Blog Action Day 09: Climate Change

Today marks Blog Action Day 2009, when blogs around the world highlight an important global topic. This year the focus is Climate Change. If you're a regular reader or shopper at Fashion Ethic, then you know the skinny: Experts believe that the human impact on the planet earth extends to the increase in global warming, and not in a good way.

Now is the time for us to act and innovate before we travel too far down the path of no return.

So what can one person do? Beyond reduce, reuse, recycle, today is the day to get VOCAL. The most vital thing you can do right now is TELL someone about climate change, not least of which includes asking the US Government to address the issue. The Blog Action Day website has an easy click-and-sign page that then allows you to spread the word to your Facebook and Twitter friends.

Problem-solving is best achieved through dialogue and dialogue can't happen when you don't speak up! So tell a friend, tell a colleague, or tell a family member that climate change is an important issue.

TAKE Action and Sign the Petition to ask President Obama to put the US at the forefront of climate change leadership in Copenhagen this December.

Fashionably Responsible and Lavishly Eco

Last night was Seattle's 2nd Annual Eco Lavish fashion show, conceived by Courtney Russell and her Half Past Lavish event production team. The show was held at Georgetown Studios, in a great space that was sparsely and stylishly decked out in white and set aglow by hot pink lighting.

The fashion show featured four local designers with diverse offerings. Renee Corrick's Six Degrees collection opened the show with well tailored cocktail dressing in modern shapes and sustainable hemp/silk blends. Deco Modiste showed vintagey-looks employing reworked fabrics, and Texture Clothing offered up casual knits.

The much-anticipated finale was Lizzie Parker's collection of bespoke holiday dresses for 2009. In her typical pulling-no-punches style, Lizzie showed dresses in various lengths and shapes to suit women of all ages and body types, as well as all confidence levels. The show ended with a flourish as a model wearing a subtley tie-dyed gown topped with a dramatically-hooded cropped hemp silk capelet walked the runway with 'shop dog' Angus. Employing eco fabrics like hemp silk, organic cotton, and her signature bamboo jersey, the bespoke collection marks the first time Parker has delved into remnants, including a dazzling beaded mesh and some sequin trim. Now you can have your glimmer and eco, too!

Each dress will be available in the designer's Eco Atelier in Issaquah's Gilman Village this season, made-to-order in your choice of materials and color. Love the bubble-skirted grommet-back cocktail dress, but prefer the bodice in a color other than purple? Your wish is her command. This bespoke approach marks a return to the days of fashion yore; an approach that helps reduce waste while ultimately creating greater connections between designer and customer.

And what could be more Fashionably Responsible(tm) than that?

Photos and Video SOON. In the meantime...
Check Out some other fashion blogger reviews of Eco Lavish:

@vuesociety Rachel Kim at VueSociety
@ufntarah Tarah Prater Perini at Urban Fashion Network
@youa Youa Kong at Urban Fashion Network
Cameron Levin, special to Seattlest

Fashion Ethic and Lizzie Parker Team Up for a Sidewalk Sale!

That's right - we're teaming up with Lizzie and bringing the Fashion Ethic experience offline and into the real world...and having a SALE to boot!

THIS WEEKEND, August 8 and 9, stop by and shop us at Lizzie Parker's Eco Atelier in historic Gilman Village during the shopping mecca's annual SIDEWALK SALE.

Meet Candice, meet Lizzie, meet Angus, the shop dog, and hit the sale racks as we clear out summer pieces and discount pre-fall looks!

Best of all, Gilman Village is home to dozens of great independent, local retailers and restraunteurs, and all will have a sale on. Come down and support local small businesses and find a new favorite shop! (Check out some of our faves: Daisy Boutique, Creighton Edward Home, The Iris Grill, and White Horse Toys for the kiddos)

Saturday, August 8th 10a-6p
Sunday, August 9th 11a-5pm

How to Get There: Take I-90 to Issaquah, and find Gilman Blvd. Lizzie's shop is Suite 41, next to Grimaldi's Coffee, off the Juniper St. parking lot

Review is in: Leanne Marshall Project Runway Collection

Now that the complete Leanne Marshall Project Runway collection has been made available on Bluefly, we can share more specifics on the manufacturing and textile composition. Happily, the line has been manufactured in the USA, which is a huge plus.

However, the tencel/rayon blends with silk lining are Dry Clean only and not as eco-friendly as a bamboo/organic cotton blend, which many lines (including Sublet and Ryann) use successfully for a beautiful drape. As for the pieces, other than the gorgeous (and not-realy-eco) blue gown we showed you yesterday, the standout of the bunch would have to be the 100% bamboo jacket (above). It is machine wash and styled to be worn in different ways, but we really wish it was done in a bold color in addition to basic khaki.

Check out another review and see what the fabulous Green Grechen had to say about the Leanne Marshall line. Her honesty is always refreshing.

Leanne Marshall's Collection for Bluefly Debuts Tomorrow

Last week, we received word that Project Runway Season 5 Winner Leanne Marshall's mini collection for Bluefly will be available on their site starting tomorrow, July 8th. Here, we've been following Marshall and her LeAnimal line of "Fashionably Responsible" apparel for several years, even before launching Fashion Ethic in 2007 and really appreciate her rise in the industry as she continues to promote ethical fashion.

Marshall's collection will include seven styles: 2 tops, a skirt, jacket, and 3 different dresses in crisp blues, pinks, and purples. From the looks of it, expect more of the dramatic textile manipulation and soft architectural shapes that we have come to adore from this pioneering eco-fashion designer. Prices are said to range from $98-990, and eco-friendly materials and dyes have been used in most of the garments (the blue dress is unfortunately not bamboo or tencel. No word yet on the labor used.

CHECK OUT Leanne Marshall's eco-friendly Bluefly collection when the page goes live July 8.

Can't wait for tomorrow? SHOP Leanne Marshall's Etsy site for the "Mae" dress or fellow Portland-eco-fashion-designer Emily Katz' line at Fashion Ethic.

'Naturally Chic' with Fashion Ethic's Pop Up Shop at Ella Mon!

We are so excited to announce our "Pop Up" Shop-Within-a-Shop at Ballard's beautiful Ella Mon boutique.

The Fashion Ethic Pop Up Shop opens next Friday, June 26th for a week of residence in the front of Monica Treacy's fantastic store.

Kicking off the opening will be a "Naturally Chic" Weekend full of in-store events at Ella Mon, where you’ll learn how natural, eco-friendly and “Fashionably Responsible” choices in your closet and cosmetics are easy to make and still insanely chic.

All weekend long, you'll have opportunities to:
SHOP eco-fashion essentials from Fashion Ethic’s “shop within a shop”
POSE for a natural headshot with Alison Jensen Photography
PAMPER yourself with a natural paraffin handwax
VAMP it up with a new hat from deVuono and Mikele Keiffer Millinery
ADORN yourself with eco-friendly jewelry designs from Thinknow Design
DISCOVER the Malie natural beauty line
MEET local designers and artists

10% of the weekend's sales will benefit Junior League of Seattle. Stop by for morning mimosas, mid-day massages or evening wine & cheese shopping and other events all weekend long, June 26-28. Additional “surprise” discounts taken at register. Check back next week for more details and schedule of events!

WHEN: Fri June 26- Sun June 28
WHERE: Ella Mon Boutique, 5404 22nd NW in Historic Ballard
TIME: Friday 11am – 9pm (event kickoff at 4pm)
Saturday 11am – 7pm
Sunday 11am – 5pm

LEARN more about Junior League of Seattle and their work around the city

Best Green and Best Socially Responsible Handbag: 2009 Winners

The winners of the Independent Handbag Designers Awards have been announced, and congratulations are in order for Andres Stickney of DRES for Fan Favorite, Best Green Handbag (right) and Cherry Kwunyeun of Blumpari for Fan Favorite, Best Socially Responsible Handbag