As the recent  shows in New York, London, LA, Vancouver, have shown  eco fashion has legs. It’s a pretty safe bet the field will expand as it becomes quite apparent that eco fashion is all about innovative design, sustainability and ethics through out the supply chain.

You gotta give props to Prince Charles. He recently hosted a Sustainable Fashion Show at the grounds of Clarence House, which is ground zero of the Prince’s START environmental action plan for the UK. The purpose of  START  is to promote and celebrate sustainable green living across the United Kingdom. With START, the objective is to present an inspiring picture of a sustainable future. The program will do this by highlighting the very best examples of sustainable practice in the UK, and showing how everyone can  make positive changes right now.

London’s Mayor, Boris Johnson,said “This fashion show proved that eco fashion and sustainable chic, which are often associated only with macrobiotic yogurt, hemp shirts and raffia work, can be funny, elegant and commercial.”

During 2010, Start will grow into a vibrant and diverse program, which will engage people right across the UK. Some topics include recycling, saving water, saving energy, using renewable energy and  healthy living ideas.

Check out video from the Green ShowsNew York and a local eco fashion shop in Vancouver.

Eco fashion keeps getting more of the spot light in the fashion world these days. From New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angles and Vancouver. The beat is catching on. Designers and many throughout the supply chain are paying attention to fair trade policies and conditions which effect the bottom line price to the buyer.

In Southern California alone the business kicks in about $35 billions a year. It just isn’t about cost however, these new designers and eco conscience artists, models and textile producers are keyed into the chemical make up the material they’re using. Eco fashion shows roll out around the globe. In New York coming up for its third season, The GreenShows Eco Fashion Weekwill present ten fashion designers committed to environmental and social responsibility, September 12-14 during New York Fashion Week. The GreenShows will take place at Metropolitan Pavilion’s new eco-conscious venue, The Metropolitan Suite, centrally located in the heart of Chelsea at 123 West 18th Street, 2nd Floor.
The GreenShows at Metropolitan Pavilion is the only premiere fashion event exclusively committed to eco-friendly, ethically sound, fair-trade fashion during New York Fashion Week. This 3-day event will feature a selection of fashion designers who have been given the opportunity, support and resources to show their collections under one roof.

The Gallatin School of New York University

Gallatin Eco-Fashion Week not only recognizes environmentally and socially responsible fashion, but also critically examines what the terms “eco” and “green” really mean within the fashion world. The event is organized by a diverse committee comprised of students, alumni, faculty, and administrators.

The Gallatin School of Individualized Study, a small innovative college within New York University, gives students the opportunity to design a program of study tailored to their own needs and interests. When students choose Gallatin, they take on the exciting challenge of creating their own curriculum and unique plan for learning. They pursue their individual interests from a personal perspective by taking courses in the various schools of New York University, engaging in self-directed education through independent studies, and participating in experiential learning through internships at New York City’s countless institutions, businesses, and arts organizations. Undergraduates experience a thorough grounding in the history of ideas and great books, and graduate students pursue advanced study in interdisciplinary modes of thought.

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By Larry West, About.com Guide  - photo Joann Berman

Simply put, the term “eco-fashion” refers to stylized clothing that uses environmentally

sensitive fabrics and responsible production techniques.

The nonprofit Sustainable Technology Education Project (STEP) defines eco-fashions as clothes “that take into account the environment, the health of consumers and the working conditions of people in the fashion industry.”

Clothes and accessories that meet such criteria are usually made using organic raw materials, such as cotton grown without pesticides, or re-used materials such as recycled plastic from old soda bottles. Eco-fashions don’t involve the use of harmful chemicals and bleaches to color fabrics—and are made by people earning fair wages in healthy working conditions.

Eco-Fashions Debut at Fashion Week in New York
Designers have been playing around with organic and natural fibers for years, but so-called “eco-fashions” had their coming out party at New York City’s famed Fashion Week in February 2005 when the nonprofit EarthPledge teamed up with upscale clothing retailer Barneys to sponsor a special runway event called FutureFashion.

At the event, famous and up-and-coming designers showcased outfits made from eco-friendly fabrics and materials including       hemp, recycled poly and bamboo. Barneys was so enthused that it featured some of the environmentally sensitive designs in its window displays for several weeks following the event, imparting a unique mystique to this emerging green subset of the fashion world.

Top Designers Embrace Eco-Friendly Fabrics
One of the highlights of FutureFashion was a stunning pink-and-yellow skirt made from corn fiber by uber-cool Heatherette designer Richie Rich.

“It’s definitely something we’re going to continue toying with,” Rich told reporters. “People often perceive the fashion world as superficial, so it’s great to work with materials that are actually good for the environment. I had my doubts, but when we actually saw the fabric swatches we were blown away. They were gorgeous, and it wasn’t hard to design with them.”

Eco-fashion Movement Heads West
The party moved to the West Coast in June 2005 when San Francisco culminated its World Environment Day celebration with “Catwalk on the Wild Side,” an eco-chic fashion show sponsored by the nonprofit Wildlife Works featuring top models and designs from the likes of EcoGanik, Loomstate, Fabuloid and others.

One of the pioneers of the emerging eco-fashion movement is designer Linda Loudermilk. Her “luxury eco” line of clothing and accessories uses sustainably produced materials made from exotic plants including bamboo, sea cell, soya and sasawashi. The latter is a linen-like fabric made from a Japanese leaf that contains anti-allergen and anti-bacterial properties. Loudermilk also incorporates natural themes in each season’s line—her most recent one being an oceanic motif.

“We aim to give eco glamour legs, a fabulous look and a slammin’ attitude that stops traffic and shouts the message: eco can be edgy, loud, fun, playful, feminine (or not) and hyper-cool,” Loudermilk says.