Going green not just a trend, but a full-blown lifestyle

Much like the slow food movement in the food industry, the “Lean Closet” seeks to re-educate consumers to shop for affordable, sustainable, and unique apparel and accessories rather than disposable or fast fashion.

“The Lean Closet encourages people to buy a smaller number of well-made items rather than large quantities of cheap products that perpetuate unfair working conditions and harm the environment,” Cuyana co-founder Karla Gallardo recently told Venturebeat.

The fashion college FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, is covering stories like this in a new Sustainability Report column for The FIDM Blog.

"The movement towards less costly materials in jewelry design is a response to larger forces in the economy like the recession and online retailers who sell cutting edge pieces," explains FIDM Jewelry Design Chair John Ahr. In the class Alternative Materials for Jewelry Design, students create three designs with materials other than precious metals and stones, a form of design called upcycling.

FIDM Instructor Sharlene Habermeyer says, "The organic movement is here to stay." After eight years at cosmetics start-up 302 Skin Care, she knows the issues facing the industry as it embraces sustainability and toxicity.

"The FDA only devotes 1-2% of its budget to regulating the beauty industry," says Sharlene, "The word organic without the word certified is fairly meaningless." She counsels students and consumers to avoid three ingredients for better skin health: parabens, glycols, and sulfates.

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a co-educational, specialized, private college dedicated to educating students for the Fashion, Graphics, Interior Design, and Entertainment industries. Known as a one of the top fashion design schools, FIDM is also a leading graphic design school and digital media college.

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising