Oscars 2013: the eco-fashion highlights

Eco-fashionable celebs made a splash on the red carpet at the 2013 Oscars.

Veteran actress Helen Hunt, nominated for Best Supporting Actress in her role in The Sessions, surprised everyone when she announced on the red carpet she was wearing a sapphire gown from H+M for Global Green USA.

Image: people.com.

Skyfall Bond girl Naomie Harris wore a golden gown from the Red Carpet Green Challenge, a contest designed by Suzy Amis Cameron, wife of famed director James Cameron and eco-couture advocate.

Up-and-coming designers turn in the best award-worthy gowns made from sustainable materials to judges like Vivienne Westwood. This year, 20-year-old Ghanaian designer Michael Badger won the honor to have his gown debut at the Oscars. 

Image: people.com.

The sustainable gown is made from organic silk dyed with chamomile and goldenrod embroidered with vintage beads and recycled chocolate wrappers, according to Naomie's Twitter and Facebook.

Relive the eco-glamour of Oscars 2012.

Black girl organic tees

In the era of having design tees with an authentic message about your personality, I thought I could get a black girl tee. 

Just Act Natural, $25.99, skreened.com.

When I was younger, these were practically nonexistent. Like I made the idea up in my head that I could have a tee with a message about being a cute black girl in suburbia. It was one of those times I assumed I had to become a fashion designer to get what I want because my visions were too extreme.

Don't Tell Me To Relax! Tee, $25.99, skreened.com.

But those days are thankfully gone now since there are these adorable tees that come with the organic cotton or recycled cotton choice on the eco-friendly tee website, Skreened. The site acts as a megastore for different tee designers, so it's easy to find something you'd like.

Black Girls Rock 2, $25.99, skreened.com.

Eco-spotlight: Liya Kebede's organic Lemlem line

Ethiopian supermodel and humanitarian Liya Kebede has dominated runways all over the world, but she wanted to help her country's economic well-being. With this goal, she created Lemlem, an eco-fashion line that uses organic cotton and supports local weavers. 

Lemlem, which means 'flourish' and 'bloom' in Amharic, uses the traditional organic cotton style attire of Ethiopia and gives it a twist that anyone can appreciate. 

Check out how the handcrafted pieces come to life: 

http://lemlem.com/process.php

Liya Kebede in a striped scarf, ~$80, lemlem.com

Black fashion designers going green

It would be nice if there was more spotlight on black fashion designers period, but I really want to know who's into using the organic cotton, recycling the retro polyester, and making clothes the simple way. 

While this venture is still in the works, I found a website for the Black Fashion Designers Association. Don't you love finding a group you didn't think existed! 

So I'm still going to see who brings the eco-style to the arena, but check out these designers if they're in your area.

REVISED: What I've found so far for black-owned eco-fashion and eco-beauty businesses: 
Bryant McLemore Smith Vintage
FSL Cosmetics
Guillotine Co. Organic T-Shirts
Iram-Inal Designs
Lemlem
Tunji Dada