Eco Fashion World

Source4Style, a B2B online marketplace that will allow designers in both the fashion and interior design industries to search, compare and purchase sustainable materials from a carefully selected network of suppliers, will preview at the Home Textiles Fabric Sourcing Expo on July 14, 2010 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Source4Style, founded in 2009 by model and environmental activist Summer Rayne Oakes, fair trade entrepreneur Benita Singh, and serial entrepreneur Adam Schwartz, recently launched in private beta to a select number of users. The site hosts 25 suppliers from all over the world and over 1000 materials divided into categories such as organic cottons, hand-woven silks, hemp, tree-based/wood, and reclaimed textiles.

Most eco fashion stores I visit are rather small shops, often off the beaten track. But asap is a big two storey space in the midst of a vibrant area in Milan's Garibaldi district. There is a reason for this as Carla Lasorte and her husband Alberto Zanone have developed a vision for asap since 20 years. 'We call our brand 'as sustainable as possible' because we realize that being one hundred percent sustainable is impossible. Instead, we try our best to do as much as we can in our product design, manufacturing processes and distribution. For us, quality is key to sustainability'.

Thieves by Sonja den Elzen caters to an individual with strength accented by sensuality. Edgy and sultry while conscientiously designed, den Elzen’s collections are for the woman with a femme fatale exterior or the male counterpart, both sheltering an earth-loving heart of gold.

Toronto born designer Sonja den Elzen grew up spending most of her extracurricular time outdoors surrounded by nature. den Elzen’s observations and experiences in nature developed into a deep-rooted appreciation for the environment. Her interest in fashion came from looking at editorials in magazines as a child and wishing she could have the beautiful clothing featured in the images.

While on holiday in Southern India in 2007, Lianne Ludlow, a full time journalist at the time who had worked for publications like Glamour and Cosmopolitan, read articles on climate change and environmental concerns. Ludlow felt a rise in demand for more ethical clothing and came up with the idea to create an online boutique sourcing the best in eco fashion from all over the world. She would name it Fashion-Conscience.com.

ASCENSION

Independence Day in the United States was celebrated this past weekend. A day when “red, white and blue” is honored and we reflect on the freedom in America as well as the sacrifices made by many in order for us to have this freedom.

Let us further contemplate our love for America by bouncing around to many of the eco fashion events hosted this summer, remembering that in order to keep our world beautiful, we have to take care of it.

With not one crocheted toilet paper roll in sight, Victoria celebrated its premiere of the cult hit documentary “Handmade Nation” with Iconocraft, an unconventional craft fair featuring local designers and artists.