I don't have one style that defines me. When I want to look like a chick that just hopped off a harley, I can. When I want to look like I just spent the weekend at Burning Man, please believe I have the wardrobe to back it up. When I want to embody the spirit of the Mother Goddess in all her bohemian flowy goodness I do it just as well as I do when I dress as if I stepped out of a VOGUE magazine. Bottom line, I love clothes. Every style, cut, fabric, era... you name it I probably have it in my closet.
Daughter of clothes hoarder, I inevitably inherited the gene (or sickness), you decide. I leave that to your descerning eye (will add a photo when I pull them out of the four baskets they currently reside in, and get back into my closet. There was a bout of poison oak that my son contracted, and I didn't know what he touched, long story short EVERYTHING got washed). I have pieces from nearly every decade, even one from the most questionable of era's; the 70's. My closet it packed to the brim with items of varying lengths, cuts, colors, fabrics, and textiles. I don't mind shopping at second hand stores, some of my best finds are from there. Nor am I opposed to buying a piece and shelling out a pretty penny for it.
The problem only exists when I want a new item. Am I condemned to only one style? I want to buy clothes created with sustainability in mind, from organic fabrics, and created in a country where fair-trade practices are utilized, which tend to be geared toward the bohemian chic. My soul cries out for dimension! I found ONE top at my favorite store BCBG Max Azria that was made from recycled plastic bottles. ONE!!! Which brings me to my point; loving the Earth and wanting to do right by it and its inhabitants does NOT mean we need to constrain ourselves to the stereotypes in which they've been bound to.
We need to break free from the stereotype that having a sustainable fashion sense means wearing patchouli as a perfume and forgetting what a shower looks and feels like!
I've fallen in love with the term, sustainable fashion. It pulls
together the ideals behind it so succinctly. It embodies the growing
design philosophy and trend of sustainability. The VOGUE May 2007 issue noted the history of eco fashion, and while its roots began in 1990, but I find very little
progress (stateside). There are brands like, American Apparel that are
great to provide fair compensation, practice sustainability and as they
state on their site, indicative of a time and place in American
Apparel's identity. Their design is very much a hip chic street wear
style geared toward teens and 20 somethings. (see their 'skater dress' below)
I have found it a struggle to find designers that maintain eco-friendly, sustainable, organic, and/or fair-trade practices. I feel like all of these are connected, but as the saying goes...beggars can't be choosers. So until the rest of the world gets on board here are a few "sustainable fashion" designers spearheading the way toward a better fashion future (pardon the alliteration I couldn't help it!!!!)
I've compiled a list of designers at the end of this blog.
By way of Instagram, I discovered designer Emma Ostergren @emmaoclothing1 and her handmade 100% cotton crochet clothing not only beautiful but the fact that each purchase aides children and families of Zimbabwe amazing. She ships worldwide!
This piece was taken from @marieserneholt's Instagram page wearing Wedding Dress WHITE from her website emmaoclothing.se. She makes tops, dresses, bathing suits...all very gorgeous!
Here's another beauty on a beauty, Jessica of Hapa Time. Another Instagram find. While she is a fashion blogger, she does not focus on sustaibilty but she has an excellent sense of style and gorgeous frame. (Put that blogging energy to sustainable fashion! ::WINK WINK::
Oregon hosts, "Portland Fashion Week"
which showcases 100% eco-friendly designs. Not only that, but they
boast a sustainable bamboo runway,they are offsetting their carbon
footprint by having the
world’s only fashion week carbon mitigation replanting project, the
event features low consumptive LED lighting, on-site recycling
program, use recycled printing and utilize sustainable business
practices, local beers, wines and spirits. They offer regional and
in-season foods into their gourmet offerings. They state on their
website that they want to, "showcase what makes
Portland not only unique and fashionable, but livable as well." September 12-14, 2013 you have an opportunity to be on the ground floor of the premier of some great designs all in the name of sustainabilty! How cool
is that? I am sooooo going!!
You don't have to sacrifice your style in order to be responsible, I mean when Dior picked up Natalie Portman as their famous spokeswoman they even created a line of vegan shoes for her to wear! I don't know if they will go forward with a mass produced line (as her own Te Casan line flopped after a year), but with a stronger backing and larger following who knows?
As promised here are a short list of designers:
Adele Weschler - Bridal Couture (organic hemp/silk, vegetable dyed silks, use of remnant fabrics, and fair-trade labor)
Armed Angels - hip chic street wear
Nudie Jeans - (well obviously...)
Kami Organics
Pants to Poverty
Po-Zu shoes
Room to Roam
Royal Blush Accessories
Bio Shirt Co.
Generation Pacifique
Anja Organic
Stella McCartney - no fur, no leather, and has a CARE organic line
