"Nothing less than admirable"

The manner in which designers of eco-fashion brands apply themselves to the work set in front of them, daily and seasonally, is nothing less than admirable. As eco-designers, they are allotted the double task of creating fashion that is forward, stylish, and original, as well as promoting awareness of the harmful impacts on the environment and offering solutions to the crisis. It's not easy making fashion statements and environmental statements, but these designers have proved repeatedly that they are more than willing and capable to manage the task. The NOW Showcase is proud to have such a collective of green designers ready to save the world in a stitch, a ruche, and a cinch! These brands, including Rain Tees, SDN, Rebe, and AngelRox, will all be featured at this year's Spring 11 Showcase. Behind every garment rack is a story-- come and see these sustainable collections and learn more about green efforts!

Rain Tees:
Saving Trees with Tees-- more than just an organic t-shirt line, Rain Tees is a brand that is wholly dedicated to the improvement of the environment and quality of life in rainforest communities. Launched in 2007 by Beth Doane as a response to the issues surrounding logging, oil drilling and agricultural expansion in the Amazon, as well as the toxic effects that the fashion industry has on the environment, Rain Tees serves as a venue for the education of consumers on these eco-harming factors and also provides a direct way for Rain Tees customers to help sponsor a child's education and the planting of new trees. Each tee is branded with original artwork made by children in endangered rainforest dwellings. School supplies are donated to the children, and then they are asked to draw what they see happening around them. Next, these illustrations are printed on 100% organic cotton tees using eco-friendly inks and dyes. Buy a tee, save a tree-- just one simple way to help out in the environment! Learn more about Rain Tees and the story behind the shirts here: http://www.raintees.com/

SDN:
One of the NOW Showcase's regulars, menswear/womenswear brand SDN continues to stun with wonderfully stylized original creations, cut from quality upcycled vintage fabrics. Adding to his already inventive stockpile of designs (including the pant-shoes, satin vests boasting arabesque motifs, and 1920s noir inspired capes and collar dresses), SDN mastermind Marcus Hicks introduces a new spring collection set against the backdrop of a deadly festive Día de los Muertos scene. With wrap-backs, smartly cut blazers, pinafore-front dresses, elegant blouses, and a handsome distribution of blacks, whites, greys and blue recycled denim in the new collection, SDN once again pushes past previous boundaries set in regards to design and style. What will we see next from this amazing designer? We're holding our breath in anticipation! See more of SDN here: http://www.sarahdixonsnova.com/

REBE:
Mother-daughter design duo Debra Weiss and Hillery Sproatt are the clever conceivers of this spritely buoyant womenswear and accessories line. A marriage of Debra's textile design expertise and Hillery's artistic and design sense, Rebe sports a collection full of polka dots, stripes, plaid, quilted patterns and fun textiles-- clothing reminiscent of childhood imagination, dreams captured in fabric, and overall fashion sensibility. In addition to gorgeous coats, dresses, tops, and trousers, the eco-brand also carries a wild assortment of handmade bags and purses (for dogs and babies too!) as well as knit and beaded jewelry. View the full collection on their website here: http://www.myrebe.com/

AngelRox:
"We're all angels," says Roxi Sugar, designer of green fashion brand AngelRox. This may be true, but after seeing her collection, it's clear that the 'angels' are really the designs that make up her collection. Branded by a cross and halo (a logo that represents balance), AngelRox's little angels are beautiful ethereal wrap dresses, cap sleeved winged tunic tops, outfits geared for travel and celestial flight, eternal vintage jeans, graceful maternity dresses, and more. With a conscious mind for the environment, Roxi uses an eco-friendly blend of sustainable fabrics including bamboo jersey and organic cotton for her luxurious creations in soothing colors of vanilla, espresso, sterling, and black. Focusing on versatility, AngelRox's headlining piece, the wrap, is a multi-wearable design, switching from use as a skirt, to become a dress, a cape, a flowing top, and more. See more of AngelRox's heavenly pieces here, including the line's ventures into bridalwear and eco-lingerie: http://www.angelrox.com/

See these designers and more at the NOW Spring 2011 Showcase, September 20-22.

SDN: Vintage Fabrics for Modern Designs

From the beginning, it was all about the worn, beautiful quality of vintage fabrics. Working at a vintage clothing store in San Francisco in the early 90s, Marcus Hicks developed a penchant for the attractiveness and versatility of these antiquated materials that would later become the foundation for his own clothing line, SDN. Dissatisfied with the standard of mainstream retail at the time, Hicks began to put his designs into production, recycling old fabrics to make one-of-a-kind screen-printed t-shirts.

Stemming from the singular idea of creating beautiful and stunning upcycled clothing, SDN has become a popular eco-fashion label, with menswear and womenswear included in the collection. In keeping his fabric supply rich and unique, Hicks obtains entirely organic, sustainable, and recycled textiles, and works his designs around the fabrics. With brilliant red vests, skinny pinstriped shirts, capes, and collar-dresses, SDN’s 1920s-hipster inspired clothing bleeds an aesthetic of clean lines and bright red lipstick, fedora-clad men in dark alleyways, a touch of grunge, glam, and the effervescence of youth. This noir-chic brand not only addresses style in an innovative way, but also takes care to address world situations by using textiles that are good for the earth, people, and even politics. SDN supports “progressive political causes” and does not utilize sweatshop labor in the creation of their clothing. SDN merchandise can be found in NYC at Tessan, Kaight, and Sodafine, and will also be featured at the NOW Fall 2010 Showcase, February 20-22 at the ICO Gallery.

Check out more of SDN's looks here: http://www.sarahdixonsnova.com/