Luxe Looks Celebrating the Earth
Linda Loudermilk interpreted oceanic oddities seen through an eco-friendly eye in the Fall 2005 fashion show for her Luxury Eco by Linda Loudermilk label at her Los Angeles home’s garden. Held on April 23, the day after the 35th anniversary of Earth Day, the runway presentation highlighted bamboo jersey in a honeycomb weave, closely sheared velvet made of soy, a recycled bottle–blend resembling shearling and a silky jersey called “lenpur” that started as wood pulp.
Before the models began walking—and sometimes dancing—across the catwalk, which hovered above a swimming pool, guests sipped champagne and nibbled on vegan appetizers made by Real Food Daily in the soft glow of the setting sun.
Loudermilk has been creating environmental clothing for four seasons, but Fall 2005 marks her second collection for Luxury Eco. Ladylike dresses featuring lace inlays shaped like coral, in saturated blue and dark brown, opened the show, which progressed to rock ’n’ roll pants that can be unzipped at the knees and thighs and a cream coat that was made out of recycled bottles and had a six-layer shawl collar fashioned from recycled lace and reclaimed cashmere.
The tops were form-fitting while the pants had wide legs. Loudermilk accentuated shiny silk with vivid jellyfish prints and reproduced images taken by photographer Steve McCurry on a chiffon tunic and a coat that was a hybrid of a kimono and a duster. Some proceeds from sales of clothes displaying McCurry’s pictures will be donated to an educational charity called Imagine Asia.
“We’re smashing all old ideas of what environmental clothing is,” Loudermilk said. She added that she is working on a lower-priced sportswear line that will bow as early as Spring 2006. Also offering environmentally friendly fabrics with cutting-edge design, the new line will be “a little less crazy, a little more for everybody,” Loudermilk said.
—Khanh T.L. Tran
