CARRIE PARRY has won The Green Fashion Competition at Amsterdam International Fashion Week (AIFW). The cash prize of €15,000 was awarded to the New York-based designer on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation after a stunning runway show in which eight finalists presented a total of 24 looks.
Beating out hundreds of designers from around the world, CARRIE PARRY was selected as the competition winner based on collection designs and business plan, demonstrating the ability to sustain our world’s biodiversity while producing catwalk-worthy fashion.
A rising star in sustainable fashion, the Central Saint Martin’s graduate and former circus costumer’s eponymous label – which the designer launched from her Brooklyn home barely a year ago – is already earning multiple accolades including the Ethical Fashion Forum’s 2011 Innovation U.S.A. Award, a coveted spot at Designer & Agents’ Green Room, and now top honors at AIFW’s The Green Fashion Competition.
Counting previous posts at Jonathan Saunders, Marc Jacobs, Norma Kamali, and fashion’s leading environmental non-profit Earth Pledge FutureFashion, CARRIE PARRY brings something totally new to eco fashion: a wardrobe of whimsical yet gorgeously polished staples boasting detachable and versatile pieces. The label recognizes the two sides to making fashion sustainable: (1) how garments are made — sustainably sourcing recycled, organic and carbon neutral textiles from domestic sources and artisanal communities around the world — and (2) how garments are worn — introducing the concept of interchangeable and detachable pieces and designing with an emphasis on versatility (day to night, season to season) so we get more wear out of the garments we own, and therefore need to consume less.
The jury’s criteria included the conservation of biodiversity, the commercialism of the designs, corporate social responsibility, profitability, and level of innovation in the designs. The jury was comprised of supermodel and founder of Organice Your Life, Lonneke Engel, founder of Head-On Agency Christoph Mollet, pioneer in sustainable fashion Tony Tonnaer (Kings Of Indigo), fashion journalist and publicist Georgette Koning, Senior Banker Manolo Marquez (ABN AMRO), expert in sustainability Wijnand Brother (CREM) and Paul Vetter of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
“It feels amazing to be honored by such a prestigious group whose goals in advancing sustainable fashion are so matched with my own,” says designer Carrie Parry. “Seeing my collection on the runway in Amsterdam and then being named winner has been such a thrill, and I look forward to using the prize money towards continuing to redefine how we approach fashion.”
The Green Fashion Competition
Amsterdam International Fashion Week (AIFW) and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation initiated The Green Fashion Competition to inspire and encourage a change towards a more sustainable fashion industry. By offering a complete ‘prize pack’ they provide the winners with the tools to build a successul fashion business that sustains our world’s biodiversity while producing catwalk-worthy fashion. In addition to cash prizes, The Green Fashion Competition provides young entrepreneurs with business related workshops, coaching, connection to the AIFW network and a platform during the 16th edition of AIFW. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has recently launched a partnership with The Green Fashion Competition to support the competition’s efforts in identifying talented entrepreneurs.
www.thegreenfashioncompetition.com
CARRIE PARRY achieves a timeless style rooted in sustainability and wearability. It’s a concept, an aesthetic, a philosophy, and a lifestyle, designing clothes of the finest quality rendered from responsible sources that transition effortlessly from day to night, season to season. Sophisticated, tailored and with an appreciation for luxury and simplicity, CARRIE PARRY is in the details, from intricately textured fabrics to whimsical touches and fastidious workmanship. A graduate of the prestigious Central Saint Martins in London and honored with the Ethical Fashion Forum’s 2011 Innovation Award, designer Carrie Parry’s eponymous line was born from a passion for producing garments that never go out of style and a commitment to responsible sources and practices. Designing with careful consideration of social and environmental impact, CARRIE PARRY is produced ethically and locally in the New York garment district, sourcing environmentally conscious materials and textiles supporting artisanal communities worldwide.
