Pinya-Eco Gown: A Classy Look at the Emmys

September 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Who says the use of eco-friendly fabric cannot be practical, chic and classy all at the same time? When more fashion designers are going green and reinforcing this plight to the fashion industry is becoming more of a commitment than just for mere show, something must be cookin’ from within.

As far as Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino is concerned, showing off the talent and creativity of the Filipinos from simply transforming a raw material to an intricate piece of head-turning ensemble is a priceless work worth emulating.
Oliver-Tolentino-Emmys
“I want the whole world to know that we Filipinos can make beautiful clothes using the local fabric pina,” added Tolentino.

This was witnessed by many television fans worldwide during the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards last Sunday, September 23, 2012. As part of Entertainment News program’s coverage of the Emmys, Extra host, Maria Menounos distinctively wore a beautiful yet eco-friendly gown designed by Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino. Maria made it a point to wear this fabulous gown to the Emmys after meeting Oliver and seeing his remarkable masterpiece. In fact, she had an online voting that went on days before the Emmys as to which gown was most suitable to don at the Emmys among three incredibly designed gowns. Two of the gowns by Oliver were eco and the other one was a crepe de chin. Many of the viewers participated in the voting and what came out the winner was the Greek-inspired blue strapless eco-friendly designed gown that was hand-woven from the delicate fiber of pineapple leaves from the Philippines.

Eco-friendly fashion is slowly becoming a statement. Along with Oliver Tolentino and the rest of eco-supportive designers, eco-friendly fashion may become a forthcoming niche in the fashion industry to reckon with.

According to Oliver Tolentino referring to his designs and creative work, “I incorporate eco into some of my designs because of my concern for the environment and to promote the centuries-old skills and talents of the weavers in my native Philippines.”

Tolentino’s expertise and love for the environment has earned him some prestigious awards the 2011 Featured Designer of eco-ethical endeavor Rags2Riches and the 2012 Sustainable Eco Fashion Award at Islands of the World Fashion Week in the Bahamas. His elegant, elaborate and carefully detailed designs had captivated the fashion industry and Hollywood pomp is no exception. His constant use of native fabrics from abaca plant, pineapple fibers, water-lily leaves, jure and raw silk cocoon has made Tolentino one of the most sought-after designers today.

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The Music Industry’s role in eco-fashion – Playbutton

September 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Though not exactly an eco-fashion accessory, nor exactly a product driven by the factors and initiatives which has propelled sustainable consciousness to a higher state of mind, Playbutton’s products stand as a unique complement for organic clothing items, a fashion accessory that is unassuming, unobtrusive and convenient to use.

Simply put, Playbutton’s “players” are buttons with portable media player capabilities.

Think of them as the smallest iPod there is, only shaped in the form of a button, which a wearer can put on all sorts of fabric types for different clothes.

Playbutton – The portable MP3 player that you put on

Designed with its own rechargeable battery and matched with its simple range of media playback control buttons, Playbutton’s showcase products are essentially buttons which users can readily pin and put on.

Simple and direct in its construction, it is one of those products which have led many into thinking, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

With its safety pin, a user can either put the Playbutton on his/her shirt, bag, pants, or any other item that is on his or her person, put on his or her headphones, and the press play. It’s as simple as that.

“Stealthy” in its overall design, the Playbutton’s form is not as “loud” as standard portable media players are, allowing users and wearers the capacity to still combine their preferred fashion accessories without necessarily having their looks botched with a player sticking out somewhere.

Given its “wear based form”, the Playbuttons stands to be a perfect match for power-producing apparel items, like those showcased by Sonar Charge.

Filed Under: Celebrities Gone Organic Clothing, Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

The Music Industry’s role in eco-fashion – Sonic Fabric

September 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment

As the music industry has doubtlessly caused certain shifts in the cultures and trends of fashion, the arena of eco-friendly fashion has also been influenced by the music industry, from top artists endorsing the advocacies and goals of eco-fashion brands, to different brands utilizing elements of music in the creation of quality sustainable clothing and apparel items.

Sonic Fabric’s take on sustainable wear products would be one good example.

Sonic Fabric – A witty name with something tangible to back it up

Though the prevalence of cassette tapes as a medium for music has long lost its luster, concept artist Alyce Santoro didn’t let that stop the recycling of old cassette tapes as one of the base materials used in making Sonic Fabric’s products.

Recently coming out with a limited edition line of neckties, Sonic Fabric’s ties are made with polyester and recycled cassette tapes, blended at a 50-50 textile blend ratio.

Spinning one of the 20th century’s most pivotal inventions into textile form, Sonic Fabric’s innovative approach has re-stoked interest over cassette tapes, a challenging feat which Sonic Fabric had accomplished in today’s digital media age and state of mind.

With Sonic Fabric’s website announcing the brand’s products to be made with “an audible textile woven from recorded cassette tape”, its featured products prove to be interesting as well, another feat which the brand name had managed to accomplish as a sustainable and eco-conscious name in the eco-friendly fashion industry.

Far from being the only brand to take inspiration from the music industry, Sonic Fabric’s approach in going sustainable in the creation of fashion and apparel items sets it apart from the standard conventions ascribed by other players in the field.

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The Eunice Tsai Approach in Eco-Sustainable Fashion

August 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Gaining traction for smart and intuitive fashion and apparel pieces, Eunice Tsai, a reputable hotel interior designer based in Taiwan, brings her take on quality eco-friendly and eco-sustainable fashion with the Eunice Tsai brand.

With the brand founded by Tsai herself, the interior designer had taken into the craft of designing quality clothing and apparel pieces utilizing materials made under the strictest of eco-friendly fashion norms.

Integrating sexy cuts and comfortable form factors, Tsai had been inspired by her travels, who had gained significant concern over the global impact the textile and fashion industries have in the degradation of Mother Earth’s Natural ecologic balance.

Utilizing recycled fabrics derived from various products like coffee beans, daily wear items by Eunice Tsai are also made without the use of chemical pollutants, utilizing chemical-free dyes and other coloring agents.

With the environment’s state being a major concern in the creation of quality fashion pieces, Tsai’s background in interior design may not inspire much when talking about designs for fashion and clothing items.

But with smart built-in features like “integrated bras”, it is easy to see how Tsai’s approach to functional design in interiors is applied into each Eunice Tsai product.

With the growing demand and awareness for eco-friendly and eco-sustainable fashion products, the ascribed norm that “organic” or “toxin-free” products are expensive is slowly loosing its luster.

Reasonably priced, Eunice Tsai’s products bear all the upsides of eco-friendly sensibilities, superior comfort and engaging design aesthetics, attributes which have pegged the brand in becoming a superstar among the brands of its class.

If you’re on the lookout for an organic fashion brand has all the upsides and none of the downsides, Eunice Tsai just may be the brand for you.

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Lily Cole – Going Eco-Friendly

June 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment

As more and more attention is drawn towards the eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable norms in the creation of fashion and apparel items, a number of celebrities, organizations and fashion brands are leading the way towards environmentally sound alternatives to the non-organic or non-sustainable norms in the fashion industry.

Lily Cole, Hollywood’s once-model-now-turned actress, is among the latest of top billed celebrities who’ve joined the ranks of eco-conscious stars, signing up for the eco-friendly fashion challenge.

Recently turning heads by wearing an “old gown” to the Cannes premiere of Snow White and the Huntsman last May 12, the British bombshell did well in bearing the glam factor which celebrities often sport wearing new custom creations by the fashion industry’s top designers.
“I felt it was absurd that I needed something new when I have so many nice dresses in my wardrobe. It was actually quite a relief to open my wardrobe and just pick something out. What is ridiculous is that this is interpreted as a slightly radical thought. It should be more the norm,” shares Cole in an interview with Vogue UK.

Given the fact that most women do get dresses and only get to wear them once or twice, Cole’s example of looking into her currently available wardrobe does away with having to scour rails for new dresses or calling up designers to come up with unique dress designs.

It does away with the ascribed norm that fashion is only good for one or two wears, since only the latest of design trends tell much about a person’s fashion sensibilities and understanding.

In a time when everything is just about disposable, celebrities like Cole represent a better mindset over the wasteful mindsets which had prevailed in countless societies based in different parts of the world.

Trends come and go, but the Earth, if damaged, will remain to be, with defects and all.

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Deepika Govind’s Denim Green

June 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Designer and textile-maker Deepika Govind recently celebrated the launch of a wide range of eco-friendly denims, dubbed as “Denim Green”.

Primarily adding a new entry into her established line of eco-friendly clothing, apparel and fabric selections, Govind’s Denim Green comes in ready to wear cuts, as well as optional selections for made to order cuts for those who’re more inclined to have tailored wear options.


“It’s a project that I have been working on for the past four and a half years. But it took me some time to bring it onto the shelf. I think the first need to start developing denim was that a lot of clients would see some of my designs and ask if I’d make that in denim for them. And I’ve seen the forecast; it’s denim and denim and more denim for the next four or five years,” shares Govind.

Utilizing organic cotton with environment friendly dyes, Denim Green denims are not bleached, with its indigo denim hues processed using variant modes of vegetable dyeing procedures.

Affordable, the highlight dyed denims by Denim Green may not be 100% natural in terms of their coloring modes, but the selection wears have passed a number of safety and eco-friendly certification standards and requirements.

Apart from the iconic jeans, Denim Green also showcases denim dresses and tops, along with a selection of bags made with the same eco-friendly fabrics utilized in all Denim Green products.

As an organic jeans option, Denim Green efficiently satisfies eco-friendly fashion and apparel pretexts, bundled within reasonable price terms ideal for the average jeans-wearer.

If organic denim is your thing, check out what Denim Green has and find out what the brand has in store for you.

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Jack Wolfskin to go all-organic by 2013

June 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

When it comes to outdoor apparel brands, Jack Wolfskin is a trusted brand, famed for its take on quality outdoor gear made to withstand the rigors of Mother Nature’s temperamental tendencies.

Tuned in coming out with quality products made to protect wearers against rough trails and strong winds, Jack Wolfskin is also attuned to Mother Nature’s current plight, and as such, announced that it will be going all-organic with its cotton-based lines beginning with its Summer 2013 Collection.

Established in 1981, Jack Wolfskin is the Germany-based makers of quality outdoor wear and equipment, with specialty products suitable for various outdoor excursions.

From sleeping bags to tents and rucksacks to gear packs, the brand has made a name for itself in its line of extreme outdoor clothing and outdoor leisure clothing lines. Footwear items are also produced by Jack Wolfskin, and as clothing and apparel items, the brand is quite popular, not only found in outdoor situations and scenarios but also in urban settings.

Since the opening of its first store in 1993 in Heidelberg in Germany, the brand has successfully sold its products via retailer channels, reaching over 4,000 retail venues based in different parts of the world.

With 400 franchises in existence, one would think that Jack Wolfskin, as a brand, would do well in chilling out and bask in the reputation and followers it has successfully gathered, but no.

By going all-organic with its cotton-based wears, Jack Wolfskin continues to remain abreast with the challenges of a fast-paced changing times, implementing current innovations and standards which maintain the brand and its products as relevant with the times.

Come Summer 2013, the new Jack Wolfskins promise to be more than just outdoor wear items, but solid examples of how well a brand can contribute to the best practices of environmental sustainability.

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Eco-Friendly Fashion for Emmy Rossum

May 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Emmy Rossum makes a “summery” statement at the Grammy Awards with a yellow, eco-friendly blend of pineapple and Manila hemp fiber knee-length dress designed by Oliver Tolentino. The bodice is topped by a sheer yoke that’s sprinkled with yellow flower embellishments.

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Missi Pyle Wears an Eco-Friendly Gown

May 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Missi Pyle, star of the Oscar frontrunner The Artist, hit up the Academy Awards red carpet in a unique eco-friendly gown.

Pyle’s gorgeous blue dress was the winning design from a competition called Red Carpet Green Dress which was created three years ago by Suzy Cameron (James Cameron’s wife) in an effort to promote sustainable fashion.

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Green Celebrities at the 2012 Oscars

May 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment

As Tinseltown’s biggest night unfurled, no less than six A-list celebrities proved that sustainability and glamor were far from mutually exclusive. From an Oscar-wielding “Iron Lady” to two of Britain’s national treasures, here are the marquee names who turned the red carpet green at the 84th Academy Awards.

“The gown is gold, full-length and made from eco-certified fabric sourced with help from the GCC,” Firth wrote in her blog. “I could not be more delighted! Can you tell?”

treep opted for a pair of heels by Salvatore Ferragamo, Thatcher’s favorite shoe designer.

Firth wore a bespoke Valentino gown derived from a blend of silk and recycled PET plastic. “The resulting gown absolutely appeals to the romantic side of my nature, but has that high sheen that the red carpet demands,” the Eco-Age creative director wrote.

She accessorized with sustainably sourced (and traceable) pink diamond jewelry by Calleijia.

Her husband, Colin Firth, “recycled” his organic-wool Tom Ford suit from the 2011 Oscars, where he won Best Actor for The King’s Speech.

The Artist actress Missi Pyle wore the winning design from Suzy Amis Cameron’s “Red Carpet Green Dress” competition.

Valentina Delfino, who created the cruelty-free, mineral-dyed “peace” silk gown, was among hundreds of hopefuls who entered the contest.

Kenneth Branagh, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for playing Sir Laurence Olivier in My Week With Marilyn, donned a custom-made Ermenegildo Zegna tuxedo made with eco-friendly merino wool.

Also wearing Ermenegildo Zegna was Best Actor nominee Demián Bichir.

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