It’s always refreshing to talk to a designer who understands the raw materials side of the fashion industry.  It seems that those who do are often the ones who are making smart and responsible choices when creating their lines, as is the case for the sustainable fashion label ecoSkin.

Sandy Skinner, the owner and designer of ecoSkin has a deep rooted background in the fashion industry.  From sourcing and product development to retail and consulting, she has created an impressive resumè that has, no doubt, been the key to the success of her label.

On the afternoon of Earth Day (an appropriate coincidence), Skinner sat down with us to chat about her line, its mission, and how she views the world of eco-friendly and environmentally responsible fashion.

FMM: Tell us about the mission of ecoSkin. What drove you to create a sustainable clothing line?

SS: Having worked in the fashion industry for many years, I saw the impact that it had on the environment. I started feeling that I wanted to make adjustments within the company that I worked for, but quickly realized that trying to implement change in the company I didn’t own wasn’t going to work.  So, I started ecoSkin.

As a brand, we use sustainable materials and produce locally to help reduce our carbon footprint, but we, as all brands, are not perfect.  We can’t be everything to everyone and we are constantly striving to improve.  Every day is something new; there’s a constant learning curve.

FMM: How would you describe your brand’s aesthetic?

SS: ecoSkin is a fashion-forward line that incorporates contemporary styling with the value of comfort.

FMM:  What raw materials and practices have you implemented into your production procedures?

SS: Our garments are produced using sustainable materials such as Tencel, hemp, recycled polyester, sorona (derived from corn), and bamboo.  We work with mills in the United States that create custom knits, some wovens as well has sustainably dye all fabrics.

FMM: What are some of the challenges of producing a “green” line?

SS: Sourcing fabrics is always a challenge.  Finding novelty fabrics with surface interest that are created using sustainable yarn is practically impossible. The market for sustainable yarn is barely alive.

Another challenge lies in escaping the “We’re Green” label and just becoming a brand that press wants to write about.  It seems that unless a media outlet is doing a special spread on eco fashion, they’re not interested in highlighting your line. 20% of our retail outlets are eco stores, 80% are fashion stores.   We find that people buy our products because they love them, not because they’re green. The green part is a bonus. It’s sometimes a challenge to get that point across.

FMM: How has your brand incorporated digital practices, especially as a means of embracing and promoting your environmental mission?

SS: We are currently on Facebook and Twitter, of course.  We try to use these platforms as a means of education and information sharing rather than sales tools.  We post things that will give consumers a better understanding of what is happening with sustainable fashion, best practices, etc.

We are currently working on making our website a vehicle for stores to place wholesale orders as to avoid faxing and other paper wasting practices.  On the same tree-saving note, we nixed printed look books and only offer a digital version to potential buyers.

FMM: What is next on the horizon for ecoSkin?

SS: We are in the midst of a website overhaul, which is of course a major undertaking.  We’re currently designing Holiday and working on developing our woven business.  We have nailed the knit sector, but want to start offering silk alternatives and other woven fabric based garments.

In speaking with Skinner, it was really obvious how well she understands the fashion industry, and it’s so refreshing to meet someone who wants to utilize their knowledge to make change for the better. Perhaps because of this, it seems that ecoSkin is able to hold its own against the bigger names in fashion and stand out as a line that is sexy, flirty, and feminine but still sustainable and environmentally conscious.