Designer Sarah Liller’s “Romantic Repurposing”  helps to redefine the fashion community.

It doesn’t take a Joseph Campbell to look at the confusing state of the world and want to find some primordial meaning or try to put it in larger context.

Alongside our culture’s obsession with celebrity, is the increasing desire for beauty. Connecting with bigger lives can motivate us to lead better ones, and traditionally beauty is an indicator of health and fertility to the opposite sex and of a potential rival worth monitoring to other women.

But beyond evolutionary cues, our voracious modern hunger (New Beauty magazine, anyone?) for beauty – hair and skincare products, anti-aging diets, neutraceuticals, botox and fillers – begs the question, what’s it all about?

Call me Pollyanna, but I can’t help thinking it’s the powerful ability of transformation that is at the heart of the matter. Devoting time to one of the few permissible self-care rituals allowed in our too busy lives, hair, fashion and make-up makeovers represent a deeper sense of renewal and metamorphosis that as a society we’re yearning for.

Last week, a fashion event by an enlightened San Francisco-based non-profit, Groundwork Opportunities, offered both a chance to redefine what beauty means to a community and reestablish fashion’s self identity from glossy posse to bountiful brigade.

Held at Madrone Studios, an airy space at the heart of San Francisco’s creative Mission district, the Define: Beauty event was designed to fund a clean water well for 4,000 people in Moshi, Tanzania.

“Given the many eco-friendly and socially responsible fashion shows, we wanted to focus on a specific cause to let guests directly see the community they are supporting and demonstrate how our support can impact their ideas,” says Bartlomiej Jan Skorupa, executive director of Groundwork Opportunities.

His team found inspiration for Define: Beauty while scouting sites for a clean water well with community members in Tanzania.  The local women didn’t define beauty by the latest styles or products; instead they defined individual beauty by “selflessness, inner strength and community.”

Eight designers were brought together – Cari Borja, Ken Chen, Dallas Coulter, Sarah Liller, MENK, Kajan Padraig, Retrofit Republic and Daniel Sudar -  chosen because their organic or recycled and locally-produced collections reflect the values of beauty found in Tanzania.

More than 50 looks were showcased to an enthusiastic crowd of 300 who were alternately invigorated and humbled by the mesmerizing multimedia installations that demonstrated the possibilities of community through audience participation. Take a look at some of the highlights from the runway.

Kajan Padraig’s slashed and tucked details enhance the earth-toned collection’s wearability

Dallas Parke’s ultra flattering tiered peplums and bustles

Cari Borja’s vivid designs come to life on the runway

Photography by Jayson Carpenter.

But the questions is: Would you wear it?

The process of turning waste into something wearable has long been a visionary goal of eco fashion. Under the guise of upcycled fashion are haphazard DIY missteps that have cost the movement dearly in perception and respect. And yet, within this arena we do find innovation and creativity.

Take a look at some of the designs from Central St Martin’s Sustainable Catwalk jewelery show, ‘Tomorrow’s Chip Papers,” held on April Fool’s Day. Challenged to create beautiful, earth-friendly adornments from garbage bags, twigs and discarded kebab sticks, the BA Jewelery Design students created striking originals for the catwalk. There seems to be no shortage of imaginative fantasies, but the question remains: Would you wear it?

As we celebrate Earth Week, let’s reflect on some West Coast fashion ideas that looked crazy at first but have transcended the realm of unwearable imaginative fantasy to represent what upcycled fashion could and should be – edgy, zero waste, forward-thinking and quite simply, crazy cool.

Taking fashion concepts to new heights, San Francisco-based design and manufacturing shop Turk+Taylor’s latest collection is cut from a retired hot air balloon. Salvaged from Colorado and shipped to a friend’s warehouse in San Francisco, designer duo Mark Lee Morris and Andrew Soernsen unfurled “what seemed like miles of rip stock nylon,” to find they had over 400 yards of uniquely color-blocked fabric to create distinctive windbreakers and dresses that soar in a season of colorful outerwear and bold patterns.

In what he terms “a moment of clarity,” Dustin Page, the designer behind Oakland label, Platinum Dirt, looked at the worn yet durable leather seats of his Volvo, and saw the perfect material to make his handmade and highly desired VIN jackets made of reclaimed vintage leather auto upholstery from old Cadillacs, Lincolns, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, and more. I’ve never seen one of these fail to get people excited whenever they’re on view at fashion events. And thus explaining why the pair – partner Aaron Parrish provides the business brains – quickly got the call from the Hollywood cool-guy set, including Jamie Foxx, Jeremy Piven and Adrian Grenier, requesting their own one-of-a-kinds. The lust-worthy women’s version is sleek and tailored, beautifully toughening up any floaty feminine look.

The fashion world’s hard sell goes hand in hand with the mass media. It’s hard for any of us to resist consumerism when it is so alluringly presented in the glossies, making Nike’s latest Nike Sportswear offering the Premium Print Pack sneaker for women, so deliciously ironic. The sneakers are made from actual recycled magazines that have been shredded and reconstituted. Launched this year, the shoes are a subscription slave’s best revenge.

As we all sat in our homes filled with factory made goods admiring the Oscar fashion show this past week, it was inspiring to think those glorious gowns were in fact one of the last examples of a custom, handmade product being made by some of the most talented craftsmen still working in America.

Fashioned from the finest silks, satins and tulle and worn on bodies honed by private Pilates classes, green juices and spa treatments, we might assume that’s what only big money can do for you. But it’s the fact that these dresses are literally built around the Hollywood elite that makes the difference. Details matter: Like the hand-sewn hidden stitch that helps to keep a seam clean and invisible, or tailoring to flatter a long neck or shade a thick waist.

In these days of mass market fashion designed to fit a wide variety of shapes and sizes in just a small, medium and large, the art of tailoring the perfect fit is very much a lost one. And yet I’m prepared to bet your favorite items in your wardrobe, the ones you reach for most often, are the ones that fit you best.

Beyond taking in a side seam and properly fitting an armhole, learning simple tailoring techniques such as chopping off a hem or cutting the arms off an old trench can breathe new life into your wardrobe and help you to get on trend with just a rip of a seam. Not to mention that with all our efforts to turn the industry toward using sustainability, recycling your old clothes is probably your best bet if you truly want to green your wardrobe and look great.

Take a page out of Kate Middleton’s book. The princess-to-be appeared at her first royal walk-about last week in a recycled herringbone coat that had been shortened to show off her legs, proving there is nothing downmarket about a little fashion reconstruction.

Many people say vintage and thrift shopping is not for them and understandably squirm at the idea of taking out the scissors and creating something new from their old clothes.

I’m a dab hand with a needle and thread and yet I wouldn’t go near transforming the neckline of a bias cut dress from the 1930’s made from delicate wool crepe by myself. Trying to change necklines and armholes is best left to a professional until you gain more proficiency, or maybe just some courage. For that I turned to talented tailor-in-residence Holly Samuelsen from Gravel and Gold in San Francisco. Samuelsen is a “reconstructive therapist” for vintage lovers and bike messengers in the Mission district of San Francisco.

Going to a good tailor to have your clothes pinned and have the lines smoothed out to fit the body? You can expect to pay about $45 an hour. According to Samuelsen, the key to do-it-yourself-tailoring is “Don’t be afraid.” Simple things like taking in side seams and hems to gain a better personal fit are things you can attempt yourself. Adding ribbons and appliqués are fun projects and would cost a lot to have a professional do, so try some of these alterations yourself.

Once you gain an understanding of what you can do and what your tailor is able to do, your thrift exploration is widened. As Samuelsen says, “When I’m in a thrift store, I’m shopping for material.” Next time you see that eye-catching jacket from the 80’s with a bang-on, trendy tribal print that looks just like the ones you just saw on Proenza Schouler’s recent runway, realize that for $5, a little slimming of the width by taking in the side seams and a visit to your tailor to reshape those crazy wide shoulders – you’ll have a fresh jacket just like that.

Kate Moss has secured her status as a modern-day style icon, and such a position doesn’t come without merit. Celebrating her fabulous style that is constantly changing and yet always translates as a ‘Kate Moss’ look, we’ve decided to dissect her signature style and provide you with eco-staples to achieve her effortless eclectic look.

1. Alkemie Jewelry: Zodiac Charm Necklace made from 100% reclaimed metal in Los Angeles.

2. Edun: Oversized Abstract Symbol Tee from the new collection, made in Tanzania from 100% organic cotton.

3. Matt & Nat: Nash Bag made from vegan leather and 100% recycled faux suede lining.

4. Cri de Coeur: Jamie Draped Vamp Bootie with Ties made of supple faux suede, so don’t worry about getting them wet!

5. Loomstate: Revelation Blue Sky Jeans are 98% organic cotton and only lightly dyed for a sky blue wash.

We all might be holding our breath to see what Miss Moss wears next, but at least now we’ve got her style basics covered!

A successful swap keeps our wardrobes simple, timely and up-to-date. It’s a chance to gather with friends, put those great pieces you’ll never wear to good use and pick up “new” duds for free.

Here are a few tips for throwing your very own successful clothing swap:

Send email invites and ask everyone to go through their closets, pulling out anything and everything they no longer wear, like or want.

Include men’s clothing if possible, and shop for significant others and relatives. It’s never too early to prepare for an upcoming birthday or holiday.

Make it a gourmet potluck, too. Ask the guests to bring organic fruit (in-season), fine cheese, fair trade dark chocolate and organic wine.

You might want to subtly (or not) suggest application of a clear antiperspirant prior to attending. There’s nothing worse than a gorgeous dress with white deodorant marks.

Display everything on tables, hang it on racks and in manageable piles on a clean, traffic-free patch of floor.

Check that you have a variety of sizes available so everyone can “play” and no one feels left out. One size definitely does not fit all.

Create a semi-private dressing area. Use a bamboo screen or even a sheet to secure an area for trying on and off.

Make sure there are plenty of mirrors for oohing and ahhing. Have fun playing dress-up with a group of women telling you “Wow, that looks so good on you!”

Rules are key to a well-run swap. Draw numbers to decide who picks first, and so on. And once a piece is tried on and chosen, it’s off-limits.

At the end of the party, put all the unclaimed clothes in bags and donate the leftover stash to a local thrift store or women’s shelter.

The clothing swap isn’t for summertime only. Start off every fashion season with an eco-friendly wardrobe exchange!

Images: Idhren, and Nancy says

An old mill sack destined for the landfill is born agreen as a useful shopping tote. Old neckties are spun into shoelaces to jazz up Converse high tops. Yes, visions abound in the world of product-storming as a new crop of eco entrepreneurs spot a market ripe for recycling one man’s junk. Some of the treasures emerge as functional everyday items. Others are purely newfangled art. Either way, they are among the new wonders of the world. Here are 10 we love:

1. Silk Necktie Shoelaces, $8, from Etsy

2. Bordbar Recycled Airport Trolleys are on a roll in Europe (also shown at top)

3. Fish Lips Recycled Gift Wrap Paper, $4, has the throw-away mentality covered

4. Re-Lites by Jerry Kott are pendants forged from discarded bottles

5. ReBagz Mill Sack Tote is ideal for the neighborhood farmer’s market

6. Eco-Pop Recycling Container made from 65% recycled materials

7. Bike Furniture table by Andy Gregg is peddled to the stylish young urbanite

8. Found objects take flight in the Moth Sculptures by Michelle Stitzlein

9. Deborah Lindquist’s dog sweaters from recycled textiles, $99, are barking magnificent!

10. High design goes playful with the Gold Toy Mirror by Ryan McElhinney