Ecouterre » Features

Thread & Loom’s Fairly Hand-Loomed Bags Fund Girls’ Education in India

Amanda Coen — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:58 +0000

Photos by Amanda Coen for Ecouterre

Socially-driven accessories company, Thread & Loom introduces itself to the world with a line of handbags that make for the perfect spring and summer carry-all item. The resort-meets-urban collection is defined by classic shapes that draw the eye with neon accents. Founder Gargi Agrawal personally oversees production in India to ensure that artisans are paid a fair wage and that materials are sourced responsibly. A strong supporter of women’s educational initiatives, Agrawal donates all profits to Kranti, an organization that rescues and empowers girls of the red-light district of Mumbai.

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Sentimental Value: New Exhibit Explores the Stories Behind Used Clothing

Amy DuFault — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:00:37 +0000

Photo by Shutterstock

Do you care about connecting with your clothing or would you rather wear it without a second thought? Most people would say the latter. In fact, when it comes to most modern day shoppers, the idea of bonding with a shirt seems about as comfortable as slipping into a power crystal room to clean one’s chakras. Yet with all the knowledge we continue to accrue of garment factory disasters from fast fashion, deforestation from luxury houses and worldwide water pollution, getting closer to one’s clothing might be the exact prescription for bettering the planet.

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Vaute, Farm Sanctuary Host “Fashion Loves Animals” Vegan Runway Show

Amanda Coen — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:00:40 +0000

Photos by Amanda Coen for Ecouterre

VAUTE Couture made yet another appearance at Fashion Loves Animals to celebrate and raise awareness about the benefits of vegan fashion. The fashion show and cocktail party honored Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart, President and Creative Director of VAUTE Couture, with benefits going toward Farm Sanctuary’s work. Demonstrating that stylish looks can be accomplished using all vegan labels, Hilgart included Love is Mighty, Brave Gentleman, Matt & Nat and cruelty-free makeup by The Body Shop in the show. And of course, several small furry friends made an appearance throughout the night both on and off the runway.

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9 Sustainable Fashion Brands That Produce Ethically in Bangladesh

Jasmin Malik Chua — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:00:29 +0000

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How Can We Make Sure Our Clothes Weren’t Produced in a Sweatshop?

Amanda Judge, The Andean Collection — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:00:17 +0000

Photo by A. M. Ahad for Associated Press

The structural collapse of the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, which has claimed the lives of over 300 people, is a horrific tragedy that raises essential questions about ensuring safe working conditions abroad and the value of fair trade. I have seen the working conditions in a number of developing countries across Asia and Central and South America firsthand. Suffice it to say, they are often subpar. In developing countries, often governments either do not have appropriate safety regulations in place, or if they do, those regulations are rarely enforced. This lack of government oversight is why it is absolutely crucial for mainstream manufacturing to take a fair-trade approach to production.

PREVIOUSLY ON ECOUTERRE: Death Toll in Bangladesh Factory Collapses Exceeds 300, Riots Ensue

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Trash to Trend Debuts First Mass-Produced Upcycled-Clothing Collection

Morgana Matus — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:00:40 +0000

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14 Bizarre Fashions That Sound Like April Fool’s Jokes (But Aren’t)

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:00:31 +0000

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Of a Kind’s Limited-Edition Goods Throw Spotlight on Indie Designers

Amy DuFault — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:00:41 +0000

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Vegan “It” Designer Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart Goes Beyond Faux Fur, Leather

Amanda Coen — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:00:57 +0000

Photos by Amanda Coen for Ecouterre

Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart debuted the first all-eco, all-vegan collection at New York Fashion Week to critical acclaim. We caught up with the cruelty-free designer at the New York City Garment district facility where Vaute’s production takes place, to discover the unusual muse behind her collection, how her label has evolved from outerwear to a full-fledged ready-to-wear line, and why fashion is the perfect platform for her animal activism.

PREVIOUSLY ON ECOUTERRE: Vaute’s Vegan Fall/Winter 2013 Collection Goes to the Dogs at NY Fashion Week

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12 Things We Learned From H&M’s 2012 Sustainability Report

Jasmin Malik Chua — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:00:07 +0000

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Can Designers Afford to Ignore the Traditional Fashion Calendar?

Tara St. James, Study NY — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 12:00:39 +0000

Photos by Graeme Mitchell

You know you have a good idea when you start telling people about it and they nod their heads giving you the sense they’ve had the same idea. Admittedly, I’ve had my fair share of bad ideas over the years, but 2013 found me learning to trust my instincts more. As a result, I’ve decided to make a major change to Study NY’s business model. I’ve been turning this thought over in my mind for the better part of three years, and after showing my Spring/Summer 2013 collection this past September, the persistent nagging in the back of my mind finally persuaded me to make the change.

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Michael Swaine’s Free “Mending Library” Repairs Clothes, Community

Amy DuFault — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:00:24 +0000

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6 Celebrities Who Wore Eco-Fashion to the 2013 Oscars

Jasmin Malik Chua — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:00:46 +0000

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Louise Gray Goes “Derelict Chic” at Autumn 2013 London Fashion Week

Jasmin Malik Chua — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:00:21 +0000

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Holmes & Yang Plunders From the 1940s at Fall 2013 NY Fashion Week

Jasmin Malik Chua — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:00:26 +0000

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Titania Inglis Brings Dark Fairy Tales to Fall 2013 NY Fashion Week

Amanda Coen — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:00:31 +0000

Photos by Amanda Coen for Ecouterre

Titania Inglis returned to New York Fashion Week on Wednesday with her Fall/Winter 2013 collection. Inspired by fairytales and parallel universes, the collection highlighted the designer’s knack for geometric shapes and sharply angled silhouettes. Featuring dark, wintery hues, the collection had a mysterious aura and featured a new addition to Inglis’ line: furs. Need not worry. The designer was quick to explain the responsible sourcing practices behind her decision to incorporate them into her collection.

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Voz Brings Artisan-Crafted Chilean Knits to Fall 2013 NY Fashion Week

Amanda Coen — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 02:00:12 +0000

Voz celebrated its first New York Fashion Week by showing off its latest collection of hand-woven wool, baby alpaca and llama shawls, ponchos, tunics, dresses and coats. The Chile-based fair trade company works with Mapuche women artisans who practice traditional weaving methods to create designs that are attractive to a contemporary audience. For its NYFW debut, the company expanded its list of materials to include raw silk and silk chiffon and featured jewelry by Mikuti.

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Why Are Fashion Brands Committing to Detoxing in 2020 and Not Earlier?

Marietta Harjono, Greenpeace — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:00:52 +0000

Sometimes the longest struggles can be the most rewarding. After 10 months of #PeoplePowered activities and behind-the-scenes haggling, G-Star Raw finally committed to eliminate all uses of hazardous chemicals from its supply chain and products by 2020. This means that the Dutch denim brand joins the likes of Uniqlo, Benetton. and Victoria’s Secret in making credible “Detox” commitments in 2013. And with the Italian high-fashion brand Valentino joining the leaders in the industry this past week, there are currently 16 big brands that have started a process to eliminate all discharges of hazardous chemicals throughout their supply chains and products.

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10 Cruelty-Free Faux-Snakeskin Fashions to Ring in the Lunar New Year

Jasmin Malik Chua — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:00:21 +0000

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Costello Tagliapietra “Knit”-Picks at Fall 2013 New York Fashion Week

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:00:16 +0000

Only fools mistake femininity for weakness, and if there’s one thing Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra are not, it’s foolish. The married duo’s signature elements were on full display at New York Fashion Week on Thursday: the draped silk and jersey dresses, the saturated jewel tones, the watercolor-esque AirDye prints. But they also ventured outside their typical milieu by plying their Fall/Winter 2013 collection with brown alpaca “teddy bear” wrap coats, vine-knit capelet cardigans, and even a two-toned tailored trouser, cordovan in front, steel gray in the back—the sartorial equivalent of an iron fist in a velvet glove.

+ Costello Tagliapietra

Samantha Pleet Gets Post-Impressionistic at Fall 2013 NY Fashion Week

Amanda Coen — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:00:06 +0000

Photos by Amanda Coen for Ecouterre

Samantha Pleet may have taken a break from formally presenting her FW2013 collection, but the young designer has by no means been standing idle. Celebrating the opening of her new Manhattan showroom, the designer took the opportunity to invite friends and loyal clients to preview her latest collection as well as new shoe and boot designs from her ongoing collaboration with Wolverine for the 1000 Mile Collection by Samantha Pleet. With a focus on form and signature silhouettes, the collection features a painterly color palette and several playful prints with ethically-sourced fabrics ranging from silk to wool to velvet. Ecouterre was in attendance to learn more about the Expressionist and Post-Impressionist artwork that inspired the former painting student’s latest designs.

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EDUN Rocks, Rolls at Fall/Winter 2013 New York Fashion Week

Jasmin Malik Chua — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:00:14 +0000

Photos by Jill Fehrenbacher for Ecouterre

It’s virtually impossible to tease EDUN apart from its rock-star provenance. Such is the star power of U2 frontman Bono, who founded the socially conscious label with his wife, Ali Hewson, in 2005. And indeed, the mood at its Fall/Winter 2013 presentation—an “exploration of youth culture,” according to show notes—at New York Fashion Week on Thursday was equally charged. Models, both male and female, paced frenetically on the circular runway wearing black leather, black skinny jeans, black lamé, and a studied insouciance. (Full review to follow.)

+ EDUN

Organic by John Patrick Goes Downtown at Fall 2013 NY Fashion Week

Alyssa Alimurung — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:00:43 +0000

Photos by Amanda Coen and Jill Fehrenbacher for Ecouterre

For Organic‘s Fall/Winter 2013 collection, designer John Patrick revisited his personal connection to the East Village, NYC’s downtown neighborhood known of its hip, grungy-chic style. Patrick was inspired by three indie “glamazons” and friends, Sable Starr, Cyrinda Foxe and Anya Phillips. Wednesday morning during New York Fashion Week, Patrick displayed a collection that spoke to those downtown tastemakers. “The catwalk is meant to tell a story and create an emotion,” he told Ecouterre after his show.

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Vaute’s Vegan Fall 2013 Collection Goes to the Dogs at NY Fashion Week

Amanda Coen — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:00:40 +0000

Photos by Amanda Coen for Ecouterre

Vegan diets are all the craze but vegan fashion is a term that is gaining traction as the likes of Vaute begin to hit the runway. The emerging label by Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart had its first ever NY Fashion Week premier yesterday, marking it as the first animal-rights all vegan fashion label to show during New York Fashion Week. The young designer is building upon the outerwear and tee line she’s had for several years to show off a ready-to-wear line that includes tops, satin dresses, skirts, pants and sweaters made from vegan and eco fabrics for both men and women. Hilgart paired her looks with vegan men’s shoes by Novacas for Brave GentleMan and vegan women’s heels by Love is Mighty Check out Ecouterre’s exclusive photos from the presentation.

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14 Eco-Friendly Lingerie Gifts to Burn Up the Sheets on Valentine’s Day

Jasmin Malik Chua — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:00:46 +0000

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