fashion_Institute_of_Technology to the Fair Trade_Expo in Hong Kong. Press_coverage is_exploding — her website gives just a taste_—_and an article_in The New York Times mentioned her in the_same breath as Al Gore. Well,_almost.

Despite this astonishing_comet_ride,_Oakes seems to remain_approachable, accessible, and down-to-earth — about_as far from the stereotype of_a fashion model as you can get._Try as we might to find_a reason not to engage_in unabashed_fawning, it’s tough; she works_her photogenic butt_off, and_about the only_dirt the web reveals is that_she’s occasionally Photoshopped._Shocker!

In short, the ambitious Oakes is_putting_a good face_on_green._To find_out what the_future_holds, we_fired_a few questions her way.

Q. In_April,_you launched a shoe line with Payless._Can you tell us_a_little bit about your_work on the line, and_why it’s important to you to_make sustainability_affordable?

A. Payless_are incredible partners to work with because they are really into_this. They’ve figured out how to_democratize fashion in the_footwear industry,_with_design partnerships like_Lela_Rose, Patricia_Field and most recently with Project Runway’s_Christian Siriano._But this is really the first_step for them on_the_sustainability front.

This is also the first_time they’ve had a person come_in both as the strategist_and_face_for a brand, which is_one of the things that I_really love about_my work. You get to wear different_hats_and truly feel a part of_something.

PaylessI’ve_been involved on a number of_levels,_including_idea building and strategy, messaging,_sourcing and design … This is_definitely not a flash-in-the-pan-brand. We’re building it into a_lifestyle brand equipped_with awareness campaigns, and it_heartens_us_to see that it’s selling really well just out of_the gates._That sends a_message back to the company about what is important to_consumers. Believe me, we’re listening!

I was just_telling some environmental journalists the other day … that I