New York has always been one of the world's fashion capitals, along with Milan and Paris, but now it is indisputably the ecofashion capital as well. Last week some of New York's top established sustainable clothing designers and designs (like dresses from design collective Ekovaruhuset, and Doie, shoes from Charmone and Terra Plana, and accessories from Mad Imports, Entermodal and AgainNYC) showed their latest creations at the Project Earth Day Fashion Show, held in the open, loft-like space of Teknion design center. Also shown were designs from a student competition, where up-and-coming designers from Parsons and FIT competed for the hottest-- and greenest-- designs.
The student designs lined up for judging.
Photo by Starre Vartan
Organized by the EGBNY (Emerging Green Builders of New York), the event included organic food, a completely reclaimed/recycled/recyclable runway and set design, low-energy lighting, and of course, gorgeous clothes made from organic cotton, reused and crafted fabrics, soy, bamboo and tencel, and accessories made from vegetable-tanned leather, raffia, and organic knits.
The winning student design by Xay Xiong
Photo by Josh Wiese
Overall, the show had an earthy aesthetic, with lots of natural colors and mellow, slouchy fabric combinations, but nothing that would be deemed 'hippie' by any stretch of the imagination. This Spring and Summer season is all about neutrals, with a beach-flavored palette, and most of the designs shown would fit into a conventional wardrobe without a skipped beat, so methinks the colors weren't about form following function, but rather that Ecofashion designers are riding the same trend tides as their less environmentally-savvy counterparts.
Photo by Josh Wiese
Photo by Josh Wiese
Edgier colors and shapes were mostly seen in the student competition, and somewhat surprisingly, in the men's clothes that were shown. This last category cannot be ignored; there are finally some serious clothes for men who are looking for gorgeous, hip suits (one of a charcoal hemp would sharpen up even an outright mountain man) and fun, eco-friendly separates.
Men's organic cotton t-shirt and jeans
Photo by Josh Wiese
Men's casual wear.
Photo by Josh Wiese
Part of the reclaimed materials window display.
Photo by Starre Vartan
