A TRADESHOW WITH A CONSCIOUS= EDUCATES AND DAZZLES
Text, Images by J. Ecochard and courtesy of respective designers
May 5th –Starrett Lehigh Center, NYC
We’re always game for anything pr-ed by Company Agenda-even one that requires a haul over to the ‘forbidden zone’ off the West Side Highway…as the company’s clients include the fab Fashion Week runway show-organized by Earth Pledge.
We were not only- NOT disappointed- but frankly bowled over with WOW.
Hopping off the cavernous elevator on the lucky 13th floor, we Cheshire cat grinned from ear to ear taking in the “Eco bent” collection of designers and exhibitors culled together by the discerning eye and seasoned tastes of the visionary veteran tradeshow-er, Barbara Kramer.
Ms. Kramer graciously shared-serving up the back story on the decade old Designers & Agents NYC/LA tradeshows-and its now second year extension of “casting young sustainable brands…to create a gallery of interesting products” hailing from technology, education, art, furniture, and other lifestyle modes.
Even the separate showroom featuring contemporary fashion designers had display booths tagged with a green leaf motif-marking goods composed of 25% or more, organic materials.
“We have an opportunity to make a difference by creating interest amongst retailers to shop green…as consumers are pushing for it” noted Kramer.
And when we posed the bottom line query, “has retailer response been positive?”- we got an enthusiastic “ABSOLUTELY” in reply.
Here’s why.
ECO FEATURES
The “greenest” of trade shows D&A has recycle bins, delicious gourmet snacks and ‘eco’ beverages (Fiji Water)… PLUS-OF COURSE eco fashion and modern everyday gear that was “selected with the most stringent editing process.”
Highlights for us included the hip satchels, totes and clutches made from recycled leather by Canadian Ashley Watson. Masterfully cut motorcycle jackets uniquely crafted in user-friendly styles have a comfy vintage feel – and are edgily accented by re-used metal grommets and zippers. Best sellers include the roomy “Junco” hauler, and shoulder perfect “Plover” oversized handbag. A new men’s line of overnighters (“Dunlin”) and a laptop case “(Cormorant”) will appeal to everyone. However, exact samples of the complete line appealed to no one attending this show-as the pieces were held up in Customs!
Repped by the same The Four Hundred Showroom, we loved the sexy 100% organic cotton (or organic/lycra combo), made in the USA denim selections designed by Tierra Del Forte for her eponymous label Del Forte®. Dark and faded wash shades rule for Fall 2008’s skinny, straight leg, boot, and high waist cuts.
We made a mental note to scope out the “Willow” –that’s a fashionable high-rise, wide leg style- when it hits super hip boutiques like Ron Herman (LA) and Big Drop (NYC) as well as the many eco stores that carry the brand.
A trip across the airy showroom had us front and center eyeballing an engaging display of eco cleansers for comfy undergarments made by Vera & William, a Norwegian brand that’s the brainchild of fashion designer Anne Cecile Rinde. Now in its third year, Vera & William endured a three year gestation period as Rinde clued us in on how difficult it was for her to find manufacturers who can produce the longer threads of natural fibers. “Synthetics are easier to produce,” she noted… “as it’s not only about being green but it (the fabrics) need to be the highest quality.”
Fortunately, select Italian factories provide the “clean raw materials”-resulting in a delicate line of soft merino wool, silk, angora, plush cashmere, and fine Egyptian cotton underwear and hosiery.
Plus all garments meet the stringent Oeko-Tek certificate that guarantees no harmful substances are used in the manufacturing process. That’s a biggie- key when taking into account that organic materials are often tinted with toxic dye chemicals, sucks up fresh water etc.
Another marketable fashion brand at D&A that we’ve reviewed prior is House of Organic aka Ekovaruhuset.
But spankin’ new to us is the M.E. Moore hand made “found objects” jewelry line by the equally exotic Morgania Moore.
We love her resourceful, scientific approach to sourcing foundries for excess metals that would’ve been tossed…and artistic scavenger’s eye to manipulate and recycle… seeing the beauty in objects ranging from lacelike German enamels from WWII- to abalone seashells.
Naturally, each piece is unique-or practically so.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
Though limited on time, we grabbed a few minutes with the “environmentally conscious” Los Angeles designer, Deborah Lindquist. Her style savvy collection, adored by celebs like Demi Moore and Paris Hilton- is made with vintage, sustainable, and recycled materials. We think the soon to be HUGE… “GREEN” wedding collection of feminine wedding gowns by Lindquist- is a glam step forward in “Eco” garb.
The catchy “Change Your Underwear” trademarked slogan of SKIN™ by Susan Beischer that was plastered on a billboard- sure got us into her booth. Skin™ is set to launch a sexy organic undies line in August- that’s reasonably tagged from $19-$21. And SKIN’s thongs and panties come in a handy travel pouch…clever, clever!
We also enjoyed a few minutes with Amy Galper, the President of Buddha Nose…a sublime aromatic collection of salves, lip balms, sprays, bath salts, scrub cleansers and essential oils. Seated with her gal pal, Kim D’Amato-owner of the ‘we go there’ Priti Organic Spa on East 1st Street in Greenwich Village.
Galper (IMHO a natural healer) had us relaxing or energized all up, depending on what we sniffed. No wonder Buddha Nose has gotten major ink and has wide distribution-as the idea of healing and wellness-that eschews the synthetic world-deservedly gains mainstream traction.
THE DISPLAYS
What also makes a D&A event even more glorious than the usual tradeshows- is the à la mode green set-ups hailing from the furniture and technology worlds. Right off the bat we sat down in the Vancouver based Molo Design’s sleek seating arrangements- that gives starchitect Frank Gehry’s iconic Easy Edges Chairs serious competition.
Kudos also go to the retro charm vintage wallpaper menagerie of animals, birds and trees by Romp -that graced the white walls… and the elegant, hand crafted bamboo display shelves by Black Dot Furniture.
TRENDS
We hope “the world’s one & only” HYmini™-“ revolutionary universal charger/adapter devices”…that harness renewable wind and solar power and conventional wall plug power to recharge gadgets like mobile phones, PDA, mp3 and cameras-catches on.
Imagine-powering up a cell while bicycling to work…or soaking up the sun on the beach with the expandable (and portable) solar panels firing the iPod. Cool.