Fashion With a Fair-Trade Accent
June 15, 2010The scene: Fans of fashion and fair trade were treated to an evening of stylishly sustainable design when Scott Leonard and Matt Reynolds hosted a party to spotlight their Indigenous collection.
The two founded their collection in 1995 after Leonard was inspired to launch a fair-trade business during a trip to South America. Based in Santa Rosa, Calif., Indigenous today employs more than 1,000 artisans throughout South America at more than 300 knitting groups in Peru and Ecuador.
“We have been dedicated for the last 15 years to proving you can look beautiful and be beautiful without harming the environment,” Reynolds said. “We like to say we’re trying to create clothing that strikes a balance between fashionistas and passionistas.”
Friends and fans—including stylists and a few celebs—gathered to mingle over sushi and cocktails before the show, which featured hand-knit sweaters and the company’s fair-trade jersey pieces. Styles included drapey serapes and ponchos, kimono wraps, rouched tops, and halter dresses. Several styles were topped with hats by Los Angeles–based Livity, which manufactures clothing and accessories from organic, renewable and recyclable materials.
“Literally, we, as a community, are transforming the fashion industry one garment at a time,” Leonard said.—Alison A. Nieder