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

Vera Wang Collection at NY Fashion Week, 2008

New York Fashion Week has come and gone, and Green Cotton has been tracking the trends. Last week we showed you how designers have embraced the haute hippie with earthy, sixties and seventies-inspired looks. This week we’re zeroing in on another hot runway look, but we’re not going to just discuss the trend— we’re also going to show you some awesome eco-friendly clothes and accessories that will help you rock the latest runway styles in greener, guilt-free fashion.

As evidenced in several collections, the boho-chic trend is still thriving this coming spring season, but some fashion experts think “boho-rock” is this trend’s second life. Fusing the bohemian free spirit with a heavy metal attitude, this tough-yet-girly look is a fun way to shake up an otherwise basic wardrobe.

Check out these looks from the following New York Fashion Week designers:

Rodarte Collection, NY Fashion Week

Rodarte displayed classic rock-and-roll style with short leather jackets and skinny black pants, a major standout from their funky shredded sweater dresses.

Rag and Bone, NY Fashion Week, 2008

Rag & Bone’s blazer, skinny pants, studded belt and shiny flats gave rock star glam a little preppy polish.

DKNY Collection, NY Fashion Week, 2008

DKNY also paired a blazer with punky accessories: a pink rock t-shirt dress, chains and high-top sneakers.

If you want to flip-flop the pink and black color combo, try this look from Alexander Wang (featured below): a sparkly black top with gauzy black shorts, an oversized pink blazer, and some of the coolest shoes from all of Fashion Week.

Vera Wang (collection featured top), who favors gothic romance, sent a gorgeous glammed-up rocker look down her runway: a silver silk tunic with a long black vest, black cigarette pants, chains and crystalline embellishments.

If you think you can’t rock this look with eco-friendly wares, think again. Eco-fashion tends to be branded as anything but on-trend, but eco-fashionistas know that “organic” and “sustainable” doesn’t have to mean crunchy or boring! So grab your favorite vintage band t-shirt and try these on for size:

Edun’s “Sage” straight leg jeans in “Raven” (featured above) deserve star status in any eco-conscious closet! Founded by Bono, his wife Ali Hewson and designer Rogan Gregory, Edun is a socially conscious clothing company that specializes in organic style. These jeans are perfect for a night out with a vintage bomber jacket.

Try teaming them with a pair of wedge heels from Mohop (featured above). The black ribbons on these add a touch of gothic glamour. These shoes would also look hot with a frayed denim mini and black sweater tights, or these studded bamboo leggings by Covet (featured below):

Of course, no rock star outfit would be complete without awesome accessories. This sterling silver filigree butterfly necklace by Catherine Weitzman echoes the gothic romance-esque jewelry seen on Vera Wang’s models. It’s available from the Brooklyn boutique Sodafine, which features vintage, handmade and eco-friendly clothing and accessories.

Finish your look with Matt & Nat’s Tate (featured above) tote in grey. It’s made from recycled materials but has the look of leather, sure to please nature-loving and vegan fashionistas alike!

And have fun searching for your own eco-fashion finds, whether you want to follow the trends or express your unique style. Please let us know what you think of this trend and others from New York Fashion Week. And be sure to check back at Green Cotton as we track London looks from their Fashion Week!

All pictures in this post are from NYmag.com

Post By Erin Dale