Transition for All and to All a Good Night [Comment]

In the spirit of both 'change' and 'hope' I wanted to share some un-shallow fashion news with ya'll.

MATT & NAT & SOY HAM

Vegan 'Bauhaus bag' by Matt & Nat

First of all, Matt & Nat just hosted a roundtable at Factory PR.

Besides checking out the Fall 2009 Matt & Nat's vegan bags (and oohing and aahing over the texture), we also had a talk about the positive impact vegetarians have on the environment.

Apparently, the livestock industry emits far more green gases than the car industry. And I think alternatives to meat and leather are just as important as hybrid cars. Matt & Nat is proving that good design can make a difference. The creations of designer Inder are no longer just in specialty boutiques; the line is carried at Saks & Cusp (Neiman Marcus's version of Barney's co-op.) It is the second best-selling bag to Marc by Marc! People are not picking up the bags because of their consciences... they are picking them up because the 'suede' (made out of recycled water bottles), and patent looks and feels amazing. It's a luxury product that inspires someone to educate themselves... and demonstrates that we don't need to choose between beautiful & conscientious.

What do I have my sights on? An airplane bag to rock every day of Fashion Week. And if that's not enough reason to check Matt & Nat out, consider my little sister tried to buy the 'Vice' wallet I scored the second I showed it to her. (Hey she even offered me a considerable amount of money, but I couldn't give it up. It's mine.)

To Matt & Nat (and Factory) kudos mostly for design, secondly for conscientious discussion and thirdly, for a tasty 'Sham' (soy ham) and vegan cheese sandwich served on bamboo plates. It made my snowy morning! (Coming from someone whose favorite food is pizza, that means a lot!)

MICHELLE OBAMA WEARS ZERO + MARIA CORNEJO

Michelle in Zero on the Daily Show

So, I don't know if you heard, but ZOOZOOM has always been a big fan of Zero + Maria Cornejo. She's a designer who manages to get into all the 'It' girls' radars without selling out one bit (and never dumbing it down.)

She was actually one of the first people who told us honestly, that it was truly challenging to create entire ready-to-wear collections out of eco fabrics because larger fashion houses have much more power to demand the manufacture of more eco-friendly materials (which is why I'm so pleased Matt & Nat is being placed at Saks.)

Now one powerful, family-oriented, well-spoken career woman is supporting another (and vice versa), and that woman is Michelle Obama. Maria Cornejo has designed eight suits, two winter coats and three dresses to specially fit Michelle (and has consequently been reaching new customers who are pre-ordering the collection.) One smart & stylish lady supporting another... how cool is that?

Happy post-MLK Inauguration Day!

Masthead