Weekly Eco-Fashion Update Aug 29th
Happy weekend everyone! Here's our weekly update:
Blogosphere: Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame (when is that new movie coming out?!) has partnered with the Fair Trade fashion brand, People Tree, to bring us the winter collection, now on sale! The 20 year-old was curious about how the eco-friendly clothing line is made, so she took a trip to the rural towns of Dhaka and Bajshahi in July to visit Swallows, the Fair Trade production firm. Watch this video to see what she experienced!
Also check out the collection via OK Magazine - it's pretty cute! 
Another celebrity getting involved with eco-fashion is Chrissie Hynde, who is the frontwoman of the band, The Pretenders. The company is called Fairground Luck and will contain no animal skins and all products will be made in an eco-friendly fashion. While the high-end is targeted towards musicians, almost anything could be worn by anyone since the collection includes stylish t-shirts, skinny jeans, faux leather jackets and cowboy boots. All in all, it should be a rocker-chic look! Read more about it here.
Want to make an impact easily? Wiloh, a green fashion line of hip t-shirts (each designed by an up-and-coming artist from around the world, dyed with water-based inks and made with bamboo fabric) has a philanthropic twist too. Like TOMS Shoes' One for One campaign, for every limited edition t-shirt sold, Wiloh will donate a t-shirt to a child in need through their charity, called "Tee for Tee" and a collaboration with Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) All men's and women's shirts retail for $38 and are available online at Wiloh.
"The Heist" by Tokyo Candies
"Melody D" by Puloverchito
Lastly, have you ever been curious about what the heck it means to be sustainable? Reuters (with content provided by Matter Network) recently published a pretty comprehensive article about the sustainable supply network, describing each and every step of the manufacturing process that can be made more sustainable. Go read it!
ok, have a great rest of the weekend
Weekly Eco-Fashion Wrap-Up – Aug 21st
Hi all! Happy weekend!
It's time for the weekly eco-fashion wrap-up!
c. marchuska: We've been featured! TreeHugger has listed c. marchuska as one of the top 5 green fashion designers favored by the 'Great American Apparel Diet' Founder hooray!
Also, we've been featured over on CasterineCouture! Go read it to find out about what it's like Inside the House of CMar.
Lastly - our favorite celeb blogger, Tia Walker, wore the monika dress to the Quintessentially and the Couture Council's annual Summer Party. Thanks Tia! you look awesome!
Blogosphere: There was a great article in the NYTimes this week about zero-waste design and how it's the new trend. Apparel industry professionals say that about 15-20 % of the fabric used to produce clothing winds up in the nation's landfills because it's cheaper to dump the scraps than to recycle them. But now there's a small but impassioned group of designers who are taking the scraps and creating garment patterns with gussets, pockets, collars and trim that fit together like a puzzle. It's not easy, but Parsons the New School for Design will offer the world's first fashion courses in zero waste. Pretty cool!
Great things are happening in NYC! This past monday, Mayor Bloomberg signed into law a new program that will try to reduce the amount of clothes dumped into landfills by posting clothing-recycling bins around the city in an effort to re-route the clothes from the trash to thrift stores. An initial 50 bins will be placed in public places, but the eventual goal is to have the majority of bins located in the basement and/or laundry rooms of apartment buildings. Personally, I've always wished that there was an easy way to recycle my clothes! I have been lugging bags of clothes up to Goodwill every year, but it sure would be awesome if I could just recycle it in my very own apartment building!
Fashion week is coming up in a couple of weeks! This means that we'll also be looking forward to the third season of the GreenShows! As the only premiere fashion event exclusively committed to eco-friendly, ethically sound, fair-trade fashion, this 3-day event will showcase some of our favorite designers, including Joann Berman and Samantha Pleet!
joann berman
joann berman
This week's reading also included an article about a great eco-fashion business supporting women of domestic violence. The Annie O. Boutique accessory collection was founded by Annie O. Waterman, who was inspired by vibrant Peruvian textiles and the desire to bring work to female cooperatives in South America. The boutique works with 80 women who are victims of domestic violence and/or living in impoverishment to help them attain financial independence by applying their skills in handcrafts to create beautiful hand-embroidered handbags, belts, scarves and more.
ok all - have a great rest of your weekend! make sure to go check out our c. marchuska store - we have some awesome stuff for the upcoming fall!
Weekly Eco-Fashion Update – Aug. 13th
Happy Friday the 13th everyone!
It's time to announce the winner of our c. marchuska giveaway!
Autum22 has won the Leslie dress! and we loved what she said about our SS2010 video: "Really loved the backgrounds and the sense of the girls being the only people there-It seemed like there should be traffic,noise and so much going on behind them but there wasn't. It allowed you to focus on the lovely outfits."
Thanks Autum22! Get in touch with us so we can ship your Leslie dress!
ok, now onto the weekly update
Events: Levi's is hosting the Care to Air competition - Levi's is asking consumers to let all their good green laundry ideas hang out! They're looking for green pioneers and inventors to submit original air-drying solutions with the chance of winning $10,000 in prizes. A panel of judges will pick the winning design on August 16th! Check out some of the finalist entries (how clever right??)
Nothing is What it Seems by Caleb Hill
Vogue and Fiat have launched an "eco-fashion" competition to design a bike helmet for the Fiat 500 folding bike to coincide with Fashion's Night Out in Milan, Italy. The winner with the best graphic design will win a €3,000-prize pot!
This is kind of fun (if you can find pictures of this online - send it my way!) At London Fashion Week, the Conscious Designers Collective staged a renegade roving ethical catwalk in the street. This featured a half-dressed man courtesy of Pants to Poverty and female models in ethical labels such as Elena Garcia and Tammam.
Blogosphere: I just recently found out about two inspirational up-cycle businesses!
The Clothing Bank, a non-profit organization that helps low-income and unemployed women prepare to enter the workplace, was founded in Capetown by Tracey Gilmore and Tracey Chambers when they recognized the potential of using excess clothing from retailers to drive enterprise development. Go read about them here!
RecycleMyDress.com is Nicole Kulp's business that takes your old bridesmaid dresses (with all the puffy shoulders and unflattering bulges) and transforms them into new creations sold for anywhere between $20-$200. Check out her etsy store and read the article about her business!
Another fabulous eco-friendly mission! Edun has worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) to create the Conservation Cotton Initiative (CCI) to improve the livelihoods of communities in Africa by investing in sustainably harvested "conservation cotton." Starting this week, Nowness.com is preventing a preview of a documentary that will air in October highlighting the efforts of the CCI to encourage African farmers to employ organic production efforts. Go watch the preview! Also - can I just say that Edun's fall line is pretty awesome?
have a great weekend! =)
Weekly Eco-Fashion Update – Aug 6th
Happy Friday!!
There's good news for everyone! We at c. marchuska are extending our giveaway and will be announcing the winner next Friday, August 13th (yup...Friday the 13th...might be a good test to see how lucky you are =p) Enter now to win a monika, leslie, or roli hoodie! Just comment on our new SS2010 video and tell us which dress you want!
ok...now it's time for the weekly update!
Retail: In promoting its first hybrid, the CT200h, Lexus has begun the Darker Side of Green campaign, in which they show that eco-friendly can be sexy and not all about "flowery sunshine-filled days in the park." Lexus has created the Dark Ride Card to line up cool hotels, nightclubs, and fashion partners as part of its investment of marketing tools. This includes the Luxury Eco driving glove, created by eco-luxe designer, Linda Loudermilk.
This week, I also discovered the cutest eco-friendly kids boutique! Cornflowerblue is a gorgeous online boutique where you can find eco-friendly, organic, and ethical kids clothing from local and international brands. Go read more about them here! Seriously, aren't these dresses adorable?
Blogosphere: There's quite a bit of eco-fashion movement in the Project Runway world! First, I'm happy to report that the winner of the past two episodes of PR is an eco-lovely, Gretchen Jones of MothLove.
Also, the winner of season 7 of PR, Seth Aaron Henderson, is now creating solar-powered clothing, which he will debut at Portland's upcoming Fashion Week on October 9th. I'm looking forward to seeing exactly how he will mix sustainability with his punk-rock designs.
Sales: Get 50% off all full-price items at Stewart + Brown with the code FIFTYOFF.
NIMLI is also celebrating summer by offering 30% off from 8/3 - 8/9/10. Use the code DOIE30 at checkout
c. marchuska: Again - go enter our giveaway! We're excited to be giving people free monika, leslie, or roli hoodie! Just leave a comment at our SS2010 video video & let us know which item you want
Weekly Eco-Fashion Update – July 31st
Hi all! Sorry for the delay in posting! This week has been kind of crazy, but I still wanted to do a weekly update for y'all so that you can see the awesome stuff happening.
Retail: Jean-Philippe Gawronski, a former designer at Lanvin, is launching an eco-friendly line - Imitation and Disguise! He's taken his learnings from Alber Elbaz to create apparel, jewelry, shoes, and handbags. I'm pretty impressed by the details he's put into everything!
Need some chic travel essentials? TEICH, a local Brooklyn brand, has created a few items that's making me rethink what I take with me on my trips. The TEICH scallop clutch serves as an awesome makeup bag and the TEICH/Ryann belt with detachable waist acts as a great fanny pack for those touristy adventures. Lucky for all of us, TEICH has a special 40% off summer sale through August 12th.
Need some summer sandals? For a casual look, check out TOMs wedges with a One for One outreach program, where "every pair purchased is matched by a new pair given to a child in need."
For a more dressy look, I am swooning over these Cri De Coeur "Hannah" asymmetrical sandals and Terra Plana "Betty" Sling-Backs. For more awesome eco-friendly sandals, check out the list on EcoFashionWorld.
Blogosphere: Last year, actress Julia Stiles put together a hilarious spoof of eco-fashion. This year, she tells Ecouterre that she actually likes eco-fashion, particularly the Edun line by Bono. However, she doesn't know how to find that many other lines in eco-fashion...
On the other hand, Jennie Garth, a supporter of keeping the Earth green, says that she just uses Google to find green clothing for her family. How efficient! Hopefully she finds c. marchuska!
By the way, is anybody excited that there's an eco-friendly designer on Project Runway? Go Gretchen Jones!
c. marchuska: Through today, you can get 30% off on c. marchuska products at blendnewyork! Go get your sale on
Another one of our retailers was highlighted on MindBodyGreen. Go read all about Kate McGregor of Kaight!
Have you ever wondered if eco-fashion can be considered sexy? Check out our c. marchuska web spots! Make sure you're sitting down first...haha
Weekly Eco-Fashion Update July 23rd
Hi all! As you all know, April is really the month where eco-fashion is celebrated due to Earth Day, but there are also a ton of eco-fashion events happening over the summer! Read below...
Events:
July 24-25 - Ireland: Re-dress at the Festival of World Cultures - exhibits of designers and artists who use recycled/upcycled textiles
July 27 - NYC: Elle, Aveeno and Kaight have partnered up to bring you Summer Nights Style where you can get a style consultation from the Aveeno Hair Care eco-friendly celebrity stylist and shop the season's latest at Kaight.
July 29 - NYC: Sustainable Fashion and Textiles Workshop at the Pratt Institute, designed to give you an in-depth review of current practices and innovations, clarity on the various sustainability claims made by companies, an understanding of new business opportunities, and professional development.
August 4-7 - Montreal: The Montreal Fashion & Design Festival is sure to be exciting with fashion shows followed by live performances from well-known artists, parties, and a Shopping Rally in downtown's trendiest boutiques.
Now - Sept 22nd - Online: The Green By Design Summer Light Challenge is for all you eco-lovers! The challenge is to select only 10 pieces of clothing to wear for the entire summer and to share your mix-and-match pieces with the rest of the eco-fashion community. Can you do it?
Sept 28-30 - Vancouver: Eco Fashion Week Vancouver 2010! Need I say more?
Blogosphere: Want a quick list of awesome eco-fashion blogs to read? Check out this Top 20! Some of our favorites are on there too - ecouterre, magnifeco, Treehugger, KAIGHT =)
The Eco Index - Consumers have always had a difficult time really understanding what makes one product "green" and another one not. So 100 well-known apparel brands and retailers have developed a software tool to help them measure the environmental impact of their apparel and footwear, from raw material to garbage dump. The companies are hoping to standardize "eco-value" across brands, just like the Energy Star rating on appliances.
Give + Take boutique in the LA area is now offering a unique eco-friendly AND recession-friendly way for women to shop! For just $25 a month (yup, $ per month and not $ per item!) , you can trade in your lightly-used clothing to get something you love in the process, without losing money in the process. This could be the start of a new kind of boutique huh?
ok that's it from me this week! Have a great weekend everyone =)
Weekly Eco-Fashion Update – July 15th
Happy Friday guys It's time for the weekly update!
Retail: WearAgain.co.uk is launching an eco-fashion boutique which will sell gently used and recycled new clothing for men, women and children. Products will include top quality fashion from popular High Street retailers, designer labels, and vintage sources.
According to the LA Times, baby eco-fashion is coming to Target! For those earth-conscious parents, the Little Seed and Baby Buggy lines have just debuted and they offer budget-friendly choices for eco-friendly babywear.
Blogosphere: Happy 10th Anniversary, Net-a-Porter! To celebrate, the originator of high fashion e-commerce threw a lavish fete in its new London office and invited notable fans such as Victoria Beckham and designers including Christopher Bailey, Christopher Kane and Roland Mouret. Check out Net-a-Porter's magazine for the special anniversary issue which tours the major fashion highlights over the past decade.
photo courtesy of Ai*LoveFashion
Marie-Claire Magazine (UK edition) published its Top 10 in eco-fashion this month. It includes some amazing designers, including Stella McCartney (of course!), Edun, and People Tree. We hope c. marchuska one day makes it to the list!
Brought together by Elle Magazine, Diane Von Furstenberg, Tommy Hilfiger, Rogan, Loomstate, Loeffler Randall, and Vena Cava worked with Sheila Kennedy, the director of the Portable Light Project, to design nine solar purses that supply both light and power. All the bags are being auctioned of on Ebay, with proceeds going to Portable Light Project's mission of using energy-harvesting textiles to deliver power to developing communities. Below are some of my favorites! Check out more over at Ecouterre!
Loeffler Randall
Loomstate
Rogan
Stella McCartney has been named the 2012 Olympic designer for Britain. Working with Adidas, she will not only outfit the athletes, but will also release four lifestyle collections "inspired by Team GB" before the games. How exciting! Congrats Stella
c. marchuska: We recently found out that Christine Marchuska, CEO of c. marchuska, has been asked to be the wardrobe designer for a new film called "Playground." Click here to read the interview with the director of the film, Ajay Nayyar, to see how he picked our lovely CEO!
Happy weekend everyone!
Weekly Eco-Fashion Wrap-Up July 2nd
Happy 4th of July weekend everyone! I hope you're all headed to the beach to see fireworks Here's our weekly eco-fashion wrap-up!
Retail: Soleil Moon Frye, of Punky Brewster fame, opened up an eco-friendly children's boutique called The Little Seed in Los Angeles. After having difficulty finding great organic and non-toxic items for her first child, she has decided to open up a place where "parents can come find products that are safe for their children, as well as good for the planet."
Found via Magnifeco, the vegan shoe designer duo Cri de Coeur have launched a new line called Hearts of Darkness, which is ethically produced from start to finish. All of their shoes are reasonably priced under $100, and I absolutely love their adorable Enchant Ankle Tie Flat - the colors are fabulous!
Blogosphere: In the upcoming movie, 'Eat, Pray, Love,' Julia Robert's character goes eco-friendly by carrying a Hobo Bag made from repurposed Kantha quilts and lined with vintage saris by fair trade artisans in India. I can see why the costumer designers of the movie chose this bag - it's pretty awesome!
Also on the blogosphere this week...two major starlets gave us the scoop on their favorite eco-friendly designers. Emmanuelle Chriqui (known as Sloan on Entourage) says she is constantly wearing Alexx Jae for Milk in an interview with EcoStiletto. According to Ecouterre, Emily Deschanel (from Bones) says that she wears tons of Loyale tops, Bahar Shahpar skirts & dresses, and Beyond Skin or Olsenhaus shoes.
emmanuelle chriqui
emily deschanel
It's so nice to hear that celebrities are really grasping the eco-friendly fashion bit. We sure hope they add c. marchuska onto their list!
c. marchuska: Our very own Christine Marchuska, CEO of c. marchuska, spoke at a Cornell University entreprenuership panel entitled "Fashion with Social Awareness" and the e-clip is available to watch!
Also, check out our Retailer Highlight with a stone's throw. We are super inspired by the store and feel incredibly fortunate to have them sell c. marchuska pieces! If you call 608-255-1925 to order c. marchuska and mention the Retailer Highlight, you'll receive 15% off and get free shipping as well! Happy shopping!
Weekly Eco-Fashion Wrap-Up June 18th
TGIF!! What a week! Anybody watching the World Cup? How about the NBA Finals with the Lakers & Celtics? It's been a pretty exciting week, and it was so in the eco-fashion world too.
Retail: Found via Eco Fashion World, the British fashion industry is organizing a campaign calling for businesses which operate ethical fashion policies to be rewarded with tax breaks. The campaign is supported by Vivienne Westwood, Monsoon, and Edun. I suppose this would make sense right? In the US, businesses and homeowners currently get tax credits if they apply energy efficient items...so why not apply it to the fashion industry too?
Brigitte Bardot, actress and animal-advocate, made headlines this week by teaming up with Lancel (a leather goods company!) to create an eco-friendly, cruelty-free handbag.
Melissa, a Brazilian shoe company, is taking its recycled plastic designs to new heights by collaborating with the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood. All of Melissa shoes are made out of MELFLEX plastic, which is hypo-allergenic, cruelty-free, void of animal products, and recyclable. Read more about it here!
Blogosphere: Muse magazine is featuring 3 eco-loving supermodels who have contributed to help save the World by going green. How hot are these covers?!
images courtesy of Fashion Fame
c. marchuska: Go read our interview with tomate d'epingles, an awesome eco-friendly jewelry collection designed by some chic canadian gals!
Also we wrote a feature on the design inspiration behind the Roli Hoodie - go order yours now!
Happy weekend all! =)
Weekly Eco-Fashion Wrap-Up June 11th
Happy Friday everyone! It's time to wrap-up the week!
Retail: Gucci revealed a number of eco-friendly plans to dramatically reduce the brand's effect on the environment. Most attention is being paid to cutting paper consumption and reducing carbon dioxide emissions - packaging will be redesigned using only FSC Certified, 100% recyclable paper.
Edun is relaunching with the personalities of its original couple - U2's Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson - as well as the 49% owner, Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy.
G-Cut, a company specializing in handcrafted masculine accessories for Gentlemen, is launching the G-TIE ECO Collection, a never-before-seen men's tie accessory crafted with the eco-friendly metal of recycled aluminum.
Events: (Re) Fashioning Fiber exhibit (now through August 13th at Greenspaces NYC) focuses on the basics - the very fibers that make up our clothes and whose creation make a significant environmental impact. This exhibit's gotta be pretty exciting if it's got stuff like the heart below...
Blogosphere: Levi's is hosting the Care to Air Design Challenge with a $10,000 Prize! According to research, machine drying is the main source of environmental damage caused by denim. It's way more eco-friendly to air dry your jeans, so Levi's is having a contest to find the best way to air-dry denim. Submit your idea here by July 31st!
c. marchuska: Our Leslie dress has been featured over on GalTime.com as a fun beachy cover-up. Thanks for the props, GalTime!