Ny · Eco-Chick

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Artful Undergarments: Rio Wrenn’s R.A.W. Eco Lingerie Collection

Portland, Oregon based textile designer Rio Wrenn has a unique vision for lingerie, combining modern eco friendly materials and dying techniques, antique constructions and ethical manufacturing to create her line, R.A.W. “I started R.A.W. in 2007, which is inspired by vintage undergarments ranging from the 1800′s to the 1950′s to modern day,” says Rio. Her collection of corsets, bras and undies has a special look, and with the Summer and Autumn 2010 trend of exposed undergarments, she’s right on target with perfect base layers for style mavens and lingerie fans alike.

And not only is Rio a conscious creator of unique pieces, she’s an advocate for women’s bodies and all the curves that go with them, and explained that her corsets aren’t meant to be restrictive or to reshape a body (she’s a fan of hips especially). “Corsets are actually very therapeutic, they make you stand up straight! I think people have a bad vision of corsets, but I don’t make them to be oppressive, they should be comfortable and supportive,” she says.

Each piece in R.A.W.’s collection is also a work of art and are handmade in Portland. Rio is a visual artist, but found that fine art was often out of reach to many people; fashion is a way to take a creative project and make it more accessible, wearable and affordable, she says.
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Eco Chic Exhibit Now On at Scandinavia House, NYC

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by Starre Vartan · 06/02/10

Righteous Fashion

Leave it to the Swedes to put together an exhibit concerning eco fashion that’s both beautiful and seriously thought-provoking. Eco Chic: Towards Sustainable Swedish Fashion, which runs through August 21st, is a multimedia endeavor that showcases the whys, the hows and the hows of sustainable design.

Video by Eco Chick Contributor Alicia Lubowski-Jahn

First up, I checked out the short film about Dem Collective, a grown-to-sewn operation in Sri Lanka which both pays workers twice the typical wage and still makes a profit (as well as utilizing low-impact fabrics in production). The film asks the right-now question, “Is there such a thing as sustainable globalization?”

Dem Collective tunic shirts

Striking to me was the exchange wherein the narrator of the film asks a local Sri Lankan worker (not employed by Dem Collective, but instead works for a typical garment manufacturer) who is agitating for local labor rights, “Should we be ashamed that we don’t pay you more for your work?” The seamstress answers, after a moment of thought, “Yes.”
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eco, exhibition, Fashion, film, men, mom, ny, NYC, sustainable, video

Brooklyn Designs 2010 Green Finds: Colleen and Eric

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by Starre Vartan · 05/11/10

It was a sunny and perfect afternoon on the Brooklyn waterfront (specifically, DUMBO) last Thursday, and also the opening of Brooklyn Designs, the annual local-BK event that highlights the borough’s most creative furniture and home decor.

Inhabitat has the full coverage of the event and all the green furniture (plus their awards!); I focused on the fun and fabulous (and green, of course) decor items that I found. First up, Colleen and Eric!

Colleen + Eric are brand-new to the furniture and design show, but their creations were some of my favorites. “Hold on Tight” Shelves, North Star End tables Flock of Birds wall decals ($55) and fab BKLN totebags ($35). See video below for close-ups and deets!

Eric of Colleen and Eric walks me through his booth at Brooklyn Designs