Friend, Designer Kizzy Jai Knight of Jai and Eileen Moran of Origin 23 eco fashion sales representation
The NOW Showcase was bigger and better than ever this year, proving that eco fashion is one of the areas of the apparel industry that’s healthy and growing. I attended one of the first NOW’s a few years ago, and it must have quadrupled in size since then, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Eileen Moran at Origin 23. Take a virtual tour with me while I check out the new (and familiar) designers at this year’s event- and take another look forward to Fall, 2010 styles.
Kelly Lane of Kelly Lane Designs
Kelly Lane has been designing ecofashion from Pittsburgh since 2006, and has some gorgeously interesting and unique prints- all of which are designed by Kelly herself by hand and then refined digitally. I was loving the details on her pieces, like a sleeve that folds up to reveal an interior design (below).
Sleeve detail on Kelly Lane blouse
The designer prefers to work with soy and organic cotton blends. Kelly Lane Designs are available in the New York area at Otto and Lingo in Brooklyn.
A timeless and elegant organic wool dress by Jai for Fall/Winter 2010
Jai’s design aesthetic was described to me by the designer as “playfully regal” and I got that feeling from her F/W 2010 collection which was defined by conservative, body-skimming shapes paired with simple ruffles and sweet gathers.
Working with organic wool from Vermont, Tencel and silk, designer Kizzy Jai Knight says that though she has segued into ecofashion only recently, she has been upcycling since she was a kid. “I used to make jewelry for my Mom out of bits of broken things from around the house and tissues!”
Designer Lee Phutrakul and Eco Chick founder and editor, Starre Vartan
Designer Lee Phutrakul of Chulette is transitioning from traditional fabrics to eco friendly ones. I’m trying on a jacket (above) that’s made from organic wool from Vermont.
Nina Valenti and her Fall/Winter 2010 collection for naturevsfuture
I was happy to see Nina Valenti from NaturevsFuture at NOW; one of the first ecodesigners I ever met, her timeless aesthetic is both forward-looking and respectful of the past- I have several of her pieces and they seem to work every season. Lately Nina has been wear-testing a paper coat that reads as almost a light leather until you get closer.
The amazing paper coat experiment from naturevsfuture – so sweet!
Made from 70% post-consumer, 30% pre-consumer recycled paper, it is soft but feels tough. Nina’s F/W 2010 collection included her trademark asymmetric neck- and hemlines, some gorgeous coats in organic wools and mixes, and plenty of her awesome square buttons.
Moriah and Lee, the co-designers of Feral Childe
Feral Childe is one of my favorite labels in the entire world, and so I was excited to finally meet the design team behind it all, Moriah and Lee.
Ryann by Raina Bleyer is one of the lines I like to wear a lot myself, and so I was happy to see that there were plenty of ultrawearable pieces for Autumn.
Linda Loudermilk’s Autumn collection was fabulous and dark, with plenty of pieces that your friends would NEVER guess are ecofriendly- but they are!
Can you believe that this silver lame-like long sleeve is made from organic cotton? Pretty fab.
What a gorgeous fossil ring by Loudermilk
More dark and dramatic jewelry by Loudermilk.
more on Ecouterre about the event.
