The Music Industry’s role in eco-fashion – Lisa Vaglund and Tent Project

September 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Lisa Vaglund noticed something about music festivals and gatherings – there’s a lot of trash that comes after their hosting.

Recognizing how better such refuse could be utilized, Vaglund then went into reusing the used tents of the Roskilde Festival, purporting them in the making of stage costumes for Kissey Asplund, a fan-favorite of the event.
Lisa Vaglund
With the Roskilde Festival being one of the six major music festivals in Europe, the move had gained significant notoriety, paving the way for the best practices of “recycled fashion” sensibilities. It also brought attention to Vaglund, whose upcycled designs and creations are quire impressive by their own.

With garbage and refuse being a huge problem for music festivals, it has been reported that a large amount of money is typically allocated for clean up operations and such, with such operations taking as long as three months to complete.

Bothered by the amount of garbage produced from such occasions, Vaglund took on a two-fold drive in the recycling of used items, with one touching up on emphasizing the garbage problems which follow after music festivals, while developing new standards in design and creativity with such “raw materials.”

Working with Asplund, Vaglund was able to come up with unique couture costumes, one which effectively addresses the concerns of refuse generated from music festivals and such.

Though the appreciation of music is something which always had its share of followers, more followers for sustainable fashion and innovative recycling practices have risen due to the efforts of creative individuals like Vaglund.

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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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Ethical Fashion Show to take place this September 6 to 9

August 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The Ethical Fashion Show is slated to take place at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris next month, from September 6 to 9, 2012.

With close to 50 companies hailing from 15 different countries pegged to participate in the event, 25 Europe-based organizations have pledged to showcase exhibits of eco-friendly products, ranging from ready-to-wear (RTW) fashion and apparel items to fashion accessories.

The French textiles union UIT will also be highlighting an exhibit during the occasion, as well as scheduled to feature a series of lectures related to the trends and updates of sustainable fabrics and eco-sensible views. The event will also showcase a lecture organized in conjunction with ECO TLC, touching up on the upsides of recycled textiles in terms of achieving production projections and how much positive impact they have with the overall ecologic landscape.

Issues related to environmental restrictions and water consumption will also be featured during the event, in a round table session which tackles on the drastic effect the discharge of chemical substances have on the environment. International social standards of eco-friendly and sustainable practices will also be discussed during the round table discussions.

With Paris’ ascribed role in being the home of luxury fashion, the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris stands to be a promising gathering of like-minded brands, organizations, fashion designers and experts of the sustainable-fashion field, whose concerns over the sustainability aspect of the fashion and accessories industries can’t be defined as a trendy thing that would loose its relevance some years after.

Come September 6, the Ethical Fashion Show will stand to herald the upsides of going eco-friendly with fashion pieces, in all shapes, forms and styles.

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Puma’s First “Sustainable” Store

August 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The first “sustainable” store by Puma, one of the world’s most recognized and respected sporting goods, gear and apparel brands, celebrated its opening in India, a move with is propelled by the brand’s commitment to contribute to the reduction of carbon footprint volumes into the ecology.

Nestled in Indiranagar in Bangalore, India, the store covers an 800 square meter expense, and is positioned to operate under the maximum of energy saving variables, along with the practices positioned to adhere to eco-friendly practices and ascriptions.
Bangalore Puma Store
As a venue, Puma’s first “sustainable” store is primed to retail a diverse range of products, with Puma’s “Wilderness Collection” being its more notable products, made with materials which had been sourced from sustainable-material producers based in Africa.

“In keeping with out mission of becoming the most desirable and sustainable Sportlifestyle company, Puma is happy to take this pioneering step forward for the retail industry,” shares Franz Koch, CEO, Puma.

“Establishing a sustainable Puma Store underlines our commitment to reduce CO3 emissions, energy, water and waste in PUMA offices, stores, warehouses and direct supplier factories by 2015,” Koch further shares.

The structure of the “sustainable” store by Puma is made from recycled steel, taken from old bicycles, tiffin boxes and DVD players, and its interiors have also been designed to accommodate the easy entry of light, reducing the necessity of artificial lighting fixtures and such. Also, cooling is not a problem for the structure, given that its insulation system is designed to allow for proper cooling without the necessity of air conditioner systems.

Simple and straightforward in living up to its core mission and drives, Puma’s new “sustainable” store truly does live up to the brand’s intention in being more eco-friendly in its successful operations.

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Haute on Wheels – Trending in the Fashion Industry

August 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Though not exactly an initiative that is driven by eco-friendly sensibilities and the driving forces behind the implementation of sustainability in the fashion industry, a trend has recently taken root in the United States, taking shape in what can be best described as “Haute on Wheels”.

With an increase of American retailers ditching the traditional “brick and mortar” venues, a number of converted delivery trucks have been fitted as mobile boutiques, showcasing a diverse range of fashion and accessories products.

Haute on Wheels

New York-based fashion designer Joey Wolffer stands to be one of the many proponents of the “Haute on Wheels” trend, recently converting a 20-foot truck into a mobile store that showcases a unique and diverse range of vintage scarves, leather goods and singular jewelry items. Maximizing the upsides of a “mobile boutique”, Wolffer’s creations have been brought to further distances, reaching as far as Montreal and the rest of the Eastern Seaboard.

Propelled by its novelty value, as well as further “advertised” through the positive reception of its customers via online social media channels, the “haute on wheels” trend is gaining positive critical and commercial reception, a novel idea that inspires the “Why didn’t I think of that?” dictum.

With Wolffer being among the many brands and fashion houses implementing its mobile approach in showcasing fashion and apparel products, its applicability in the area of the eco-fashion industry cannot be ignored, with certain tweaks (say, perhaps the use of hybrid automobiles as opposed to diesel trucks), one which promises to be effective in furthering the goals and objectives of eco-fashion standards and trends.

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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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SAC Launches the Higg Index

July 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

As a trade association consisting of brand names, retailers, government and non-government agencies, academic institutions, and manufacturers, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) plays a vital role in the setting the standards and certifications of sustainable and eco-friendly fashion and apparel products.

With its role as an industry arbiter, the SAC recently launched its highly anticipated Higg Index, which is essentially a tool geared for sustainability measurement, applicable for various aspects in the fashion and apparel industry.

The Higg Index is originally developed by SAC certified members, based on a number of effective evaluation tools and modes. These modes would include evaluation tools such as Nike’s Material Assessment Tool and the Outdoor Industry Association’s Eco Index.

As a whole, the Higg Index is positioned to offer a more comprehensive measurement tool in assessing the social and environmental impact of footwear and apparel products, allowing fashion industry stakeholders the chance to easily and readily identify avenues where the reduction of waste and better long-term sustainability strategies can be implemented.

“The Higg Index marks the most thorough and complete attempt at measuring environmental performance data from material sourcing through end of life. We are confident it will have a positive impact on product sustainability over time, and become a model for how industries can collaborate in making a positive impact on value chain performance,” shares Jason Kibbey, Executive Director, Sustainable Apparel Coalition.

Given the number of certifications which abound in the eco-sensible industry, the Higg Index is primed as a consolidated measurement and assessment body, one which comes as great news for manufacturers and consumers who are prone to “get lost” in finding out which is what when talking about sustainable standards.

With it, brands and consumers no longer have to be confused when talking about certifications and standards.

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Fashioning Change’s “Green Shopping Intervention”

July 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Launched last fall, Fashioning Change has done solid initiatives and programs primed by its “green shopping intervention” advocacies and focus areas.

With its “Wear This, Not That” platform, Fashioning Change continues to do what it can in helping fashionistas and everyday clothing and apparel consumers in making better choices when it comes to deciding which fashion product to buy.

Basically, “Wear This, Not That” is a web-based application portal, one which is positioned to compare two different products which sport similar cuts and styles.


Not only comparing products in terms of price, it also jots down details pertaining to a given item’s eco-friendly status, keen on defining what sustainable materials were used in its making, as well as accurate in noting the “downsides” a non-eco-friendly product is known to come with.

Also, “Wear This, Not That” looks into a given brand’s environmental and social initiatives, programs and campaigns, and also identifies its certifications roster, to better help its users make solid decisions over which fashion item to opt for.

With an estimated 140 million subscribed online shoppers, Fashioning Change puts fashion-forward brands in the limelight, not only doing its part in advocating the best practice of sustainable product development, but also helping on-the-rise brands reach broader followers.

Given the now significance and relevance of online shopping practices, Fashioning Change, via “Wear This, Not That”, maximizes the interactive information awareness capacities of the internet, in pushing its advocacies for new standards in the creation of eco-friendly fashion and apparel products.

If you feel you’re missing out on what is truly eco-friendly or not, Fashioning Change’s “Wear This, Not That” is one place you’ve got to drop by.

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Russia’s First Eco Fashion Week

July 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

With eco-fashion sensibilities rapidly gaining momentum in different parts of the world, a number of nations are celebrating their organized debut eco fashion week festivities, as others have been doing for years.

Moscow’s First Eco Fashion Week would be one of the most recently organized.

Held at the Botanical Apothecary’s Garden in Moscow State University, the first Eco Fashion week in Russia highlighted the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” practice, to the tune of what ethical and eco-friendly standards are noted for.


Featuring a number of eco-developed products, the celebration also brought classes geared to endorse the best practices of sustainable planting, along with sewing classes, which are more inclined spreading sewing techniques and principles pertaining to the creation of eco-friendly fashion items.

Some 18 months prior to the actual event, the Russian Environmental Movement known as ECA had organized an Eco Fashion Weekend dubbed “Go Green!”. The event proved to be a success, leading to the inception of the Eco Fashion Week.

Being Russia’s first Eco Fashion Week, the event aimed to spread the upsides of eco-awareness, in helping maintain the world’s ecologic balance to be free from toxic compounds and elements.

Headed by Marina Kokorina, the Eco Fashion Week did well in living up to its eco-friendly inclinations, standing as a noteworthy hallmark for the eco-fashion industry as a whole.

“Our plans are to develop the Russian Eco Fashion Week as a separate brand into an important annual event held by our movement. Now that the week is over, we are planning to stage a whole range of other events – workshops, conferences, mini fashion shows as part of other events – during the year running up to the next Eco Fashion Week,” shared Kokorina.

With more and more brands sporting eco-friendly inclined advocacies into their day to day operations, more and more nations are organizing their eco fashion week versions, in support for the cause backed by eco-friendly and eco-sustainable standards and norms.

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Eco-fashion Criteria – Brief Definition of Terms

July 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment

As broad and as generic the term “eco-fashion” is, a number of terms linked to its production, development and release have come about, geared to help users better understand the products offered to them.

However, as many and as diverse as these terms are, many consumers find themselves confused over these criteria.

If you’re among the many who are lost with what eco-fashion criteria terms mean, here’s a brief definition of terms touching up on the most commonly encountered eco-fashion terms/criteria.

Artisan/Craft-Class Products – Artisan or Craft-class eco-fashion products are products which involve the skills of talented artisans, like embroidery or traditional fabric/textile staining processes.

As eco-fashion products, they are often valued because of the non-involvement of machinery in their creation.

Vegan – to the tune of vegan sensibilities, vegan eco-fashion products are made without the involvement of any animal-derived materials like leather or any form of animal tissue.

One popular eco-friendly vegan eco-friendly product would be “vegetal leather jackets”, which are derived from the use of rubber plants, in the creation of a leather substitute.

Fair Trade Certified – when a given eco-fashion brand/product is “Fair Trade Certified”, the certification means that the brand/product don’t advocate the exploitation of workers, promoting the codes and standards of ideal international labor terms.

Fair Trade primarily focuses on how goods are exported to developed nations from developing nations, and ensures that production facilities and production manpower terms are well within fair and humane grounds.

Organic – as the definitive criteria for eco-fashion products, organic items are simply identified as products made with natural materials, whose development/harvesting doesn’t involve any chemicals and/or pesticides.

Recycled – with recycled eco-fashion products, anything that is made with reused materials falls into the recycled criteria. From fibers to reworked clothing items, recycled eco-fashion products are often paired with organic standard products.

So there you have it. A brief description of the most commonly encountered eco-fashion terms. Do well in keeping the abovementioned definitions in mind when you’re out to beef up your eco-fashion wardrobe.

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