-20 emerging designers (including me!)

-All items under $150

-Great gift ideas

Fashion Stake is a new concept in online retail that I’ve been following for a while.  I’m doing a little holiday trunk show with them.  There will be new styles up for sale each week, so check it out!

Come as a budding designer /business owner or as a member of the greater consumer-community.  Educate yourself about production practices of clothing/all things we make/ buy.

Brunch, potluck style, bring some eats to share.  MOVES will provide complimentary mimosas and screwdrivers from 12pm to 1pm.  Then as brunch raps up soak up vital information/ pros and cons of local versus outsourced (outside of USA) production practices from the seasoned designer Tara St James.

SUNDAY November 14th, 12PM.

MOVES POP UP STORE, 214 Franklin St, Greenpoint Brooklyn.  Buzz Moves button to get in.

Entry is free, suggested donation is $1 to $10.

Tonight, after going to see the PeeWee Herman show on Broadway (a birthday gift from my brother), I’m attending the CFDA / Lexus Hybrid Living Eco-Fashion Challenge… don’t get me started on the fact that they used the words “eco-fashion” in the title. I’ll be honest, I’m conflicted about this event.

On the one hand I’m thrilled that sustainable fashion is becoming prevalent enough to mainstream media that it warrants an event. And I respect and admire a lot of the designers on the list above. Maria Cornejo has been an inspiration to me since I started working, John Patrick is at the forefront of bringing organics to high end sportswear. And I’m happy whenever a standard designer chooses to use sustainable textiles or production methods, even just a little bit. But if you read the fine print outlining the event:

The CFDA/Lexus Hybrid Living Eco Fashion Challenge was established to recognize and support the top creative talent among sustainable fashion designers. Qualifying designers must have a fashion line that is at least 25% sustainable or uses at least 25% sustainable materials.

Is 25% enough? Does 25% warrant being recognized and supported as a sustainable fashion designers?  I’m not sure.  I want to say yes, I want to say every little bit counts, every decision we make in the right direction has a positive effect.  But for a body like the CFDA to recognize designers as sustainable for using at least 25% sustainable materials is making a statement I’m not sure I agree with.  I’m not sure it is enough to warrant the recognition. I want to make it clear though, I’m not criticizing the designers who are on this roster, nor am I really criticizing the CFDA, because at least they are doing something to introduce sustainable fashion to a broader group of designers and consumers.  But at some point, I think well established bodies who represent the fashion design community need not only to recognize sustainable design as part of their community, but possibly demand greater commitment to the endeavour itself.

Or am I just starting to sound bitter and ranty?  Please, put me in check if I am.  I’d be happy to hear from anyone with an opinion on this.

As a sustainable designer, do you think 25% is enough to do your part?

As a sustainable consumer, do you think 25% is enough to be considered a sustainable designer?

Sustainable Design in Greenpoint

After setting up the Moves Pop Up Shop earlier this week, Helena and I walked along Franklin street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn to check out some of the new shops that have been popping up like weeds, for lack of a better term.

The first, located just down the street from the pop up shop, drew us in instantly with its beautiful antique Japanese furniture and vintage kimonos.  A collaboration between two sustainable designers, Belinda Pasqua from The Sway and Jean-Michel aka Artists & Revolutionaries.  The shop is filled with baggy trousers and loose fitting tops which made me very happy (but also has the potential of making me very broke).  Both designers use reclaimed materials for their collections.  But neither of their collections looks “recycled” in the negative way.  Instead they offer a very modern, Japanese zen perspective on fashion which is definitely highlighted by the decor and the incense burning as you walk through the door.  Jean-Michel has a studio space in the basement of the shop which made me very envious.  He came up to meet us carrying an armload of new garments he had just finished sewing!

The official opening of this new shop is on November 11th, so stay tuned to this site for the invite.  I don’t remember the address of the shop, but it’s a block south of the Pop Up which is at 214 Franklin.

The second spot we found, just down the street at 99 Franklin, transported us from Japan to France.  Pip-Squeak Chapeau is at once minimal and inviting, filled with warm cozy looking knits and cashmere skirts for children and grown ups.  Check out their shop and their collection online, I love their lookbook.

Yay Brooklyn!

Study Hall in Venus Zine

I’ve had to keep this to myself for nearly a month now because the magazine didn’t want me publishing images of this issue’s fashion editorial until the magazine hit stands.  And today it has, so I can finally brag about my talented interns.  The photo shoot we did earlier this summer with Jena Cumbo was published by Venus Zine as a fashion editorial as well as a story on Study Hall.

Above are some pics from the shoot.  I’m so proud!