Sustainable style news from EcoSalon’s West Coast Fashion Correspondent

Runway Style Statement – Last Friday night’s rousing Spring Into Fall fashion show held at the historic LEED-certified Bently Reserve in downtown San Francisco kicked off the weekend for eco-style loving locals including myself and EcoSalon Editor in Chief Sara Ost. Finely crafted, vintage-inspired designs from Bay area-based sustainable fashion talent including Rebecca Bruce, Sara Shepard and Dark Garden – together with some Black Rock Playa-esque feather headpieces by Miss G Designs – provided the perfect backdrop for the striking couture jewelry designed by the equally striking host, Amber Marie Bently. As an ambassador for her eponymous eco-jewelry line, numerous environmental causes and the San Francisco style scene, Ms. Bently’s outspoken flair exemplifies this town’s fashion strength – divergent interpretations on the theme of signature style.

Looking for this generation’s Paradise Lost? Having to deal with a sense of environmental and economic paradise lost was EcoCotton Co’s Marcus Bergman’s compelling introduction to the motivation behind the work of young Swedish eco-designers currently on show at at the Eco Chic: Towards Sustainable Swedish Fashion exhibition at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, which runs thru May 15^th. Joined by California College of Art Professor and local eco-hero, Lynda Grose to discuss Global Perspectives on Clean Cotton, the pair enthralled the audience with a thought provoking lecture and question session on scratching below the surface of the often-controversial subject of one of the worlds most widely grown and chemical-intensive crops.

Vintage Baja Cool – Coast into Spring’s California Cool trend at the General Store in San Francisco. Opened last year by Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter, this hidden gem showcases an expertly curated selection of vintage surfer staples such as Baja hoodies, southwestern patterned ponchos and vintage serapes. What’s it gonna take to get you to go all the way out to the Outer Sunset? Hanging ten for a fog-free moment of sunshine in the stores’ succulent filled backyard and patio – if you go, check out the whimsical green house salvaged from old door frames –pretty sweet, dude.

Editor’s Note: West Coast fashion correspondent Rowena Ritchie will be covering West Coast fashion weekly for EcoSalon, highlighting the dynamic, innovative and sexy lure of what makes the Pacific Coast inimitable. You can count on runway reviews, boutique grand openings, designer events and more being covered here weekly. And if you have an event you think readers should know about, drop us a line at tips@ecosalon.com.

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