SHEI headed out to the Royal Oak Music Theatre on Saturday night to cover the Green Breeze Fashion Show for Land Conservation, a fund-raising extravaganza that showcased the work of fashion designer Jeff Garner. The event featured Garner’s civil war inspired Fall/Winter ’10 line, “Southern Shores” from his sustainable Prophetik label.

Green Breeze Fashion Show for Land Conservation

It was clear upon entering the venue that sustainability was the buzzword on everyone’s lips, as representatives from Whole Foods and Kashi were on hand to distribute samples of their healthy, natural wares. Glass soda bottle centerpieces filled with flowers stood on patrons’ tables. On the stage itself, a thick carpet of fresh grass covered the catwalk, flanked by a pair of wooden whisky barrels.

This eco-friendly ambience was only marred by the presence of a company called Envo Water, which makes biodegradable-boxed water (picture portable, non-alcoholic versions of Franzia). The sustainable aspect of Envo’s sales pitch might have been more believable had they sold re-usable water bottles rather than disposable ones. Unfortunately, creating a product that nobody really needs and marketing it as “environmentally-friendly” to make a quick buck is a popular business tactic these days. This is why I was very skeptical of the concept of a sustainable fashion show, especially one organized by self-proclaimed yuppies (Royal Oak’s The Uptown Group); but Garner’s work is, surprisingly, honestly devoted to the creation of a more sustainable lifestyle.

In a brief video that played before the show, Garner discussed how he became interested in eco-friendly fashion. He talked about how one of the employees where he apprenticed in Los Angeles grew ill due to inhaling toxic particles from synthetic fibers. This experience made Garner realize that using organic fabrics and dyes would not only benefit the environment, it would also improve the lives of the workers handling those materials. All of the work modeled at the Green Breeze fashion show held true to this idea, as every piece was created with organic fabrics dyed with plants you’d find in your grandmother’s garden.

...and indigo-dye pants.

Hoop skirts...

Garner’s “Southern Shores” line hearkens back to a day when women wore dresses until they became ragged, then tore them apart and re-stitched them to make new gowns. His models (all local, evidenced by nervous looks on some of their faces) sported hoop skirts, riding pants, tattered stockings, woolen arm warmers, and jewel-neck dresses. Some of his gowns featured an exposed zipper at the back; others were done up corset-style or had cross-straps. The men wore waistcoats, long, civil-war style jackets, and riding boots. Bluegrass band Catfish Mafia played as the models strutted down the runway, accentuating the rustic, Southern feel. The colors – mostly shades of gray, brown and blue – were natural without being drab enhanced by the organic imperfections in the dye and fabric.

After the show was over, Garner talked to the crowd about how he enjoyed Detroit, and was impressed its efforts to create a sustainable environment rather than just talking about as other cities do. He even hopes to grow some of the indigo and marigold used to produce his dyes in Detroit’s community gardens. Garner ended his speech by emphasizing the importance of ending our addiction to the cycle of consumerism, saying that de-programming ourselves from this cycle is the only way to truly achieve a sustainable world.

Proceeds from the event went to two local, non-profit organizations, The Greening of Detroit and The Community House in Birmingham.

Jeff Garner takes a bow.

Words: Rhiannon Haller

Photos: Chelsea Brown, SHEI Photography Editor