BY SHELBY TUTTLE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRETT PRINCE AND JAE STILLS
On September 18, eight designers and their models descended upon Copenhagen Scottsdale to showcase their designs in an eco-friendly fashion challenge, making use of remnant upholstery fabric that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill. Here’s a look at their work.
AMANDA JACOBS OF CLASSIC RECLAIM
Category: Retro Remix
Model: Jessica Coffman
Inspired by the clean lines and minimalist beauty of Copenhagen furniture, this jacket embodies a unique blend of modern elegance and timeless craftsmanship. Drawing from a classic 1980s pattern, the jacket seamlessly combines retro flair with Copenhagen’s sleek design aesthetic for a truly distinctive look. The neutral tones of the interior fabric add depth and versatility, enhancing the jacket’s appeal with a subtle yet sophisticated multi-dimensional style.
JOANNE MILES-LONG OF RRRAID
Category: Indigenous Couture
Model: Danielle Mercado
Miles-Long’s three-piece ensemble is a beautifully constructed homage to life on Earth. In it, she uses shells to represent the power of water in which she notes, “Water makes all things develop and nourishes every living creature on our Mother Earth, Father Sky and beyond.” Each piece is made from recycled or refurbished fabric, and although the pieces can be worn separately, the skirt, top and cape come together to make a beautifully feminine outfit depicting power, love, beauty, balance, and respect for life.
AMELIA WALSH
Category: Techno Goth
Model: Alondra Rico
The gray portion of the top is upcycled from Copenhagen upholstery fabric and is constructed separate from the upcycled feather underskirt. Silver leafing was used to embellish the heavier tweed to add shine and detail, and Walsh even designed the dress with one of our favorite features: pockets!
CHRISTINE BONIPART-JOHNSON OF STITCHES N BLOOM
Category: Artsy Wonderland
Model: Londyn Rose
For her design, Bonipart-Johnson wanted to show off elements of slow fashion embodied in a whimsical aesthetic. For the jacket, she repurposed a handmade patchwork quilt and added playful nods to nature through hand-stitched appliques. She says, “Each stitch and fabric piece tells a story, giving the jacket a unique character that embodies the charm and individuality of country style.”
RUBY FARIAS OF RUBY FARIAS DESIGNS
Category: Textile Embellishment
Model: Vera Rosalind
For her design, Farias applied her understated light gray Copenhagen fabric in perfect juxtaposition to the lux, brightly colored hues used for the jacket, shorts, and boots that were constructed from a fabric she already had in house. Each fabric was used interchangeably to accent the entire look, which was completed by a matching hat, bag, and bralette. The result was a stunning and harmonious ensemble that showcased the versatility and impact of the Copenhagen fabric, while also highlighting Farias’s playful sense of style and attention to detail.
MAYUME OF MAYUME DESIGNS
Category: Avant-Garde
Model: Gabi Gonzalez
Designer Mayume notes that Copenhagen’s eco-friendly Broderick fabric in smoke and charcoal tones inspired thoughts of sculptures in her mind. Appropriately, her dress is named “Escultura,” or “sculpture” in Spanish. Mayume says she wanted to represent “culture through art while being intentional about the form, lines and shape of the dress.”
BRIA BLUNT OF BRIA ALE BLEU
Category: Romance Playwear
Model: Madison Miller
Bria notes her playful take on balance in this design, citing down-to-earth opulence and an “everyday ethereal” aesthetic as her inspiration. “I want to be elegant but practical,” she says.
CELIA ERICKSON OF YAGER ROAD
Category: Tailored Pageantry
Model: Aurora Einwiller
Of her experience designing for Green Living’s showcase, Celia says, “I looked at the textile first — it was like looking into the basket on “Chopped.” She thought about sleeves and outerwear first, focusing on the woven texture and grommets she was given. Her mind then drifted to a project she had been working on, fully immersed in looks from “The Wizard of Oz.” Of her design, which incorporates both structure and pageantry, she says, “My mind connected the two, and I thought ‘What might a modern day Munchkin wear?’”
