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.

Join EcoSalon and Ecover as we head into October with a sweepstakes that celebrates your Green Closet!

Ecover tells us: “As you know, one of the elements of Green Closet is all about stopping the clothing rotation: buy good quality clothes and keep each item longer by taking good care of them.”

At EcoSalon, we are all about slow and conscious consumption when it comes to clothing, so we are more than happy to collaborate with Ecover to promote their Green Closet sweepstakes.

What’s the deal? Well, one very lucky and randomly selected Grand Prize winner will take home a stunning prize package that includes fashions from celebrated Green Closet designers Auralis Herrero-Lugo of Auralis and Tara St. James of Study, NY, an eco-styling session with Green Closet supporter Greta Eagan of FASHIONmeGREEN, a signed copy of Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by fashion expert Elizabeth Cline, and of course Ecover laundry products that will help you keep your favorite clothes sustainably fresh and well cared for – a total value of more than $600.00.

Auralis Ava Top (pictured above): This is the top for all seasons. 100% silk crinkle chiffon with an iron oxide splatter. Made in NYC.  – $128 plus an Auralis Hannah Scarf (below): Indigo with Tumeric shibori accents. Perfect as a beach cover-up/sarong, a picnic blanket or a winter scarf.  4 feet x 4 feet. Fabric –  crepé plisé: 37% Silk, 35% Hemp, 28% Organic Cotton. Made in NYC.  – $80

Study, NY Berry Blouse (pictured below) – 100% organic cotton blouse with open back in the winner’s choice of white or pinstripe. Made in NYC – $165

An online eco-styling session with Greta Eagan of FASHIONmeGREEN (pictured below). This 1.5-hour session includes: an overall style assessment, defining of personal and professional goals in dress attire, evaluation of five different outfits from the winner’s closet, and eco-fashion integration into their shopping knowledge and habits based on their personal values.  – $200

One copy of Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth Cline which talks about “fast fashion” and the price we pay for not shopping sustainably. -$29.99

One each of the following full-size Ecover products (below), plus 2 reusable shopping totes approximated value $51

Now that you’re probably screaming at your screen “How do I enter?!!!” here’s how:

We want to see either a photo of a favorite garment that you have owned for 5 to 10 years and/or a brief description of why your beloved garment is so special to you.

To enter, “like” Ecover’s Facebook page and click on the sweepstakes tab under their cover photo. You will be asked to upload your photo and/or brief description, as well as your contact info. The sweeps ends on October 14, and the winner will be selected by random drawing on October 15th.

Good luck!!

If you are interested in learning more about Green Closet, go here.

The post Ecover and EcoSalon Celebrate Green Closet With An Eco Fashion Sweepstakes! appeared first on EcoSalon.

7 successful fashion talents we’ll have our eye on this year.

As the ever-wise Alexander McQueen once said, “It’s a new era in fashion – there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together.” An innovative program launched by the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the Fashion Institute of Technology seems to be embracing this new era McQueen spoke of.

The executive level program – Design Entrepreneurs NYC – will give participants access to high-level industry execs and provide them with a means to further their skills to run a successful fashion or accessories label. Of 165 applicants, 35 emerging designers were hand-picked to join to the Class of 2012. EcoSalon caught up with 7 of the stellar selected designers to hear what’s getting them excited about being a part of this fashion-forward program.

Tara St. James of STUDY NY

“What I’m looking forward to most in participating in this program is that it will force me to sit down and really focus on and plan the future of my business. That’s a luxury I haven’t had until now. I also think it will be great for networking with peers and potential mentors.”

Nimet Degirmencioglu of SOHAM DAVE
“We are looking forward to meeting all other talented designers and very knowledgable advisors. We are hoping that through the program we would be able to reach the investors and capital to carry our brand to the next level. Our artisans and our supply chain in India is ready to produce for department stores and we would like to grow the business.”

Anne Pachan of CALA OSSIDIANA

“I am really excited to participate in this program and take my business to the next level. Having a company that creates high-fashion swimwear with eco-friendly fabrics – and being able to do all of that within NYC – is what gets me up in the morning. I love the mini-MBA style of the program and how focused it is – with sections on marketing and sales, legal questions for startups, and the financial aspects of running a small business. The other really fantastic part is the group of people participating. I have taken a few business and entrepreneurship courses previously, but never with such a strong group of designers as my peers and classmates – we are all at similar levels, ready to take that next step to success, and will be able to support each other and grow together.”

Sarah Canner of VESPERTINE
“I’m most excited for the opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s top teachers and executives and to be able to directly apply the knowledge and experiences they share into my business plan revision and the day-to-day building of Vespertine.”

Thea Grant of BAZZdeGRANT 
“This program will allow us access to experts and teachers of critical areas of our industry that are often overlooked or forgotten over time by so many talented designers…in so-saying, I am most excited to refocus the passion my partner and I have for our work through the lens of a business professional.”

Graciela Fuentes of TIRANA JEWELRY

“I’m a creative type so my dream was to be a designer, not neccesarily a business owner. Over the years I’ve been honing my design skills, but I’ve come to realize that the key to achieve success is the proper balance between design talent and business acumen. I believe DENYC will provide me with essential skills to further develop my brand so I’m ecstatic to be a part of the 2012 class.”

Anjelika Krishna of A.D.O.
“I truly appreciate the opportunity to participate in the Design Entrepreneurs NYC program, and am most excited to meet the mentors and learn from them on how to successfully grow my sustainable business, A.D.O. I am also excited to meet other entrepreneurs and possibly start some collaborative projects.”

A big congratulations to all selected emerging designers. We’re holding onto our hats in anticipation to see what the future holds for all of them…

The post Design Entrepreneurs NYC Announces the (Sustainable) Fashion Class of 2012 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.

Column10 finalists compete to have their design produced in The IOU Project’s “Made in NYC” Capsule Collection.

The DIY with IOU Sustainable Design Competition recently announced their 10 finalists in the race to have their fashionable creation produced as part of The IOU Project‘s inaugural “Made in NYC” Capsule Collection. Known for their transparent approach about their supply chain, The IOU Project’s products are traceable so purchasers of their fashionable frocks can find out how their garment was produced, where it was made, and who was part of the creation process. Organized in collaboration with Source4Style, the finalists are now in pattern+sample mode, constructing their final entries, which can be either a garment or accessory. For a look at the varying aesthetics these designers harbor, a look from each finalist is showcased below.

Tara St. James

Swati Argade

Lara Miller

Emily Saunders

Minna K

Lisa Linhardt

Francisca Pineda 

Marina Davis

Carrie Parry

Aga Smiechowska

Get Your Madras On

With a variation of The IOU Project‘s statement handwoven madras fabric in hand, each innovative and mindful designer is currently in their zone, on their way to present the final pieces by the end of the month. The fashion designer behind The IOU Project, Kavita Parmar, began the story’s label with handwoven madras fabric from Chennai (which was previously known as Madras). According to Source4Style’s Summer Rayne Oakes, “Kavita met with each and every artisan that The IOU Project currently works with to understand their needs – and to share in the beauty of their craft. The iconic material has such a rich history and an incredibly powerful story; it’s meaningful to share in that with other designers.”

Entrant Jessica Hosoi’s sketches; Oakes tells EcoSalon, “I enjoyed the designers who took the time to submit sketches of products… it showed that they put in thought and effort.”

The IOU Project’s madras will be available on the Source4Style platform after the winner is announced, so any designer will have the option to join in the checked fun. The winning design will be selected on March 29th, and not only will be produced as part of The IOU Project’s “Made in NYC” Capsule Collection, but the standout designer will receive 50% of the profits and have the chance to showcase their piece at a trunk show at ABC Carpet & Home, and sell it on www.TheIOUProject.com and Fab.com.

For Oakes, this competition is all about portraying to the inner and outer sustainable design community that, “there is much joy and reward that comes in valuing the process of making a garment as well as the people along the way.”

The post 10 Finalists Are Off & Designing For The DIY With IOU Competition appeared first on EcoSalon.

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

The post EcoSalon at NYFW: The GreenShows appeared first on EcoSalon.

Look beyond traditional jeans and make things more interesting by finding new ways to wear this beloved fabric.

If you ask anyone, male or female, what their favorite outfit is, there’s a good chance it includes denim. This fabric, originally designed for cowboys in the late 1800s has become a closet staple like no other. Besides jeans, there are lots of great items out there made from denim — like these bleach-splattered shoes, a sweet dress, bodega bag and pendant. Complement your blues with an updated version of the perfect trench coat, and a cool upcycled necklace.

Bleach Splatter Denim Women’s Cordones
If plain denim is just too boring for you, check out these Bleach Splatter Cordones, that work just as well with or without laces. For every pair sold, TOMS donates one to a child in need.
$69, Toms

Jesse Spanos Flare Jeans by Pray For Mother Nature
These super soft flare jeans by Pray For Mother Nature are the perfect medium-blue shade of denim. The Pray for Mother Nature collection is entirely designed and made in California by Chip Foster, formerly of Chip & Pepper (whose jeans were coveted for making your bum look amazing). A percentage of proceeds benefits Heal the Bay.
on sale for $59.95, Future standard

Pray For Mother Nature Cuts Like a Knife Ruffle Dress
If jeans, or pants, are simply not your thing, you can still be a Blue Jean Baby by trying out a denim dress. This scoop-neck one – also by Pray for Mother Nature, features tiers at the front, worn edges, and a pulled bottom hem.
on sale for $108, Shopbop

Study NY Pipe Necklace
Made in NYC by designer Tara St. James, this gorgeous necklace is crafted using reclaimed copper pipes and vintage silk. It’s the perfect way to add some interest to a simple jeans-and-T-shirt ensemble.
$180, Juno & Jove & Study NY

Remade USA Bodega Bag
Did you ever wonder what happened to all those tie-bleached jeans from the 80s? Well, some of them have been remade into cute bodega bags by designer Shannon South. Every bag is unique and completely made from upcycled denim.
$55, ReMade USA

Jen Abrams Vintage Denim Pendant
Jen Abrams creates simple, statement-making jewelry that is very much designed to go with your favorite pair of jeans. Maybe because it’s made using pre-loved denim. $96-$136, Jen Abrams Collection

Edun Trench Coat
The classic trench gets an update by Edun designer Sharon Wauchob. The frayed edges and powerfully simple details make this the perfect trench to wear with any kind of denim.
$398, Edun

The post On Trend: Blue Jean Baby appeared first on EcoSalon.

Tara St James and Bahar Shahpar want to take their role as designers and entrepreneurs to a new role, that of teachers.

How we evolve as professionals could quite easily make up a juicy short story, or in some cases, a stylish novel that would take us around the world. In the case of designers Tara St James (of Study New York) and Bahar Shahpar (designer for her own eponymous label), this writer would probably opt for the novel version having followed both for some time.

The two are currently in the throes of an IndieGoGo campaign for funds they hope to elevate GUILDED, their newest enterprise, where the master plan is to become “the new industry standard for the way we think about design.”

Sustainably fashioned design.

I got to catch up with them at GUILDED this past week to see what was going on and what all the fuss was about.

“With fashion, designers need to start attacking waste from the beginning and use good design and business to make better production. they also need to take a look at the people they work with full time,” says St James, referring to the unseen co-workers in the manufacturing process who help produce a collection.

Right now GUILDED offers one to two classes a week that tackle many of the questions designers and companies new to the sustainable scene have. In their 101 Series: Sustainable Design Fundamentals including (but not limited to), Fibers & Fabric: An Analytical Comparison, Local Production: Building Efficient Supply Chains and Brand Positioning: Telling the Story of Sustainability, many of these questions are answered.

While they currently hold the classes in GUILDED proper, the two hope the IndieGoGo funding, will enable them to offer more classes digitally so it’s less of a priority to offer a physical space to teach in and they can reach out to people all over the world.

Check out their video on IndieGoGo explaining more abut what they’re hoping to accomplish with proper funding:

Shahpar says what she hopes GUILDED  will become is a place where people can come to understand about how they can create with a conscious.

“Fashion has a direct impact on a lot of things, so we want students to see what knowledge can do and give them the power to do it themselves and not rely on corporate, that there are people like us working behind the scenes everywhere, working from the root of the system,” she says.

St James agrees and adds that there’s a preconceived perception when designers are entering the eco-realm that they need to address everything when they first start out.

“There’s a lot of confusion with design students and lots of sources being thrown at them and in that confusion is where they stop and don’t want to go any further. Here they can choose what’s right for them and we help give them the tools to go from there. We debunk the myth that it can’t be done,” St James says, adding that the label of “sustainability” also can be a crutch they lean on too heavily, while it should be an element of their design.

GUILDED’s Work space in Manhattan.

Shahpar and St James are passionate about what they do. You can hear it in their voices and the pace at which they speak.  You realize by being there with them that this campaign isn’t just about donating, but supporting a business that is here to make an effective change, “not to just be a charitable cause.”

“Every bit of information you learn about this is life changing,” says Shahpar, “For everyone.”

To update, the goal is to raise $15,000 via IndieGoGo by August 6th to get everything off the ground. You can start by donating as little as $10, everything makes a difference and they’re a little more than halfway there so get on it. An Exclusive for EcoSalon readers who donate to GUILDED’S  campaign is one of Study New York’s Zipper Cuffs. Be one of the first 10 people to give and mention in their comment that they read the EcoSalon piece and get this hot zipper cuff in addition to whatever incentive is being offered for the amount you donate!!

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I never thought I would love a classroom, as I usually lean towards learning outside its four walls. Yet a gaggle of fashionably clad students were in attendance recently at Tara St James’ Study NY A/W 11′ show at New York Fashion Week and their schoolmarm need for attention was met by the excited crowd. Here was a presentation that felt different from the other shows I attended. Warm and cozy, I found myself waiting for the next lesson, next look.

James’ music choice sounded like effervescent bubbles popping and set the tone for a collection that was effortlessly organic: Nubby, rich sweaters of every kind made me rethink my desire for warmer days. I wanted to cozy up in the sweater skirt and textured crew right this second.

Blanket Coats that reminded me of Pendleton frocks I coveted throughout my childhood rekindled the beauty of history and heritage and that ever-rising trend towards quality vs. quantity we are seeing.

The jumpsuit made me think of the ski slopes I raced down as a little girl (but were far more stylish, of course).

The collection is extremely wearable, too – easy to approach and even easier to integrate into your wardrobe, but each with a signature Study NY vibe.

The show stopper? A skirt made from 4,000 silk cocoons by CPALI, “a nonprofit that introduces farmers who have been economically displaced from the Makira Protected Area to new ways of earning income that invests them habitat protection while develop their own sustainable enterprises.”

Stunning and inspiring. The fashion forward potential of sustainable fabrics just keeps evolving.

The show ended my NYFW experience, reminding me of just how unique our industry is. You can be anything you want to be in the world of fashion, and you can push yourself in any direction, so long as you commit.

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While the New Year has provided the typical fashion media’s pause for reflection, coverage for the sustainable fashion movement is enjoying a few more toasts and moments of celebration.

Champagne Lifestyles. Don’t you think the Golden Globes’ red carpet fashion could have used a little more green? And I’m not talking about the emerald dresses sported by Angelina Jolie, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Elizabeth Moss. The best news about Colin Firth’s win for the Kings Speech? The spotlight will be more brightly focused on his dedicated green-living wife, Livia Firth, and her Eco Age store which offers sustainable fashion and domestic solutions.

Congrats! Along with mentoring the newly launched Awamaki Lab Initiative, Study NY designer Tara St. James won the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award for Sustainable Design. Along with seven New York-based designers who will each receive the $25,000 grant towards production of their runway show at February’s New York Fashion Week.

Hitting the big TIME. Discussions about the need for greener fashion are increasingly penetrating the mainstream media. Levi’s Water Less Jeans have garnered a steady stream of discussion-provoking coverage since the advance news of their launch hit the airways culminating in this week’s issue of TIME.

Bottoms up! Three U.K. mass market chains are broadening the reach of ethical fashion. After the well-received upcycled line From Somewhere, the popular supermarket chain Tesco announced the launch of a capsule collection from Goodone, made from factory surplus and off cuts.

Pharrell Williams’s sustainable Fabric company, Bionic Yarn, is teaming up with retailer Topshop to launch a three-piece denim collection with this season’s 70s style detailing. Retailer M&S is also launching a 70s influenced sustainable line, Indigo Green. The 15-piece collection will be made from organic, fair trade and sustainable sourced fabrics.

Image: Matt From London

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