Haute on Wheels – Trending in the Fashion Industry

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.

Lila Organics – For the inner ethic-chic yogi

As a brand catering to the clothing needs of active yoga enthusiasts, Lila Organics is one with readily satisfies wants and needs, allowing yogis to not only look good, but to also feel good in knowing that what they are wearing is made under the strictest of eco-sustainable production norms and conventions.

Founded by Leticia Franchi, the brand is now based in Washington DC, brining its Buenos Aires roots in all of its designs and creations.

With select products which are cut and designed to look good on any type of body form/type, Lila Organics’ products are built to be durable, comfortable and lightweight, factors which often stand as markers in defining quality yoga-wear products.


As a yoga instructor, Franchi is well aware of what the stresses of yoga can do to yoga-wear, keeping that experience in mind when Lila Organic’s products are designed, produced and released.

Utilizing organic cotton, organic hemp, bamboo and soy blends in the creation of fabrics and textiles, Lila Organic’s product highlights would include its Maternity line, with products made to ideally fit women during the pregnancy phase and also designed to be wearable after the pregnancy period’s transition.

With its organic inclinations, Lila Organic’s products lives up to its name, with Lila a derived play from what the word means in Sanskrit and in Swahili. “Cosmic” in Sanskrit and “Good” in Swahili, Lila Organic’s products are designed to maximize comfort when being worn, comfortably hugging bodies without any constrictions.

For the active yogi, Lila Organic is one brand that offers truly balanced products, where form and function are at their best.

Fashioning Change’s “Green Shopping Intervention”

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.

Russia’s First Eco Fashion Week

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.

The EFF’s Source Awards 2012

The final application deadline for the Ethical Fashion Forum-organized Source Awards 2012 is slated to happen on July 31, 2012.

Brands boasting eco-friendly standards in the creation of fashion and apparel products are encouraged to take part in this year’s Source Awards, which remains to be one of the world’s most respected awards for ethical fashion.

Free to enter and not limited to business organizations, the Source Awards also calls for individuals who are engaged in the design, development and release of eco-friendly products.


Steered by the Ethical Fashion Forum, this year’s Source Awards highlights includes categories touching up on brand leadership over men’s/women’s/children’s wear, design innovation, individual contribution, manufacturing and retail processes/operations.

As an award, the Source Awards recognizes the most inspirational and most innovative individuals, business organizations and/or initiatives which are inclined to further propel the eco-sensible and eco-sustainable standards in the fashion industry.

Not just an award positioned to merit brands with aesthetic medals, the Source Awards represents the growing concern and active involvement of various players in the fashion and apparel industry, focusing on the overall impact and future implications linked with the ecologically unstable and unsafe production sites and manufacturing standards.

Given the fact that sustainable standards in the development of fashion items are relevant and important in keeping Mother Earth’s ecologic balance in check, the Source Awards recognizes and gives due merit to those who are constantly innovating and finding environmentally safer and better ways of producing fashion products.

With the increasing demand for clothing and accessories items, going eco-friendly stands to be a choice which fashion industry players have to think about, given the potential damage it could cause if left unchecked.

More than just an award, the Source Award is a bastion that stands up for Mother Earth.

Eco-fashion Criteria – Brief Definition of Terms

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.

Mario Garnero’s support for Eco-friendly Fashion

With countless brands sporting “Made in Brazil” labels, the president of Form das Americas, Mario Garnero, recently made waves by voicing his support for eco-friendly fashion, saying “Everyone must do their part.”

Noted to have been expressed during Rio+20 (the United Nations rio+20 Conference in Rio de Janeiro), Garnero is convinced that there are countless projects and initiatives which can stand as benchmarks for replication initiatives/projects based in different parts of the world.


During the Sao Paulo Fashion Week, Garnero had been responsible for instigating an alliance between Instituto e (the CSR division of Osklen, Brazil’s premiere fashion brand name) and the Government of Italy, with projects intent in implementing environmentally sound solutions in the design and manufacture of fashion products.

Instituto e, as the CSR and non-profit arm of Osklen, has been responsible for the launch of various environmental management projects related to the development and manufacture of fabrics and textiles, along with launching initiatives geared in protecting costal vegetation.

Instituto e is also responsible for designing sustainable furniture pieces, and has developed eco-friendly fabrics which have strengthened the awareness and benefits of eco-friendly fabric alternatives.

With Italy’s link for being the home of several fashion houses, the partnership between Instituto e and the Italian Government remains to be one of the many initiatives acted upon by Garnero, who heads Forum das Americas in its operation as a think-tank that is intent on development and international cooperation.

“We were pioneers as the entrepreneurial force behind Brazil’s biofuels program. This new cooperation will not only produce late technology textiles, but also help raise awareness for environmental causes”, shares Garnero, referring to the new partnership.

All in all, with the “big guns” supporting the eco-friendly initiative, more can be expected to come in its growth as an industry.

Level Seven (L7)’s Debut – Brand Highlight

With Australia being the home of a number of world famous organic fashion houses and brands, it comes as no surprise to hear of Level Seven (L7)’s debut, a new Aussie brand catering to the organic clothing and fashion needs of those who really care about Mother Earth.

As a brand, L7 features products which are all made with certified and organic cotton, with fabrics made with 100% organic cotton blends. With all its products designed and made in Australia, L7 asserts the strictest of organic certification standards, and implements only the best of international fair trade terms.

Borne from the United States’ skate culture, L7 features innovative and creative designs, creations which are positioned to be a brand highlight because of their originality. With bright colors and witty color combinations, L7’s products, design wise, are perfect matches with Australia’s beach culture – cool, calm and relaxed.

To ascribe a “Limited Design” ethos, L7’s intent to churn out a limited status on designs proves to be a winning edge, given that limited designs would mean that not everyone would be wearing the same shirt.

With it proponents growing up together, being part of each other’s lives close to twenty years, L7 is run by passionate adventurers, who had spent time together in various activities, including riding, skating and weekend-long adventures.

Standing as a brand that creates, not mirroring the culture they are immersed in, L7’s organic sensibilities and approach to design prove to be a winner for L7 and its wearers too.

Nomads Hemp Wear – Organic Brand Review

Beginning with the making of clothing items and selling them from a “front shop” van, Nomads Hemp Wear is a clothing company whose name fits well with the brand’s original profile, nomadic in its business model operations yet dedicated in showcasing a diverse range of quality hemp-based clothing items.

Now standing up as a full-featured clothing company with a base in Nelson, BC, Nomads Hemp Wear features quality fashion and clothing items bearing functional-yet fashionable aesthetics, a twist often looked for in today’s fast paced times.

Carrying a wide range of organically grown hemp-based products, Nomads Hemp Wear highlights would include grunge-inspired pants, yoga wear essentials, salsa skirts and even an underwear line.

Featuring printed shirts with unique and impressive designs, as well as intricately embroidered patters on a number of its products, Nomads Hemp Wear’s products come in a variety of colors, and are durable as clothing items, given hemp’s reputation for durability.

Often ascribed to be the most durable fiber in the planet, hemp has long been used in the creation of fabrics, with hemp crops being resistant to insect infestations and certain diseases.

With high fiber content, hemp stands to be the most eco-friendly of organic material options, a fact which Nomads Hemp Wear knows all too well.

Also featuring a line of organic cotton wear and organic soy-organic cotton blends, Nomads Hemp Wear also has a recycled polyester line, as works within the bounds of international fair trade terms.

As a brand, Nomads Hemp Wear does well in living up to its namesake, in terms of how the brand started out and in terms of the quality hemp products which it regularly highlights as its couture-creations.

Pantheia – Organic Views, Today’s Fashion Essentials

When talking about fashion and apparel brands catering to those in search of quality organic fashion essentials, Pantheia remains to be one of the best, making a habit out of churning out quality fashion items such as organic clothing, handbags, and jewelry.

With superb detailing on its line of jewelry items, to the impressive construction of its bamboo-made boxes, Pantheia also highlights items which are handmade utilizing banana leaves, made by the experienced hands of expert Balinese artisans.

Advocates of international fair trade terms, Pantheia ensures that its artisans are given their due share in the creation of quality eco-friendly products, defining Pantheia as a brand worthy of anyone’s attention.

The Pantheia Advantage

Taking in Balinese production techniques and methods in the creation of its products, Pantheia’s featured items are all made in Bali, with artisans who have mastered the craft of creating products via traditional tools and materials.

Combining the infused traditional methods of creating knits, woven fabrics and jewelry products which are inspired from the Balinese culture, Pantheia highlights incredibly beautiful craftsmanship in each of item, not only coming out with quality fashion and accessory items, but also contributes to the elevation of the lives of its artisans.

Initiating its philanthropic advocacy in 2011, Pantheia dedicates a portion of its profits to the advancement of artistic education and training in Bali, with grants and funding dedicated to weaving classes, knitting classes and advanced jewelry making classes for young Balinese girls aged between 12 to 18 years old.

With Pantheia, jewelry isn’t only at its most best, but those responsible in their creation are given the best of opportunities, something which not every other brand out there can herald as an inherent “feature”.

If organic jewelry and fashion is your thing, Pantheia’s got something for you, as well as for its craftsmen and artisans.