From the Sketchpad: Eco-Spacedye

Although I've been working with a sustainable fiber, Rayon, since 2005, I was anxious to get on the Bamboo-bandwagon. Bamboo has been the talk of the 'fashion' town for a couple of years now, and I've finally developed my version of this luxurious, eco-friendly fiber in my signature space-dye technique. Rayon and Bamboo share a lot of the same properties and both are a natural cellulose fiber that comes from plants and have a similar manufacturing process. Rayon comes from trees, while Bamboo comes from a grass. Both are sustainable in the sense that they don't require pesticides to grow and they are extremely replenishable. I've found that bamboo fabric is just as soft as a fine-cashmere (but much lighter), more matte than rayon or silk, and breathes better than any man-made fiber out there, and it has been known to be anti-fungal (not that that's huge on my list as a sweater designer). I've been able to achieve the same luxurious hand-feel and drape as my rayon fabric, but I really think the hand is matter and softer than rayon (think less silk, but more like cashmere). My new Resort/Spring I collection of super-fine 14gg knits will debut at the upcoming New York City Intermezzo show at the Javits Center (August 5-7, booth #6027). I'm featuring a new array of spacedye colors inspired by California eco-towns, Ojai, Big Sur, Avalon (Catalina Island), and Carmel. In addition, all my tops will be offered in solid bamboo colors (lime, black, denim, earth, and rose) with spacedye accents for those that crave my designs in a more minimalist palette. My favorite silhouettes this season are the wrap dress, my signature va va voom dress (a knitwear take on a vintage Stacia New York best-selling dress), the updated beach tunic (with nautical inspired braided drawstrings), and a long gathered vee top (pictured above). I'm excited to see the response to the new bamboo spacedye collection and can't wait to wear my own eco-friendly knits next Spring!

From the Sketchpad: Eco-Spacedye

Although I've been working with a sustainable fiber, Rayon, since 2005, I was anxious to get on the Bamboo-bandwagon. Bamboo has been the talk of the 'fashion' town for a couple of years now, and I've finally developed my version of this luxurious, eco-friendly fiber in my signature space-dye technique. Rayon and Bamboo share a lot of the same properties and both are a natural cellulose fiber that comes from plants and have a similar manufacturing process. Rayon comes from trees, while Bamboo comes from a grass. Both are sustainable in the sense that they don't require pesticides to grow and they are extremely replenishable. I've found that bamboo fabric is just as soft as a fine-cashmere (but much lighter), more matte than rayon or silk, and breathes better than any man-made fiber out there, and it has been known to be anti-fungal (not that that's huge on my list as a sweater designer). I've been able to achieve the same luxurious hand-feel and drape as my rayon fabric, but I really think the hand is matter and softer than rayon (think less silk, but more like cashmere). My new Resort/Spring I collection of super-fine 14gg knits will debut at the upcoming New York City Intermezzo show at the Javits Center (August 5-7, booth #6027). I'm featuring a new array of spacedye colors inspired by California eco-towns, Ojai, Big Sur, Avalon (Catalina Island), and Carmel. In addition, all my tops will be offered in solid bamboo colors (lime, black, denim, earth, and rose) with spacedye accents for those that crave my designs in a more minimalist palette. My favorite silhouettes this season are the wrap dress, my signature va va voom dress (a knitwear take on a vintage Stacia New York best-selling dress), the updated beach tunic (with nautical inspired braided drawstrings), and a long gathered vee top (pictured above). I'm excited to see the response to the new bamboo spacedye collection and can't wait to wear my own eco-friendly knits next Spring!

First Glimpse of Fall '07 at Stacia

I know it's still blazing hot out there and the worst is yet to come, but yes, it's time to unveil Fall '07. Designers and retailers traditionally drop the first delivery of Fall in August to get a jump start on sales and hoping that their audience will buy their Fall wardrobe in advance (not necessarily a 'wear now' market.) I feel like Summer's just getting started, but I'm reluctantly shipping my Fall line to stores and putting it up on my web site. Fortunately, I've consistently tried to design a 'transitional' knitwear line with my rayon collection of sweaters that can work for all seasons and temperatures. I don't know about you, but I find it hard to pay $300 for a cashmere sweater in August that I can't wear until October! My sweaters are lighter in weight, almost like a tee, and are made in rayon, which breathes better than cashmere in the heat and warms you like silk in the cooler temps. My favorites this Fall at Stacia are the Honeycomb Trellis cowl neck (love it in Montauk!) and the effortless La Femme trapeze dress in Buttercup. They're easy, wear-now pieces that help you look the part for Fall, yet you won't be sweating it when the thermometer reads 89 degrees during Indian Summer (or during the Santa Ana winds). Check out the complete Stacia collection of knits at shopstacia.com!