An Earthy Education at the Eco-Fashion: Going Green Exhibition

By Lexi Green
October 29, 2010

Pieces from the Eco-Fashion: Going Green exhibition at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology

Fair Trade. Local. Vegan. Organic. We’ve all heard these buzz words when it comes to the food in our grocery stores and on our plates. But when it comes to the blossoming sustainable fashion movement, there are so many catch phrases that shopping with a conscience can be downright daunting—not to mention the controversy surrounding exactly how to define an "eco clothing." "Eco-Fashion: Going Green," an exhibition on display through November 13th at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology Museum, is trying to change all that.

According to Jennifer Farley and Colleen Hill, assistant curators at the FIT Museum and the lead curators of "Eco-Fashion: Going Green," the show aims to highlight both the positive and negative environmental practices of the fashion industry through the ages. On one end of the spectrum is a 19th century silk dress dyed green by—what else?—arsenic. While at the other end is an extensive range of contemporary green fashion garments, such as a Martin Margiela jacket assembled from multiple (re-used) silk scarves, along with an organic wool sweater dress and faux leather eco-friendly fashion accessories by Stella McCartney, all of which embody today's desire for (and multiple definitions of) more sustainable fashion.

"Instead of [causing them to feel] bad, we hope that we have made people think a little more about where their clothing comes from, how it's being produced, and what steps they might take to 'go green,'" Farley and Hill said.

1860s Green Silk Dress; organic wool sweater dress and faux leather accessories by Stella McCartney; coat

"Our favorite pieces are those that showcase the techniques of repurposing or recycling," Farley and Hills say of an eco-friendly fashion technique that has been popular through the ages. "For instance, we have included a man's dressing gown that was remade from a crazy quily during the Great Depression. Instead of ending up as refuse, pieces like this were given a new life."

As a further means to help us with all of those seemingly impossible eco-buzz words, Farley and Hill broke down the 100 green fashion garments, accessories, and textiles on display into six major themes: repurposing and recycling of materials; material origins; textile dyeing and production; quality of craftsmanship; labor practices; and the treatment of animals.

Lucky for us, there are easy-to-search keywords on eBay that can provide a shopper with a closetful of stylish, environmentally-friendly fashion finds. Check out our ideas below and find more at Green.eBay.com and World of Good by eBay.

(images courtesy of FIT)

Vegan

Want to avoid wearing animal products? How about searching for vegan leather and faux fur styles? Vegan clothing is up with eBay users as well. When we compared listings on eBay with the term "vegan" in the Clothing, Shoes and Accessories category from a recent week with a week-long period approximately one year ago, we found listings had increased 15 percent and sales were up 6 percent.

Vegan

Roll over items for details

Vegan Brown Knee-High Boots

(starting bid, $20)

Black Vegan Leather-Look Jacket

(staring bid, $29.80)

NEW Topshop Faux Mongolian Fur Vest Cozy Fall Trend

(buy it now price, $65)

An Earthy Education at the Eco-Fashion: Going Green Exhibition

Organic

One of the exhibition's major themes is "material-origins." Using organic methods to manufacture wool, cotton and silk helps mitigate the environmental damages that conventionally grown textiles leave behind, including depleted water supplies and nutrient-deficient soils from pesticide and poor-irrigation use. On eBay, listings of items with the term"organic" in the Clothing, Shoes and Accessories category are up 28 percent and sales are up 7 percent in a recent week vs. a week-long period approximately one year ago.

Organic

Womens Organic John Patrick Silk Dress

(buy it now price, $69.99)

NEW Gaiam Organic Cotton Bamboo Peasant Dress

(buy it now price, $48)

EDUN 100% Baby Alpaca Gray Handknit Sweater

(starting bid, $59.99)

Craftsmanship

Farley and Hill tout the eco-benefits of buying environmentally-friendly garments that incorporate unique and quality craftsmanship. These iconic, durable pieces will stand the test of time in both style and durability, making the strain on both the fashion-cycle and your wallet much lighter.

Craftsmanship

NEW Burberry Hooded Signature Trench Coat Jacket Black

(buy it now, $399)

DVF Silk Evrin Wrap Dress

(buy it now, $169.99)

J Crew Men's Vintage Red Wing Leather Boot

(buy it now, $209.99)

Fair Trade Clothing

Just like the Fair Trade coffee you buy at the grocery store, Fair Trade clothing is produced under the notion that all workers are treated to financially equitable and safe working conditions.

Fair Trade

Mata Traders Fair Trade A-line Dress

(buy it now, $58)

Children's Organic Fair Trade Olive Green Sneaker

(buy it now, $35)

Fair Trade Alpaca Wool Socks Ski Skate

(buy it now, $7.85 )

Eco

Even just searching the term "eco" on eBay can come up with some stylish environmentally-friendly fashion options that fall in-line with the exhibition's six themes.