in Designers + Brands, Reviews, Sustainable Fashion

Women’s Hot Design Innovation from an Entrepreneur

by Delia Montgomery September 22, 2008, 1:07 am 66 Views

What do you get a kick out of in the fashion world? All who look at fashion as art sense an endocrine rush out of admiring a design they treasure. Some turned on by this, some that.

I confess that I get my kicks out of discovering “green” innovative design talent that I’m convinced has a bright future. Some friends tell me about their similar intuitions, such as predicting the fame of upcoming actors and actresses. Then others about musicians and singers. You get the idea.

Entrepreneur and women’s apparel designer Jote Mahern founded Sunia in Bloomington, Indiana only two years ago. The collection displays dedication to co-creating a culture of sustainable style. Materials consist of bamboo, hemp, lycra (spandex), organic cotton, soy, and Tencel®. These innovative designs are offered by both wholesale and retail terms.

Top photo features Lasso Pants, designed with a contrasting waistband that is adjustable for all-day comfort. Materials in this item are hemp blends of Tencel® and organic cotton. How smart is that?

Next is the cropped Petal Jacket that falls just below the waistline. The fabrics are blends of bamboo, organic cotton, soy and spandex. I’m personally in love with the fun and flirtatious Petal Dress made of the same jacket blends.

After I decided to write about this designer, I discovered there were others with the same rush!

The Apparel Industry Board, Inc. (AIBI) professional-jury selected Jote Mahern of Sunia to join with the established designers of Greater Chicago and show in CHICAGO IS…RED HOT!!! That is one of the largest fashion events in the region that effectively lets the world know about upcoming talent. Contact AIBI for an invitation.

Thus, I’m not alone with my rush. Mark the Chicago date: September 26, 2008. Whether you can attend or not, my advice is to order before fame kicks in. Go Jote and Sunia!

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.