Eco Fashionistas

Cyber Monday: Eco Fashion Finds

2011-11-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

Extreme shopping season kicked off last week with Black Friday Specials everywhere you looked and Small Business Saturday for those of us who don't like getting pepper sprayed at Wal-Mart. But the deals don't stop: Today is Cyber Monday, also known as the most epic online shopping day of the year.

So, you can get on board and shop Amazon or the big box stores' websites. But also consider visiting some awesome eco-chic online retailers to get your shopping fix while doing good. Below are two to check out that both have great gifts and gift services.

One example is A Green Wardrobe. Check out their amazing clearance section with items up to 80% off, plus you can get 10% off by signing up for their email newsletter. I'm particularly in love with this Article 23 Weller Shirt if you have a guy to shop for on you list. The black stripes give the look of suspenders and will be perfect at any prohibition style cocktail party!

Another great website to check out today is Gretchen & Grace who is having a crazy amazing 50% off everything sale right now! Once you've found the perfect gift, let Gretchen and Grace gift wrap it for you with their Eco Friendly wrapping service using paper designed and printed in the USA on 100% recycled paper with soy-based inks. They also use 100% recycled boxes, tissue, and ribbon to wrap your gift. Plus there are attractive papers to choose from, which is exactly what all you EcoFashionistas love - style and respect for the environment. Check out a swatch of the Chilly Dog pattern!

Stay tuned for more holiday gift and shopping guides this December. Have an item or website you'd like us to feature? Just leave it in the comments below.

Guest Post: Eco Fashion on a Student Budget

2011-11-15T13:48:00.001-05:00

Photo: College Students Leave a lot behind. MSNBC.com

Sometimes fashionable ethical clothing is difficult to come by within a student budget, as it usually requires more craftsmanship. If you are a student in online graduate programs or at a traditional campus, you might be broke, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have ethical clothing options.

It helps to look for discounts at boutiques and thrift shops. Although boutiques are the more pricy option, something may be on sale that you love. Buying used clothing is better for the environment and for your budget than supporting the products produced new in factories, and working from thrift stores or found items will give you some creative inspiration for your wardrobe.

It will definitely be more affordable to change your wardrobe gradually. Some staples that can be used in a variety of ways will help you buy fewer clothes in general. Hand-dyed sarongs, wraps and scarves can be really versatile and can be used as a head wrap or purse.

Since eco-friendly clothing can sometimes be difficult to find, if you find a design you like that is too large or is damaged, see if you can negotiate a discount. You can also repair or alter the garment yourself with a needle and thread, or even some simple patches.

It is possible to look fashionable while still dressing ethically, even when you're on a shoestring student budget. Although it takes a little more work to find ethically sourced materials, your efforts are always worth it as you are making an investment in the planet.

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This is a guest post from Anthony Garcia from Online Graduate Programs, written exclusively for EcoFashionistas.

Think Big Forum at Chatham University

2011-10-17T11:21:00.000-04:00

Featured Speaker Susan Koger of ModCloth

Part of changing the world through responsible fashion is thinking big... really big! And what do you know, Chatham University in Pittsburgh is hosting the 6th Annual Think Big Forum this Friday, October 21st. Although it's not specifically an eco-fashion event, Susan Gregg Koger, the lead buyer and Chief Creative Officer of ModCloth, is one of the featured speakers.

ModCloth is also based in Pittsburgh and is a pioneer of vintage online shopping. The e-commerce site started by selling vintage pieces Koger found in local thrift shops and has now expended to carrying thousands of pieces vintage inspired kitschy clothing, shoes and accessories. Basically, if you haven't heard of them, you've been living under a rock.

The theme of the forum is "Branding and the Customer Experience". It will feature keynote speaker Maxine Clark, CEO and Founder of Build a Bear Workshop, and a panel discussion with regional women executives and entrepreneurs about creating strong brands that drive greater engagement through meaningful customer interactions and ways to develop personal brands for greater business success.

I think this really ties into eco-fashion because in order to make ethical fashion successful and the mainstream choice for consumers, our brands need to be branded and marketed effectively. Engagement is key in spreading understanding of eco-fashion, what it is and how to support it. Register for the forum here.

Pittsburgh Fashion Week: The Eco Show

2011-09-22T09:10:00.000-04:00

A Karen Page Design

Pittsburgh Fashion Week is coming up and among the local boutiques and fashion forward looks there will be a dedicated Eco Chic Show. This show will feature local artists and designers, many of whom I have worked with before. The line up includes: Lana Neumeyer, Karen Page, Keith Bloom, Jerry Floyd, Designer Days Boutique and Armani Nejor. Unique costumes for the Introduction will be designed by MJ Whalen Couture.

Of course the focus is eco-fashion, but we can't leave out some gorgeous green beauty as well. The hair and makeup will be by Glam Earth Natural & Organic Beauty Boutique, a store located just south of Pittsburgh in Washington, PA.

I love when eco-friendly fashion also become ethical fashion by contributing to our community and those in need. This show will do just that by auctioning off some of the original pieces with proceeds going to Operation Santa Claus, a project presented by Trib Total Media which helps to distribute food across Western PA.

The Eco Chic Show will take place from 6 – 7pm Saturday, October 1st at the Clarion Hotel in Greentree. Hope you can make it!

Still time this Summer for Eco Swim

2011-09-01T10:15:00.001-04:00

Although summer is winding down, there is still one key beach weekend left and I'm sure many more days of sun. Not to mention getaways to exotic locales! I think tha swimsuits are naturally inclined to be eco friendly because they're so small to begin with, they don't require a lot of fabric and you don't put them in the dryer either. But we can always improve! And that's just what Aqua Green has done with their Eco Swim collection.

Eco Swim by Aqua Green is leading the charge for a better and more sustainable tomorrow. As a fourth generation family owned company they believe their family has a responsibility to your family to reduce our environmental impact. They design, fit, source, cut and sew in their home state of Pennsylvania (also my home state and where I'm writing this post as we speak!).

Of course we all want to reduce our carbon footprint, and nowhere is this highlighted better than at the beach where you want clean beaches and safe conditions. From bottle to beach and plastic to poolside, these chic suits are all made from recycled materials.

Check out this video that highlights some of the brands eco initiatives and goes behind the scenes at their latest photo shoot.

Ultra 10: 10 Items for 365 Days

2011-08-30T14:07:00.000-04:00

The Ultra 10 Collection is the winner of the Ethical Fashion Forum INNOVATION Award 2011 as judged by VOGUE Editors and International Ethical Fashion Leaders. This innovative line features a ten piece wardrobe that should get you through all 365 days of the year.

The ULTRA 10 is made of modular and interchangeable pieces like a 4-in-1 Coat/Dress/Jacket/Skirt and a 2-in-1 Jacket/Vest. Almost everything is black (the perennial color of fashion), apart from one white blouse.

With this way of life, I think accessories will be key. A bright scarf, funky jewelry and statement shoes will ensure that your 10 items feel fresh and new each time you put them together. My favorite item has to be the mini-skirt. Click through to see the full collection and let us know what is your favorite.

The full 10-piece set includes:
The Vest
The Backless Top
The Cropped Top
The White Shirt/dress
The Skirt
The Top/Dress
The Stretch Pants
The Cotton Trousers
The 2-in-1 Blazer
The 4-in-1 Coat-Dress-Jacket-Skirt

To make it even more eco friendly, the pieces in the line are made of recycled and organic materials. Not only that, but you may return the ULTRA 10 at the end of each year for a fresh supply. The items you return will be recycled or re-purposed into new usable materials.

Feral Childe Design Copied by Forever 21

2011-07-22T09:10:00.002-04:00

Feral Childe print top, Forever 21 below

Many of you may have heard about the lawsuit filed by Feral Childe against Forever 21. The fast fashion mega retailer has come into the spotlight countless times over copyright infringement, but this is one of the first cases I've heard of that concerns a much loved ethical line.

I have long appreciated Feral Childe's work and even wore one of their tops at Eco Fashion Week in Vancouver last fall. One of my colleagues forwarded me an email from the designers about this ordeal. I wanted to share that letter with all of you, I think it really highlights all the hard work Alice and Moriah put into the line. Forever 21's abuse of creativity needs to stop.

Please read the letter below and do your part by sharing, tweeting, emailing and re-posting this story.

Dear friends,

A few weeks ago, we discovered one of our prints appearing on garments manufactured by Forever 21--a large, major retailer. Feral Childe's artwork was used without our permission or knowledge, and appears on multiple styles sold in the Forever 21 stores and on their website. Some styles have even received press. The print is our hand-drawn Teepees, widely featured in Feral Childe's Fall 2009 Collection School Play. Many of you have leggings, jeans, and dresses or other garments featuring our Teepees. The Forever 21 garments appear to reproduce Teepees exactly. If compared side by side you would not be able to distinguish any difference in the artwork.

Feral Childe has always strived to bring you the very best in innovative, ethically-produced clothing that is made to last. When we first started out we could only dream about the day when we'd be able to design our own fabrics. With the support of our community--friends, family, collaborators, showroom, suppliers, contractors, and our loyal customers--we have grown the business to be able to offer our very original, very personal hand-drawn textile designs to you each season.

For the past fifteen years, we have dedicated ourselves to this artistic partnership. Feral Childe's designs are the product of these years invested in our deep friendship and artistic training. We create textile designs reflecting a singular aesthetic voice. It can take months for us to develop Feral Childe's prints. The creative process begins with the two of us sitting side by side drawing and painting together and continues as we comment, critique and edit until we perfect the print design.

Through our hard work, Feral Childe has been sold in more than 70 independent retailers in the US and Japan. We feel fortunate to have weathered the recession and to be able to continue to do what we love. Even with our successes, we are a tiny company. Each wholesale account is a personal relationship nurtured over the course of seasons. Each customer we meet inspires us to design something better for you next time. If you are reading this, we could not have come this far without you. It simply is not fair that another party profits from artwork that was not created by them, was not their idea, and does not belong to them.

Forever 21 has unfairly profited from Feral Childe's years of artistic development. Without any consideration or respect for the origin of the artwork, Forever 21's mass reproduction of our textile design without our permission is extremely unethical, and in direct violation of the law. It's frustrating that this enormous company, with over a billion dollars a year in revenues, would dare to poach the artistic creations of a small company such as ours.

Our Teepees design is protected by law, registered with the US Copyright Office. When we sent Forever 21 our cease and desist letter regarding this copyright infringement, Forever 21 denied liability and even stated that perhaps Feral Childe copied the design from another source. Once we received that outrageous response, our attorneys filed a lawsuit, currently pending in Federal Court in Los Angeles. We hope that you might show your support for Feral Childe by spreading the word. Tell your friends, or forward, comment, post, retweet the articles below. We thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

Alice & Moriah

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2011/07/forever_21_faces_another_copyr.html
http://ecosalon.com/fast-fashion-giant-forever-21-steals-sustainable-label-feral-childes-design/
http://jezebel.com/5821563/forever-21-gets-sued-for-copying--again
http://www.ecouterre.com/feral-childe-slaps-forever-21-with-copyright-infringement-lawsuit/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/07/is-forever-21-an-eco-fashion-design-thief-photos.php

Flash Fashion Show in London

2011-05-12T10:18:00.000-04:00

This morning a flash fashion show hit Oxford Street in London. Wear Chemistry was the brand behind the show, they are a unique, ethical clothing company whose core ambition is to make sustainable choices in casual fashion more appealing and to change people’s perception of eco-clothing. They use primarily bamboo and organic cotton fabrics.

About the pop-up event, brand founder Trish Richards said:

"We wanted to do something that would prove fashion still has the capacity to stop people in their tracks - even in the ever moving city of London."

By showing during a high traffic time of day, the brand hoped to make a connection between commuter traffic and eco-friendly practices. Surely fewer cars on the roads would make for a healthier world, and it might even allow us to relax and enjoy the view once in a while. I guess you never know when a fashion show will pop up!

Source4Style: The Missing Link

2011-05-03T10:15:00.000-04:00

On the left is Summer Rayne Oakes

Eco-friendly fashion has always been something that is easier said than done.

It’s a challenge for many labels to track down sustainable materials in their line—not to mention having consistency in quality and ethical standards. In the age of mass consumerism fashion has become a fast-paced industry. It’s notorious for the quick exchange of each seasons’ new trend soon dubbed 'out' not long after it hits the malls. If you think it’s tough keeping up, try being the creator of such a line and wanting to use environmentally friendly textiles that are costly and hard to find. Especially in large quantities.

With that being said, Summer Rayne Oakes and Benita Singh, two eco-friendly fashion industry leaders (or geniuses, these terms are really interchangeable here) have provided a solution to this problem: Source4Style. The website is the brainchild of these eco-goddesses in collaboration with many other knowledgeable experts in the green field, making it the leading source for finding sustainable materials for designers.

Providing a way to seamlessly bring them together, S4S is making it possible for suppliers of eco-friendly textiles and their buyers to have an effective mode of communication. In hopes of promoting a healthy and prominent relationship for the two industries, the company has gone above and beyond to make it as simple as possible. The buyer needs only to put in a request to any supplier listed on the site, and they can be sure that what they are getting is exactly what they asked for. S4S is thorough, ethical and aware of every minute detail concerning their suppliers, and scans the buyers as well—leaving no sustainable stone unturned!

The site is innovative, professional and quite revolutionary, seeing as there is no other company of the same magnitude out there. Hopefully in the future, the notion of simply opening up dialogue between sustainable designers and suppliers will be seen as less of a hassle than it has been in the past.

Check out their fun and informative blog, where Summer will post videos on their progress as S4S establishes itself as a respected and dynamic force to be reckoned with.

Peace, Love and Sustainable Business! xo

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This is a guest post from Katherine Oakes of Eco-Fashionability For Today, written exclusively for EcoFashionistas.

Mainstream Newsletters Go Green

2011-05-02T10:37:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago two of my most favorite email newsletters went eco! Everyday I drool over the fabulous fashion and accessories featured in WhoWhatWearDaily and was so excited to see an eco-fashion edition! I knew it would include pieces that would live up to fashion editor's expectations, but still have environmentally friendly street cred.

Check out the issue to see all their picks. My favorite is the OlsenHaus Galaxy shoe! Describing the shoe WhoWhatWear says, "It's nice to finally see some edgy eco-friendly footwear! Perfect for balancing this season's ultra-bright looks, we imagine wearing them with a sultry cocktail dress for a girl's night out."

The second email newsletter that went eco for an edition is GOOP, the stylish, insightful and guilty pleasure quasi-weekly email produced by Gwenyth Paltrow. We know that Gwenyth is a green girl by her penchant for eco designs from Stella McCartney, a close friend. But in this issue she focused on beauty products rather than fashion.

She features almost a dozen products in the blast, but the one I'm lusting after the most is the Decleor face oil. Gwenyth says, "it’s for the face and body, smells great, makes skin soft and yields a nice glow. The UK website has great tutorials on how exactly to apply it in the morning and then at night."

Lily Cole Gets Loud About Ethical Fashion

2011-04-12T09:54:00.001-04:00

British student, model and designer Lily Cole has been making waves in the industry recently with some outspoken remarks that have given many in the industry pause for thought. Now in her final year at Cambridge University, Lily could go easy on her extracurricular activities, but she has become a vocal advocate of ethical fashion. She has said in an interview with the Guardian newspaper in the UK that she believes ethical fashion is ‘oxymoronic,’ questioning the very idea of sustainability in the industry.

So, is it possible for an inherently unsustainable industry, one that is built on the basis of transforming a ‘want’ into a ‘need’, to be truly ethical? While at face value Lily could be accused of criticising the very industry that pays her wages, she also has a valid point. The nature of fashion is inherently wasteful: it is a cyclical industry that relies on trends and the notion of old and new to generate worldwide importance and a huge income. However, it is also fair to argue that fashion is such an integral part of life, particularly in its capacity to reflect our personalities, that making it as sustainable as possible is no bad thing. It will always exist and it’s up to us to make it as sustainable as possible.

The supermodel has also recently defended the cost of ethical clothing,.“One of my biggest concerns is just how cheap we expect everything to be.” As a founder of an ethical label herself, Lily is more aware of the financial cost of sustainability than most. Her luxury knitwear line The North Circular uses wool from rescued sheep and is hand-knitted by a team of green-grannies and the odd youngster. The legacy of fast-fashion appears to have made excessive waste at a low cost a way of life, particularly with the rise of Primark in the UK and Europe.

Lily is right in highlighting how accustomed to cheap clothes we are, and that in order for everyone in the production cycle to be treated fairly the price of ethically sound clothing will inevitably be a little higher than what we are used to. The question is, in the current economic climate, will the majority of people be willing to spend a bit more on an item that has a conscience? And in addition to this, will fashion ever be truly ethical? Let us know what you think by commenting below!
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This is a guest post from Emma Bigg of The Final Cut, written exclusively for EcoFashionistas. Photo of Lily Cole from The Telegraph, photo of clothing from The North Circular.

Kelly Lane on Sale at Jute & Jackfruit

2011-04-04T13:29:00.000-04:00

Jute & Jackfruit is a fabulous online eco fashion store that EcoFashionistas has partnered with in the past. They carry a great selection of indie brands that allow you to snatch up basic tanks and alyering pieces, fabulous statement jackets and dresses and even accessories to go with it all.

Currently, they are having a major sale on Kelly Lane (we're talking 40% off!) and I've already done the trouble of going through and picking out my favorite things - go order these two pieces before I beat you to it!

Mist Top in Rainbow Red

Cavern Coat in Fuschia

Fashion FUZEion at the GA/GI Festival

2011-03-30T10:18:00.000-04:00

This weekend marks the second annual GA/GI Festival in Pittsburgh. It's a meeting of the minds for green chic with hands-on demos, live performance, a fashion show and more.

The highlight for me is Fashion FUZEion scheduled for Friday night (April 1st) at 8 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. It will feature fashion from several major green fashion forces like Kelly Lane, Jonano and Crazy Hot Clothes in additional to a lot of independent eco fashion designers and artists like my friend Karen Page. I myself will have a recycled license plate skirt I made years ago featured in the show!

All the events Friday and Saturday will take place along the Penn Avenue Art Corridor as it has become to be known, spanning from 4900 to 5490 Penn Avenue. Check out this article in today's PopCity for more information.

Fair and Fabulous!

2011-03-25T12:45:00.000-04:00

Eco-friendly fashion is all good and well when it comes to being conscious of the environmental impacts the production of a garment can have; but what about the people involved in the production, as well? If it is ethically produced with the earth in mind, then why not also be kind to those who make it? However, it is important to note that most sustainable labels do employ methods of production in which fair trade is just as prevalent an issue as being eco-friendly is. So what exactly is fair trade, anyway?

According to the World Fair Trade Organization (WTFO), “Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers.”

The WFTO is the global leader of fair trade and has a set of ten principles that must be upheld on a daily basis in order for a company to qualify as such. Those, in short, are:

Creating Opportunities for Economically Disadvantaged Producers
Transparency and Accountability (No “middle-man”)
Trading Practices (Does not jeopardize their ethics for profit)
Payment of a Fair Price
Child Labour and Forced Labour
Non Discrimination, Gender Equity and Freedom of Association
[Safe and Healthy] Working Conditions
Capacity Building (Meaning that the organization works to build the skills of the employees in the company so they are capable of working independently)
Promotion of Fair Trade
Environment

Last but not least, is the segway we’ve all been waiting for! It is a priority for those businesses that call themselves fair trade organizations to be aware of their carbon footprint as a part of WFTO’s ten standards. This means they use as much organic, recycled, bio-degradable and sustainably-created materials as virtually possible. Which is well, pretty awesome.

So, fair trade is actually making it easier for conscious consumers to purchase wisely…all the more reason to support and endorse fair trade with pride.

You didn’t think I would leave you without any links, now did you? Nope. Check out:
Earth Divas
People Tree
Ebay’s World of Good

Also: Keep up to date with Ethical Fashion Forum!

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This is a guest post from Katherine Oakes of Eco-Fashionability For Today, written exclusively for EcoFashionistas.

Image: Ebay's World of Good

Post from over the Pond: Parliament gives Ethical Fashion a Boost

2011-03-23T09:54:00.000-04:00

Baroness Lola Young

The cause of ethical fashion was given a push in Parliament last week, with a preliminary meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion. The group is made up of peers from the House of Lords, Members of Parliament and industry insiders, all committed to raising awareness in government and amongst the general public of sustainable fashion. Headed by Baroness Lola Young, the group is supported by the fantastic ethical brand MADE-BY and London College of Fashion’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion.

The preliminary meeting featured discussions with the likes of Christopher Raeburn, John Smedley and Dr. Kate Fletcher who not only explored the huge potential of ethical fashion but also the problems in making it mainstream. Baroness Young is famous for pushing the sustainable style cause, particularly in the House of Lords where she reminded members that faux-fur-lined robes were available as alternatives to the traditional rabbit-fur ones. You can also see the House of Lords debate on sustainable fashion on the Parliamentary website.

As Ambassador to both the Ethical Fashion Forum and MADE-BY, Baroness Young has emphasised the importance of ethical fashion, particularly as “an issue that needs to be brought not only to the attention of the public, but also to members of both Houses.” While All Party Parliamentary Groups in the UK have little direct decision making powers, they are highly useful because they can be used to pressure Parliament into making laws and suggesting legislation. As a pressure group with close links to Members of Parliament (MPs) they have the ability to push those who have the means and the power to make a real difference.

**This is a guest post from Emma Bigg of The Final Cut, written exclusively for EcoFashionistas

Bonkers for Bodkin

2011-03-10T10:38:00.012-05:00

Fashion maverick Eviana Hartman, the designer and founder of sustainable fashion line Bodkin, is a women on a mission: bring sustainable options into the industry through one heck of a clothing line. The savvy designer has surpassed merely breaking into the business and won the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation (EDDF) Award for sustainable design in 2009, only a year after it was started. The fledgling line is now an established brand with an honest and simple message, as they state on the website:

“Sustainability and fashion are often thought to be at odds with one another. Yet clothing is one thing that every human has in common.”

With this awareness in mind, Bodkin seeks to use the most sustainable materials available that have been fairly traded and ethically produced. That includes everything from organic cotton, tencel, and recycled fibers (wool and cashmere, too, textiles that are difficult to manufacture with low-environmental impact) to their dyes that are innovative in their vegetable-based solutions. Bodkin is produced with a critical eye; attentively monitoring every step of the process to make sure they live up to their conscientious standards and leave no one behind.

This attention to detail is reflected in their designs as well. Bodkin has clean, fresh lines with slouchy, unexpected details that lend their look a natural and organic shape (think Acne and Dries Van Noten). The materials’ earthy hues emulate the vegetable-based dyes that Bodkin innovatively employs in their garments. Giving their collections an all around natural and comfortable tone without being obviously “green” or “eco-friendly”, two terms the designer claims to avoid using in describing their line.

All in all, Hartman has left us well, bonkers for Bodkin. Their hemp bralette top came in at number 12 on our 13 eco fashion pieces to covet last year!

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This is a guest post from Katherine Oakes of Eco-Fashionability For Today, written exclusively for EcoFashionistas.

The Push for Change

2011-03-09T10:15:00.000-05:00

Ethical fashion has been given quite a boost over the past month, with the stunning Livia Firth championing eco-style on the red carpet, and more ethical designers emerging during the New York, London and Paris Fashion Weeks. However, while fashion is going from strength to strength, the rest of the world appears to be falling behind. The United Nations climate change chief Janos Pasztor has recently highlighted the desperate need for world leaders to "develop a vision on moving towards sustainability in this world,” particularly with the rise in oil and food prices following the unrest in North Africa and the Middle East.

For years the UN has promoted sustainable living in an effort to change the fast-pace and wasteful way the majority of the population lives. However, following the breakdown of the 2009 summit at Copenhagen in Denmark due to heated debates over how much help wealthy countries should give to developing ones to reduce their emissions, it is becoming ever-clearer that changing the way we live is down to the masses.

So, what can we do to help? We are all noticing the price of the food bill slowly creeping up week by week and this is quite often to do with the fact that we import food from overseas. Homegrown and local produce is a great solution, cheap, fun and you have the added advantage of knowing exactly where your food has come from. We have some particularly fantastic farmers’ markets in the UK and growing your own food at home is a great way of reconnecting with simpler times. You don’t have to have a huge garden for a vegetable patch: a little pot on a window ledge will do, so get those EcoFashionista hands mucky!

While reducing our reliance on petrol can be tricky, it is possible. Invest in a bicycle, it’s a cost-free way to get around and also keeps you fit! Buses, carpools, subways and trams are a brilliant way of getting from A to B, and I know that some states such as Oregon provide free public transport. Although these modes of transport aren’t always as convenient as a car, they are our best options whilst more environmentally friendly cars are produced.

These are just a couple of things we can do to live more sustainably, what tips do you EcoFashionistas have? Let us know by commenting below!

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This is a guest post from Emma Bigg of The Final Cut, written exclusively for EcoFashionistas

VIDEO: Adie & George at NOW Showcase

2011-03-08T11:02:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago at NOW Showcase in New York City I had the pleasure of meeting the design duo behind Adie+George, an eco fashion line out of California. Sasha Duerr and Casey Larkin use their eco sensibilities to create a line of mostly knitwear with natural and organic dyes. In this video Sasha tells me about the avocados they used to dye many pieces - how cool!

You can see more of their current collection and find out more about the line on their website and blog.

Adie+George at NOW Showcase Fall Winter 2011 from Tori Mistick on Vimeo.

Green Queen Deborah Lindquist at NOW Showcase

2011-02-24T14:15:00.003-05:00

Deborah Lindquist is the eco fashion designer to the stars - she has dressed bold faced names such as Sharon Stone, Gwen Stefani and Rihanna (check out the Unfaithful video and look for the bustier!). The designs these stars often chose are Deborah's couture quality gowns and bustiers featuring organic and sustainable materials. What really sets her designs apart are the intricate details of her evening wear. The one at left features organic fabrics and semi precious stones. Deborah says that her customers wear her clothing because they like the design and creativity, it just happens to be a bonus that they are eco friendly.

"I'm not trying to change the world, I'm just doing what I believe in."

In additional to the awe inspiring couture, Deborah also has a more casual line called Green Queen that features re-purposed cashmere sweaters with applique designs and organic cotton blend tops and pants. She explained to me the unique process she used to create the burnout design on many of the tshirts. They are an organic cotton blend, so by using a special solution, she is able to burn away the plant matter in the fiber (basically, the cotton), and leave behind the poly blend portion.

Many of the Green Queen tops also feature an empowering message on the back like "1 Kiss turns into 100", "Long Live the Queen" and "Live Green and Prosper". In addition to the burnout technique, Deborah also experiments with shredding her t-shirts to create frothy, sexy silhouettes with a punk edge.

The items I really couldn't stop looking at during the NOW Showcase were Deborah's cashmere sweaters. She has crayola box worth of colors and a huge selection of applique designs - looking though the look book made me feel like I was picking out tattoo designs! My favorite has to be the spider web! And word on the street is that Miley Cyrus just picked up one of the doggy sweaters for her pooch.

Estethica at London Fashion Week

2011-02-24T10:46:00.000-05:00

Estethica is the biggest event on the British ethical fashion calendar, and it certainly makes some waves overseas too! This year, the ethical event is the largest it’s ever been with 30 designers exhibiting. Each designer must adhere to at least one of the three requirements: fairtrade, ethical practice or organic/recycled. There are some great brands that have really raised the bar in terms of design and innovation. Below are a few of my favourites.

Ada Zanditon
Ada Zanditon is one of my favourite ethical haute couture designers because most of the time there is no hint that her clothes are eco-friendly and the shapes she creates are stunning. Her latest Autumn Winter 2011 collection CRYOFLUX is one of her best yet, inspired by explorers and the arctic. Think cool colours with bursts of warm orange, geometric prints, structured tailoring and clean lines. Zanditon has had the enviable experience of working with legendary British designers Gareth Pugh and the late Alexander McQueen.

Little Glass Clementine
Now this is possibly one of the most gorgeous jewellery collections I’ve ever set my eyes on. I am a huge fan of vintage inspired pieces, little trinklets and quirky things, and designer Clementine James does not disappoint. She scours the classic Portobello Road and Camden markets in London for materials and inspiration fro Little Glass Clementine. Her motto is “recycle, re-use, and re-tell a story.” Each piece is unique and decadent with a hint of English eccentricity.

Fairtrade Foundation
While I have a huge amount of respect for organisations such as the Fairtrade Foundation, I am not usually a fan of the fashion pieces they offer. That was, until this week. In a collaboration of epic proportions ASOS and designers such as Marios Schwab and Hussein Chalayan, the Foundation will be releasing a range of bespoke printed scarves during Fairtrade Fortnight (28th February – 13th March). Made from fairtrade cotton and each bearing a different print, the collection is one not to be missed!

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This is a guest post from Emma Bigg of The Final Cut, written exclusively for EcoFashionistas.

Ada Zanditon photo: Ecouterre
Little Glass Clementine photo: Little Glass Clementine
Fairtrade Foundation photo: Haute Fashion Africa

Words of Wisdom from Summer Rayne Oakes

2011-02-17T10:24:00.005-05:00

Not familiar with Summer Rayne Oakes? Where have you been?

Oakes has been making waves in the fashion industry since 2001 when she became the world’s first “Eco-Model” --albeit, a term she is not too fond of; Oakes has claimed she prefers the term “values-based modeling” instead-- and since then has dominated the business as a knowledgeable and reputable source on sustainable fashion, my favorite kind!

The great thing about Ms. Oakes is not her degree (she graduated from Cornell University) her mega-watt smile (oh, she’s also a model) or her entomological interests (she likes bugs, too) but her laid-back and non-threatening approach to seamlessly bringing eco-friendly fashion into everyone’s lives.

The trail-blazing 26 year-old is more friend than foe when it comes to re-arranging the eco-ethics of many businesses and talks to her audience, rather than at them. Splendid. So here are some of the best Summer Rayne Oakes tips and tidbits to aid you in becoming well versed in the ways sustainability!

“Buying well means not having to buy all the time. A good shopper is an edited shopper. Meaning she buys higher quality products that last longer. She buys things with a lot of meaning, like a hand-woven sari purchased during a trip to Dubai, a pair of organic cotton jeans made in an old town in Georgia, or a T-shirt that helps build awareness for breast cancer or HIV/AIDS. Or she buys a versatile garment she’ll get a lot of use out of something that she can mix and match.”

“If you’re looking to update your wardrobe with some eco-friendly pieces, start by educating yourself on the brands dedicated to eco-conscious design…Googling may yield spotty results, so check out some online boutiques first to avoid becoming overwhelmed.”

“If you’re out shopping for eco-fashion but aren’t yet familiar with eco-designers, the first thing you may want to take a look at is the tag…checking them is at least a step toward seeking out sustainable styles…learn about fibers and fabrics that are often associated with environmentally friendly clothes so you’ll understand what you’re seeing when you read the tag.”

**Editorial Side Note: I am a manic tag-checker when I shop but let me tell you, it certainly pays off and the more you learn to identify the touch and feel of certain fabrics the less you have to look at the tag! Although, you should anyway…ya know, green-washing and all that.

Check out Summer Rayne Oakes’ web site, as well as her twitter. They are two helpful and fun resources that will help you along in your pursuit of sustainability. Soak it up, people! Also, I just wanted to say that no, I am not Summer Rayne Oakes under the pseudonym of Katherine Oakes, although I wish it were so, I just think she’s awesome.

Peace, Love and Sustainability!

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This is a guest post from Katherine Oakes of Eco-Fashionability For Today, written exclusively for EcoFashionistas.

H&M launches Conscious Collection

2011-02-15T09:33:00.000-05:00

Swedish high street label H&M are set to push their eco-credentials sky high this spring, with the very exciting launch of a long-term sustainable range for men, women and children. The Conscious Collection is a great permanent follow-up to last spring’s Garden Collection, a pilot scheme showing how the use of materials such as recycled polyester can make beautiful clothes.

The collection is light and romantic, created from ethical materials such as Tencel, recycled polyester and organic cotton: think hippy dresses, tailored jackets, Broderie Anglaise and maxi-skirts. While the colour of the collection may not seem the most practical choice, the garments are truly gorgeous and have a hint of relaxed glamour to them.

The men’s collection has a clean, preppy theme with blazers and shirts and I love the scallop-edged dresses and skirts and the tailored shorts in the women’s range. The brand has been selling clothes made from organic cotton since 2004, is community partners with organisations such as UNICEF and WaterAid and invests in initiatives focused on eco-materials and the treatment of their workers abroad. The Conscious Collection will launch in all H&M stores from 14 April.

While one of their aims is to increase the use of organic cotton by 50% every year until 2013, we have to consider if such a large, global company is able to guarantee the fair treatment of their workers in developing countries. What do you EcoFashionistas think? Are global companies able to sustain the level of surveillance to ensure their employees are paid a fair wage and treated well?

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This is a guest post from Emma Bigg of The Final Cut, written exclusively for EcoFashionistas.

New York Fashion Week: Go Green!

2011-02-14T13:28:00.000-05:00

I have never been to New York Fashion Week, but it has been pretty much a lifelong dream (don't all three year-olds know the super models by name?). This year I contemplated jetting up to NYC and trying to weasel my way into some shows, but there weren't that many eco-friendly designers showing, and I only had one fashion show ticket in hand... so, I stayed home. And I'm happy I did! You want to know why?

Thanks to the amazing live broadcast of shows from MAC & Milk on livestream.com I have had a front row seat to a bunch of the Fall 2011 shows. I didn't have to fly or drive to New York, which would have been a major gas guzzling and un-friendly activity. I don't have to take cabs across town or try to smile although my feet are throbbing. So, I've decided this is the eco friendly way to go to fashion week!

On Thursday I saw Vena Cava, Friday I watched Peter Som and Costello Tagliapietra and on Saturday I caught Altuzarra. There were several other shows on the live broadcast that I didn't have time to watch including Wayne, Richard Chai, Alexander Wang, Preen and Cushnie et Ochs. There are still many more to go, so click through and tune in!

Below are a few of my favorite looks from the shows I saw. I was especially interested in Costello Tagliapietra because I know they use AirDye waterless fabric dying technology on a lot of their garments. I met one of the guys from AirDye when I was in Vancouver last fall, and they are up to some really cool eco-friendly things.

Peter Som

Peter Som's Closing Look

Vena Cava

Costello Tagliapietra

Altuzarra

All images from Style.com

Red Carpet, Green Dress

2011-02-08T09:54:00.003-05:00

Suzy Cameron in 2010's winning design

This Wednesday, February 9th, the 2011 winner of the Red Carpet, Green Dress contest will be announced. This is the second year of the contest, founded by Suzy Cameron, Avatar director James Cameron's wife. They are one of Hollywood’s greener couples and are committed to helping the environment (did you know the Avatar sequels will benefit green charities).

For the second year in a row, Suzy Cameron has organized a competition to design an eco-friendly dress to be worn on the red carpet! Last year’s winning design was worn by Ms. Cameron, but this year’s winner will have the opportunity to choose their model. The contest was open to anyone with an idea and a sketch pad, but entries closed last week.

The goal of the Red Carpet, Green Dress competition is to raise awareness about eco-fashion: Suzy herself makes a point of wearing an eco-friendly dress at the Oscars each year. Additionally, the competition raises money for the MUSE Global program, which helps fund schools in Thailand for refugee children from Burma.

The lucky designer Ms. Cameron chooses as the winner, will receive:
• $2,000 to make the winning design
• A trip to LA for the winner and their chosen model
• A walk on the Academy Awards pre-party red carpet as guests of James and Suzy Cameron

Livia Firth in Prophetic, 2011

I'm hoping this becomes a trend for celebrities to walk the talk and wear more eco fabulous designers on the red carpet. Colin Firth's wife, Livia, wore a custom Prophetik design on the Golden Globes red carpet recently. I was lucky enough to see the Spring 2011 Prophetik collection firsthand at Vancouver Eco Fashion Week last September, and I have to say those dresses screamed effortless celebrity style! According to Prophetik's blog this isn't just a passing trend for Livia, "Although it was Livia’s first outing in a Prophetik design, it was one more fashion step forward in her ‘Green Carpet’ challenge. She started the project in September 2009 when her husband's film with Tom Ford, ‘A Single Man’, opened the Venice Film Festival. On that occasion, she wore an ethical blue cocktail dress by the ex-Central St Martins designer, Sara Shepherd, and vowed she would henceforth only wear eco-fashion on the red carpet."

As long as eco-designers continue to produce inventive gowns, I don't see why it should catch on with more celebrities.

A similar gown from Prophetik at Vancouver Eco Fashion Week

Marks & Spencer Launch Ethical Capsule Collection

2011-02-08T08:49:00.000-05:00

Us Brits are fast becoming spoilt on the ethical fashion front! One of the UK’s largest high street retailers, Marks & Spencer, are planning on launching their most ethical range yet: the Indigo Green collection. Marks & Spencer are well known in the UK for their use of fair trade and organic clothing and food, for their commitment to environmental matters and for their aim to make their UK and Irish operations carbon neutral by 2012.

The Indigo Green collection is part of their Plan A initiative and consists of 15 pieces inspired by Seventies chic – think tie dye, batik-inspired prints, embroidery, denim and maxi skirts. As the leading retailer of fair trade cotton in Britain, Marks & Spencer have attempted to become one of the most influential voices on climate concerns, with their five-year Plan A commitment to the environment and ethical trading set to come to an end next year.

The brand doesn’t show any sign of slowing down, however. They have secured a solid partnership with the charity Oxfam to encourage consumers to recycle, reuse and buy from second hand stores. In addition to this, they have just announced their exclusive collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to create a range of children’s fair trade t-shirts designed to educate them about the endangered species of our world.

It looks as though ethical living is really taking a foothold this year and it is particularly promising to see larger retailers taking the eco message to the masses! The Indigo Green collection will be available from April and the WWF t-shirts launch during Fairtrade Fortnight, starting 23rd February.

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This is a guest post from Emma Bigg of The Final Cut, written exclusively for EcoFashionistas