The Sustainable Style Show vendors have each had to meet at least one of the set criteria put forth by show producer, Kelly Drennan. “Because this is such an intimate show”, states Drennan, “it is crucial that the products being sold are truly green. In order to guarantee this, we have put our vendors through a green-screening process that looks at sustainability, packaging, where the products are made, whether they were fairly traded, and made using organic ingredients”.
In addition, Drennan has taken great measures to provide little or no duplication of brands. “We don’t want this to be the kind of show where every fifth booth is selling the same product”, states Drennan. “All our vendors have been hand-picked for this very reason”. For a complete list of vendors please visit www.fashiontakesaction.com/vendor.html. There are still 8-10 more vendors who are soon to be finalized.
The second annual Green Gala designers include: Project Runway Canada winner Evan Biddell, TFI New Labels winner Eugenia Leavitt, Nada Yousif, Monica Mei’ of Aime Luxury, Jason Meyers, Carrie Hayes, Zoran Dobric, Thien Le and Damzels in this Dress. Nine of the ten designers are also showing at L’Oreal Fashion Week.
Funds raised at these landmark events will benefit two organizations: Environmental Defence, a national charitable organization whose mission is to protect the environment and human health; and the launch of Fashion Takes Action, a social enterprise aimed at supporting and developing the eco fashion industry worldwide.
Members of Fashion Takes Action include designers, retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, stylists, models, students and fashion marketing executives. The main services provided to members include: an online resource directory searchable by category and by country; a Global New & Information Centre featuring headline news from around the world related to the eco fashion industry as well as expertly written articles on a variety of topics including fair trade, ethical sourcing, eco conscious consumer insights, sustainable business practices etc; and educational programs on these topics in the form of webinars, workshops, video conferences etc. Additional member services include advocacy, promotion and networking. The official launch will take place in January 2009.
Fashion Takes Action is the idea of Kelly Drennan, a fashion and lifestyle publicist who felt the need to combine her experience and contacts with her passion for the planet. The first Green Gala was held in the fall of 2007, and since then Drennan has been involved in a number of important “green” events in Toronto. Drennan was the Associate Producer of the Eco Wedding & Lifestyle Show (March 2008), Sponsor of the Green Fashion Zone at the City of Toronto’s Green Toronto Festival; co-organizer of Design Green; and Communications Director of the Greenmom Spring Market and Green Enterprise Toronto’s Brewer’s Plate.
