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Organic Cotton at Academy of Art College Graduate Fashion Show
San Francisco, CA, May 2002

At their graduate fashion show, on May 21st, Academy of Art College (AAC) students delighted their audience with fresh new designs for organic cotton. The result of an ongoing collaboration with the Sustainable Cotton Project (a farmer-based organization working to help conventional farmers convert to organic farming practices and to create new markets for organic cotton), the show completely dispelled the myth that organic cotton is dull, boring and beige.

Over the past five years, the Fashion Department of the AAC has built an international reputation for turning out highly skilled and creative designers. With a predominately British and European staff, the AAC Fashion Department is well known for its rigor, European discipline and style. AAC fashion graduates have been snapped up by industry leaders, including DKNY, Alexander McQueen, Lauren, Saint Michelle Knits and Missoni. This year, special guests to the show included Koos Van Der Nakker and Zandra Rhodes, who selected students for internships with their companie.

AAC Assistant Director for Fashion, Simon Ungless, is determined to reposition the image of organic cotton as stylish and youthful. "The only restriction we placed on the students was to do tailored garments. After the deconstructed looks of the last few years, clean tailoring is an important new direction for apparel. There is no reason why organic cotton garments can’t also be tailored. We feel that ecological issues will be an integral part of design in the future, and that organic cotton is therefore a long-term trend, not a short-term fashion fad. We have been working with the Sustainable Cotton Project for a number of years to educate our students about conventional cotton cultivation, but this year we chose to highlight the SCP’s work and take a position with organic cotton ourselves."

Using knitted fabrics donated by Nike, and woven fabrics donated by California-based supplier, Natural Origins, the AAC students presented colorful, sassy outfits with a new attitude (see images). Fabric printing was facilitated by the AAC’s strong textile course. Knitted garments created depth and added variety to the collections.