Ethical Fashion Exclusive: Lara Miller & Alidade
In the relatively short span of eco-fashion, Lara Miller is a legend—she’s been working in organic cotton, hand-loomed bamboo, hemp and vegan silk for more than a decade, to serious accolades: She was named “Top 40 Under 40” by Crain’s Chicago Business as well as “Indie Designer of the Year” by Chicago Magazine—and no, these weren’t the eco issues.
Inspired by the architecture of her native Chicago, Lara’s modular designs are created with a playful geometry in mind and are meant to be mixed and matched depending on your taste and your mood on any given day. Think sweater dresses that you could dress down with skinny jeans and flats, or up with stilettos and bold accessories. We love how Lara’s pieces are all so interchangeable, making the looks as endlessly versatile as the women who wear them.
Lara Miller Hand-Loomed Bamboo Sophia Sweater Dress ($389)
Another Chicago-based eco-fashion brand, Alidade, is making strides in a different way: They’re a completely car-free company, using bicycling and public transit as their go-to method for trips outside the studio. With both form and function in every single piece, Alidade’s cute, casual and totally wearable organic cotton pieces will be essentials for seasons to come. We love spring’s quarter-sleeve blouses, asymmetrical knit cardies and two-panel twill shorts—perfect for a bike ride in the park followed by a brunch date on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
Alidade Organic Cotton Double-Pocket Tank Dress ($205)
WEEK OF 9.4.11 ONE ECOSTILETTO SUBSCRIBER WILL WIN A $100 SHOPPING SPREE AT GLOBALFASHIONBRANDS.COM!
Alyson Campbell is a public relations entrepreneur specializing in lifestyle and fashion brands. She contributes to a slew of media outlets, including a regular NYC-column on the neighborhood news site NearSay. Alyson is the main contributor behind It’s All Very PR and the face of New York’s lifestyle publicity firm AMP3 PR.
