Ecofashion

Ecofest NYC 2011

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On Sunday Sept. 18th, New Yorkers celebrated the annual Ecofest, this year beside the Intrepid Museum at Pier 86. Many nonprofit environmental organizations participated, as well as NY State Energy Research & Development Agency (NYSERDA), green entrepreneurs, and green vehicle companies. One highlight was the eco-fashion show on eco-friendly “ice” that is made of a slippery resin. It is skate-able just like real ice, but requires no water or energy.

Two designers displayed their lines: Roxi Suger of Angelrox and Heidi Vanderhoof. Heidi is a figure skater and also a costume designer that makes use of recycled fabrics, and Angelrox creates clothing such as adjustable wraps out of bamboo fiber, as well as organic cotton tunics and tops. The Angelrox line strives to use American grown fabrics and is all sewn right in Brooklyn. See angelrox.com.

Designer Roxi Suger wearing her own design at her exhibit booth
Designer Heidi Vanderhoof wearing her wedding dress that she designed and made from t-shirts

“Eco Ego” Shop in Copenhagen

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While in Copenhagen recently, aside from seeing the wind turbines, I searched out and found this wonderful store called EcoEgo. It sells a multiplicity of eco-friendly products, many of which are from the States. The owner took the time to show me a lot of cool items, and he happened to be originally from NJ! Lucky for Denmark, he decided to move there after marrying a Danish girl, and his store now features eco-friendly clothing, cleaners, gadgets, kitchenware, shoes, baby supplies, and more, all of which are thoroughly screened and many are Fair-Trade. I of course ended up buying a pair of organic cotton leggings made by a label I hadn’t heard of before called People Tree. He also showed me two kinds of candles made of sustainable palm oil and recycled canola oil from potato chip fryers. Great stuff– When in Copenhagen, do stop by! Near the Norreport Metro Station. http://ecoego.dk/

“Bag Lady” Event Supports Breast Cancer Group

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The Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition (HBCAC) held its annual Bag Lady fundraiser on May 5th, 2011 on Long Island. Beautiful donated handbags were auctioned off to raise funds for the group’s ongoing work to help people with breast cancer and, more importantly, to raise awareness about prevention. It was a fun night that attracted hundreds. It also featured a young student who was given a scholarship by HBCAC to go do research with renowned scientists who are working on the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on breast cancer.

The unstoppable survivor Karen Miller, Pres. and founder of HBCAC, and friend Rhonda Weinman


Honored by LI Progressive Coalition

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Thank you to the LI Progressive Coalition for honoring me and many other worthy folks, including Huntington Councilwoman Glenda Jackson, Congressman Tim Bishop, and immigrant activist Dr. Luis Valenzuela, at their annual luncheon yesterday! I got a beautiful plaque in the category of “Environmental Vision in Sustainable Development” and a lovely introduction by Jonathan Grindell, fellow vegetarian and prius-driver. : ) Thanks to all my colleagues and family who came out to support me, at the beautiful Timber Point Country Club in Great River, NY.

I wore my beautiful black organic cotton, “Jacquie O” dress by Fin, which many people commented on. 🙂

Jonathan Grindell and Beth Fiteni at LIPC luncheon
Accepting award at the LIPC Luncheon March 2011

Barneys on Going Green Nov. 18, 2010

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The Fashion Institute of Technology hosted a workshop with Julie Gilhart, the main buyer for Barneys, an upscale fashion retailer with locations in NY and cities around the world. Having been inspired by the film, An Inconvenient Truth, she wanted to help the fashion industry lessen its impacts on the planet. She spoke of their efforts to include high quality and stylish designs from global handcrafters. Barneys looks for what is sustainable, in both the materials & dyes themselves being earth-friendly, but also the conditions of the designers and workers involved . Her slide show talked about several bag and clothing lines made by designers and women’s co-ops in Africa, an Earth Day project where customers brought back used jeans in exchange for a discounted new pair, and the concept of “upcycling” of fabrics. For example, a nephew of Ralph Lauren is making jackets out of army bags. She predicts a trend that in the next few years we will see customers demanding much more accountability and interest in knowing where & how our clothing is made.

Julie Gilhart at Fashion Institute of Technology

Portland Fashion Week!

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Portland Fashion Week was October 6-10 and I flew out for the last 3 shows. It was held at an industrial shipyard, which was an interesting backdrop as women strutted in and out in high heels. The fashions on the runway were an eclectic mix of styles, ranging from practical business & casual styles, to funky Columbian colors, to futuristic almost Lady Ga-Ga-esque pieces by Project Runway winner Seth Aaron. Mostly all had an eco-theme, though some non-eco fabrics were used. The best part: the runway made of solar panels. The idea of Portland Fashion Week, as relayed to me by the shows’ organizers Tito Chowdhury and Chris Cone, is to create an upscale “real” forum for small, talented, sustainability-oriented designers –who might not be able to afford to be in the shows in New York– to show their collections.

All photos by Beth Fiteni

Oct 8th:

La Vie by Michelle DeCourcy

Stephanie D Couture

Isaac Hers

Suzabelle

Amai Unmei

Oct 9th:

Goga

Jay Nicolas Sario

Jonathan Joseph peters

Seth Aaron

 

Beth Fiteni and PFW organizer Tito Chowdhury

 

Oct 10th:

Amelia Toro

Ethos Paris

Lenzanita

Pendleton

Souchi

Beth on the Solar Runway!