Written by: Vivian Dang
Photos c/o: Ed Ng Photography and Vancouver ECO Fashion Week
Sustainable fashion has been around for a long time and you can easily incorporate these pieces into your wardrobe by splurging on H&M's
Conscious Collection or employ local artisans and locally sourced fabrics as the designers did at Eco Fashion Week. I had the amazing opportunity to attend all the shows for EFW this season and day after day, I was impressed by all of the collections. Once again, all the designers proved that sustainable fashion can be oh so stylish.
BHANA
Trisha Rampersad, the founder and director of BHANA designs kicked off EFW with a strong debut of her
Fearless collection. Instead of having the models walk out once the show began, Rampersad introduced the inspiration behind her collection by having the first model stand poised at the beginning of the runway, while a voice narrated: "... like a dark horse rising, she emerges from the fog, her feet deeply rooted in the Earth."
The first thing that I noticed was the strong expression maintained by the models as they strut down the runway. Their fierce look alongside their gunmetal smokey eye and heavy streak of bronzer reminded me of war make-up, and gave off a "don't-mess-with-me" vibe.
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| BHANA debuts "Fearless" collection with a strong opening |
What was striking about BHANA was Rampersad's use of clean lines and structured shapes that commanded attention. Much of her collection comprised of form-fitting dresses that were feminine but strong - almost border-lining "femme fatale" territory but not quite. As a matter of fact, the blazers had an architectural element to it which toned down the feminine nature of her designs and gave it the strong quality that reflects the
Fearless collection.
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| The structured blazer and suspender detail in the back were my favourite looks from BHANA |
Minimalism isn't the appropriate word to describe her collection, but rather clean designs that are meticulously crafted with an impeccably polished look.
Evan Ducharme
I've been a huge fan of Ducharme's designs ever since he presented his collection at the
FNO Designer Showcase. And judging from the audience's reactions, it's clear that they couldn't agree more. The overwhelming cheers that Ducharme received both at the start and end of the show, made it clear that his designs were the most anticipated of the evening. With the presentation of
Belladonna, he certainly didn't disappoint. But before debuting his collection, Ducharme teased us with a short video clip coupled with tantalizing Parisian music. I was transported to a black and white era that left me craving for the decadence of bygone eras.
Elongating silhouettes, cinched waists, as well as tailored ensembles comprised his elegant collection. Finger curls and stunning statement necklaces topped off the lady-like looks that made its way down the runway. The classic LBD, I noticed, had an interesting detail with the subtle grey cap-sleeve (far right).
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| Ducharme's classic, elegant looks graced EFW's runway. |
My favourite look of the night was this stunning floor-sweeping gown. It flowed beautifully with every step that the model took, but it was really the back detail that I fell in love with. It had a cowl neck and a thin strap that tied delicately at the back and extended to the ground.
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| Ducharme's floor-sweeping gown captured my attention with its classic style and minimal detail |
For the modern, everyday girl who strives to channel the elegance and sophistication exuded by Grace Kelly and Bette Davis, Ducharme makes this accessible (and more attainable than my unrequited love for Marchesa). He redefines modern elegance with
Belladonna which emerged as the stand-out collection of the night.
Rise
As different looks came down the runway, I noticed how the designers made use of second-hand clothing and fabrics.They emphasized small details on each of the designs, utilizing contrasting fabrics for the breast pockets, elbow patches, and back pocket with either plaid and denim or denim and leather. It reminded me of patchwork and quilting, but done in a very constructed and polished manner.
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| Contrasting details on the designs reminded me of patchwork and quilting done in a very constructed manner. |
There was a mash-up of different prints and fabrics as well as monochromatic outfits that gave the collection an edgy Western feel:
This collection reminded me of
True Grit sans gun and the long overcoat. If anything, it was a softer take on the gritty fashion reflected in the film - Wild West chic, if you will.
Elroy
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there was a singer who performed before the start of Elroy's show. Her mellifluous vocals continued even as the models walked down the runway, which gave the show a more intimate feel. When the first look came off the runway, I realized that I had found my go-to sweater line. I was in love with every single look mostly because the designs were styled in a way that was so wearable.
Tribal print seemed to define Elroy's runway with fitted knits garnering a polished look.
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| Tribal-like prints dominated Elroy's runway |
Both the menswear and womenswear line was preppy chic with whispers of an indie vibe; hipster-like but not quite.The sheer skirts paired with the slouchy, off-kilter sweaters infused relaxed, yet easy glamour.
Even though this was my second time attending EFW, I was impressed with the consistency in quality and talent. Day 3 was one of my favourite shows and I couldn't help but marvel over the fact that all the designers employed re-worked fabrics or recycled material in all of their designs. Throughout the entire week, I was amazed with the collections and pictured myself wearing almost all of the pieces. This is the defining quality about EFW - there's an attainable and realistic aspect to it that is unseen with other fashion shows. And as for the finale? Let's just say this element was reinforced when
FiveLeft bags (priced at $150 +) were given to audiences (yes, for free). But you're going to have to read all about
that in my next article.
