This week in midtown Manhattan, designers gathered at the Agent Red International Showroom who hosted The Green Gallery Eco Press Showcase to showcase eco clothing and accessories ranging from bags and belts to knits and formal wear. I met several of the designers and the stylish brains behind Boho Magazine, which launched at the event. Here are the highlights:
SDN
SDN is a Brooklyn-based line featuring menswear made from organic cotton, soy, and bamboo. Striped waistcoats, western button-downs and denim jumpsuits were the highlights, as well as the handsome, cuffed chinos. I have to get a pair of those! SDN can be purchased at www.sodafine.com and www.kaightnyc.com. The pants do come with the option of suspenders that have leather detailing, so you can avoid those – and some of the sportscoats incorporate silk in the lining.
English Retreads
English Retreads was started by Heather English almost a decade ago. Her bags and accessories already have over 60,000 miles each! Tough, green, and bad-ass, my favorites are the wallet, the Bentley, and the Large Beetle. ER also does dog collars and belts!
revinylized
REVINYLIZED accessories are made from used billboards that would otherwise add hundreds of pounds each to landfills. The tote, the messenger bags, and the toiletry bag are my favorite picks. Many of them are lined with organic or recycled cotton.
Threads For Thought
Threads for Thought is one of the only companies doing organic cotton board shorts! Combine that with an organic tee with a well-designed message and you’re good to go!
TheDiscerningBrute, September 19th 2008 |
Tags: boho magazine, chinos, eco, English Retreads, green, jumpsuit, organic tee, recycled accessories, recycled billboard, repurposed, revinylized, slacks, soy, threads for thought, toiletry bag, tote, tshirt, vegan, vegetarian, waistcoat, wallet
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1. Cheap Monday, whose jeans are as inexpensive as they are tight – have made a pretty incredible vegan pilot jacket. PVC-coated polyester with a removable faux-shearling fleece collar. The pilot/bomber is a classic jacket that has rib knit cuffs and hem; 2 snap pockets at the front; and a single pocket inside.
While this jacket is technically vegan, the dangers of PVC plastics are one reason to not partake. Alas, is PVC really cruelty-free if it ends up poisoning a bunch of living things? It is certainly better than the environmental devastation associated with leather production: clearing land, raising, feeding, watering and transporting the cattle, then slaughter and tanning using compounds like chromium.
As for labor, this is from Cheap Monday: (Read their entire code of conduct here. Code of Conduct)
We believe that it is important to take responsibility when it comes to working conditions, from both ethical and social aspects as well as issues regarding production and the environment.
Couldn’t they have made this in tope (see below) or waxed canvas? sigh…
2. DB Clay‘s Version 3 wallets are dope (and tope!) Have you heard of Tope?
“Tope is a synthetic fabric similar (in texture) to a vinyl canvas. However, Tope does not contain certain hazardous chemicals typically found in most vinyl-based products. In particular, Tope contains NO PVC, Tope is made from non-toxic raw materials (it causes no dioxin, heavy metal or phthalate pollution), Tope decomposes when buried, Tope is chlorine chemicals free and Tope is fabricated through a pollutant free process. Additionally, we have engineered a tremendously technical printing process whereby we print high resolution and full photographic images using environmentally friendly inks. To top it off, Tope is also vegan and animal free.”
If you need a custom made, one-of-a-kind, tope “Puzzle Wallet” from db clay click here. They make a great gift, and a great collector’s item:
TheDiscerningBrute, January 18th 2008 |
Tags: bomber, coat, handmade, jacket, leather, pilot, pleather, pvc, sweatshop, tope, vegan, vegetarian, wallet
Posted in fashion, vegan
