Eco-friendly clothing continues to gain momentum in the fashion world, with more and more designers offering environmentally conscious lines that are both stylish and wearable. This year’s London Fashion Week was touted as one of the best in terms of eco-fashion. And, Earth Pledge’s Future Fashion collaboration with New York’s Fashion Week produced innovative and dramatic designs based around sustainable, organic materials.
The eco-world's top designers have a keen eye on the environment, health of its consumers, and working conditions of people in the industry, but have managed to do so without cutting corners on quality and design.
Linda Loudermilk
One of the pioneers of eco-fashion, Elle magazine has dubbed her the “Vivienne Westwood of eco.” Her luxury clothing line has put her stamp on sustainable clothing, redefining it as something sexy, edgy, and chic.
Organic
Featured in Vogue magazine as a designer to watch, John Patrick’s Organic line proves that “what’s good for the earth can be good for fashion.” His fresh, young take on American fashion (think a modern-day Gatsby) is fashion at its best – green or not.
Edun
The brainchild of Bono and his wife Ali Hewson, Edun uses trade as a means of building sustainable communities in developing countries. The line – which manages to be rock-star and ladylike all at the same time – is currently produced in India, Peru, Tunisia, Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, Mauritius and Madagascar. All of its t-shirts are 100 percent organic cotton.
The label has also partnered with Anthropologie for a limited edition “Bees Tees” t-shirt collection in celebration of Earth Day. The organic cotton t-shirts – designed to bring attention to the disappearance of honeybees – were made in Peru and retail for $58 at select locations.
Loomstate
No other eco-designer does young and hip like Loomstate. The design team of CDFA winner Rogan Gregory and Scott Mackinlay Hahn have produced a line of relaxed, California-cool denim, hoodies, t-shirts, and dresses.
Loomstate uses 100-percent certified organic cotton from various regions of the world such as Turkey, Peru, Africa, India and the U.S. Most recently, the label teamed up with Target for a guilt-free affordable line for men and women, currently on sale at select stores and online.
Stella McCartney
The darling of high-fashion produces an eco-friendly line that has it all from bathing suits to accessories to tops, denim and shoes. Her green designs retain that urban edginess that has become her trademark.
Phillip Lim
CDFA winner Phillip Lim’s Go Green Go line uses high-quality, undyed organic fabrics. His easy, streamlined clothing with sleek, modern detailing definitely ups the chic-factor in the organic realm.
As the environment becomes an increasingly pressing issue, designers are responding not only with clothing that has a conscience, but clothing that even The Sartorialist would covet. For more of the latest news on eco-fashion visit, Eco Fashion World.
Rosana Vollmerhausen - Rosana Vollmerhausen's decade-long writing career is comprised of reporting, writing and editing for daily newspapers, weekly industry ...
