Eco Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011: Sofia Clothing

After watching Sofia Clothing win the Generation Next new designer competition last fall, I wrote, "I was definitely impressed by the construction, fit, and conceptual integrity of this collection; its polish and maturity reflected a defined vision." At Eco Fashion Week last week, it was with curiosity and delight that I watched her return to the runways with an impeccable fall/winter 2011 collection that bore all the hallmarks of her previous work.



Working with a limited palette of black, charcoal and shades of red, Sofia created a wearable collection of mix-and-match separates. Pleated skinny leg trousers shared the runway alongside a sheer blouse, a cocoon-shaped ribbed sweater, and mini dresses that could double as tunics to be worn with leggings or your favourite jeans.



I was particularly enamoured with the outerwear in this collection. Basic dark coats can be so boring, but hers boasted tab button closures and subtly contrasting trim. On one coat, the slim-cut sleeves were left too long so that they had to be pushed up the arm for a ruching effect. Another coat had a dramatic funnel collar. Outerwear is hard for even established designers to make and sell (the higher price point is a turn-off). For a young designer to attempt it and to include so many great coats and jackets in a collection--well, it certainly speaks to Sofia's audacity and talent.




Collections like Sofia's make me excited because 1) they hint at the untapped potential of a young designer who still has a long way to go, and 2) they prove that eco fashion doesn't need the "eco" prefix to sell its wares to style-conscious consumers. Keep producing beautiful clothes, and those consumers will come for them. The "eco" part is just icing on the cake.

Thanks to Mark Feenstra for providing the runway photos.