Possibly the hardest item of clothing for devoted vegans to find is outerwear. We rarely think about the fact the most winter coats contain some form of animal product, be it leather, fur, or even wool. Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart, designer of Chicago-based “activist fashion label” Vaute Couture, spent eight months doing textile research and development in order to bring us the handsome, well-tailored line presented at The GreenShows during New York Fashion Week. cont.

It’s the time of teetering heels again. Uncomfortable, spectacular footwear takes over the streets as the Bryant Park tents fill with fashion’s A-listers for the last time. Meanwhile The GreenShows, this year housed at 311 E 11: Village Green, turns the spotlight to sustainably inclined designers. Opening night Gary Harvey, former Creative Director of Levi Strauss, sent spectacular recycled couture creations down the runway. cont.

No matter how much we enjoy living in a winter wonderland, the one thing everyone residing in northerly climates does as the cold sets in is California-dream ourselves away to carefree days spent on warm sunny beaches. Heather Heron’s new collection for Environment Furniture celebrates the worry-free art of living minimally, but full of spirit and a sense of adventure. cont.

Sometimes, getting dressed in the morning seems like way too much work. I know I have at times wished I could just wear a lab coat or something to work and not have to worry about matching colors in the early morning hours. With The Uniform Project, Sheena Matheiken decided to show us all that it is possible to wear the same thing, yet reinvent your look every day. Starting in May 2009, she pledged to wear the same black dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. cont.

With fashion week season now underway in cosmopolitan capitals globally, there is no doubt that the careful scrutiny of the latest style trends and designer collections will be the preoccupation of hipsters everywhere. The good news is that there are some major inroads being made in sustainable fashion, specifically in terms of materials, sourcing, and media attention. cont.

Jill Harrop is on a quest to revise the way we consume and to adjust our perception of how to dress consciously. Her Heartfelt line of relaxed separates is designed for effortless living and aims to create an aesthetic that rises above all trends. Heartfelt’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship is a counter-reaction to the current driving force of changing fashion trends and the overproduction of clothing. cont.

If you are currently experiencing ‘green is the new black’ fashion fatigue, it might be because the latest interpretations of sustainable design are a bit up in the air as green goods continue to go mainstream alongside ever savvier marketing strategies. This past year has seen significant developments on the fashion frontier as the industry broadens its scope of just how chic eco textiles and sustainable style can be. cont.

Felt like I really had a bad hair day today, and since I haven’t cut it in months and months, I probably was not just imagining it. My ends are dry, split and sad, it’s not a pretty picture at all. I really need to make that appointment with a hairdresser soon. But, it’s so hard, I haven’t found one here that I’ve made mine yet, and hair is such a personal thing. I need to commit and do it soon. cont.