Long story short, the Ethical Fashion Academy has been asked to co-host a Slow Fashion Event this coming Friday May 3rd from 6-8:30 in Williamsburg, NY at one of NY's coolest Eco-Shops GGrippo.
Of course I jumped on it "Yes"! No surprises there, as I think we all know by now what a sucker I am for this cause. I am super excited about this particular event because I love the "one world" theme of connecting slow fashion designers from Bein Spain, Ecoology and KAMELEONIK, with some of our local NYC eco-fashion superstars, Sass Brown, Titiana Inglis, Carmen Artigas, Jasmin Malik, Organic by John Patrick, and Rachel Kibbe.
We'll be discussing these topics and more:
What is Slow Fashion, and what inspires you about the movement.
Advice for aspiring slow fashion designers.
What is happening in the local and international Slow Fashion movement, is it growing , why?
How can we continue to grow and educate the community?
What is the future of slow fashion?
Our NYC panelists need no introduction, but here is a little about each:
Her book, Eco Fashion, published by Laurence King, has been translated into Italian as well as Spanish, and showcases some of the best expressions of eco fashion from around the world. Her passion is communicating and promoting the best in eco fashion design, which she does through a multitude of media, most notably her book; Eco Fashion, her website www.ecofashiontalk.com and her journalism.
Titania Inglis's womenswear line embodies her philosophy of lush minimalism in both its aesthetic and its core principles. Each collection is draped by the designer in her Brooklyn studio and sewn in limited quantities in small New York factories, and explores the potential of hand techniques and thoughtfully sourced materials to express a modern aesthetic. Titania launched her line in 2009 and was honored with the 2012 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation award in sustainable design.
www.titaniainglis.com
Carmen Artigas
Dean of Ethical Fashion at the Centre for Social Innovation
Carmen has worked in fashion for nearly 20 years, most recently in sustainable design, consulting, and sourcing. Working in India in 1999 with artisan communities reviving endangered crafts and later developing a yoga line using certified organic cotton and natural dyes exposed her to the challenges of developing sustainable products. She currently teaches Ethical Fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons New School of Design in New York, and she dedicates her time to reevaluating the human and environmental cost of products, advocating for craftsmanship, and redefining “made-in” and “made-by”.
about.me/carmenartigas
A 15-year veteran of the publishing industry, Jasmin Malik Chua is the managing editor of Ecouterre.com, the leading website on sustainability and innovation in fashion. She has an M.S. in biomedical journalism from New York University, where she was a founding fellow of the literary reportage program, and a B.S. in animal biology from the National University of Singapore. In addition to stories published in online and print publications like Alive, Inhabitat,Plenty, The Huffington Post, and Sprig, Chua has been quoted as a green expert by such publications and outlets as The New York Times, BBC Radio, BusinessWeek, Newsweek, and People. www.ecouterre.com
Rachel Kibbe is founder of HELPSY, on online boutique and editorial site for high-end ethical fashion. Recently launched, HELPSY intends to serve as a platform for change in the fashion industry— offering cool, high-end, designer fashion that is also ethically made. She believes a more ethical fashion industry can come without sacrifice to visual appeal. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio Rachel is now based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. She has a degree in Fashion Design from Parsons and a B.A. in Creative writing and Spanish from Emory University. During her time at Parsons she apprenticed under labels such as Alexander Wang and Jack Spade. Before founding HELPSY, Rachel’s interest in fashion came to fully bloom when she lived in Spain for three years and wrote for a magazine about health and fashion. After moving to New York to attend Parsons, model Agyness Deyn brought Rachel on to write about fashion for her website, NAAG. She later took the role of Contributing Editor to the Byrne notice. The HELPSY online boutique was just launched in March and has been featured in Daily Candy, Peppermint Mag, and FashInvest.
www.shopHELPSY.com
Organic by John Patrick leads by example, out of necessity. From its first envisioned moments as a brand, there were simply no others like it.
With an international reach and influence, John Patrick's award-winning design and reigning focus on ethical production has long-garnered the respect and eye of both consumers and companies alike, with a genuine commitment to stand-out quality and forward-thinking style.
As a recognized member of the CDFA, the mindfulness and accomplishments of Organic by John Patrick has pioneered a global mission for implementing change in an industry that still has a long way to go. With an authenticity and sincerity from its origin, Organic by John Patrick continues to be an authority in the sustainable fashion movement.
Through Organic, John Patrick has begun to ignite an awakened social awareness, as well as inspire creative thought and mindfulness in others. www.organicbyjohnpatrick.com
Ecoology’s collections are made for fashion loving sensitive women who know who they are and how they fit in this world. We want to feel good and feminine and this is the message we transmit in our designs. We like to wear clothes that are different, which is why we decided to make very few garments of each model. Both the fabric and the exclusiveness will make you feel you are wearing something very special. Ecoology is green, digital and design. We focus on selective distribution and online media for our sales and to publicize our business worldwide. We produce in Barcelona, so we control what we do and encourage textile work in our area. Organic fabrics are more expensive but do not want to pay more for it, just want you to enjoy more quality at the best price.
KAMELEONIK
Espadrilles designed in the Basque Country handmade in Spain.
Aimed at a clientele with a style and personality all their own,Kameleonik blends quality, tradition, sustainability, innovation, and elegance into their creations.
Four are the cardinal points on which it turns the philosophy of our brand: sustainability, quality, innovation and elegance. Sustainability understood as respect by the social and environmental aspects that always they must guide to the companies with conscience.
For more information about the Be in Fashion Spain brands click here.

Francisca is passionate about sharing what she has learned throughout her 15 year career designing apparel and accessories with the next generation of designers and teaches design through the Fashion Portfolio Academy, an online design education platform.