Panel: sustainability can't risk style

NEW YORK Organic and sustainable fibers are poised to become a significant factor in both apparel and domestics, a panel gathered at the Parsons School of Design determined on Nov. 5. But while the consciousness of sustainability issues will make the products more attractive to many consumers, the fashion element is the make or break factor and it will be the ability of manufacturers to create stylish textiles from organic and sustainable fibers -- and retailers to promote them -- that will determine their degree of success.

The panel at Parsons, part of The New School university, included a retailer, Julie Gilhart, senior vp and fashion director, Barneys, two natural textile manufacturers, Schott Hahn, founder of Loomestate, and Marci Zaroff, founder and president, Under the Canopy, and a communicator, Helen Job, U.S. editor, Worth Global Style Network.

Retail interest in natural textiles, including initiatives being pursued by Wal-Mart, Target, Gap and H&M, are changing the production of natural textiles from essentially a cottage to a fully commercial model. Job noted that a shift Nordstrom is making in converting private label collections to organic fibers is among those most potentially impactful. Yet, to fully realize the opportunity inherent in organic and sustainable fibers, Gilhart said retailers have to do extensive research and understand not only what is available but what the issues are in the organic community if they are to have a sufficient grasp to get a hold of a rapidly evolving but potentially explosive segment.