Eco-fashion is one of the most compelling topics in fashion today. Although the roots
of eco-consciousness are often linked to the environmentalist movement and hippie
styles of the 1960s, fashions environmental and ethical accountability prior to the
mid-twentieth century is rarely considered. Eco-Fashion: Going Green explores fashions complex and multi-faceted relationship with the environment, discussing
both bad and good ecological practices of the past 250 years.
Xuly-Bët, dress and jacket ensemble, multicolor sweaters, brown wool plaid, red nylon,
Fall 1994, France, gift of Xuly-Bët, 95.7.1
Alabama Chanin, ensemble: coat and two-piece wrap dress, light blue organic cotton
jersey and beads, spring 2010, USA, museum purchase, 2010.19.1
New York Dress Institute, evening dress, red rayon with rhinestones and beads, 1940,
USA, gift of Mrs. Harold E. Thompson, 76.100.11
Presented chronologically and featuring more than 100 garments, accessories, and textiles,
the exhibition uses contemporary methods for going green as a framework to study the
past. Each object on display touches upon one or more of six major themes, including:
the re-purposing and recycling of materials, material origins, textile dyeing and
production, quality of craftsmanship, labor practices, and the treatment of animals.
re-purposing of textiles is often considered the most responsible mode of eco-fashion.
In the nineteenth century, dresses were sometimes reworked to correspond to changing
silhouettes, a testament to the lasting value of textiles. Today, numerous designers
engage in methods of upcycling, creating fashionable, new garments from worn materials.
Practices associated with growth of natural fibers or the manufacture of synthetics result in some of fashions most environmentally destructive consequences. For example,
the cultivation of cotton can be especially damaging, often employing dangerous chemicals
and pesticides that belie the fibers natural reputation. As these and other ecological
concerns have increasingly come to light, the availability of organic cotton, grown
without harmful chemicals, has expanded dramatically.
Edun, evening gown, black and off-white organic Tunisian denim, 2007, USA, gift of
Edun, 2010.7.1
FIN, marble print dress, organic bamboo satin, fall 2010, Norway, gift of Per Sivertsen
of FIN, 2010.10.3
NOIR, multilayered evening gown, Illuminati II cotton and silver studded leather,
fall 2010, Denmark, gift of Noir/In Darkness All Colors Agree, 2010.11.1
Waste materials from textile dyeing and production have historically resulted in some of the most conspicuous forms of air and water
pollution. In the nineteenth century, some dyes contained highly toxic chemicals,
such as arsenic. Today, there are a number of sustainable dyeing practices, ranging
from technology-based digital and heat transfer printing to the rediscovered art of
hand-dyeing.
Quality craftsmanship, convertibility, and uniqueness are sometimes viewed as key
to the creation of clothing with lasting value and emotional connectivity, effectively
reacting against the fast fashion cycle. While the couture craftsmanship of the past
is usually prohibitively expensive today, the offering of luxurious, sustainable goods
is the objective of several leading eco-fashion labels.
The health and treatment of industry workers plays a key role in the historical roots of eco-fashion. In the United States, garment
workers unions were established to ensure fair labor practices and worker safety.
More recently, production outsourcing has raised concern about the treatment of workers
overseas. As an alternative, some eco-designers strongly advocate local production
initiatives.
The treatment of animals in producing fashion has long been a subject of debate, and the use of fur, feathers,
and animal skins in fashion has been viewed as both luxurious and barbarous. As the
debate continues, many of today's designers use ethically-sourced furs, while others
utilize a variety of cruelty-free alternatives.
Organized by Jennifer Farley and Colleen Hill. Read the press release.
