Local eco-friendly fashion and furniture designers are getting their own spotlight in a special exhibit this week that's part of Fashion Focus Chicago 2008. The weeklong citywide fashion extravaganza, which kicks off October 1, is sponsored by the City of Chicago in conjunction with local organizations, designers and retailers.
The Museum of Sustainable Style, or MoSS, will showcase 25 Chicago area designers who create edgy and beautiful clothing, accessories and furniture using organic and sustainable materials, as well as reclaimed products, according to Jessa Brinkmeyer, the exhibit's curator and owner of Pivot Boutique, one of Chicago's first clothing stores dedicated to eco-fashion. The exhibit, located at 1109 West Fulton Market, will be open free to the public October 2-5 between noon and 6 p.m.
Chicago-area designers featured in the show include Lara Miller, who uses bamboo in her knit dresses and shirts, and Michele Fitzpatrick, a furniture designer with a faux leather ottoman on display. Noon Solar, a collaborative effort between Jane Palmer and Marianne Fairbanks, will have three handbags in the exhibit, which are made from biodegradable, chrome-free, vegetable dyed leather. Each bag has a built-in solar panel that can charge a battery which easily plugs into a cell phone or iPod, says Brinkmeyer.
"The exhibit will show people that you don't have to sacrifice anything in terms of style or personal taste to support sustainable design," notes Brinkmeyer. "This is proof that we have lots of local, young, sustainable designers in Chicago."
An interactive panel discussion at MoSS on Saturday October 4 will focus on ideas for living an everyday sustainable lifestyle, explains Brinkmeyer. Panelists include Sara Snow, well-known for her former Discovery Network show "Get Fresh with Sara Snow" and currently seen live on CNN.com; Barry Bursak, a Chicago consultant specializing in sustainable designs for the home; and Iris Wang, co-owner of Brentano, an eco-fabrics manufacturer. Seating for the discussion, which will begin at 2 p.m. with a reception following, is on a first-come basis.
"We're going to make this meaningful, but not lofty," says Brinkmeyer. "It will be very approachable for anyone walking in off the street."
Visitors who want a hands-on feel of the raw materials used in many featured designs at MoSS will find a "petting zoo" of various items on display, sponsored by Ecolect, a web site dedicated to sustainable materials.
The exhibit also coincides with Fulton Arts Walk, a two-day event on October 4-5 featuring open houses of art galleries and live performances in the West Loop neighborhood.
