Tim and Thom Navarro, Katy Vereide, and Deborah Block of You and Me will headline Eco Inspirations with their latest collection; “Spun: Refine. Reconstruct. Refashion. Socially responsible eye candy.

Eco Inspirations – Responsible Fashion Show & Benefit

SHOW HEADLINER – Tim and Thom Navarro, Katy Vereide, and Deborah Block of You and Me will headline Eco Inspirations with their latest collection; “Spun: Refine. Reconstruct. Refashion. Socially responsible eye candy. You and me to participate in Sol Inspirations’ Certification labeling program to be announced at the fashion show.

Sunday, May 6th at Bespoke Hair Artisans

3PM to 5PM

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (April 20, 2012) – Bespoke Hair Artisans is sponsoring Sol Inspirations’ second annual Responsible Fashion Show called, “Eco Inspirations.”

This year’s show is an exhibition about the possibilities of responsible fashion. Sol Inspirations has invited several designers to create mini-collections using their interpretation of beautiful fashion with a statement about  social responsibility.

Tim and Thom Navarro, Katy Vereide, and Deborah Block of You and Me will headline Eco Inspirations with their latest collection; “Spun: Refine. Reconstruct. Refashion. Socially responsible eye candy. You and me to participate in Sol Inspirations’ Certification labeling program to be announced at the fashion show.

The fashion show includes creations from Tim and Thom Navarro, Katy Vereide, and Deborah Block of You and Me, The Design Collective, Susan Crow of East Fourth Street, Jenny Carle, CounterCouture, Autumn Mary Kirchman, Jenn Bratvold, Kora Gleason, Kari Kachelmacher, Ariel Bock, Khamphian Vang, Hilary Hubanks, Carla Cohen, Erika Backberg, Kristi Relopez, and Venessa Zahid. In addition, students from the University of Minnesota and St. Catherine’s University will create inspirational runway looks using alternative and recycled materials.

With assistance from St. Catherine’s University and the University of Minnesota, Sol Inspirations has established criteria to insure garments and accessories are earth friendly and ethically made. These criteria include using post consumer textiles or certified organic AND certified ethically made textiles. All garments and accessories must be locally made.

Bespoke Hair Artisans is located at 3918 West 49 ½ Street in Edina (one block north of 50th and France). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Bespoke Hair Artisans or at Sol-Inspirations.org.

Proceeds will benefit Sol Inspirations’ Fashion Education and Advocacy efforts including an active blog featuring local ethical fashion efforts, showcasing a traveling fashion exhibition, providing on-line resources to educate consumers and designers about responsible fashion, and continuing student education programs with the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society and local colleges and universities.

Ethical fashion practices contributes to a healthy and responsible world on many fronts including choosing organic and locally made textiles, manufacturing clothes efficiently to use less energy, respecting responsible labor practices, recycling clothes to make new fashion (up-cycling), and commissioning demi-couture clothing over disposable fashion.

Sol Inspirations’ fashion shows are Minnesota’s only responsible productions representing the community’s collective couture talent. Until now, designers have relied on small independent fashion shows and booths at trade shows to promote themselves, branding ethical fashion practices as available in only niche products such as bamboo t-shirts and ‘granola’ style clothing. To change this image, Eco Inspirations’ designers will be able to showcase their creations in a fashion forward event that helps to educate consumers that art and beauty do not have to diminish with responsibly made clothing. With the current popularity of the global Green movement and fashion shows, the timing is perfect for Sol Inspirations to market reposition ethical fashion as mainstream.

Sol Inspirations is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that advocates for responsible clothing, styling and beauty products and educates consumers about how these products make our world a healthier and better place to live. Their goal is to position ethical fashion as fashion consumers aspire to wear and that art and beauty do not have to diminish with responsible choices.

To advocate for responsible fashion, Sol Inspirations produces a regular networking event called, “Fashion Network Happy Hour,” as a social way to connect industry fashion professionals, find new clients, and strengthen relationships. During their events, models wear Minneapolis’ top ethically made looks to educate fashion professionals about how earth friendly and ethically made clothes can be sheik, beautiful and fashion forward. For more information about Sol Inspirations, visit www.Sol-Inspirations.org.

Bespoke Hair Artisans is a full-service boutique salon founded in the spring of 2011. Industry veterans Lisa Williams and Margaret Ayache were inspired by the European term “bespoke,” coined after a group of London tailors who create custom designs for each client. Creating the same aesthetic, delivered by Master Stylists, Bespoke aims to custom design a look for each client, creating the most beautiful you.

Bespoke offers the following: Hair, Skin & Body Services, Fashion Shows, Designer Trunk Shows, Art Shows, Designer furniture sample pieces, Fashion & Lifestyle Products.

Bespoke also carries a luxury product brands including, the local brand, Intelligent Nutrients and highly coveted PATYKA, Coola Sun care, Kerastase and Shu Uermura which are all known for delivering four essential values: performance, expertise, personalization and beauty.

Bespoke is located at 3918 West 49 ½ Street in Edina. For more information about Bespoke Hair Artisans, call 952-224-4062 or visit www.bespokehairartisans.com.

You And Me is a responsibly fashionable boutique that offers affordable custom services located in the Minneapolis’ Wedge neighborhood. You And Me collaborates with local artisans to contribute to the community.  Established in 2011, designers, Tim and Thom Navarro, Katy Vereide and Deborah Block came together to change the relationship between the designer and client.  By providing alterations and custom services we can conserve our clothing and accessories to promote a more responsible consumer. For more information about You and Me, call 612-823-8200.

East Fourth Street

Posted By : Katherine Price

The environmental movement can be a depressing area to work within, there are small victories but in the grand scheme of things it is very heavy. Some of my favorite stories involve people transforming themselves, especially when the metamorphosis is based on obtaining new knowledge. It takes a strong person to adapt from one way of thinking to another. Long time jewelry designer, Susan Crow learned about the significant impact that creating jewelry and accessories can have on our planet. Susan then morphed herself into one of the Twin Cities’ most eco-friendly designers of jewelry. Working with Sol Inspirations has blessed me with the opportunity to meet so many great people, one of the ladies I have spent the most time with is Susan Crow. Susan is a driven woman whom I am thankful to know.

Susan Crow (left), Designer of East Fourth Street & Me (Katherine Price)

Something I always find myself asking environmental entrepreneurs is, where their passion stems from? With Susan it was refreshing to learn that she was simply moved by learning about the issues. All too often people are aware of negative consequence and they continue the offense because it is the easiest route. Thank goodness we have people like Susan in this world!

KP: What was the inspiration for this new brand?

SC: While in the program (Post-Baccalaureate Certification in Sustainable Design at MCAD) I learned that jewelry has one of the highest environmental footprints of all products. I decided that I could not keep making jewelry the traditional way. East Fourth Street jewelry is the sustainable re-launch of my jewelry.

KP: What are the aspects of your design process that make your jewelry environmentally conscious?
SC: Traditional metal-smithing uses toxic chemicals and processes that attribute to the high environmental impact associated with jewelry as well as the huge impacts from mining excavation. Sustainable jewelry is more than just using recycled metals and gemstones, it also means creating a closed loop system in the beginning of the design phase that analyzes everything from suppliers, electrical use, chemicals to waste stream. It also addresses the ethical issues surrounding the poor treatment of gold and gemstone miners which helps direct supply chains.

KP: I know you use recycled metals and conflict free stones, where do you source your materials?

SC: I buy most of my metal from Hoover and Strong who sells only certified recycled gold and silver. I also re-use my customer’s metal, creating something new for them. Presently I am only selling previously used diamonds and gemstones because of the very bad political and ethical problems surrounding the mining and cutting of stones.

KP: How did this become a passion for you?

SC: It became a passion by my learning about the environmental and ethical problems in the world and not wanting to contribute to them. Every product has an environmental footprint, but there are many things we can do to reduce it. Now that I know what I can change to lower the footprint of the products I design and make, it’s exciting.

KP: Are there any environmental issues that you are more passionate about than others?

SC: My blog; “The Metamorphosis” is about change. As more people become aware of the workers strife in gold and gemstone mines as well as the environmental destruction that mining creates, they will be empowered to support companies that are instigating change. I wrote the phrase; “conscious convergence of small actions” which means if we all commit to small positive actions to drive sustainability, our small actions will blend together to create a shift towards good. This is what I am passionate about; positive change.

KP: How do you incorporate environmental awareness in the rest of your daily life?

SC: There are a lot of little things we do that actually add up. Such as composting, driving as little as possible, only buying products that have as low of a footprint as possible and keeping our electronics unplugged when not in use. If you look around your house, it’s amazing how much waste we all generate. I also try to live life mindfully, thinking about the far-reaching impact and consequence my everyday actions have on our environment.

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Recently something extraordinary happened to East Fourth Street, Susan was invited to be a part of a “green” fashion show at NYC Fashion Week. This was an incredible opportunity for Susan to extent the awareness of her brand. Crow’s line of jewelry is definitely one to keep an eye on, they have pieces for a variety of occasions and styles. I urge you to check out the East Fourth Street Website.

Check Out:
Sol Inspirations On Facebook

Sol Inspirations Blogs about Local Eco Fashion

Sol Inspirations is committed to making eco fashion clothing that we aspire to wear. The Midwest leads the nation in renewable and sustainable initiatives including eco fashion trends. Sol Inspirations staff member, Katherine Price, will debut a ten part series this fall profiling eco fashion in the Midwest.

Katherine is an Advertising student at the Art Institutes International Minnesota. She recently interned with Greenpeace where she campaigned for social change and environmental justice. Katherine has a passion for eco fashion and advocating for renewable and earth-friendly textiles and ethical manufacturing processes.

Katherine Price

Photo by Ally Wurts

CHRISTOPHER STRAUB WINS SOL INSPIRATIONS ECO FASHION CONTEST

Christopher Straub is the winner of the Sol Inspirations Eco Fashion contest! Congratulations Christopher on a job well done.

Thank-you to all the other designers for your beautiful and inspirational designs. Your efforts helped to elevate eco-fashion to a new level and also helped to evolve Minneapolis’ fashion industry in a way that differentiates us from the rest of the world.
Thank-you to Ignite Models, Limegreen Events, HMStyling, staff and volunteers for helping make Sol Inspirations a memorable event.

Event photos, including the ones with Seth Aaron will be posted here by the end of the week.

Banner photos are available on Facebook or Flickr. Click here to view them.

Project Runway’s Seventh Season Winner Seth Aaron Henderson To Headline Sol Inspirations Eco-Fashion Gala & Fundraiser, Will Showcase SolarWorld Collection

Saturday, April 23rd at The Depot

Six Talented Designers Including Project Runway Finalists Christopher Straub & Ra’mon Lawrence-Coleman, Allison Helliwell, Tara Latour, Atom Pechman, Jenn Bratvold and Niki English Will Compete For A $5,000 Cash Prize , Creating Three Eco-Friendly Looks Using Non-Traditional Fabrics, Recycled Materials, Sustainable Fabrics
- One Look Must Include Solar Panels -

Proceeds Will Benefit the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society and Help Haiti Rebuild

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (March 14, 2011) – Sol Inspirations, Ignite Models Inc, LIMEgreen Events and the Global Eco Organization today announced that Project Runway’s Seventh Season Winner Seth Aaron Henderson will headline Sol Inspirations Eco-Fashion Gala & Benefit Event, showcasing his SolarWorld collection – as seen in last fall’s Portland Fashion Week – during the exhilarating eco-fashion runway show. Seth will join the distinguished celebrity judging panel during the Design Competition and host an early evening VIP Reception Meet & Greet at the event, included in the price of a VIP ticket. Sol Inspirations Eco-Fashion Gala & Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, April 23rd at The Depot, with proceeds benefiting the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society and to help Haiti rebuild.

Sol Inspirations will be Minnesota’s first ever large scale eco-fashion show and production. The runway show will feature Ignite Models wearing eco-friendly looks from local designers including Kathryn V, Counter Couture, Jenny Carle and Renalie Baily, as well as Seth Aaron Henderson’s awe inspiring SolarWorld collection. The highlight of the show will be a design competition between six talented designers, vying for a $5000 cash prize. With a silent auction, green vendors and exhibits, music by DJ Shiek and the eco-fashion runway show, the event will be a call to action to get people thinking about how they can be green in their lives in a variety of ways, donate money for two fantastic causes and have a fabulous night out in Minneapolis.

“Sol Inspirations needs the help of the Minnesota community to come together on April 23rd to support our transition to ethical fashion. Together, we will position Minnesota businesses and fashion designers for green leadership and at the same time, raise money for two terrific causes,” said Alex Detrick, Sol Inspirations founder.
Competition for the $5,000 cash prize will be fierce as the group of designers includes two “Project Runway” finalists, a designer who showed her first collection during New York Fashion Week, independent clothing label owners and Twin Cities designers who have been making eco-conscious clothing for years. The finalists are: “Project Runway” Finalists Christopher Straub and Ra’mon-Lawrence Coleman, Allison Helliwell of Allilamode Designs, Tara Latour of Tara Latour Designs, Co-Designers Atom Pechman & Jenn Bratvold and Niki English. Each designer will create three looks: Look 1 must incorporate non-traditional fabrics, Look 2 must incorporate recycled materials or up-cycled clothing, Look 3 must incorporate sustainable fabrics, and one of the looks must use solar panels.

The three looks the designers create will be judged by a panel of seasoned Twin Cities fashion industry veterans, who will judge their designs on the following four categories: execution, functionality, originality and adherence to the guidelines. Judges include Seth Aaron Henderson, Winner of Project Runway Season Seven, Anna Lee, Founder MN Fashion and Fashion Designer, Trudy Landgren, Assistant Professor of Textile and Apparel Construction at St. Kate’s University, Mark Caligiuri, Apparel Design Coordinator and Professor at MCTC and designer and Stephen Trevino, from 526 Salon, Spa & Gallery.

Seth Aaron Henderson is a fashion designer and freelance stylist who won Project Runway’s Seventh Season and currently resides in Vancouver, WA with his wife and two children. With his incredible SolarWorld collection as seen in last fall’s Portland Fashion Week, Seth Aaron draws on his passion for a domestically manufactured solar solution to pressing energy, environmental and economic challenges facing the country and his interest in exploring the technology’s aesthetic possibilities. For more on Seth Aaron, please visit: http://www.SethAaronDesigns.com

Sol Inspirations has partnered with the University of Minnesota on two exciting projects that will be on display at the event. For the first project, Rhonda R. Franklin, Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Lucy Dunne, Assistant Professor at the Apparel Design program have combined forces with nine undergraduate students (5 electrical engineering students and 4 apparel design students) to design a family of wearable and functional solar garments. These garments will feature working embedded solar cells that will charge personal devices such as cell phones, iPODs and GPS devices as well as power expressive, entertainment, and safety applications embedded in the garments. With the proliferation of personal devices, the need to charge them in a quick and convenient manner is increasingly more important. On-board power offers new potential for garment functionality and embedded electronics. With this partnership, students are given a unique and fun way to study solar technology and smart clothing. The second project involves students in Lucy’s apparel design studio class. Students are creating fashion using their choice of recycled non-traditional materials. Their looks will be featured at the Sol Inspirations fashion gala. This project presents a unique opportunity for students to exhibit their talents and learn about innovative and earth friendly ways to create fashion.

The Depot is located at 225 Third Avenue South in Minneapolis. Tickets are $35 for General Admission, $75 for VIP (with reserved seating and early evening reception hosted by Project Runway Season 7 Winner Seth Aaron Henderson) and are on sale now. There will be a student discount rate of $15 at the door with valid student ID. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit: http://www.Sol-inspirations.org/.

Eco-fashion contributes to a healthy and eco responsible world on many fronts including choosing organic and locally made textiles, manufacturing clothes efficiently to use less energy, respecting responsible labor practices, recycling clothes to make new fashion (up-cycling), and commissioning demi-couture clothing over disposable fashion.

Sol Inspirations will be Minnesota’s first fashion show representing the community’s collective couture eco-fashion talent. Until now, eco-fashion designers have relied on small independent fashion shows and booths at trade shows to promote themselves, branding eco-fashion as a niche product. With Sol Inspirations, designers and eco-responsible businesses will be able to showcase their products in a trendy and edgy fashion forward event produced by the top production and event management companies in the Midwest, Ignite Models Inc. and LIMEgreen Inc. With Minnesota’s top talent working to educate and provide a strategic platform for eco-fashion and with the current popularity of the global Green movement and fashion shows, the timing is perfect for Sol Inspirations to market reposition eco-fashion as mainstream.

Sol Inspirations founder and Minnesota engineer, Alex Detrick, lost friends in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In honor of them, he has committed not only to helping Haiti rebuild, but to leverage his efforts to speed the transition to a healthy and eco responsible world. Alex founded the Global Eco Organization (GEO) to carry out these values by advocating for renewable, sustainable and non-polluting technologies. With the help of the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) and other strategic partnerships, GEO has committed to transitioning the clothes we wear to eco-fashion.

The Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) is a member-run, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in Minneapolis in 1978 and incorporated in Minnesota in 1979 to promote the use of, and to engage in advocacy for, renewable energies in Minnesota through education and through the demonstration of practical applications. MRES is involved in education, awareness, and advocacy efforts for all forms of renewable energy, with a particular emphasis on solar technologies. For more on MRES, please visit: http://mnrenewables.org/

Allison Hamzehpour and Jessica Cunningham founded Ignite Models Inc in 2006 under the premise that an agency should be as committed to its models as it is to its clients. Ignite models are carefully selected based on their unique beauty and character, their strong work ethic, and their love of the art. In return, Ignite is committed to providing each model with respectful, honest representation, and unmatched individual attention. In the same way, Ignite is committed to forming and maintaining strong relationships with clients—big or small—engaging each with the same level of care and integrity. Lastly, Ignite seeks to situate itself as an integral element of Minneapolis’ burgeoning fashion scene, working with local designers and artists to create a point of view that is uniquely Minneapolis. Please visit www.ignitemodelsinc.com for more information.

Michelle Drenckhahn & Eric Lovestrand joined forces in 2009 to form Limegreen Events. Michelle’s passion for the environment and business along with Eric’s natural talent for planning and networking have proven to be a winning combination. Both are committed to providing the best experience for their clients, participants and attendees. Limegreen Events is committed to bringing their “think about it before we do it” approach to each event through options based on the “People, Planet, Profit” philosophy. Limegreen intends to create awareness, relationships and a great time for all events, big or small. Please visit www.limegreenmpls.com for more information.

For more information on Sol Inspirations, please contact Natalie Auger, VimLab Promotions, 612.229.8522, natalie@vimlab.com, http://www.vimlab.com.