Drop any ideas that this was a fringe event — early verdicts from around the fashion globe called the designs presented as gorgeous and ‘to die for’. If there’s one thing eco-friendly collections are proving, it’s that sexy and stunning can come from materials that are also earth-friendly. Said Barneys’ New York fashion director Julie Gilhart,

“It’s just the way it should be. It should be more luxurious. It’s more luxurious to really think about where your fabric comes from, about the impact of it on the environment, and about fair trade and labour issues. All of that is super important!”

And another great quote from Calvin Klein’s Francisco Costa,

“The awareness is always there, but with things like this show, I feel like we’ll be doing that more. The customer has to be educated, especially if it’s global. But I think everybody will catch on – and who doesn’t want to be a part of it? You can make an amazing, beautifully tailored piece that looks super expensive. And it’s great for the textile industry also, because they’re natural fibers so it’s better for the health of the farmers. So it’s just very positive – and it really makes a huge difference!”

Materials on display included hemp, bio-silk, organic cotton, bamboo — and even some corn. Designer Giambattista Valli specifically asked for Ingeo — a company that creates biodegradable synthetic fabric from fermented corn. While we may not see any of these styles on clothing racks anytime soon, we’re positive that a trickle-down effect in the textile industry is coming. Said designer Rogan Gregory, “People understand that this is the way of the future. And why not? That’s my point: Why wouldn’t you do this?”

via Vogue

When New York Fashion Week kicks off at the end of January, designers will be showcasing their new green designs- but that doesn’t mean lima-bean green will be the new black.

Some of the world’s hottest names in fashion- including Marc Jacobs, Versace, Jil Sander, and Narciso Rodriguez will join no-stranger-to-the eco-scene designer Stella McCartney to participate in Earth Pledge’s FutureFashion runway show, which will feature their one-of-a-kind designs made from recyclable, sustainable, and earth-friendly materials.

This isn’t the first year for the show, which promotes renewable materials and production methods, and eco-fashion no longer means you DIY a re-purposed burlap sack into a clever (but still unfortunately hideous-looking) dress. An ever-increasing awareness of environmental issues has definitely taken root, and socially and environmentally-conscious purchasing options can now be found at all your favorite shopping locales, from your favorite ridiculously cute but shockingly overpriced neighborhood boutique store to all the major department stores.

If you’ve got champagne tastes, but are forced to live on a beer budget, don’t feel too sorry for yourself. You can check out some of the designs featured on the runway in Barney’s Madison Avenue store window displays starting February 1st. Then you can sulk that while your burlap sack dress is eco-friendly, the one-of-a-kind garments featured in the show are pure eco-fashion.