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Sneak Peak: Stewart+Brown Fall Collection And Interview With Howard Brown

Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, partners in life and work, call themselves “Organic Pioneers” because when they began in 2002 there wasn’t much demand for things like sustainable fabrics and eco-conscious style.  They decided to break out of the typical textile mold, had a vision for something greater and have undoubtedly been trailblazers in the industry. 

I was given an exclusive sneak peak of their Fall Collection which hits stores within the next couple weeks.  You can expect the same quality craftsmanship and romantic looks that are quintessential Stewart+Brown

Last week I had the opportunity to interview Howard Brown.  Check out the interview below…

Stancie: What were you doing before 2002 when Stewart+Brown was born?

Howard: We met in 1993 in Philadelphia where I was the art director for both Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie and Karen was a designer for both brands as well. Karen moved onto J.Crew and then to Patagonia (to learn about sustainable design). I went on to work as a creative director building brands for the likes of Burton Snowboards, ESPN, and Microsoft and owning my own creative agency Syrup Design.

Stancie: What sets Stewart+Brown apart from other “green” labels?

Howard: Karen – a trained painter, and me – a trained graphic designer, have a personal aesthetic and mutual interests that are unique unto themselves and unlike no other.

Stancie: What’s your opinion of the controversial use of bamboo textiles and how it’s manufactured? 

Howard: We won’t touch bamboo because of it’s overly toxic manufacturing process.

StancieDo you feel it’s important to source Fair Trade and if so, do you believe it makes a difference

 Howard:  Yes, of course, we are big supporters of fair trade.

 StancieWhat fashion trends are you loving right now?

Howard: We don’t really pay attention to mainstream fashion trends.

Stancie: What can we expect from your Fall ’08 line?

Howard: Beauty, craftsmanship, and satisfaction.

Stancie: What inspires you? 

Howard: Life, creative opportunity, selflessness, our co-workers, our children, the future, the beauty and vastness of California, and the rugged wilderness of the Montana Rocky Mountains.

Related Posts About Sustainable Style:

Stewart+Brown – Style With Soul

Designer Rogan Gregory

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Written by Stancie Wilson

Stancie Wilson is an avid researcher who’s passionate about organics and the personal care industry. She’s not a hippie or treehugger (though nothing wrong with that), she’s a modern working woman who loves spreading the word about truly pure and stylish products, helping educate others about the dangers of toxic ingredients and who’s tired of rampant greenwashing.

She’s Co-Founder and Editor of Fig+Sage™ [www.figandsage.com], the go-to online resource for discovering hip organic & fab eco finds (with a heavy emphasis on organic beauty), Green Editor for Pricegrabber’s ShopGreen site [http://blog.pricegrabber.com/shopgreen] and was the first to be awarded the 'Eco-Friendly Expert Maven' title by ThisNext.com where her recommendations are followed by millions of shoppers.

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