This is an article i had found in Ryerson University’s website. It was Toronto’s first sustainability fashion show held in 2006 which was focused on being Green.

Enjoy!

Green is the new black.

That was the theme of Points of Departure: The Toronto Wildlife, Toronto’s first ever sustainability fashion show, produced by Ryerson Continuing Education student Keith Stephan-Giermek and 25 Fashion and Interior Design students.

Stephan-Giermek, chair of the Continuing Education Students’ Association of Ryerson (CESAR) Sustainability Committee, said the concept for the event came from his Design Management thesis on sustainable fashion. His goal was to encourage discussion of sustainability in the Ryerson community.

“We need to recognize the impact that we have on the environment and in the communities that we live,” said CESAR President Jeremy Salter. “An event like this is good for raising awareness, bringing people together and having a good time.”

More than 150 people attended opening night at the Student Campus Centre. Despite the trappings of a standard fashion show, the real focus was on sustainability, from environment-friendly fashion and set design to reusable “cups” made from hollowed organic vegetables.

Jennifer Fukushima, a third-year Fashion Design student and designer liaison, created Trashy, a six-piece, showgirl-inspired lingerie collection made from found objects and pop can sequins. Others, such as second-year Fashion Design student Heidi Ackerman, used natural materials such as hemp, lichen and dogwood. “There’s no way that we can sustain our way of living without changing a lot,” said Ackerman.

In addition, six Interior Design students collaborated with Stephan-Giermek to create the set using waste materials found on campus. The end result included burlap, cardboard and an impressive chandelier made from clear plastic water bottles.

“It’s definitely been a very good educational experience,” said second-year Interior Design student Enoch Wong. “I think we did a great job in applying what we learned from the Interior Design program.”

The 40-minute show was preceded by a panel discussion featuring Robin Kay, president of the Fashion Design Council of Canada, Preloved founder Julia Grieve and Kier Brownstone, general manager of Green$aver.

“Keith did a tremendous job,” said Kay. “It’s very important that we keep at it so that sustainability and the environment are not just a trend.”

“The support from Ryerson was overwhelming,” said Stephan-Giermek, who received funding from CESAR, the Ryerson Students’ Union, the President’s Office, the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, the School of Fashion and the School of Interior Design. “People seemed to step up and go a little further based on the idea.”

Already, change is being made. Proceeds from the event will be used to plant trees and shrubs throughout the campus. There is also talk of bringing the Toronto Wildlife to other venues.

“I’m hoping there’ll be all kinds of positive spin-offs,” said Stephan-Giermek, who plans to establish Points of Departure as an annual Ryerson event. “I’d like to see sustainability become a facet of fashion so that it doesn’t need to be promoted anymore.”

“It’s a very strong beginning,” said Réjean Beaudin, executive producer of Fashion File, who met Stephan-Giermek during Toronto Fashion Week. “If anyone is going to change this planet, we have to look to people like this – the students.”

http://www.ryerson.ca/news/news/General_Public/2006Archive/20060505_tw.html