Oct 20, 2008 | Fashion
Amai Unmei revealed a collection awash in blues, greens, and silvers, very reminiscent of the ocean. All created in silk (with many of the coats in an animal-friendly silk where the silkworms are not killed by steaming prior to emerging from the cocoons), the collection was girly and fun. Standouts were the gorgeous shades of periwinkle near the end, draped into lights and floaty dresses. Amai Unmei is all manufactured in Portland, and has recently opened a new retail store at 2275 NW Johnson, though pieces are available for purchase on their website. Designer Allison Covington loves working with individual customers and often spends time in the stores that sell her pieces to interact with the women who enjoy her clothes. She says the message of Amai Unmei is to “Have fun!” and you can really see it in the flirty, light creations she sent down the runway.
-Carly J. Cais
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Oct 20, 2008 | Fashion
Designer Lizzie Parker’s line was inspired by French film, with a little 80’s bohemian twist to it. She wanted to create something flattering for a variety of different body types, above all creating a well-crafted garment that anyone could wear. She always wears her pieces first to work out all the kinks in them before sending them out to be produced, creating each piece herself. Using only sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, and organic bamboo jersey (one of the first to be certified organic (Sept. 2008), she created a line of fluid, drapey pieces in blacks, creams, and hot pinks. All of her manufacturing she conducts in Seattle (where she is based) in order to reduce her carbon footprint. She currently has a mini-boutique inside Tweed (a Seattle ladeis’ clothing boutique), and often works in the store in order to interact with her customers directly and keep the dialogue open between consumer and designer. Her clothing appeals to the confidant, fashion-forward consumer, who enjoys funky, but comfortable pieces. For more information on Lizzie Parker, visit the website here.
-Carly J. Cais
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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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