2012 Vancouver Eco Fashion Week at Robson Square – April 10 – 12, 2012

Eco Fashion Week (EFW) is a non-profit organization dedicated to stimulating growth and development of sustainable practices in the fashion/clothing industry. This said industry generates 300 billion dollars every year, but unfortunately, it is one of the most damaging to our planet. In fact, some have even started referring to it as “waste couture”.

EFW will focus solely on environmentally friendly designers and practices. There is a growing shift in the fashion industry to include the wellbeing of the environment into its practices and Vancouver has become widely known as a haven for independent designers who are committed to using recycled, organically grown, and locally produced fashion. A direct effect of EFW will be to stimulate the growth of eco-conscious fashion and accelerate the industry’s renaissance into the environmental age.

In addition to the focus on fashion, EFW will combine runway shows with presentations, talks and mini-conferences on the topic of sustainability, environmental awareness and best practise methods in eco-conscious clothing design and production. EFW will seek out both local and international clothing designers that incorporate environmentally-friendly aspects into their process. Sponsors, presenters and speakers will be individuals, organizations, and businesses that have contributed to sustainability and environmental efforts.

SCHEDULE

April 10, 2012

4 – 5 pm – PRESS CONFERENCE
5 – 7 pm – OPENING COCKTAIL SOIRÉE
7 pm – OPENING RUNWAY SHOW — Vintage Fashion Show — Presented by Value Village — Styled by Sarah La Greca, Deanna Palkowski and Myriam Laroche
8 pm – RUNWAY SHOW — Eason Wang + F AS IN FRANK + Bitru Fariel

April 11, 2012

4 – 5 pm – ECO FASHION PANEL — Jeff Garner + Nicole Bridger + Anny Leclerc + Myriam Laroche
6 – 7 pm – RUNWAY SHOW — Indigenous + Kreati-ka + Arm Candy
7 – 8 pm – RUNWAY SHOW — La Isla & Mala Imports + SVENSK + Standing Armed
8 – 9 pm – RUNWAY SHOW — Adhesif + fiveleft + LRMA
9 – 10 pm – RUNWAY SHOW — Jeff Garner’s Prophetik

April 12, 2012

3 – 4 pm – SEMINAR — CTRE (Canadian Textile Recovery Effort) with Drew De Panicis
3 – 4 pm – SEMINAR — debrand Services with Amelia Ufford
4 – 5 pm – SEMINAR — RE-LOVE with Myriam Laroche & Anny Leclerc
5 – 6 pm – SEMINAR — Social Media Tools for Sustainable Business with Dave Olson
6 – 7 pm – SEMINAR — The Worth of Fashion with Laura Lalonde, Indigenous
7 pm – CLOSING COCKTAIL SOIRÉE

SEMINARS

CTRE (Canadian Textile Recovery Effort)

Speaker: Drew De Panicis, Project Manager, CTRE and Manager of Innovation & Environment, debrand

April 12, 2012 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm

The CTRE is a not-for-profit organization established out of the need to generate awareness for and drive action towards the recovery of textiles from Canadian landfills/incinerators. For the purpose of the CTRE, textiles refer to pre and post-consumer garments, fabrics and piece goods. In Canada, textile waste accounts for approximately 4% of landfills equating to hundreds of thousands of pounds every year. With the introduction of synthetic fabrics, coupled with mass consumption and low-cost disposal clothing, the world has found itself in a clothing surplus crisis. The CTRE will bring together all segments of the clothing industry including manufacturers, retailers, consumers, charities, and recyclers working towards the creation of a more sustainable future.

debrand Services

Speaker: Amelia Ufford, Co-Founder & Director of Business Services, debrand

debrand is a Vancouver-based business specializing in end-of-life product management. Through design for environment planning and clear allocation streams, we reduce waste and maximize the value of our resources . Innovation and creativity are at the heart of debrand’s operations. We understand that environmental disposal methods are constantly evolving as society learns of better, more efficient ways to use our existing resources. The best alternative today is likely not the best alternative tomorrow. Therefore, debrand diligently seeks out local partners in a constant effort to achieve closed-loop systems. We continually work with industry leaders to develop the best long-term end-of-life solutions for all of the materials we process. Finally, we share our learnings with our clients so that they can make informed purchasing decisions that will ultimately result in less waste.

RE-LOVE

Speaker: Myriam Laroche, Founder of Eco Fashion Week

April 12, 2012 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm

To give a new life to what already exists, being proud of wearing second hand clothing or of bringing your own bag to your favourite boutique, to read hang tags, labels… It’s all about making educated decisions and to be conscious of our choices.

Speaker: Anny Leclerc, Director, North America Supply Chain, Value Village

Anny Leclerc is responsible for managing all inventory, logistics and distribution of goods in the Value Village/Savers North America sourcing and supply chain to expand product availability and optimize inventory to meet customer needs. In addition, Ms. Leclerc provides strategic sourcing direction while maintaining the company’s commitment to providing local communities with social benefits and its partnerships with more than 140 non-profit organizations. She is charged with ensuring that each nonprofit partners’ donation collection business is successful in not only supplying Value Village stores with great merchandise, but ensuring a sustainable and much-needed revenue stream for nonprofits’ important community programs and services.

Prior to working with Value Village, Ms. Leclerc served as director, Central Canada for the Canadian Diabetes Association, the largest Partner for Value Village Canada.

Social Media Tools for Sustainable Business

Speaker: Dave Olson, Hootsuite

April 12, 2012 | 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Learn practical tips and examples about how eco-minded fashion designers, buyers and media can use social media tools to share their story, build audience, and increase brand affection.

HootSuite’s VP of Community, Dave Olson will share his 15 years experience including helping dozens of sustainable businesses ramp up, making a documentary film about early organic entrepreneurs, and making a line of eco-bags and clothes. Tactics discussed will include: understanding audience motivations, providing incentives and rewards, setting boundaries and, creating participatory campaigns to produce content and assets.

The Worth of Fashion

Speaker: Laura Lalonde, Indigenous

April 12, 2012 | 6:00pm – 6:30pm

Laura Lalonde is the Canadian Distributor/Importer of INDIGENOUS. In the early years, INDIGENOUS was a very small company built on a very big idea — to create clothing that truly honoured both people and planet. That idea became a promise — a promise to use only eco-friendly materials; to pay fair wages and create opportunities for artisans in the developing world; and to help change the way the world looks at fashion. Today, INDIGENOUS employs over 1500 artisans, providing them with great income, opportunities to learn new skills and real economic growth opportunity for them and their families. Also, we support them in the preservation of their cultural traditions, the protection of their land and the development of their communities.

As a pioneer in eco fashion, since 1994 INIDIGENOUS, has been redefining the WORTH OF FASHION and Laura will outline the growing trend and acceptance of organic fashion into mainstream fashion. YOUR WORLD, YOUR WORTH.

Tickets: $23.75 each

For more information, please visit: http://www.ecofashion-week.com