I like to design and work on creative solutions
to some of our greatest environmental challenges.
These are things like improving our supply chain with technology, designing more environmentally-sound products, creating entertaining media with a message, helping people grow and eat better, and bringing back the joy of movement to a sedentary world.
Then I tell inspiring stories that encourage people to pause—
think, laugh a little, and even act.
I sometimes do this as a masked crusader.
It works.
BIOGRAPHY
Summer Rayne Oakes was reclaiming mine sites, researching sewage sludge, and restoring forestlands when she was struck with the idea that style—and how we live our life—would be a far more effective means to connect people to the natural world. Graduating Cornell University cum laude with degrees in Environmental Science and Entomology, Oakes began to bridge her interest in ecological systems to industries that affect our everyday life—from what we wear to what we eat.
This journey has led her to over two decades of experience infusing sustainable-thinking and practices into the heart of the fashion, beauty, food, and horticultural industries. In 2016, her very verdant apartment went viral and that led her to create her blog, HomesteadBrooklyn.com and her popular houseplant YouTube channel, Plant One On Me, which on average gets over 15 million views/year. Shortly thereafter, she released the Houseplant Masterclass, the first online audiovisual course on houseplant cultivation, care and maitenance; and numerous houseplant-related courses after that for people at all levels. Her latest book, How to Make a Plant Love You: Cultivate Green Space in Your Home and Heart explores ways to elevate the common potted plant from a decorative object that makes one’s space “look good” to a gateway to something deeper. And in April 2023, Oakes will host Bad Seeds, a special 8-part series podcast on iHeartPodcasts focused on the underworld of plant smuggling and the people working to conserve the rarest, most desired plants.
Most recently, she and her friends started Flock, a creative community in the Finger Lakes of New York and corresponding YouTube channel, which brings in over 5 million views/year. In 2025, they plan to open up the space more to the public for ecological garden tours; events; and Ecological, Creative, and Horticultural Residencies.
Previously she has worked closely on the launch of numerous companies including Good Eggs, a farmers market meets online grocer and Foodstand, a food-savvy community app that helps people eat better. In 2014, she founded SUGARDETOX.ME to help people come to terms with their sugar tooth. She released her first cookbook and guide based in 2017.
Though the plant world has been a core focal point in recent years, Oakes is most known for her work in the world of fashion. She is recognized as the world’s first “eco-model,” a term bestowed originally by Grist to describe her values-based modeling. Over the past ten years, she co-founded Source4Style, an award-winning, venture-backed marketplace that connects thousands of designers to sustainable material suppliers around the world; authored the best-selling book Style, Naturally; served as a correspondent on Discovery Networks; designed environmentally-preferable lines with Payless, Portico and Modo eyewear; and served as the muse for Toyota’s Prius C (they even went so far as to name a paint color in her honor).
She and her work have been featured in a range of media outlets worldwide including: CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, The Guardian, Vogue, Vanity Fair, L'Officiel, INC, Forbes, and many others. Outside magazine called her a "Top Environmental Activist," Amica listed her as one of the "Top 20 Trendsetters under 40," and CNBC named her one of their "10 Best Green Entrepreneurs." In 2013, she was one of eleven women featured in the iconic Pirelli Calendar shot by photographer Steve McCurry of Afghan Girl fame. ♡