Eco Fashion World

Overflowing with elite eco brands from Vancouver and across Canada, the esteemed 2010 Leo Awards gift bags were planet friendly beyond compare.

My grandfather was a sheep-farmer who believed denim was something that the shearers wore, not to be worn out in public – things have changed!

Anna Herman grew up intrigued by the details of how things worked. This crossed over into her interest in fashion from a very early age. The elements and processes of clothing design were something she was so fascinated with that after attaining a degree in Fine Arts and operating her own store in Missoula, Montana (a hemp mecca), she contemplated the many life damaging aspects of the garment industry and immersed herself in the world of vintage shopping. She made new things, remade old things, and found herself still wanting to do something more for the world of eco fashion.

What if we told you about a special rock bottom sale of the best French ethical fashion brands? What if we told you that this sale will happen over the weekend and be punctuated by two lively Brazilian music concerts every night? And that on top of all that the benefits go to a French-Brazilian association that works on providing education for children in the Favelas?

Amsterdam International Fashion Week (AIFW) and the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality have joined forces for The Green Fashion Competition: A design contest in token of the International Year of Biodiversity. The competition launch will take place on the 16th of July 2010 during the 13th edition of AIFW. In honour of the competition, Kentroy Yearwood (art director at INTOXICA) will present his new sustainable collection RANGAKU in a specially designed pavilion in the Westerpark (Amsterdam).

How on earth does one run a lifestyle brand that’s ethical and sustainable – that helps save the earth?

Today my wife Nicky and I run our own brand, Millican, a company that produces classic travelling and outdoor bags but also encourages our customers to make conscious choices about sustainability and eco-friendly living. But that’s no easy road, as I hope this article honestly shows.

Future-fashion design platform Not Just a Label will launch an organic t-shirt collection to affirm it's eco sense. Three designers from the NJAL roster were chosen for their sustainable sensibilities to express their style identities using a classic t-shirt as their canvas. Launch date is June 23 and t-shirts retail for £ 55.

London is the place to be with three ethical fashion events this week!

FASH/OFF - June 24 You are warmly invited to FASH/OFF: The June Ethical Fashion Forum Social held in collaboration with MA ‘Fashion and the Environment’ students from the London College of Fashion. With exhibits, hands on activities and networking, come along for this fun, free EFF social on Thursday 24th June from 6.30pm. Get a group of friends together and enter into our FASH/OFF competition. Your challenge will be to create a beautiful garment/outfit from a small collection of unwanted ‘waste’ garments, in just one hour! All equipment will be provided – just bring your team and get creative! Throughout the evening you will be able to view the work of the MA students and take part in practical workshops and discussions. A specialist fashion quiz will conclude the activities focusing on the issues explored throughout the evening. Location: UAL Hub, 272, High Holborn, WC1V 7EY

More and more ethical brands discover the advantages of selling online. If you want to treat yourself, check out the new webshops of some of these favourites!

Last week in Hollywood a casually cool Halle Berry was spotted wearing a LIV GRN eco-friendly t-shirt. The comfy scoop neck tee retails for $48 and is available at Kitson Boutique.

Treat your green fingered or eco aware Dad to one of these great gifts this Sunday!

For sports: Whether armchair football fan or truly on the field, dad will like this retired pleather football cut up, paired with a new red watch face. Quarterback combined with quarter after the hour! Buy it at Greenloop for $ 72. Dad will probably keep this brick print hoodie on even after sports. Ecozuzu available at BTC Elements for $ 74.

Recently in Bryant Park, the location of New York Fashion Week, dogs strutted their stuff down the ‘cat’-walk for the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Pet Fashion Show. The event epitomized the recent trend of extending fashion to our four-legged-friends; it’s not simply a matter of keeping our pooches warm and dry – they have become an accessory to brush down, dress up and show off. According to Joan Volpe, who co-ordinates the fashion institute’s Center for Professional Studies: “Pet apparel and related products represent a close to $50 billion industry that is proving to be comparatively recession-proof.”

The British fashion industry is to organise a campaign calling for businesses which operate ethical fashion policies to be rewarded with tax breaks . At the vanguard of the initiative is Harold Tillman, the chair of the British Fashion Council and owner of the Jaeger and Aquascutum brands. According to Tillman, offering an incentive to eco-friendly fashion companies would “make sense for businesses and consumers” across the fashion sector.

No one knows fashion like the ladies of Sex and the City 2. No one knows eco-fashion like Ecoist, makers of the original recycled candy wrapper handbags. In the film, Ecoist’s Silver Mega ($178), is worn by Samantha Jones (actress Kim Cattrall ), proving that upcycled fashion has reached the top echelon of celebrity style.

We love Andrea Crews and just want to share some images of their latest projects with you!

If you are a fashion designer - anywhere in the world, you have great designs and you are considering the environment and the people behind your product, Ethical Fashion Forum wants to put you in the spotlight! This season The Fairtrade Foundation has teamed up with the Ethical Fashion Forum. For the first time the competition will run a Fairtrade cotton category sponsored by Tesco, which will be judged by fashion model Laura Bailey. The winning entrant will be invited to work with the F&F brand at Tesco.

Do you want to learn more about what is going on in terms of sustainability in Canada? Then EPIC is the place to go! EPIC is the Sustainable Expo in Vancouver, Canada and we were there to spot the latest trends for you. Whether people came for the fashion, the tasty treats, or to sit in the latest electric car, it was sure the place to be for people wanting to learn more about how they can do their part to live a more sustainable lifestyle.