Eco Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011: Lav And Kush

Straight from New York and back home just in time for a fashion week! Last week, I had the privilege of attending Vancouver's inaugural Eco Fashion Week which was organized by The Vanguard PR and presented by Aveda. I've long observed that Vancouver seems to be a hotbed for sustainable and eco-friendly designers, but seeing local talent showcased in such a professional, organized event was truly something. This post is going to be the first of several this week recapping my favourite shows and looks.



The last time I reviewed a collection by Lav and Kush, I wrote, "With pieces ranging from girly to womanly, it's easy to see why Lav & Kush describes itself as the 'flirt of eco fashion.'" Designer Angela Saxena's flirtatious, feminine aesthetic is still very much present for spring in the form of ruffle-trimmed rompers and wrap dresses that drape and hug the female body. Longtime fans of this line will find a lot to love in Lav and Kush's wearable jersey pieces.



However, what's most interesting to me as a fashion observer is seeing how Saxena has grown as a designer from season to season. In each collection, she seems to have a handful of pieces where she tests different techniques and probes the boundaries of her "flirt of eco-fashion" look. Her experimentation has produced some standout separates: a taupe dress with skillful drapes and pleats veering off in different directions, structured shorts, and a little cornflower blue jacket that would go perfectly with any sun dress.





One of the joys of following designers from season to season is seeing what they'll do next, and I look forward to seeing Lav and Kush's future offerings.

All photos in this post by Wayne Mah.