Sustainable Fashion & Retail

Bold Eco Fashion

2012-03-14T14:44:00.000-07:00

Piles and piles of plastic everywhere in the form of bags from supermarkets, cables and wiring covers, other packaging materials from consumer products. Environmentalists going frenzy over the accumulation of plastics on earth and campaigners voicing out loud to switch to sustainable resources compared to the use of plastics in our daily lives.

Source: Sci Fashion

When I was trending on recyclable fashion, I came across this bright picture and thought of sharing this on my blog. The model is wearing a head-dress made out of discarded ethernet cables. Bright as they are, fashion students from Medellin, Columbia came up with this unique dress on the ramp. It closely resembles any server room of an IT firm. Twined and intertwined long lengths of brightly colored cables.

What a way to promote "Recycle-Reduce-Redesign" and a perfect way to inspire that Recycled Fashion can be colorful too.

Meryl Streep in Green Gold

2012-02-28T14:25:00.000-08:00

On the most fashionable night of Hollywood, all eyes were set on the Gold .. OSCAR !!

We love you Meryl and being nominated 17 times and yet being out there again, your glow seems to out-glow any other kind of glow. When Meryl walked down the Red Carpet in the Gold Dress, I felt that if she stood in front of The Oscar, she is going to be the one to glow out. You can see it right here in this picture. The question was whether Mery, The Iron Lady would walk away with The Oscar or lose it to Rooney Mara, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

Meryl Streep's stunning Gold Dress was designed by Lanvin. It was Lanvin's first custom eco-friendly dress, which was made with Eco Certified Gold Fabric. Meryl took the Green Carpet Challenge being recruited by Livia Firth as one of the celebrities to promote sustainability and eco-consciousness on the Red Carpet. There-after making a strong statement with the most heavily crafted eco-fabric, custom made gold dress.

The gold look was an eye-turner and befitting for all you know, The Iron Lady as she will be known mostly this year after winning The Oscar for the Best Actress, this year, will be remembered for much more.

Missi Pyle in Peace Silk

2012-02-28T13:31:00.000-08:00

"It is such an honor to be on a carpet that's all about glamour, and to have that glamour be sustainable," said Missi.

Winner of Academy Award for the Best Picture: the Artist, Missi Pyle wore a dress made completely out sustainable materials. Made out of peace silk, organic chiffon and lined with vintage lining, the tailor put in a "recycled zipper". The fabric was hand-dyed in an OSHA approved facility using only mineral dyes to achieve the pastel like aqueous shade.

What exactly is "peace silk" ? It is actually Cruelty-Free Silk which is produced from the process that allows the pupae to complete its entire life-cycle before being disturbed. The cocoons are unwound only after the silkworm has completely emerged. Usually, the pupa is killed inside the cocoon to prevent the breakage of the cocoon which leads to having multiple fibers. To have something this beautiful on Missi Pyle marks an extremely strong statement.

It advocated a very relevant message -
Sustainable does not mean Hideous!! It can be beautiful. We as consumers should question our buys. We have a right to think demand sustainability in our daily purchases. We can and should make this conscious choice.

The design was submitted by a Venezuelan born, Miami based designer Valentina Delfino, while the dress was made in Los Angeles by a haute couture tailor Santos. The beautiful dress won the Red Carpet Green Dress Contest which is an environmental awareness campaign and contest for eco-designers. It was started by Suzy Amis Cameron - wife of James Cameron

Sustainable Fashion at The 84th Academy Awards

2012-02-28T11:52:00.000-08:00

The 84th Academy Awards held last night got everyone talking about Angelina's Jolie's Leg. Yes, you are still reading the blog on Sustainable Fashion and Retail, but who says, that I cannot write about the latest social media Buzz!? Aneglina Jolie's Leg not only just got herself a Twitter account with close to around 30,000 followers, but also got a Facebook page. Well worth the laugh for the most sexy lady on the Red Carpet yesternight, but apart from that a lot of other renowned actors and actresses stepped up their game by walking down wearing "Sustainable Fashion" on the Red Carpet. Looks like the new Red Carpet is turning quite Green with age.

Missi Pyle in Peace Silk

Meryl Streep in Green Gold

"Upcycling" & The Latest Buzz in London Fashion Week

2012-02-20T20:44:00.000-08:00

Christopher Raeburn, a founding member of Esthetica said, "Recycled fibers, British wool and now accessories - all made in England. The plan is to make clothes of high quality and value." He believes that as a young designer one needs to have an obligation towards sustainability.

This year's collection included parachute silk dresses. A spotted dress caught my eye for its reclaimed clothing look, while on of them was quite hideous and stood out from the rest. Like many, I moved on believing probably that might have excited a few from the aviation. Accessories included unisex totes and holdballs - all fashionable and sustainable, just like his styling always has been known, yet moving on from his entirely sporty looks. The best part about Christopher's designs were that all designs served "purpose and design".

The expressionless looks of the models in their functionally yet clever footwear brought me to think of something similar I had recently seen - 'Lisbeth Salander' (protagonist in Girl With the Dragon Tattoo). To think of it the book, the movie had it's influence on people and fashion is about people.

Pictures from the Irish Times.Com

Elegant AirDye Wrap dresses - Costello Tagliapietra

2012-02-18T21:34:00.000-08:00

"For some reasons, I had been painting chrysanthemums all spring," Jeffery Castello confessed right after their show Fall/Winter 2012 show on Thursday. Robert Tagliapietra, partner and now husband to Jeffery Costello adds, "He was just obsessed with them."

The elegant wrap dresses by Costello Tagliapietra have been defined as 'worth investing' this season for more reasons than one. The duo in popular in their plaid checks more than just played around with some of the vibrant colors from the sketches and used AirDye technique to digitally print patterns onto the vibrant dresses and separates for the Fall/Winter 2012 collection.

© Photo by Vlasic /TreeHugger

© Photo by Jessica Marati /EcoSalon

© Photo by Randy Brooke /TreeHugger

AirDye technique is a sustainable method of applying color to textiles without usage of water. This makes the whole process environmentally preferable as compared to traditional digital printing and traditional dyeing techniques. This technology also creates more precision in color placement reducing the usage of energy by 85% compared to traditional methods.

Strong abstract prints, rich and yet muted color tones with contemporary usage of trims were a signature of this collection. Elegance beamed through the drapes of the long dresses flowing down the runway of Milk Studios.

The collection is said to be available at Barneys New York and only a few specialty boutiques worldwide.

© Photo by Jessica Marati /EcoSalon

© Photo by Slaven Vlasic/TreeHugger

Wool reigns Fall/Winter 2012 - Ethical Luxury

2012-02-16T20:14:00.000-08:00

This year 'wool' is seen to reign over the Green Shows' Presentation in New York Fashion Week. Organic fibers have been the key focus of eco-fashion all along, but it was interesting to see the shift in fabrics being dominated by heritage wool solely throughout the show.


Black organic wool hooded sweater White organic cotton romper Bamboo By	100% Reclaimed wool batwing coat Printed silk crepe long Stina dress H. Frederickson	100% Wool tweed pants Combo sweater Study NY

For Fall/Winter 2012, designs were simple and yet striking. Extensive use of eco-dying methods were exhibited along with artful drapes of fabric and hair on the Runway. Apart from tones and shades of just green there were to be seen a myriad of other color tones and shades from use of vegetable dyeing sources.

Alpaca hand knit sweater paired with sage organic wool leggings
(use of certified organic and sustainable textiles only)
Designs by Ajna
Designer Beryl Man
Photograph by Amanda Silvana Coen for the GreenShows

Repurposed washed wool sweater with a leather trim accompanied with a black repurposed leather short
(popular for the use of cashmere, organic cottons and repurposed leather)
Designs by Artists & Revolutionaries
Photograph by Amanda Silvana Coen for the GreenShows

Hand woven, hand-dyed organic silk strapless dress
(collaboration with Lulan Artisans, Venezuela)
Designs by Luis Valenzuela
Fabric Design by Eve Blossom
Photograph by Amanda Silvana Coen for the GreenShows

Market Awareness about Sustainability

2011-01-10T00:13:00.000-08:00

People were attracted to sustainability as a concept from very early times. It was mainly driven from a perspective of re-use to reduce cost. Definitions for sustainability were being worded, since 1987, with the Brundtland Report. But, as a concept, the market awareness about sustainability was fueled from the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Then on wards, sustainability has become the watchword for international aid agencies, the jargon of development planners, the theme of conference and learned papers and the slogan of development and environmental activists.

Organizations like STEP, Sustainable Technology Education Project work towards increasing people’s awareness of sustainable technology, enabling them to recognize the economic, environmental and social impacts of their own choices. They promote incorporating sustainability in their designs and while choosing and using technology. This way, each one can be responsible towards building a better future. Similarly traces of sustainability can be identified throughout the product life-cycle and throughout the supply chain. The research helps to identify where all sustainability indexes can be set-up for measurement through the supply chain. Understanding the basics of how the market awareness is at the present, helped to prepare the basis for promotion of the research.

In 2008, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) commissioned an independent research into the attitudes and habits of 4000 UK consumers. The results clearly demonstrate the existence of mainstream public awareness and concern about sustainability issues. Sustainability issues are higher on the UK consumer agenda than ever before. Over 60% of the consumers stated that sustainability issues (climate change, poverty, food, and water shortages) were the most important issues that faced the world today. Sustainability is an issue that will change the world. People in increasing numbers are changing their buying patterns, their lifestyles and their behaviours. Majority of the consumers buy sustainability and demonstrate concern and care about the issues.
(Image and Data Sourced from Sustainability: Are Consumers Buying it? PwC 2008)

“I think consumers are already showing signs of real willingness to change their behaviour when it comes to the whole are of sustainability. I don’t think this issue is confined to being a concern for the middle classes. I think it is pretty universal.”

Charlie Mayfield, Chairman, John Lewis (PwC), 2008

Sustainability - Fashion & Retail

2010-12-17T13:40:00.000-08:00

Fashion today speaks more languages than just one, the likes of which being fair trade, ethics, sustainability etc. Today, an average retailer is implementing these key drivers in their entire value chain system to please the customer and carve a niche for themselves. Every retailer is incorporating these additional components as an essential part of their products. Retailers are re-creating their supply chain, corporate communication channels and management structures to adhere to these components. At many times even re-branding and sub-branding to promote this change to their customers.

The race however still remains among the retailers as to who is doing the most and the best in creating a better tomorrow.

“Sustainability” can be the one word substitute for the meaning and sentiments proposed in the wise statement by Theodore Roosevelt. Upon reviewing the dictionary meaning of the word “sustainable” in the Online Oxford Dictionaries

Pronunciation: /səˈsteɪnəb(ə)l/

Adjective

§ able to be maintained at a certain rate or level:

sustainable economic growth

· Ecology(especially of development, exploitation, or agriculture) conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources

a. Able to be upheld or defended:

Sustainable definitions of good educational practice

Derivatives

sustainability

Pronunciation:/ -ˈbɪlɪti/

Noun

sustainably