Missi Pyle in Peace Silk

"It is such an honor to be on a carpet that's all about glamour, and to have that glamour be sustainable," said Missi.


Winner of Academy Award for the Best Picture: the Artist, Missi Pyle wore a dress made completely out sustainable materials. Made out of peace silk, organic chiffon and lined with vintage lining, the tailor put in a "recycled zipper". The fabric was hand-dyed in an OSHA approved facility using only mineral dyes to achieve the pastel like aqueous shade.

What exactly is "peace silk" ? It is actually Cruelty-Free Silk which is produced from the process that allows the pupae to complete its entire life-cycle before being disturbed. The cocoons are unwound only after the silkworm has completely emerged. Usually, the pupa is killed inside the cocoon to prevent the breakage of the cocoon which leads to having multiple fibers. To have something this beautiful on Missi Pyle marks an extremely strong statement.

It advocated a very relevant message -
Sustainable does not mean Hideous!! It can be beautiful. We as consumers should question our buys. We have a right to think demand sustainability in our daily purchases. We can and should make this conscious choice.

The design was submitted by a Venezuelan born, Miami based designer Valentina Delfino, while the dress was made in Los Angeles by a haute couture tailor Santos. The beautiful dress won the Red Carpet Green Dress Contest which is an environmental awareness campaign and contest for eco-designers. It was started by Suzy Amis Cameron - wife of James Cameron

"Upcycling" & The Latest Buzz in London Fashion Week

Christopher Raeburn, a founding member of Esthetica said, "Recycled fibers, British wool and now accessories - all made in England. The plan is to make clothes of high quality and value." He believes that as a young designer one needs to have an obligation towards sustainability. 

This year's collection included parachute silk dresses. A spotted dress caught my eye for its reclaimed clothing look, while on of them was quite hideous and stood out from the rest. Like many, I moved on believing probably that might have excited a few from the aviation. Accessories included unisex totes and holdballs - all fashionable and sustainable, just like his styling always has been known, yet moving on from his entirely sporty looks. The best part about Christopher's designs were that all designs served "purpose and design".

The expressionless looks of the models in their functionally yet clever footwear brought me to think of something similar I had recently seen - 'Lisbeth Salander' (protagonist in Girl With the Dragon Tattoo). To think of it the book, the movie had it's influence on people and fashion is about people.

Pictures from the Irish Times.Com

Market Awareness about Sustainability

People were attracted to sustainability as a concept from very early times. It was mainly driven from a perspective of re-use to reduce cost. Definitions for sustainability were being worded, since 1987, with the Brundtland Report. But, as a concept, the market awareness about sustainability was fueled from the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Then on wards, sustainability has become the watchword for international aid agencies, the jargon of development planners, the theme of conference and learned papers and the slogan of development and environmental activists.

Organizations like STEP, Sustainable Technology Education Project work towards increasing people’s awareness of sustainable technology, enabling them to recognize the economic, environmental and social impacts of their own choices. They promote incorporating sustainability in their designs and while choosing and using technology. This way, each one can be responsible towards building a better future.  Similarly traces of sustainability can be identified throughout the product life-cycle and throughout the supply chain. The research helps to identify where all sustainability indexes can be set-up for measurement through the supply chain.  Understanding the basics of how the market awareness is at the present, helped to prepare the basis for promotion of the research.

In 2008, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) commissioned an independent research into the attitudes and habits of 4000 UK consumers. The results clearly demonstrate the existence of mainstream public awareness and concern about sustainability issues. Sustainability issues are higher on the UK consumer agenda than ever before. Over 60% of the consumers stated that sustainability issues (climate change, poverty, food, and water shortages) were the most important issues that faced the world today. Sustainability is an issue that will change the world. People in increasing numbers are changing their buying patterns, their lifestyles and their behaviours. Majority of the consumers buy sustainability and demonstrate concern and care about the issues.
(Image and Data Sourced from Sustainability: Are Consumers Buying it? PwC 2008)

“I think consumers are already showing signs of real willingness to change their behaviour when it comes to the whole are of sustainability. I don’t think this issue is confined to being a concern for the middle classes. I think it is pretty universal.”

Charlie Mayfield, Chairman, John Lewis (PwC), 2008

Sustainability - Fashion & Retail

Fashion today speaks more languages than just one, the likes of which being fair trade, ethics, sustainability etc. Today, an average retailer is implementing these key drivers in their entire value chain system to please the customer and carve a niche for themselves. Every retailer is incorporating these additional components as an essential part of their products. Retailers are re-creating their supply chain, corporate communication channels and management structures to adhere to these components. At many times even re-branding and sub-branding to promote this change to their customers.

The race however still remains among the retailers as to who is doing the most and the best in creating a better tomorrow.


“Sustainability” can be the one word substitute for the meaning and sentiments proposed in the wise statement by Theodore Roosevelt. Upon reviewing the dictionary meaning of the word “sustainable” in the Online Oxford Dictionaries

Pronunciation: /səˈsteɪnəb(ə)l/

Adjective

§  able to be maintained at a certain rate or level:

sustainable economic growth

·       Ecology(especially of development, exploitation, or agriculture) conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources

a.     Able to be upheld or defended:

Sustainable definitions of good educational practice

Derivatives

sustainability

Pronunciation:/ -ˈbɪlɪti/

Noun

                    sustainably