ExclusiveBright Young Things launches a sustainable capsule collection at Urban Outfitters.

The Bright Young Things first season collection is debuting at Urban Outfitters with a four-piece capsule collection. The versatile collection can be worn in multiple ways and includes: The Converter Pant, The Everything Halter, The Wrap Skirt-Dress, and The Coat-Dress. Designer Eliza Starbuck says the collection was inspired by the idea of updating American classics in an effort to offer basics that are multifunctional.

“If I were to pinpoint the icons that are behind the style inspiration I’d say they’re a mix of Laurence of Arabia, Katherine Hepburn, and Carmen Miranda, although I certainly hope they don’t come off that way,” says Starbuck. “I wanted them to be for today’s versions of these characters.”

The New York-based line debuted at The GreenShows in September at the 2010 New York Fashion Week with just one little black dress. The dress itself has encouraged thrifty, creative dressers everywhere to embrace the fact that less is more and no better was that celebrated than through Starbuck’s creation of the first LBD for Sheena Matheiken’s The Uniform Project.

As for the Urban Outfitter collection, expect to see a pant with fun twists like a basic trouser with side entry that allows the wearer to wear it at three different levels on the waist (high-waisted, a slouchy-cuffed slack, or a drop crotch harem style pant), and an Everything Halter which was designed to be twisted and wrapped into different looks or flipped upside down and worn as a sexy skirt or beach cover up.

Producing the line in Manhattan’s Chinatown allowed Starbuck to closely monitor production and make adjustments to the production if necessary.

“It was really cool to get to know the factory workers,” says Starbuck. “There were days when I was in there working side by side with them.”

When asked if she thinks more women are getting creative with their clothes, Starbuck says it really depends on the individual.

“I know some amazingly creative dressers, women who inspire me to get dressed in the morning,” says Starbuck. “Then there are so many women who don’t have the confidence to stand out and assert their own sense of style, who tend to imitate the style they see on celebrities or that they see on TV or in magazines.”

There’s also the matter of personal priorities.

“Of course there are those women out there who really can’t or don’t care about fashion and have other things they focus on,” says Starbuck. “I try to design clothes that would work for any of these types, but I think the women who like to experiment will have the most fun with it.”

The Bright Young Things capsule collection can be seen now at Urban Outfitters, with pieces priced from $89-$240. Materials include tencel and hemp blends.

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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 tag line for the Ethical Fashion Shows hosted in Paris reads, “Notre but: prouver que la mode ethique peut etre a la fois tendance et parteuse de benefices sociaux et environmentaux.” For those of you who are scrambling to remember French vocabulary from high school, they’ve basically stated that their goal is to show that fashion can be trendy while still being ethical, environmental and socially responsible. Sounds like a good goal, non?

What’s better is that the Ethical Fashion Shows presented very wearable collections in the four day trade show with live catwalks. Hosted in the new Docks en Seine building, which is quite a new age architectural marvel itself, the design on design aesthetic worked well, affording designers the space to create interesting and artful exhibits.

With over thirty different designers exhibiting, here are but a few that made my short list:

• A & K Classics
• Ciel
• Ethos Paris
• Shifumi
• Ute Auwarter

Differing from the Green Shows in New York – the Estethica exhibit and Sustainable Show during London Fashion Week – the Ethical Fashion Shows were much more intimate with an educational element. Even the program held information regarding what constitutes an ethical piece of clothing, which was brilliant!

All in all it was a wonderful introduction to not only the local Parisian ethical designers, but many from Peru, India and other parts of Europe. I am confident that as the Ethical Fashion Shows develop, their fashion capital of the world host – Paris – will push their ambiance and presentation forward while keeping the educational segment in tact.

(Photos above are from the Peru Fashion focus catwalks during the Ethical Fashion Shows. Photo credit: Greta Eagan)

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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!

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New York Fashion Week is in full swing, and aside from people watching and jotting down some trendsetting street looks, I went to The Green Shows where 10 eco-fashion designers were selected to show their spring/summer 2011 collections.

We’ve got the best of Day One right here on EcoSalon. After the break you’ll find a video from the event which offers backstage beauty insight and runways glimpses. You’ll also see more photos showing off the main attraction – the clothes!

Joann Berman poses backstage with a couple models from her show. The S/S 2011 collection was influenced by music and a jet-setting woman who picks up amazing prints and jewelry on her journeys.

Models from the Ashton Michael Black Label get cozy for backstage pictures at The Green Shows.

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I love following Tara St. James because each of her pieces is always so different. When it comes to the sustainable design world, designs like hers are rare but (she won’t want to read this) still very easy to sell.

The Study NY label is her first line since leaving the Creative Director post at Covet, a more commercial line she outgrew artistically.

“˜The Square Project’, was her first clothing line under the new label, which she launched at New York Fashion Week last September as part of The Green Shows. She will be producing another small collection of eco-friendly clothing “all with the ethos of sustainable production,” using recycled and organic materials as much as possible.

This week’s giveaway is one of her high-waisted hemp silk skirts. Resting just above the knee and embellished with side pockets, this just might be one of your new go-to skirts. It looks perfect with a crisp cotton blouse or a slinky tank. This is a multi-tasking piece – exactly what you should have to make your closet stretch.

Feeling it? Leave a comment below and you might soon be wearing it.

(For complete giveaway rules click here.)

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