EcoChic Design Award Takes Flight in Hong Kong

Johanna Ho reconstructed knit top and vintage gown + Melissa Shoes

Recycled trouser dress by Milch, Pauline Yau headpiece + Melissa Shoes

Orsolo De Castro fitted gown created out of surplus Speedo swimwear

More amazing fashion styling by Holly Suan Gray in conjunction with the Redress on the Runway: EcoChic Design Awards at the W Hotel Hong Kong on Friday evening, May 20th.

The event's designer guests Dorian Ho, Johanna Ho, 

award winner Janko, Lam Chun Kuk,

Cecilia Yau and Andrew Sia

Dress by Janko, Lam Chun Kuk inspired by the life cycle of trees 

and patterns of growth via My Green Lifestyle

"Five months ago, EcoChic Design launched Hong Kong’s first sustainable design competition; on Friday night Janko, Lam Chun Kuk emerged triumphant as  the inaugural winner of the EcoChic Design Award. Over 350 highly influential fashion industry insiders watched as the six grand finalists showcased their five-piece ‘EcoChic’ collections in the EcoChic Design Award Grand Final. These young designers had risen to the challenge of creating stylish looks for a modern city girl, using design techniques that minimize textile waste.  All material used in their collections was reclaimed from factory surplus. Also featured on the runway were minimum waste garments by renowned designers such as Dorian Ho, Cecilia Yau, Lu Lu Cheung, Amit Ayalon, and Oliver Tolentino. Each designer created an eco-couture gown made form recycled or reclaimed textiles. UK labels Ciel and From Somewhere also contributed designs to the sustainable ready-to-wear presentation."  – via EcoChic Design Award's website

*images courtesy of EcoChic Design Award and Redress

Sleepwalker Series by Fashion Stylist Holly Suan Gray

I find these images by fashion stylist Holly Suan Gray to be so haunting and prophetic in terms of the future of fashion in a world unprotected from encroaching environmental evils and total lack of regulation. 

I first met Holly at EcoChic Geneva where she worked her magic as the stylist for the runway presentation on the United Nations stage. Her latest 'Sleepwalker Series' is certainly not pretty by conventional standards, but eye-opening nonetheless and an indication that eco styling might finally wake us from our long slumber.

p.s. I also see these models being paraded around tonight at the Rock the Reactors event at the Hiro Ballroom as a demonstration of fashionistas joining forces for anti-nuclear protest and green energy solutions.

(all images courtesy of Holly Suan Gray)

Holly Suan Gray's Eco Stylist Vision

I really love the work of stylist Holly Suan Gray, who will soon be fashioning the folkloric runway looks of the featured designers at EcoChic Geneva. A timeless, multicultural storyteller for both print and film, Gray's scenes are seductively alluring and fragile in nature. As a vegetarian and animal rights activist, her mission is impressively fashion-forward and environmentally aware - which begs one to ask, is the future of eco fashion also in the hands of the stylists who are best able to illustrate what we can and should be as informed fashionistas and truly global citizens?

Stay tuned for more coverage on EcoChic Geneva and Holly Suan Gray's eco stylist spin on the runway event.

*above images include 'The New Puritans' courtesy of Holly Suan Gray and West East Magazine; 'Apparation' for SCMP STYLE Magazine (April 2009 ) with Elyse Sewell photographed by Baldovino Barani and styled by Holly Suan Gray