Eco-friendly fashion hits Kuala Lumpur
Green is obviously the color of the season. Smashbox Studios shed any un-eco-friendly elements for this L.A Fashion Week, more green designers are showing than previous seasons and the announcement of ecoStyle, an initiative to bring attention to sustainable fashion and lifestyle, was made yesterday at, where else? The green room at Smashbox.
On Nov. 22, ecoStyle will hold a fundraiser in Kuala Lumpur where selected fashion designers will showcase their eco-conscious and sustainable clothing. The event marks the first of its kind for an Asian country and money raised will benefit a Malaysian-focused environmental cause.
But it’s not just all show and no tell. The event will also honor a designer or company in the fashion or design industry that has exemplified eco-friendly business and production practices. This years nominees include Stella McCartney, Terra Plana, Jurlique and Knoll. Honored yesterday with an ecoStyle award of her own for her environmental work through her Collage Foundation was model Angela Lindvall, who was on hand to accept the award. She also spoke about how she was inspired to utilize the fickle nature of the fashion world as leverage in getting a long-lasting environmental message out to the masses. “I happened to use media and fashion as a way to bring up environmental issues. I would see what would happen when a company was pushing something as ‘the hottest handbag’ and people would go crazy for it. I thought if this industry can push a handbag, I can use it to educate people and bring awareness to living a sustainable lifestyle and be more conscious of the environment.” Lindvall was also given an eco diary, a blank book made of all recycled paper (natch) where she will document her day-to-day practices of how she tries to live the green lifestyle.
The environmentally conscious Lauren Bush joined the crowd at the tail end due to some pesky freeway traffic. But she posed for photographers and chatted with Lindvall until getting whisked away again to sit front row at the Gallery fashion show, which featured five eco-friendly designers.
Who said it was easy being green?
-- Melissa Magsaysay
Photo credit: Angela Lindvall and Lauren Bush catch up after the ecoStyle press conference. (Melissa Magsaysay)
