Earth Angel
Eco Friendly Fashion editorial
Sapphire Whisper will dedicate this section of our fashion editorial to solely feature the work of eco-friendly and vintage designers. Consumers and fashionistas have an ever-growing option to make eco-conscious choices without sacrificing fashion. It’s an exciting movement which has also grabbed the attention of major designers and labels and we can expect this to be just the beginning.
Vintage has always been a passion of mine. Hunting through one of a kind pieces, combining clothing and accessories from all different eras to create a truly unique look. Vintage shopping always gives me the feelings of playing dress up and treasure hunting. It’s a wonderful option to explore for those who have not yet. It is also very important to include vintage in the category of eco-friendly because it encompasses a vital essence of making eco conscious choices: Reusing Resources. I applaud all movements to create better systems of producing new products but we must also not forget to reuse what we have available. The very nature of fashion is that styles are ever changing, the market moves at a quick pace, trends come and go and consumer s make purchases for new items not necessarily out of physical need. This fun and creative aspect of fashion does however create a waste of materials, space in landfills, and so forth. Donating old apparel and buying already existing materials is an important avenue to consider. But in terms of style, the options are endless; you can discover one of a kind pieces, often well tailored and high quality. Vintage is also a visible source of inspiration for fashion designers, who make reference to the looks of the past, which is understandable because drawing upon inspiration from so many different eras and reinterpreting them for today can really inspire creativity and individuality.
Hairy Mary’s Vintage located in New York City’s lower east side has an incredible selection of vintage apparel and accessories. There are many fabulous pieces that you mix match to create your own signature look. Full of bold colors, dynamic prints and dazzling accessories, you could spend hours in the small shop. Owner, Sharon Broit, also produces her own collection- Hairy Mary’s Originals- reworking vintage pieces into her own creation. Famous for her boob tube dresses, Sharon is a master at pairing the patterns of different vintage fabrics together perfectly, creating her line of dynamically colorful chic dresses.
Vintage Pieces from Hairy Mary's Vintage: Chinese Silk Embroidered Mandarin Collar Jacket,
Deep Chocolate and Multi Colored Floral Vintage Dress,
Cream and Deep Brown Trim Block Heel Vintage Shoes with Bow Detail
It’s an exciting time as we finally see an increasing amount of designers, manufacturers and consumers moving toward ecologically and socially responsible behavior in fashion. Many are embracing the use of eco-friendly and sustainable materials cultivated without harmful fertilizers and pesticides and produced without harmful bleaches and dyes according to fair labor practices. It is a time to act in harmony with nature. New alternatives are being explored for developing new materials and recycling used ones. However, the quality, comfort and look have not been sacrificed.
Stewart and Brown states their mission as “optimizing their designs and lives to attain the highest standards of quality and functional style while extracting the bare minimal from the Earth’s precious capital” They are distinguished by their great designs and fabrics which are incredibly soft, luxurious, easy to care for and comfortable. Their selection includes premium knits, Mongolian cashmere, organic cotton, and green fabrics- (made from all natural fibers and are biodegradable), such as linen and hemp. For this fall see their fabulous selection of knits and cashmeres, perfect for layering, silky soft and stylish. Their merino knit program utilizes sheep from the Southern Alps of New Zealand, an annually renewed free range. By keeping all production in Mongolia, Stewart and Brown not only produce exquisite and eco-friendly cashmere but also enable the Mongolian herdsmen the opportunity to continue their rich heritage. Stewart and Brown produce only organic cotton, grown in soil which is free from pesticides, herbicides and other cancer causing toxins and is not grown from genetically engineered seeds. By farming organically, Stewart and Brown help to improve soil fertility, safe guard the health of farm workers and preserve the quality of air, and land for future generations. www.stewartbrown.com
Maggie’s Organics also produces its products with only certified organic cotton and wool, carrying a wonderful line of organic and fair trade socks, scarves, tights, loungewear and legwarmers, tees, baby clothes, new sock monkeys and fashion tops. Their tights are warm and soft, available in rich chocolate and elegant plum as well as classic black in both textured and solid varieties. www.organicclothes.com
Long Sleeve Dress with Layered Trim by Stewart and Brown
Vintage Black Suede Pumps with Gold Detail from Hairy Mary's Vintage
Textured Plum Tights by Maggie's Organics
When not adhering to organic methods, cotton stands out as one of the crops which uses the most insectides and pesticides, highly toxic to both humans and animals as well as our eco system. ‘The developing world is home to 99% of all cotton farmers and produces 75% of the world’s total cotton. These farmers however often lack the necessary equipment, training and access to appropriate medical care to protect themselves. ‘ Furthermore, when cotton is converted into conventional clothing even more chemicals are used. Many processing stages result in large amounts of toxic waste water that carry away residue from chemical cleaning, dying and finishing. This waste depletes the oxygen from the water killing aquatic animals and disrupting the aquatic ecosystems.
As more and more designers follow the eco friendly route, there is a great variety of options to choose from. Mika Machida’s 
line Mika is sharp, edgy, sexy, artistic and original. Her clothing line began as an extension of her screen painting from paper/canvas to fabric and garments. Only organic and environmentally sustainable materials are used in her line. Currently, her works are inspired mainly by wildlife, such as elephants, butterflies and birds. A portion of the profits will be donated to help save endangered species in the world. She states, “Long ago, everything on Earth was organic, and the word 'organic' didn't even exist. In this mass-production society it is rather hard to find items that are purely organic and produced in sustainable way. Fortunately, we are in a generation that is aware of these mistakes and we are starting to change their ways. Let us use this as motivation to learn from our mistakes and make better choices for the future. I am doing this in my work today; using materials that do not harm the soil, water, and nature that they came from "
Mika is one of the designers featured at Ekovaruhuset, Johana Hofring’s boutique housing ‘Organic and Fair Made Clothing’ This wonderful store holds many treasures of unique clothing and accessories , all ecofriendly and adhering to fair labor policies. Ekovaruhuset looks to change public perception of organic fashion by offering its cutting edge creations, such as fashion forward European collections, as well as hand-made, one-of-a-kind creations crafted by local, up-and-coming designers who are exclusive to Ekovaruhuset. According to Hofring “The way we choose to shop can change the impact the industry has on our planet and the lives of millions of people and animals into something very positive. It’s all about having fun and looking fabulous while saving the world” www.ekovaruhuset.se
Flamingo Dress by Mika
Midnight Blue Tagua Silver Layer Bracelet and Zia Bracelet by Lucina Jewelry
Vintage Black Suede Pumps with Gold Detail from Hairy Mary's Vintage
Lucina also embraces this need for socially responsible behavior through their line of fine jewelry. Lucina Jewelry works with fair trade importers to open up new markets for ethically sourced gems, silver and handcrafted materials. This commerce creates direct economic benefits in war torn and impoverished communities around the world. Lucina’s mission is to be a force of positive change for artisans and miners, their families and communities, and the jewelry industry as a whole. In addition to working with fair trade importers, they also partner with non-profit organizations to effect positive change in communities worldwide. Since 2005, Lucina’s bracelets, earrings and necklaces have been designed and handmade in Portland, Oregon using shimmering hand forged sterling silver, luminous gemstones and lustrous natural elements such as tagua and choclo. All components of their jewelry designs are carefully sourced to ensure that all workers have been paid a fair salary in appropriate conditions. The result is fine crafted jewelry, beautiful in its design but even more lovely for its inspirational message as Lucina works to put forth a positive change. See this stunning luxurious fair trade Ametrine Necklace, made of ametrine nuggets, tourmaline chips, faceted Botswana agate and faceted ametrine teardrops with open loop bali chain and sugar beads. This amazing piece is one example of the fine jewelry made through Lucina’s artisan partnership with Fair Trade Gemstones from the Minas Gerais region of Brazil. These gemstones are sourced from the only gemstone importer to have created and implemented fair trade sourcing standards for colored gems, including stones such as ametrine, aquamarine, citrine, jasper and clear, rose and smoky quartz. www.lucinajewelry.com
Ametrine Luxe Necklace by LUcina Jewelry
Burgundy Vintage Dress with Woven Fabric Belt from Hairy Mary's Vintage
Our technology continues to move ahead further and further. In my eyes, it seems that not only are we progressing but each advancement occurs within a shorted time frame. Humans have a remarkable ability for achievement and growth and so I can not see why not concentrate even just a portion of our vast capabilities and talent for innovation into further evolving into an eco-conscious and socially responsible society. I see that we are beginning to move in this direction and I look forward to the future. I have only mentioned a very small sample of the designers and companies that have chosen an eco-friendly path; there are so much more. I encourage you to explore all the eco friendly options becoming available and I look forward to highlighting more in future issues of Sapphire Whisper. Initiating a change can begin with altering your perspective and opening your mind to exploring alternatives and with so many beautiful pieces readily available, this has become easier than ever.
Sharon London, Vintage & Design specialises in vintage and reconstructed vintage dresses, tops, coats, footwear and accessories, circa Victorian to 1980's with an emphasis on funky and fun street, work and evening wear. Sharon Broit selects & creates an eclectic range of wearable vintage & reconstructed vintage, focusing on easy to wear , designs, idea details,shapes, style & textiles. Sharon Broit and Sharon London (formerly Hairy Mary's) have been at the forefront of the recycled,reconstructed clothing movement contributing to help sustain a more Eco-friendly and fashionable planet. Sharon London Vintage & Design is a personal, fun, creative way to create your own individual style and look
Visit her website and facebook page for additional details and updates : hairymarysvintage.blogspot.com, www.sharonbroit.com and keep your eyes open at at the Brooklyn Flea Market, Fort Greene, both Saturday 10-6pm and Sunday at 1 Hanson Place/Flatbush Avenue, Fort Greene www.brooklynflea.com/about
Photo Credits
Fashion Stylist: Sandra Alice
Photographer: Bryan Gardner www.bryangardnerphotography.com
Bryan Gardner started loving photography as soon as he picked up a camera. Shooting seriously for eight years now, Bryan has accomplished a lot, winning several awards and earning his BFA in photography at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Currently he is living in New York City, the photography Mecca of the world, working as a freelance photographer and assistant.
Make Up: Tanima Mannan www.modelmayhem.com/435419
References:
www.stepin.org/?id=home
naturalhealthcare.ca/eco_and_environmentally_friendly_fashion.phtml
www.organicclothes.com
www.ekovaruhuset.se
www.stewartbrown.com
EJF. (2007). The deadly chemicals in cotton. Environmental Justice Foundation in collaboration with Pesticide Action Network UK: London, UK. ISBN No. 1-904523-10-2
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