Inhabitat

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Snark-

We do want to create an Inhabitat fashion blog, but until we have the resources and writers to do that, we will continue our fashion coverage on Inhabitat as we have done since our inception in 2005. I can understand why you don’t like fashion coverage, but there are readers out there who enjoy it. No-one is forcing you to read this stuff, so why don’t you just ignore the articles that don’t interest you instead of complaining about them. This is what most savvy readers do. We give you a choice of subjects so that you can pick and choose what you want to read. Try our category specific RSS feeds - thats what this is for…

Thanks-
Jill
Founder & Editor-in-chief
Inhabitat.com

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Dear Readers:

Thank you for your comments and input regarding how we might improve the focus of our site. As a design-focused blog, we have been debating as a team whether or not to continue including eco fashion and green lifestyle focused stories. As ‘robmiller 7′ echoes above, in the end we have concluded that all aspects of design are indeed part of the (household) equation when considering the overall sustainability quotient.

It is a tough balance to make all of our readers happy, but we do feel that it is important to touch on a variety of topics at this stage in addition to the original architecture focus of Inhabitat.

I feel that it is important to clarify that, although hand bags might seem superfluous to some (and we apologize for perhaps overdoing it with two back-to-back eco accessories posts on a single Sunday with world headlines focused on a tanking global economy), it is important to recognize that designers who are working very hard to introduce green materials and sustainable methods are doing so with very good intention. The designers we feature are not operating behind a green-washing facade or as blind promoters of frivolous, wasteful consumption. We work very hard to sort through those green fashion designers that we feature.

What is impressive about both accessory designers from this past Sunday’s column is the self-restraint used in creating a limited number of pieces in their collections - without manufacturing waste or toxic printing or harmful fabrics. “Organic European hemp” might seem pretentious to some, but it is actually an extremely viable material and an excellent way of providing new green jobs in a country like Romania. Having spent a considerable amount of time in Eastern Europe myself, I know how important these new ‘green collar jobs’ are.

I understand that fashion and art even tend to rub folks the wrong way when examining the bare bones practicality of what is sustainable. We are all looking to define what it essential in our lives. But in an era when smart solutions are required, let us not forget about how beauty and intelligent design can also inspire us to pull ourselves out of the quagmire.

For some, collecting an eco fashion item is as viable as identifying a key sustainable element for an architectural space or landscaped vista. Folks have been blowing money on architecture for years, so let’s support those eco fashion designers who are trying to redefine what fashion luxury truly might be as a better way of doing things for the long term and the threads on our backs. Otherwise, the rift and the have and have-nots will always be a spoiler on this planet.

Thanks for reading and showing your concern. We welcome additional comments on this topic.

Abigail @ Inhabitat