(Re) Fashioning Fiber at Green Spaces NY

Xing-Zhen Chung-Hilyard and Melissa Kirgan of Eko-Lab's 'Trees In The Dark, Dresses In The Light' mixed media fiber drawings/sustainable fashion installation and Abigail Doan's 'Fiber Flotsam Colony' on table (photo by Abigail Doan)

Kaori Yamazaki's eco-fiber jewelry installation (photo by Emma Grady)

Sibyll Kalff's 'Little Books' along wall baseboard and Abigail Doan's recycled flotsam fiber forms on wall and floor (photo by Abigail Doan)

Gorgeously green and colorful Eko-Lab models Dina Liss (on left) and Danielle Bowen (on right) looking fresh in make up by Masae Satouchi (photo courtesy of Eko-Lab)

Eko-Lab designers Melissa Kirgan and Xing-Zhen Chung-Hilyard with models Dina and Danielle looking sustainably gorgeous

Fiber/textile installations by Atefeh Khas, Tara Goodarzy, Renata Mann, Michelle Vitale Loughlin (with soundscape by Matt Pass), Kaori Yamazaki, Meiling Chen, Brece Honeycutt and Abigail Doan in this view (photo by Abigail Doan)

Fiber/textile installations by Atefeh Khas, Tara Goodarzy, Renata Mann, Meiling Chen and Kaori Yamazaki in this view (photo by Abigail Doan)

Fiber/textile installations by Tara St. James, Atefeh Khas, Tara Goodarzy, Renata Mann, Michelle Vitale Loughlin (with soundscape by Matt Pass), and Meiling Chen in this view (photo by Abigail Doan)

Tara St. James' paired-ensemble, 'Skyline Skirt and Cobweb Bolero' (Study NY S/S 2010 Collection) created from (re)fashioned twill tape and design studio 'waste textiles'. Love her signature recycled zipper necklaces (photo by Emma Grady)

Michelle Vitale Loughlin's 'Towers 1-3' crafted out of recycled tomato stands, natural fiber knitted on the artist’s first knitting machine with an accompanying sound component entitled, ‘Tower Strings’ by Matt Pass in which three twelve-foot piano strings were strung and then played with wineglasses, mini fans piano hammers, and a French horn piece (photo by Abigail Doan)

Meiling Chen's Clothes Make the Man/’Coat of Many Colours’ embroidered garment crafted out of a vintage shirt donated by a friend, flea market threads, and recycled hanger from the laundromat - installed with Renata Mann Jewlery (photo by Meiling Chen)

Mixed media drawings/collages by Meiling Chen installed with Renata Mann Jewelry (photo by Meiling Chen)

Meiling Chen's Clothes Make the Man/‘Wear Your Heart on your Sleeve’ embroidered garment crafted out of a vintage shirt donated by a friend, flea market threads, and recycled hanger from the laundromat - installed with Renata Mann Jewlery (photo by Meiling Chen)

Mackenzie Frere's 'Study for Breathing 3' (detail). A gossamer-like net hand-crafted out of silk, safflower petals, and madder root

More photos viewable on Eko-Lab's flickr page. Detailed views and profiles of specific works to come. Coverage of (Re)Fashioning Fiber also appears on Treehugger and PLANET mag online.

This group exhibit will be on view at Green Spaces NY through August 13, 2010 with special gallery hours on Wednesdays between 4 -7pm throughout the summer.

Eko-Lab: Living Life in True Color

I had a lovely visit with Melissa and Xing-Zhen of Eko-Lab yesterday at their Lower East Side studio and design shop.



We chatted about details for the installation of their art/fashion project for (Re)Fashioning Fiber opening Thursday, May 20th at Green Spaces NY in Tribeca.



In addition to the textural delights of their hand-crafted accessories and latest sustainable fashion designs, we also sipped aromatic tea, ate delicious Chinese yams, and mused on the the organic realm and spun web structures.


All I can say is that my senses were tingling in a way that they never do when I visit a traditional fashion venue.

Do not miss Eko-Lab's participation in the upcoming 'Sustainable Exchange Workshops With Local Eco-Designers', May 6-9 in NYC. Eko-Lab will offer beginner crochet demonstrations in conjunction with the natural dye workshop on May 6.

*Eko-Lab

Eko-Lab Holiday Event This Weekend

There will be a *fun & festive* eko-sale this weekend at The House of Organic (123 Ludlow Street) featuring original designs by Eko-Lab ladies, Melissa Kirgan and Xing-Zhen Chung, Tara St. James, Renata Mann Jewelry, Dirty Librarian Chains, and eco media pieces by artist and writer, Abigail Doan.

Hours for the openhouse are 1pm-8pm Saturday & Sunday with free crochet lessons offered on-site by the very eko-crafty 'XZ'. Join us for the beauty of sustainability and the cheer of community building ~ all in one cozy, nest-like setting.

Double zipper cuff by Tara St. James

Mixed media panel (detail) with vintage gold thread, laces, shells, beeswax, lace bobbin, and natural fiber (Abigail Doan, 2009)

Dirty Librarian Chains by Susan Domelsmith