Green Options

Roxanne Quimby for Happygreenbee is honored as one of the first runner-up ties in the Chic Eco poll for Best Eco-Creative Swimwear Designer. Her fascinating bio tells the story of how her company evolved with a mission for gender-free, comfortable, colorful, playful and ecologically responsible organic kids clothing, – which includes terrific swimsuits.

Roxanne was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts where early on she developed a passion for the arts and nature. That passion became the central theme of her future business philosophy.

Kelly Marie Barry for Kelly B Designs was recently honored as first runner-up in the Chic Eco poll for Best Eco-Creative Swimwear Designer. Her first collection debut for women was Spring 2006 and she was rather quickly recognized, supplied online retailers everywhere, stocked boutiques (including Beverly Hills), and was posted on numerous blogs.

Kelly began her studies with environmental science at CU Boulder, which inspired her to design eco-green apparel. She spent three years at The California College of Arts and Crafts, CCAC. Kelly graduated with a BFA in textiles and then experienced a two-year career as production manager and designer for a supplier of organic cotton garments and fabric.

The Untouched World™ brand is developed by Snowy Peak Ltd. in New Zealand. The private company wholly owned by the Drysdale family holds a succession of awards (founded 1981) for innovation, quality and design.

Snowy Peak founder and CEO Peri Drysdale grew up on her family farm where generations of fine wool was managed for more than 150 years. Daughter Emily worked in Europe as a freelance sportswear designer for leading international sportswear brands before joining the family business. She collaborated with world leaders in design, including Yohji Yamamoto’s former head designer Yu Homma, and Cameron Silver, listed in ‘Time’ magazine as one of the world’s 25 most influential people in fashion.

Congratulations Naia Rico, who received the winning contest announcement for Chíc Eco’s Best Eco-Creative Men’s Fashion Designer Poll while in India doing what she said she does best, ‒ designing and prototyping garments with intentions to make heads turn and to improve buying behaviors towards organic fair trade next summer.

Although this write is about men’s fashions, know that Armed Angels is a sustainable street brand for all adult genders. It’s just that in comparison to women’s apparel, it’s not very often one can rave about a men’s collection.

Another reason for recognition is because the Product Manager, Sanda Nevjestic, is third runner-up as the Best Eco-Creative Men’s Fashion Designer in a recent poll contest conducted by Chíc Eco. Sanda happens to be very modest about this because varied street designers are the actual inspirations for Germany’s Social Fashion Company GmbH.