Nolcha Fashion Week: New York will kick off their 9th season on Monday, September 13, 2010 and showcase top-tier designers during the invite-only four day event. Bel Esprit is once again partnering with Nolcha to produce the Ethical Fashion Preview to take place during Nolcha Fashion Week, September 13-16, 2010. Ethical Fashion Preview is becoming the New York Fashion Week destination for press and buyers to get the first look at the new ethical fashion collections each season.
On Tuesday, September 14, 2010, Nolcha will highlight Ethical designers through exhibits and runway shows. Some of the designers who will be displaying pieces from their recent collections are Elena Garcia, Lucy Tammam for the House of Tammam, GUNAS, SempreLei by Hepsen Uzcan, Miksani by Katie Weightman, Vicerra by Vanessa Lee Wishart, Nicole Bridger, Zele by Maria-Iwona and Trecy Bleich of Vella Mode.
Elena Garcia blends daring design, traditional techniques, and luxurious, eco-friendly textiles to create beautiful, timeless pieces for women of all ages. EG’s trademark felting on crinkle silk, satin cutwork and stitch resist, a technique in which the fabric is stitched, pleated and then dyed, resulting in pretty regular patterns. The brand is Pesticide Free, Fair trade, Local, Ethical and Sustainable.
Website: www.elenagarciastudio.com and www.belespirit.com
The House of Tammam by designer Lucy Tammam offers beautifully cut, immaculately tailored womens evening and occasion wear. Produced at fair trade ateliers in India and Nepal using unique sustainable fabrics. The Tammam collections are designed for real women who want to feel and look wonderful.
Website: www.tammam.co.uk and www.belesprit.com
GUNAS®, which means ‘qualities of nature’ in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit, is a word that rightly depicts the sincere respect they have for nature and its creations. It is their goal to provide their client with a sustainable product that is free of PU/PVC and other plasticizers that pose a threat to our environment. Examples of such materials are ultra suede, organic cotton, canvas, nylon, velvet, linen, cork, and a synthetic eco-lining. They are 100% vegan: no leather, fur, wool or silk is ever used. Nothing is tested on animals.
Website: www.gunasthebrand.com and www.belesprit.com
SempreLei, derived from the designer Hepsen Uzcan’s name, consists of vibrantly dyed natural silk and cotton fabrics. Hepsen integrates her passion for elegance by combining sleek, modern designs of Italian couture with centuries old Ottoman lacemaking known as “Oya.” Deeply infused with history and knowledge of a culture, each piece in the collection is one-of-a-kind as the “Oya” on each piece is meticulously handmade of 100% silk threads by a different woman in a remote village in Anatolia, vividly bringing forth the forgotten traditions of the past and the designer’s aesthetic vision with every knot.
Website: www.SempreLei.com
At Miksani by designer Katie Weightman, garments are manufactured in World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO – formerly IFAT) certified producers or those working towards this.
Fair trade is a campaign to underline the unethical system of world trade, ensuring that producers receive fair prices which mirror the true costs of production. It helps improve working conditions in factories, promotes fair wages and guarantees that more of the money we spend on garments goes directly to the person who has made it. Miksani garments are unique and often hand woven, hand knitted and hand printed meaning that artisans in small communities are supported and traditional skills are kept alive. Miksani create stylish, luxury fashion whilst employing socially responsible and ethical business practices.
Website: www.miksani.co.uk and www.belesprit.com
At Nicole Bridger Designs, they believe in taking care of the earth and its people. To take care of the earth they use socially conscious fabrics and practices. They use fabrics that are from natural and renewable resources. They consider the impact that we have on the earth and do what they can to minimize it. To take care of the earth’s people they help spread the word of love through their affirmation labels ‘I am love’ in each piece of clothing. Nicole Bridger Designs are dedicated to contributing to positive change in our modern world.
Website: www.NicoleBridger.com
Vicerra by designer Vanessa Lee Wishart is a leading Canadian clothing retailer located in Toronto, Ontario. Vanessa has decided to rebrand her label and launch Rarity Couture, an eco-conscious fashion line made from reclaimed materials. This collection thrives on creativity, originality, and social-consciousness. Her company will be manufacturing affordable, one-of-a-kind, upcycled, repurposed and recycled clothing to meet increasing consumer demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable products.
Website: www.Vicerra.com
Zele by designer Maria-Iwona is a knitting company set in 1979. The textiles used are of high quality flax and its mixtures, as well as ecological cotton, wool and coco. The items of clothes designed and manufactured in their firm are characterized by excellent quality, style and fashion.
Website: www.belesprit.com and www.zele.com.pl
Trecy Bleich of Vella Mode captivates individual awareness and embodies all the beautiful experiences that enlighten her. Collections will have a modern, eclectic, casual or traditional aesthetic. Each piece is designed and hand crafted to ensure an interesting and individualized look. Her jewelry is made with materials purchased by herself from different parts of the world.
Website: www.vellamode.com and www.belesprit.com
For more information, visit www.Nolcha.com.
