Anna Cohen Designer
The jacket and shorts are a hemp/organic cotton mix with a
silk lining. The Tank top is soy/cotton/spandex.
The
original soy protein fabric was invented by Henry Ford in
1937, but it
was not commonly used until recently due to the
cost of production. Soy
fabric is naturally soft and lustrous, as
well as antimicrobial.
The
original soy protein fabric was invented by Henry Ford in 1937, but it
was not commonly used until recently due to the cost of production. Soy
fabric is naturally soft and lustrous, as well as antimicrobial. It looks like real linen doesn't it?
All Photographs by Photographer Cozette Cravens
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Fashion ConsciousEco-Friendly Fashion
Going Green Fashion Ideas
Cozette Cravens
There was a fashion symposium in Davis, California, featuring sustainable, eco-friendly fashions with established ‘green’ designers. I know this may sound like a mouth-full, but these designers are challenging the fashion industry with the use of new and reusable materials.
How do we define renewable resources and can there be a sustainable compromise?
The following are a few of the designers and companies that have demonstrated a commitment towards developing clothing that provides doable alternatives to the production of today’s fashion industry.
TEICH
A leather trimmed purse.
"Leather?" you say, stunned. "What the heck is leather doing in an eco-friendly store?"
The Purse above is hemp and vegetable tanned leather.
While we all can appreciate leather, the process of tanning leather can be hard on our environment. Conventional leather tanning is water intensive and pollutants like sulfides, sulfates and chlorides are often expelled into the waste water.
Vegetable tanning and newer reverse tanning processes cut down on chemicals and water consumption. Very cool, yes?
Vy and Ellle
The colorful clutch purse was, at one time, vinyl billboards.
Vinyl billboards are durable and cost effective for advertising, but
what happens when they are no longer needed? Vy and Elle take recycled
billboards from all around the U.S. and turn them into bags, purses,
and wallets.
Recycle or reuse, these objects represent a variety of
sustainable approaches from existing fibers, by using new,
environmentally friendly textiles to how garments are worn and
constructed.
Maybe we need to step up to the plate and do our share for local and global sustainability.
MUJI
Muji makes their socks from recycled yarns.
They use pre-consumer waste from factories in creating their recycled yarns.
The fabrics are not sorted, thus, resulting in re-spun yarn which is naturally
variegated and requires no extra finishing techniques like dyes or
softeners.
The fibers used are collected and re-spun. There is no
redying involved and the number of pollutants and energy consumption is
reduced.
Usually socks are not exciting, but their process puts a new 'twist' on socks.
Stewart Brown
The ruffle dress is Lyocell (it looks like satin) and the knit cardigan is organic cotton.
This
outfit by Stewart and Brown is comprised of items found at thrift
stores. Thrift store shopping may take a little time but can sustain a
very reasonable wardrobe.
You never know what you will find when you shop at thrift stores, such as Goodwill, Salvation Army or even consignment shops where you can find great items at bargain prices.
Do you realize how many less landfills we can have by keeping this as an alternative to filling our wardrobes.
Another thing I like, is the fact that you will not see yourself coming and going every where. At times, fashion can be like a costume; everyone looks the same--just a few different colors 'of the season' is the only thing to make a person look different.
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