Linda Loudermilk Sustainable Fashion, Spring 2008
April 05 2008
Linda Loudermilk is like the Miuccia Prada of eco-fashion: looking so far ahead of the trend that other designers scramble to keep up. Think we’re exaggerating? The woman creates her own fabrics, for god’s sakes, from sustainable exotics like sasawashi, sea cell and soya, in addition to run-of-the-mill bamboo.
Designed to be worn, loved and then, potentially, composted, Loudermilk’s designs are ridiculously gorgeous, filled with luxurious fabrics and bright, exciting designs, like the rainforest-patterned silk dress she’s showing with punked out plaid pants or the black silk mock-turtleneck dress crafted from layers of fabric that cling to the body like you just rolled yourself up in seaweed. Okay that might not be the best analogy, but sheesh, words don’t describe!
More accessible might be the iconic water faucet tees from her Water is a Human Right line—every purchase benefits the YEW Foundation that supports organizations with clean water initiatives.
We can only hope to be invited to a kick-ass awards ceremony one day so we can sashay down the red carpet in a Loudermilk floor-length like the ones she showed at the ThinkVitality fashion show last month at EXPO.
Until then, we’ll have to hope that more green-minded starlets wise up and see how much press a sustainable dress can get them: “Oh this little thing? Linda made it for me from sasawashi, and then we ate the rest in a salad for lunch.” Good for them, and good for us, as the world wakes up to the reality of sustainable fashion, pioneered by Ms. Loudermilk herself.
p.s. Wondering what to use to hang up that fabulous new eco-dress? Look no further than hangers made from 100% recyclable paper with a minimum 70% post-consumer waste or 100% PET (recycled plastic), which feature a unique design that eliminates wire hooks or other materials that make recycling hangers prohibitive.
