Form, Fashion and Footprint: Indigenous Designs Fall ‘09 Collection

The first wave of Jute and Jackfruit’s Fall 09 Indigenous Designs collection has arrived and we are excited to introduce these stand-out styles.

Made with free range alpaca (sustainably grown by indigenous Peruvians), merino wool and certified organic cotton (GOTS certified), the fabrics are nothing short of eco-perfection. Characterized by cutting edge designs, each piece is handmade with care by Peruvian women in sustainable, ethical and fair trade manner.

The Ruby (variegated) poncho (featured here) is an excellent example of the collection’s brilliance. A one-size-fits-all piece, the poncho is made from 100% free-range alpaca, and is incredibly warm, but also soft (and not scratchy on the skin). The fabric colors bring a welcomed radiance to fall styling. The poncho will undoubtedly last for seasons. Wear during the day paired with jeans or slacks or pair it with a black dress and heels for a night out. The poncho is hand-knit by women’s weaving cooperatives in Peru. Fair trade.

As seen during fall fashion week 09, and also in the September Issue of Vogue 2009 (not to be confused with the movie), red is the main color trend of the season from cranberry to brick and ruby, so this poncho as well as many of the other items in the collection are spot on with the trend.

Another good example of Indigenous’ innovation this season is their new Organic Cotton Ruched Scoop (featured below). This long sleeve Tee comes in white, ruby and black and works well as a stand-alone or layering piece. With an intricately sewn folding neckline falling low on the chest, coupled with the delicate ruching in front and on the cuffs, this shirt is a beautiful addition to for any season and at a fantastic price ($69 including shipping at Jute and Jackfruit only).

Other pieces to look for: The little knit dress in ruby (featured below) with the knit sleeves in black is a beautiful feminine outfit made with 55% Organic Cotton, 45% Tencel. The décolleté is highlighted with knit pattern and the long bell sleeves give to the dress an elegant finishing. Perfect for a cocktail party.

We stay with the knit but this time with a classic, a reminder to the Irish pullover, the alpaca cable vest by Indigenous Designs is a nice casual outwear. Very comfortable and easy to wear. Made with 50% free range alpaca and 50% sheep wool, it will provide you warmth and a one-of-a-kind style.

The Organic Cotton Deep V neck by Indigenous Designs (featured below) is made with 100% Organic Cotton in Peru, very soft and comfortable fabric on the skin.  This top is very easy to wear in multiple ways like over a jean. Exists in black. To see the entire collection, visit our site.

We here at Jute and Jackfruit are HUGE fans of Indigenous.  Indigenous Designs are role models in the industry– they have been trailblazing pioneers in organic and fair trade clothing for the last fifteen years. Indigenous helped write the organic cotton certifications for the US (as part of GOTS); importantly too, they are one of the first apparel companies in the United States to combine fair trade manufacturing with organic cotton sourcing. Back when they started this dual mission: combining eco-friendly sourcing with fair trade production, very few if not no other apparel companies were doing this. Over the years, the company has stayed true to their mission and now they are one of the most established and respected apparel companies that combine their environmental and social mission with beautiful, feminine and timeless styles for women.

We’ve talked a fair amount about Fair Trade at Jute and Jackfruit, but it is worth taking a moment here to reiterate what we mean by fair trade in the context of apparel production. Fair trade is not just paying a fair wage to workers. Fair trade means establishing a long-term relationship with artisans and producers and making investments in their community and livlihood that go beyond wages. When we talk about fair trade, we are talking about overseas souring and we are also referring to under-resourced areas of the world, regions that are struggling in many cases to break the cycle of poverty. Fair trade aims to assist workers and communities in breaking the cycle of poverty toward economic development and autonomie. It can mean providing opportunities for further skills development, education, increased access to healthcare, community investments among other types of investments.

Along these lines, Indigenous Designs has been committed to fair trade and empowering artisans/producers in the production of their clothing, whether it be looming, spinning, sewing, knitting or other aspects of the business for fifteen (15) years now. And given how long they have been around, we can genuinely say that their commitment to the communities they partner with (primarily in Peru) is long-term (unlike most short-term apparel sourcing relationships across the globe). In fact, a large majority of all apparel in the United States is not fair trade. While, we do not have exact estimates, some have put the number at more than 90% of US apparel is not fair trade. Indigenous Designs is one of the few exceptions to this rule.

Indigenous Designs are also professional members of several organic and fair trade associations including Green America, Organic Trade Association, B Corporation, and Green Steps. Indigenous celebrated their 15th year in business in 2009.