We are in the midst of a sexual revolution. In recent years the industry that produces sex toys has grown more than 30% a year, and generates millions and millions a year in sales. But there’s a catch: many of the sex toys on the market today are not exactly ecological, and one study found that a high percentage contain dangerously high concentrations of toxic substances such as phthalate esters, which both the EU and the U.S. have already prohibited for use in children’s toys. Many toys use batteries that are difficult to recycle or contain heavy metals.

But there is a solution: more and more innovative companies are developing eco-friendly sex toys! We’re here to tell you about some, so you know where to look …

Enjoy your vibrator anywhere in the world, without wasting energy. Only eight hours of sun exposure gives you up to an hour of hot leisure time and good vibrations with the vibrator “Solar Bullet.” Or if you prefer to crank it, check out “The Earth Angel.” Pulling on the handle just 4 minutes will give you more than half an hour of vibration. Another benefit: it is makes much less noise than a traditional vibrator.

Returning to the super important of toxic substances, it is very important to choose the material of your sex toys wisely. A vibrator shouldn’t be a cancer stick. There are many materials used in sex toys besides toxic PVC, which are natural or at least non-toxic, and have the advantage of being much more aesthetic than crappy plastic dildos (yes I am indeed thinking of a particularly tasteful made in china model which an ex gave me…it sounded like daddy’s electric shaver and looked even less sexy…). Consider testing sex toys made of glass (very beautiful and easy to clean), wood, stainless steel, silicone, or if you can get, cyberskin, which has an incredibly real touch. Toys in Babeland is great company to check out.

Whatever toy you choose, you’re sure to get hot but not bothered…. Rent apartments in Milan, where the first sex shop in Italy opened up in 1972. There are many more today, and as the world capital of fashion, you’re sure to find a toy that follows the eco-friendly trends of 2010.

First there was Tavi Gevinson, the 13 year old style guru who conquered the US, Paris and Japan. But the story of Cecilia Cassini is even wackier. This cute teenager with her long blonde hair is not just obsessed with fashion – she also designs. She even sold her collection to the exclusive Fred Segal store in California! So how old is she? 17? 16? No! In fact she just turned 10. Please, she’s not even in Junior High yet!

She’s been called the new Donna Karan and teenage star Miley Cyrus confessed to be an enormous fan of Cecilia’s designs. Seriously, I always thought you had to study design or at least have a major in fashion. Apparently all you need is to ask your parents to buy you a sewing machine (she got one when she was 6 years old), some talent, and a lucky scrunchie.

This reminds of 5 year old Katie, who was hired as a guestblogger by Racket during the New York Fashion week. She wore a cute pink dress, sat next to Heidi Klum in the front row, and said things like “I liked the messy hair. Some of the models had really messy hair.” All real cute and sweet, but I didn’t write this article so you could go ‘oooh’ and ‘aaaww’ all the time.

Is this really the best the world can hope for? Some gifted children who stopped playing with Barbies and instead play with big living dolls? Give me a break, kick the children back to the playground. When they are in their early twenties and they still have such an amazing talent for fashion, I’ll take back my words. But for the moment I’d rather look at a picture of Kate Moss to see fashion than take advice from my toddler.

Already looking forward to next year’s winter collection? Start saving up and get yourself tickets to the Milan Fashion week. Rent the best apartments in Milan, and enjoy your visit to the most stylish city in the world

From June 8th until next June 30, 2010, you can check out Wannabee Gallery to see the latest proposal by Winkler and Noah creative lab, fruit of photographer Romina Raffaelli and graphic designer Stefano Marini´s collaborations. The title of the exhibition is “Awakening”, but on their official site they have chosen “Les Femmes Heretiques” (Women heretics) to classify the exhibit’s images, allowing us to perceive more clearly their meaning.

The work consists of a series of photographs of thin women, stylized to reflect the ideal vision of western feminity and crucified, to emulate the image of Jesus Christ. They are shown on the same cross and with the same background with pink clouds. The crucifixion is here a scenario in which the female models are interchangeable and yet all die for our sins. The crucified gals of Winkler and Noah combine the kitsch studio photography aesthetics of smiling teenagers an artificial landscape backgrounds, with the aesthetics of fashion photography in which the goal is to seduce the camera with ones pose.

Apparently the project’s objective is to shed light on the suffering that women have borne over the years. But the feeling is not very convincing, in part because they have chosen such stylized fashion magazine clones as models, the message seems a bit limited to that sector, and the tyranny of “looking good” put forth as the greatest strain. Or is this the power of the message? It is perhaps for this visual style that Winkler and Noah get jobs advertising world-renowned brands, which seem unruffled by their critical gaze at our consumer society.

With their projects, Noah and Winkler have shown on other occasions how children are manipulated like puppets: in a series that, if not for a simple trick, could very well be the catalogue of a children’s boutique. In the series “The Witness” they clouded the eyes of the 20-something subjects to signify the ideological blindness of recent times.

Thus, Winkler and Noah offer consistently interesting and beautiful works that invite reflection on current issues. It is worth your while to choose from the many apartments in Milan to stay and visit this exhibition whose subject has aroused controversy even before it opened. Although “Awakening” will be up for a relatively brief period, Winkler and Noah will be back in September of this year with another exhibition at Wannabee, so the city can enjoy their work a little longer.

Like in summers past, Latin American travels to Europe for a two-month stay in Milan, from June 16 until 16 August. The festival takes 20 countries in its suitcase and a program so as explosive and fresh as a delicious mojito. There will be concerts, dances, exhibitions, literature, crafts, folklore, cuisine, tropical bars, shops, tourism, solidarity … Get your straws ready to absorb this exotic cocktail.

Salsa, bachata, merengue, cha cha cha and reggaeton are some of the rhythms that animate the evenings at Forum di Assago, located three kilometres from downtown Milan. Music is the star of the event, and the artists invited are sure to get the public shaking in a minute. Here is a small selection of the must-see events:

On June 17, mark your agenda to see Brazilian diva Daniela Mercury sing samba and axé music. The singer, dancer and songwriter, is presenting her latest album, “Canibalia”, a creation inspired by the traditional indigenous culture and modern rhythms. The sensuality and talent of this star will hypnotize you.

On July 4, Los Lobos come with their mestizo blend of country, folk, blues, Caribbean sounds and Mexican boleros. Surely you know this Mexican band, who currently live in Los Angeles and became famous in 1987 with “La Bamba” …

On July 9, Argentina’s Diego Torres will reveal the secrets of his latest creation, “Guapa”, a mix of reggae, Latin pop and funk.

On 31 July, Salsa will come to the Forum with the tropical sounds of Prince of Salsa, the Nicaraguan Luis Enrique.

There are sure to be many surprises more in this edition that we’re not going to reveal, especially considering that it is the festival’s 20th anniversary. We leave you to look at the program and summer events in Milan.

And just so you know there will also be special events: the Latin DJ All Star, the nomination of Miss and Mister Festival, the Grand Carnival and Dance-a-thon show with over 300 dancers. After spending every night dancing to sensual and dynamic rhythms, your body will need a rest, so don’t hesitate to rent apartments in Milan.

Get your glow sticks ready for the second edition of Maximal Festival, where you’ll be able to dance for a marathon 12 hours to electronic music outdoors on June 12 in Milan. This event promotes the culture of electronic music in Italy, and will take place in the ParcoEsposizioni Novegro. It has a diverse line-up of some of the best and most celebrated artists in the world of Trance, Drum’n'Bass, Techno and Hard techno. Some of the artists confirmed include Eddie Halliwell, Danilo Vigorito, Scan 7, Sean Tyas, Monika Kruse, Juan Atkins, Noisia., Renato Cohen, Underground Resistance, Alessio Mereu, Play Paul., Alan Oldham and Bhonz. Of course, the presence of Juan Atkins from Detroit promises to be quite an event and deserves special mention.

In the pantheon of electronic music today, there are a few gods and goddesses, and Juan Atkins certainly has his place. He released several albums along with Richard Davis under the name Cybotron, a group that many have baptized as the first techno music group in history, although some have classified their music as electro. Whatever you call it, its fusion of Kraftwerkian futuristic rhythms and Parliament Funkadelic funk styling changed the history of music, and even today, Detroit is considered the birthplace of techno. In 1981 they released the single Alleys of Your Mind on the label Deep Space, which started a revolution. Their sound is marked by the technology of the time, and is characterized by the use of analog synthesizers and drum machines. It reflects a post-industrial uncertainty while encouraging people to continue dancing until dawn with its robotic rhythms and intense beats.

Take advantage of this great opportunity to get acquainted with the roots of techno for a magical evening in Milan, one of the most modern cities in the world. Rent apartments in Milan, and let yourself spend an eternal night listening to the sound of the future. Admission is 30 euros, and more information about the festival is available at http://www.maximalfestival.com.