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.
Leslie Hoffman writes in the preface to the FutureFashion program notes that four years ago Earth Pledge‘s library of sustainable materials included a listing of approximately 50 fabrics. Today’s collection includes over 600 materials and is growing steadily. With that it mind, it seems as if the fibers utilized by the designers in Thursday’s runway presentation was just a sampling of what might be possible down the line as a handful of forces in the fashion industry search for viable solutions to greener fabrics and the improved lifecycle of garments. Ms. Hoffman also cleverly included a glossary of fiber and textile terms in her (recycled paper) program that helpfully defined some of the more exotic materials that are available for designers. This was extremely useful as many of us are familiar with eco-fibers like bamboo, hemp, organic cotton or wool, and soybean, but are less familiar with abaca, lyocell, mud silk, sasawashi, or peace silk, for example.
Despite the diversity in all of these offerings, it was evident that designers still play it somewhat safe when they are considering an organic palette. Many of the pieces in the FutureFashion collection were cream-colored or off-white in hue, enhanced nonetheless by exquisite innovation in tailoring and/or layered textile combinations. Who could resist an organic voile summer dress by Stella McCartney or a soy, bamboo, or silk parachute dress by Thakoon? Yves Saint Laurent’s organically pigmented bio-grain poudre tuxedo jacket and pant with an organically pigmented bio-silk satin gilet hardly sounds “crunchy”, and, of course, Michael Kors whipped up a recycled cashmere striped sweater dress and scarf for eco-fab girls on the go!
The FutureFashion collection will be on view in the windows of Barneys New York flagship store at Madison Avenue and 61st Street from February 1 – 21. Despite the luxe venue for these garments, we are excited that some of these pieces will be showcased on the street where passersby can admire their rich complexity and dream about the future of sustainability. As Leslie Hoffman aptly puts it…”enjoy the show, and consider it the beginning of something that will evolve over time. It is not about this season. It is about every season.”
There is something to be said about experience making all the difference, and this is indeed the case with eco-chic fashion house Loyale Clothing. Founded
6 Responses to “FUTUREFASHION: Earth Pledge Remakes Fashion Week”
Hi,
I am an independent bag designer based in the UK.
I am currently trying to source ways to promote my eco sound, socially responsible product.
I wondered whether you may be interested in featuring my work upon your pages.
If you have a spare five minutes, please pay my website a visit to view my on-going collection which features 95% recycled vintage textiles.
Thank you for your time and if you would like any more information or could give me any feedback, I sincerely look forward to hearing from you.
Kindest regards,
Sarah.
Thanks for writing to us, Sarah. Your bags are really beautifully crafted. We will definitely keep you in mind for a future write up. Please keep us up-to-date on your work. I have made note of your website.
I have to point out, though, that the textile manufacturers also need to tweak their products to withstand machine washing. All right, I admit that washing by hand is still the most earth-friendly way, but if a garment requires dry cleaning that hardly sounds green to me (and I don’t have the time to hand wash all of my garments).
I’d like to see legislation requiring all dry cleaners to be toxin-free and earth-friendly. Here in the Bay Area a lot of them are, and the prices seem comparable, but many people still don’t even know it’s an option.
Also, I can’t wait to see them bring this stuff into play on Project Runway!
I am a MA student at London University of Arts and I am thinking of doing my final project on Eco-Stories showing the journey and the hands that touch our garments. I want to show these stories in multimedia documentaries using as educational resources for adults and children.
I am looking for feedback on my idea, and any advice or suggestions anyone may have?? Thanks
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image: Diane Bondareff, Associated Press
Hi,
I am an independent bag designer based in the UK.
I am currently trying to source ways to promote my eco sound, socially responsible product.
I wondered whether you may be interested in featuring my work upon your pages.
If you have a spare five minutes, please pay my website a visit to view my on-going collection which features 95% recycled vintage textiles.
Thank you for your time and if you would like any more information or could give me any feedback, I sincerely look forward to hearing from you.
Kindest regards,
Sarah.
Thanks for writing to us, Sarah. Your bags are really beautifully crafted. We will definitely keep you in mind for a future write up. Please keep us up-to-date on your work. I have made note of your website.
Thanks for reading!
Abigail @ Inhabitat
I have to point out, though, that the textile manufacturers also need to tweak their products to withstand machine washing. All right, I admit that washing by hand is still the most earth-friendly way, but if a garment requires dry cleaning that hardly sounds green to me (and I don’t have the time to hand wash all of my garments).
[...] (Image via Inhabitat) [...]
I’d like to see legislation requiring all dry cleaners to be toxin-free and earth-friendly. Here in the Bay Area a lot of them are, and the prices seem comparable, but many people still don’t even know it’s an option.
Also, I can’t wait to see them bring this stuff into play on Project Runway!
Hi There,
I am a MA student at London University of Arts and I am thinking of doing my final project on Eco-Stories showing the journey and the hands that touch our garments. I want to show these stories in multimedia documentaries using as educational resources for adults and children.
I am looking for feedback on my idea, and any advice or suggestions anyone may have?? Thanks