Green Cotton

Photosource: Women’s Wear Daily

One night a year, the fashion industry’s most influential gather to fete the year’s stellar design achievements at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Awards. This year’s ceremony took place on Monday, June 15, and honored both up-and-coming talent and contemporary legends.

The glamorous event, often called “the Oscars of Fashion,” attracted not only top designers but fashion-forward celebrities like Diane Kruger, Claire Danes and Blake Lively. Although it may not be the most eco-friendly of fashion events, the green fashion industry should still take note; like the seasonal runway shows, it’s vital for everyone in the industry to track cutting-edge trends and emerging talent. Honorees and winners alike are shaping fashion’s future—perhaps one day, even next year, some of your favorite eco-fashion designers will become CFDA award nominees. Whether you personally don these designers’ clothes or simply admire their skill and style from afar, the following artists are ones to watch:

Photosource: Women’s Wear Daily

Rodarte
Kate and Laura Mulleavy, sisters and design duo behind Rodarte, took home the coveted Womenswear Designer of the Year award. Relative newcomers on the scene (their line debuted in 2005), these girls from Pasadena have taken the runway, magazine pages and fashion blogs by storm. Their intricate knitwear, inspired by everything from ballerinas to Japanese horror films, has appeared on countless covers (including Vogue) and on icons like Michelle Obama (She wore Rodarte to meet Queen Rania of Jordan) and Natalie Portman (Her orchid-pink gown at this year’s Oscars? Rodarte). Expect upcoming designs to mirror Rodarte’s lookbook—their influence will be felt for years to come. Green Cotton mentioned Rodarte in last September’s New York Fall Fashion Week runway review, highlighting their edgy rock ‘n’ roll leather looks and funky shredded knits.
Official site:

Alexander Wang Spring 09 Collection. Photo source: lacouturiernyc

Alexander Wang
This young talent has come a long way since his intern days at Teen Vogue. Another Californian design star, this San Francisco native moved to New York at 18 and attended Parsons Design School; a short year later (in 2005), his eponymous collection was launched, and the fashion world took note. Fashion editors and fans swoon for his cashmere cardigans, distressed denim and oversized blazers and vests. This is the effortless, lived-in style Wang likes to call MOD: “Model-Off Duty.” Last year, Wang took home the Vogue/CFDA Fund; on Monday night, he became the CFDA Swarovski Womenswear Designer of the Year. Green Cotton discussed Alexander Wang’s Spring 2009 line during our fall runway review—we loved his boyfriend blazer paired with short-shorts and seriously sexy shoes.

Marc Jacobs
A worldwide fashion favorite, Marc Jacobs is known for revitalizing the Louis Vuitton brand—and for his own quirky lines, Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs. The brief story is that Marc became a fashion star in the ‘80s while still a student at Parsons. He launched Marc Jacobs in 1986, and in the following year won the CFDA’s Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent, the youngest to ever do so. In 1992, the CFDA awarded him the Womenswear Designer of the Year award, and in 1997 Jacobs became Creative Director at Louis Vuitton. Jacobs has since put the luxury label on the tip of everyone’s lips, particularly thanks to his collaborations with the likes of Kanye West and Sofia Coppola. On Monday night, Jacobs snagged the International Award for his work at Louis Vuitton.

Anna Sui Spring 09 Collection. Photo source: www.whorange.net

Anna Sui
A fashion lover in Detroit who began crafting her own clothes at age four has grown to a design powerhouse with boutiques all over the world. The CFDA bestowed Anna Sui with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award. Her eccentric, rock ‘n’ roll and Victorian-inspired designs have earned rave reviews since her first runway show in 1991. Since then, Sui has become a star of the New York fashion scene and has gained a major cult following in Asia. Sui is another design favorite at Green Cotton—we reviewed her Spring 2009 collection, loving her bright, embellished “boho-chic” frocks that teetered on the edge of feminine sweetness and rockstar spunk.

Jason Wu
This former doll clothes designer didn’t come away as a big winner Monday night, but the young man who designed Michelle Obama’s now-famous inauguration gown can hardly complain. At 26 years old, he’s already launched a highly successful line that is carried by Bergdorf’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and more. And, oh yes, he can say he’s dressed the First Lady. Not too shabby, considering Wu debuted his eponymous line just three years ago. Wu may have lost the Swarovski Award to Alexander Wang, but his star is only just beginning to rise.

Photosource: Women’s Wear Daily

Michelle Obama
You know her, you love her, you just can’t get enough of her classy, all-American fashion sense. Neither can the CFDA. Our First Lady (Commander in Chic!) was awarded with the CFDA Board of Directors’ Special Tribute. Mrs. Obama could not attend the event but accepted the honor via video, which you can view on Style.com.  Obama expressed her gratitude and love for the CFDA community: “The ingenuity and craftsmanship of American designers contributes so much to our economy and to our culture.” She went on to say how honored she was to get to celebrate “the legends and future legends” and thanked American designers for “making fashion liberating, inspiring, but most of all, fun.”

To learn more about the CFDA, and for a full list of winners and nominees, visit www.cfda.com.

Green Cotton wants to hear from you! Who are your favorite American designers? And which eco-fashion designers would you like the CFDA to recognize?

By Erin Dale

Primary source: Women’s Wear Daily