Welcome to NYnow–the new e-newsletter published by the New York International Gift Fair®. NYnow is designed to keep you in sync with the hottest emerging trends worldwide. This premiere issue is dedicated to "Sustainability."

TREND REPORT: ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN HEATS UP Sustainability takes "thinking green" to a higher level. It's about creating products that consumers feel good about buying...products that help sustain local cultures while safeguarding the environment. Sustainability is already huge and is only going to get bigger as concerns about global warming and global resources reach epic proportions. More than a trend, it's a new direction that impacts every business, including yours. Here's a preview of some exciting new products that combine the principles of Sustainability with compelling sales appeal. You'll find these–and more–at the August NYIGF®. Click the images to learn more about each company's "green" philosophy. TransNeomatic by Artecnica

Earth Art™ Carved River Stones by Gold Leaf Design Group Hemp Bone Toy by Harry Barker #9 California Bus Wall Decoration by Aaron Foster

Seeds of Life Kit by The Magnolia Company Biodegradable pots for home and garden by Ecosource Home & Garden Mocha Tiki Gift Set by Pixel Modern Pieces

RETAIL SCOOP: YOU "R" WHAT YOU BUY The mantra of sustainability is Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. Those principles, along with fair trade, are the driving force behind 3r Living, a home decor and lifestyle store dedicated to "Future Friendly Products." Located in Brooklyn's hip Park Slope section, the store is the brainchild of Mark Caserta, an environmental lobbyist, and his wife Samantha Delman-Caserta. Both the store and its website are model examples of how appealing green retailing can be. All the products at 3r Living are carefully chosen to reduce waste, reuse materials and permit recycling. Says Mark, "we favor manufacturers and artisans who dedicate their talents to creating clever, modern, and earth-affirming products." For shopping with a clear social conscience, visit them in Brooklyn or online. You'll find complete information, along with a tempting array of planet-positive goods, at: www.3rliving.com.

Yellow Cabs Turn Green! It's true, NYC Mayor Bloomberg has seen the future, and it's green. He's decreed that all yellow cabs must switch from gas-guzzling engines to fuel-efficient hybrids in the next five years. With 13,000 hybrid taxis on the streets of New York by 2012, this move will have a huge environmental benefit, and will also save drivers more than $10,000 a year on fuel costs. So take a deep, clean breath and holler "Taxi!" Eat Green–Think Blue Blue Hill, that is. The famous Blue Hill at Stone Barns restaurant combines a working farm, restaurant and educational center in the spectacular surroundings of Pocantico Hills, New York. You can taste the delicious results in their NYC restaurant at 75 Washington Place. Family proprietors Dan, David and Laureen Barber have a passion for seasonal menus and fresh, locally grown ingredients—including their own farm-raised, free-ranging animals. Thinking green never tasted so good. For reservations, call 212-539-1776. Design for the Other 90% Startling fact: the majority of the world's designers develop products and services exclusively for the richest 10% of the world's customers! "Nothing less than a revolution in design is needed to reach the other 90%," claims the exhibition currently on view at New York's Cooper-Hewitt Museum. Check out the ideas from a worldwide think-tank of designers, engineers, students and professors, architects and social entrepreneurs. You'll see ingenious ways to provide food and water, energy, education, healthcare, and other life-sustaining resources for those who most need them, through September 23. Picnic in the Park It's the mother of all urban farmers' markets! The Union Square Farmer's Market (14th and Broadway) is open 8 am to 6 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It offers a great range of superbly fresh, organic and traditional foodstuffs–from fruits and veggies to cheeses, baked goods and flowers. Come see where the whole greenmarket trend started, and pick up a few goodies to enjoy as you meander through the park.

Learning Curve: Seminars to Sustain Your Business Consumers are voting the "green ticket" with their pocketbooks. The August NYIGF will offer two seminars to help you understand the issues, challenges and opportunities. For complete details, or to register, visit www.nyigf.com/programs. SustainAbility: design for a better world™ Monday, August 13, 2 pm–3:30 pm Socially responsible design only works if it is commercially viable for designers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers. Susan Szenasy, editor of Metropolis, will lead panelists in an exploration of green products, fair trade practices and ergonomic design that is making positive impact while turning profits. It's a whole new way to do "good" business! The Greening of Bodycare Sunday, August 12, 3:30 pm–4:30 pm Before they lavish themselves with spa products, today's eco-aware consumers are reading those labels more carefully than ever. Learn how you can separate the authentic from the hype in natural and organic materials. GCI magazine Assistant Editor Tracy Sherwood, and panelists Lisa Levin of Pharmacopia and Giovanna Kupfer of Spa Ja, will guide you through the evolving standards of organic body care, to help your business stay in the green. ON VIEW: SUSTAINABILITY–THE EXHIBITION Talk about inspirational! An exemplary array of environmentally conscious and socially responsible products will be on display at SustainAbility: design for a better world at the August NYIGF. This curated exhibit will spotlight gift and home industry suppliers whose materials or production processes support the principles of sustainability. If you're looking to explore the possibilities, this beautifully presented showcase will give you an eyeful: more than 100 companies and 200 products in a wide range of categories—from furniture and textiles to personal accessories. Don't miss this fresh and exciting showcase! The New York International Gift Fair is owned and managed by George Little Management, LLC (GLM). Register to attend, or apply to exhibit, at www.nyigf.com.