Ecouterre » Interviews

Amisha Ghadiali, Associate Director of the Ethical Fashion Forum

Jasmin Malik Chua — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:00:41 +0000

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Summer Rayne Oakes, Eco-Model/Author/Social Entrepreneur

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:51 +0000

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Jennifer Wen Ma’s Hand-Paints Add Moody Drama to Eko-Lab’s Fall ‘10 Line

Abigail Doan — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:00:32 +0000

Jennifer Wen Ma’s beautifully dappled charcoal prints at Ekovaruhuset’s New York Fashion Week show so mesmerized us that we simply had to find out more about the Emmy Award-winning artist and her work. Ma collaborated with Melissa Kirgan and Xing-Zhen Chung-Hilyard of Eko-Lab to create the smoke-hued pieces, which were painted freehand using water-based, low-impact inks. The result? A misty, atmospheric effect reminiscent of Chinese landscape paintings and Zen calligraphy.

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How Can Green Designers Thrive in a Down Economy?

Allison Teich McGowan, TEICH — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:00:43 +0000

Allison Teich McGowan, designer behind TEICH and proprietor of the NYC store of the same name.

No doubt times are hard right now for an emerging fashion designer. An economic slowdown, however, can also be an opportunity to steer your business in a new direction. In my case, I’ve had to adjust my business over the years in response to the fluctuating economy.

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Brad Bennett, Editor of Commerce With a Conscience

Jasmin Malik Chua — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:00:45 +0000

+ Commerce With a Conscience

Is Wearable Technology Hype or Hope?

Syuzi Pakhchyan, Fashioning Technology — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:00:18 +0000

Syuzi Pakhchyan, media designer, author, and editor of Fashioning Technology.

I have very few illusions that the survival of our planet depends entirely on the clever technologies that we, out of dire necessity, will invent. Technology alone is not going to save our planet—but we certainly are. The onus is on us: It is our choices, our demands from the market, that will bring about the necessary actions and changes in the fashion industry. Smart fabrics and wearable technology offer us an opportunity for a more sustainable future, but the promise will be bittersweet if the entire product lifecycle isn’t taken into consideration.

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Why Does Wearing Organic Cotton Matter If We Don’t Eat It?

Lynda Fassa, Green Babies — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:00:50 +0000

Lynda Fassa, founder and designer of Green Babies

Fifteen years ago when I founded Green Babies, the term “green” was so disassociated from fashion (or anything else for that matter), that people would ask my husband and business partner: “Green Babies, what’s that?” And he’d answer, “It’s an adoption agency for Martian children.” “Oh”..they’d say, slowly nodding and backing away. Sometimes I’d tell them what it really was and they looked equally perplexed. Things have changed, for the much better and brighter, but the question still remains: Why does organic cotton matter?

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NOW ‘10: For Eco-Fashion Designers, Collaboration Not Competition is Key

Yuka Yoneda — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:00:44 +0000

With New York Fashion Week only in a few weeks, we’re pleased to announce our media sponsorship of one of the most buzz-worthy eco-fashion events of the season: NOW Showcase, an emerging cooperative show with one of the best rosters of eco-conscious designers around, including SDN, Naturevsfuture, Jai Active Wear, Turk + Taylor, She-Bible, Sust, and Kelly Lane. We spoke with Raina Blyer of Ryann, along with Alice Wu and Moriah Carlson of Feral Childe to suss out why fashion lines need to collaborate instead of compete in this economic climate.

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Does the Art of Craft and Handmade Matter in Fashion?

Natalie "Alabama" Chanin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:00:38 +0000

Natalie Chanin, owner and designer of Alabama Chanin

Contemporary dialogues regarding sustainability often focus on chemicals, materials, improved design, and manufacturing processes—and how these impact the environment. Without question, these are significant concerns. Looking closer into the depths and complexities of these materials, however, leads us to realize that sustainability also relies on the human skills necessary to manipulate materials into usable objects.

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Why Are Organic Baby Clothes More Readily Embraced Than Grown-Up Ones?

Kate Quinn, Kate Quinn Organics — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:00:09 +0000

Kate Quinn of Kate Quinn Organics

There are myriad reasons, but they all lead to more questions: Why don’t we care as much about our health as our baby’s health? Doesn’t our baby’s’ well-being depend on our own? Why does fair trade and child labor weigh stronger on our minds when shopping for babies? Why does the thought of formaldehyde on our baby’s skin turn our stomachs more so than the idea of toxins on our own skin, even when we’re pregnant or lactating?

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