Roberta Oaks: The Hawaiian Edge of Eco-Fashion

All the way from Hawaii, Roberta Oaks is doing her part for Mother Earth and the Runway. Roberta Oaks Hawaii collections are made from the pulp of bamboo, blended with organic cotton and mixed with a small amount of spandex to create a 97% completely sustainable fabric for the newest fashions.

As some of you eco-fashionistas may be aware, bamboo is widely acclaimed as one of the most sustainable, low impact textiles around due to its renewable nature and zero pesticide requirements. Other often forgotten characteristics however include bamboo’s natural antifungal and antibacterial qualities. In addition to Roberta Oaks’ dresses being environmentally friendly, they are also  wonderfully comfortable, sexy, stylish and fun.

Roberta Oaks (the company) originated when an art student and photographer turned into a self-taught fashion designer. After graduating in 2002 with a B.A. in Photography and Graphic Design at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Roberta Oaks Power developed the idea that is known today as Roberta Oaks Hawaii. Since 2004, the company has grown from Roberta Oaks Powers selling items in small venues to availability in nearly 100 fashion boutiques in Hawaii, on the mainland US, and in Canada, Japan and Italy. Roberta Oaks has also been featured in a number of magazines, including Smart (featured below).

Jute & Jackfruit is excited to feature a selection of Roberta Oaks dresses this fall that are both flattering and functional…perfect for work or play. These two black dresses are not only environmentally friendly, but fashion-forward, comfortable and charming.

The Rudi dress (above) made from bamboo and organic cotton features a beautiful silver, olive and copper geometric pattern at the top of the dress and falls stylishly above the knee with the black, Stretch hem wraps tightly at the base to create a flattering, modern clean finish. Dress can easily be worn as a shirt over jeans as well.

The Adrian dress (featured above) on the other hand is a black dress masterpiece by Roberta Oaks. Great for both more casual and more sophisticated nights out, the dress again is incomparably comfortable. Whatever the occasion, this dress falls perfectly with the help of a black and white belt to make sure it fits you the way you want it to. The classic neckline reminds one of another era that is completed only by the long sleeves.

Its worth mentioning that every outfit made by Roberta Oaks is one-of-a-kind sewn by hand, so that no two dresses are ever the same! If you’d like to hear Roberta Oaks Powers talk more about her “creations” as she calls them, see her video clip.

“Eco-chic designer Roberta Oaks turns cast-off clothes into cutting edge couture. It’s hippy chic just the way I like it. Bright, beautiful colors and loose lines that still cut enough of silhouette to make a lovely lady look both radiant and restrained.”  – Alex from Hawaiirama.