Designers are turning to sustainable materials and cleaner production methods to make today's fashions. The gallery of items from a number of different designers illustrates this trend.
"Jewelry designer Monique Pean (www.moniquepean.com) creates original jewelry from found remains of walrus, caribou, baleen and twelve thousand year old woolly mammoth ivory. Pean avoids the exploitative mining industry by using 100% recycled gold and conflict free diamonds. Ivory materials are discovered in melting ice caps, thus drawing attention to global warming.
10% of profits from Monique Pean's Bering Collection go to the Alaska Native Arts Foundation (www.alaskanativearts.org). The money is used to train the next generation of Alaska Native artists and fight to preserve a disappearing culture and natural landscape.
Mexican designer Olga Abadi and her handbag company Nahui Ollin (www.nahuiollin.com) use an ancient Mayan weaving technique to bind discarded materials into fully functional bags and accessories. The bag is made from discarded candy wrappers and is surprisingly very durable.
Chic sunglasses from iwood (www.iwoodecodesign.com) are carved from sustainable-growth woods like zebrawood, bamboo, bubinga, and Makassar ebony -- which means no trees are harmed in the process. Each pair is hand-cut, hand-sanded, and hand-finished locally in the US.
Greener Garments
Designers Turn To Eco-Fashion
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Materials - Opportunity for designers to explore alternative materials and production methods that are more eco-friendly and sustainable.
2. Recycled Fashion - Opportunity for designers to utilize discarded materials and transform them into fashionable and functional products.
3. Ethical Jewelry - Opportunity for jewelry designers to create pieces using conflict-free diamonds and recycled gold, promoting ethical practices in the industry.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Design - Opportunity for fashion designers to incorporate sustainable materials and production methods into their designs, catering to eco-conscious consumers.
2. Accessories Manufacturing - Opportunity for companies in the accessories industry to explore the use of recycled materials and develop innovative products with a focus on sustainability.
3. Jewelry Manufacturing - Opportunity for jewelry manufacturers to shift towards using conflict-free diamonds and recycled gold, meeting the demand for ethical and eco-friendly jewelry options.