Green Cotton

Photosource: Jill Fehrenbacher. www.inhabitat.com

Green Cotton is excited to announce one of the greatest “hot ticket” Eco-Fashion events this Earth Day: The 3^rd annual Runway Show and Student Competition which will take place at “Project Earth Day” in New York City on Thursday in Lower Manhattan April 23rd, at 6 pm. Project Earth Day was created originally to celebrate NYC-based leadership in the fashion, interiors, and green building industries, and is featuring some of the most talented budding Eco-Fashion Designers as well as the most innovative brands making sustainable design in the fashion world today.

Bahar Shahpar is playing the role of stylist and co-producer for this event in partnership with the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and the New York Restoration Project (NYRP), guaranteeing the event will be a success and on the frontier of Eco-Chic Fashion.

The theme this year is ‘Through the Looking Glass: An Exploration of Scale and Proportion,’ explained by the organizers as a metaphoric play on dimension: “Our Wonderland is present-day New York City, viewed through a distorted lens – where big is small, small is big, and the worlds of building and fashion collide through an exploration of scale.”

The student competition gives new designers an opportunity to get great media coverage, be voted on by a distinguished panel of guest judges, and generate buzz about their new label or collection. Another function of Project earth Day, therefore, is to help those in the established Eco-Fashion world identify new talent. Last year’s winners assure us that picking this year’s winners’ will be challenging. Previous winners include Amira Marion, Maritza Romo de Fusco, Judy Lee, Ashley Newsome, and Daphne Woo.

2008 Grand Prize Winner: Amira Marion. Photosource: www.inhabitat.com

2008 Second Place Winner: Maritza Romo de Fusco. Photosource: www.inhabitat.com

Project Earth Day’s broad group of contributing sponsors reflects the growing understanding of how important sustainability, as well as fashion, are in our modern world. This event has the potential to have a broad effect on the Eco-Fashion world, and imbue an urban Eco-Chic feel to the most modern of trends. A limited number of tickets are still available, so if you could somehow make it to this event on Thursday, you would probably be doing yourself a favor!

Stay tuned for Green Cotton’s recap of this event at a later date!

By: Julia Rea

Green Cotton attended one of the premier Green expos in Boston last weekend, “Down:2:Earth”. The event was hopping with stimulating lectures such as “Why Are You Green?” by Meaghan O-Neill, editor of TreeHugger.com and PlanetGreen.com and “Edible Wild Plants and Mushrooms of New England” by Russ Cohen, expert forager and wild foods enthusiast.

Of most interest to us, and all you eco-Fashionista’s was the Runway show, featuring some of New England’s best emerging and establish eco-friendly designers and companies.

The Runway show (video clip above) featured Ibex, producer of Merino sportswear. Ibex sources their fabric from New Zealand farmers who are as devoted to their animals and sustainability. Ibex’s use of this ultra-soft, high performing fabric and their commitment to sustainability allow them to offer customers “the best of what nature and human ingenuity has to offer.”

Jute & Jackfruit, the online boutique devoted to providing the highest quality environmentally and socially conscious fashion, also took part in the runway show. Jute and Jackfruit presented a number of their hot new Spring collection including dresses and knitwear by Indigenous Designs and radiant dresses by Kelly Lane, each of which were paired with candy wrapper handbags by Nahui Ollin and silver soda pull tab handbags by Escama Studio.

Shannon Glasheen recently graduated from the Boston School of Fashion Design, and creates funky dresses and outfits made from reclaimed vintage fabrics and clothes. Each piece is one of a kind, very green and very hip.

WE ADD UP walked in the runway show with a sampling of their organic cotton t-shirts at the heart of their global campaign to get the word out about global warming. Every shirt is counted, representing people taking part in this battle. On the back of each shirt is a phrase that describes easy ways to reduce your personal carbon footprint – such as, Unplug, Carpool, Bike, and Hybrid. You can choose which action you will take daily to reduce greenhouse gases, and you will be added up! Their shirts are charming, ethically sourced, and support a great cause.

Helen Riegle showcased her unique organic, sustainable and cruelty-free handbags in gorgeous spring colors. Each handbag is meant to “challenge conventions, live responsibly, (and) embrace style.” We love Helen’s designs, which are clearly inspired by nature, while remaining beautiful, ethical and (importantly) practical. Helen Riegle bags are currently produced primarily in Costa Rica at a small factory with clean and safe conditions, devoted to paying employees living wages, vacation pay, healthcare, and other benefits.

Tara Lynn featured pieces from her Bridal eco-collection that were simply gorgeous. Made from all organic and sustainable fabrics such as hemp and cotton, the garments are more art than fashion. Tirelessly hand embroidered with beautiful flowers, they make one look like a woodland fairy! Tara Lynn runs her fashion studio on solar electricity and donates 5% of her profits to various environmental organizations, proving herself a true eco-fashionista, or “Earth Bitch” as she named her collection of wearable art jackets.

Other designers included 4March, a Cambridge-based luxury women’s wear design team and Ella Vickers, maker of designer handbags from recycled sailcloth. All designers featured in the fashion show radiated with unique style, color and form while demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability and the environment.

D2E Expo in Sustainability continued all weekend with tasty food samples, interesting exhibitors, animal face painting, lectures, coffee, wine and beer,  and a whole lot more, coming together to result in a dynamic festival supporting a great cause. Green Cotton had a terrific time exploring and meeting the many wonderful vendors devoted to the environment in one way or another. Let’s hope that next year, D2E can attract even more visitors, as we Bostonians and New Englanders become more aware of and interested in our impact on the environment!

Down 2 Earth (D2E): An Exploration in Sustainable Living is entering its second year in Boston (to be held April 3, 4 and 5 2009 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston), and is bound to once again bring a jam pac’d weekend filled with great people, delicious food, inspiring speakers and demonstrations, as well as fascinating exhibits and hands-on activities. D2E will once again host dozens of environmentally-driven companies, exhibitors, non-profits and other groups this year together with thousands of local residents to create a truly dynamic eco-event. With the motto, “Back to Basics” this year’s D2E is a perfect remedy for our current climate.

D2E this year will host an interactive marketplace for eco-friendly products, numerous interactive environmental activities (many of which are kid-friendly), a public stage for community initiatives, and an educational forum that addresses sustainability issues. In addition, there will be local and organic food booths, a kids’ block, eco-fashion, potential for energy savings and new information about the future of cars!t?

This festival is not only for strong environmentalists but also those who are just discovering an interest in the green movement. Everyone will find at least a couple new ways to green their lifestyle further.

For the green trendsetters out there, Down:2:Earth will showcase new environmental products ready to revolutionize the markets, as well as well known products that we all love. With an emphasis on local and innovative solutions, D2E will connect consumers with progressive companies that are investing in a more sustainable future. So if you’re anywhere near Boston, this festival will be worth checking out!

Of particular interest to Eco-Fashion Gurus will be the two Eco-Fashion Shows to take place throughout the weekend: one at 4:30 on Saturday April 4, 2009 and the other at 1:30 pm on Sunday April 5^th. The fashion shows will feature this season’s hottest new trends by a number of designers, especially those in New England. Organized by the School of Fashion Design of Boston in collaboration with D2E, the show is sure to be a great. Green Cotton will be there, covering the event, so stay tuned for some expert reporting on the fashion show. Meanwhile, check out D2E’s funny video clip “Eco Suit,” promoting the event: Eco Suit. View more of these D2E spots on The Hired Pens production site.

So who is behind this great even?

Photosource: Boston.com
Betty Fulton and Lorelei Grazier are the founders and co-directors of D2E, which is now approaching its second year. As some of you may be aware, the Green Festivals, which is one of (if not THE) largest consumer-oriented green expo’s in the country (and happens to be one of my favorite all time green events nationwide) does not come to Boston, sadly. Despite this, Betty and Lorelei set out to create a similar dyanmic green event in Boston and so far they have proven it possible. Down 2 Earth has quickly filled this gap, and if last year’s program is any indication, this year will be even more successful, especially given that sustainability and the environment are even more prominantely on our minds.

Details: Down:2:Earth will be held in the Hynes Convention Center, downtown Boston, Friday through Sunday April 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th.

The Hynes Convention Center is easily accessible by public transportation as it has a stop on the Green Line. Address:

900 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02115Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors.

Visit www.d2eboston.com for more details and to purchase discounted tickets.

Show Hours:

• Friday, April 3: 5pm–9pm (with a special cocktail hour event)
• Saturday, April 4: 11am–7pm
• Sunday, April 5: 11am–5pm

For a detailed look at the days schedule of events.