PETA · Eco-Chick

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Ms. Green Jeans

Check out this interview (from Grist) of Tierra del Forte, the designer behind Del Forte Denim. The questions after the jump are a little more ‘fun’ than the first few shown here, so read on!

24 Jul 2006

What work do you do?

I’m a designer and the founder of Del Forte Denim.

How does it relate to the environment?

We design and manufacture a line of premium organic denim for women. We also strive to educate consumers about the dangers of conventional cotton agriculture and the restorative effect of organic farming. Non-organic cotton can cause permanent damage to the soil, the water, the air, and to farm workers. Our jeans are made entirely in the U.S., and we’ve chosen to use 100 percent organic cotton.

What are you working on at the moment? Any major projects?

I’m working on shipping our first round of production (very exciting!); on launching Project Rejeaneration, which will allow customers to return their used Del Forte jeans to us for inspired reuse; and on creating our website.

I’m also still buzzing from the excitement of two recent fashion events: Walk the Talk and Eco-Petal (Eco Chick Note: See Summer’s coverage of the event below). Walk the Talk, in June, was an eco-fashion gala in San Francisco that brought together social entrepreneurs, visionaries, and celebrities to encourage global leadership and a sustainable future for our planet. Eco-Petal, which just wrapped up, was a 10-day fashion show and boutique event in Los Angeles for a small group of eco-fashion designers like me. The main purpose of the event was to draw attention to the world of eco-fashion and to show people that caring about the environment doesn’t mean compromising your sense of style.

How do you get to work?

Most days, I work out of the studio in my home, so I have a very green commute! For meetings, I do have to drive because I carry around a huge suitcase full of samples of my jeans, jackets, and skirts. I can’t wait for the Saab hybrid convertible to make it to market (and to be able to afford a new car!).

What long and winding road led you to your current position?

I’ve been working in denim design since I graduated design school in 1999. After six years, the excitement was gone and all that was left was a lot of stress and the realization that I wasn’t contributing to the world in any way that I could feel good about. Fashion is glamorous and lighthearted, but there is definitely a dark side. Most of our clothing is made in overseas factories by people who are not protected by the kind of labor laws we have here. It is also produced with no regard for environmental impact. Although I never stopped enjoying the design process, I didn’t want to be involved in such an exploitative industry.

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ECO-Petal Ecofashion Event Video

3 Comments

by Summer Rayne Oakes · 07/25/06

Curious to see who attended the Eco-Petal event? Van Halen didn’t make the cut. I think it was because he looked a little too shaggy. View it at urth.tv here.

ecofashion, Fashion, PETA, tv, video

ECO-PETAL Eco-Fashion Event

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by Summer Rayne Oakes · 07/12/06

So I’ll be co-hosting this event out in LA on Thursday. Some pretty solid design labels are turning up and I’ll be sure to give you a full report when I return. What I’m already liking about the event is: the good energy, the link to the marketplace (finally 10 days where I can actually find all of this stuff in one place!), the support in LA for this event, and “the list.” Incriminating pictures are always good, but I’m not going to promise anything.

design, Energy, Fashion, PETA, pictures

Sustainable Art Blooms in London

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by Starre Vartan · 06/25/06

Photo by Edmund Sumner

I love it when art and sustainability meet and create something wholly unexpected, something that’s fun, and gets us to think a little differently than we did before. The London Oasis is a flower-shaped sculpture, which, like a real flower, absorbs the sun’s energy (with photovoltaic cells); it’s also powered by a wind turbine and a hydrogen fuel cell. The energy goes to power five pods that you can walk into to get away from the stress and heat of the city. Inside the pods you can enjoy cool, clean air, relaxing sights and sounds.

Rainwater is collected by the petals to irrigate a garden below the flower and the flower puts on a light show at night.

Architect Laurie Chetwood told edie:

“This is all in the knowledge that their enjoyment is not costing the planet as the Oasis is self-sustaining; harnessing and recycling natural resources.”

Can you imagine a whole city filled with such flowers in different shapes and sizes? (Maybe NYC could use this as the basis for installing street-toilets!! Wouldn’t that be nice….)

See more in stories here and edie here. Thanks to Remy C for the link.