(Image from Inhabitat)

The FutureFashion show has come and gone, much buzz has been created and many have something to say about, skeptics and supporters alike. An article by Lauren David Peden for Vogue shared some inspiring comments from participants, including Barney’s New York fashion director Julie Gilhart, who was instrumental in bringing together the 28 participating designers. Apparently, Julie grimaces at the phrase “eco-chic”, stating, “I hope we don’t use that word anymore. It’s just the way it should be.…It’s more luxurious to really think about where your fabric comes from, about the impact of it on the environment, and about fair trade and labor issues.” Adding to the idea of this is ‘just the way it should be done’ was Rogan Gregory, the man behind Loomstate and EDUN, who pointed out that compared to even 5 or 6 years ago, finding high-quality, sustainable fabric is much easier. He tells Vogue, “Now, the demand is greater, so there are all these great fabrics available, which makes designing a lot easier. People understand that this is the way of the future….Why wouldn’t you do this?”

We love the eco-fabulous web tv network G Living. In this episode, hostess with the mostess Sarah Backhouse meets up with the husband and wife founders of Re:volve Apparel at their Fred Segal launch party in Hollywood. They discuss ethical fashion, children, and their new relationship with Coke. Cameos by actors Roger Cross (Mad Money) and Amy Smart (The Butterfly Effect). Enjoy Coke.

A very special thank you to special people at Ecobags (ecobags.com) for providing sustainable, re-usable tote bags for our guests; to the innovative folks at Recylaholics (recyclaholics.com) for providing and completely amazing biodegradable spoons, forks, knives and cups to help minimize waste; and to the dedication and hard work of Global Green’s (globalgreen.org) Hollywood Green Team for providing recycling services for the event.

An event gift bag, signed by Oscar nominee Terrance Howard, containing items from most of the designers in the Eco Fashion Showcase in addition to items from other East Meets West sponsors and participants was donated to Plenty Magazine’s green initiative, “Got Plenty”, wherein celebrities attending Sundance autographed and donated one of the items they were given at the many gifting houses that take place during the festival, to auctioned off on Ebay, with all proceeds going to benefit environmental non-profit, Global Green USA.

All in all (despite a few amazingly pushy people who simply expected to be handed over whatever they want!), the event was a success, new friends were made, fabulous new designers shared, and the seeds of awareness and possibility were planted in many an entertainment industry junky and cultural creative. Now let’s all hope for some exponential sharing to grow this movement like mad!

For further questions, contact Greenloop owner Aysia Wright at aysiawright@comcast.net or 503-320-6737.

Faruza Balk, starring in festival films, “Wild Tigers I Have Known” and, “Don’t Come Knocking”, enjoyed herself at the retreat as well, taking home an Anna Cohen Listen for Canaries bamboo shirt and a SalvationSacks handbag, among other goodies. Mary Jane Bostic, the female lead in film festival, “The Foot First Way”, went home with a classic coolnotcruel hemp/crepe blouse and lovely handmade earrings from Moonrise Jewelry, and Mycole Metcalf, appearing alongside Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Justin Timberlake in festival film, “Alpha Dog”, was another fan of the Moonrise Jewelry, and went home with a delicate necklace and earrings to flaunt with her Littlearth Bicoastal Fender Flair handbag and SalvationSacks mini bag.

Sara Lanfer and Justin Beldoni, stars of the television series, “Everwood”, were very interested in the designs and concepts of environmental responsibility, and went home with Littlearth handbags. Look for Justin wearing a pair Loomstate Mission organic jeans on an upcoming episode of Everwood! Crispin Glover expressed his keen interest in supporting the movement in organic fashion, and is looking forward to the introduction of more classic men’s clothing in that arena.

Joe Reitman, an independent film maker working on forthcoming film, “Lady in the Water”, showed up with professional poker player Annie Duke, who went home with a Rhinestone Cowgirl Littlearth license plate handbag. Let’s hope it brings her luck with her new show, “Annie Duke Takes On the World”. Scott Lazerson, the face of forthcoming television show, “The Philanthropist”, for which Eva Longoria is one of the Executive Producers, was truly inspired by the green theme, taking a couple of select pieces by coolnotcruel and Anna Cohen for Eva to show off.

Other beneficiaries of the showcased included Winona Ryder, starring in festival film, “The Darwin Awards”, who received a Teresa Wilhemli hand tied vintage Swarovsky necklace, a Carol Young / Undesigned Organic Cotton Robo Cargidan and a one of a kind miniXL SalvationSacks handbag; Joseph Fiennes was sent an organic cotton Loomstate T-shirt, and Cameron Diaz was sent an Anna Cohen “Listen To Canaries” long sleeve t-shirt made from bamboo.

Several other guests of note committed to the “green” cause also made an appearance to see what was happening, including Christopher Gavigan, executive director of CHEC, the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition, Debbie Levin, president of the EMA, the Environmental Media Association, and Scott McKinlay, a coordinator of Global Green’s “Hollywood Green Team” recycling program, who provided recycling services for the event.

With a focus on green & healthy living event, other sponsors and participants of the East Meets West Virtual Spa Retreat included Seventh Generation, Trillium Organics, Zhena’s Gypsy Tea Company, Green Mountain Coffee, Jane Iredale Mineral Make-Up, Suki’s Naturals, Horizon, Pacific Foods, Natures Path, Lulu Lemon Athletica, Just Me Cook organic catering, among others.

Day three photos.

The event kicked off on Tuesday, January 24th right on Main Street, attracting a variety of interested actors, film makers, entertainment industry insiders and press. While piling on the “swag” was not the focus or intent of this event, a few folks did go home with some gifts to take note of. J.R. Cruz and Jesse Garcia, who starred in Quinceanera, winner of the prestigious Grand Jury award in the Dramatic Film category at the festival, went home with organic cotton Deity Aton track suits while Caira Franklin scored an incredible drape neck spaghetti strap top by Anna Cohen and one-of-a-kind SalvationSacks (shop) bag.

Scott Campbell, noted for his work in the recent “Brokeback Mountain” and festival film, “A Guide to Recognizing your Saints”, sported a pair of organic cotton Loomstate Mission jeans along with his Deity Aton organic cotton hoody. Sharon Lawrence, known for her support of sustainable style, came to show her support, and went away with a gorgeous coolnotcruel (shop) hemp/silk cocktail dress and Littlearth license plate and SalvationSacks handbags. Musician Ethan Gold of The Honey Brothers also stopped in to chill, taking home an incredibly cozy pair of Modal boxers from Deity Aton and an organic track suit top to boot.

Ty Burrell, involved with two highly publicized films at the festival, “Friends with Money”, starring Jennifer Aniston, Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand, Jason Isaacs, and Scott Caan and “The Darwin Awards ”, starring, Joseph Fiennes, Winona Ryder, David Arquette, Juliette Lewis, Metallica, and Wilmer Valderrama in addition to his work on television show, “Out of Practice”, was keenly interested in Loomstate’s organic cotton jeans, and took home an organic cotton track suite top from Deity Aton and a repurposed vintage fabric scarf by SalvationStyles. Ty’s lovely wife Holly took home a gorgeous Carol Young / Undesigned (shop) Angel Wrap Dress constructed from recycled cotton t-shirts and a SalvationSacks repurposed leather miniskirt bag.

Faruza Balk, starring in festival films, “Wild Tigers I Have Known” and, “Don’t Come Knocking”, enjoyed herself at the retreat as well, taking home an Anna Cohen Listen for Canaries bamboo shirt and a SalvationSacks handbag, among other goodies. Mary Jane Bostic, the female lead in film festival, “The Foot First Way”, went home with a classic coolnotcruel hemp/crepe blouse and lovely handmade earrings from Moonrise Jewelry, and Mycole Metcalf, appearing alongside Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Justin Timberlake in festival film, “Alpha Dog”, was another fan of the Moonrise Jewelry, and went home with a delicate necklace and earrings to flaunt with her Littlearth Bicoastal Fender Flair handbag and SalvationSacks mini bag.

Some pictures from day two.

Greenloop, in partnership with the East Meets West Virtual Spa, hosted an EcoFashion Showcase during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah this January, featuring both established and up and coming clothing and accessory designers in the rapidly growing sustainable fashion genre. The showcase included an assortment of modern, very fashionable clothing for both men and women, from casual, to chic to classic, along side unique bags, belts, and jewelry, all made with innovative design and styling features, and using sustainable textiles and responsible manufacturing processes.

Included in the showcase were stunning necklaces and earrings made using real orchids, natural stones from low impact mines, recycled glass and fair trade sterling silver by Moonrise Jewelry; smart, hip handbags made from recycled aluminum and license plates and bottle cap adorned recycled rubber belts by Littlearth (buy); luxurious organic cotton t-shirts and track suits, modal undies and amazing organic lip balms by Deity Aton; sexy, Italian inspired bamboo, soy and organic cotton tops by Anna Cohen; unique, flattering, amazingly designed tops, dresses and skirts made from recycled cotton, organic cotton, bamboo, hemp and eco-wool by Carol Young / Undesigned (buy); very stylish, non-leather, natural rubber soul shoes by Deja Shoe (buy); funky organic cotton swim and casual wear by Kelly B.; luxurious Alpaca sweaters, scarves and AZO free (no heavy metals) quilted designer outerwear by fabulous UK designer label Ciel (buy); highly functional, great fitting recycled polyester active-wear jackets by Ailin, hip organic cotton shirts, denim and corduroy by Loomstate (buy); and organic cotton endangered species t-shirts by Wildlife Works.

A few of the designers themselves were on hand as well, including Sara Cross, a true visionary and pioneer in the concept of eco fashion, was in attendance to show her line of clothing, coolnotcruel (buy), which includes silk/hemp blend cocktail dresses, hemp/crepe hostess attire, organic cotton t-shirts and casuals and more. Designer Margaret Prodanov, the creative genius behind the fabulous SalvationSacks (buy) line of handbags was also there to showcase her wares and support the cause, her collection including structured and unstructured handbags made from a vast array of reclaimed and vintage goods including leather mini skirts, drapes, table clothes, belts and vintage jewelry. Teresa Wilhemli, jewelry designer, musician and creative visionary was also on hand to display her hand-tied, vintage Swarovski crystal necklaces, making several custom pieces to send home with clients on the spot.

day 1: http://www.filmmagic.com