Writer Emma Grady looking sustainably stylish and happy
(photo by Tom Olesnevich)
This new feature on Ecco*Eco is something that I have been meaning to initiate for quite some time. I have so many wonderful friends in the sustainable design, art, and fashion blogging community, that I wanted to take a moment to highlight the work that they do and allow them to describe a bit about their blog's name, mission, and overall focus.
First up on this front is the talented green-girl-about-town, Emma Grady. Her new blog, Past Fashion Future, is a stunning cross section and round up of her writings on 'ethical fashion musings', sustainable style, and exclusive eco-celebrity interviews. Here is a bit of what Emma had to say about the 'past and future of fashion' as we experience it and aim to advance it:
Screen shot from the very informative and chic, Past Fashion Future
The name of my website came from throwing around ideas in my head--thinking about fast fashion, the fashion industry's seasonal cycle, and the future of fashion--and then it clicked: Past Fashion Future. Fashion is at an interesting point right now; it's an exciting time.
I am fascinated with history, and clothing that communicates a story whether it be personal, like an heirloom jewelry piece, or otherwise. I grew up shopping at second-hand stores and, to this day, I value vintage clothing because it is made to last, has great detailing and it is well tailored. It has been great to see mainstream fashion trends like heritage become popular; it is an example of consumers desiring more of a connection with the garments they choose to adorn their bodies.
The recession and the green movement have both--as current events do--made their mark on the fashion industry. Consumers simply aren't buying like they used to and fashion houses are reconsidering their materials, designs and supply chains. The green movement is really about slowing down and consuming less; to make this possible, products need to be more functional, more efficient, and simply designed better.
From sustainable to mainstream fashion, the past has and will influence the present and future--after all, how can you know where to go if you don't know where you've been? When it comes to seasonal trends, what was popular fifteen, twenty, or one-hundred years can make a comeback at any time--and it does.
Emma gearing up for some investigative reporting
(photo by Tom Olesnevich)
In terms of sustainable fashion, designers are looking to the past by utilizing ancient weaving techniques, natural dyeing processes--with vegetables, roots, and fruits--and by using their hands; suppliers are looking to plants, like Nepal's nettle plants, to make sustainable fibers; and finally, designers are coming up with innovative ways to consume less, like with AirDye fabrics which use significantly less water than traditional dyes, and do more with wearable tech, i.e., a pair of bio-sensing briefs that track your vitals ) or a little black dress that functions as your cell phone, too. We will continue to have innovations in these areas: where science meets fashion and fashion meets technology. My hope is that the future of fashion will continue to incorporate traditions of the past.
*photos courtesy of Emma Grady and Tom Olesnevich
