‘Organic’ is not a trend,” says Jeanie Pyun, definitively. Her office in midtown Manhattan is cluttered but not cramped, and the faint smell of wood chips lingers in the air. On her desk sit a laptop and a desktop computer, side-by-side, surrounded by loose papers.

“To me, the lifestyle that Organic Style talks about is inevitable,” she continues, “because we are consuming the planet, and at some point we have to slow that down. And it won’t be just a case of it being a chic, trendy lifestyle — it’s just the way we will be living.”

In the past, “organic” may have conjured images of hippies and tree-huggers, but today the word is wholly mainstream — just check the shelves of your local supermarket. As the editor of Organic Style magazine (whose tagline promotes “fresh thinking” and “fresh living”), Jeanie is determined to reflect the lifestyle’s emergence. After being hired last April, one of her first tasks was to completely overhaul the magazine’s design.

“Jeanie’s infused the pages of Organic Style with her creative energy,” says executive editor Helen Rogan, a 20-year veteran of magazine publishing. “She’s made it brighter, more gorgeous and attention-getting without sacrificing any of the solid environmental coverage that readers look to us for.”

Behind the magazine’s visually enticing style are substantive features that include everything from a survey of drinking water to articles on faux furs, eco-friendly furniture and organic-driven restaurants. “It’s about looking good, doing good and feeling good, all at the same time,” says Jeanie in perfect sound bite form. “What this magazine is about is redefining ‘organic’ for the 21st century.”

And the publishing world is taking notice. Organic Style has posted growth in each of its three years and currently boasts an average circulation of 750,000. Established magazines like InStyle and Self have already introduced “green” issues, with other publications sure to follow. Meanwhile, food corporations like Campbell’s and Kraft are buying up organic farms and major car companies are experimenting with environment-friendly autos. “I think people are wondering if a conscious lifestyle — both mindful and joyful — may be the future,” says Jeanie.

he Pyun family: Hae Soo, Betty, Jeanie, Insook and Cathy (left to right), with Tom in his mother’s lap.

And as editor of Organic Style, Jeanie will be leading the movement. Like fellow New York-based editors Jeannie Park (People) and Janice Min (Us Weekly), Jeanie, 39, is a Korean American woman calling the shots at a high-profile magazine. Says her colleague Rogan: “As a manager, Jeanie is always positive, decisive and hilarious. She’s a swift and imaginative problem-solver, delighted to think out of the box, kick ideas around with her team and laugh — even at herself.”

Which is exactly what Jeanie does when asked about her rise up the editorial ladder. “I have to prepare for a second life,” she quips. “I don’t know if they allow you to grow old in magazines!”

Jeanie was born in 1965 in Harlem while her father, Hae Soo, was finishing up his doctorate at nearby Columbia University. The family then moved to the land of manicured lawns and soccer moms in suburban Long Island, where Jeanie, the eldest of four, developed her leadership skills. In fact, each of her siblings has a childhood anecdote that hints at Jeanie’s promising future as an editor in chief who is quick-thinking, creative and well-coiffed.