Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Bottle tops and old shirts send green message to fashion
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
Bottle tops and old shirts send green message to fashion
AFP - Monday, September 27
Send
IM Story
Print
Bottle tops and old shirts send green message to fashion
PARIS (AFP) - – Coiffed with tresses of sharp green reeds, the models wore skirts of flattened bottle tops, tubes of moss as neck-ruffs, gowns tailored from patchworked old shirts and joyously outsized Andean knitwear.
Designing with the planet in mind is the mantra of the dozens of designers who showcased their spring/summer collections at the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris this weekend, just before the official Fashion Week kicks off on Tuesday.
"Being ethical is harder work," Isabelle Quehe, who founded the event seven years ago, told AFP. "You have to source your fabrics, find people to work with, sometimes train them in their countries of origin," she said.
"But there are far more ways of designing ethically today than when the show was created," as new green fabrics arrive on the market, from alpaca in Latin America, to recycled plastics, polyester or junk materials, said Quehe.
To a soundtrack of tropical birdsong and pattering rain, Paqocha from Ecuador showed a body-hugging catsuit of macrame-like alpaca knit, while Esther Casto updated Peruvian tradition with bat-wing ponchos in green and caramel.
Creating beauty from junk, Berlin designer Stephan Hann stitched old photo negatives into a honeycomb of black loops for a dramatic body-sculpting dress, and layered disks of scrap into a peacock-feather motif skirt.
Fur even got a look-in in one of Hann's dresses, made from printed leopard-skin vinyl panels, while a spectacular bridal gown had a trompe l'oeil train made with puffed balls of reused old shirts.
Hosted at Paris' new City of Fashion and Design on the River Seine, the Ethical Fashion Show's four days of catwalks and round-table debates are one of a string of green-minded events gaining momentum on the global fashion scene.
In New York the GreenShows Eco Fashion Week just held its third season, while London Fashion Week hosted its first ever "sustainable fashion show", showcasing designers including Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood.
Green fashion events have long existed on the London fringes, but it was the first time the British Fashion Council cleared a slot on its official schedule to showcase a selection of creators with a conscience.
Eco-awareness has reached Italy too, where Giorgio Armani has started using recycled polyester, Fendi has a bag line made of reused tyres and rugs and Marni has made tyre-rubber bangles, according to Fashion Illustrated weekly.
Quehe believes the Paris fashion scene -- which "still sees ethics as unfashionable" -- is lagging behind its rivals in cleaning up fashion's act.
For Sylvie Benard, head of environmental matters at the French luxury giant LVMH, "luxury and sustainable development are compatible."
She admits few large fashion houses have made ethics or the environment visible priorities -- "because what counts is the beauty of the product" -- but argues that the high end of fashion is inherently sustainable.
"Real luxury is about products that last, that are passed down from generation to generation -- and which are made in excellent labour conditions, sometimes using artisan techniques that would be lost if it were not for haute couture," she said.
Fabrics and techniques aside, there is a social side to most of the Paris show designers' work, too, like Mayte Alorcon from Peru who employs single mothers to stitch her upmarket alpaca shawls and ponchos from home.
Also from Latin America, Lima-based designer Susan Wagner paid inmates in a prison outreach programme to produce a line of bags inspired by pre-Colombian woven motifs, updated for the 21st-century.
And Cyclus, a Colombian firm that creates urban men's bags from inner tubes recovered from garages across Bogota, makes a point of giving secure, full-time contracts to its workshop staff in the city.
"We are trying to preserve our values as we grow," said Aude Helias, one of five parters in the venture.
For Cyclus, as for many ethical designers, that means working with selected small stores -- rather than big retailers.
"It's tempting at first, because a big store will order 1,000 items in one go," said Helias. "But they can reject a batch of bags for a tiny fault, and destroy a whole chain of values at the push of a button. I've seen it happen."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - 59 minutes ago
Comedies off to strong start as TV season begins Reuters - 59 minutes ago
Khan hopes for third time lucky at 2011 Oscars AFP - Tuesday, September 28
How CNN's new boss plans to revive ratings Reuters - Monday, September 27
Demi Moore settles Australia magazine case: lawyer AFP - Monday, September 27
News Search
Top Stories
IMF cuts 2011 UK growth forecast to 2.0%
Abbas holds back as Israel settlement freeze ends
Wal-Mart in talks to buy S.African wholesaler Massmart
Virgin to launch space tourism in 18 months
New Citigroup banker could net 30 mln dlrs a year
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
New Citigroup banker could net 30 mln dlrs a year
Owen rescues Man Utd in draw with Bolton
France seeks talks with Qaeda kidnappers
US starlet Lindsay Lohan bails out of jail
Virgin to launch space tourism in 18 months
More Most Viewed »
Climate: New study slashes estimate of icecap loss
US state executes first woman in nearly 100 years
US pastor puts Koran-burning on hold
'Time bomb' superbug requires global response: doctor
Vitamin B 'could delay Alzheimer's onset'
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Monday, 27 September 2010 "Main elements" behind bombing killed
US-TECH Summary
France seeks talks with kidnappers: Sarkozy's office
Owen rescues Man Utd in draw with Bolton
Afghan election commission orders recounts
NATO helicopters entered Pakistan to kill insurgents
|
Apple iPhone 4 in short supply for China launch: report
Polish PM in Germany after bus crash kills 13
|
France seeks talks with Qaeda: Sarkozy's office
Main elements behind bombing killed: Iran Guards
|
Al-Qaeda hostages 'alive' in Mali: source
Iran says Bushehr nuclear plant not damaged by Stuxnet
|
Two killed in Haiti-Dominican racial clash: police
|
Apple iPhone 4 in short supply for China launch: report
|
Alonso edges Vettel to win Singapore Grand Prix
NATO helicopters entered Pakistan to kill insurgents
Iran revokes acclaimed director's filming permit
Ex-Socceroo captain 'fined for drinking' in Dubai
First Chinese minister in Taiwan since trade pact
U.S. Air Force Launches Tracker For Space Debris, Satellites
Police Put Down Large Riot At University Of Oregon
7 Indicted In Virginia Cocaine Ring
Matthew Downgraded, But Could Cause Central American Flooding, Mudslides
Wall Street sequel in mild rally at box office
|
Hitmaker Mark Ronson unveils his Record Collection
|
British aid worker abducted in Afghanistan: ministry
France seeks talks with Qaeda kidnappers
Israeli settlement freeze ends as peace talks in doubt
North Korea military appears to back Kim succession
|
iPhone 4 orders exceed 200,000 in China
France seeks talks with Qaeda kidnappers: Sarkozy's office
Venezuela opposition pegs back Chavez in parliament
|
Spain braced for general strike, but impact may be limited
U.S. says keeps pushing for Mideast talks to continue
Chavez leads Internet attack for Venezuela vote
Israeli settlement freeze ends and peace talks in doubt
|
Jet Without Wheel Uses Wing Tip To Make Emergency Landing
French police dismantle mobile phone hacking ring
Jewish settlers declare end to building moratorium
Thirteen killed in Polish tourist bus crash in Germany
Japan to ask China to pay for damaged patrol boats
|
U.S. Philanthropist To Finance New Muslim Superhero Comic Book
British national abducted in Afghanistan: ministry
Chinese Currency Under Attack For American Economic Woes
"Main elements" behind bombing killed
Brazil's candidate Rousseff under fire in TV debate
|
Iran says Bushehr nuclear plant not damaged by Stuxnet
Australian soldiers face Afghan manslaughter charges
|
British aid worker kidnapped in Afghanistan
Mexican soldiers capture suspected drug chief
|
India races to ready Games Village in time
|
Demi Moore settles Australia magazine case: lawyer
US Army to hold first hearing on grisly Afghan killings
Two worlds collide in Tania James's fiction
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
US: Inverted Philippine flag was `honest mistake'
Stephen Fry to play Mycroft Holmes in "Sherlock 2"
That's Hot: Paris Hilton settles Hallmark lawsuit
iPhone 4 orders exceed 200,000 in China
|
Japan's August export growth slowest this year
Muse a contender for world's biggest band
Unions urge "Hobbit" boycott, angering Jackson
Seoul shares open higher; Hyundai Motor falls
Hyundai recalls nearly 140,000 Sonata sedans in US
New luxury train travels from Moscow to French Riviera
Japan's export growth slows for sixth month
Haitian orphans paint, photograph their tragedy
"Wall Street" sequel in mild rally at box office
Massacre movie to headline Doha Tribeca film fest
Jet Without Wheel Uses Wing Tip To Make Emergency Landing
British Aid Worker, 3 Afghans Kidnapped In Afghanistan
Wall Street sequel in mild rally at box office
|
Unions urge Hobbit boycott, angering Jackson
|
Muse a contender for world's biggest band
|
That's Hot: Paris Hilton settles Hallmark lawsuit
|
How CNN's new boss plans to revive ratings
|
Stephen Fry to play Mycroft Holmes in Sherlock 2
|
Wal-Mart in talks to buy S.African wholesaler Massmart
Welcome to Nokia, Mr. Elop
Lobbyist Pleads Guilty To Illegally Funneling Campaign Donations
Afghan poll body orders vote recounts in 7 provinces
|
Virgin to launch space tourism in 18 months
Kids Who Have Frequent Family Dinners Less Likely To Abuse Drugs And Alcohol
New Citigroup banker could net 30 mln dlrs a year
Nuclear-armed Pakistan chairs board of U.N. atom body
|
Sharp sets December e-reader launch, clashes with Sony
Ted Stevens To Be Buried At Arlington
Sweden's Greens still spurn centre-right govt
|
North Sudan party threatens to reject referendum
|
Almost 20 Percent Of U.S. Gay And Bisexual Men HIV Positive
Video shows Taliban allegedly stoning Pakistan woman
|
Michael Douglas' "Wall Street" Sequel Greedy At The Box Office Weekend Top
Wisconsin Flooding Continues; Residents In Portage Evacuated As Levee Fails
U.S. soldier faces murder charges from Afghan war
Julianna Margulies Becomes Newest Face Of L'Oreal's RevitaLift
Kyrgyzstan wants to supply fuel to US base
Nicole Scherzinger Tapped To Judge U.S. "X Factor"
Study: Abortion Not Linked With Teen Depression And Low Self-Esteem
Russia prepares to open oil pipeline to China
North Korea's political elite meet over succession
China begins Tibet railway extension
N.Korea military backs Kim succession plan
Japan demands China pull back boats
Australia troops to be charged over Afghan deaths
Pakistani rupee at record low; stocks end up
Cambodian clothes workers fight to stitch a living
Top brands fret about Cambodia garment industry unrest
Khan hopes for third time lucky at 2011 Oscars
Cambodia launches 5-year plan to tackle corruption
Taiwan's China Airlines to pay $40 mln fine in US case
Race to finish C.Games facilities as athletes move in
How CNN's new boss plans to revive ratings
S.Korea's Hyundai Motor seeks to buy construction firm
Japan seeks damages as China trawler row lingers
Demi Moore settles Australia magazine case: lawyer
Sharp sets December e-reader launch
|
Bottle tops and old shirts send green message to fashion
Russia, China fete completion of oil pipeline
Anwar trial harms Malaysian investment: Branson
Digital music sales flat this year: Nielsen
|
Asian shares lifted by Wall Street rally
India's top court agrees to hear Vodafone tax appeal
Iran says Bushehr nuclear plant not damaged by Stuxnet
|
Welcome to Nokia, Mr. Elop
|
Japan credit firm Takefuji 'to file for bankruptcy'
Taiwan urged measures to draw Chinese investments
China raises checks for Japan shipments: report
Indonesia prosecutors say Australian must die
Comedies off to strong start as TV season begins
|
Stuxnet worm rampaging through Iran: IT official
Welcome to Nokia, Mr. Elop
Japan's Sharp to start e-book business in December
Sharp sets December e-reader launch
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights