CounterpArts - Music & Fashion & Greening, Oh My!

Wonder what we've been up to, aside from designing sustainable fashion (and working out typical 70 hour weeks?).

Well, here you go: CounterpArts

xoxo

P.S. Fan/follow CounterpArt on Facebook and Twitter for lots of exciting upcoming announcements about several summer music festivals!

Chicago Fashion Week: Behind the Scenes!

Ever wonder what goes on backstage at a fashion week runway show? Last month, Mountains of the Moon showed our spring 2010 collection at both Portland and Chicago Fashion Weeks. The Chicago show, Vert Couture, was the finale event of the week and showcased all sustainable designers. Take a behind the scenes stroll with me through pre-show preps and the show itself as told through photographs! (This story was originally posted by our friends at Ecouterre).



Photo by Chad Smith.


Presenting my Spring 2010 collection at Vert Couture, Chicago Fashion Focus’s first-ever, all-sustainable runway show, on Sunday was an amazing experience—and a hectic one. Many people from Chicago’s fashion and green scenes came together to produce the show, and the backstage buzzed with excitement, chaos, and anticipation as the designers, producers, models, makeup artists, and crew prepared for the event. I took the opportunity in between last-minute fittings, run-throughs, and the show itself to capture some behind-the-scenes moments at this groundbreaking inaugural event.



The official Vert Couture sign, printed with and on eco-friendly materials, was set up in the lobby to greet guests. Dubbed “An Evening of Chicago Spring Fashion and Environmental Responsibility,” the show featured local eco-designers.



Aveda and Sugar & Spice provided hair and makeup for our beautiful Ford Models pre-show.



That afternoon, a final run-through to nail down timing before the big event.



The volunteer dressers arrive and I take a few moments to go through each of my looks with them.



Models from Ford prepared to dress for the show’s first looks.


Press/media set up to cover the show.


Guests fill the seats prior to the show, which was sold out (including standing room only!)


The DJ begins to spin tunes for the crowd in advance of the opening looks.



Looks from our Spring collection hang awaiting their runway debut.



Annie Novotny of Frei Designs and I wait in anticipation to show our collections.


After a quick change-over into my looks, my models wait to walk.


I quickly make some finishing touches on each model before she hits the stage.


The Spring 2010 collection from Mountains of the Moon makes its entrance.


After my collection shows, it's time for all of the designers and models to take a final group walk. And with that, a successful, sustainable show comes to a close!

Many thanks to my amazing assistant Mary Welch Fox (a New York Fashion Week dresser alum), who took a break from Mountains of the Moon to work non-stop for two weeks to help Vert Couture founders Bianca and Michael Alexander create an incredible show.

Fashion Weeks Galore!

Fashion Week? Pashaw! It's Fashion MONTH here at Mountains of the Moon, and we hope you'll join us at one of the following fabulous events during Portland Fashion Week and Fashion Focus (Chicago Fashion Week).


Mountains of the Moon Spring 2010 Collection at closing night of Portland Fashion Week. October 11, 2009 at 8 PM, Vigor Industrial Shipyard, Portland, OR. Tickets available here. (Pssst! Use code motm for 10% off your tickets!).


Meet the Designers of Fashion Focus (Chicago Fashion Week). October 25, 2009 at 2 PM. Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington, Chicago, IL. Mountains of the Moon designer/president Melissa Baswell will be one of ten designers serving on this special panel. Bring your questions! RSVP required to aibi@aibi.com.

Mountains of the Moon Spring 2010 Collection at Vert Couture Sustainable Runway Show, the finale show of Fashion Focus.
October 25, 2009 at 7 PM. Yates Gallery, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington, Chicago, IL. Come see our SS10 collection on the runway alongside other top Chicago eco-fashion labels. Tickets available here.


We hope you'll grace us with your oh-so-eco-chic presence at one of these fine fashion events this month.

xoxo,
The Ladies of MotM

It's All Summer's Fault!

Has it really been a month since our last post? Wow. Completely unacceptable, we know. In our defense, summer days in Chicago are few and far between... So when we're not producing FW09, designing SS10, and/or spending way too much time doing much-less-glamorous tasks in the office, we're spending any of the sunny free time we have at least attempting to be outside.

It's really all summer's fault. It's nearly impossible to resist those sweet moments that only summer can bring, when you're sipping on an organic vodka/lemonade, wearing your favorite summery organic cotton sundress (paired with strappy nude sandals, a vintage turquoise beaded necklace and your favorite oversized Audrey Hepburn-esque thrift store hat, but who's keeping track?), munching on olives, cheese and fresh veggies from the farmer's market, watching the sky turn pink and red with your adorable 13-1/2 year old black lab/chow mix at your side... Sigh... Trust me, I am known as the group workaholic (what's a weekend?), but not much can keep me away from a warm summer sunset.

We also had a very busy last month, producing the first ever official eco-fashion show at the amazing Rothbury festival (see pic above), which housed close to 40,000 festival goers and some incredible music. Did we mention that it's the most eco-friendly festival we've ever attended? (See two posts back for more info on our new favorite festy EVER). We'll post pics from the eco-fash show as soon as we get them from the fancy-shmancy professional photographers. Oh, and good news... They already asked us back for next year to produce and even bigger and better show! My wheels are already turning.

Really, there are lots of excuses as to why we've been MIA on the ol' blog, but it's easiest to just stop here, blame it on summer, and promise to post a lot more before July is just a memory. K? K.

Summer Lovin's,
mb & the motm eco-girls

Mmmm, Eco-Fashion + Music in the Summatime

Really though, what sounds more amazing than things like delicious sunshine, blissfully beautiful live music, good friends and eco-fabulous sustainable fashion? Lucky for you (and us), all of these fine, fine pleasures are available at the Think Tank Green Your Wardrobe Fashion Show (aka the official Eco-Fashion Show at Rothbury Music Festival).

Debuted in the summer of 2008, Rothbury is a near zero-waste music festival "guided by a bold environmental sustainability mission" and "committed to throwing a huge party with a purpose." We like. Located on an absolutely gorgeous site full of lush forests and sparkling waters, it becomes home to 30,000 music, art, and earth lovers the weekend of July 3rd to 5th.

In addition to a vastly impressive artist line up that includes a ridiculously wide variety of acts (the Dead, Broken Social Scene, Umphrey's McGee, Willie Nelson, the Black Crowes, Girl Talk, Les Claypool, and on-on-on), Rothbury offers the Think Tank, a unique "event within an event" that includes buzz sessions, workshops and events put on by "leading scientists, scholars, writers, progressive political and corporate leaders, youth leaders, Rothbury artists" and the community. SO cool.

The best part (at least in our fashion-obsessed minds) is the Green Your Wardrobe Fashion Show that will take place as a Think Tank event on Saturday, July 4th. We may be a little biased, as Mountains of the Moon was asked to produce the fashion show along with our friends at Good Will, and little old indie eco-designer me was chosen to emcee. Bias aside, we think learning how to green your wardrobe while viewing the chicest in sustainable apparel and accessories, all set to the fine tracks of our official DJ, STS9's David Murphy, sounds like a pretty delightful way to spend a summer afternoon. From high-end designer organic dresses to the most stylish recycled vintage, we have a feeling that this may in fact be THE eco-fashion show of the summer.

Mosey on over to the Think Tank Green Your Wardrobe Fashion Show event page on Facebook for all the deets (and while you're there, RSVP "attending!").

Nothin' quite like eco-fashion and music in summa summa summatime, oh no.

xoxo,
melissa

The 3 E's: Earth Day, Eco-Fashion, Events

It goes without saying that everyday should (obvi) be Earth Day. But hey - if it takes a special day for everyone to come together and get excited about the environment, we're all for it. One of the best parts about Earth Day (especially in recent years as the green movement gains momentum) is all of the events that take place around the globe to celebrate. In our world, the best of these events involve eco-fashion. This year, there is an abundance of them. Here are some of the most prominent ones for your eco-fashion pleasure.


Green with Fashion

Held at the famous F.U.E.L. House (aka MTV's Real World Philadelphia House), this charity eco-fashion show will spotlight the top eco-fashion designers (more than 30 of them, to be exact) from all over the country. Our friends at Carbon Fund are not only donating five tons of carbon offsets in order to make the event carbon neutral, they're also covering the day's "carbon footprint" of everyone who attends the show. We like. Look for "celebs" like Gretchen Rossi of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Orange County" and five Miss Philadelphia winners, among others, to be walking in the show. Pieces from our very own Mountains of the Moon spring/summer collection will be among the designs showcased at this event.
When: April 22nd (Earth Day) at 7 PM.
Where: F.U.E.L. House, 249 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Tickets are $20 (advance purchase only), with proceeds donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.


Stanford Sustainable Fashion Show (Stanford, CA)

A bay area Earth Day must, Stanford University's first-ever Sustainable Fashion Show will be a groundbreaking event on campus promoting a sustainable lifestyle on all fronts. The show's mission will be to celebrate diversity in the context of environmental consciousness through a wide variety of styles and artistic expression. Twenty unique professional designers will be showcased in individual sets (including Mountains of the Moon, oh yes!), and as well as several student designers from the Stanford Community.
When: April 22nd (Earth Day) from 7 to 9 PM.
Where: Toyon Hall Lounge, 455 Arguello Way, Stanford, CA.
Cost: Free


Fashion Takes Action Launch Party

In partnership with Earth Day Canada, the new members-based organization and producer of green events Fashion Takes Action will be officially launching this Earth Day, and will be throwing a party/fashion event to celebrate on April 24th. We like parties a lot and brainstormed on ways to teleport to Toronto for this event, but alas... With really swell things like DJs (including Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene), Ryerson fashion students participating in a live eco-challenge to create garments from packaging, and an open bar (mmm, organic vodka), it should be quite the grand ole' time.
When: April 24th at 9 PM.
Where: 639 Queen Street West, Toronto, Canada.
Cost: Tickets are $40 in advance (with a limited number for $50 at the door), with proceeds supporting Earth Day Canada and Fashion Takes Action.


If you're not up for a fashion show, and happen to be in the Cape Cod area during Earth Day week, take a little stop-sy by Solstice Day Spa in Hyannis for a simply mahhhvelous eco-fashion sample sale from 5:30 to 8 PM on April 21st (we like to call it Earth Day Eve, just for kicks). Hosted by fashion writer and stylish Amy Dufault, this sample sale will include samples from your's truly as well as other eco-designers at incredible prices.


xoxo,
melissa & all the other motm eco.fashion ladies too

P.S. We adore you!