If buying clothing with compassion is your preferred way to shop, then you’re going to love the collaboration between Bloomingdale’s and UNIFORM.

You may have missed the launch party, but you’re just in time to shop the collection with compassion. Designed with men and women in mind, UNIFORM has stylish separates for both sexes, with many gender-neutral pieces that could be worn by anyone. What’s equally as awesome is what and who these clothes stand for. But before we get to the aesthetics, let’s talk about the heart of the business.

Founded by entrepreneur and serial do-gooder, Chid Liberty, UNIFORM’s clothing line has deep roots in Africa. According to the Wall Street Journal, Liberty was born in Liberia. He would leave as a toddler, not to return until 2009. Although many years had passed, his objective was clear: create jobs for women who were out of work due to the ebola outbreak, and do something about the low school enrollment rates in Liberia.

Prior to his 2009 excursion, Liberty worked in Silicon Valley, but what he really wanted was to make a difference. Liberty went on to co-found the business, Liberty & Justice, which is known as “Africa’s first Fair Trade certified apparel manufacturer, with a factory in Liberia and partnerships with others in Morocco, Kenya, and Ghana.” Once established, Liberty set out to solve other problems in the community. He noticed that many children were missing school in Liberia, having one of “the lowest school enrollment rates in Africa,” and that many women had suffered job losses due to the ebola outbreak.

His next venture, UNIFORM, was ultimately spurred by these two factors, morphing into a clothing company with compassion. It is Liberian-produced, the materials, like the organic Benin cotton, are locally sourced, and it makes sure to integrate the community into its day-to-day operations. Plus, for every article of clothing sold, the business will donate a free uniform to a Liberian child.

Furthermore, this company now boasts a 90 percent female workforce, a five-star GIIRS rating (read more about that here), and won the 2011 SVN Social Innovation Award. Liberty told the Wall Street Journal, “Through our factory, I’ve seen women open their first bank accounts, build houses, even leave terrible marriages. Witnessing that impact has been powerful.”     

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Bloomingdale’s department store and UNIFORM celebrated their collaboration by holding a launch party. But don’t worry, you still have time to sign up for the web exclusive (www.shopuniform.com) that’s been extended to October 14th, so you’d better hurry! The retailer hosted the co-founder, Chid Liberty, as well as a big name from the music industry, Young Paris, who performed live at the event.  

The clothing line is being sold at Bloomingdale’s and features “elevated essentials” for men and women, like reversible bomber jackets, African organic cotton tees, shirt dresses, sweatshirts, joggers, and banded collar button downs. The best part, aside from all the good this company is doing, is that every piece retails for under $100!

We have a little sneak peak of the menswear, which looks ridiculously good, and has a price point to match. And with rumors circulating that this is the softest t-shirt anyone has ever tried, or the one they’ve been looking for all their lives, then it’s safe to say that we’d really like to get our hands on one…or ten. Which, remember, also means ten uniforms donated to children in need!

Ok, ladies, whether you get this for the man in your life or not, this bomber jacket is not only great for him, but a great piece to snag for yourself! Sporty, utilitarian, and chic, this jacket, currently retailing for $85, would look awesome with distressed jeans, sneakers, and your favorite baseball cap.

Don’t know about you, but I love a good sweatshirt, and this heather gray colorblocked version is right up my alley. Retailing for $60, I would absolutely wear this, whether labeled “mens” or not. Great with jeans, leggings, athleisure, and more, this would be a fall/winter staple for sure.

And last but not least, is the organic cotton #worldsoftesttee. For a mere $35, you better believe I’ll be giving this t-shirt a go in my wardrobe. The crewneck top is perfect for fall layering, regardless of gender. Pair it with a flannel, distressed jeans, and combat boots for a trendy and edgy look for fall.

Clothing with compassion is where it’s at for us. What did you think of the Bloomingdale’s X UNIFORM launch? Are you eager to see the women’s line? Would you wear that bomber jacket? Share your thoughts with us on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of T-Shirts via UNIFORM

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The GreenShows collaborates with Bloomingdale’s for an Earth Day eco-designer pop-up shop.

Spring is in the air and so are collaborations. An event featuring a union of cloth and retail is taking place Wednesday, April 20th-Saturday, April 23rd in New York City when The GreenShows joins Bloomingdale’s for an ecolux pop-up shop celebrating Earth Day. Featuring 10 contemporary fashion and accessories designers, this venue is chock-full of well-known names in the fashion industry, including Suzanne Rae, Belinda Pasqua of The Sway, Samantha Pleet, H. Fredriksson and recent Ecco Domani winner, Tara St James.

Belinda Pasqua, founder of The Sway, a handbag line hand crafted from excess leather, is also Creative Director of The GreenShows this September 2011. I asked her how she felt about being part of such a powerful collaboration with one of the most renowned retail venues in the world.

“Bloomingdale’s success rests on the fact that they really do move with the times. I’ve been reading the book Like No Other Store, just to get an insight into the company and why they are considered one of the most profitable and well respected department stores in the world,” says Pasqua. “I feel this ecolux pop-up shop is another example of how they are ahead of the curve and tapping into consumers mindsets.”

With all the sustainable brand power involved in this pop-up, is it important to be part of the sustainable tribe, or is it actually a hindrance?

Pasqua thinks it can only be positive.

“As a designer you are very focused on your own project and product but as a collective you can really see the bigger picture and get inspired to promote the cause and do something bigger than yourself,” she says.

Harvey Russack, CEO of the GreenShows agrees.

“One of the strongest trends in fashion today is the expression of ecological and social awareness in luxury apparel. Our collaboration with Bloomingdale’s represents a milestone event to showcase designers who are responding to these trends with beautiful and appealing collections merchandised to engage, inform and excite the shopper,” says Russack.

One thing that always excites shoppers is the merchandising and for the second year, Bloomingdale’s SOHO and The GreenShows will unveil a ground-level display in three windows including a one-of-a-kind couture gown from designer Luis Valenzuela and selections from each of the designers.

Susan Benarcik, an installation artist and surface designer based in New York City, will be creating mixed media, sculptural installations for the 5th floor pop up space created out of recycled paper, wire hangers, vegetation, and other mixed media.

Mental Notes by Susan Benarcik.

‘Mental Notes‘ will be featured, as well as a customized version of ‘Why Our Hangers’ made from recycled clothing hangers.

To add an educational component to the collaboration, The GreenShows is presenting a slide show courtesy of the Museum at FIT from their acclaimed 2010 exhibition, Eco-Fashion: Going Green.

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Bloomingdale’s to host designer Carrie Parry’s trunk show April 14th in New York.

Designer Carrie Parry’s eponymous line was born from a passion for producing garments that never go out of style and a commitment to responsible sources and practices. This is nothing new in the sustainable design realm, but what sets Carrie Parry apart from other conscious designers is her attention to expanding the role of each piece of clothing.

According to The Green Stylist, her debut collection, “Mrs. Montague,” is based on the tailored and classic clothes designed by Adrian in the 1930s film The Women with Joan Crawford. Parry tells The Green Stylist: “The prints that I designed for the collection are inspired by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama and from my time as a costumier for the 1930s English traveling circus Giffords Circus.  In terms of the versatility and modularity of the designs, I was inspired by the 1830s housewife Mrs. Montague who in Troy New York invented the detachable collar.”

Increasingly, conscious fashion will not only be about the textiles and processes used, but how hard the garment itself works.

Parry says: “Each and every piece was designed with interchangeability in mind. Mixing and matching is the name of the game here, like a puzzle. Bows, cuffs, and collars can be added or subtracted at will to make some cool, and personal, looks,” and are created from an array of textiles, ranging from organic cotton and cupro, to recycled polyester.

We love her collection’s story, inspiration board and even her resume.

While designer histories don’t always fascinate, her time with design houses including Marc by Marc Jacobs, Norma Kamali, costumes for the Oscar winning film Memoirs of a Geisha and two seasons with the highly acclaimed English vintage traveling circus, Gifford’s Circus is an interesting background. At the very least, we know Parry is unique.

The designer will be kicking off a Bloomingdale’s Earth Day celebration this Thursday, April 14-Sunday, April 17, Parry with a trunk show so you can meet the designer “Behind the seams.”

Here are some featured designs for sale at the event:

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Raccoon dogs are bred, tortured, smashed to the ground and skinned alive in China. The unspeakable methods used amount to animal abuse in the most inconceivable way possible and you might be unwittingly endorsing it by simply buying a so-called faux fur jacket at Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Burlington Coat Factory and dozens of other stores that simply ignore the Federal Fur Products Labeling Act.

It seems it’s easy for retailers to slide by the labeling clauses of the act, despite the fact unsuspecting buyers might be opposed to the slaughter, not to mention allergic to animal fur.

This has prompted at least one California leader to take action to change the system. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, has followed in the footsteps of New York and four other states by introducing a law requiring  “conspicuous” labeling of all garments that include real fur. Ma announced the measure at a news conference joined by  Pierre Grzybowski of the Human Society’s Fur-Free Campaign.

Grzybowski says China’s lax animal welfare laws allow raccoon dogs to be raised by the millions and skinned alive and the fur is rarely disclosed on labels. He also paraded jackets, boots and other items purchased at Bay Area stores that contained rabbit and raccoon dog fur not listed on the labels.

The Humane Society fights against loopholes in existing laws which allow jackets trimmed with $150 worth of fur to be sold without labels. Since animal fur is often sheared and dyed to resemble synthetic coats, consumers are essentially being tricked into buying the real thing.

The need for labeling is clear, since we have no idea what we are getting from even the ritziest stores. For example, last summer, Neiman Marcus was caught misrepresenting a pair of Manolo Blahnik $1,495 boots – which it had advertised as “natural ocelot fur” – an endangered wildcat. Turns out the boots were actually common goat fur patterned with ocelot markings. If it had been ocelot it would have been a crime. Was it a crime that it was goat? Not yet.

Labels on clothes are as valuable as labels on food, which help consumers make choices for themselves. And the campaigns and state laws are moving retailers to shun fur all together. Among them is Overstock.com, which boasts revenues exceeding $700 million. It became the 100th on the Fur Free list of retailers and designers to commit to a no-fur policy.

Image: Jeremy Barwick, All Creatures; Democrats.Assembly

Image by: mandydale

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