The Fall/Winter presentation of Eco Fashion Week took place last week in Vancouver, BC where an industry that so often revels in excess got a breath of fresh sustainable air.
For the fashion consumer, the most important metric that designers, retailers, and marketers look at is who you are and what you represent. Are you high fashion? Are you seasonal? What’s your budget? Do you buy vintage? The questions are endless. Because of that, designers and retailers offer their potential customers a multitude of choices when it comes to styles and designs. Beyond what most consumers see however, is a vibrant world of buyers, sales reps, designers, production workers, events coordinators and so on.
It was no different at Eco Fashion Week where designers from all over the world came to represent not only sustainably harvested clothing but to help spread the word on why eco fashion is so important. Although some may disregard the idea of eco-friendly clothing, it is because of the tireless work of Eco Fashion Week founder, Myriam Laroche, that the tide is beginning to turn on how people view and understand this growing part of the industry. Recyclable materials, sustainable harvesting practices, fair-trade agreements with farmers and local industries are all integral components of what Eco Fashion Week week was about. Like a puzzle, each stylish piece is essential to educating the consumer base that it only takes a few simple choices to make a big impact.
Through seminars to the runway shows, Eco Fashion week proved that it’s not just a keen eye for detail and tailored construction that makes a collection both wearable and sellable. Based on what was offered at Eco Fashion week, it’s clear that social responsibility can also be a huge selling point for designers. From seminars about textile recovery and recyclable clothing to the worth of fashion and how fashion designers, buyers and media can use the power of social media, Eco Fashion Week was equal parts runway and education.
Influential fashion leaders, sales reps, stylists, and even editors from Elle Magazine all made the trek to Vancouver to help spread the word. More importantly, those at Eco Fashion Week took a stand against excess and made a collective statement about how to effectively use the value of existing resources. The only question left to ask is, will you stand with them?
To find out more and how you can get involved, head to Eco Fashion Week.
Full list of designers:
Eason Wang
F AS IN FRANK
Bitru Fariel
Indigenous
Kreati-ka
Arm Candy
La Isla & Mala Imports
SVENSK
Standing Armed
Adhesif
fiveleft
LRMA
Jeff Garner’s Prophetik