Celebrate the arrival of spring by wearing sustainable pieces in fresh floral patterns.

It seems that spring has sprung early in many parts of the country. Where I live, the air is filled with a sweet scent of orange blossoms and jasmine. Flowers are, indeed, a sign that warmer times are coming in the very near future. Celebrate this by wearing sweet floral prints, which also happens to be one of spring’s hottest trends.

The Cousteau Jacket by Feral Childe 
This little number is a fresh update to the spring jacket. It features one of those great prints that Feral Childe designers Alice Wu and Moriah Carlson are known for (another was famously knocked-off by retail behemoth Forever 21). Made in NYC, from 100% silk crepe.
$320, Kaight

Drip Top by H. Fredriksson
Brooklyn-based designer Helena Fredriksson is also known for her innovative prints, often based on photographs she has taken during her travels. The draping of this top gives it a great fit, sure to flatter most figures. Sustainably made by skilled craftspeople in NYC’s Garment District.
$242, Juno & Jove 

Alkemie Lavender Bangle
We love that this lavender bangle hints at the floral trend without being overt about it. It’s simply a subtle hint to nature. Like all Alkemie’s jewelry, this bangle is handmade in Los Angeles, using 100% reclaimed metal.
$198, Alkemie

People Tree Delicate Flower Shell Top
This sleeveless white peter pan collar top with red and blue mini floral print is a throwback to the 50s, when everything seemed just a bit more polished. Wear it with ankle-length pink pants and pointed-toe kitten heels and you have an outfit worthy of Betty Draper. Perfect paired with jeans or shorts. Made in India from 100% organic cotton.
Approx. $67, PeopleTree

AFIA Goddess One Shoulder Dress
This gorgeous one shoulder dress is just begging to be worn to a springtime garden party where croquet is being played. AFIA designer Meghan Sebold handpicks the cotton wax fabric for all her pieces from the markets in Ghana’s capital city Accra. The clothing is made in sewing cooperatives in Ghana, where artisans are paid a fair wage for their craft.
$200, AFIA

Silver Spoon Jewelry Rose Ring
This rose wrap ring is handmade in the U.S., from antique silver plated demitasse spoon handles. Who says silverware can’t be fashionable? Infinitely adjustable, it fits all sizes and fingers.
$29, FairTribe

Jeffrey Campbell Vegan Sprint Wedge
Part of Jeffrey Campbell’s collection for vegan shoe label Convert, this wedge heel is the perfect mix of springtime color and sporty freshness. Wear it as a way to add interest to any simple outfit, or pair it with other patterned pieces to channel another of spring’s biggest trends.
$120, Convert

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The GreenShows snag a coveted spot at Lincoln Center.

Too often, sustainable fashion is relegated to the sidelines of events like Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. This season, however, that changed with the addition of The GreenShows to the official line-up at Lincoln Center.

Held Friday morning at Lincoln Center’s The Box, the presentation featured carefully curated ensembles from eight sustainable brands, assembled by star stylist Julie Ragolia. In selecting the participating designers, TGS considered a number of ethical manufacturing criteria, including use of organic/bio-based textiles and materials, recycled/upcycled fabrics, low-impact dyes, zero waste/fabric waste reduction, local production, craft/artisan production, and fair/ethical trade.

The Box was packed shoulder-to-shoulder for the event, which GreenShows director Lou Sagar called a “milestone” in the sustainable fashion movement.

Sustainable fashion is now a global movement, it’s no longer a trend. (The GreenShows) are a demonstration that fashion always has to be beautiful and appealing, but it doesn’t have to be at the compromise of using sustainable materials and ethical practices. I think the fashion industry is demonstrating a desire to embrace that more and more. We don’t have to feel that we’re alternative because social change is mainstream.

Here, scenes from the show and more information on the featured designers.

The entrance to The GreenShows.

The Lincoln Center lobby, hub of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Venezuelan designer Luis Valenzuela collaborated with Lulan Artisans on this gorgeous hourglass dress, made from raw Cambodian silk, hand-woven and hand-dyed by women artisans. Eve Blossom, founder of Lulan Artisans, told EcoSalon, “By working with these artisans, we prevent them from falling into human trafficking, because we give them job security and options, which prevents them from getting into desperate situations. And these artisans are very proud and incredible masters. All you need to do is help them, highlight them, and create partnerships, and it makes all the difference in the world.”

The model in the background wears a silver, organic cotton jersey gown made from metallic thread.

United Bamboo is a fashion collective from collaborators Miho Aoki and Thuy Pham, focused on the reinvention of tradition and committed to local production. For The GreenShows, they used a traditional plaid on dresses, skirts, and bomber jackets.

Bamboo By United Bamboo is a line of organic “room wear” inspired by the birth of Aoki’s first child. In the foreground, the model wears a black organic wool hooded sweater and white organic cotton romper; just behind there’s a black linen pinafore dress layered over an organic cotton fitted shirt; and in the back there’s a cropped jacket, striped organic knit sweater, and cropped pant.

For STUDY NY‘s fall line, designer Tara St. James‘ focus was on convertability. “Everything can be personalized and is meant to be worn your own way. I think that’s an important part of sustainability. Fast fashion is so recognizable on the street, and you don’t want to be wearing what everyone else is. Even if you’re wearing the same piece it can look very different.”

This olive tweed, 100 percent wool convertible jacket is layered over an olive tweed skirt.

Ajna, from designer Beryl Man, embraces beauty and simplicity while exclusively utilizing organic and sustainable textiles. The knits in the show were fabulously cozy and perfectly paired with the models’ rosy cheeks and fifties-style coiffes. Here, a multicolor organic wool hand-knit turtleneck over a sage organic wool draped skirt.

Using primarily upcycled materials, Brooklyn-based Artists & Revolutionaries put together a stunning collection of pieces using repurposed leather, cashmere, and organic cotton. From left to right: a camel washed wool jacket with repurposed leather sleeve and trim, with black washed wool pant; a white/black spliced repurposed washed wool sweater with black repurposed leather short; and a floral organic dip-dyed ruffle top with check washed wool flip skirt.

Ensembles from The Battalion were sleek, slim, and simple, incorporating materials like bamboo, organic cotton, faux fur, and peace silk. I loved this black modal, spandex zip jacket, paired with a black organic bamboo legging.

The distinctive textiles present in H. Fredriksson pieces are inspired by designer Helena Fredriksson’s own drawings and photographs. The model in the front is wearing an olive 100 percent reclaimed wool batwing coat over a printed silk crepe Stina dress, while the model in the back sports a blue 100 percent silk Milos dress.

Images: Jessica Marati and Jennifer Barckley

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Let your inner green girl shine through in delicious shades of olive.

Green is gorgeous, I think we all agree on that. For a shade that will look great on anyone and go with anything, try donning delicious hues of olive. Pair with other jewel-tones for a personal take on the color-blocking trend or with blacks, grays and browns for a more subtle look.

H Fredriksson Dolman Cardigan
This 100% Alpaca Hand knit Dolman Cardigan is Fairtrade and organic, made in Bolivia in a small mountain village women’s collective. It’s the warmest softest fiber around, and you can wash it in the machine.
$396, H Fredriksson 

Hearts of Darkness Possess Slit-back Bootie
The tonal mix of faux leather and suede bring distinction to these vegan booties. A slit detail in the back brings some added flair. Also available in black, gray and chocolate. Made in an ethical, sweat-shop free factory in China.
$130, Cri De Coeur 

San Isabel Necklace by Green Diva
This sweet little necklace is made with Fair Trade recycled glass, Fair Trade Tagua nut and 100% recycled sterling and fine silver chain and findings. Green Diva Jewelry is a member of 1% For The Planet, which means they donate 1% of their profit to environmental causes.
$95, Green With Glamour 

Begonia Clay Organic Cotton Tank Top by IDEO
This tank top is a great a wardrobe basic, but pretty subtle tone on tone sparkle details on shoulders make it a little more fun. Ethically made in India under fair labor standards using SKAL certified production processes using ECOCERT label Organic cotton and water-based, PVC-free dyes.
$23, Fairtribe

Mujus Piel Ring
This ring by Brooklyn and Lima – a Peru based earth-friendly company – uses the intricate patterns of the bark from the Tagua seed as a design element. Each ring has a unique shape making each of them one of a kind.
$25, Mujus 

Pendleton Portland Collection Shorts
These hot, little shorts from Pendleton’s Portland Collection will look great now with tights and by themselves as the weather gets warmer. Details like slanted pockets at the sides, zipper and button closure and belt loops make them even more gorgeous. Made in the USA from 100% virgin wool.
On sale for $89.60, Kaight 

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Eight eco-friendly dresses, in flattering shades of red.

The holidays are here and that means a lot of parties. This year skip the standard LBD and put on a LRD (Little Red Dress) instead. Dressing in brighter colors just seems more festive, doesn’t it? But, instead of Santa-red, go for a darker shade, such as ruby, bordeaux, rust or maroon this year. Here are our top eight eco-friendly LRDs, in no particular order. Of course, you can also use them year-round.

1. Feral Childe’s Goldbird Shift
Elegant with personality, this shift dress by Feral Childe will take you through any day and night with great style. Made in New York, from 100% hammered silk, this lovely piece works just as well as a dress as it does a tunic.
$242, Embodies

2. Prairie Underground’s Fringe Tribe
This one is for those nights you know you’ll end up dancing to the wee hours. The three tiers of fringe in front (and two in the back) will move with you. Made in Seattle from 100% Organic cotton.
On sale for $185, Embodies

3. Prairie Underground’s Basque Dress
Sweet and flirty, this dress by Prairie Underground will carry you through the seasons in ethical style. Features a soft draped neckline and close fit. Made ethically in Seattle from 100% organic cotton.
On sale for $79, Equita

4. Clothes by Majestic’s Button Down Charlie Dress
For the more casual family gatherings, this comfy dress from Clothes by Majestic is a perfect fit. Made in Portugal from a fabric made up of 40% Linen, 40% Lyocell, and 20% Cashmere. The check pattern gives it a hint of that Lumberjack Girl style we talked to you about last week.
On sale for $185, Juno & Jove

5. H. Fredriksson’s Drip Dress
Featuring a great pattern and skillful draping, this dress can easily take you from a day at the office to a night of festivities. Designed by Helena Fredriksson of H. Fredriksson, it’s made in New York from 100% silk.
On sale for $260, Juno & Jove

6. Indigenous Designs’ Organic Cotton Little Knit Dress
Perfect for a holiday party, or a hot date, this pretty little dress is hand knit by a women’s weaving cooperative in Peru. Indigenous Designs has a longstanding commitment to the environment and to the communities in which they work, which means everything they make is Fair Trade. This dress is made from organic cotton and tencel and dyed using certified, eco-friendly dyes.
On sale for $89, Jute & Jackfruit

7. Suzabelle’s Alexandria Dress
Suzabelle creates timeless pieces that are guaranteed to make every woman feel a little bit more like a lady. Each piece is ethically crafted by hand and to help offset the impact of production and transportation, designer Suzanne Jaberg donates a portion of all profits to Conservation International.
$189, Olivine

8. Stewart + Brown’s Jersey Gown
The simple, elegant draping in front and back and a subtle side slit makes this maxi dress by Stewart + Brown a good choice for the most glamorous of holiday parties. Made from 96% hemp and 4% spandex jersey it’s also insanely comfortable. Stewart + Brown are members of the 1% for the Planet Foundation, which means that 1% of total sales is donated to charity.
$210, Beklina

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Finding a seasonally versatile cover-up is easy with H Fredriksson’s Envelope Cardigan.

You’re probably asking yourself why in the middle of August I’d suggest a hemp cardigan for a Lustable? Well, nights are getting cooler and who doesn’t need something comfortable, chic and versatile for their wardrobe?

This hemp Envelope Cardigan is so perfect and with the also very versatile Monk Tank Dress underneath, also designed by H Fredriksson, you’ll have two pieces that can take you year-round.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.

Image: Juno & Jove

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H Fredriksson is created from natural materials and made in New York City.

It’s hard to find a jumper that isn’t overly cute or too roomy to add bulk to what you might consider “Problem areas.” This silk jumper is the perfect solution for your day to night dilemma when on vacation or when you know going home, won’t be an option until late. A change of jewelry and shoe will make this piece have an altogether different vibe.

Helena Fredriksson of H Fredriksson is a master of draping and sexy silhouettes that would never confuse anyone that you are anything but a mature woman ready to spend a day doing whatever it is one does in a sexy jumper. Even if it’s just, jumping.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com

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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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I love silk. I love fibers. I love mixing fibers.

Thankfully silk is just one of many fibers I like to wear to add depth to outfits – or when I just want to feel effortlessly sexy and put together.

Since I own an eco-boutique I get lots of women who thumb past the silk section and I hear all kinds of strange things like “My mother wears it so I don’t want to,” “It’s too hard to take care of,” and my favorite, “Where would I wear it?”

Anywhere!

So on my Facebook page the other day I wrote: “Do you think silk is for young women? Seems like so many younger women are afraid to wear it!” And 21 comments later, I was surprised to see some of the responses:

“Afraid to wash it is probably more like it.”

“Silk can’t handle my lifestyle.”

“It’s the stain and care factor that kills me.”

I was happy to see the support for silk too, and the advice the different women – both eco-fashion writers and designers – had for on the fencers.

“Twill silk is a good bet for the wary… a coarser weave, more durable. Maybe it’s washing it that concerns them… it’s best to hand wash (won’t shrink) in lukewarm water with non alkaline soap (baby soap) and a touch of white vinegar in rinse water. Easy!”

“Silk is not that difficult to look after. You can either dry clean or hand wash and iron on low heat. Also satiny silk stains less than most other fabrics.”

“I wear tons of silk, winter and especially summer, my skin seems to love it. I’m not sure what you mean by younger, I’m 33 and wore it throughout my twenties, but then again, I was raised by my grandma who also wore it a lot and taught me how to wash clothes (not just throwing it in the machine!) so I’m more informed than average I think. I really love silk and am wearing a new silk top right now actually! In the summer the perspiration dries really quickly, a godsend for sweaty girls like me!”

Silk is rearing it’s delicate head more and more as seen in the recent sustainable collections of Gretchen Jones’ Mothlove, Dahl by Alison Kelly, H Fredriksson and Feral Childe, each with a very different spin on the fabric.

Obviously young, hip designers are creating and wearing it, but how do you feel about silk? Do you think it’s only for your mom or grandma?

Image: Batik Ella Dress from H Fredriksson

The post Are You Scared to Wear Silk? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Every eco-fashion website you go to is probably comprised of some red hot talent when it comes to work outside the site. EcoSalon fashion writer Greta Eagan is a great example of one of our writers taking an entrepreneurial walk outside our own pearly green gates. Recently launching FASHIONmeGREEN, a sustainable fashion awareness project two months ago in L.A. (The L.A. Project), she’s now in New York City wrapping up her New York Project (shot at the SoHo House) with Eleanor Banco, PR Director of Style.com and Teen Vogue.

Next stop? London – to find her next victim or “style influencer” to help morph a darker shade of green.

All clothing and accessories will come from local eco-designers based in each city and will be stylishly showcased in an editorial spread on the site as well as behind the scenes video webisodes. The site will also run the FMG Daily featuring current trends and style tips with eco-alternatives (indicated by a green leaf).

Eagen says “The idea is to impart a style source that is relatable, inspirational, current and eco.”

I recently caught up with Eagen to talk about her new project.

(Side note, if you’ve got an entrepreneurial fashion mission you’re on, pitch it to us!)

Inspiration behind FMG?

I really wanted to build a global platform for eco-fashion with resources, and create a way to bridge the gap between mainstream and eco-fashion. My motto is to provide a (digital) space with style standards as high as the eco ones.

With all the information out there about forward sustainable fashion, do women really still think it’s not stylishly comparable? Could this possibly be true?!

I really think it comes down to awareness. People want to be responsible in their purchasing. We have seen that with the organic food movement and insurgence in hybrid vehicles. When it comes to clothing and fashion, it is just going to take time to educate the consumer and show them what options they have. I would also add, that a lot of the designers who are designing “˜green’ are independent and therefore not as well known as the bigger brands, so again it’s a matter of exposing them to the consumer.

You’ve FMG’d fashion blogger Lucrecia Chan and Style.com’s Eleanor Banco, were they surprised there was so much sophisticated greenery out there?

Absolutely! They both had some idea of what was out there and knew a couple of designers who are green, but the makeover really exposed them to very fashion-forward eco-options they didn’t know existed. I know that they were coveting some of the pieces from the makeover!

Did they pick their own looks from a bunch of clothes you acquired from designers or did you style them all the way?

The core concept of FMG is to select style influencers whose style stands on its own and has garnered them respect and admiration in the fashion industry. Through the makeover, we adamantly hold onto that original style sense to recreate their style aesthetic using mostly eco-inspired pieces. So the process is always very interactive and collaborative. When I do a first pass through the designers I want to pull for the shoot, I will always revert back to my style influencer’s image and ask, “Would she wear this?” Then, we work with the influencer to select exact pieces from eco-lines. Finally, the day of the shoot we will have a handful of outfits outlined, but always allow for the flexibility to change things as we go so that it communicates their true style sense.

Always five looks and how are the five looks picked?

It really is a brainstorming process. We will chat about their style signatures and the story they want to tell through their outfits. Also, because the spread is published online with a Shop The Shoot section, the looks are very seasonal and represent what the influencer is wearing at the moment. We always want the looks to be relatable, corresponding to the time of the year and also sourcing real women who work in industries that command a strong sense of style.

What’s your best advice for newbies?

It’s important to remember that no single brand out there is 100 percent sustainable at this point in time, so to hold yourself to those standards is unrealistic. Instead, start with what makes sense to you and explore. Thrift or vintage shopping is a great entry point. By reusing a piece that was previously produced, you extend its life cycle and just that is very sustainable.

Going green with your wardrobe is a lifestyle decision and I liken it to formulating an individual’s diet. Are you animal- friendly? Is ethical fashion of utmost importance to you? Or are you more concerned with carbon-footprints and dying processes? You decide what is important and make your purchasing decisions from there. It really is a personal journey for everyone which, I think, is the way fashion should be.

The NY Project- Teen Vogue’s Eleanor Banco from FASHIONmeGREEN on Vimeo.

Photographer – Jamie Beck (FromMeToYou)

Photographer’s Assistant – Colleen Duggan

Natural Make-up Artist – Jessa Blades

Video Assistant – Andy Mirabito

Designers used for the N.Y.Project:

Suno
Stella McCartney
Doucette Duvall
Cri de Coeur
Osborn Designs
Study
H Fredriksson
Lizzie Fortunato Jewels
Lauren Pierce
Bodkin

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Yesterday I wrote about the fun part of your closet with Feral Childe but forgot to mention another, more curious section you might want to consider: The dramatic.

When it comes to this niche, where you find yourself actually wanting to wear art and channel Film Noir, you should consider Swedish designer H Fredriksson to represent.

Actually inspired by Bergman films depicting the human condition, designer Helena Fredriksson combines her Scandinavian ethics with Brooklyn sass to create forward pieces of art you can actually wear. Think traditional Nordic crafting fused with American contemporary culture, and throw in a bit of signature H Fredriksson tailoring, and you have the end result. She also implements nature inspired prints pulled from her own photographs into the collection which I think, makes the line all that more personal and pretty and well, dramatic.

Not to mention when you wear her line you’ve got enough going on that you probably could step into some film noir.

When I came across her label years ago I was in love with the look book photography: pale models in tall grass clad in high-waisted, sweeping dresses with graphics of branches. Smitten.

You can take your labels and flush them, I go for designers who feel their designs. Helena is definitely down with that.

Made in New York City from sustainable materials and a whole lot of Swedish charm, there’s a lot to love about Helena and her line. We look forward to finally meeting her at EcoSalon Shops! on June 4th. Be sure to stop by!

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