Eco Fashion World

OSKLEN

And for a little shot of sunshine here are some of the hot happenings that took place in the South hemisphere this month.

Rio was the place to be this November 5th to 8th for the first edition of the Claro Rio Summer fashion week, a event featuring the country’s best beachwear but also promoting Brazilian culture and lifestyle. The event was a huge success and managed to attract a very high profile crowd including Hamish Bowles of American Vogue and Hilary Alexander of The Telegraph, buyers Sarah Lerfel from Colette, Averyl Oates of Harvey Nichols as well as Valentino Garavani and Natalia Vodianova. So what’s the interest of another fashion week in a country that already has 4 weeks of shows a year? Isn’t that fast fashion in action? Indeed, just another fashion week is not necessary, but this could be just the event that will make Brazil an essential destination on the high fashion circuit, and with Ethical Fashion Show Rio coming up from June 11th to the 14th 2009, that’s something we’re looking forward to. Another reason to get excited about Claro Rio was to see more of one of our favorite eco designers, Osklen who joined forces with designer Lenny Niemeyer and took home the prize for the week’s best presentation!

Staying on the theme of beaches but taking it to Kenya this time. The BBC World Challenge announced its finalists this month and introduced us to two exciting eco fashion brands. UniquEco designs recycles thousands of tons of discarded flip-flops that wash up on the East African shoreline every year, creating an environmental disaster for the marine eco-system. UniquEco works with individuals and communities in rural and urban areas who collect, bead, clean and carve the flip-flops. Another team of 20 plus at the Nairobi workshop further sorts and cleans and then adds value to the raw materials by creating unique and inspiring pieces such as jewelry and sculptures. Another finalist creating beautiful jewelry in unusual circumstances is The Leakey Collection, a colorful assortment of beaded accessories created by the Maasai people.

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