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.

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.

Handcrafted clutches and bags from MIYO Design

Coming from a family craftswomen and seamstresses, Malia Okamura of MIYO Design has a long history of handcrafting bags and purses. With a degree in Applied Design from San Diego State University, Malia now puts her talents to work creating original purses, clutches, and accessories under the name MIYO Design. Her boutique bags are fun and functional, and her clutches are one-of-a-kind.

We love the red Record Clutch – made from actual vinyl. The former album is making a come back as a fashion adornment, and we couldn’t be happier to rock and roll with it!The vinyl Polka Clutch has hand-painted shimmering pink dots and a handcut bloom accent as decoration. Summer may be over, but the colorful Poppy Bag is just the right splash of bright to liven up your fall wardrobe and remind you of those luscious summer days at the beach. Small details and handcut flower petals make this bag a conversation piece.
For more great accessories that will make you smile, check out MIYO Design.

Social Atelier's Human Barbie Shirt

Right now we’re loving Social Atelier’s Human Barbie shirt. This “Body Image” tank targets are perceptions of women’s beauty and our obsessions with image. When 19% of American college women are bulimic and cosmetic surgery has never been more popular, it’s easy to see that in the United States we are deeply concerned with appearance. Tragically, our ideals often stem from unrealistic idols, such as the body shape of the beloved Barbie. In a culture where girls and young women are bombarded with images of rail thin supermodels, many of our impressions are female beauty are unrealistic. The Human Barbie shirt points out that if the blond bombshell was flesh and blood, her stats would be 39” – 19” – 33”. There numbers are preposterous for a real woman to obtain, as evidenced by the fact that the average adult female measures 36” – 30” – 41”.

As we question whether it’s our interiors or exteriors that are more important, Social Atelier offers up this shirt from their 2007 collection. A collective of aware fashionists, Social Atelier uses clothing to illustrate devastating truths in our society. For this season, they are focusing on genocide in Darfur, and they have chosen to send 15% of their profits to the Solar Cooker Project. The project works to improve the conditions of women living in refugee camps by alleviating the need for them to go out and seek fuel. The designers behind these sleek 100% organic cotton tees have focused on a number of issues in the past, including AIDS, poverty, global warming, and gay marriage. They have also hosted an Ethical Night Out launch party for their line.

Olive & Eggplant: Etsy Finds

Wide Strap Fitted Top by Treehouse 28 $45

Monochromatic Bubble Dress by Neneee $68

You don’t have to spent hours at the mall to get the latest fashions. In light of this fall’s top fashion colors – olive green and eggplant purple – we’ve picked out our favorite pieces by indie fashion designers and creators. Each of these pieces by an Etsy seller is relaxed, comfortable, and fun. We can’t wait to do some fall shopping!

Swamp Grass T-Shirt by Circular Accessories $26

Olive Leaves Print T-Shirt by Lucha Workshop $16

To read more about why you want to add olive green and eggplant purple to your wardrobe this fall, check out Olive & Eggplant: Two Essential Colors for the Fall.

Hummingbird Scoopneck T-Shirt by Stevester $25

Lilies and Butterflies T-Shirt by Stevester $25

It's a Wrap! Dresses for Everyday Style

Wrap Dress by Yu Clothing $152

Sometimes it’s hard to stay in style and look good when fashions change so frequently. But with the popular wrap dress, women of all body shapes can look chic and sexy while at work or on the go. The wrap dress highlights your curves, offering the illusion of a small waist and an enhanced bust. We’ve sought out the best indie designed wrap dresses to show how versatile and fun the wrap design can be.

Victorian Stamp Dress by Hype $179

When trying on your next dress design, make sure the fabric isn’t too thin and clingy. You want to portray curves, but not highlight bumps, bags, and wrinkles. Also do a modesty check in front of the mirror; you should take note of whether you can look down and see all the way to your bellybutton, and you should lean forward once or twice to find out how well your wrap dress wraps.

Empire Wrap Dress by Samoy Lenko $200

A good wrap dress will have enough fabric to cover your legs and derriere when a gust of wind hits. If not, you may want to make good use of a safety pin or two. That said, wraps come in all different fabrics and prints, offering excellent possibilities for both a fun day at the beach and a classy cocktail hour. Support handmade and fair trade with these stunning styles.

Organic Cotton Cap Sleeve Wrap Dress $39

Etsy Find: Handmade Eco-Friendly Fashion from TiinaTeaspoon

We love the adventurous fashions from UK designer and photographer TiinaTeaspon. Her work is combines the best bits of bohemia, a masquerade ball, theatrical costuming to create unique fashions that are sure to turn heads at a party. Each of her pieces has character, and you’ll never have to worry about arriving at a party wearing someone’s matching dress. A graduate of the London College of Fashion, not only are these pieces original and handmade, but she creates her works from reclaimed cotton, eco-friendly bamboo jersey, and natural dyes. We love the loose free look of her dresses. Check out her website or blog, or go shopping at her Etsy store.
Kolme Dress $625
Mustikka Dress $1,325

Can you afford eco-couture? Linda Loudermilk designs green for the stars

As we’re constantly reminded, living green and stylish is not always synonymous with cheap. Because of the higher cost of producing environmentally friendly or organic materials, environmentalism and luxury now go hand-in-hand. The truly hip and fabulous, and those who don’t mind spending a little green to wear a little green, are fueling the trend towards eco-couture.
Linda Loudermilk is a leading fashion designer with a flare for the natural. Outfitting celebrities like Jane Fonda, Debra Messing, and Jennifer Beals, Loudermilk applies her high fashion skills to textiles made from sasawashi, bamboo, sea cell, soya, and EcoSpun fabric. Her creations have been described as channeling nature’s punk energy and feminine grace. Her brand of clothing bears the “Luxury Eco Stamp of Approval,” given to products with a high degree of aesthetic design and luxury quality that also come from a carefully reviewed, environmentally friendly manufacturing process. Loudermilk mixes her exotic fabrics with sophisticated silhouettes and surprising design twists. Not only are her creations earth-friendly, many bare the colors of terra firma, draw inspiration the creatures that live here, or follow the shape of waterfalls, rivers, and forests.
While most of us won’t be digging into her duds any time too soon, Loudermilk deserves praise for leading the trends towards bringing environmental awareness and sustainable style to society’s elite list.

DIY T-Shirt Design #3

With this do-it-yourself t-shirt design, you can refashion something that’s a little drab and baggy into a new fun creation perfect for a casual day at work or at school.
Materials: 1 short sleeve recycled t-shirt, beads of any kind or decorative bangles, scissors, needle and thread, jumbo safety pin (optional)
DIY: If you have a white or light colored t-shirt, try dying it a nude or tan color with strong tea. As a more colorful option, you can take a brightly colored juice, like cranberry or grape, and soak your shirt in the liquid for 20-30 minutes to stain it a pink or purple shade. Once your shirt is dry, lay it flat and cut off the sleeves at the shoulder seams. Cut about 1” off the bottom hem of the shirt, and save this extra material. On the front of the shirt, cut the neckline down in a V. Don’t get too carried away though! You may want to try the shirt on first to mark how much décolletage you’re comfortable with. Once you have your V cut, take your thread and (starting near the base of the V) knot it through on one side. String beads along the thread and pull across to the other side of the V. Stitch the thread through on the opposite side to secure the beads. Repeat slightly higher up the V. As an alternative, you may want to string beads on a jumbo safety pin and pin this across the V. You can also sew a button, bead or decoration and the base of the V for added ornamentation. Using your leftover hem fabric, cut two 4” long strips. Wrap each around the shoulder seams of the shirt to gather the fabric. Tuck the edges of the strip underneath the shoulder and sew them in place to finalize this DIY t-shirt design.
For more, see DIY T-Shirt Design #2 and DIY T-Shirt Design #1.

Denim for Immortality and Breast Cancer Support

Denim for Immortality jeans are on sale now at Revolve Clothing. At $115 (down from $229) and free 2-3 day shipping, the Venus "Goddess of Love" denim pants are a great designer deal. But when you find out that 50% of all proceeds go to The Young Survivors Coalition for Breast Cancer Awareness, the deal is that much sweeter. These navy blue jeans have Swarovski crystal details on the back pockets. You may not associate a high risk of breast cancer with young women and teens, but it is the leading cause of death in women aged 15-54. Your purchase of these Denim for Immortality jeans supports valuable research. The YSC also offer a number of other fashionable finds on their website, including jewelry, lip balm, and notecards.

Avian Fashion Fever: Anunciação Winter 07 Collection

Anunciação is a charismatic Brazilian fashion label that mixes folklore with culture. Between color, fabric, and graphics, Anunciação combines sensual design and childhood nostalgia.

Designer Catalina Estrada mixes her Colombian heritage with Japanese mangas and European art. She creates illusive natural creatures to adorn her whimsical apparel.

This winter, the bird motif is making an appearance throughout her collection. Just as it is taking a turn in many jewelry designs, the bird motif has appeared on many fashion pieces. Catalina Estrada is only one example of an artist infusing her work with the feathered friends. As both delicate ornamental details and bold graphics, her fashions have captured this popular trend. If you’re not lucky enough to live in Brazil, check out the Winter 2007 collection at Anunciação online.

For more, check out Avian Fashion Fever: Handmade Jewelry.

DIY T-Shirt Design #2

This do-it-yourself shirt redesign is great rehab for an old tee that's too big or loose to wear on a regular basis. The resulting design is simple and feminine.
Materials: 1 short sleeve recycled t-shirt, scissors, needle & thread

DIY: I used a too-big white t-shirt and then dyed it a neutral tan color using tea. (You can do the same by brewing a half gallon of strong tea - black works well - and then soaking your shirt for 20 minutes or more in the mixture. You can change the color of the shirt by changing what kind of tea you use, but in all cases, the longer you steep your shirt, the stronger the color). With your (dry) t-shirt laying flat on a table cut off the edge of the sleeves working at a downward angle from the armpit down and out to the edge of the top of the sleeve. With a cut like this, the sleeves should be longer on top than underneath. Next, cut out the neck along the shoulder seam to make the opening slightly larger. Then from the center of the neck use a running stitch to loosely stitch 6 inches down the center of the shirt. Pull your thread tight from the bottom to gather the fabric at the bust. Tie the thread off tightly to hold the gather, and you're set!
For more great designs, check out DIY T-Shirt Design #3 and DIY T-Shirt Design #1.

Underwear Can Care

I just came across a post on the Alternative Consumer blog that is much more relevant to humanity than any fashion review or haute couture event. As someone with friends and mentors who work in Kenya and other parts of Africa to support women’s rights and education and to bring resources to AIDS orphans, I fully support the motivation behind Panty Line Productions. After spending time in Kenya to teach anti-violence and HIV/AIDS prevention, Jen is saving the world from the bottom up. Literally.
She hand screen prints underwear with quirky expressions and is sending 20% of the proceeds to Dolphin Anti-Rape and AIDS Control Outreach. Working through Dolphin, Jen’s mentors and other volunteers travel through Kenya to teach HIV prevention and non-violence techniques to different communities. Back in the U.S., Jen is screen printing American Apparel underwear and sending 20% of the profits to support Dolphin. Check out Jen’s blog to learn more about Dolphin’s work with children in Kenya. If you want to put your assets to good use, check out a pair of Panty Line Productions’ undies for $12. The American Apparel underwear styles tend to run small, so order a size larger than normal. For more, check out PLP online or at Etsy.

Shop Sustainable at Beklina's Sale

Beklina - the online fashion boutique featuring green fashion greats like Stewart + Brown, ParkVogel, Edun, and Prairie Underground - is having a sale to make room for fall's upcoming arrivals.
Most women's items are 35% off, and there's no shipping!

Based in Northern California, Beklina features the best in sustainable style, choosing products for their comfort as much as their appearance. A great place online to shop organic, they carry designs from some of the most popular eco-designers around.
Each of the products Beklina sells is either fair trade or made in the United States. Check out these great summer sale products for your comfort wear.

Sassy Finds from Solsis Designs

We have loved Solsis Designs ever since we first discovered the little fashion line several years ago. Since we’re forever envious of the bright colorful clothing, it seemed appropriate to highlight this unique designer while the weather’s still hot and the beaches are cool. Solsis Designs are inspired by the spirit, movement, and energy of life. Each item of clothing is unique and handcrafted for the woman with an active sexy lifestyle.

Solsis brings the Brazilian beat to her creations, incorporating the world of dance, rhythm, and laughter into her work. Each item is free flowing, perfect for hot nights in the dance club or long days at the oceanside. Colorful and creative, these pieces are surefire headturners.
Pictured here are the best-selling New Orleans Crescent Dress ($78) and the Yemanja Blouse ($62). The dress, shown in two different fabric swatches, is a limited edition and a very popular style. The high waist gives the dress a slimming effect and the fabric is stretchy enough to hug all your curves in just the right way. The blouse is a new design brought back from Brazil and inspired by the funky seaside culture. Check out other styles at Solsis Designs.