The fashion PR firm I’m interning at is amazing, but the best part is our eco-friendly line Stewart + Brown. The line has been around since 2002 when a couple who connected in love used their mutual interests in fashion and nature to produce clothing. And the match was goooooood.
The rack in the Industry Publicity show room brims with comfortable and fashionable pieces that obviously stand out from the crowd of other designers in the room. It isn’t one of those nothing-fits-quite-right/one-size-fits-all experiences; in fact, the pieces look like they would be so perfect you would feel almost naked — stylishly.
And that’s fitting because the majority of the clothing is made from organic cotton = grown from seeds not genetically engineered and from soil guaranteed to lack pesticides, herbicides, etc. The cashmere is just as environmentally safe as it is combed straight off the bellies of goats in Mongolia. Stewart + Brown doesn’t test the ethical waters either. It’s cashmere is made in Mongolia where the art has been practiced for hundreds of years. Cozy, huh?
The couple even proudly boasts that the clothing is biodegradable. Bury it six feet under without a care in the world. But wait! There’s more, there’s more. Stewart + Brown gathers a large amount of fabric from factory surplus. The extra fabric is already manufactured and doomed to the dumpster, but won’t go to waste in these aesthetically pleasing designs.
These pioneers sum it up like so: “Stewart+Brown believes in optimizing their designs and lives to attain the highest standards of quality and functional style while extracting the bare minimum from Earth’s precious capital. Stewart+Brown practices and promotes a symbiotic and harmonious relationship between business, community, and nature. We aspire to apply the wisdom of sustainability to everything we do while inspiring others, just as we have been inspired, to do the same.”
A crocheted mini-dress caught my eye one of the first days I worked. It’s the best eco-chic I’ve ever seen and would look fabulous on Cameron Diaz (a well-known eco-line advocate.) By buying such a cute little number the consumer is assured that at least 1 percent of the proceeds will be given to “non-profit, non-governmental environmental and social welfare organizations.” That’s right, Diaz. Go for it! Use your power for good!
Here are some photos of artwork done by Karen Stewart, a trained artist, from which she gains inspiration for clothing.
You can also check out the Stewart + Brown Web site by clicking here.
