Tara St James and Bahar Shahpar want to take their role as designers and entrepreneurs to a new role, that of teachers.

How we evolve as professionals could quite easily make up a juicy short story, or in some cases, a stylish novel that would take us around the world. In the case of designers Tara St James (of Study New York) and Bahar Shahpar (designer for her own eponymous label), this writer would probably opt for the novel version having followed both for some time.

The two are currently in the throes of an IndieGoGo campaign for funds they hope to elevate GUILDED, their newest enterprise, where the master plan is to become “the new industry standard for the way we think about design.”

Sustainably fashioned design.

I got to catch up with them at GUILDED this past week to see what was going on and what all the fuss was about.

“With fashion, designers need to start attacking waste from the beginning and use good design and business to make better production. they also need to take a look at the people they work with full time,” says St James, referring to the unseen co-workers in the manufacturing process who help produce a collection.

Right now GUILDED offers one to two classes a week that tackle many of the questions designers and companies new to the sustainable scene have. In their 101 Series: Sustainable Design Fundamentals including (but not limited to), Fibers & Fabric: An Analytical Comparison, Local Production: Building Efficient Supply Chains and Brand Positioning: Telling the Story of Sustainability, many of these questions are answered.

While they currently hold the classes in GUILDED proper, the two hope the IndieGoGo funding, will enable them to offer more classes digitally so it’s less of a priority to offer a physical space to teach in and they can reach out to people all over the world.

Check out their video on IndieGoGo explaining more abut what they’re hoping to accomplish with proper funding:

Shahpar says what she hopes GUILDED  will become is a place where people can come to understand about how they can create with a conscious.

“Fashion has a direct impact on a lot of things, so we want students to see what knowledge can do and give them the power to do it themselves and not rely on corporate, that there are people like us working behind the scenes everywhere, working from the root of the system,” she says.

St James agrees and adds that there’s a preconceived perception when designers are entering the eco-realm that they need to address everything when they first start out.

“There’s a lot of confusion with design students and lots of sources being thrown at them and in that confusion is where they stop and don’t want to go any further. Here they can choose what’s right for them and we help give them the tools to go from there. We debunk the myth that it can’t be done,” St James says, adding that the label of “sustainability” also can be a crutch they lean on too heavily, while it should be an element of their design.

GUILDED’s Work space in Manhattan.

Shahpar and St James are passionate about what they do. You can hear it in their voices and the pace at which they speak.  You realize by being there with them that this campaign isn’t just about donating, but supporting a business that is here to make an effective change, “not to just be a charitable cause.”

“Every bit of information you learn about this is life changing,” says Shahpar, “For everyone.”

To update, the goal is to raise $15,000 via IndieGoGo by August 6th to get everything off the ground. You can start by donating as little as $10, everything makes a difference and they’re a little more than halfway there so get on it. An Exclusive for EcoSalon readers who donate to GUILDED’S  campaign is one of Study New York’s Zipper Cuffs. Be one of the first 10 people to give and mention in their comment that they read the EcoSalon piece and get this hot zipper cuff in addition to whatever incentive is being offered for the amount you donate!!

The post GUILDED’s Go Go Girls appeared first on EcoSalon.

It takes courage to be a style icon. Do you have it in you?

It seems like everyone wants to be an icon, but few actually reach this status. Yet there are ways we can be legendary. Forget being Madonna – we have so much power over our own material world, based on purchasing power, to attain almost anything we can think of with just a few moments’ search.

While designers are skillfully trained in the art of building a fantasy around their collections, not everyone will understand. In fact, most people tend to buy what they see others wearing, because they want to fit in or emulate someone they admire. A rare few are bold enough to actually strut in something more individual and self-expressive – and have that confidence to pull it off.  Here a style icon is born.

The actual process of putting an iconic outfit together and wearing it outside of your bedroom takes courage. There will always be some point in the day you hear something along the lines of, “How creative you are!” or “I could never pull something like that off!” Are these kudos for your bravery or a back handed compliment? Best to consider the source.

Sustainable stylist Bahar Shahpar gives us a little hint on how to deal with this.

“Learn the word ‘Bollocks!’ and practice saying it to yourself every time you hear the voice in your head limit you with some random story about what you should or can look like,” says Shahpar. “There are ways to finesse every sort of look on every sort of person – you certainly do need to learn those skills to make it work, but you’ll never even start that lesson if you stop yourself from even being open to the idea.”

Of course, if this commentary is coming from anyone within the fashion media, it would most definitely be suspect of someone suggesting that you’ve gone too far with your outfit, as some are occasionally accused of doing.

Posh steps out in a less-than-ordinary hat and catches hell.

“If Victoria Beckham quits fashion, she could be a limo driver,” pokes whyfame.com regarding a mildly theatrical hat Beckham wore out on the town one day. The fashion media is infamous for hurling insults at unknowing victims or anyone in society who has the guts to stand out in the crowd, even when they’re as highly polished as Posh.

Understandably, no one wants to be caught or accused of trying too hard with an outfit that was not meant to be a costume. What’s the fix to this? Either decide to go all out in a full-on costume or work to cultivate a look that is so individual that no critique is valid.

Pop icon Lady Gaga gone wild.

Pop icon Lady Gaga is a woman who fully intends to baffle, tease, and entangle viewers in her personal style. How’s that for social artillery? Her intention of putting on a full persona each morning generally goes along with the get-up, and it always comes off confidently. These are not looks to be tried by someone who prefers to be invisible in company of others, nor are they looks that we would suggest anyone try to copy.

Her outlandish costumes are as clever a disguise as they are entertaining; few would recognize her if she ran into Starbucks in jeans and a tee-shirt, and her hair and makeup undone. By wearing opposite disguises, she can separate her public and personal personae, all the while dodging or attracting the paparazzi when she so chooses.

Not everyone is ready to take on the effort or attention that a costume attracts. But most people do have an inner desire to express themselves and clothes can be an excellent medium. Style icon Lisa Mayock, one half of the genius behind Vena Cava, says she’s felt uncomfortable about expressing her personal style in public in the past.

Lisa Mayock of Vena Cava is no shrinking violet. She can put on a loud dress and still stay above the noise.

“I was totally that person growing up. I was always afraid to wear things that I loved, and I would buy or make things that I never had the balls to pull off,” says Mayock. “What I took a long time to realize is that it doesn’t matter if people hate your outfit. If it makes you happy, then it’s worth it.”

After starting her own line with partner Sophie Buhai, she certainly got over the fear.

“Being too serious about fashion really bogs it down in my opinion. They’re clothes, they’re meant to be fun! Levity is a really important quality in dressing,” says Mayock.

This isn’t exactly the sense of style one can easily give tips on or package and sell in a magazine. This is the stuff individuality is made of.

Vogue Editor-In-Chief, Anna Wintour

Our billion-dollar fashion industry is built on the concept that women need to be told what to wear because industry experts know best. What do fashion magazine editors know? Apparently, how to sell some really expensive clothes. If an item makes it into the pages of Vogue, it will sell out immediately. Meanwhile, make note that even though she’s pimping how to get the newest look to those who wish to remain en vogue, Anna Wintour has had the same iconic haircut for the past 20 years.

I asked Eviana Hartman, a former Vogue stylist, and now sustainable designer behind the line Bodkin, what her take is on buying beautiful things.

Eviana Hartman of Bodkin

“I really try not to accumulate too much stuff, for sustainability reasons and also because I am already overwhelmed by trying to get dressed. I worked in fashion magazines long enough to see so many bright, clever, beautiful, must-have wearable objects come in and out, racks and racks of it each day, to know better than to get attached to anything,” says Hartman. “I would look at Grace Coddington, who works with these things all day, and wears basic black turtlenecks and pants. I like a little more personal expression than that, but I’d rather spend substantial money on, say, furniture, or a vacation. I really only buy things if I know I’ll wear them a ton. And I’m more likely to go with what might be considered ‘overpriced’ for a subtle, amazing vintage military men’s mesh T-shirt in the perfect oversized fit (as I did yesterday) than, say, an it bag. I hate it bags!”

I’d wager the reason Hartman hates “it bags” so much is because of the tired marketing strategies behind selling them. These bags are meaningless even to the icons associated with them, and yet millions of women buy into the dream the bag has to offer.

Take for instance, the Birkin Bag.

Jane Birkin was photographed carrying a basket more often than carrying the “it bag” that was named after her.

The concept of “icon” gets thrown around a lot in fashion as something to aspire to. But icons aren’t made up of clothes or accessories that can be bought or sold. They’re made up of the lives lived by the individuals who end up being labeled “iconic.” In fashion, you see images of icons offered with tips on how to copy the look which seems impossibly contradictory. You can’t imitate an icon. They stand out in a crowd because of who they are, not because of what they’re wearing.

Hartman gives some insight into how it feels to recognize being different.

“I definitely feel different from the vast majority of people, maybe it’s alienation, and I guess I like to choose items or combinations of items that don’t look like things I’m accustomed to seeing,” she says. “But I’m quiet and don’t like being the subject of a lot of attention, so I do this in a subtle way, not a ‘look at me, I’m quirky’ way.”

We all have it in us to become true icons if we choose. Cultivating and experimenting with our individual spirits through personal style is always just waiting to be tapped. Do you have it in you?

Image: elle.com, Huffington Post, NY Magazine, les anti-modernes

The post Are You A Style Icon? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Fair trade fashion that sets new standards for sustainable style and joy.

Spring/Summer 2011 appears to be a bold and beautiful season for celebrating fair trade fashion’s undeniable momentum, and yet another bright young star has been added to the growing list of change makers in the fair trade design sphere. Meghan Sebold, the principal designer for Afia collection, will debut her new Summer 2011 collection at Guilded’s “Beautiful Future” Sustainable Fashion Pop-Up in NYC on May 5th. Created out of traditional West African textiles by pattern makers in Chicago and NYC in partnership with the fair trade Dzidefo Women’s Cooperative in the village of Kpando, Ghana, Afia’s new capsule collection is a perfect example of  why textiles that demonstrate the genius of place are totally universal wherever you may roam.

Bold traditional textiles from Ghana inspire Afia’s ‘sheath chic’ style

Fair trade sewing production by the Dzidefo Women’s Cooperative, Ghana

All of Afia’s stunningly bold fabrics are sourced from small vendors in Ghana, and as part of urban indigenous chic and sustainable production storytelling, create a bridge to “history, proverbs, moral values, and social codes,” with their classicly traditional, though contemporary, motifs.

In a recent interview with EcoSalon, designer Meghan Sebold shared these inspiring thoughts:

“My role (as a designer), is to translate traditional prints from a region of the spirited and often misconceived African continent into styles that resonate with American pop culture. The Ghanaian fabric makes my job as a designer easy: I choose simple, sheath patterns to pay respect to the animated colors and prints.”

Afia’s designs look incredibly gorgeous on model Fardosa Mohamed, and with the accessorizing of J.M.V. Jewelry and Liten Blomma by Jessica, urban style is fresh again.

Meghan also shared that she was understandably drawn to Ghana as a student in 2006 for the possibilities to do both textile and economic research in a country with a long legacy of textile production.

“I met with people on every level and in every facet of the industry, and despite the artistry, ambition, and business aptitude, there was a struggle to expand their business models beyond the local market. Five years later, I have created Afia to help bridge their craft for our consumer market.  We use fashion as a tool to involve people in social progress in a light-hearted, accessible way.”

The debut of Afia at Guilded in NYC, seems supremely fitting as this hot new agency, created by sustainable style pioneer Bahar Shahpar and award-winning fashion designer Tara St. James of Study NY, is all about providing opportunities where “Artists access information and industry perfects its craft.”

With Guilded’s mantra of, “We define WHAT sustainability is, we teach WHY sustainability is important, and we show HOW to achieve sustainability in practical ways,” there is no doubt that designers and fashion lovers will be making their way to their downtown headquarters for some genuine insight on fashioning the vibrant future with both a local and global twist.

For more information on the upcoming May 5th event, and a line up of other designers who will be participating, visit Guilded’s event page.

Images courtesy of Afia:Design: Meghan Sebold; Photography: James de Leon; Model: Fardosa Mohamed; Editing: Evan Felts; Styling: Julianna Vezzetti; Assisting: Elizabeth Cloyd and Jackson Tonti; Jewelry: Liten Blomma by Jessica and J.M.V.

The post Afia Fair Trade Collection to Debut at Guilded in NYC appeared first on EcoSalon.

Hey couture cats waiting around for the summer sales to start, get your purrs revving with these highly coveted pieces now yours for a steal.

This Cowl Wrap Dress from Bahar Shahpar has such a great shape and pattern. Envi is offering it for $189, down from $378. Bring it.

Cow Jones Industrials offers these Cri de Coeur peep-toe flats in blue chambray for $60. Not quite white, not quite denim, these pumps will be chameleon-like to go with many an outfit.

Imagine this sleeveless a-line dress (with side godets and front placket pockets) post beach. Imagine a belt on it, glittery shoes and drapey jewelry. Designed by Turk + Taylor, the Anchor Bend Dock Dress is a silk organic cotton stripe with silk lining and offered in San Francisco’s sweetest boutique ever, Doe.

Umm, it’s $44.

The post Stylish Steals: Cri De Coeur, Bahar Shahpar and Prairie Oh My! appeared first on EcoSalon.

Yesterday’s News, an eco-friendly cat litter made from recycled materials including paper and sawdust, takes 44 million pounds of paper and turns it into cat litter each year.

With their new packaging serving as their inspiration, Yesterday’s News recently launched their Do-Gooder Design Challenge. Four eco-friendly designers were challenged to transform recycled newspaper into fashion-forward designs. The Do-Gooder designers include Bahar Shahpar, Lara Miller, Samantha Pleet and Celeste and Anthony Lilore of RESTORE Clothing. Over the summer, the four designers will work on their eco-friendly fashions, which will be auctioned off in September to benefit each designer’s favorite green charity.

In the meantime, Yesterday’s News partnered with green living expert Renee Loux to hold an Earth Day contest for consumers. The challenge? Use assets from the company’s recyclable packaging to create a dream handbag. Consumers utilize an online design application to transform elements of the packaging into a handbag, and three winners will have their designs turned into actual handbags by leading eco-friendly handbag designer Elias Abadi – president and head designer of Nahui Ollin, Candy Wrapper Handbags.

“As the annual Earth Day celebration begins, I am joining forces with Yesterday’s News, a wonderful eco-friendly product that takes items that have the potential to end up in the waste stream and turns them into a cat litter, for this fun Design Challenge to help educate millions of cat owners that going green is in fashion all year-round,” said Loux, green living author, TV personality and spokesperson for the Yesterday’s News Do-Gooder Design Challenge.

To design a handbag, visit www.dogooderchallenge.com. The contest runs through May 14, 2010.

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated to reflect that, while consumers are asked to create the “it” handbag using the online tool, the four designers are creating eco-friendly fashion designs out of newspaper.

The post Cat Owners Create Handbags Inspired by Kitty Litter appeared first on EcoSalon.

Earth Day gets us thinking about our first.

You know, our first beach garbage pick-up, Earth Day concert, camping under the stars, organic meal – and for us fashion gals, clothing!

My first? A beautiful embroidered, organic cotton dress from designerEmily Katz who was then known as Bonnie Heart Clyde. I still own the dress and only wish we could see more from Emily (stop being such a foodie and get designing girl!)

For some of us, eco-fashion based finds were due to frugal funds as college students, for others, a conscious choice to do something different. We caught up with some of our favorite sustainably-minded fashion mavens and asked the question “Do you remember buying your first piece of sustainably designed clothing and did you buy it knowing what it was?”

Here’s what they had to say.

Anna Griffin CocoEco Magazine Publisher and Editor-In-chief

“Yes, it was a lilac and pink Deborah Lindquist recycled cashmere scarf, with a skull and crossbones that I bought three years ago from a store in West Hollywood. I had had my eye on it for ages, and was so thrilled when I finally bought it that I put it on, even though it was 80 degrees outside!”

Jasmin Malik Chua Ecouterre Managing Editor

“Yes, a sleeveless organic-cotton wrap dress from the now somewhat defunct Canadian label Twice Shy. It was purchased circa 2006, sometime after I learned about the ills of conventional cotton farming.”

Sara Ost EcoSalon Publisher and Editor-In-Chief

“I don’t remember the first sustainable piece I ever bought, because looking back there were plenty of eco-friendly things I would buy but I didn’t realize it at the time. Things started to click for me several years ago when I bought a pair of Serfontaine jeans on vacation in Marin County (I lived in L.A. at this point). They aren’t perfect, of course, but the Made in USA and natural dyes message caught my attention. I was so careful about what I ate, it suddenly struck me as odd that I was not being more conscious of what I wore: in short, a whole lot of petroleum and chemicals.”

Kate Black Magnifeco Managing Editor

“Yes, I remember by the time I started to get really interested in sustainable clothing I was living in Tokyo (and running the blog) and couldn’t read any of the clothing tags. Then along came a 50 percent off offer from Envi – and I stocked up! Organic cotton (yay!) shipped from Boston to Tokyo (nay!)”

Greta Eagan EcoSalon Fashion Writer, filmmaker, founder of gretaguide.com, fashionmegreen.com

“Hmm, I think my first sustainable fashion piece was from Buffalo Exchange when I was in college in Boulder, CO. As a student on a budget and also at a time when I was exploring my fashion identity I would go to the famous thrift store and swap out old clothing for ‘new to me’ pieces. I can’t quite remember the first article of clothing, but I do remember this one dress that was made of silk scarves and crafted in a very artistic way. I definitely didn’t know that I was participating in sustainable fashion back then – but I did like the idea of re-using clothing and exchanging what I no longer wanted for something that held more appeal.”

Bahar Shahpar Sustainable Style Expert

“Four years ago, I snagged this inky black oversized hand-knit scarf at Atrium – I saw the hulking pile of chunky alpaca amazingness from across the room and had it wrapped around my neck before I even thought to look at the label. The thing is, having just started my trial-by-fire introduction into sustainable design with the launch of my womens wear line, I already knew what to look for and what to avoid, but that day I was completely engulfed by the “Feelgood Quotient.” I may have lucked out, because the scarf was by Edun and I was able to march up to the register without much guilt – but I think that only goes to show that things that are made better actually do feel better. Shopping can be simple, if we spend more time listening to our instincts instead of the advertising.”

Rowena Hutchinson Ritchie EcoSalon Fashion Writer, Publicist and Blogger for the Innovative Fashion Council

“As a teen, I bought a champagne-colored silk brocade 1950’s shirt-waister with a full skirt from a stall at Covent Garden. I treasured that dress and would mooch around my Mother’s living room pretending to be Grace Kelly. Last year (and two decades later), I took it into a La Rosa Vintage in San Francisco and swapped it for a 30’s cocktail dress whose diamante deco-designed sleeves are a topic of conversation at every party I attend. The idea that an item of clothing can still be relevant and beautiful more than 80 years after it was made speaks to the new fashion ethos. We need clothes designed to be treasured and timeless and to foster an emotional connection with its wearer and, hopefully, multiple wearers.”

Starre Vartan Founder and editor-in-chief of Eco-Chick, author of The Eco-Chick Guide to Life, managing editor of Greenopia and a contributor to The Huffington Post

“After years of creating my own upcycled clothing (I specialized in inserting castoff fabrics into my cords and jeans to make them super wide-leg…yes it was the 90’s!) I then moved to shopping at mainstream stores and thrifting about 30 percent of my wardrobe for many years. My first piece of sustainably designed clothing was a pair of hemp trousers from The Hempest in Burlington, VT in probably 2002. They are black, read as linen (but don’t wrinkle), and I still wear them as they are supersoft and worn in perfectly.”

Kelly Drennan EcoSalon Fashion Writer, Founder of Fashion Takes Action

“I have been buying second hand and vintage clothing for years, dating back to university. However, then it wasn’t about being sustainable as much as it was about being frugal with my non existent student income. From there I was introduced to the concept of locally made clothing, having worked with a few local designers in Toronto. Annie Thompson in particular was one of my favorite local designers as she was also known for incorporating recycled fabrics into her designs.  But my first piece of clothing made from a sustainable fabric, is a bamboo kimono style jacket from Thieves that I purchased in spring 2007. Back then I, like mostly everyone else, thought bamboo was a sustainable fabric. And I wore that jacket everywhere! I still own it, and yes, I still wear it. But my reasons for wearing it have changed. When I first got it, I wore it because it was sustainable first, and stylish second. Now I simply wear it because it is a timeless and stylish piece. And it is still a conversation piece, only the conversation has changed. Rather than talking about what sustainable fabrics are and how they are better for the planet, I now talk about the reasons why bamboo is not sustainable.”

Shannon Lorraine Founder of online boutique Found Future

“I remember mine! It was five years ago and I was working as a buyer and buying high-end denim – Citizens, Ag etc… And we picked up loomstate and I did know much about the line. I bought myself jeans and an perfect tee – which I still wear!”

Image: rzacakes

The post Seasoned Eco-Fashionistas Look Back at Their First appeared first on EcoSalon.

Jason Mraz

When I got an  email from Bahar Shahpar that she’d be styling singer Jason Mraz at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, I didn’t realize how little I knew about the singer, though I’ve heard his catchy songs many a time.

Some of you might be better-informed fans of this Grammy winner, but did you know he’s a committed sustainable activist?

Like, ridiculously so. Maybe we’re soul mates.

Here’s a quick rundown of Mr. Mraz:

1. Co-founder of Blend Apparel, a line of bamboo T-shirts.

2. He recently published his first book titled a thousand things, printed on Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper that’s 20 percent recycled and wood-free. The book also happens to be word-free: it’s a collection of Polaroids.

3. His tour bus is an 80/20 biodiesel bus.

4. Information at his concert’s merch table lets you know how you can get Jason Mraz organic merchandise, how he makes conscious choices on the road, how you can participate in greening your community or select brands that are doing something to help the environment.

5. Thanks to living in  San Diego and dealing with water pollution, he’s an active member of the Surfrider Foundation.

6. He also owns an organic avocado farm in Northern San Diego County.

Next thing you’re going to tell me, Jason, is that you were immaculately conceived from a tree. I’m on to you.

While his third album release with lead single from We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, “Make It Mine,” won Best male Pop Vocal performance and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for “Lucky,” his duet with Colbie Caillatalso, Mraz didn’t shirk from putting importance on what he wore when he accepted.

Here is Shahpar’s rundown of his duds at the event:

EcoGir Suit by Simon Carter
·         Made from recycled polyester/wool
·         About 25 plastic bottles are used to make one suit
·         Machine washable

Organic cotton Shirt by Culturata
·         Made in Italy using no pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, fragrances or dyes

Tie by Sonic Fabric
·         Made from recycled cassette tapes

Handmade Shoes by Osborn Design
·         Handmade by local artisans in Guatemala
·         Made using local and vintage materials

How did she get the gig styling Mraz?

Shahpar says she met him at the EMAs (Environmental Media Awards) in October 2009 when he received the 2009 Missions in Music Award.
Having been a stylist since the beginning of her career in fashion over a decade ago, she’s found many opportunities to work with clients who share her passion for promoting beautiful, responsibly produced pieces.

“Clothing is such an intimate part of our lives, and dressing someone can be a telling window into who someone is,” says Shahpar, “So it is often a very personal experience – and incredibly rewarding when you’re able to help them be a better version of themselves.”

A better version, Bahar? In the case of Jason, we’re already talking sainthood!

The post Jason Mraz + Bahar Shahpar = Sustainably Sexy appeared first on EcoSalon.

Sheena Matheiken, founder of The Uniform Project, has challenged herself to wear the same dress for 365 days as an exercise in sustainable fashion.

To prove her point, she had seven of the exact same dresses created for her (to avoid any stinkiness), that she can accessorize any way she wants – but she has to wear the same dress all year and says at her website she’d like to “think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade’s boudoir.”

So far, so intriguing.

This exercise is also a worthy fundraiser and all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for slum children in India, where Matheiken was raised and schooled.

Please visit Matheiken’s site to see how you can participate or donate to her cause. At the very least, how you can help the poor girl accessorize enough to put her through a full year of wearing (gulp) the same old, same old.

In the meantime, I wrangled my own posse of designers to answer the question:

In light of The Uniform Project, do you think you could design a dress that could multi-task for a woman for a whole year?

Bahar Shahpar:

I could and I would. Very excitedly so. Repurposing and reimagining beyond a normally acceptable level is right up my alley. In fact, I was just approached by a forward-thinking friend to do just that. But I wouldn’t do a dress. I’m just going to put it out there: Long Live the Onesie.

LAEKEN:

LAEKEN’s vision could absolutely be translated into developing a dress versatile enough to be worn 365 ways, as seen in the Uniform Project. We love the idea of multi-functional pieces. For example: a zipper in the back of a dress so that it may be worn tighter or looser (seen in our fall 2009 collection) or a jacket with removable sleeves so that it may also be a vest (seen in fall 2008) or the Osaka dress from spring 2009 that has two different ways that it can be worn. We would create something very unique, true to LAEKEN’s edgy spirit but simple enough to be accessorized, dressed up or dressed down, comfortable and perfect for the transition from day to night.

Alabama Chanin:

We have been striving to make multitask dresses and clothing since the beginning of the company. I love a dress that can be used as a night gown, for gardening, to go to work, dinner and a party – perhaps with a washing in between.

MothLove:

I believe MothLove dresses are meant to be worn under the same constructs as the Uniform Project. I had no intentions of putting boundaries around my line, as I think that can stunt its potential! What is important to me is that MothLove creates pieces intended to be worn however the wearer chooses, interpreting the “artists” creation in their own way…and even that has cause for constant “re-interpretation.” When that happens the real magic happens and a new spirit evolves…your spirit evolves.

MothLove is highly adaptable, designed in grey scale for wearability and relevance beyond a season or a trend; meant to be the favorite piece you pull out of your closet routinely.  The dresses stand alone, yet are easy to layer and accessorize, keeping the focus on conscious consumption and creativity. I really only meant to make something that allows a woman to feel natural, pure and pretty. I don’t think we allow ourselves that privilege enough. And in that, I hope the wearer can feel the love and devotion I have in making each piece.

cmarchuska:

I think designers will have to view design with more functionality instead of creativity since this one dress uniform will have to last a whole year. In general, I think this is the direction fashion is headed during these tough economic times because consumers want pieces that are classic, affordable and can be worn to various occasions. This also speaks directly to the sustainable fashion movement, which focuses on classic pieces that the customer will want to hold on to for years instead of tossing out trendy clothing each season and contributing to more waste and less sustainability.

The post The Uniform Project Challenges: Could You Work 1 Outfit for an Entire Year? appeared first on EcoSalon.

I first met Bahar Shahpar around three years ago in a noisy corner café in Manhattan. Because we could barely hear each other, all we did was laugh. I remember she was wearing long bloomers made out of a golden, metallic fabric. She was thinking of moving forward with a new line, even more sustainable than her line called Agricult, which was inspired by the American frontier.

I just thought her bloomers were rad.

In spring 2007, Bahar launched an eponymous line that leaned more toward an internal aesthetic where beauty and functionality were just as important as artistic value. Her collections since continue to inspire, garnering attention in publications like Women’s Wear Daily, Lucky and Elle.

In addition to being the co-founder and fellow designer of New York City’s The Four Hundred showroom, Bahar has always taken eco-design a step further, hence her press. The Four Hundred, dedicated to high-end sustainable designers and socially conscious business practices, has proven that from concept to manufacture there are greener pastures to explore. Here’s what Bahar has to say about eco fashion.

What got you into eco-design?

Bahar: I’ve worked in fashion for over a decade, and I’ve always had an affinity for working with natural raw materials. As an accessory designer, I worked with a lot of vintage leather and fur and found objects, so when I started my first clothing line about 4 years ago and was looking for larger quantity production materials, I gravitated towards fibers like hemp, silk, cotton, and linen. I began doing research into these fiber crops as well as the overall processing used in the textile industry, and I quickly discovered how toxic, wasteful and destructive conventional farming and manufacturing can be. At the time, there were very few alternatives to conventional materials, so I embraced the challenge of proving that you can, in fact, manufacture products responsibly without sacrificing style or quality.

What are some of the environmental groups you belong to?

Bahar: I co-produce the annual Project Earth Day event for the U.S. Green Builder’s Council, I’m involved on several initiatives with the Teens for Safe Cosmetics Campaign, and our non-profit partner at the showroom is the Environmental Justice Foundation.

How has The Four Hundred taken design and sustainability a step further?

Bahar: As an extension of the sustainable sourcing and product development work I’ve been doing for our fashion clients, we’ve recently partnered with C.L.A.S.S., an international eco-textile showroom whose mission is to connect designers and manufacturers with suppliers of the most innovative, creative sustainable materials on the market today. The C.L.A.S.S. showroom and fabric library is housed within The Four Hundred, so we have a beautiful display of both raw materials and finished products as inspiration and resource for designers who are interested in making their collections more sustainable.

Are you inspired by how many offerings there are for designers wanting to approach their lines more sustainably?

Bahar: Absolutely! Supply really has responded to demand in terms of the number and diversity of sustainable materials that are on the market right now, and we’re only just scratching the surface. One of the things we’re focusing on with C.L.A.S.S. is something called the Innovation Lab, which is exactly what it sounds like – a project that is bringing together textile and fashion designers with mills that are committed to pushing the innovation envelope, bringing exciting concepts in fabrications, surface design, and printing to life.

What advice would you give a designer just delving into making their line more sustainable?

Bahar: Sustainable design takes many factors into account, not just fiber and fabric choices. The first basic steps are to minimize waste and source and produce locally whenever possible. Cutting down on transportation costs and supporting local economies and fair trade goods can have a huge impact, and designers should look at the big picture. Sustainable design includes all of the choices we make when we design a product, so we really need to start looking at the full life cycle of that product.

When it comes to fabrics, the reality is that our choices can be limited in some categories, but there are some areas in which we have many sustainable alternatives to conventional materials and there is absolutely no compromise. I encourage all designers to just try to find alternatives to what they’d normally use, without feeling like they have to edit their design vision. Of course, if anyone is interested in learning more about sustainable fabrics, viewing our C.L.A.S.S. fabric library, or taking advantage of our consulting services, please contact me.

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