•  (September 24, 2008)

New York, NY - Lexus Hybrid Living has collaborated with Rodarte, the winner of the 2008 CFDA's Swarovski Award for Womenswear, to create an eco-chic candle and bracelet. The candle will be sold exclusively through two coveted Barneys New York stores.

This marks the first time that the partnership between Lexus Hybrid Living and Rodarte will result in an environmentally friendly luxury product to be sold at retail. The partnership is based on a shared commitment to sustainability and socially responsible practices. Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the women responsible for the Rodarte line, make luxury garments with fastidious attention to detail and a negligible carbon footprint.

"Rodarte's balance of beauty, concern, and the unexpected is a quality that Lexus also strives to embody," said David Nordstrom, Lexus vice president of marketing. "Collaborating with Kate and Laura helps Lexus Hybrid Living to continue our mission of showing that luxury and eco-friendly can coexist."

The candle is made of natural soy, recyclable glass and is scented with Hawaiian orchid, camellia flower, sweet musk, Mirabelle plum, and Japanese quince. The glass features rope imagery influenced by Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki, who has been a continual source of inspiration for Rodarte's work.

"Laura and I have partnered with Lexus Hybrid Living in order to create an innovative eco-friendly soy based candle that is environmentally conscious and chic," said Kate Mulleavy, half of the sister Rodarte design team. "Lexus Hybrid Living is helping to change the way the world approaches luxury, integrating sustainability and design. Laura and I care deeply for the environment and we are truly excited to be working with Lexus Hybrid Living in order to further eco-friendly design."

This special candle package also includes a friendship bracelet handcrafted by Rodarte using leather reclaimed from Lexus vehicles that were scheduled for disposal. The candle & friendship bracelet package will be sold through Barneys' Beverly Hills and New York locations.

About Lexus Hybrid Living
As the only luxury automotive company selling three low-emission hybrid vehicles, Lexus is a leader in offering products that minimize the impact on the earth without sacrificing style and luxury. Lexus is bringing like-minded individuals and companies together through its Hybrid Living initiative, a series of events and a web portal that showcases luxury products made with sustainability top-of-mind. Hybrid Living helps to define and inspire a new eco-luxury lifestyle by featuring furniture, fashion, art, food, architectural structures and other products that are kinder to the environment.

For more information on Lexus Hybrid Living please visit: www.lexus.com/hybridliving. For more information on Rodarte please visit: www.rodarte.net. To schedule an interview, or attend these events, please contact Patrick Courrielche at 323.906.0724 or patrick@inform-ventures.com.