In a nod to the just-passed Earth Day, we spotlight a handful of sustainable couturiers in our Eco Comes of Age feature as well as interview Hardy Blechman of environmentally-minded streetwear brand Maharishi about what it was like going green in 1994. Elsewhere, we look at the latest It bag, birthed from a baseball glove, explore the resilience of the Doc Martens brand and profile emerging Kiwi designer Alexandra Owen.

Once the fashion industry's awkward outsider, eco-friendly clothing has now become the cool new girl in school. Labels have exchanged scratchy, straw-colored hemp—once de rigueur for eco-friendly style—for sleek bamboo blends and organic denims so soft they even put some cashmeres to shame. But while we've got our pick of super-luxe basics that won't harm the planet, there are still far fewer all-natural clothing lines that exhibit a truly haute sensibility. A handful of new labels and retailers, however, are following in the footsteps of Danish crusaders Noir, placing an emphasis on sleek tailoring and sophisticated embellishment for a style-conscious urban customer... keep reading »

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Elizabeth Yarborough of Yarborough Jewelry turns everyday objects into deliciously-colored, statement-making accessories that are perfect for the warm-weather seasons. Be the 400th correct respondent to name a country that has banned super-skinny models and win a set of ten sweater bangles made of cashmere, angora, Donegal tweed, baby alpaca and other fine wools from Yarborough—a $700 value.

According to designer Hikaru Matsumura, "There are many good bags, but very few with wit." To address this void in the accessories market, Matsumura, who has designed at Issey Miyake since 1993, conceived of the Unique Bag Project, playing matchmaker with an artisan baseball glove maker in Osaka and handbag craftsmen from the Issey Miyake umbrella. The utterly original lovechild produced from this unusual collaboration is a series of handbags that riff on classic baseball mitt design tropes... keep reading »

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What do you get when you cross the wardrobes of a medieval wench, a Gothic maiden and a female futurist? No, not a busty Emo in a space suit, thanks. Rather, it's the distinctive sensibility that permeates the designs of up-and-coming New Zealander Alexandra Owen.

During the annual New Zealand Fashion Week held in Auckland late last year—a town possibly best known for being the home of the Karen Walker label, some rugby players and a few big sailing boats—Owen emerged as one of the favored first-timers... keep reading »

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The last time the fashion world fancied Dr. Martens grunge had seeped into the mainstream (thank you, Mr. Jacobs) and our economy was lagging. Today, things aren't much different. As colored jeans, cartoons and, of course, plaid flannel float to the surface, Docs are also re-emerging. In fact, it's almost as if the utilitarian footwear—created in 1945 by German Klaus Maertens as an alternative to the traditional army boot—sees a fashion renaissance any time there's talk of recession... keep reading »

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Numerous fashion brands have begun to embrace eco-consciousness in recent years, but Maharishi, launched in 1994 by Hardy Blechman, was at the forefront of sustainable design long before the green movement was trendy. Today, the British streetwear brand boasts full womenswear, menswear and childrenswear lines, as well as a second range called MHI, and is sold in 33 countries.

We caught up with Blechman recently to chat about how his sustainability ideas were initially received, the evolution of the brand's infamous Snopants and his forthcoming autumn/winter collection... keep reading »

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What's hot right now: "Kisa, a new luxury designer label out of London is the brainchild of four young Europeans. Their show during London fashion week boasted serious star power on the runway (Naomi, Liya, Lilly) and industry heavyweights backstage (Edward Enninful styling, Charlotte Tilbury on makeup). Apparently their spring collection is blowing out of Harrods. With a team like this around them and great sell-through, Kisa is a label to watch.

diNeila Brazil, a hot Brazilian line of jewelry, swimwear and lingerie sold exclusively online..." keep reading »

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The stars are now keeping 'bumps' under cover
Showing a pregnant belly is no longer in style, reports the Internationl Herald Tribune.

Philippine convicts turn fashion designers
In the Philippines, prison inmates have channeled their energy into fashion design, reports Al Jazeera.

Polygamist clothing has roots in 19th century and 1950s
The conservative costume of polygamist women is rife with meaning, reports the Associated Press.

Sewing machines are back in fashion
As a backlash against fast fashion, sales of sewing machines are up, reports the Telegraph.

Fashion Magazines: Balancing advertising and editorial
For blockbuster fashion magazines, bringing in revenues is just as vital as keeping a unique editorial perspective, reports the Business of Fashion.

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