By: Megan Seyler
When many of us think eco-friendly fashion we think of organic cotton t-shirts with a sassy or informational phrase on them. We think that eco-fashion conveys a message, not really a sense of style or a ‘look’. Well, that is just not true. There are plenty of places to purchase eco-friendly clothes that convey more than a message. You can look cute and trendy AND keep your mind on the environment. Just last week we saw some great examples.
As many of you may (or may not) know, last week was one of New York City’s most exciting weeks of the year: Fashion Week. This year at Metropolitan Park Pavilion the Third Annual GreenShows were hosted from September 12th-14th. It was a three day event that combined high fashion and environmental awareness. Ten designers were selected to show off their eco-friendly, ethically sound, fair trade fashions. The designers that presented their trendy, environmentally sound clothing lines were Samantha Pleet (New York), Susan Cianciolo (New York), Bright Young Things by Eliza Starbuck (New York), Ashton Michael Black Label(Los Angeles), Lavuk by Natasha Gindin (Los Angeles), JoAnn Berman (New York), Auralis (New York/Puerto Rico), Luis Valenzuela (Miami), Dress Reform (New York), and Milliners Guilld (New York). Fashion creations come from the philosophies and inspiration of each designer, and these designers have achieved chic, new high fashion looks while being eco-conscious.
Designers at the GreenShows used a variety of techniques to be environmentally friendly for fashion week this year. Some designers, such as John Patrick of Organic and Bono and his wife who founded Edun, use organic materials to create their eco-friendly fashions. Luis Valenzuela ‘s Spring/Summer Collection 2011 took it a step further. The artist and designer used already existing materials such as lamp shades, birch bark, and old chandeliers and shaped them into new, awe-inspiring gowns. He literally creates beautiful treasures from trash! The models on the catwalk not only wore eco-friendly styles on their bodies, but also on their faces. The cosmetics used by makeup artists were all natural and made from minerals. These cosmetics use one hundred percent natural ingredients; every ingredient and pigment is derived from plants! The only preservatives you’ll find in natural cosmetics are in liquids such as mascara or lip gloss. Since liquid can foster bacterial growth, preservatives derived from plants can be found in liquid cosmetics.
The designers weren’t the only ones being eco-conscious at The GreenShows. The three day event was held at the Metropolitan Park Pavilion in the Metropolitan Suite on the second floor. The Metropolitan Suite is 8,500 square feet of environmentally friendly flooring, lighting, and furnishing. It also has a stringent recycling and waste program. The Metropolitan Suite uses all LED lighting, and the floors are made from certified raw materials from sustainably harvested forests and produced without the use of insecticides. It was the perfect venue for the GreenShows: environmentally friendly, sustainable, beautiful, and elegant. It was a truly eco-fabulous event!
