Earth Day 2016 – April 22nd – was a huge celebration at the Active Ride Shop in Costa Mesa. It was the launch of the etnies x Element collaboration and I got to sit down with both skaters – Julian Davidson & Nick Garcia – to chat about their new collections.
![group](https://skatingfashionista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/group.jpg)
Above I’m with Eric from Active Ride, Don from etnies, and my filmer Courtney. I knew Courtney was a huge etnies fan (the IG gives it away) but I didn’t know she’d be there so I was super pumped because it meant I could blog & make videos. Look below for links to the video. So yes to all those who wonder if I come to an event with a plan. Nope, I really go to events and what happens is what I blog about. At least for me if you plan to much you lose spontaneity – I want to live and blog about the moment.
Both etnies & Element are environmentally conscious. Five years ago, etnies started the Buy a Shoe, Plant a Tree reforestation project – 1 million trees later this new line will plant many more. Starting with everyone who attended the launch.
![Screen shot 2016-04-23 at 10.52.27 AM](https://skatingfashionista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen-shot-2016-04-23-at-10.52.27-AM.png)
Yes – everyone, not just skaters, who turned out to the event received a Redwood sapling to plant . Change starts with one person and really gets moving as more get involved.
![Screen shot 2016-04-23 at 10.54.34 AM](https://skatingfashionista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen-shot-2016-04-23-at-10.54.34-AM.png)
There was skating outside and inside the store.
![Screen shot 2016-04-23 at 11.24.53 AM](https://skatingfashionista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen-shot-2016-04-23-at-11.24.53-AM.png)
The Element No Board Left Behind was also going on.
![Screen shot 2016-04-23 at 11.09.45 AM](https://skatingfashionista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen-shot-2016-04-23-at-11.09.45-AM.png)
I’d heard about the No Board Left Behind but actually seeing it happen and watching people ride their new cruisers – super stylish. It’s a program that’s good for the environment – recycle don’t add to a landfill plus it’s super good deal – you buy a new Element deck (which you needed anyway because your deck was thrashed) and Element reshapes your old deck plus gives you free wheels, trucks, bearings, & bolts.
![julian hand shake](https://skatingfashionista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/julian-hand-shake.jpg)
Above my last memory of the event – Julian thanking some skaters for stopping by. I’m grateful to skate – immensely grateful to get to blog & share skateboarding and love that I continue to meet people with such positive vibes.
Julian has my favorite piece in the new collection – Jameson Bomber.
![Screen shot 2016-04-23 at 11.36.29 AM](https://skatingfashionista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen-shot-2016-04-23-at-11.36.29-AM.png)
And it looks like their favorites were the boards.
![Screen shot 2016-04-23 at 11.00.02 AM](https://skatingfashionista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen-shot-2016-04-23-at-11.00.02-AM.png)
Let me know what your favorites are.
Interviews with Julian & Nick
![julian](https://skatingfashionista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/julian.jpg)
![nick](https://skatingfashionista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/nick.jpg)