Eco-fashion trends update in Spring/Summer 2012

With the intent of creating a large impact and inspire other designers to saunter towards a cruelty-free direction, John Bartlett, winner of the Council of the Designers of America/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge introduces to the public this summer his latest eco-friendly Fall/Winter collection.

Outdoorsy, all-American appeal with sailor stripes and lumberjack plaids defines the first cruelty-free menswear collection at Fashion Week. Bartlett, the recently vegan designer insists on cruelty-free yet sustainable materials for his collections.

The uniqueness of Bartlett's elegant suits lies in where the suit is made of conventional cotton and blends of organic and not wool. But his suits are not the only pieces with this unique cruelty-free material. Bartlett's striped Henley's, sweaters, and dress-shirts are also made of organic cotton.

Determined to encourage cruelty-free designs, Bartlett even went to the lengths of mining his personal collection of Hudson's Bay point blankets—items that were normally traded in the 18^th and 19^th centuries to First Nations and Native Americans in exchange for beaver pelts and other goods—to create some of his jackets, capes and ponchos seen in the collection.

Results from this creative and eco-friendly inspiration came pieces that are sleek, supple and infused with colors derived from nature.

Another recent eco-friendly collection to parade in Fashion Week is Jeff Garner's Prophetik collection. Dyes used for his pieces are all natural and obtained from plants grown in his gardens. Floral print and houndstooth checks are the designs chosen for his men's jodhpurs and knee-length frock coats. Garner adapted the Scottish Highlands feel to his attires without the traditional tartan. 

Another trend worth all the fuss for is the new "Bonobo" series of laptop and iPad bags by Bluelounge. Bonobo bags are created from post-consumer PET bottles. Woven from the same material plastic soda bottles are made of, the five piece collection includes a backpack, a tote, a messenger, and two sizes of sleeve to coddle your electronic gear in streamlined style. The creations are designed to provide barrier against moisture, extra protection along with ergonomic straps for comfort on the go. They are tough and sturdy yet soft to the touch. A perfect blend of function and finesse.

These designer items are fashionable, durable and with a special twist of being eco-friendly. So, what is not to be crazy about?

Men Fashion: Dress Eco-Friendly, Are You?

You may be asking yourself what exactly is an Eco Youth and how can you dress like one? Well, we can sum this up in a couple of words: hippy and bohemian. As an Eco youth, you are someone who cares greatly about ecology and the planet. The things you wear and do are all with a saving the planet mentality.

Alright, so let see what you can do here. The first priority you can start with is to look for online stores that sell eco-friendly clothing. This is clothing that is made with recycled materials or who use coloring and dyes that are earth friendly with a production process that does little to pollute the earth. Bear in mind that the eco-fashion is basically more than just fashion really, but also how these things are made.

Next, we will briefly touch on how we can contribute to this.

1. Always carry around one of those recyclable ‘green’ grocery bags with you that have the word Green on it. This way everyone knows you are all about green stuff.


2.  Look online for clothing stores that feature green or eco clothing and articles. A great place to look as well is vintage stores and thrift stores. Recycled clothing at it’s finest.


3. Buy your jewelry from vintage stores and don’t go buying real pearls, ever.


4. On that note, you cannot wear anything made from animals; no leather or suede and snakeskin boots are definitely out!


5. If you use any kind of beauty product, from shampoo to makeup you have to be sure none of it was tested on animals, has no animal proteins or whale blubber or anything like that in them. There are specific places that sell eco friendly products of this nature, search them out.


6. Your clothing should be made of cotton, silk, bamboo or any other type of sustainable thread. Clothing and shoes made from hemp is a great way to go for this look.

The Eco Youth look is not any one particular fashion or look, it’s all about what clothing you are wearing, what it is made of and how it was made. If you are wearing something that was made by a company who is serious about being green then wear whatever you want from them.



In short, eco Fashion is all about saving the planet and looking good while you do it.