The words ‘luxury’ and ‘ethical fashion’ haven’t always gone hand-in-hand, but thanks to designers like Anita Arzé, the world of high-end conscious clothing is more accessible and lovelier than ever.

Inspired by the beautiful mountainside of the Andes, the rich colors and textiles, as well as the deep spirituality of the indigenous people, Bolivia is the common thread connecting Arzé’s designs to her native South American roots.  From early childhood Arzé has been traveling from the U.S. to Bolivia to visit family, setting her up for future inspiration and success in the fashion industry. Although formally educated in New York City, the talented designer and artist cultivates a look of casual luxury that appears organically honed through her experiences and passion for her craft.

With Arzé’s mother introducing her to the creative side of things through painting and ceramics classes and trips to the museum at a very young age, coupled with her grandmother’s fine art skills and keen sense of style and finesse, both women helped to instill a passion for creativity, igniting the desire to make her mark on the world of fashion. In addition to her childhood, Arzé also derives inspiration for current collections from nature, architecture, geometric shapes, and by the art she sees. A true creative at heart, Arzé said “designing became a great platform for me to communicate my creativity and express my individuality.”

As natural and earthy as the countryside from which they come, Arzé’s spring/summer 2016 designs are not only dreamy, with billowy materials and a sort of airy lightness from the sheer weaves, but she also takes pride in her unwavering dedication to accountability. When asked why she chose sustainability over commercial manufacturing, Arzé responded by saying, “There was no choice there. I didn’t want to create just another clothing line. It had to have deeper meaning for me. It had to be socially responsible and sustainable. I care deeply about environmental and social issues.”

From the sustainable Alpaca fiber that’s sheared once a year, handpicked and separated into different categories of color and quality, to the pima cotton used for Arzé’s summer line, the materials play a momentous role in her collections. Because of her dedicated use of native materials, Arzé’s company is able to work with indigenous artisans, with close to 80 percent of them being women, many of whom are the sole providers for their households. This not only coincides with the company’s mission and core value of holding social and environmental sustainability to the highest accord, but also works toward the preservation of Bolivia’s strong heritage of knitting and providing job opportunities through this craft.

When women choose to shop her collection, Arzé wants them to “feel elegant, yet relaxed, fashionable and sophisticated while being comfortable,” and her spring/summer 2016 collection appears to achieve exactly that. With a grounded, yet ethereal quality that transcends commercial fashion, it’s difficult to play favorites, but we’ve managed to choose a few while leaving a little something to the imagination for when you do visit the Anita Arzé website.

Tom – The hand loomed long contrast vest pictured above is a beautiful addition to your spring and summer wardrobes. Throw it on over a camisole and skinny jeans, a slip dress, or even a light long sleeve to combat those chilly evenings – ethical fashion has never looked so good!

Richie – Another hand loomed piece designed for spring and summer wear is the beautiful and lightweight striped poncho shown in cream, black, white, and grey. This quick, no-fuss piece is elegant and functional. Pair with leggings, slacks, jeans, or even over the top of a maxi dress as a stylish and simple layer that’s suitable for warmer temps.

Alex – Fun, sheer, and sexy, this cut out tunic can be worn as a dress or with your favorite bottoms. For the daring, choose to layer the tunic over a bandeau top or lacey bralette, and for a more conservative approach, opt for a camisole or short slip instead. The cut out design is very of the moment, but the material and style is classic and timeless.

Luke – This sheer maxi dress is light, airy, and stands on its own beautifully. Wear this over a camisole-style slip and change the length for different looks. Pair with sandals, wedges, or booties, and have fun layering on the accessories – the possibilities are endless.

The ethos driving Arzé is that every dollar counts, particularly when putting them toward socially and ecologically sustainable products, like ethical fashion. It truly does make a difference. Share your thoughts with us on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

Related on EcoSalon

Eco Luxury Fashion: Sexy Faux Leather from TildArt

Kindred Black: A Sustainable Approach to the Luxury Lifestyle

ONO Creations: Stunning Vegan Handbags and Accessories Made from Cork Leather

Image of Models in Ponchos via Anita Arzé

The post Anita Arzé: Bolivian-Inspired Ethical Fashion with a Nod to Luxury and Modern Sophistication appeared first on EcoSalon.

A list of the top sustainable designers currently on the fashion scene.

Sustainable fashion has come a long way since its humble beginnings with more and more designers taking chances with fabrics, silhouettes and collaborations. Here we offer you an extensive list of what we consider to be the top designers in the sustainable fashion field.

A.D.O. Organics, New York, NY: GOTS (global organic trade standard) certified fabrics, chemical-free herbal dyes, Fair Trade.

Afia, New York, NY: Sustainable women’s clothing line sourced and sewn in Ghana, West Africa.

Ajna, New York, NY: Certified organic and sustainable textiles, collaborates with indigenous textile artisans.

Alabama Chanin, Florence, Alabama: Slow design, organic fabrics, recycled materials, minimal waste, made by local artisans in Florence, Alabama.

Alder, New York, NY: Part of the Pratt Design Incubator, all made in the U.S., materials sourced locally.

Allison Parris, New York, NY: Recycled materials, end run fabrics, organic silks, made in Manhattan.

Ambika, Catskills, NY: Made from shorn and brushed Angora rabbits on Ambika Conroy’s own rabbit farm in upstate New York.

Auralis Herrero, New York/Puerto Rico: Organic fabrics, promotes sustainable economies in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Avery by Wang, Vancouver, Canada: Recently launched, organic cotton, hemp.

Awamaki Lab, New York and Ollantaytambo, Peru: A Peruvian non-profit working with impoverished Quechua women weavers.

Carrie Parry, New York, NY Produced ethically and locally in the New York Garment District, sourcing environmentally conscious materials and textiles supporting artisanal communities worldwide.

Christopher Raeburn, London: Christopher Ræburn has become known for his utilization of re-appropriated military fabrics to create garments that are functional, intelligent and meticulously crafted.

Clary Sage Organics, San Francisco, CA: Clary Sage Organics is committed to using 100% organic or ecologically sustainable products.

Costello Tagliapietra, New York, NY: Uses AirDye waterless technology to create all their prints, made in New York City’s Garment District.

Crop by David Peck, Houston, TX: Manufactured with textiles dyed in the United States and select fabrics imported from fair trade co-operatives in India.

Curator, San Francisco, CA: Made in San Francisco, organic cottons, hemp, minimal waste.

EcoSkin, Los Angeles, CA: EcoSkin uses only environmentally sustainable luxury fabrics woven, dyed and sewn in the U.S.

Eko-Lab, New York, NY: 100% organic materials, natural vegetable dyes, all made locally by New York City artisans.

Elroy, Vancouver, BC: Uses organic cotton, bamboo, tencel, linen, hemp, wild silk, pineapple, wool and upcycled fabrics, manufactured by a small, family-run cottage industry in Indonesia, designed in Canada.

Eva Zingoni, Paris, France: Made in France from recycled materials, limited edition, surplus fabrics from Parisian fashion houses.

Feral Childe, New York City/Oakland, California: Organic textiles, recycled textiles and accessories, made in New York City.

Frei, Chicago: Organic cottons, natural dyes, and locally manufactured textiles.

Gretchen Jones, New York: Sustainable fabrics, made in New York City’s Garment District.

Harricana by Mariouche, Montreal, Canada: Recycled fur, recycled materials.

H Fredriksson, New York, NY: Silk, made in New York City.

Honest By, Antwerp, Belgium: 100% transparent company from production to sales, organic fabric, certified organic wools.

Indigenous, Santa Rosa, CA: organic fabrics, Fair Trade, low impact dyes, free range alpaca.

IOU Project, Tamil Nadu, India: The IOU Project makes unique, handmade, traceable apparel, Fair Trade.

Isoude, Newport, Rhode Island: Made in the U.S.A., silks, hand dyeing.

Juleselin, San Francisco, CA: Created from organic cotton and recycled fabrications, sweatshop free.

Kelly Lane, Pittsburgh, PA: Created from sustainable fabrics, made in New York City’s Garment District.

Koch, Dallas, TX: Sustainable fabrics, made in Dallas and LA.

Lara Miller, Chicago, IL: Multi-functional clothing, organic cottons, hand-loomed bamboo, hemp and vegan silk, made in Chicago.

Lavuk, Los Angeles, CA: Sweatshop free and made locally in Los Angeles with sustainable materials such as organic cotton, tencel, hemp and dead stock silks, multi-functional clothing.

Lina Rennell, Northern California: The Rennell line is an art brand with a heavy focus on original print work, U.S. production, sustainable textiles, craft and high-end tailoring.

Loomstate, New York, NY: Organic cotton, tencel, reduced water consumption, reduced waste, pursuing a closed loop product life cycle.

Loup Charmant, New York, NY: Organic cotton, natural dyes, silks, made in New York City’s Garment District.

Made By, Peruvian Highlands: Eco-friendly Alpaca yarns, hand knit by the local highland Artisans of Peru, Fair Trade, organic colorants.

modaspia, Placerville, CA: Organic fabrics, end run fabrics, made in San Francisco.

Nau, Portland, Oregon: Organic cottons, silks, tencel, recycled materials, cruelty-free wool, partners for change with Ashoka, Ecotrust, Kiva and Mercy Corps.

100% NY, New York, NY: Organic, recycled, and ethical materials, produced entirely in New York.

Organic by John Patrick, New York, NY: Handmade metallic lace, sustainable recycled wool, organic cotton, biodegradable cotton cupro, vegetable-tanned leather, hand-loomed Angora, digitally printed silks,

M. Patmos, New York, NY: Eco-friendly merino wool and alpaca, faux fur made from wool and alpaca, and vegetable tanned leather, handwork techniques from women’s artisan collectives in Nepal and Bolivia, as well as zero-waste seamless knitting technology from Japan.

Portland Pendleton Collection: Portland, Oregon: Pendleton fabrics are woven exclusively in Pendleton’s Northwest Mills and all of the apparel is sourced and produced in the U.S.

Partimi, London: Digitally-printed silks, organic wools, modals, milk fibers, and luxurious cashmere.

Piece x Piece, San Francisco, CA: The fabric used in each piece is selected from a changing stock of luxury discards.

The Podolls, San Francisco, CA: 100% organic Supima Cotton, made in the U.S.

Popomomo, Los Angeles, CA: Organic cottons, Cupro, recycled materials, made in Los Angeles.

Prairie Underground, Seattle, Washington: Organic cotton, hemp, designed and manufactured in the U.S.

Raleigh Denim, Raleigh, NC: Handcrafted denim on vintage machines from the 1920s, sustainable cotton, organic cotton for Fall 12.

RESTORE Clothing, New York, NY: Repreve® Recycled Nylon, made in the New York City Garment District.

Rogan, New York, NY: Silks, organic cotton, alpaca, wool, bamboo, made in the U.S.

Samantha Pleet, New York, NY: Organic cottons, silks, Made in the U.S.

Soham Dave, New York, NY: Soham Dave focuses primarily on using biodegradable fabrics, recycled materials, and hand embroideries.
 

Stewart+Brown, Los Angeles, CA: Organic cotton, organic pima cotton, hemp, surplus fabrics, Mongolian Cashmere produced through a sustainable supply chain, Fair Trade.

Study NY, New York, NY: Organic cotton, linen, recycled materials, zero waste, made in New York.

Suzanne Rae, New York, NY: Silks, organic cottons, other sustainable materials when possible, made in New York City’s Garment District.

Thieves, Toronto, Canada: Soy, hemp, organic cotton, bamboo, Tussah Silk, organic wool, Seacell, tencel.

Titania Inglis, New York, NY: Japanese organic cotton, French vegetable-tanned leather, and dead stock wool from New York’s garment industry, made in New York.

Vaute Couture, New York, NY: Vegan, fair trade.

Did we miss someone? Email amy@ecosalon.com with your tip!

The post The Ultimate List of Sustainable Fashion Designers (From A-Z) appeared first on EcoSalon.