design: Emily Katz. The Art Institute of Portland Sustainable Fashion exhibition
We think we are responsible enough as writers not to hop on the latest deep green bandwagon and use the word “sustainable” in every sentence. But there are several sustainable fashion developments that require our attention this week (and we’re not even talking yet about Portland Fashion Week, the sustainable-est fashion week in the universe).
design: Anna Cohen. The Art Institute of Portland Sustainable Fashion exhibition
Make time this week to see the Sustainable Fashion exhibition at the Art Institute of Portland (1122 NW Davis) in the Pearl. There, even if you’ll never wear the plunging neckline of a liquid ivory column of bamboo jersey by Anna Cohen, at least you can up close and personal with it. This is what sustainability looks like, what sustainability feels like.
design: Nicole Flood, Flood Clothing. The Art Institute of Portland Sustainable Fashion exhibition
The show takes in the breadth of the range of notions in sustainability in apparel and accessories from Portland-based designers and design houses, both in concept and depth of commitment, from testing the waters to all-in. You’ll find the whimsically recycled/repurposed garments of Nicole Flood and Faith Jennings sweaters and hats from recycled knit wool. You’ll find work by Cohen and Sameunderneath (a chocolate cashmere zip-front cardigan that’s so mod/Mr. Rogers we don’t care what its s-factor is). Emily Katz (her eponymous line continues to be cool-girl brilliant) plays both sides of the sustainable game doing repurposed apparel (her embellished vintage pumps at the show are excellent and we just saw some of her embroidered vintage ties at Industry in Seattle) and new garments of sustainably produced fabrics. entermodal rings in with its luxury leather bags designed to last for 50 years (in style as well as durability). More on entermodal shortly.
Several AI students’ work was also selected for inclusion (out in the main lobby). Mariah Rich’s “Wax Poetic” dress was a standout piece of conceptual recycling, repurposing a WWII canvas duffel bag (with handle and brass grommets intact) into a cool little dress embellished with cotton doilies. It ends up referencing both the front lines and the home front in a smart and especially timely way (we’re at war aren’t we? where’s your Victory Garden, Rosie. Oh, it’s not that kind of war.)
Sustainable Fashion runs through August 31. Check the AI website for gallery hours.
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