The gorgeous plant garlands adorning the walls weren’t the only green things about the recent Clean Cut Designer Showcase. Last week’s eco runway event celebrated the brands producing beautiful, unique (and covetable) designs through ethical and sustainable production standards. The show, running as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, featured exciting new collections from a range of local and international designers, including Kowtow, Bhalo, Lalesso, Rachael Cassar, Desert Designs and The Social Studio. LUSH styled the Clean Cut models using their natural skincare and makeup products to achieve a minimalist-look to complement the fresh, modern designs. Recently formed by a collective of ethical and environmental fashion advocates, Clean Cut aims to be Australia’s industry body for sustainable fashion, bringing about greater awareness and celebration of the future of Australian fashion. The group consists of Carlie Ballard, founder of online eco retail store Indigo Bazaar; Kelly Elkin, writer and co-founder of ALAS Sleepwear; Lisa Heinze, author of Sustainability With Style; and Yatu Widders Hunt, eco fashion writer, blogger and communications consultant. With the first anniversary of the tragic Rana Plaza garment factory collapse later this month, it’s more important than ever to raise awareness about ethical and transparent production across the industry. Congratulations to those involved in this wonderful initiative – we hope to see plenty more like it in the future!  

Images from top: 1) Bhalo dress with ‘Made in Africa’ clutch by Sass & Bide (made in collaboration with the ITC’s Ethical Fashion Initiative) 2) Desert Designs 3) Rachael Cassar 4) Lalesso with ‘Together’ shoes by Camper / Bernhard Willhelm 5) Goodone 6) Odd Pears socks with Birkenstock sandals 7) LUSH makeup backstage 8) Kow Tow 9) Desert Designs 10) Kelley with the team from Clean Cut and Mel Tually from Fashion Revolution Day 11) Kelley with Di Stitt from One Colour.

(Images copyright of Peppermint except 7, 8 and 9 copyright of LUSH and Georgia Blackie)