in Contests, Designers + Brands, Sustainable Fashion

Swimwear by Kelly Marie Barry for Kelly B Designs Honored

by Delia Montgomery March 5, 2009, 10:52 pm 67 Views

Kelly Marie Barry for Kelly B Designs was recently honored as first runner-up in the Chic Eco poll for Best Eco-Creative Swimwear Designer. Her first collection debut for women was Spring 2006 and she was rather quickly recognized, supplied online retailers everywhere, stocked boutiques (including Beverly Hills), and was posted on numerous blogs.

Kelly began her studies with environmental science at CU Boulder, which inspired her to design eco-green apparel. She spent three years at The California College of Arts and Crafts, CCAC. Kelly graduated with a BFA in textiles and then experienced a two-year career as production manager and designer for a supplier of organic cotton garments and fabric.

Kelly’s primarily into organic cotton for conscious consumers. Yet she’s evolved with bamboo, blends and other natural materials. The awareness she strives for is beyond environmentally friendly products and fair labor practices. In fact her primary motivation is to please fashion seekers as a skilled designer. It’s an added bonus to discover the earth-friendly aspects of her garments. All her collections are made in the USA; – another major and rare bonus!

Actually, the contest poll resulted in a runner-ups tie. The co-honoree designs swimsuits for children. Since eco swimwear is a rare pool of designers, it’s good news buyers can shop for a range of ages and genders. Read more about contest results here on Feelgood Style in separate posts.

Meanwhile, look further than the pics here from previous collections. Check out the newly posted 2009 Spring/Summer fashions that inspire women to get Kelly B-glamorous for more than swimming and water sports. Congratulations are in good order!

Designer Naia Rico Wins Best Eco-Creative Men’s Fashion Poll

Written by Delia Montgomery

I am Delia, d/b/a Chic Eco on www.ChicEco.com, and established myself as an eco fashion guru by learning "who makes what in the world of environmental fashion and design."

Enjoy reading some of my freelance writing about environmental design, fashion and art -- from both consumer and supplier perspectives. You may notice I focus most on individual eco designers, movers and shakers.

From sustainable fashion apparel to paint and flooring, discoveries are a rush. I get my kicks this way. I also offer sales representation of earth-friendly designed products for wholesale buyers. Retailers may take advantage of my services with factory-direct pricing. Spend less time sourcing and prevent green-washed purchases!

My other forte is connecting suppliers with business-to-business tools. Aspects of my business vary with consulting services while I'm proud to be the aide that embraces unique and innovative gigs.

I'm originally a Kentucky Blue Grass gal who relocated to Maui early 2006 and the tropical Puna District of Big Island, Hawaii late 2007. Walk the talk is my motto here.

Early 2009 I constructed a yurt home office in a semi-urban setting on a tiny lot. My water comes from the sky, contained in a catchment that's not likely to dry in this rain forest. The electric is designed for solar conversion. I grow about 30% of my food organically, compost, and recycle to the hilt. Permaculture with a full eco system is my gardening style.

In fact, gardening is my ultimate joy. I seek gigs like design, weeding and planting between other jobs. My love is Hawai'i which has more climate zones than any state. There are frequent earthquakes here, typically under a 3.0 magnitude, and I happen to dig the vibrations. It's a wonderful simple life in paradise. As I grow older and wiser, I become more and more grateful.