The London Design Festival is in full swing, and Inhabitat has been on the scene to give you the scoop on the dazzling examples of sustainable design presented at this year’s event. Read on for our favorite products and innovations that we spotted this year.
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We’ve been fans of trailblazing eco fashion designer John Patrick Organic for years, and were thrilled to get a sneak peek at his latest collection at New York Fashion Week last Thursday. Summed up in two words, JPO SS 2010 is classic Americana. These are clothes that would have looked oh so right on Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde – flowy and flattering organic cotton and silk dresses cinched with structured recycled polyester trenchcoats and organic cotton twill seersucker blazers. Read on to see pics of our favorite pieces and a special celebrity guest!
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There is nothing like the clarity of ‘being in the Nau’ to guide you through the rugged terrain of today’s challenges. This evergreen activewear label is more than just a fashion phoenix reinventing itself during tough economic times, but also an innovator of sustainable fashion pieces that perform well technically and look street smart, too. If you are considering adding only one item to your fall wardrobe, consider the versatility and scope of Nau’s latest offerings as a way to add new dimension to your layering system as well as your attitudes about style as a catalyst for change.
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As Inhabitat’s fashion editor, I spend a lot of time (yes, a tad bit little longer than is required for my job) perusing through seriously crave-worthy fashions, from the frilly and ethereal, to the haunting and hardcore. That being said, looking at all of these beautiful clothes can be very bittersweet when you’re working with a less than rockstar budget. In fact, one of the biggest complaints I hear about ethical and eco-conscious fashion is that it is just too expensive! I definitely acknowledge the fact that buying a lot of these labels is not cheap, but you have to admit that it makes sense that clothing using the latest and most innovative fabrics and paying fair wages to local people would be more pricey. I try my best to save up and buy my favorite eco-chic pieces when they go on sale to support the cause, but who says you need to spend big bucks to rock a look that is both green and cutting edge? Here are 5 easy and supercheap ways to green your wardrobe by using your noggin instead of your benjamins.
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We’ve heard of protective gear, but this is ridiculous! Or is it? With creative clothing made from condoms popping up all over the internet in such versatile and surprisingly beautiful styles, we have to wonder – could condom garments be an innovative new eco-fashion trend? And would you actually be willing to wear prophylactic couture?
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One of the debut brands at last week’s Greener by Design Conference in San Francisco was a company called Ditto Hangers, co-founded by industrial designer Gary Barker, also co-founder of Greenheart Global, Inc. It may seem trite to focus a brand on something as rudimentary as the everyday hanger, but that’s precisely why this kind of ‘re-thinking design’ is so pertinent. An estimated 8 billion polystyrene and polycarbonate hangers clog our landfills every year, and as Gary Barker points out, that’s enough to fill the Empire State Building 4.6 times!
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Ever imagined wearing a dress made out of paper? House-Wear, a truly imaginative brand founded by artist Laura Sansone is all about eco-fashion, but in a different way than what you may have seen before. Laura’s cheeky and light-as-a-feather PAPER WEAR line is made out of Tyvek, a material which is usually reserved for mailing envelopes! Not only do these clever garments “push the envelope” by using a familiar material in a new and exciting way (something we love here at Inhabitat), but the trompe l’oeil look is spot-on in terms of what’s hot right now in fashion.
Last week, we were excited to be the exclusive media sponsor of the Green Room, an eco-focused space within premiere fashion trade show Designers & Agents. Although we were technically ‘working’ at D&A, the bright and cheery Green Room looked so much like an eco-fashionista’s dream boutique, complete with bubblegummy eco-art and elegant furnishings by Uhuru, that we couldn’t help but want to go shopping! And we did! From ruffly sweet sweater dresses to sleek silver recycled tyvek tops, we tried on so much eco-goodness that we knew we had to share our favorite looks with you. So without further ado, here are our favorite new green styles from the D&A trade show – modeled of course, by yours truly….
Sometimes sustainable style has nothing at do with organic cotton, hemp, or vegetable-dyed leather. Case in point: Preloved, the aptly-named Canadian clothier, takes a novel approach to eco-fashion by collecting orphaned vintage garments and whipping them into one-of-a-kind pieces that are more than just the sum of their parts. From structured skirts made out of vintage blazers to breezy tanks fashioned out of sweater scraps, Preloved’s Spring ‘09 collection is no exception. With pieces so obviously born out of creativity and eco-resourcefulness, we knew it was love at first sight.
Materials are an essential part of eco fashion. And with materials such as silk blessed by the Dalai Lama, recycled PET plastic bottles, and organic cotton, Brooklyn-based Bodkin is shining example of eco-chic in the fashion world. Bodkin’s designer, Eviana Hartman, started the label just a year ago, and already Bodkin is making a splash as the first eco-conscious recipient of the Ecco Domani award. The label’s Fall/Winter 2009 collection was exhibited this week at the Horticultural Society of New York — and the Inhabitat team was on the scene to check it out. We were impressed with the effortlessly chic, super wearable looks which illustrate how easily sustainable style can be to incorporate into any wardrobe.
Being sexy and sustainable go hand-in-hand, since there’s nothing sexier than someone who cares for the environment. So when it comes to choosing the garments closest to our body, it wouldn’t be a surprise that an eco chic gal would want items with materials that are healthy, organic and sustainably-sourced. Here’s a few of our favorite sustainable sets of camisoles, panties and other under garments that are sure to make any green-minded girl feel sexy.
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Nothing says ‘warmest wishes for the holidays’ like cozy knitwear that is lovingly crafted and sustainably produced. Eco knits make a great holiday gift, as they remain stylish from year to year while also keeping us cozy and cutely bundled from day to day. We have handpicked a few great finds from our favorite eco boutiques, Etsy crafters, and our new Inhabitat Shop as a toasty warm-up for your gift-giving list. Spread the cheer of sustainable style with eco knits that add a unique and fun twist to chic green layering.
[gallery] Nothing says ‘warmest wishes for the holidays’ like knitwear that is lovingly crafted and sustainably produced. Eco knits are the ultimately gift giving gesture, as they remain stylish from year to year while also keeping us cozy and cutely bundled from day to day. We have handpicked a few great finds from our favorite eco boutiques, …
Looking for some eco-funked out fashion that retains that urban vibe? Enter Goodone, an award-winning London based sustainable clothing collection…”with an edge”. Designing one-off clothing made from hand-picked, locally-sourced and recycled fabrics Goodone is a fashion company aiming to redefine UK public perceptions of recycled clothing. The thrifty and talented designers from Goodone are moving mountains by reducing mountains of waste fabric for a new take on fast fashion and resourceful hipness.
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There is no disputing that Brazilian fashion really sets the standard for sexy bikinis, Ipanema beachwear and curvy, nature-inspired design. With this weekend marking a high-wattage celebration of swimwear collections at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Miami, we are taking a little time out here in sweltering NYC – to celebrate all things Brazilian – Rosa Cha swimwear, a cool caipirinha drink with organic lime, ethanol made from sugarcane, recycled Melissa Shoes, and what the heck, Gisele Bündchen (she did once date Leonardo DiCaprio)! But not to be overlooked is the latest collection from Creollus designs. We were recently tipped off on their one-of-a-kind, banana fiber bikinis and eco-chic accessories. If going totally organic is truly your M.O. for flaunting what you’ve got, look no further as crocheted-pieces by Creollus will definitely reveal the real you!
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Designer Elena Garcia is modern textile renaissance woman. Her recent Fall 2008 EcoLuxe Collection blends traditional fiber techniques with the most luxurious and earth-friendly materials. One might almost say that she practically ‘farms’ her pieces from the local soil. Garcia’s dreamy creations are an exquisite mix of organic silks and linens, delicately embellished with felted organic wool, cutwork embroidery and shibori dyeing. No two garments are exactly alike and strongly serve as evidence that bespoke originality has a sustainable side, too, with Garcia’s fabulous take on how to combine ecological balance with stunning homegrown craftsmanship.
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There is a lot to be thankful for this Mothers Day, and we are excited to celebrate a day dedicated to nurturing both the fabric of families as well as the health of the planet. It is also a time for simply being together and remembering those who we think are special in our lives and have helped to shape who we are as thinkers, dreamers, and designers of the future.
With this in mind, we wanted to highlight a great mother/daughter tale that I came across while attending the D&A show here in NYC. Anne Novotny of Frei Designs is a talented and innovative star on the Chicago eco fashion scene, and I was inspired to learn about how her views on sustainability and fashion did not come from design school or eco study exclusively, but from her own mother who taught her about first-rate quality, true integrity, and digging in locally to make a lasting difference. This Mother’s Day we wanted to take a closer look at why Frei Designs typifies the best of the future in green fashion and the connection that comes from mothers who pass along their wisdom and guidance in order to make the world a sweeter place for all.
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We cannot properly usher in spring without checking in to see what hometown gal Natalie “Alabama” Chanin has cooking down in Florence, Alabama. We love that the former star of Project Alabama has returned to her old haunts to set up a ’sustainable’ design studio, manufacturing facilities, and a soon to open flagship store. Alabama Chanin’s home-brewed, limited-edition products for the individual and the home incorporate a mixture of new, organic and recycled materials crafted by artisans who live and work in the local community. Thanks to Chanin, “made-by-hand in the USA” is undergoing a true renaissance and her Slow Design creations have set a captivating tempo and high standard for eco-fashion collectibles.
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It’s no secret that needless waste and heaps of scraps are part of the equation in today’s textile and garment manufacturing process. Granted there are some amazing results in terms of cutting edge fashion and eye-catching furniture designs, but this often comes at a huge cost in terms of the throw-away elements. The Cabbage Chair by Japanese designers, Nendo, defies this trend by taking waste paper from the pleated fabric industry and turning it into an organic marvel. This gorgeous recycled textile waste chair was designed for the XXIst Century Man exhibition curated by Issey Miyake. It’s no coincidence (visually) that ‘Pleats Please‘ has found a new expression in this layered demonstration of waste as upcycled renewal.
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FromSomewhere’s recycled tweed remixes, Autumn/Winter 07/08
After all the hoopla from the recent New York, London, Paris, and Milan fashion shows, it is nice to get back to basics and think about what might be essential for tweaking the-olde-green closet. Granted there is some impressive sustainable technology currently being used in eco-fashion and greener garment production, but it is also nice to see a movement towards the tailoring of old-made-new materials via thrift store sifting and creative construction. A range of designers are recycling luxury fabrics into eco-chic creations, while others are transforming caste-off materials into totally edgy designs. We are not advocating dumpster diving per se, but in the spirit of Cradle to Cradle authors McDonough and Braungart, why not remake the way that we make things as well as wear them from start to finish?
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There is a lot of eco-chatter these days about ‘adaptive reuse’ and ‘reclaimed materials’ in green design, particularly in the realm of fashion-forward garments and accessories. Estethica, London Fashion Week’s recent sustainable design showcase featured some great examples of recycled/repurposed materials in designs that are light in footprint but substantial in style. One of the bright young stars of Estethica, Mark Liu, has taken sustainable fashion one step further with his ‘zero-waste’ fabric patterns and eco-designs that do just that, waste not a scrap of fabric. Liu’s pieces are yet another example of why Central Saint Martins grads are true innovators, as his next generation of pattern making is both wearable and cutting edge.
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Wearable Collections, a non-profit charity initiative, is leading the crusade to reduce textile waste in a city traditionally known for disposable, seasonal styles. The organization is placing recycling bins in designated buildings throughout New York City for the collection of unwanted garments and clothing. With Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week having just come and gone here in NYC, we wanted to take a closer look at how one non-profit is aiding New Yorkers to have a cleaner, greener closet while helping others along the way.
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Let’s face it- Valentine’s Day isn’t really about the romance anymore- it’s about the chocolate, the Hallmark cards, and of course, the sexy lingerie. But sexy and sustainable aren’t mutually exclusive- in fact the most sexy skivvies are the ones that are so organic and natural they feel like a second skin. Here are a few tips to green your boudoir attire…
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Think a luxury pillow has to be made of silk? Think again- African-born, London-based designer Bridget West crafts gorgeous housewares, pillows, and throws, from vintage labels and tags that critique the throw-away nature of our consumer existence in a really beautiful way. Her Handle With Care pillow is made from clothing tags, while the Delicate Cube and Made in Cube pillows are quirky and comfy, featuring inked graphics and organic cotton or hemp.
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image: Diane Bondareff, Associated Press
Quite a bit of eco-buzz has been generated since Earth Pledge’s FutureFashion runway show here in NYC on Thursday night, the eve before the official launch of New York Fashion Week. This has to be a good thing given that just a few years ago no one would have imagined names like Givenchy, Versace, or Burberry coming together to explore the possibilities of fibers like hemp, abaca, or bamboo for their future collections. Leslie Hoffman, the Executive Director of Earth Pledge pulled off quite a coup in enlisting twenty-eight internationally recognized designers for the creation of a one-of-kind collection that incorporates a feast of organic fibers and textiles. With help from the show’s sponsors – Barneys New York, Lexus Hybrid, and Pure & Natural, Earth Pledge truly upped the ante from collections past in an effort to take the mystery out of how fashion and style are moving in the direction of improved sustainability.
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Natalie Chanin has launched her newest endeavor, Alabama Chanin, which produces a small collection of housewares, jewelry, and apparel. True to her attention to community, one of the first products she created benefits post-Katrina reconstruction. All of the profits from the organic cotton, US-made Alabama Builds Shirt go to benefit Architecture for Humanity in their work with the Gulf Coast Region projects, mixing sustainable style with real social responsibility.
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Nick Graham, creator of Joe Boxer, is putting a new option on the apparel menu: boxers, briefs, or good. William Good, his newly launched line of re-made fashion, is a collaboration with GoodWill, turning secondhand fashion into re-interpreted sportswear with embellishments like appliques, colorful stitching, and combining two garments into one. Each item is one-of-a-kind, earth-friendly, made from post-retail donations that have been destined for recycling or salvage, and people-friendly, training existing GoodWill employees to run every level of the business from stitching to merchandising (even the store space is located in a San Francisco GoodWill!).
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Sustainable Style Sunday is on a recycling roll, so we figured we’d continue the theme with Andrea Crews, a Paris-based creative collective whose work defies definition as solely design, art, or fashion. Their projects are based on the use and reinterpretation of the second-hand garment as a social, economic and ethical choice. One part Swap-o-rama, one part Imitation of Christ, mixed with a let’s-play-dress-up enthusiasm, they express their vision in workshops, performances, fashion shows, and eventually the commercial sale of their creations.
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In honor of our Inhabitat panel, Reclaiming Design, which takes place at HauteGREEN today, Sustainable Style Sunday serves up a favorite fashion designer that is also fond of reclamation, Martin Margiela. He is a designer we can relate to here at Inhabitat. A visit to the Margiela store feels like taking part in a sophisticated craft lab experiment, white interiors and lab coated salespeople coexist with rough hewn details. This is fitting for a designer who after all is known for serving red wine in white beakers at his presentations.
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This past Thursday, Inhabitat attended “Project Earth Day”, an eco-friendly fashion show at the Teknion showroom. The event was organized by Emerging Green Builders of New York (EGBNY), the local chapter of USGBC and co-sponsored by o2-NYC, and Green Drinks.
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Nasa’s Aerogel material, which it uses to collect space dust – also makes a great insulating material for your house!
Since we’ve recently discussed energy consumption and indoor air quality on Inhabitat, we figured now would be a great time to talk about insulation. Don’t run away! We realize that insulation is not a sexy subject matter. Nevertheless, insulation is crucial to your energy consumption, comfort, health, and ultimate happiness – so don’t flee just yet…
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Greentea Design sells
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Their furniture is crafted
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