Yes…another “green expo”. As much as I am all about getting the word out and driving change, I worry sometimes that the sheer number of green events, and (lack of quality control at several) can do more damage than good to the new, green mode of living we are working toward.   With that said, I believe the Better Living Show will be an exception, raising the bar by setting a new standard for what people come to expect.  To start with, the event is FREE. Yes, FREE. No excuses. Just go. To boot, they are also holding this event “lights out”, with only task lighting for each exhibit…very cool (literally). It’s happening at the Portland Expo Center, so there is plenty of public transportation available to get there too.  There are two highlights at this event in my book. The first takes place on Saturday, March 29th, from 5-8pm, when Portland Fashion Week, in collaboration with the producers of the Better Living Show, are hosting an eco-fashion panel discussion and installation fashion show. For this event, members of the global eco-fashion community will gather to discuss sustainable apparel design and manufacturing processes and to illustrate how Portland is leading the international fashion community in its quest to go green.

If you had not heard, Portland Fashion Week 2007 was the first of its kind. According to Prasenjiy Tito Chowdhury, principal of PFW Productions and Co-Producer of the event, “Portland Fashion week has been internationally recognized as the first eco-sustainable production of a fashion in the world, that launches collections of nationally and internationally known green and independent designers.” According to the producers of the Better Living show, “Now, PFW will debut a Spring fashion event at the Better Living Show to keep eco-designers and Portland front and center in the fashion world. This Eco-Fashion Panel & Installation Fashion show will explore green fashion practices with a very fashion-centric ethos.” The panel discussion will be followed by an installation fashion show featuring nationally known eco-designers in a beautifully built setting.

“We are bringing this Spring event to the Better Living Show to educate the broader community on what it really takes to reduce the fashion industry’s environmental impact e.g. carbon footprint, toxic waste, water usage and enthrall them with an amazing fashion show where acclaimed green designers will debut pieces from their Fall 2008 collections, said Chowdhury.

The event has drawn national and local experts who will discuss what “Eco-Fashion” really means, kicking of at 5:00pm at the Sustainable Life Stage with a panel discussion featuring two eco-style experts from New York and Seattle: Leslie Hoffman of Earth Pledge, and Rebecca Luke, of the Sustainable Style Foundation. Both will discuss their roles in influencing the global fashion community to adopt sustainable design and manufacturing processes.

A little about the panelists:

~ Leslie Hoffman, the Executive Director of Earth Pledge, recently shook up the fashion world with her buzz-worthy FutureFashion runway show, which kicked during New York Fashion Week last month. Hoffman challenged the fashion industry by enlisting 28 internationally recognized designers from fashion houses such as Givency, Versace and Burberry to explore environmentally and socially responsible design for future collections.

~ Rebecca Luke, co-founder of the Sustainable Style Foundation (SSF), is out to prove that consumers should not have to give up style or living well in order to be socially and environmentally responsible. SSF is an international, member-supported nonprofit organization that provides information, resources and innovative programs to promote sustainable living and design.

~ Portland designer Anna Cohen and Seattle designerLizzie Parker will bring a more intimate point-of-view to the discussion, as they discuss their experiences as hands-on designers living in the sustainability hot bed of the Pacific Northwest.

~ Ian Yolles is the Vice President of Brand Communications at Nau , a Portland-based technical outdoor and lifestyle apparel company dedicated to turning traditional business notions upside down through the integration of environmental, social and economic factors. In addition to garnering buzz for Nau, Yolles has managed brand-building and marketing activities for some of the world’s most influential consumer product companies including the Body Shop and Nike.

Sustainable designs from local and national designers will be showcased during a live, installation-format fashion show immediately following the panel discussion. What’s an “installation-formatfashion show” you ask? Basically, the models will serve as stationary exhibits of the pieces being shown to allow attendees to view the designs in a non-runway presentation. It’s really a nice way to do it, allowing a greater level of accessibility to the garments, giving a longer viewing of each piece to allow its finer details and the qualities that set these sustainable textiles apart to shine.

“Together with the Panel Discussion, this format of fashion show will allow press and audience to gain a better understanding of eco-fashion and get more up-close-and-personal with the apparel. With a traditional runway show, designs are seen in an exciting but brief glimpse, ” said Co-Executive PFW Producer Chris Cone. “We’re excited about our participation in the Better Living Show because everyone can experience this high-fashion even at no cost.” I love that this event is free and public - no exclusivity or VIP lounges here, just total accessibility to up and coming sustainable design collections that many people do not have the opportunity to see at all.

I did say two highlights…the second of which is the Eco Metro Pavilion, in which Portland Chinook Book businesses will come to life for all to see, touch and experience first hand. The Pavilion is located near the Sustainable Life Stage, and will be there and open during the whole event. Yes, Greenloop will be there to provide another solid does of sustainable fashion. Hope to see you there!