Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

An Ode to My Rock ‘n Roll Skirt: Remake/Remodel from Zachary’s Smile

3 Comments

by Starre Vartan · 09/13/09

I wore my skirt with my HessNatur tee to see Tori Amos at Radio City Music Hall a few weeks ago.

I got this amazing skirt at Zachary’s Smile (9 Greenwich Ave. at Christopher St) in NYC. This boutique has gotten lots of press, and carries a carefully edited selection of vintage pieces as well as several house lines created by the store’s owners, including Remake/Remodel, which takes advantage of used materials which are then transformed into something completely new.

My skirt above was made from old leather jackets (from the awesome bright green color I would guess from the 80′s). Seems from my inspection that there are at least two different jackets that were put together. The skirt is lined, comfy, and totally rock and roll. Leather is such a great material; long-lasting and durable. I would feel uncomfortable buying a new piece, not only because I’m a vegetarian, but because the tanning and dying process for leather (unless veggie tanned and heavy-metal free dyes) is extremely toxic.

Reusing vintage leather is a great way to get some of that edge in. And designing from older pieces means designers have to be a little creative (and they tend to be one-of-a-kind), a bonus for ecofashionistas.

Check out the Look Book on the Zachary’s Smile website; there you’ll see a number of new pieces made from combinations of conventional, ecofriendly and vintage materials.

leather, NYC, skirt, upcycled

Eco Chic Weekly 8/29/09

1 Comment

by Amanda Quraishi · 08/29/09

Eco Chic Weekly compiles the best of the best in green fashion and beauty blogging each week. Please feel free to copy and use this post on your blog with a link back to Fashion, Evolved.

• Learn how to make ethical fashion choices and upcycle your existing wardrobe this week on Green Girls Global.
• Check out the Eco Fashion World interview with Maroussia Rebecq, founder of the Andrea Crews Collective.
• Eco-Chick has rounded up some Eco Fashion News from around the web!
• The Eco Diva goes local with Etsy.com!
• Learn about Bangladesh Garment Factories Going Fair Trade at Ethical Style!
• Check out Curatorial’s Limited Edition Collection featured on Feelgood Style.
• Green Grechen discusses the impacts of milk silk.
• Want to see some of the best organic fashion on sale today? Green Lashes and Fashion has a round up!
• 8 Ways to Get the Closest Eco Shave for Men and Women–on Greenopia!
• Inhabitat is featuring the very drool-worthy Noon Solar Bags.
• Modern Hippie Mag has a question about hair oil in their Ask the Beauty Chick column.
• Are You a Green Beauty? Take the Quiz on Planet Green!
• Upcycled bags are better the second time around…so says The Alternative Consumer!
• Join in the Vintage Jewelry Obsession this Fall at The Green Girls.
• The Thrifty Chicks are Standing Naked in a Thrift Store.
• Treehugger dishes on the 7 Common Cosmetics Ingredients You Need to Avoid!
• Fashion, Evolved interviews Jaszy McAllister creator of ethical, beautiful Jaszy’s Jewelry.

bags, Beauty, clothing, cosmetics, design, designer, Eco Chic Weekly, Eco Diva, Eco Fashion World, Eco-Chick, ecofashion, electronics, ethical, ethical fashion, ethical style, Etsy, Fair Trade, fall, Fashion, Feelgood Style, green beauty, Green Lashes and Fashion, habitat, Hair, Inhabitat, interview, Jewelry, local, Milk, mom, News, oil, Organic, organic fashion, PlanetGreen, silk, spa, style, The Green Girls, treehugger, upcycled, vintage, women

Crispina Ffrench: The Sweater Chop Shop

2 Comments

by Kimberly Jordan Allen · 08/03/09

A few months back I had the pleasure of attending a workshop led by Crispina Ffrench. Crispina began her career with soft sculpture comprised of recycled fabrics which eventually led to the creation of stuffed toys and wool sweaters that represented her unique art. Before graduating with a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Crispina had 40 employees and was selling her product line internationally. The distinctive aesthetic helped her to generate a style that is obviously refurbished materials, but infused with new life and color.

Having retired from her large company, Crispina now runs workshops out of her studio in Pittsfield, MA and teaches at Kripalu in Lenox, MA. People travel from all over to learn the simple practice that allows one to imbue old duds with new life. The workshop I attended was sweater recycling.

I had seen Crispina at the Berkshire Co-op from time to time wearing muted tones of wool contrasted with bright piping and wondered where these creations originated. When I found out she actually taught the method I jumped at the chance.

We learned, in one day, how to chop up different garments to make our own one-of-a-kind piece. The style is deconstructed with visible seams of thick, colored yarn, if so desired, but the pattern is easily adapted and modified to create whatever look one wants to achieve. Crispina provided treats throughout the day, including yummy vegan fare – hot tea, scones, and fresh-baked oatmeal cookies.

Crispina has just released her book: The Sweater Chop Shop: Sewing One-of-a-Kind Creations from Recycled Sweaters. The launch party is being held in late August at Crispina’s studio in Pittsfield. There are also many events throughout the year, including workshops such as blanket and scarf making, pot holder rug classes, and fabric flower instruction.

And if you want your own original piece, but don’t want to make a mess in your own home, there are open hours every week when people can go into the warehouse where Crispina works and create their own pieces for a modest materials fee. Crispina’s instruction is clear, concise and being around her inspires.

deconstructed, DIY, upcycled