Spring Collections Focusing On Comfy Basics With Some Inspired Prints, Says Fashion Expert

‘Frankie’ bamboo Jersey.Photo by Chopper Couture.

Warmer days are less than a month away, and designers have already started launching their new collections. Among them, eco-fashion designer Chopper Couture has just released two spring/summer collections - the California motorcycled culture inspired ‘Feel Good’ line and the yoga activewear ‘Rock Om’ line.

Both of the new season’s collections are keeping much of their traditional feel, though focusing more on giving wearers increased versatility options by featuring more pieces whose graphic designs are solely on the backs and sleeves, leaving the fronts bare for more conservative looks.

“The collections bring together inspirations from California lifestyle, tattoo culture, Eastern philosophy, and French symbolism,” said Viggo Zingenberg, partner with Irene Zingenberg, designer/company owner.

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Eco-Fashion Getting Noticed during Berlin Fashion Week

Photo courtesy of People Tree.

If you’re in Berlin within the next few days and into eco-fashion, then you have the opportunity for some fun and education. Berlin Fashion Week is underway, and this year there’s a strong presence of eco-designers and brands focusing on high-end styles. THEKEY.TO - an international event for green fashion, sustainable lifestyles, and culture - will be at the Heeresbäckerei on Köpenickerstr in Berlin, with active events from tomorrow until Jan. 23.

“The sustainable philosophy of the event is reflected in the selection of brands, event furniture, fresh organic catering, and the tradeshow architecture,” said a statement by Gereon Pilz van der Grinten, one of the founders of THEKEY.TO.

Among the sustainable brands that will be featured at the event will be: Van Markoviec, Knowledge Cotton Apparel, Studio Jux, Milch, Itsus, Banuq, Komodo, and People Tree. The event will also feature new up-and-coming Berlin-based brands, including: Slowmo, Pamoyo, and Isabell de Hillerin.

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Fall Shoe Shopping: Finding Cool Shoes That Are Eco-Conscious Too

Vegan Slouch Boot made from a soft pleather that covers the entire boot down to the two inch heel. Photo courtesy of Vegan Chic.

It’s the Fall shopping season, and time for new shoes. If your trying to find fashionable shoes that are also eco-conscious, then it can be a real struggle going out to most retail stores. They have very small to no selections.

Another option to consider is shopping online. Some exploration turned up three noteworthy sustainable websites with decent-sized shoe selections made of combinations of vegan, organic, and recycled materials. They’re: 

• Vegan Chic- a provider of shoes, boots, bags, and accessories

• Alternative Outfitters vegan boutique- a provider of shoes, boots, bags, accessories, apparel, and beauty products.

• Pristine Planet- an aggregate shopping site that brings together retailers providing shoes, boots, bags, accessories, apparel, beauty, and a plethora of other lifestyle products.

Vegan Chic, as its name implies, is a good place to explore as a site whose entire inventory, though not entirely organic, doesn’t contain any animal products. The materials used are made of plant and synthetic fibers, such as:

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Mimi the Sardine Gives Kids a New Grownup Way to Carry Lunch

Lunch sacks photo courtesy of Mimi the Sardine.

Little kids are always in a rush to grow up. It’s why they are always getting into their parents closets and playing dress up. This idea played in Pia Anderson’s mind when she decided to design preschool age lines of lunch bags, with a grownup feel, but still a young and practical twist.

“We gear to this age group of messy eaters. It’s where we are trying to make a difference,” said Ms. Anderson, founder and CEO of Mimi the Sardine, a provider of eco-friendly accessories and houseware.

Last month, the company launched its latest creation, a gender-neutral line of lunch sacks, to complement its long existing purse-style lunchbugs.

“The lunch sacks are more of a brown bag style. They’re a little more traditional for the boys,” said Ms. Anderson. And, while the design cut of the lunch sacks might appeal more to the boys, the print designs provide something for everyone’s tastes, with the availability of the five following prints: planes, frogs, trucks, ladybugs, and flowers.

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Organic Fashion House to Show an Explosion of New Designs for the Coming Seasons

Photo courtesy of Global Ghetto Organics.TOPANGA, Calif.- Global Ghetto Organics, a designer and maker of utilitarian sophisticated fashion, is gearing up to introduce an explosion of new designs and apparel to its current collections throughout the coming Fall to Spring seasons.

“Utilitarian sophistication is a design concept of making really nice materials with an upscale feel to them, but can still be worn casually,” said Steve Sas Schwartz, the company’s owner and designer.

Yoga and other aspects of Eastern philosophy inspire many of the graphic designs on the clothing. “My wife is a yoga teacher and she brings a lot of ideas to the designs,” said Mr. Schwartz, who adds that he is also greatly influenced by Native American themes which “have always fascinated” him. Nature motifs are a prominent design element in the company’s collections.

Global Ghetto Organics’ greatest expansion in the coming seasons will be seen in the kinds of apparel that it offers. The company, whose current apparel lines focus on shirts, jackets, and hats, will be expanding into fuller collections for both men and women.

Mr. Schwartz talked about some of what consumers can expect, saying, “For women, our lines will include some amazing skirts and spaghetti strap dresses, along with really cute crop tops.

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