Climate change. Global warming. Whatever you call it, weird things—dangerous things—are happening to our weather, our oceans and our natural resources. And according to Livia Firth, Creative Director of Eco Age Ltd, what we wear, particularly if it’s fast fashion, matters a lot in this equation.

The climate crisis is complicated. Industry, reliance on fossil fuels, deforestation—they all play a part. But the one area we don’t seem to be talking about nearly enough, according to Firth, is fashion.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has famously said that you can’t be an animal-eating environmentalist. The math just doesn’t add up; animals, even those animals raised ‘ humanely’, just take up way too many resources to be part of an environmentally sensitive diet. This point continues to be argued, but studies have supported the claim.

And now, eco-fashion activist and change-maker Livia Firth is speaking out against our fast fashion choices, as they too seem to be irrefutably damaging to the environment, yet nearly as easy to change as our food choices. “Every single day we all perform two simple actions: we eat and we get dressed,” she wrote in a recent Huffington Post op-ed. “Could I even go as far as saying that we could solve climate change if we all dressed in a sustainable manner?”

It’s a logical question, but one we don’t seem to be asking nearly enough. “For some reason the fashion industry is often ignored, or cast aside as if it was an irrelevance,” she wrote. “The path to a more just and ecologically sound existence for us all is notoriously rocky, but each industry must play its part in cleaning up and bringing substantive change.”

The numbers are simply startling: Nearly 80 billion new garments are produced each year, according to Firth. Producing just one pair of jeans requires as much as 6,000 gallons of water. Then there are the dye colors and other chemicals involved–the making of zippers and buttons, etc., not to mention the packaging and transportation.

Firth writes, “[W]e are dependent on multifarious resources at a time when these resources are being degraded at unprecedented speed.” Cotton, the dominant fiber in the fashion industry, is what we often equate with simple, clean, even a safe fabric unlike rayon or polyester. But cotton requires more pesticide applications than any other crop, which in turn, contributes to the sickness of our waterways and soil, the chemicals in our air contributing to greenhouse gases and rising global temperatures. Firth says that the fashion industry is also “dependent on the animal kingdom and some of the most fragile ecosystems on earth.”

Firth and Eco Age worked with Gucci to offset some of its dependence on the conventional leather industry, which is one of the biggest drivers in deforestation, much in the same way beef is. “[F]ashion touches on every great environmental theme: climate change, declining available resources, lost wilderness, flooding, through to the flipside of flooding – drought,” she writes. “And of course, all of these are interconnected.”

Perhaps the importance of fashion is being ignored in the climate change discussion because fashion is often perceived as frivolous. We all wear clothes, but true Fashion, in the Anna Wintour or Coco Chanel sense, seems reserved for the few and beautiful. Most of us wear clothes, rather than fashion pieces. We eye clothing with the same lens of necessity as drinking water or breakfast foods. And when the choice is between a $20 pair of jeans or $200 organic denim ones, it’s understandable why we’re not having a more mainstream conversation about what we wear. “But while human kind continues to treat fashion as a frivolous side line, it pollutes and squanders with impunity,” says Firth. The fast fashion industry “has created a ‘factory of consumers’ whereas it is the offer to drive/create demand,” she says. “We buy in a rush and discard as quickly.”

So, while Fashion as an art, an industry, and a way of life for many, might not be a conversation the rest of us care to follow, we can start to make better choices. If you can’t buy organic or upcylced, you can buy gently used clothes. You can swap with friends. You can resist the urge to be Forever 21 and grow older gracefully with timeless pieces you don’t need to replace every season. According to Firth, “we’re on the threshold of a new fashion industry where ethics and glamour co-exist, where new fibres and technology minimise impact, where fashion brands begin to acknowledge their debt to the natural world and invest in sustaining it for their future and our future,” she wrote. “Could we solve climate change if we all were to buy carefully and get more ‘fashion mileage’ out of each piece?” Do we really have a choice?

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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Image: eflon

The post Livia Firth: Fast Fashion is Speeding Up Climate Change…Fast appeared first on EcoSalon.

So much of home design these days is all about short-term, wasteful and disposable stuff.  How many times have you seen half-falling apart Ikea products on the curb, waiting to be tossed? Piles of paper napkins after a BBQ? Reusable napkins and tablecloths don’t just have to be found in fine dining restaurants.

In creating Dogwood & Hastings, I looked to solve the problem of boring (and disposable or near-disposable) home wares; the reusable napkins and tablecloths are durable and made to last for years, sewn in the USA to withstand wear and tear, and printed with original nature images that aren’t like anything you’ve seen before.

For some reason, the vast majority of cloth tablecloths and napkins are either made of nice material and are very plain, or are ultra-trendy prints made from crummy fabrics and sewn by children in China—meant to last as long as a party and that’s it. Neither of those are my style, and the latter are definitely not my ethics.

It’s not just waste I’m preventing with Dogwood & Hastings: According to the Ocean Conservancy’s blog, disposable napkins are a money-suck too: “ If you bought disposable paper napkins for a family of four for five years, however, it could cost you anywhere from $322.64 to $2,635.60 depending on the type of napkins you buy and whether you buy them in bulk.” Even if you bought two sets of four napkins, it would still be much less expensive than disposable—and fabric napkins soak up a lot more than even large paper ones do (and they do it with style!).

Dogwood & Hastings is made from a tough-but-soft GOTS-certified organic cotton sateen that’s printed with nontoxic dyes and cut and sewn by exacting seamstress Betty Collins in Oregon, who is fairly paid. It was all designed in Oregon too; and it’s a zero-waste line (I use the fabric scraps to make labels, tie bundles together, etc.), and 10 percent of the profits go to nonprofits I know, love, and trust, including Riverkeeper (NYC prints); Oregon Wild (Oregon prints); Wildlife in Distress (New England prints); and Grupo Ecologica de la Costa Verde (Mexico prints).

I collaborated with jewelry-maker Natalie Frigo who I’ve become friends with over the last three years (upon meeting her the first time, I made a video of how she creates her designs for my website…and ended up staying and talking with her for hours). Natalie designs her pieces on the Lower East Side of NYC and produces them in NYC too, all from recycled metals. I thought having table jewelry to complement my textiles would be pretty damn cool, and Natalie like the idea too. I sent her samples of the prints, and she designed napkin rings, low-profile candlesticks, and tablecloth weights (traditionally used for al fresco dining to keep the wind from blowing things around; but I think they look lovely indoors too). Called Fortess, the pieces work with—but aren’t at all derivative of—the linens. And they dress up a table for special occasions (sometimes that can just be a Wednesday-night dinner!).

I used photographs of natural ephemera—I love to capture the details of the ecosystems I travel to with my camera—as the basis for the patterns. The final prints are my photographs with minimal manipulation; nature’s colors and complexities don’t really need to be added to, and with each print, I really wanted to capture reality. From the bright pink of a sea urchin’s spine contrasted against a grey-glistening cobblestone, to that particular moment of tonal perfection in a Mexican sunset or sun through autumnal leaves, to the lavender-pink velvety mushrooms of a wet Oregonian November. Nature’s details are so beautiful!

If there’s anything I’ve learned in my life, it’s that “I’m not the only one” —if I’m seeking more nature in my life, more interesting design in my home, and reusable, long-lasting materials, then other people probably are too.

Dogwood & Hastings is currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter.

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Cloth Napkins for a Green Tabletop

Images via Starre Vartan

The post Reusable Napkins and Tablecloths: Save Money, Gain Style appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnOur first Fall 2014 edition of On Trend offers up a selection of comfortable, super soft and easy to layer basics for the office, weekend outings or just lounging around at home. Get cozy this season and let your skin breathe easy in our favorite organic cotton basics for fall!

Basic Sweat by Baserange This simple and classic sweatshirt (pictured above) from Danish label Baserange is made from 100 percent certified organic cotton that is so soft to the touch. Made in Portugal under fair labor conditions, you can rest assured that you’ll feel as good about buying this pullover as will when wearing it. Pair it with your favorite jeans and fall boots for a casual outing or simply wear it around the house once the temperatures start to drop. Available in nude and black. $90

Butterfly Leggings by PACT

These super soft and amazingly affordable leggings have just the right amount of stretch for the perfect hug around your hips, thighs and calves. Layer them under fall dresses, skirts or tunics, or test them out at your next yoga or pilates class. Made in a Fair Trade certified factory from organic cotton these leggings have “No pesticides, no fertilizers, no bleaches, no sweatshops, no nasty stuff at all”.  $34

Georgia Wrap by Prana

This Fair Trade and organic cotton wrap from one of our favorite eco fashion brands, Prana, is elegant yet simple enough to wear with anything from a chic fall dress to your favorite yoga pants or leggings. Available in cream, blue and grey, this super soft wrap will keep you warm and cozy as you layer it over your cold weather outfits. $70

Boyfriend Jeans by Eileen Fisher

Everybody loves a pair of good old jeans, and the boyfriend style that is on trend for this season is so flattering and comfortable. This pair by Eileen Fisher is made in the USA from organic cotton, ensuring that all American fit and look. Wear them up or down with flats or ankle booties and your favorite button-down. $178

Prairie Multi Stripe Socks by PACT

Made from a blend of 75 percent organic cotton and 25 percent recycled nylon, these cute stripy socks are perfect for fall! Choose from two different color combinations to keep your feet warm and cozy in your favorite fall boots or when lounging around the house. $10

Scoop Neck Henley Tee by Eileen Fisher

Simple and comfy, this organic cotton henley tee from Eileen Fisher is your go to top for any casual occasion. Available in black, yellow, coral and white, this top is super easy to pair with almost anything, be it jeans, patterned pants, a skirt or even layered over a fitted minidress. $118

More On Trend at EcoSalon

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8 Best Made in America Jeans Brands: On Trend

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Hey, hey, my, my.  Neil Young is going a little bit Crazy Horse about ditching non-organic cotton.

On his recent European tour, the rocker treated some fans to free organic cotton T-shirts. They came with a caveat though: “I’m hoping that when you wear your PROTECT/EARTH T-shirt, you will vow to PROTECT EARTH and to take a stand for EARTH in the ways that you can,” Young wrote on his website.

According to Ecouterre, Young is personally making sure his concert merchandise is now all made from organic cotton because he says non-organic cotton is extremely damaging to the planet. And he’s not wrong. It’s the most pesticide-intensive commercial crop. He wrote on his website: “In the U.S., it takes about 1/3 of a pound of pesticides and herbicides to grow enough conventional cotton for just one T-shirt,” he said. “The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in the United States as “possible,” “likely,” “probable,” or “known” human carcinogens (acephate, dichloropropene, diuron, fluometuron, pendimethalin, tribufos, and trifluralin). These chemicals absorb into the soil which can affect nearby crops, get into water supplies and rivers and affect many lifeforms downstream.” It ain’t no trip to Sugar Mountain. And Young is really amped up about it for good reason.

He also came out as pro-hemp, which is also a much healthier alternative to non-organic cotton, but since it’s not as widely available currently, he encouraged opting for organic cotton instead. It’s the “wiser option,” he said. Seems like Young has a Heart of Gold when it comes to the planet and our farmers.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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image via Neil Young official Facebook page

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EcoSalon caught up with fashion designer Tara St. James of Study NY on her latest socially conscious collaboration with prison women in Mexico, ethical fashion and what made in NYC really means.

Juliette Donatelli: Your newest work involves a collaboration with a women’s prison in Mexico. How are you working together and how did the partnership evolve?

Tara St. James: On a recent trip to Oaxaca I discovered a shoe line that I really loved called Taller Nu. I got along very well with the designers, they invited me to their workshop in Mexico City, so we decided to do a collaboration together. They work with a women’s prison group. They train them to do cross-stitch on leather, and they use that cross-stitch for their shoes. What I did was send them an image of one of the sweater knits that I am doing from Peru, and I asked them to reinterpret that knit pattern into a cross-stitch. So they did the interpretation themselves, I approved it and we designed the shoes and the bag together. That will be for late summer, fall delivery because of the lead time. I will be working directly with the designers and the collaboration co-op.

JD: The cross-stitch is done in Mexico. Are the shoes also made in Mexico?

TSJ: Yeah, everything is done in Mexico. They source the leather there, it is all domestic leather. They have it perforated so the cross-stitch can be done more easily. They bring just the panels to the prison and give them the instruction.

What is really kind of interesting that I love about it, is that if you look inside the panels each one has a different finishing on the inside. You can tell it is done by different women, and it’s just the way they interpret it. So on the outside they are all uniform, but on the inside they all have this signature.  I love that. And I love that you can see that.

And the only other thing I am importing are these alpaca knits from Peru. I have been working with this women-run co-op there for about a year now and this is the first development that we have done together.

And then the rest of the collection is made here in NYC.

The other thing that I am launching for this year, which will be early than fall, it will be a spring launch, is the open back shirt dress style that I always do. But instead of one piece, I am doing it as a piece that can be worn different ways, and convertible. So you can mix and match the fabric and remove certain panels or add on other panels.

JD: What about made in NYC? Is that a selling point for your brand?

TSJ: As far as wholesale buyers are concerned, I find the reaction not super encouraging. They are not all that inspired by it, although I think they like having the story to tell to their customers. Because I do see the reaction, you know when we had this space [Market 605] as a retail space, people coming in, whether they were tourists or New Yorkers, loved the fact that everything was made here. And so I think having that story associated with the brand, or even part of the brand, is important for the buyers, not for themselves necessarily, although some of them really care, but they like to communicate that to their customers.

I am not sure a lot of people are seeking it out yet, but they are definitely interested in it.

I have always felt the same way about the sustainability of the brand: I don’t think people really care about organic cotton, as long as it felt good and could be worn easily and washed easily and cared for easily. So it was really my responsibility to make it sustainable, but also my responsibility to make the design last long and be a quality good. And part of that is making it here in New York, I think the workmanship here is just good. I am lucky, I have a great factory that I work with and they do a really great job. I am not going to lie, I have had great factories in China too that do a really really great job but if I can get that quality and workmanship here then why shouldn’t I?

Want more interviews? See also:

Hannah Jones, Nike VP of Sustainable Business: Behind-The-Scenes Interview (Part 1)

Interview: Nike’s VP of Sustainable Business Hannah Jones (Part 2)

Interview: Author Kate Fletcher On New Fashion & Sustainability Book

Author Interview: Elizabeth Cline of Overdressed The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion

images: Study NY

The post Tara St. James of Study NY on Prison Collaborations, Being Made in NYC and the Beauty of a Simple Cross-Stitch appeared first on EcoSalon.

You don’t have to pack away your dresses as fall approaches, just cover up those legs! Or throw on a bulky sweater and a pair of leggings and you’re out the door. Here are six of our favorite ethical and organic leggings that on trend for cooler weather (think patterns and texture). 

Bright Print Leggings by FAIR+True Sustain

These tribal print leggings mix the best of the patterned pant and geometric trends for a versatile pop of color.  Made from sustainable modal fabric in the UK, the leggings are a great bottom from an oversized color-blocked sweater or a simple black dress. FAIR + true is an emerging eco-fashion brand based in London dedicated to producing responsible and sustainable clothing for the hip urbanite.

Fashion Conscience, £40.00

Leopard Leggings by People Tree

Made by one of our favorite brands dedicated to ethical production, People Tree is a sustainable clothing label based in the UK. Many of People Tree’s garments are produced ethically in Bangladesh, but their organic leggings were made by Assisi, an Indian organization partnering with skilled fairtrade artisans and contemporary style. Ninety-five percent organic cotton and a wee bit of elastane keep these stretchy and breathable too.

People Tree, £32.00

Perforated Leggings by Pima Doll

Do your long limbs pose a legging length issue? Never seem to fit right? Then these extra long leggings are your responsible and stylish option! PIMA DOLL designs exclusively with the finest quality cotton in the world–Pima cotton, partners closely with their Peruvian artisan employees, and upcycles their fabric scraps.

Pima Doll, on sale for $48

Fragment Leggings by Micaela Greg

When cold weather comes rolling in the undeniable quality of Micaela Greg is bound to keep you cozy and styling this fall. San Francisco-based sisters, Karen and Marie Potesta, design and produce beautiful knitwear right in their SF studio. Sourcing the finest Italian yarns, their knitwear is full of “artful quality and boyish cool aesthetic.”

Micaela Greg, $220

Grey Recycled Polyester Leggings by Camilla Norrback

Norrback, a Swedish label, designs garments using only organic or responsible materials, and produces domestically in Europe. These leggings hold an extra ethical twist–they are made from recycled polyester. Upcycled indeed, wear them with a tunic dress and riding boots and you’re ready for an active day outside in brisk fall weather.

Fashion Conscience, on sale for £27.20

Casual Pants by Goodone

My favorite of them all, I love these Goodone leggings for their urban punch. Designed with style in mind, these leggings are made with three fabric types: panels on the outer leg from repurposed British wool boucle, organic cotton ponte and the inner leg is modal. As always, Goodone is made in the UK. Stylish and comfortable, these leggings are a must have.

Yoox, $159

Want more On Trend? See Also:

Personality Pops With Patterned Pants: On Trend

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Smart Style for Bookworms and Sexy Librarians: On Trend

images from the brands, collage by Juliette Donatelli

The post Covering Up With Ethical and Organic Leggings: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

There’s a reason bralettes have become so popular in recent years: they are soft and gentle on your skin, gently supporting your curves rather than shoving them into predetermined shapes. There is no hardware or restricting metals inside these bras, and they are sweet and romantic in design—wearing one is like your secret throughout the day. We’ve found five pretty ones made ethically from organic materials. Organic bralettes for every day of the week, perhaps? 

1. Scallop Mesh Lace Bra by Bazsarózsa

Made from organic cotton jersey and produced in New York City, Bazsarózsa focused on the subtle and sexy details that are often overlooked in what we wear underneath. Bazsarózsa (baj-sha roj-sha) is the Hungarian word for peony flower and also the designer’s last name. We love the simply romantic design of this organic bralette.

Bazsarozsa, $66

2. Organic Bralette by Only Hearts

Simple and sweet, this bralette is made using 100% organic pima cotton, and produced ethically in Peru near the farms the cotton was sourced from.

Only Hearts, $37

3. Sweet Juliet Chantilly  by Luva Huva 

Luva Huva makes beautifully sensual organic lingerie, and all their pieces are equally desirable.  This Sweet Juliet Chantilly is made with lace, bamboo rayon and organic cotton by hand in London.

Luva Huva, $63

4. Bra by Charini

Handcrafted from start to finish with the perfect amount of support, wearing a Charini bra is like a vacation in and of itself. Designer Charini Suriyage excludes elastics, plastics, harmful dying, and metal from her products, sourcing all materials via fair trade policies in her native country of  Sri Lanka.

Yoox, $158

5. Gamma Triangle Bralette by Clare Bare

Clare Bare started out a love from vintage fabrics and ended as a playful eco-lingerie. Specializing in organic bralettes and undies made from bamboo rayon jersey and vintage materials, Clare Bare’s designs are always unique and their form flatters all body types.

Clare Bare, $60

Want More On Trend? See Also:

Geometric Fashion Jungle: 7 Ways to Wear it On Trend

7 Fantastic Artisan Scarves: On Trend

images from the brands, top collage by Juliette Donatelli

The post Sweet Romantic Organic Bralettes: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

Sleep well in cute sustainable cotton sleepwear by Australian label ALAS, now available in the U.S.

Aside from sleeping in the buff, stylish organic cotton sleepwear is the next best thing.  We’ve been smitten with the cute pieces by Australian sleepwear label ALAS (which stands for All Light All Shadow) for a long time, and were thrilled to hear that selected pieces are now available in the U.S. via Shopbop.

Founded on socially and ecologically responsible principles, the label makes innovative, unique sleepwear, often adorned with graphic patterns inspired by nature and unexpected details. “ALAS is a sleepwear label that is ever evolving, with time and inspiration. The acronym All Light All Shadow represents this nature of change; day to night, sleeping to waking. The phases of the moon and the movement of the tides remind us that everything is connected. Journeys are undertaken, in dreams and in reality. We wander the globe, picking up pieces of inspiration from under stones on beaches, constellations in the sky and patterns in nature.”

The designers behind ALAS use color and pattern to reflect these inspirations, producing vivid pieces that make sleepytime feel much more fun and fashionable. The garments are thoughtfully constructed with either GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or Fair Trade accredited cotton (which means it’s been farmed by communities paid an above average liveable wage) grown, spun, woven and dyed in India, where the pieces are also made. Fabrics are printed and dyed using methods without harmful AZOs and formaldehyde, which is especially important for clothing worn closest to the body.

ALAS recently won the ‘Pure Spirit Award’ — a category of the UK based Ethical Fashion Forum’s Innovation Awards. All packaging, tags and business cards are recycled and recyclable, and the label also encourages customers to wash the garments in cool water and drip dry to reduce energy consumption. Looking cute and feeling good about what you’re wearing, you’re guaranteed to sleep well.

Images: ALAS

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Organic cotton, hand embroidery, block printed lively patterns and recycled saris feature in a collection of silhouettes that celebrate the female figure.

Known as the “pioneer of Fair Trade and sustainable fashion”, People Tree has certainly come a long way in providing ethically produced clothing that meets the trend-oriented eye of the modern consumer. Since 2001, the label has been working to improve the lives of the farmers and artisans that have a hand in creating clothes for the label, ensuring fair and healthy living conditions that aren’t compromised for the sake of fashion. A high commendation recipient of the recent London Sustainable City Awards, People Tree demonstrates its charming interpretation of desirable and sustainable fashion through its most recent, 1950s inspired collection.

There’s something to be said for a beautiful, figure flattering dress, and the designers at People Tree have certainly taken on the task of offering just that this season. Taking inspiration from ’50s silhouettes and prints, the newest collection features waist cinching, above-the-knee styles with sweetheart necklines, boat necks and dropped sleeves. Several of the materials used have been handwoven on a jacquard loom, and the embroidered dresses have all been embellished by hand.

Feminine skirts also take center stage in People Tree’s SS 2013 collection, with hip-hugging pencils in easily matchable, simple colors, alongside girlier versions in bold, colorful prints and high-waisted bell shapes. All are made out of 90-100 percent certified organic cotton.

Peplum shapes, draped hems and graphic prints feature on shirts and tops which are perfect with a pair of cropped trousers. People Tree offers several pairs of organic cotton trousers,  but our favorites are the navy ones with white polka dots and the black and white monochrome flower print pair.

As a staple of the ’50s wardrobe, People Tree certainly hasn’t forgotten about the cardigan. The hand-knit collection includes skillfully embroidered, delicate flower and fruit motifs that add the perfect touch of romantic color to a spring wardrobe.

People Tree also boasts a collection of Fair Trade accessories including bags, scarves, cases, belts and socks. All of these items are handmade by artisans and several of the bags, clutches and make-up cases are even made out of recycled, 100 percent cotton saris.

People Tree items are available through their UK-based online store with standard shipping costs coming in at approximately $15. There are currently no stockists based in the US, but contact the label to become the first one! Signing up for their email newsletter will also give you 10 percent off your first purchase. So, feel free to spring into this shopping spree with a clean conscience!

Images: People Tree

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With the growth of eco and ethical fashion around the world, designers from Down Under are getting in on the act.

The fashion industry in Australia might be small, but it is fast becoming an industry that supports sustainability and brings social issues to the forefront of style. The government funded initiative Ethical Clothing Australia and the 1 Million Women campaign, have certainly helped to influence this movement, but much of it is being driven by designers themselves. Being on the underside of the world, designers may be a season behind the northern hemisphere, but one area they are not behind in, is greening progressive and forward-thinking fashion.

Here are the top 5 Aussie eco labels to watch.

Bassike

Deborah and Mary Lou, two friends with already impressive careers in the Australian fashion industry, started Bassike in 2006, with the main goal being to create wardrobe staples that had longevity, using quality sustainable fabrics. Their original range was a simple and stylish lineup of organic t-shirts, but it soon expanded into denim and has now branched out into men’s and women’s ready to wear collections. Most recently they launched a Bassike eyewear line. The label appeals to those who love an easygoing style and pays homage to the Aussie beach culture, with its loose fitting tees and effortless casual vibe. It is currently stocked in over 90 premium stores around the world, including in the USA.

Sosume

Sosume hails from Australia’s unofficial style capital, Melbourne, and refers to itself as a brand with a conscience. The ethos behind the label is to transcend “fast fashion culture” and create long standing, timeless pieces, which will carry through more than one season. Made from only the finest eco friendly fabrics sourced from environmentally responsible mills, Sosume aims to select materials and methods with the least environmental impact. One  example of how they support important social issues, is through their recent launch of an eco friendly women’s tee, with 100% of the profits of the sale of the item, going to support depression research.

Elsom

Launched in Sydney in 2006, Elsom fulfills designer Sam Elsom’s vision to make high quality, timeless, sustainable products that reflect a strong commitment to detail and traditional tailoring. Elsom values traditional hand tailoring as an integral part of the design process, using materials sourced from all over the world. Being a huge supporter of organic farming, the label currently works with sustainable farmers in India to source organic cotton, which is used throughout its collections. Like many of the other Aussie labels, Elsom hopes to create pieces that reflect classic style, including button down shirts, chic cocktail dresses and slim suits.

Gorman

Gorman has been a fixture on the Aussie fashion scene since 1999, but in 2007, it introduced Gorman Organic in response to growing environmental awareness. Pieces from the organic range are blended through the main collections, but are created from either certified organic or sustainable materials. The label says it launched an organic range as a way to offer their customers a sustainable choice, without having to compromise style or quality. The philosophy behind the brand is to be inspired by the everyday and the local cultures and artists that surround them. Gorman creator Lisa Gorman, says she is particularly inspired by her Fitzroy neighborhood, regarded as a creative bohemia, and reflects this through many of the pieces in her collections.

Gaawaa Miyay

Up and coming Indigenous designer Lucy Simpson is the force behind Gaawaa Miyay (which translates to “River Daughter”), a label that blends the ancient tradition of visual storytelling with contemporary Indigenous design. Lucy is committed to using natural fibers, sustainable practices and to manufacturing her pieces in Australia. Her designs span across fashion, homewares and accessories and reflect the cultural heritage, stories, memories and landscapes of her Yuwaalaraay family. Already the recipient of much critical acclaim, Gaawaa Miyay is one label to keep an eye on, particularly in the lead up to Australia’s Inaugural Indigenous Fashion Week in 2013.

The post Designers From Down Under: Top 5 Aussie Labels to Watch appeared first on EcoSalon.