NY Fashion Week Goes EcoChic
Date: September 17, 2008 | Category: Accessories, Bags, Fashion, Men, Shoes, Women
New York Fashion Week kicked off at the American Museum of Natural History on Sept. 10 with Be EcoChic, a showcase of sublimely green fashions by some of today’s most celebrated designers.
The event was everything a fashion show should be: form and functionality combined with a flair for the funky, like designs made entirely of seaweed from Linda Loudermilk, or a recycled raffia jacket by Ralph Rucci. And to make it even more fabulous, a gaggle of celebrities - including Lauren Hutton, Adrien Grenier and Patti Hansen - modeled the clothing.
The Be EcoChic fashion show was a national awareness campaign supported by Johnson & Johnson Beauty Care and its brands AVEENO®, Neutrogena® and Neutrogena® Cosmetics, Mercedes Benz, Continental Airlines, Lycra, PJ Madison’s, and the event’s Advisory Board which included Carl Pope from the Sierra Club, Fern Mallis of IMG Fashion, and Kimberly Pinkson of the EcoMom Alliance.
To read more about the show and about other NY Fashion Week news, check out additional coverage on Inhabitat.
Magical Fashion in Las Vegas is No Mirage
Date: September 16, 2008 | Category: Accessories, Fashion, Men, Women
If you are a clothing store owner, buyer or supplier, you probably made the pilgrimage out to Las Vegas this past August (or at some point in your career). If you are not directly involved in the clothing industry - and being a clothing horse doesn’t count - you probably missed all of (the) Magic. Well we thought it was the duty of Ecofabulous to go check out all of the buzz about this year’s ECOLLECTION at Magic.
As promised, ECOLLECTION was green-tastic - a full-spectrum eco experience where we caught up on the latest in eco-fashion design and where our style correspondent, Clarissa Nicosia, facilitated a panel discussion with some of sustainable fashion’s new guard: Joslin Van Arsdale, owner of San Francisco retailer Eco Citizen, Rachel Hurn-Maloney, owner of Vie boutique in Los Angeles, Tierra Del Forte of Del Forte Denim, and James Wolfe, partner at Kelly B.
The panelists, all of whom are at the forefront of eco-friendly fashion and accessories, are setting the standard for sustainable business practices. They have taken a leadership position in the industry, paving the way for others who have the passion to commit to the exploding green movement in fashion and design. During the panel discussion, they shared their journeys into eco fashion with the audience, while giving advice and inspiration to those hoping to make their mark in this rapidly developing market.
In addition to the panel, attendees hungry for the latest in eco gear were able to feast their eyes on the goods featured in the Magic Marketplace, the industry’s preeminent showcase of sustainable and environmentally-conscious fashion and lifestyle products. But unlike traditional booth-focused trade shows, ECOLLECTION, in collaboration with partners like the Organic Exchange and MusicMatters, offered visitors educational opportunities, music, art and the chance to network with like-minded people, all in a fun and inspiring setting.
ECOLLECTION’S next event will be held February 17-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Today is the Frickin’ Day
Date: September 8, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Media, Men, Women
Thanks to a Daily Candy tip, the entire ecofabulous crew has new shirts on the way. Six of fashion’s most notable up-and-coming designers including Rogan, Rag & Bone and House of Diehl have come together with a common goal: using their skills to bring the people of Burundi a solar-powered hospital. All t-shirts are 100% organic cotton and were designed and made exclusively for Just One Frickin Day in a numbered limited edition. Our team was turned on by Philip Lim’s light bulb top, but there are quite a few cuties for both men and women. A designer tee never felt so good.
We Can Run the World
Date: August 10, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Featured, Media, Men, Shoes, Travel & Leisure, Women
Like these earth-friendly sneakers, the new ecofabulous.com is up and running. We hope you enjoy.
Conspiring to save the planet, Brooks’ BioMoGo has turned the traditional sneaker on its heel by creating a fully biodegradable midsole.
Nau They’re Back!
Date: June 26, 2008 | Category: Events, Fashion, Lifestyle, Men
A little over a month ago we sadly reported that sustainable fashioneer Nau was closing their highly regarded doors for lack of funding. There were a lot of really unhappy Nau enthusiasts. But we have amazing news! In part, due to the outcry from loyal customers, Nau employees kicked it into high gear to save their brand and eventually found a SoCal outdoor apparel company called Horny Toad to purchase them. They will now exist autonomously under Horny Toad’s umbrella. So Nau is gone no more. Of course there’s a lot more to this story; to learn the details on what went down, check out this Treehugger article. More good news: The clothes on Nau’s website will remain 50% off through July. So grab those bargains while the second evolution of Nau is in the making. We cannot wait to see the next iteration. FYI, the guys jeans are gorgeous and a great deal at $69.
Goodbye for Nau
Date: May 7, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Men, Women
We had tons of reasons to love Nau: a corporate code of social and environmental responsibility, a commitment to making stylish and sustainable clothing, and a program that enabled buyers to choose a charity where 5% of their sale went. So why, oh why did they go out of business? It is definitely not because they were on the road to righteousness. It is simply the fate of many internet-based business…they raised too much money (but not enough) and tried to scale too quickly. The clothing industry is tough and trying to sell garments on the internet before launching stores where people could try on the incredibly comfy and flattering pieces was a fatal error. Writing this post brings tears to my eyes. The team was so passionate and committed. There is good news in all of this bad news, however, because you can get all of their rocking outerwear at 50% off. Had my husband not ordered two more pairs of the sexy organic jeans and a gorgeous jacket to match just a week before this announcement, he would be the first to click. Nau it is time to say farewell and hope that the team brings their vision to another endeavor. With admiration and sadness, Zem and the ecofabulous team.
*Photo by Ben Moon
Brief Organic Lesson
Date: April 16, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Men
Wednesdays always include at least one fashion must-have, but the guys are often left in the cold. Here is one post all of our readers should cozy up to. From wind and solar powered factories to a self-imposed 5% “earth tax” donated to enviro-orgs, Rapanui does their tagline, “The Green Clothing Company,” justice. The latest fabric they’ve adopted is convergence cotton, grown organically on land reclaimed from commercial farmers. It’s said that after three years, the chemical footprint from previous practices will be completely eradicated (see, there’s hope!). Using this unbelievably soft cotton, Rapanui is weaving ethical undies. They’re simple basics, but the cuts are sustainably sexy, hypoallergenic, comfortable and naturally breathable. I’ve been searching for an eco replacement for my husband’s Calvin’s, so the men’s boxer-brief caught my eye. As far as unmentionables go, Rapanui is worth a mention indeed.
t-Robot
Date: March 27, 2008 | Category: Children, Fashion, Men, Women
Printing practices for clothing can be a messy, toxic business, but Partybots.org takes extra care in every step of the process - they use Alternative Earth Apparel’s 100% organic cotton or eco blend shirts (personally, I prefer the pure organic
cotton since the blend isn’t biodegradable) and embellish them with graphics made with low-impact color dyes and renewable soy printing solvents. Partybots founder Karl Addison hand-illustrates and screens every design, making sure each item is as clean as possible without losing its inherent punchiness (designs include a nun by a moped, a banjo-playing skeleton, a variety of robots, and llamas dressed in suits). The shirts are available for men, women, and children, so don’t be surprised if my husband and son show up as a pair of “dance n’ bananas”. Party on.
Men Finally Get to Walk the Talk
Date: February 25, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Men, Shoes
An animal-free and eco-friendly line of men’s footwear that’s also hot… who woulda thought? Bourgeois Boheme (UK online retailer) has just launched Esperituel, handsome footwear handcrafted in Portugal and made from microfibre - a high-quality, PVC-free leather alternative, grounded with water-based glues. The “leather” is derived from polyurethane (PU), and while we tend to shy away from plastics, when taking into consideration traditional tanning, factory farming and processing of leather, we think PU is a step up. To don a stylish set of Esperituels, check out Bourgeois Boheme (they’ve got the ladies covered too).
Shirting the Issue
Date: February 1, 2008 | Category: Bags, Fashion, Men, Women
ONNO specializes in sustainable textiles - making hip t-shirts and tote bags, using materials garnered from bamboo, organic cotton and hemp. Derived from one of the most abundant, least impacting plants in the world, their bamboo shirts feel “like a blend of cashmere and silk,” no really, they do. And, they naturally wick away moisture and nasty bacteria. The organic cotton bags are perfect for loading up groceries at the supermarket, and the classic t-shirts will keep you comfortable, stylish, and, of course, considerate of the planet. Great, green stuff for men is hard to come by. With Onno on the scene, excuses are getting harder and harder to come by.
About EcoFabulous
Founded by green design guru Zem Joaquin, ecofabulous.com is the online destination for sexy, sustainable style.
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