A Storm is Brewing: Kelly Lane Spring/Summer 2010

The first wave of Storm 2010 has arrived to Jute and Jackfruit and we are seeing a burst of color and design in unequaled combination. Coral red, purple dew, and storm black are key motifs throughout the collection with stunning print fabric pairings including raindrops and modern deco puddles.

Above left, find the Dewy Day Dress in Rainbow Red. This dress evokes the vibrant “storm” on top through its coral red in a skillfully fitted low neckline, contrasting with a subtle but intriguing woven A-Line. Well-suited for work or play, pair nicely with a cardi, shrug or cropped jacket for a more formal look.

Above center is the Puddle Dress, a variation on a dress Kelly Lane has done before, but with the update of a woven on the base, with a one-of-a-kind, fun, colorful fabric print. Pair this dress with a shrug, cardigan or jacket during the day, and go sleeveless by night. The Puddle dress also comes in the Rainbow red up top. Stay tuned for our images of this dress.

Above right, is the Sprinkle Shrug, a key wardrobe essential for the season. This storm black shrug made from 92% Tencel can be worn with any sleeveless or strapless dress. It also happens to be a faultless pair to any of Kelly Lane’s Storm Collection pieces, providing the ideal amount of contrast and appeal for the shoulders and arms with 3/4 length sleeves.

Fabric-wise, a central theme of the season is Tencel, which also happens to be Jute and Jackfruit’s new favorite plant-based fiber. For the unitiated, Tencel is derived from Eucalyptus and at the moment is the “greenest” most eco-friendly plant-based fabric on the market. Lansing Corporation, who patented the fiber,  has created a closed loop system for making Tencel from Eucalptus. This process manages to retain more than 99% of the chemicals used in the process and re-use these chemicals for continued use , without dumping into the environment. As many of you may know, one of the issues with bamboo fiber is that there are so many unknowns about how it is processed and many processors do not follow environmentally-friendly practices. In these instances, they are not only using harsh, toxic or persistent chemicals but they are also dumping them into the environment. There is very little transparency in the processing of bamboo.

Tencel on the other hand, has had its processing audited by a third party organization and  to date is one of the most environmentally-friendly out there. Furthermore, we also love Tencel fabric because it is typically thicker than bamboo fabric (rayon) and more long-lasting. When blended with a little organic cotton or lycra, it creates a terrific fabric.

Tencel is a core fabric in this season’s Storm Collection by Kelly Lane and we could not be more excited. As for the contrasting wovens, Kelly lane uses  a combination of hemp, organic cotton, and unique cotton fabrics. To view all of our Kelly Lane pieces, visit the website.

Part II of Storm 2010 will arrive in a few weeks….stay tuned!