Portland Fashion Week: Sustainable Independent Style

Portland Fashion Week wrapped up October 24th, and we were happy to be able to take in a few shows. Portland has long boasted a creative urban environment, so it made perfect sense for the city to jump into the fashion arena in 2003 with the first Portland Fashion Week. In a city known as the country's "#1 Sustainable City" and where many citizens have strong ties to nature, P-Town naturally chose to go with a theme of sustainability in fashion. Now the second longest running fashion week on the West Coast, PFW is specifically targeted towards eco-friendly and independent designers.Though following sometimes chaotic organization, this years PFW showcased an amazing selection of designers and styles for the upcoming Spring/Summer 2008 season. Not only eco-friendly, there was a general trend towards color, comfort, and wearability. Soft cleanly-cut pieces from the collections designers like Sameunderneath and Lizzie Parker will easily transition off the runway and onto the street this spring.
Pieces were bright and cheerful, with simple shapes and contours.We're looking forward to next season, but in the meantime we'll be featuring some of our favorite PFW designers. The Photographers were there and they've captured some great styles in their slide show.

Independent Designers Reach Out During Breast Cancer Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, the time when many organizations come together to increase our awareness of breast cancer and encourage women to partake in early detection tests. For some time, the American Breast Cancer Society, Relay for Life, and many other organizations have joined with businesses of all kinds to offer stylish and chic products in support of breast cancer research. You have undoubtedly seen the hundreds of offerings this month for pink varieties of nail polish, lipstick, candles, pants, shirts, flower bouquets, and more. As many of the products have a high cost and the percentage of profit donated to the chosen fund often seems low, it’s easy to become both overwhelmed and unaffected by the promotions.

We’re happy to note, however, that big businesses aren’t the only ones teaming up for a cure this month. Independent designer fashion boutique MadieDeluxe, with its usual array of handmade and original bags and purses, is offering simple and sleek Pink wristlets and clutches. MadieDeluxe has partnered with the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation, and is offering silk bags embroidered with the word “Hope.” Ten percent of the proceeds will go to the foundation. Shop MadieDeluxe to find out more.

Sustainable Fashion from Elroy Apparel

We’ve just discovered a new line of sustainable clothing that we love. Elroy Apparel is created by indie fashion designer Leanne McElroy. Created especially for the sophisticated health-conscious woman, this Canadian line features simple clean shapes with a feminine fit.

Leanne McElroy, a native of Vancouver, says her fashion sense began at the young age of 13. She began sewing her own garments to create pieces she couldn’t buy, later enrolling in the Helen Lefeaux fashion design program.

As a strict vegan, McElroy was easily swayed towards sustainable fashion when “organic” and “apparel” began to appear together. Wishing to give women the choice to put something healthy on their skin, McElroy saw that organic fashion centered primarily in the areas of yoga clothes and loungewear.

She set out to create style conscious fashions made from organic materials that women could wear in all aspects of their lives, whether at home, work, or play.

Elroy Apparel combines elegant, sleek shapes with natural materials like organic cotton and bamboo. We love that the pieces look like and sophisticated - perfect for polished career wear – and yet are casual enough to thrown on with jeans for an easy weekend. Shop Elroy Apparel at Paper Doll Independent Clothing Boutique.