Sol Inspirations invites local designers and boutiques to create eco fashion

Photo by Garrett Born

Upcycled dress created by You and Me for the Resurgent Fashion Show

Sol Inspirations, a non-profit organization that advocates for responsible clothing, styling, and beauty products, will host its second annual fashion show, Eco Inspirations, this weekend. Over one dozen local designers and boutiques were asked to create garments and accessories from earth-friendly materials for a fashion presentation. Participants include the Design Collective, Jenny Carle, CounterCouture, Vanessa Zahid, and students from the University of Minnesota and St. Catherine's University.

Tim and Thom Navarro, Katy Vereide, and Deborah Block of You and Me, a Minneapolis boutique that offers custom-made garments and accessories, will headline the show with a collaboration that includes dresses, men's and women's separates, and accessories.


"We wanted the collection to be fun and youthful for spring and summer," Thom says. "It's
being made from donated bridesmaid and prom dresses, so there are a lot of bright colors. The collection is called 'Spun: Refine. Reconstruct. Refashion. Socially responsible eye candy.' We're playing off the idea of taking one thing and making it into something different and brand new."

Working together as a team to create a collection was a new experience for the four designers.

"The most challenging part -- and the most fun part -- was the collaboration," says Tim. "Taking ourselves out of our individual mindsets to make a cohesive collection was hard, but when we were deciding how to make things better it was like, 'Thank god we have all these minds to contribute ideas!'"

Photo by Matt Berri

Tim Navarro, Katy Vereide, Thom Navarro, and Deborah Blockdiscuss their collection

Tim admits that when You and Me was first asked to participate Eco Inspirations, he was hesitant.

"To be perfectly honest, I was the kind of person who still had the stigma that often goes along with eco fashion -- that it's 'hippy-dippy,'" Tim admits. "But after learning more about it, I got really excited and was up for the challenge."

Vereide says that being aware of the negative connotations that are sometimes associated with eco fashion helped them create a great collection.

"We're trying to present fun and easy options that are busting the stereotype that eco fashion is hippie, granola, hemp pants," she says. "We're showing people that we can make cute, on-trend, fashion-forward clothing that's still good for the environment."

Block, who started re-purposing clothes back in high school, was eager to be a part of an event that promotes social responsibility.

"I've been drawn toward eco fashion pretty much my whole life, and I've been very conscious about waste in the fashion industry," she says. "That's why being part of an event that promotes the importance of eco fashion and up-cycling is important. I'm really excited to be a part of it."

The design team all agrees that the event will showcase talented designers, and encourage people to support the local fashion scene and learn more about eco fashion.

"It's a good event and a good cause," says Vereide. "It should be a really great example of what Minneapolis has to offer in terms of local responsible fashion and accessories."

Proceeds from the event benefit Sol Inspiration's fashion education and advocacy efforts.

IF YOU GO:

Sunday, May 6
3-5 p.m.
Bespoke Hair Artisans
3918 W. 49 ½ St., Edina
$25
Tickets can be purchased at Bespoke Hair Artisans or at www.sol-inspirations.org