Eco Fashion Week Kicks Off in NYC

The New York City green scene kicked off Eco Fashion Week’s GreenShows with the Luis Valenzuela show sponsored by Ecouterre.

Designer Luis Valenzuela takes a bow after his show in New York City on Sunday evening. Photo: Yuka Yondea, Ecouterre

A collection dubbed “upcycled couture,” Valenzuela’s collection utilized silk from lampshades, chandelier crystals and printed recycled fabrics.

While the start of the show featured more casual day looks that even incorporated pants as shirts, the collection also featured upscale, chic evening gowns – some with streamlined silhouettes, others with boxy cuts and dramatic accessories (a clear, plastic and wood umbrella, for example).

Influenced by three generations of artists, Valenzuela says he grew up “admiring the recycling habits of his grandfather.” He eventually went on to create the first Green Art Community in Florida.

“My work pushes boundaries to forge new ideas, we too must innovate to improve our way of life on this planet,” Valenzuela says. “With my fashionable and provoking works, I pave the (run)way for a more promising and sustainable future.”

According to Ecouterre, “His GreenShows collection EcoArtFashion uses sustainable and recycled fabrics and combines art and fashion to forge ideas and push boundaris in the foal to create awareness of our environment.”

While some looks were more of artistic pieces with mismatched prints and geometrical shapes, Valenzuela’s new take on the classic black dress could easily translate to mainstream evening wear.

Running through Sept. 14, the GreenShows will play host to other top eco-designers, including Susain Cianciolo, Auralis, Joann Berman, Ashton Michael Black Label, The Milliner’s Guild, Lavuk, Dress Reform, Bright Young Things and Samantha Pleet.

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