[On the Eco-Hunt] Spotted: Alkemie Jewelry

Super cool husband and wife duo of Alkemie have created an environmentally conscious, beautiful line of jewelry made from 100% reclaimed metals: copper, sterling and zinc. Additionally, all of these designs are manufactured by hand in downtown Los Angeles. Alkemie promotes fair trade, local living wage and eco-sustainable business practices to combat the existing harmful effects and conditions of the metal and gemstone industry; including social issues such as children working in dangerous conditions to mine and mount stones as well as environmental ones like toxic chemicals from mines seeping into the surrounding land and severely damaging precious watersheds.

Besides being kind to the environment, Alkemie’s jewelry lives up to the talk. They have numerous coverage from Lucky Magazine to WWD and loved by stylish celebs like Vanessa Hudgens and Erykah Badhu. Now they’re letting you take part in their mission in their newly launched on-line where you can directly buy from them. Each month, they will donate 10% of all of their retail sales to charities they believe in. Check out their newest designs on their website and all the good that they‘re doing at www.alkemiejewelry.com.

[On the Eco-Hunt] Spotted: Natural Fashions

Last week of our month long Eco-Hunt! We have one more spectacular earth-friendly fashion find to feature! Stay with us!

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Everything at Natural Fashions is made in India and each item is a reflection of that. Upon walking into their showroom, I was met with bright paisley prints, splashes of color, and animal designs paying homage to the rich culture that is India. Out of this large collection, Natural Fashion boasts a small eco-focused line of scarves that is quintessential “LA cool”. These scarves, made with a bamboo blend with viscos, are lightweight, sheer, and are softer than cotton. I tried on the ivory and didn’t want to take it off! It was the perfect throw-on to a casual T-shirt and jeans or a sheer cover-up to a summer dress. They also come in black, peach and teal. Check them out and find out where you can buy them at California Market Center, Suite A-321, and (213)-622-9706

[On the Eco-Hunt] Spotted: eDressMe's Earth Day Sale

Reposted from The Recessionista™ Blog, frugal fashion trends

As some of you may know, Earth Day is this week.  This may be the time to discover eco-friendly fashion. This week website eDressMe is offering 20% off their sustainable dresses made from biodegradable materials.  The sale offers a range of fashions from maxi dresses in bright,cool colors, plus cocktail dresses with ruched detail and boho-chic tops. If you're interested in checking it out, click here.  Use code EarthDay20 to save 20% until April 22nd.  Featured designers include EcoSkin and Jonano.

[On the Eco-Hunt] Spotted: COIN1804

Headquartered in the California Market Center, the Los Angeles based Coin 1804 is all about fusion and teamwork. Its founders are husband and wife duo Garsi Lee and Phillip Kim whose talents for design and business, respectively, are the perfect balance for this exciting niche brand.

With an education from Parsons Design School and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Garsi is the creative force of the team. With the joint force of her husband Phillip Kim, the team created their own label, naming it after the concept of “cotton innovations” shortened as COIN and their respective birthdates 18 and 04.  Together, they have designed a collection of women’s tops in the finest quality domestic cotton fabrications, mixing cotton with woven fabrics to create a unique, yet subtle detail in their tops. Their showroom is also a space of collaborations. It promotes sustainability with its vintage décor such as the salvaged chandelier and room divider but the room is also garnished with a custom designed, iron-welded structure made by Phillip himself.

COIN 1804 not only contributes to the local economy by manufacturing the entire collection in the USA, but also promotes awareness to preserve nature and the ecosystem. Their tops, designed with original artwork by Phillip, are printed with nature motifs such as trees and animals. More specifically, COIN 1804 designed limited one-of-a-kind cotton tees to support the Save the Whales campaign and save the wildlife campaign during the recent, devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Since its launch, the label has been a strong sell through for its precise blend of classic timelessness with on-trend details and accessible price points. Available at retail from $25 to $110 in over five hundred specialty boutiques nationwide such as Fred Segal, Nordstrom, as well as in Asia, Canada and South America. With plans to develop further into a full-on collection, COIN 1804 is fast becoming fashion’s new must-have brand.

[On the Eco-Hunt] Spotted: True Collaborative

Prairie's best-selling item: the long-cloak hoodie

Made By collection

Koch

One of the things I look forward to when I visit showrooms is seeing the décor because it’s such an important complement to the brand’s message. For example, showrooms in the Lady Liberty building have these country-like rustic brick walls perpendicular to polished redwood floors. Brands like Nicole Richie’s Winter Kate and Madison Park LA are perfectly brought to life in these curated spaces. True Collaborative in the Cooper Building is no exception.

This showroom is home to five independent fashion brands that strive to create a modern style and aesthetic, rather than trendy throwaway fashion. The décor is a direct reflection of that. Hardwood floors blanket the room and white clean walls stay silent as they allow the clothes to speak for themselves. The furnishings in there, such as the Navajo printed carpets, the antique wooden benches and an elaborately detailed standing mirror, all evoke an inviting, comforting atmosphere. These lines are also kind to the environment. They are manufactured locally in sweatshop-free shops with fair labor practices, use environmentally friendly materials, and help build communities through locally owned small businesses. Best of all, they’re all manufactured in the USA.

True Collabroative’s flagship line, Prairie, is made in Seattle and uses organic cotton, hemp and silk blends to create comfortable, timeless pieces. Their best-selling piece is their long-cloak hoodie. It’s very popular among women on-the-go who need to throw on something cute and comfortable. The cotton really is so soft to the touch. Another one of True Collaborative line is Dallas-based Koch. This line features truly one-of-a-kind hand printed screen designs on breezy silk tops. And the vintage crystals that decorate it are so simple, but really goes a long way and evokes the La Jolla/bohemian meets Dallas essence that is true to its designer.

The last collection worth noting is Made By. This is such a special line because each item is made by a Peruvian local artisan woman. The line specializes in hand-knitted sweaters, stamped with the maker’s name. It really makes each item you buy so intimate and builds a sense of connection between the US and South America.

If you are a buyer or store owner, to view information about our lines, please go to www.collabfashion.com.  The site requires a username and password.  If you need one, please email buyers@collabfashion.com.

[On the Eco-Hunt] Spotted: Three J Pajamas

All month long, we'll be on the Eco-Hunt. Follow us as we scour through the alley, streets, and showrooms of the Fashion District for eco-friendly fashion finds! We'll be featuring all the eco-conscious goodies and listing the places where you can get them!

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Canadian born Alexandria (Ali) McLeod is a lover of two things that I love: sleep and fashion. Unlike me who complains about not getting enough sleep but doesn’t try to sleep earlier, Ali created a business out of it. After working many years in the luxury children’s fashion industry, she branched out and started her own collection of organic cotton pajamas, Three J. She named the line after her siblings – sister Jamie, and brothers Jeff and John. Pajamas were a big part of Ali’s childhood. Whether it was the smell of shampoo on her freshly washed hair, playing in footed pajamas before bed, or waking up on weekend mornings to pancakes, many of her most favorite childhood memories take place in pajamas. To me, her line is a collection that seeks to help others create those memories that she holds so dearly.

Ali’s collection includes sleepwear and lougewear; the “Jamie” PJs, “Audrey” nightshirt, “Lucy” tank and short set, and “Alex” robe. The sets are prewashed to ensure softness and the bright prints will not fade in additional washings. Her collection can be found in the Cosabella Showroom, located in the California Market Center, Suite B-1071. Or make your childhood memories at www.threejnyc.com!

On the Eco-Hunt: Jonäno

Founded in 2006 by CEO and designer Bonnie L. Seifers, Jonäno is committed to creating tailored, sophisticated and contemporary clothing using alternative textiles that are kind to the environment. When she’s not designing from her eco-studio in a treehouse in Philadelphia, Seifers is searching for sustainable natural fibers from all over the globe, from a corn and bamboo blend to make her lingerie to colorful cotton for her women's line.

The fabrics used come from crops like bamboo, flax, cotton, hemp, waste corn and wild “peace” silk. Jonano has also developed its own trademark fabric using ecoKashmere. EcoKashmere is a bamboo blend that feels like cashmere but without the cost and does not need to be sent to the dry cleaner, which is not only expensive and an inconvenience, but it creates hazardous chemicals harmful to people.

 Jonäno is a regular on the fashion front. It has received numerous press coverage in WWD, California Apparel News, and other notable publications, exhibits at the LA Fashion Market, and has a showroom in the Fashion District’s California Market Center. Additionally, the line showcased at L.A. Fashion Weekend at Sunset Gower Studios in Fall 2010 (see their runway show below). Seifer hopes to be on the catwalk again for LA Fashion Week this Fall.

If you like all things sustainable, follow Seifer’s blog www.ecocouture.blogspot.com. There, she talks about everything she finds in the world that happens to be cool and sustainable (architecture, cars, clothing, etc).

On the Eco-Hunt: PACT

All month long in April, we'll be on the Eco-Hunt. Follow us as we scour through the alleys, streets, and showrooms of the Fashion District for eco-friendly fashion finds! We'll be featuring all the eco-conscious goodies on this blog along with our Facebook and Twitter, so subscribe to us to find out where you can get them!

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PACT is a line of everyday underwear, found in the LA Fashion District's California Market Center, that contributes to an extraordinary cause. First and foremost it's friendly to the environment. They are all 95% organic cotton, 5% elastane and boast eco-friendly inks. It's made with the highest quality of soft, organic Turkish cotton, with 5% elastane for a perfect stretch. PACT may be stylish and sexy, but it's designed to be comfortable for everyday living and is the best choice for the sustainably-minded consumer. Plus pairs are packed in a reusable fabric bag, and even the colorful bright, green shipping bag is 100% compostable.

Here comes the extraordinary part: Every purchase made is contributed to a social movement. PACT has partnered with a handful of organizations such as EarthSpark International and the Green Belt Movement. PACT also supports and encourages organic cotton farmers, responsible labor practices, and businesses that form partnerships with nonprofit organizations dedicated to positive change in our world. Additionally, PACT's Save the Sea collection supports Oceana's work to protect oceans and recover sea turtle population affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Is your underwear saving the world?

You can purchase the men's line online at Nordstroms or their website. You can also visit the following retailers:

CALIFORNIA

Azalea SF (Welcome Stranger) – San Francisco

Beauty + Attitude – Berkeley

Blues Jean Bar – San Francisco

Blues Jean Bar – San Jose

Blues Jean Bar – Santa Monica

Convert Style – Berkeley

The Den – Encinitas

Eco Citizen – San Francisco

Future Standard – San Diego

Hangr 16 – San Francisco

Milk & Honey – Sebastopol

J Brand in the Lady Liberty Building

We've all heard of J Brand and most of us probably own a pair or two, but not many people know that the men's line has a showroom in the Fashion District! More specifically, it's located inside The Lady Liberty Building, a building constructed in 1914 and is now completely devoted to fashion showrooms. In J Brand's showroom, this LA based company features lots of denim as well as twills, cargo and corduroy. You can buy your own pair at over 157 stores in California as well as here, here, and here.

A Current Affair's Pop-up Vintage Marketplace



Alkemie



Alkemie



VOK showroom

 I attended A Current Affair's pop-up vintage marketplace on Saturday, April 2, at The Cooper Building. This event lends itself as "a unique shopping event that features the best vintage dealers from Los Angeles and beyond". It's quite a feat to call yourself "the best", but after seeing all the clothes and jewelry there, they're definitely close to it.  There were many boho pieces (jackets, dresses, fur coats) that sparkled and dripped with luxury. Can you tell from that close-up pearl photo? I also spotted a vintage, beige crocodiled-print Judith Leiber handbag. Businesses and friends of the Fashion District such as Alkemie, whose jewelry line is made from 100% reclaimed metals, and VOK, an upscale, curated vintage showroom, were also at the marketplace to showcase their lines. Be sure to check out the next A Current Affair vintage marketplace!