Modaspia Pintuck Blouse in Gold and Modaspia Fiji Dress in Jade

Twentyfive is a brand-spanking new online boutique featuring goods from Modaspia designer Ursula Dean and friend Oami Powers, designer for Judah Ross. By joining forces, the two have come up with a great new way to sell their popular indie lines by incorporating some personal finesse.

“We’re just doing runs of 25 of a given garment so when they’re gone they’re gone. We started small but the line-up is good and the reception has been great just off of my blog alone,” says Dean, adding that when they’re sold out they’re gone but will be replaced with something new.

Judah Ross Summer Star Pillow

Replacements could mean a variety of colors in similar styles or different product altogether. Dean will primarily focus on clothing while Powers is concentrating on accessories and home goods. You can go to their other sites, however, and shop their lines that have more (or less) than twenty five.

Modaspia Pintuck Dress in Saffron

I have always loved Modaspia (at least three of her dresses are in my own wardrobe) but I am also thrilled to see Judah Ross’ home goods and beautiful blouses and bags – I’m completely smitten.

Both designers are producing locally, using eco-friendly fabrics and dyes, recycled packaging and offer free domestic shipping.

With my purchase of the Pintuck Dress in Saffron, that drops that very item down to 24, so with time being of the essence, shouldn’t you go to their site right now?

The post After TwentyFive, You’re Out of Luck appeared first on EcoSalon.

Modaspia’s Fiji Dress is something of an icon in the eco-fashion world when it comes to “go-to” dresses, which is why designer Ursula Dean produces the style seasonally.

This organic cotton and hemp indigo denim number is perfect for year-round wear, worn alone in the warmer months and for cooler days as follows:

1. Worn with a tight-fitting long sleeved tee and cardigan

2. Paired with patterned tights and boots

3. Layered with a crisp white collared blouse

4. Layered with a colorful tank, for a shot of color

5. Worn with leggings and flats

6. Draped with layered gold necklaces and sexy heels

How will you wear it? Make a comment below and register to win this very one and become a Fiji master.

The post Modaspia Fiji Dress Giveaway appeared first on EcoSalon.

Ursula Dean, founder and designer of women’s apparel line, Moda Spia, entered the eco-fashion neighborhood 10 years ago when she started utilizing factory over-runs from Italy.

Since then, the San Francisco designer has stayed true to using interesting, rescued fabrics but has added more organic fabrics for good measure, aiming to create clothing that becomes a keepsake, something coveted and special to its owner that stands the test of time.

Her concentration on seasonal collections that have her signature look of fresh, playful and always inherently feminine lines are what both buyers and shoppers now follow her for. Here’s what she had to say about her part in the eco-fashion movement.

What got you into designing with sustainable fabrics?

Honestly, I didn’t realize the inherent “good” to the environment of these left over fabrics until the whole green movement brought it to light. I love textiles and am really glad the surplus goods are in some way helpful in containing the negative impact of textile production on the environment. I started using organic fabrics like cotton/hemp blends, bamboo and more recently organic wool/lyocell blends. They have a very soft hand and beautiful weight and smell good, too!

Is there a different mindset that comes with creating sustainable or “green” garments?

My focus is primarily on the design itself. Through some research I’ve found several green textile companies to work with (like Pick Natural in San Francisco). Their products are exciting to work with and they bring in fresh fabrics on a regular basis. This makes my job as a designer trying to work primarily with green fabrics easy.

Do you feel part of a new eco-designing community?

Most of the designers I know personally have already made the push to offer garments that are at least in part green, so yes.

What was a stand-out piece you created over the past 10 years?

The Biba Jacket from my first collection 6 years ago. It was a silk velvet jacket with a ribbon belt and hand-made flower, really loose and bohemian. My partner at the time hand-dyed the velvet and silk-screened the lining. It was incredibly labor-intensive but the result was stunning. Calypso in NY carried it for 2 seasons. Heidi Klum showed up in it in InStyle and that really spiked sales. It was an auspicious start to our business.

How do you see the future of green clothing design evolving?

I don’t know the answer, nobody does. To me it seems like so many things are coming into play and will continue to. China is making Walmart and Target’s clothes. A LOT of people are shopping at these places right now because they need something and they don’t have any money, nobody has any money right now.  The U.S. relationship with China is changing isn’t it? China is heavily invested in the U.S. I’m not sure if these things will affect production but they may. To me it seems volatile but they’re looking for a partner in production and we’ve got the work for them. That’s the manufacturing end of it, anyway.

Do you think at some point all clothes will just be manufactured sustainably?

As far as sustainable fabrics are concerned I think they will only become more a part of our shopping culture. It seems to have become a very visible thing to most people. If you go to the tiniest town, chances are someone will have at least heard of an organic cotton t-shirt – though not necessarily know what that means!

The post Moda Spia: Interview with Designer Ursula Dean appeared first on EcoSalon.