Eco Fashion World

In the ongoing quest to refine the materials and methods of sustainable style and the underpinnings of eco fashion, one must not overlook another persistent force fueling the democratization of contemporary fashion – DIY fashion. For some, the DIY realm rather frightfully necessitates that one be super crafty and adept with sewing kits and bolts of fabric in order to excel, but for others the DIY spirit is merely a matter of learning how to be clever, resourceful and often ritual-like in one’s examination of how to wear and don things more sustainably.

Do you get a thrill from going to craft fairs? Walking from stall to stall, discovering quirky objects and one-of-a-kind finds. Meeting and chatting with the crafters who created them, sometimes even developing a relationship with them and asking for something really special that would combine the cut of a particular dress with the fabric of another, and could they embroider a panda on it too? Now imagine stretching that experience across the world, and multiplying it 365 days a year! This is Etsy: an online marketplace and community for all things handmade. Of course there’s the expected clay pots and home baked goods, but our favorite thing about Etsy, is of course, the excitement of discovering budding designers with a fresh approach to fashion.

Can handmade look cool and modern but still create the illusion that you are a pro with the needle and the sowing machine, even though the closest you’ve ever come to crafting is sowing back a fallen button? By incorporating a little touch of DIY goodness into your outfit, you not only get a unique piece every time, you’re also you’re boosting your creative girl image!

Contrary to what some may believe, your sowing skills are actually quite good, you used to apply all your own badges on your scouting uniform and patch the worn in elbows of your sweaters in college. You don’t really have the time to do that these days, but you sometimes get nostalgic of those days and dream of clothes that would be a little more you and a little less “Gap”…Designers and crafters come to the rescue with some great ways to express your original style your way.

Music and Fashion have always been a winning team, each musical style with its matching, and often extreme, look. For many of us, hearing the words Punk, Mod, Psychedelic or Disco might bring up images of fashion silhouettes before we even think of the first song.

With the summer in full swing and music festivals of all kinds taking place all over the world, we wanted to explore the connection between the music scene and eco fashion. In The Underground, Abigail Doan finds that, beyond the actual looks, it’s often the spirit of freedom and activism that most strongly links the two fields.

We were also thrilled to do an interview with one of the most Rock’n’Roll designers and artists not only in ethical fashion, but on the fashion scene altogether! Paris based international phenomenon Andrea Crews is a collective of artists and designers founded by visionary Maroussia Rebecq, who is ripping fashion at the seams to create a new paradigm for dressing…and undressing.

Of course, it’s no fun doing a mag without a little green shopping trip to find the best items to give a little edge to your look. Talking about that, we couldn’t have a Rock&Pop issue without taking you to The Edge, the London East-End and online shop that carries the best selection of indie and alternative sustainable fashion!

We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and keep Rocking!

What came first? The idea of doing a Pop&Rock issue, or the desire to interview Maroussia Rebecq, the founder of the Andrea Crews Collective? We can’t really remember… One thing is for sure, this is THE eco fashion designer who best represents that indie and rebellious spirit that qualifies the best rock bands! An Andrea Crews fashion show can begin with characters masked from head to toe, continue with women dressed in gowns made of hair and finish with a massive strip party so infectious that the audience starts joining in! In the Andrea Crews flagship studio/store in the Pigalle neighborhood of Paris, the creative madness continues with people of all ages and backgrounds digging into tons of discarded clothes to create unique pieces that will be sold through all kinds of channels, from the Internet, to charity shops but also at Colette, the Paris temple of trendiness. And despite – or should we say because of – this rock and roll spirit and artistic, unpredictable universe, Andrea Crews still attracts some big mainstream brands who have asked her to reinvent their stock in a co-branding approach such as Nike. On an airplane between France and India, running between projects, Maroussia Rebecq took the time to answer a few of our questions.