The leaves are changing colors, and so are our wardrobe choices as we bundle up. Dark (navy and/or black) and tan are one of the hottest fall 2013 color trends, so of course we’ve rounded up some beautiful, sustainable favorites to surprise and delight you. 

1. Cashmere Colddye by Humanoid

Humanoid’s cashmere dress is a simple silhouette that will keep you warm, yet still ladylike through the cold weather. Pair this with leggings or tights and a pair of boots and you are ready for any occasion!

Humanoid, 351 euros

2. Trail Soap by Juniper Ridge 

Unbelievably, this is the only product on the market like it. Juniper Ridge captures Pacific Northwestern scents by sustainably gathering twigs, bark, mushrooms (and whatever else they can find on their favorite trails) and bottles them. Interestingly they are the only fragrance company using pre-industrial perfuming techniques. Because there are no petrochemical additives whatsoever, the scents don’t stay on your skin all day, making it’s use that much more special. Each scent is crisp, clean and nostalgic; our favorites are the Yuba River or the Cascade Trail.

Beklina, $36

3. Lip Care Stick by Dr. Hauschka

This lip care by Dr. Hauschka is a magic wand for your luscious lèvres. It’s always a staple in my bag and for presents of any occasion. As always, Dr. Hauscka is made from 100% natural ingredients, as it has been for over 45 years. The jojoba wax and shea butter are key ingredients in their lip care formula protecting and soothing from the elements. Dr. Hauschka is certified natural by NATRUE,  a certification ensuring products meet the strongest criteria available for natural and organic ingredients in cosmetics and is free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, dyes and petroleum derived synthetics.

Dr. Hauschka, $13.95

4. Bonny Boot by Wolverine and Samantha Pleet

These boots are made for walking. Wolverine has been making shoes in America for over 130 years, and they’ve got it down to a science. Their collaboration with NYC-based sustainable designer Samantha Pleet brings old-world craft and feminine urban design into one great shoe that will last a lifetime.

Wolverine, $320

5. Pinyon Stripe Fringed Scarf by Pendleton

Pendleton is one of the oldest, and only remaining textile mills in the United States, and they haven’t lost their edge, no siree. This cozy scarf is expertly woven in Pendleton’s American mill in the Pacific Northwest with 100% pure virgin wool, and is sure to keep you warm!

Pendleton, $118

6. Edge Tote by BTWN WIND & WATER

Handcrafted and made with responsibly sourced leather, the Edge Tote is a perfect staple bag. We love the simplicity of the two tone black and tan matched with quality craftsmanship. A chic carry all bag for your commute or travels, it matches any outfit.

BTWN WIND & WATER, $250

Want more On Trend? See Also:

Covering Up With Ethical and Organic Leggings: On Trend 

Personality Pops With Patterned Pants: On Trend

Classic Trends in Dichromatic Black and White Sophistication: On Trend

Sweet Romantic Organic Bralettes: On Trend

images from the brands, collage by Juliette Donatelli

keep in touch with Juliette on twitter @spadesandsiLK

The post On Trend: Dark and Tan—The Smartly Sexy Fall 2013 Color Trends appeared first on EcoSalon.

With Spring/Summer 2013, Samantha Pleet merges old with new to encapsulate the modern women.

In our rapid-paced, progressive world, there’s beauty to be had in traversing backwards in time and place. With Samantha Pleet’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection all made in New York City, the designer took us there with her “Sands of Time” presentation.

For Pleet, inspiration came from Babylon and Mesopotamia, an era she fell in love with while pouring over books.

“Instead of fashion books, I read about history,” Pleet tells us.

It’s this passion for exploration of other eras that you can see in Pleet’s personal favorite, the Ishtar silk and viscose dress (below), fashioned with a print extracted from Biblical mythology.  Other pieces like the Scout dress (below), from washed silk, are true to Pleet’s Brooklyn-aesthetic while still telling a bygone story.

Designer Samantha Pleet (left) models her favorite piece, the Ishta dress.

While the clothing is strong on its own, Pleet’s debut into the world of shoes adds an aesthetic street charm to her already hip “it girl” vibe. In partnership with Wolverine, a Michigan based, American boot company, Pleet created a colorful collection of vintage-inspired ankle boots and sandals (below).

One of Pleet’s greatest gifts comes through ever more clearly in this upcoming season—merging the old with the new, the vintage with the modern, for a look that’s at once relevant while remaining timeless. She gives her wearer a taste of something really raw and reminiscent of the beginning—the “roots of civilization,” as Pleet calls it.

While simple in silhouette and fabrics—employing handwashed silks and entirely handwoven khadi cotton (from Prakriti Aur Purush)—there’s nothing overly nostalgic about it. In fact, when we dig deeper to discover what really brought this collection to life, she laughs and declares, “Indiana Jones.” One part explorer, one part heroine, it just may be that Pleet really has captured the essence of the modern women.

More looks we love:

Images: Jennifer Barckley

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Are Anthropologie and sister company Urban Outfitters supporting independent designers or ripping them off?

Earlier this month, indie fashion lovers went wild when Anthropologie debuted Made In Kind, its new “project in collaborative design.” With an initial offering of 11 exclusive, limited-edition capsule collections, Made In Kind shines a spotlight on independent designers and small brands, including sustainable favorites like Samantha Pleet and Organic by John Patrick.

But as excited as we want to get about Made In Kind, we can’t ignore accusations that both Anthropologie and its sister store, Urban Outfitters, have previously ripped off independent designers. In the world of independent fashion, there can often be a fine line between finding inspiration in another product and downright copying it. In this week’s Behind the Label, we explore the difference.

Anthropologie’s first store was opened by current president Richard Hayne in Glendale, Pennsylvania, in 1992. Under Urban Outfitters Inc., which also owns Urban Outfitters, Free People, Terrain, and BHLDN, the chain has since expanded to more than 135 retail locations that offer, according to its website, “a one-of-a-kind and compelling shopping experience that makes women feel beautiful, hopeful and connected.”

It’s this kind of aspirational marketing that has created thousands of loyal customers and dozens of fan blogs with titles like You, Me & Anthropologie and Breakfast at Anthropologie, dedicated to proclaiming the gospel of the clothing chain (for a good laugh, also check out the satirical blog Anthroparodie).

Anthropologie’s “secret sauce” is in careful curation and inspired retailing. “Part of our business is this idea of the found one-of-a-kind object, antique or craft,” said Aaron Hoey, Anthropologie’s general merchandising manager, in an interview with The Toronto Star published in February. “It has to be this authentic for it to feel authentic in the store. Otherwise it would just be the same thing as everywhere else.”

The Good

Anthropologie has a history of seeking out unique items from independent designers around the world. In fact, an entire Sundance Channel reality television show, Man Shops Globe, was dedicated to buyer-at-large Keith Johnson‘s round-the-world hunt for global treasures. In a separate article in the Toronto Standard, also published in February, merchandising manager Hoey said that the chain is particularly fond of supporting local designers in their various markets.

We love to localize. So if you have a great ceramicist in Toronto and he or she can only make a couple hundred units – because a lot of people aren’t set up to manufacture – well, that’s great, because we’ll send them to five stores. We’ll see them in Toronto, of course, and we’ll also shoot some to California, where this artisan wouldn’t have naturally been exposed.

Anthropologie also has a great record of working with not-for-profit and fair trade organizations in the developing world. Recent examples include the Thousand Hills Cowl, made in Rwanda with women’s co-ops through Indego Africa, and the Perfect Skippers Necklace, handcrafted by artisans in the mountains of Ecuador through The Andean Collection.

As for the Made In Kind project, a big plus is that it gives small designers great exposure to Anthropologie’s large and loyal online community. Each brand is highlighted with a special landing page, and many of the designers are written up in the online Anthropologie magazine. Plus, with a new crop of designers launching each month, Anthropologie is able to satisfy online shopper cravings for new, fresh merchandise.

The Bad

While Anthropologie’s indie aesthetic is a big reason for the store’s popularity, sometimes it hits a bit too close to home for people in the fashion and handmade communities. Though no major scandals have arose (yet) Anthropologie is consistently scrutinized for releasing items that look remarkably similar to items found on Etsy – so much so that an online game called “Etsy or Anthropologie?” has developed on the Regretsy blog, asking readers to guess which item comes from which source.

More evident are the accusations levied against Anthropologie’s sister store Urban Outfitters, which has come under fire for everything from anti-Semitic t-shirts to politically incorrect Navajo-inspired undies. One of the biggest controversies came last spring, when Etsy seller Stephanie Koerner claimed that Urban Outfitters had stolen the designs for its line of I Heart Destination necklaces from her United States of Love collection.

Her story swept through the social media world, forcing Urban Outfitters to issue a formal response denying the claims:

In her recent blog post and on Twitter Koerner claims that Urban Outfitters stole her designs or was inspired in some way by the items in her Etsy shop for our I Heart Destination necklaces. In fact, a quick search on Etsy for ‘state necklace’ reveals several other sellers with similar products (as seen here on Regretsy) who offered their wares as much as a year earlier than Ms. Koerner. We are not implying that Koerner stole her necklace idea from one of these other designers, we are simply stating the obvious—that the idea is not unique to Koerner and she can in no way claim to be its originator.

The Questionable

Urban Outfitters’ response raises an important point: in the world of independent fashion, which is inspired and informed by many different sources, how is it possible to claim a design as original? While Koerner’s accusations against Urban Outfitters were great at galvanizing attention, the validity of her claims was later questioned by Regretsy and larger blogs like Fashionista, which pointed out that the idea of stamping a heart on a metal outline of a state had been done long before Koerner’s Etsy line.

Still, it’s undeniable that both the design of Urban Outfitters’ destination jewelry line and its marketing bore a striking resemblance to Koerner’s. And hers isn’t the only accusation against the chain; similar claims were levied by jewelry designers at the Brooklyn Flea in 2010 and by t-shirt designers in 2006 and 2007.

One thing is for sure: if Urban Outfitters Inc. wants to continue highlighting its collaborations with independent designers, it needs to be extra careful about any claims – against any of its brands – that the company is knocking off the very designers it purports to celebrate. Where Anthropologie is concerned, Hoey has denied association with Urban Outfitters:

We operate like a mom-and-pop at Anthropologie. We actually know nothing about Urban Outfitters. I don’t know a single person that works there. While it is a sister company because it’s owned by the same parent company, we don’t know what goes on there. I would encourage them, if they’ve done any of these things, to clean up their act. I don’t want our reputation damaged by anything that’s happened in the past at Urban; it’s not what the CEO wants, either. For me, it’s a lesson: I’ll never let that happen at Anthropologie.

But as much as Anthropologie wants to distance itself from Urban Outfitter’s alleged sins, it’s difficult to ignore the fact that both stores are owned by the same parent company. To ease these kinds of consumer conflicts, Urban Outfitters Inc. needs to do a better job at enacting policies across all of its brands to prevent knock-offs and preserve its support of independent designers.

SEE ALSO:

Behind the Label: H&M’s Conscious Collection

Behind the Label: Levi Strauss’ E-Valuate Program

Behind the Label: TOMS’ One for One Campaign

Behind the Label: Puma’s Vision and Clever Little Bag

Read more Behind the Label here.

Image: pjinomaha, Regretsy [2]

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Will Anthropologie’s new online platform inspire the kind of innovation the fashion industry desperately needs?

Anthropologie debuts an intriguing new website today, called Made in Kind, to showcase its take on the popular trend for designer collaborations. In a release, Anthropologie states the new online platform will function as a gallery “housing multiple exhibitions per month, each dedicated to a single designer or concept.”  Presenting editorial content to go along with the eleven new lines – priced in the $120-$300 range – the collaborations will be available in some stores, online and via the catalog.

Despite featuring small, emerging designers and sustainable brands, including British bohemian brand Place Nationale – makers of one-off garments using European antique fabrics – Brooklyn-based eco fashion designer, Samantha Pleet and John Patrick of Organic, the launch is ambiguous on the subject of it’s sustainability.

Treasure by Samantha Pleet

The eco credentials of the designer’s collaborations with the brand are yet unclear, the decision to avoid tagging the new venture, “ethical,” “conscious” or “sustainable” by Urban Outfitter Inc. owned Anthropologie is interesting.

In contrast, other chain stores are loudly launching eco lines left, right and center. H&M’s exclusive Glamour Conscious Collection – which will be available April 12 in around 100 H&M stores across the globe – has been widely promoted, coming across as an act of contrition for its past year offenses that saw the mega chain accused of not performing proper clothing disposal practices, destroying damaged or unsold clothes that could easily be used elsewhere or recycled for other items.

Place Nationale

Why would a company not shout its eco-friendliness from the rooftops? It happens more than you might think. Because of the difficulty in greening every part of the supply chain, the inability to guarantee every factory involved or fabric used (a small amount of bias tape required, for example) along with ethical fashion’s former “granola” reputation – many brands have been shy of admitting their behind-the-scenes green involvement.

Marketing is often accused of selling something people don’t need but the reverse can also be true. Smart companies restructure their offerings to suit customer demand. Hopefully it is only a matter of time before all businesses are competing to be the most ethical. By tapping into the “zeitgeist” that supporting independent designers keeps America’s workers working, Anthropologie is focusing on the growing preference and appreciation for smaller brands.

In her recent article, Could Small be the New Big for the fashion Industry?, Ilaria Pasquinelli explains the recent shift and how “the era of big” has come to an end.” She writes, “Small organisations are often led by visionary product specialists or designers, particularly in the fashion industry. The small scale allows companies to be flexible, this is crucial in order to adapt to very diverse market conditions and economic turbulence.”

Pasquinelli documents case studies where large corporations have successfully collaborated with small fashion businesses as pioneers in sustainability, such as British supermarket Tesco’s in-house brand F&F, which partnered with the pioneering upcycle fashion brand From Somewhere; Levi’s campaign to refit vintage Levi’s 501 in collaboration with Reformation, a fashion brand that repurposes vintage clothing and materials in their studios in New York and Los Angeles; and Worn Again, a tiny company that successfully worked with large corporations such as Virgin, Royal Mail and Eurostar to help them re-use textiles, such as disused uniforms, they would otherwise discard.

Small companies have proven themselves to be leaders in innovation – something desperately needed in order to green the monolithic fashion industry – Made In Kind may well bring a whole new meaning to the popular concept of “designer collaboration.”

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Pratt fashion alumni celebrate timeless fashion for a new exhibit.

Pratt, one of the world’s leading design institutes and the oldest in the U.S. ( this year marks its 125th anniversary), kicked off its retrospective “Principles of Design: Pratt Fashion Alumni,” on Fashion’s Night Out (September 8th), exploring future-facing lessons from past and present design talent.

Pratt is home to cutting-edge, cosmopolitan design from the likes of Mabel Julianelli (BFA 1927), Samantha Pleet (BFA 2005), Ariana Bohling (BFA 2005), Laurel Mae DeWitt (BFA 2005) and Siobhan Barrett (BFA 2009), all talents among the 19 on exhibit at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery from now to October 8th.

At the opening night gala, I caught up with Sarah Scaturro, Textile Conservator for the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and guest curator for the Pratt exhibit. “There is such incredible design all around us tonight,” says Scaturro. “My main work [for the Cooper-Hewitt] is to preserve clothing and fashion that lasts, so I’m clearly interested in timeless fashion – something strongly reflected here, tonight.”

Included in the show are slow, consciously creating designers like Samantha Pleet, known for her eponymous designs, made locally in New York City from organic and sustainable materials. Creating her own version of the American gamine, Pleet’s designs have been embraced by creatives and exposed through special collaborations with retailers like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, where her Shadow Cloak (below) will be sold this fall.

Ariana Bohling is another Pratt alum to watch. Taking a slow approach to fashion, this Oregon native creates leather shoes and accessories through limited capsule collections with artisans in Peru. “Hand-crafted care,” says Bohling, “is given to each piece.”

With the edgy designs of Laurel Mae DeWitt and her label LaureLuxe, sustainability takes a futuristic slant. Creating hand made accessories from recycled metal chains, DeWitt boasts clients like Lady Gaga and 50 cent.

Others, like artist Siobhan Barrett, use fashion as a medium for storytelling. “Siobhan is an especially interesting figure to watch,” says Scaturro. “She’s using clothing to create images,” referring to work like “Slowly Falling Apart,” (below), a photography and video installation featuring a cotton gauze dress being destroyed by its wearer.  While not innately sustainable, her creations make one consider our relationship with what we wear.

As for the future of fashion, Jennifer Minniti, the newly appointed Chair of the Fashion Design program at Pratt says, “We see a convergence between craft and technology. At Pratt we are really utilizing technology and embracing the local [New York City] Garment Center.”

With a hefty project underway by Save the Garment Center, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the local craft, the industry can certainly use the integrous talent of Pratt’s alumni—past, present and future and we look forward to watching their realationship grow.

“Principles of Design: Pratt Fashion Alumni” is on exhibit from September 9th – October 8th at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery, (114 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10011).

Images: Jennifer Barckley, top image of dress by Pratt Alumni Timothy Kuzmeski

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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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The fashion trends of the 1980’s had one thing in common: they were wild. Some of the first things to pop into your head when you recall that beleaguered fashion era might be spandex, excessive shoulder pads, and the hot neon looks inspired by Miami Vice.

But one trend you probably forgot about is mesh, with Madonna as fearless leader.

1980’s Madonna layered in mesh

Consider the different sources of mesh inspiration. 60’s flower power I-want-to-get-stoned-and dirty-in clothes ready for either planting or war looks; 70’s boho-chic Virgin Mary dresses and body hugging pants a la Farrah Fawcett with a hint of Sex Pistols, complete with all the Mohawk and mesh a rebellious Material Girl could stand.

We were all over the place, but are we any better now? Take a look at Gisele in Colcci (image below), and you tell me.

Gisele Bundchen for Colcci

Mesh was born of the desire to show skin post 60’s-70’s, without baring it all. In the 80’s mesh was used to add layers to popular neon crop tops in an attempt to fuse punk with the mainstream so that anyone could wear it and be hip.

The 2011 mesh trend is a recycling of older trends, coming on the tail end of  war inspired garb, 70’s “Lady of the canyon,” with just a little Sex Pistols ready to rock mixed in.

Feral Childe, spring ’11

Mesh can’t help but be edgy with its inherent industrial reference to chains, but designers for spring ’11 have decided to tone it down. Their fresh takes on the old look are tasteful and inventive. Take for instance this cone shaped mesh hat from Issey Miyaki. It provides a little ying to summer’s heavy, sun-filled yang.

Issey Miyaki, spring ’11

Loomstate’s exploration of fabric for the every-woman has us thinking more under the sea than in an underground club.

And Samantha Pleet goes all the way with her netastic floor length dress that leaves just enough to the imagination.

Samantha Pleet, spring ’11. Image from Elisa Hyman

Will all of us be wearing mesh? Probably not, but it definitely makes for texture in the closet and for fun when dressing up as an alternate to solid fabrics.

Top image: Isabel Marant, spring ’11 backstage

The post And Then There Was Mesh appeared first on EcoSalon.

Over the past year, we’ve covered quite a few trends for you. Recapping a stylish year in pictures, one can’t help but hope the more timely trends will stick around and morph in the new year while a few flaky others fade away. Here’s our top 10 standout picks that we hope you dabbled with wearing. Or, if you were smart, you stayed 100 miles away from.

Hot Pants

Unless you had the body of a model and mind with a touch of crazy, you wouldn’t dare wear this. Yet editorials everywhere sported women frolicking around town in their underpants. I don’t care if they’re knitted or silky, this trend towards negating a hemline is just wrong. Where would you wear this outfit? The beach?

Derek Lam, spring 10‘

Camel

Buttery, sophisticated, ladylike, camel was the color to wear. Not having a camel coat in your closet felt like a sin. Luckily, you still had a camel coat from last year when it emerged as a hot trend.

fall 10 trends, Elle

Lace Resurgence

I love lace, not in a Stevie Nicks “Give to me your leather take from me my lace,” kind of way but as an integral part of your wardrobe and how you can utilize the fabric to mix in textures and patterns. Valentino had some pretty striking lacy pieces last spring that took the grandmother out of lace and instead, added a healthy dose of sex kitten.

Valentino, spring 10

Clogs

Straight from hospital ER rooms and from under all the waitresses who’ve ever thanked Dansko for making the most comfortable shoe ever, came the clog.

Designers went crazy with it making it strappy, cuffed, cut out and edgy so that we’d never look back to the days we slung hash at the local diner.

Coclico

Pantsuits

Why I still don’t have the one I want bewilders me. You might differ with me but I remain obsessed with pantsuits. Despite the fact you have to completely disrobe to use the bathroom, there’s just so much you can do with them!

Samantha Pleet Jumpsuit

Patterned Pants

Patterned pants swept the nation in the form of cool graphics, zig zags and animal prints that added just the right pop to otherwise bland outfits. Seasoned fashionistas took the trend further and met the prints head on with more print. Done well, this was a good look (and still is).

Feral Childe Lederhosen

The 70s

Demure, tasteful and refined, the 2010 take on the 70s was surprisingly tailored with high-waisted pants and lady-like blouses meeting flowy maxi dresses to create a look we’ll see more of in 2011.

Gucci, spring 10

Cutout Clothing

I like how Marie Claire worded the cutout trend: “The new provocative way to dress is strategically sexy: discreetly peekaboo, transparent but not trashy.”

Women were reminded that they had sexy shoulders, backs and arms that rivaled their decolletage in sexiness. We’ll see a little more of this trend in 2011, too (thankfully).

Popomomo, spring 10

Socks

If you wore knee socks at any point this past year, you were the it girl. For those of you with cankles, large knees, or robust thighs, you spat in the face of this trend. If you had the right legs and ankles, this was a fun trend and a great way to layer and add depth to an outfit.

Done wrong, an element of raunch pervaded your vibe.

Albino, spring 10

Sequins

Sequins were everywhere this fall and throughout the holiday season in the form of tank tops, bomber jackets and over-the-top blazers. But whether you paired them with denim, flouncy bubble skirts or your favorite straight legged trouser pant, you had a unique look. It was nice to see the sparkle spread itself out this year, with women finding different ways of wearing them.

Julie Park Cami

The post Top 10 Trends We Loved (And Hated) From 2010 appeared first on EcoSalon.

Attending The Green Shows during New York Fashion Week feels like a departure from the haughty attitudes as well as the not-so-sustainable practices of the mainstream fashion industry.

Backstage, models sit easily while natural products are applied to their skin and hair. The front of house is mingling and chatting sociably without a halo of status hanging over each person. In other words, the eco-scene is… well, good.

“Showing at the Green Shows is so wonderful because it is such an intimate setting,” says featured eco-designer Krystal Hoffacker of Dress Reform.

(Looks above from the Dress Reform show. Photo credit: Greta Eagan)

The Green Shows may be intimate with only a couple hundred attendees up against the vast numbers squeezing into the tents at Lincoln Center for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, but one thing is certain – sustainable fashion is on the map and catching the interest of new designers as well as the public and press.

(Looks above from the Bright Young Things show. Photo credit: Greta Eagan)

A packed house for Day Two at the Metropolitan Pavilion, where the Green Shows was hosted this year, turned out to see versatile pieces from Dress Reform, a live exhibit of the Uniform Project in conjunction with the new Bright Young Things line, and topped the day off with an evening presentation and party for New York’s little sustainable star, Samantha Pleet.

Watch our EcoSalon Exclusives NYFW Spring 2011 Highlights Day 2 at The Green Shows video for an inside look at the green scene that is quietly and confidently making its presence known!

The post EcoSalon Exclusives: NYFW Spring 2011, Highlights Day 2, The Green Shows appeared first on EcoSalon.

Social media has established a more personal consumer-producer relationship that has proved a perfect match for sustainable fashion, whose devotees demand a more transparent supply chain. With the worlds fashion house’s scrambling to balance a sense of mystery and yet humanize their brand through social media marketing, its tremendous impact within the industry is leading to environmentally conscious fashion editorial trending in both mainstream and fashion art publications.

Magnum Photo’s annual, limited edition fashion issue was directed by Newsweek documentary photographer, Paolo Pellegrin. An unusual choice to lead a fashion magazine, his gritty black and white photography acutely captures his concept entitled “Storm,” as a “rethinking of how we conduct ourselves, of how we inhabit this world.” Highlighting the interconnectedness of man and nature, which “has a fascinating way of reminding us of its presence and power,” he says, referring to this April’s ash-cloud fiasco. The unconventional editorial and striking imagery include interviews with progressive visionaries in the field including Bruce Mau, founder of eco-design think tank “Massive Change,” postmodern anthropologist Mark Augé and outspoken fashion designers Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney.

Sleek and imaginative, new online art, culture, and fashion magazine, The Wild, has released its first issue joining online publications such as Dis and Contributing Editor as evidence that high concept editorial can be just as compelling online as on paper. Conceived from the standpoint that “fashion, design, and style are not mutually exclusive from the social and cultural issues that impact our world,” the inaugural issue is filled with beautiful photography and intelligent content discussing social and environmental issues. The inspiring fashion pictorial includes a discriminating mix of designer, vintage and eco pieces (from EcoSalon fav, designer Samantha Pleet).

Proving beauty isn’t skin deep, the summer edition of fashion art magazine, Muse, is billed as their green issue and features a triple cover release featuring three green-oriented supermodel moms: Angela Lindvall, Isabeli Fontana and Gisele Bundchen. At the top of her game, influential Budchen’s eco activism is impressive. Her projects include her eco-friendly sandal collection, Ipanema, whose profits this year funded the Tamar project, an environmental program that protects sea turtles, and her skin care line, Sejaa, made from 100 percent natural ingredients, packaged from recycled materials and devised as a way to empower young women through positive self-image.

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