.@EcoFashionWeek launches 10th edition continuing the movement of slow fashion.

Eco Fashion Week: Not fast fashion
Eco Fashion Week announces its 10th edition with international designers and new partnerships

 The world’s largest sustainable fashion event is now in its 10th edition–   Eco Fashion Week continues to raise global awareness for socially, environmentally and economically sustainable consumption this April 9-14th, 2015. This Vancouver based event will feature local and international designers in partnership with Value Village, Fairmont Waterfront, and La Biosthétique, Eco Fashion Week is ready to solidify Vancouver as the international hub of responsible fashion.

 

Edition 10 Highlights   
Opening night with RYU athletic wear
Hosted at RYU - April 9th 7:00pm
 

Opening night hosted at RYU (Respect Your Universe) - an innovative and environmentally responsible athletic brand with clean lines and a minimalist approach. RYU will present an insider’s view of athletic wear development evolution; understanding the purpose of athletic apparel and the practice of sustainable development. Presented by TRACE Water.

 

 

Thrift Style Challenge & The VCAD 81 Pound Challenge Presented by Value Village  
The Fairmont Waterfront - April 11th 7:30pm , 9:00pm
 

Thrift Style Challenge Presented By Value Village – The Thrift Chic Challenge has become one of Eco Fashion Week’s most anticipated runway shows. Three stylists are given $500 in Value Village gift certificates to create ten runway-worthy outfits using only gently-used clothing from the racks of Value Village stores. This year, the stylists are from Vancouver:  Jason Pillay, Nadia Albano and Nathalie Rees.

The VCAD 81 Pound Challenge Presented By Value Village – The 81 pound challenge, formerly known as the 68 pound challenge, has been renamed to reflect the growing amount of clothing and textiles the average North American throws away each year. This shocking statistic serves as the inspiration for this fashion challenge - creating a brand new collection from eighty-one pounds of gently-used fabrics, clothing and accessories from Value Village stores. This year, all challenge participants are fashion students from Visual College of Art and Design (VCAD) mentored by three established fashion professionals and VCAD teachers Jason Matlo, Wen-chee Liu and Glencora Twigg.

Vancouver Welcomes Designers from New Delhi, Nashville, London, and more.
The Fairmont Waterfront - April 10th - 12th
 

This edition’s focus is celebrating the origins and roots of the sustainable fashion industry, from internationally renowned Jeff Garner of Prophetik designs, fresh off the runways of Paris Fashion Week and London Fashion Week  to traditional garments from New Delhi by Sonam Dubal, and finally, the celebration of Aboriginal history by Wendy van Riesen in collaboration with international-celebrated Haida artist Reg Davidson. We are very excited to host fashion designers from across Canada and across international borders.
* Schedule here

Chic Sheets challenge - Celebrating 70 years of Balmain

In partnership with the Fairmont Waterfront, Pacific Centre and Tintex dyes, unveiled April 10th

The hotel industry goes through tons of bed linens each year. In response, Eco Fashion Week is teaming up with their hotel partner to create “Chic Sheets:The Bed Linen Challenge”. EFW has selected 8 designers, including 68lbs challenge alumni Tammy Joe from Young Oak, Evan Ducharme and Kim Cathers to transform the used linens from the Fairmont Waterfront to design fashionable, functional and editorial worthy looks inspired by Balmain’s 70s years of innovative and iconic design. This year’s Bed Linen challenge will be unveiled on the runway, April 10th then displayed at the Fairmont Waterfront on the 11 and 12 and then at Pacific Centre from the 14 - 30. The public will be invited to vote on the top three winners. Prizes include: 1st place: $1000, 2nd place: $500, 3rd place $250.
*More details to come

Welcome breakfast
Mercer Creative  - April 9th 9:00am

 Welcome Breakfast for participants, partners and media. Limited access.
*Invite only

Lunch With the Ladies
The Fairmont Waterfront - April 12th - 12:00pm
 

Lunch With the Ladies (LWTL) is a network of female professionals that provide mentorship and a network of support in professional and personal capacities. LWTL will be teaming up with VancouverConsignment.ca to promote Second Hand Clothing. VancouverConsignment.ca is a diectory for second hand clothing created by Mine & Yours and My Modern Closet. Hosting 70 women for lunch, and an opportunity to network and participate in a Think Tank hosted by Fiona Forbes.
*Invite Only

Collective Conversation
Waterfall Building 1540 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver,  - April 13th  11:30am

This year’s collective conversation, presented by Eco Waste , moderated by Erin Cebula of Entertainment Tonight Canada r. In celebration of over 40 years of innovative footwear design, a live, exclusive interview with John Fluevog. Finally, the Collective Conversation will host two panels; The Circular economy: on closing the loop and decreasing textile waste, and The Future of North American Manufacturing: on how Vancouver can become the North American hub for manufacturing.

Speakers will include:
Tony Shumpert, Vice President of Recycling and Reuse at Value Village
Kyle Rudzinski, Sustainability Manager, Levi and Strauss Co
Jenny Hughes, Founder of Me & You reusable bags
Nicole Bridger, Canadian Eco fashion designer
Sean Schmidt, Assistant Director of Communications & Programs at University of Washington
* Schedule here
 

London Drugs recycling electronic recycling program
March 25th - April 1st (CLOSED)

Recycle at London Drugs for a chance to WIN 1 of 40 pairs of tickets to Eco Fashion Week! Drop off accepted recycling items at any Lower Mainland London Drugs location between March 25th and April 1st , and you will receive a ballot* to enter to win a pair of tickets for Eco Fashion Week. Last year, London Drugs customers who dropped off their recycling contributed to over 11.5 million pounds of waste being diverted from landfills. For a full list of participating London Drugs locations and details on what you can recycle, visit http://greendeal.ca/efw.
*1 ballot entry per day, per person