Washington, DC designer Elizabeth St. John follows the philosophy of eco couture.
Her most recent showcase was for the Art Soiree/Nuit De La Mode event at the Hillwood Estates. With a background in environmental studies and a childhood surrounded by fashion and construction, Elizabeth St. John designs bridal and evening wear and is president of the Universal Strategic Services Foundation.
Some consider fashion as something celebrities waste money on and tween girls waste time on. However, its impact on society is undeniable. There is a deeper layer to this impact that not many are knowledgeable about. Eco couture. A design philosophy that supports environmentalism and sustainable responsibility, eco fashion has been nourishing our planet way before the current green trend.
“I like the challenge of greening a business,” St. John.
Defining her collection as “Refined. Glamorous. Green,” she tries to dispel the negative connotation of green collections.
Some people may think eco fashion is just a fad. The designer considers them to be misinformed with a limited vision of green collections as recycling old pieces to new pieces.
“Couture is French for hand dressmaking,” said St. John. “There is nothing more green than doing things by hand.” Eco fashion is based on the roots of apparel production and also moving forward due to its environmental impact, she added.
Defining her collection as “Refined. Glamorous. Green,” she tries to dispel the negative connotation of green collections.
Some people may think eco fashion is just a fad. The designer considers them to be misinformed with a limited vision of green collections as recycling old pieces to new pieces.
“Couture is French for hand dressmaking,” said St. John. “There is nothing more green than doing things by hand.” Eco fashion is based on the roots of apparel production and also moving forward due to its environmental impact, she added.
Referring to her design process, St. John considers herself unorthodox. She sources her material first, such as finding a piece of silk she really likes. Then she develops a design around that piece of material.
“I actually don’t sketch,” she said, “so I do it kind of in reverse.”
“I actually don’t sketch,” she said, “so I do it kind of in reverse.”
To enhance her background and interest in the environment, St. John and a few of her colleagues founded the Universal Strategic Services Foundation in Washington, DC to establish green projects for businesses in third world countries.
“I used to work for conservation organizations in the Amazon for inventory on plants and animals,” she said, “and I started to miss direct hands on work with countries overseas and other subjects that are important.”
“I used to work for conservation organizations in the Amazon for inventory on plants and animals,” she said, “and I started to miss direct hands on work with countries overseas and other subjects that are important.”
The foundation is currently developing two initiatives. First, bringing solar energy to very remote parts of the world, such as villages in West Africa, which allows them to run schools, internet, and refrigeration for medicine. Second, establishing a vocational school for women in Afghanistan “to provide life skills they won’t have other wise to support their families,” St. John said.
They are partnering with some government organizations so that these women will be hired to guarantee employment.
They are partnering with some government organizations so that these women will be hired to guarantee employment.
As for the fashion initiative in the United States, St. John remarks that the current economic situation has moved a large part of the industry’s apparel production abroad, primarily to Asia. As of late, a lot of those companies are slowly moving back to the U.S. due to the problems with production quality and shipping from Asia, according to St. John.
“I think going forward you will see more ‘Made in the USA’ labels,” she said.
“I think going forward you will see more ‘Made in the USA’ labels,” she said.
St. John is a fan of the Louis XVI of France era, claiming, “The skill involved in making those pieces is just spectacular.”
She said she also likes “the clean and feminine lines of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The tailoring is timeless.”
She said she also likes “the clean and feminine lines of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The tailoring is timeless.”
Looking forward, St. John is very excited about her upcoming evening collection, due to premiere October 31.
“I get to be more creative and ratchet up the sexy factor,” she said.
“I get to be more creative and ratchet up the sexy factor,” she said.
Visit http://www.elizabethstjohn.com/ to view her collections and learn more about her work.
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