Indigenous Designs will represent at this year's Eco-Fashion Week in Vancouver.

Preview – Eco-Fashion Week, Robson Square, Vancouver April 10 – 12

– by Tania Chandler

Vancouver has been dubbed the “greenest” city in Canada, and the fashion industry here is just as eco-conscious. What began in 2009 as a vision by fashion insider Myriam Laroche has quickly grown into a movement by fashionistas and environmentalists alike. The two-day event will feature designers local and international (including some from Poland, Sweden, Shanghai, and Los Angeles) who believe that fashion can be both beautiful AND sustainable.

This year’s Eco-Fashion Week takes place at Robson Square, a spacious downtown venue that is just one indicator of the event’s growth. The opening show, which is free to the public, is Friday April 10 at 7 p.m. This will be an affair not to be missed, as it will feature vintage fashion from Value Village (yes, you read that right!). If you are planning on attending the show, Value Village will have bins for donated clothing, so everyone can do their part in contributing to sustainable fashion.

The idea behind eco-fashion is simple; leave the lowest possible carbon footprint you can, using environmentally friendly materials as well as socially responsible methods of production. We have all heard horror stories about clothing being recalled because of harsh, toxic chemicals in fabric dyes, and of  sweatshop clothing factories. Many of the guest designers use natural fabric dyes and organically-grown cotton, as well as recycled or reclaimed second-hand fabrics, and make sure that every scrap of fabric is used, to diminish waste.

Green is the new black!

Tickets to shows are $20 plus service charges. For a full schedule of shows or to purchase tickets, please visit the ecofashion week.