Oct 20, 2008 | Fashion
Designer Sarabeth Chambers of Saffrona Classics created her collection around a revolutionary new seaweed-based fabric known as Seacell. Developed in Germany, this fabric is made of Lyocell (100% wood-pulp fiber) and seaweed, with about a 5% seaweed content overall. The vitamin- and mineral-rich Seacell has a microscopic silver content, rendering it antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial (which don’t diminish even after repeated washes in the washing machine). The fabric also “breathes” with the wearer, and is lightweight and soft. In her collections up until now, Sarabeth has always used silk for her simple yet elegant party dresses, but in this S/S ’09 Collection, all the pieces are done in Seacell, lined in organic cotton. She found that since Seacell only is manufactuered in black or white, she had to get creative with it to create colors in her collection. The Crayola palette of her dresses was achieved with numerous dying in baths of beets and Kool-Aid. Comitted to local and eco-friendly business practices, she sources all of her fabrics and contracting in the U.S., mostly from Northwest suppliers. She says the woman who wears her clothes is someone who has a good sense of humor and someone who wants to make a statement. To see more and buy direct, visit the Saffrona website.
-Carly J. Cais
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Oct 20, 2008 | Fashion
Designers Tyla Dahlman and Andrew Van Zanten said they were inspired by the 1970’s Cuban Revolution when designing the Sameunderneath S/S ’09 Collection. In it we saw lots of bright, fun colors, great cuts, linen, and organic cottons. The line definitely had a low-key “travel” vibe to it, with an appeal to younger couples (since they put out both mens’ and womens’ wear). We saw surprisingly intricate crochet pieces, tailored shorts, breezy organic cotton dresses, and printed tees, all paired with long feather earrings, boho hairbands, and leather flowers (some even tied onto the models’ calves – how’s that for innovative acccessorizing??).
Sameunderneath itself is a concept brand and desires to spread a message as it grows. The designers utilize eco-friendly fabrics not as a marketing point or because other companies are too, but simply because “its the right thing to do. Everyone needs to be conscious of what they’re buying, using, and consuming,” they say. “Sameunderneath is a concept, a belief, and a way of life. It brings people together of all different races, religions, and backgrounds because we are all really the same underneath.” Check out the brand’s website here to see more.
-Carly J. Cais
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Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
Known as the first fashion show in the country to focus on sustainable and eco-friendly fashion, Portland Fashion Week has been around since 2003, but since 2007 has made the entire event eco-friendly and sustainable. (From construction of the actual runway with eco-friendly materials, to eco-safe styling products on models, to even using sustainable-certified hotels for our guests, the city is committed to lead by example in the use of sustainable practices whenever possible.) For one week in mid-October, local fashion designers debut their latest RTW collections to audiences of buyers, press, and the fashion community. It’s low-key with an indie-vibe, and the low entrance fee for designers wanting to showcase their collections ($1500, compared to the $150K+ required for showing at New York Fashion Week) means that other non-local designers not necessarily striving for sustainability also have a chance to present their lines. Though the collections usually have a more commercial bent to them, there is also often a rising star (Leanne Marshall, recent winner of Bravo’s Project Runway, showed her Leanimal collection in 2007) or well-known mainstay of sustainability and eco-friendliness (Lizzie Parker, who showed this year) presenting, and overall, the event is fun, youthful, and energetic.
This year, yours truly hit the latter half of Portland Fashion Week to visit the shows and get the scoop on the latest in sustainable fabrics, clothing, hair, and makeup. Day 1 and Day 2 showcased: Icebreaker, the Art Institute of Portland, MEWV Sustainables, In Harmony, dlr designs, Revivall Clothing, Bon’Lou, and Studio SKB, but since we weren’t there we can’t write too much. (We’ll post some photos copped from other photogs in the coming days.) However, since we started attending on Day 3, we’ll start our coverage with Nike Considered in an upcoming post. Below, some photos we took backstage and of the event:
The runway was made of 100% recycled rubber balls (though I’m not sure where they got all those rubber balls!).
This was what the bar was made out of (EnduraWood). Only in Portland!
And these were fabulous. These are dresses made completely out of paper – folded, cut, glued, sewn, molded – and they’re just insanely gorgeous. You can read more about the line and designer Lia Griffith on her website at Papier-Couture.com.
xo
Carly
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Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
Surpisingly, designer May Tee was originally a software engineer for ten years, working at Intel, before she made the transition into fashion. She attended school at Parsons, spending summers in London and Italy, even working as a freelance designer for Versace. What really catapulted her into the industry was working at a high-end boutique in downtown Portland, where she gained a feel for her ideal customer and luxury fabrics. This background she translated into her Portland-based eponymous line, now a year and a half old. Her S/S ’09 collection was inspired by a recent trip to Australia, where she visited Sydney Opera House and was struck by the architectural curves of the building. She translated the fluid shapes into her designs for the collection (below). She says her clothing resonates with people who really appreciate details and who enjoy quality. Her collection consisted of sharply-tailored suits and sheath dresses, with a fluid, structured quality. Her philosophy on life and fashion is to”have fun! And always follow your dreams.” Visit the brand’s website to learn more at: MayTee.com.
-Carly J. Cais
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Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
We missed out on the opportunity to interview Seattle-based Alula Clothing‘s designers, Katrina Thomson, Chelsey Burton and Beth O’Leary, but according to their website their S/S ’09 Collection was inspired by thoughts of “sunkissed skin and warm afternoons…the colors and fabrics we dream of in these moments. These are the pretty little outfits we’d most like to be wearing while enjoying those bright shiny days to the fullest.” See a sampling of the collection below.
-Carly J. Cais
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