EcoChic HK – Eco Fashion That’s Ecologically & Socially Sustainable
EcoChic HK is an environmentally friendly fashion show and cocktail party promoting eco fashion and the concept that luxury living – from fashion to art, food and wine and financial investments – can be ecologically and socially sustainable.
It’s not everyday that Hong Kong’s glitterati are alchemized into green gems, but this was the case in October when celebrities Rain Li, Ivan Wang, Lisa S, William So Wing Hong, Ella Koon, Chau Kai-bong and Mrs Brenda Chau gathered at the hip new W Hong Kong for EcoChic HK – www.ecochicfashions.com
This eco fashion event, supported by UBS, showcased some of the hottest sustainable fashion labels currently on the scene from a host of international and local designers. These ready-to-wear labels wowed the most selective aficionados, serving as a celebratory, fashion-forward occasion to promote environmental sustainability.
Along with ready-to-wear, guests enjoyed vintage fashion – the grandest form of recycling – much of which was donated by Hong Kong’s high society, putting a new and glamorous spin on second hand clothing.
The finale of the show was the eco-couture section, where world-famous designers such as Diane von Furstenberg, Thakoon, Nathan Jenden, Arrogant Cat and Madame Marie made eco-couture dresses using eco-textiles or reconstructed clothing. Local designers Barney Cheng, Dorian Ho, Johanna Ho, Ruby Li and Cecilia Yau showed the enormous talent that Hong Kong designers have in highlighting the push towards a more sustainable fashion industry.
With fashion as the second largest industrial consumer of water worldwide, behind agriculture, and cotton responsible for 25 percent of all chemical pesticide use, designers and their followers are realizing it’s time to make a change. Designers in EcoChic HK used a variety of textiles, such as bamboo, organic silk, hemp and recycled textiles, such as saris and kimonos.
The Hong Kong event shows the positive influences that designers can make. With China, the ‘factory of the world’ on Hong Kong’s doorstep, there is perhaps no better place to exert positive moves towards sustainability.
Off the catwalk, guests enjoyed organic food, wine and cocktails, recycled art installations. Never a dull moment, the venue was decorated with over 50 mannequins clad in second hand clothing or eclectic recycled dresses ranging from lottery tickets to cling film.
As no fashion event can be complete without fashion, Sotheby’s conducted a live auction to raise funds for WWF HK – including a slinky pink bikini donated by Rain Li that resulted in heated bidding.
The star-studded event was organized by the Hong Kong non-profit, www.green2greener.com, and many of the looks in the show were available to buy online after the show.
EcoChic also encouraged guests to get into the spirit of the night by bringing with them items of their own clothing to donate, which will be sold on www.green2greener.com to raise funds for Hong Kong charities. Along with this, the site also sells for charity, luxury recycled tote handbags, designed by Kotur, that are made from table coverings from the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
EcoChic HK was the second EcoChic event – EcoChic Jakarta was in March 08. Following the great success of the event, organizers www.green2greener.com, are continuing to take the show on the road with EcoChic Shanghai taking place in January 09 and EcoChic Sydney in April 09.
