What do Behnaz Sarafpour, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Derek Lam, Diane Von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Doo.Ri, Giambattista Valli, Givenchy, Isabel Toledo, Jil Sander, Marc Jacobs, Marni, Martin Grant, Marti, Michael Kors, Moschino, Narciso Rodriguez, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Thakoon, Three As Four, Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent have to do with sustainable fashion? These high profile designers, along with full time sustainable fashion designers such as Rogan Gregory (Loomstate and Edun), Stella McCartney, have joined forces to present this year’s FutureFashion, an initiative to continue to educate, research and demonstrate to the industry and consumers that there are interesting options in sustainable fashion, even though we still have a long way to go.

This year’s show will kick off New York Fashion Week, which, I like to think, is a portent of things to come. The runway show is on Thursday, January 31st (6pm at Gotham Hall for those of you who can make it), and will feature one-of-a kind creations by 30 top international designers in support of Earth Pledge, a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable development by identifying and implementing innovative technologies that balance human actions - from farming to design and manufacturing - and natural systems.

I caught up with Leslie Hoffman, the executive director of Earth Pledge who answered a couple questions for me:

Me: “What impact on fashion at large do you hope the show will have?”

Leslie: “The first big impact is actually getting these top designers to look at sustainable materials and consider the importance of new approaches that can minimize the impact on the environment of their production. The second big impact is that by having designers of this caliber create outfits using sustainable materials and methods, we dispel the notion unequivocably that eco might mean ‘coarse burlap and bad fit’. These looks are gorgeous! And let us not forget that generations of designers - current and future - will follow the lead of the trend setters.”

Me: “This rings a bell…FutureFashion and Greenloop have a lot in common!”

I wanted to know if the event production itself was also taking into account its environmental footprint.

Me: “Are you taking steps to minimize the environmental footprint of the event itself?”

Leslie: “We have engaged Bureau Betak to produce and direct the show, and introduced them to supportive companies who are using materials - principally old lumber that will become furniture. We have borrowed these large, live-edge slabs, and they will be returned to Tucker Robbins’ shop. We have catered the backstage with local and sustainable food from The City Bakery, all printing has been done on recycled paper with sustainable print process, etc. We have considered all aspects, reduced environmental footprint where possible within the constraints of producing an event of this scale, and we will be offsetting the carbon footprint of the event using our Limit 450 initiative which supports farmers to sequester carbon directly into American soil.

Me: “Nice job Leslie. I am thrilled to know that you are indeed walking the talk here.”

Additionally, a Who’s Who list of fashion industry leaders are involved with the event, including Fabien Baron, Bureau Betak, Julie Gilhart, Shalom Harlow (a fan of Anna Cohen’s bamboo tank) and Elettra Wiedemann, who worked with Earth Pledge to bring FutureFashion into fruition. Sponsors include Lexus Hybrid Innovations, Pure and Natural, and Barneys New York. Not a bad list of mover and shakers to have on board for the future of sustainable fashion!

SOURCE: Fashion Windows, Earth Pledge