Let’s face the facts: It’s about to get cold again. Summer is waning, the days are getting shorter and we have to retire our shorty shorts. But don’t despair; fall is a romantic season, with cool days and even cooler nights—and cozy coats. We’ve found 5 responsibly made, ethical fall coats from brands you need to you know. (pst, most of them are on sale now, too.)

1. Heidi Merrick Durban Coat

This wool coat, tailored like a men’s blazer, adds a feminine touch with color blocking.  It’s warm, easy and goes with everything from dress to jeans. Heidi Merrick’s line is made in downtown Los Angeles, literally walking distance from her design studio. The brand explains: “It’s a local footprint with a global appeal.”

$315, Heidi Merrick

2. Diesel+EDUN Ed Fiedly

If you haven’t heard of the Diesel + EDUN collaboration, I recommend checking it out. EDUN, founded by Ali Hewson and her husband Bono (maybe you’ve heard of him) are determined to bring economic gains to Africa and shed light on the immense talent and skill within the continent.  The recent collaboration between the two brands brings together the edgy energy of Diesel and the socially responsible practices of EDUN.  Both inside and out, the cool design of this modernized jean jacket is not to be overlooked.

$428, Diesel

3. Grey Hand-Woven Harris Tweed Bomber-Coat by Honest By

Honest By is the future of the fashion industry and the label is all about transparency. Not their clothing, but the supply chain, which is completely transparent, meticulously detailing each and every material used in the process of producing any of their items, including its source and content.  Often their clothes are made in limited quantities of very high quality.  Get your hands on this fall coat because it’s only 1 of ten.

$450 outside of EU, Honest By

4. Book in Petal by Vaute Couture

You need to know Vaute. Vaute’s F/W2013 NYFW show–an entire vegan collection–made a huge splash in fashion and beyond.  Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart, founder of Vaute Couture, ex-model and lifetime animal lover, designed Vaute with a vision to change the industry and her line has done nothing short of that. Since the label started in 2008 customers have learned that beautiful (and warm) coats don’t need to be made with any animal products and can still be completely functional.  All Vaute coats are suited for cold weather—Leanne lived in Chicago for many years and knows what it means to endure winter comfortably. She brings that same toughness and grace to her coats.  Constructed in NYC, this coat is heat-retaining and snow-resistant: it’s a 100% vegan shell lined with recycled satin liner.  Buttons are made from renewable tagua nut.

$298, Vaute Couture 

5. Yoj Full-Length Jacket

Pricey indeed, but the minimalist design and perfect details of this ethical fall coat will last you a lifetime.  If you’ve been saving up for a long-lasting winter coat, this is the one for you. Made with organic cotton, Yoj is a favorite of Livia Firth, founder of the Green Carpet Challenge.

$1,263, Yoox

Related on Ecosalon: 

 Fall Farmers Market Guide: 10 Seasonal Products and Recipe Ideas

Coming This Fall: 6 Female Movie Characters We Can Hardly Wait For

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New York Fashion Week got a glimpse of a growing trend in fashion with Vaute Couture’s vegan show.

Anna Wintour would surely shudder at the lack of fur, but vegan fashionistas rejoiced as the first all-vegan animal rights fashion show hit NYFW last week when Vaute Couture took to the runway. Designer Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart expanded on her established outerwear and tee shirt line with ready-to-wear tops, dress, pants, skirts and sweaters all made from vegan and eco-friendly fabrics.

It couldn’t have been better timing for the vegan debut at Fashion Week. Just last week, a huge victory came for animals and animal advocates as the EU announced a permanent move away from allowing the sale of any cosmetics that have been tested on animals. And the vegan diet continues to gain popularity with celebs, athletes and politicians advocating a plant-based diet. Just recently, Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, urged his city’s residents to consider adopting a vegetarian diet.

And Hilgart showed off the glamorous side of veganism with sexy garments that were both lively and edgy. Colors were rich  in blacks, blues, greys and tans, reports Ecouterre. Hilgard also highlighted the development of new fabrics, including a luxe organic cotton velvet, recycled Thinsulate, 100 percent recycled satin and organic fleece, according to Ecoouterre. Hilgart said: “I want to show that we don’t have any excuse to wear animals.”

The show was sponsored in part by the Humane Society of the United States, one of the biggest animal advocacy groups in the country. The show also included several dogs (on the runway!) that were available for adoption.

Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Images: Courtesy of Eco-Chick

The post First All-Vegan Fashion Show Debuts at NYFW Fall/Winter 2013 appeared first on EcoSalon.

Sustainable fashion gets a spotlight at New York City’s Green Festival.

Last weekend, New York City’s cavernous Javits Center was overtaken by the Green Festival, an annual touring trade show filled with eco-enthusiasts promoting the latest in green living. On the Saturday of the show, behind booths promoting dairy-free cheese nibs, eco-friendly dog beds, and ElectroYoga, festival-goers had the chance to check out a selection of rising eco-fashion designers during T.H.R.E.A.D.S, a fashion show produced by Conscious Living TV.

The featured designers – including A.D.O., Allison Parris New York, Artists and Revolutionaries, Heart, and Vaute Couture, with shoes by Cri de Coeur – were connected by their uses of sustainable fabrics, fair trade practices, and cutting-edge design. Despite the less-than-ideal convention center setting, the inventiveness of the garments was evident. Highlights at the jump.

Vaute Couture

With a mission to “create more reasons to not wear animals,” Vaute Couture has developed a following in the vegan fashion community, including celebrities like Alicia Silverstone and Emily Deschanel, with its collection of animal-friendly garments. In addition to being a fashion pioneer, designer Leanne Mai-Ly Hilgart is also an ardent animal and environmental activist.

A.D.O.

Using GOTS-certified fabrics and natural Ayurvedic herb dye, A.D.O. designer Anjelika Krishna creates comfortable ready-to-wear clothing with a modern, feminine aesthetic. Most of A.D.O.’s fabrics are inspired by and sourced from India, and garments are produced locally in the New York garment district.

Allison Parris

Allison Parris’s background in bridal design certainly had an influence on her latest collection of party dresses, made with fabrics like raw organic silk and recycled PET. Flirty and feminine, they’re perfect for wedding season.

Artists and Revolutionaries

Based out of Brooklyn, Artists and Revolutionaries creates edgy separates using repurposed leather, cashmere, washed wool, and organic cottons. Designer John-Michael infuses his pieces with more edge than most are used to seeing in sustainable-collections, with amazing results.

Heart

Each of Heart’s garments utilizes or takes inspiration from original photography, resulting in unique pieces like the Bali Ball Gown (pictured above). Chicago-area designer Jenny Greco, photographer Christina Noël, and painter Lisa Selby describe their line as “wearable art meets clothing with a conscience.”

Images: Jessica Marati

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Every once in awhile, a piece of clothing grabs me in its attractive talons and whisks me away to want land. Capes are very on trend so at least I don’t feel like a freak regressing back to my mother’s fashion heyday. I was seven when they were in so I never got to fully, how do you say, partake?

This holiday season, if I get any of these capes I will freak out (mostly this top one).

The Oru, Haute Couture, $415

Capes come in many different shapes and sizes and maybe it’s the wide sleeves to accommodate chunky sweaters like this vegan number from Vaute Couture that has drawn me in.

Anthropologie Wool, Double Duty Cape, $248

This classic from Anthropologie isn’t too hard on the eyes either and would give me the tailored and tough Katherine Hepburn vibe I like in the fall and winter.

Vintage Wool, Cowl Neck Cape, Currently $76.00 on eBay

This paired with jeans or my Prairie Underground denim leggings is just ridiculous. Give it to me.

Vintage Wool Cape, eBay, Currently $27.89

And this toggle cape in a hunter green? I am a poet. I am a lover. I am a huntress.

Top Cloak Image is of The San Miguel Cloak, Bona Drag, $1,080.00

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Bianca and Michael Alexander, founders of Vert Couture, had their work cut out for them this past Sunday hosting Chicago’s first ever green fashion show. But with an already established track record in the sustainable field, the couple pulled it off with flying shades of green.

The husband and wife team, who recently migrated from California, have made the windy city more interesting with Conscious Living TV and Soul of Green. So producing Chicago’s debut sustainable design show was just another step in their progression towards sustainable.

Michael Alexander says he and his wife have a serious passion (bordering on addiction) for fabulous fashion that’s created consciously and sustainably. Vert Couture is their way of sharing this passion with the public.

“Seeing and meeting so many talented and committed eco-designers in our new home of Chicago, we wanted to support them by providing a platform to show the world their talent. We felt we could best serve them and the sustainability movement by producing arguably the hottest show of fashion week.”

Bianca and Michael Alexander, founders of the Vert Couture eco-fashion show

Chicago’s conscious community, including Fashion Focus Chicago and the Chicago Fashion Foundation, helped sponsor the show where Mountains of the Moon, Vaute Couture, Bryant McLemore Smith, Frei Designs and students from the International School of Design and Technology featured the best of their Spring 2010 collections.

Melissa Baswell, designer of Mountains of the Moon, says the show has strengthened the connection between Chicago’s eco-designers.

“Annie Novotny of Frei Designs and I decided that we’re not stopping with Vert Couture. We want to organize monthly gatherings with some of our fellow Chicago eco-designers to brainstorm and help each other out.”

Melissa Baswell of Mountains of the Moon takes a stroll down the runway at Vert Couture

Baswell says that unlike traditional shows she’s been a part of, more factors were involved in Chicago since the show was produced as green as possible (the event was carbon neutral, featured organic and vegan drinks and hors d’oeuvres, had green sponsors, eco-friendly printed materials, and of course, sustainable designers).

“There were a variety of designers and a wide array of pieces shown. It was put together as a fashion show first and foremost, but it also educated people on the importance of sustainability, and included much more than just the runway show.”

Annie Novotny, founder of Frei Designs, says that being part of Vert Couture is just what designers have to do right now.

“It turns some people off, promoting yourself as an eco-designer. But it’s my choice to produce ethically. It’s never been a cool thing to do. So whether people are educated or not, whether or not they know about issues of waste and sustainability, I’m going to be part of something like this simply because it’s important,” says Novotny.

Sustainable designer Lara Miller didn’t show her line at Vert Couture, but did show during Fashion Focus at Macy’s Designers of Chicago last Thursday evening. Her line is carried in the Chicago Designer Shop at Macy’s on State street.

Lara Miller Spring 2010, at Fashion Focus (Photo by Michele Wayman)

Miller says that Chicago is getting more competitive with the other major fashion cities in the U.S., but thinks that Chicago, in general, is just different.

“We’re providing a different view, a different market and allowing our designers to grow while reaching out to other markets. I think that Chicago designers have a unique perspective on fashion and on the industry. We’re incredibly hard workers, we understand who we sell to, and first and foremost we’re good people who support each other and our garment manufacturers here in the city.

Not all of our businesses are about creating a stir or a groundbreaking trend. We’re about quality, individuality, and our customers. We each have our own individual message and brand identity. And I think that we’re all showing something different and creating trends in our own ways, some more than others, but the trends to me don’t matter as much as creating beautiful quality work that pleases our customers. Because while we’re designers at the end of the day, we’re also entrepreneurs, which means that we want to make our customers happy.”

Chicago and Vert Couture have certainly made me happy.

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