New York City was hopping during New York Fashion Week 2020! From February 6 - 12, the streets of Manhattan were bustling with fashion designers and executives, media, models, fashionistas and the fashion curious -- all running between NYFW events held throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn to see the latest cutting-edge fashions for the new year. Among the events was Sustainable New York Fashion Week, held at Chelsea Piers - Pier 59. A boutique luxury exhibition, Sustainable NYFW highlighted eight sustainable designers from various corners of the world whose fashions were made with earth-preserving processes and/or recycled materials.

Over 800 attendees packed the gorgeous Current Room overlooking the Hudson River, watching the designer shows and panel talks, browsing the pop-up shops and sampling the various food and drinks provided by the event sponsors. The 7-hour event was produced and emceed by Celia Evans of the Miami-based media production company Planet Fashion TV.

The Designers

The exhibition featured eight trailblazing fashion designers whose missions are to conserve the earth’s resources by using sustainable, eco-friendly materials and/or use sustainable processes in creating their fashion wear and accessories. Each designer spoke about their fashions and how they were made in engaging panel discussions moderated by Evans, held before each show. The designers who presented were:

New Zealand-born designer Debra Lee Cheyne of Butterscotch Castle who deconstructs and redesigns vintage and discarded apparel and fabrics to create chic women’s fashion wear;

Australian jewelry designer Angela Clarke of Angela Clarke Jewelry who creates sustainable and ethical jewelry pieces made of beads, stones, and Swarovski crystals;

Australian brand Bamboozld who manufacture socks and undergarments out of sustainable bamboo material,

Pennsylvanian designer Nick Unis of UnisBrands developed a machine to make plastic bottles into fabric that he then crafts in to hip sneakers;

German shoe brand Wildling Shoes that protect healthy feet from injury or the environment but also help protect the environment by using environmentally-friendly materials and resource-saving production techniques;

New Yorker sustainable designer and teacher Bridgett Artise of Born Again Vintage gives vintage garments that have lost their luster another chance at being fashionable, recycling fabrics and textiles into timeless pieces;

KINDOM is a sustainable and ethical apparel and accessories brand based in Los Angeles.

Brazilian designer Silvia Vassão of Leafy Natural Couture was not present at the event, but 10 of her designs were shown as the grand finale for the event. Silvia creates luxury women’s couture hand-woven with hand-spun silk from Brazilian silkworms.

The evening included a keynote speech by the United Nations Sustainable Development Specialist Francesca Zoppi. In her talk, Zoppi discussed the United Nations' sustainability goals, including reducing global emissions, ocean cleanup and ethical wages.

Planet Fashion TV is a half hour syndicated series in HD and 4K produced by Sea Star Films production company based out of Miami Florida. Coverage includes fast segmented stories on art, architecture, luxury products, automotive, cutting edge eco products, interior design, music fashion and cultural trends in different cities around the world. This is a travel meets style show. planetfashiontv.com

FASHIONADO