Major cities are wrapping up their Fashion Weeks for the AW09 season and sustainability was definitely on the map at the European shows. London, Milan and Paris all hosted eco-friendly shows or exhibits as did Switzerland.

Noir at Estethica at LFW

London had two eco-events last month (see London Calling), Ethical Pure and Estethica. This was Estethica’s 6th season and with 15 new designers there is no denying the progress in ethical fashion. The show’s main and original label Noir and Bllack Noir didn’t disappoint in continuing to be a sexy and mainstream ethical brand. Other key (awesome)points of this year’s showcase was the launch of the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan, SCAP by DEFRA. Greenwise Business UK summarizes as follows, “Backed by over 300 high street retailers, designers, textile manufacturers and the Government, the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan or SCAP, aims to reduce the harmful lifecycle environmental and social impacts of clothing and textiles – from design, to manufacture, to retail, to disposal. Some of the big names that have so far signed up to the plan include Marks and Spencer (M&S), Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Adili, Nike, Continental Clothing and Oxfam”.

Milan hosted the Ethical Fashion Show during it’s fashion week this season. This was the Italian fashion capital’s first tribute to sustainable style. The theme of the show was traditional skills and social development. EFS partnered up with the Italian non-profit group Arte Fatto, an association that focuses on growing opportunities for ethically conscious artisans and designers. The show exhibited a number of international designers including: Kabul based Royah,  Mona Mohanna of Lebanon, Redesign the World, Italy’s own Altra Qualità, Leila Hafzi of Norway, and French labels Ponchissimo, Valerie Pache, Andes Made, Patrick Lafrontiere, and Ombre Claire. EFS will also take place in Rio from June 11th to 14th and in Paris, October 1st to 4th.

Switzerland hosted their second Green Fashion Switzerland Show at the green lifestyle fair Natur. Designers included Peter Müller, MILCH creations, The Sentis, Van Markoviec, Icebreaker, Switcher, COOP Naturaline.

So Ethic Tradeshow

So Ethic, a massive tradeshow for green designers, showed again in Paris. With over 80 labels at this years show, So Ethic is making its mark in the sustainable and conscious fashion market. This years exhibitors included: Alchemist, Anardo & Skyum, Andrew Crews, Beyond Skin, Cabanac, Camilla Norrback, Ciel Organic, Coll.Part, Dem Collective, Designers Against Aids, EJF, Eribe’, Ethos, L’etrangere, Fifi Bijoux,  G=9.8, Globe Hope, Hetty, Rose, Hip2thejive, Ideo, Jael A Des Ailes, Junky Stylings,  Katharine Hamnett, Kolam, Komodo, Leila Hafzi, Life Clothing,  Loomstate, Makezenz, Marie, Nu, Numanu Label of Love, Sobosibio, Stewart & Brown, Sur Le Dos Des Filles, Terra Plana, Van Markoveic, Wellicious, Wildlife Works.

Nice to see ethical fashion sustaining and growing in Europe. Viva Verde!

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