Vancouver, BC
, Canada –
Fashion is contributing to Global Warming. Each year, the billion dollar
industry results in over 90 million items of clothing in landfill
sites globally. North Americans alone throw away more than 68 pounds of
clothing and textiles per person, per year. 2,700 litres of water are
required to produce just one cotton t-shirt. The use of synthetic fibres
in clothing requires more carbon dioxide during processing than natural
fibres, and therefore speeds up the process of Global Warming. In 2008,
Canadians spent over $30 billion dollars on apparel, including footwear
and accessories, for men, women and children. Currently, just a small
fraction of that amount is spent on organic and sustainable, natural
fibres.
These are some of the facts that moved Myriam Laroche to found
ECO Fashion Week (EFW)
in 2009. Based in Vancouver, Canada’s greenest city, Laroche developed
this movement to bring positive change to the fashion industry through
education for industry insiders and consumers via an on-going platform.
EFW is held twice a year and showcases a runway event featuring some of
the world’s most progressive eco-fashion designers. Laroche states:
“Instead
of ‘eco’ I want to bring in the words ‘conscious’ and ‘responsible’.
Responsible fashion is about the treatment of people and the earth
during the entire garment-making process. There's so much fabric waste,
and damage from the chemicals used in textile manufacturing.”
This
year in 2012, EFW is proud to announce the partnership with Value
Village to introduce their “Donation Centre”, benefitting Value
Village’s non-profit partners in Vancouver. During EFW, large bins will
be strategically placed around the venue for all attendees to donate
their pre-loved clothing. Value Village has 140 non-profit partners
across Canada, the US and Australia. Over the past ten years, Value
Village has donated $1.5 billon to these non-profits, helping to support
their vital programs and services. Everyone is encouraged to drop off
unwanted clothing in these donation bins to prevent the increase of
landfill piles.
The
Public are invited to two free events during this EFW. The Vintage
Runway Show on April 10, at 7:00 pm, is a joint production by EFW and
Value Village. The public is also invited to the Eco Fashion Panel,
hosted by Laroche, which takes place on the runway on April 11 at 4:00
pm. Tickets to the remaining runway shows are available for $20 plus
fees, online through TicketsTonight.ca
For another year,
EFW is pleased to present a runway show by Prophetik designer, Jeff
Garner. In addition to being a celebrity red carpet favourite, Jeff
Garner frequently speaks at universities on the subject of
sustainability in the fashion industry. This season’s runway events will
also feature designers from Sweden, Poland, Shanghai, Los Angeles,
Seattle and Vancouver. A complete list of designers and schedule is
available on the EFW website at www.ecofashion-week.com.
Partners Tourism
Vancouver, Tourism BC, City of Vancouver, Downtown Vancouver Business
Improvement Association (DVBIA), Vancouver Observer, Fairmont Waterfront
Hotel, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Sandman Suites on Davie.
Sponsors
Value
Village, La Biosthetique Paris, Showtime Event and Display, Tickets
Tonight, LizBell Agency, Richard’s International Model Management, NEXT
Models, MATTMAY, The Kirk Group, NUMA Models, Greener Print Solutions.
Official website: www.ecofashion-week.com
