Eco Fashion World

You'd better be quick, because some of these concept stores will close soon!

London

Enamore again opens a temporary store where you can shop till you drop until X-mas eve. Jennifer and her team have added many fabulous new designs to the shop including bamboo lingerie and Pants to Poverty men's boxers. Featured products include accessories from Quazi Design, organic cosmetics from Hubble Bubble Organics and aprons, tea cozy´s and napkins from Stitch Design Works.

Fast-fashion culture adopted by high street stores has been subject of a lot of criticism, but we're happy to report about TRAIDremade Boutique. This concept, a unique collaboration between Fashion-conscience .com and the charity TRAID, replicates fast-fashion but in a 100% sustainable way. TRAIDremade Boutique will feature bespoke, limited edition pieces inspired by the latest high-fashion trends fresh off the catwalk. Brand new lines will be introduced every few weeks, only available to Fashion-conscience.com customers.

With another round of fashion weeks on the autumn calendar, there is no doubt that global style makers and fashionistas everywhere will soon be on the hunt for the latest trends and fresh young faces of the season’s runway. Fashion-forward finds are also to be found in the smartly-curated shops and online boutiques of today’s eco entrepreneurs and retailers. Enter Kerry Macmullin of Green is Black, a Toronto-based online boutique featuring luxurious and trend-defying collections. Green is Black is redefining the landscape of Canada’s fashion scene and beyond with original, eco-ethical-fair trade clothing and accessories that set the standard for how to dress sustainably while also treading lightly and creatively.

It's a hot afternoon and I'm strolling through Chicago's 'meatpacking district'. It's here that Jessa Brinkmeyer opened the city's very first eco fashion boutique two years ago. On 1101 West Fulton market the first thing that strikes me is the window display with an installation of white branches and reclaimed wood. 'Made by local artists, I love to work with other creative spirits', Jessa greets me with a smile. 'Meeting interesting people to work with is one of the best things this venture has brought me. From collaborating with an artist who designed our interior out of rags, scrap metal and wood to working with a vintage artist to integrate the best vintage pieces in our concept of being an eco store'.

Being European myself, even I had difficulties guessing where Ljubljana lies. But this pretty capital is a little treasure in the relatively new state of Slovenia, five hours from Vienna, three hours from Italy and ten hours from Eastern Switzerland where I travelled from. A work meeting seems the perfect occassion to explore this Slavic part of Europe and check how many locals are eco fashion inspired.

Mitumba refers to the discarded textiles that leave the European mainland in big containers to be shipped to Africa where they are sold on local markets. Project mitumBACK, based in Vienna, changes the direction of this global process.

With a background in designing for high street labels such as Zara and El Corte Ingles, Nieves Ruiz has made success of her own on the high street with her brand Bibico. The garments, which are produced to fair trade standards in India, offer affordability without losing out on considered - and gorgeous - design. Bibico works with Mumbai based women who are on the fringes of society to help set themselves up as self-employed and develop new skills through a co-operative venture.