Over the years, the Council of Fashion Designers of America has cultivated some of the most compelling names in fashion, nurturing the likes of Joseph Altuzarra, Proenza Schouler and Prabal Gurung. Now, they’re encouraging sustainable style. As CFDA CEO Steven Kolb said at the launch breakfast on Thursday, Nov. 29, inside ABC Home & Carpet in New York City, “Craftsmanship in an artistic way and making beautiful things while giving back to the planet—that’s what we should all be supporting.”
With that creative consciousness in mind, Kolb and his team called upon the winners of the 2012 CFDA/Lexus Eco-Design Challenge to fill a new space called Embody at ABC with sustainable ready-to-wear, accessories and jewelry. The designers featured at the new store-in-a-store include Pamela Love, M Patmos, Diane Von Furstenberg and Donna Karan’s Urban Zen among several others. Also available are vintage and repurposed items—pieces that perfectly align with the handmade, earthy, bohemian vibe of the ABC aesthetic.
Aside from its beautiful décor and peaceful atmosphere, Embody is also meant to serve as a sort of incubator, a way to challenge designers to create stylish, green products. As CFDA winner Marcia Patmos put it, now eco-conscious clothing “isn’t crafty or culty—it’s a movement.”