Fashion Consciousness

New York Fashion Week just wrapped and that inspired me to write an entry on eco-fashion and shed some light on what it means to be a Conscious fashionista. Images that come to mind when one thinks of the term eco-fashion are baggy hemp pants and faded t-shirts.  In other words, I expect the look to be kinda cheap.  Stella McCartney, changed all of that with her high fashion designs which illuminated the concept of Conscious fashion. Sustainable, Green or Eco-Fashion- whatever you want to call it- basically means creating fashion that uses the least amount if the earth's resources as possible and no chemicals.  For example, plenty of cotton crops are sprayed with harmful pesticides but clothes made with organic cotton are pesticide-free. Organic refers to any material that is naturally derived and doesn't use genetically modified organisms.

 Designer: JoAnn Berman Vegans take the Consciousness to another level by not using anything that comes from an animal.  This includes wool, silk, leather and of course, fur.  They believe that eliminating animal products in any form cuts down on the abusive treatment on the factory farms.

 Designer: Vaute-Couture Many designers have become more experimental with materials such as coffee grounds, seaweed, tree bark and cork.

Here are a couple of sites that are dedicated to all that is Conscious in fashion. http://www.luxgreenliving.com/ http://www.ecouterre.com/ One of the easiest ways to be Conscious with your fashion is to buy vintage.  Not only is vintage cheaper and always in vogue, it helps the earth because you are in essence, recycling.  Beacon's Closet in Williamsburg and Park Slope Brooklyn is one of my favorite places to find good looking vintage duds. Lastly, take care of your clothes, the environment and your Self by opting for a dry cleaner that forgoes the use of tetrachloroethylene also known as perc.  This chemical has been classified as a carcinogen which is harmful to our health.  For example, it's been known to cause dizziness, headaches and possible tumors.  Look for a cleaner that states they are organic and/or green and ask if they use Perc and the Carbon Dioxide cleaning process. During Fashion Week, there was a show highlight those designers that make the extra effort to use green materials. It was aptly called the GreenShows and below is a video of the event.