Mena Suvari, an admirable actress and a dear friend, had a spectacular evening at Sustainable Fashion Gala hosted by MAISON DE MODE, a luxury ethical fashion retailer, wearing ENDA's custom made vegan leather dress and a pairing handbag on 2.23.19.
The theme of the gala was "sustainable fashion"
which excitingly is also the ethos of MAISON DE MODE. While ENDA believes choosing vegan fashion is a grand step towards sustainability, we are also aware that there is always room to do better. We love to challenge ourselves to practice more sustainablility in every way possible especially in our material choices and manufacturing process. The same rule applies for a couture moment like this. We are happy to share some of the highlights in our design process and sustainable efforts.
Mena Suvari with Allie Marie Evans and Lydia Hearst
Inspirations
Mena is also an eminent advocate for animal rights and a supporter for sustainable fashion, respectfully with a launch of cruelty-free fashion platform, Little Flower Tree. We wanted to embrace her compassion and commitment for cruelty-free choice by using vegan leather on the bodice and skirt ruffle. The skirt is made of crinkle viscose rayon which is a better alternative for silk than polyester.
Original sketches by ENDA
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Pleating How It's Made
We love playing with different techniques. For Mena's dress, we decided to pleat the vegan leather to give some texture that's playful yet elegant.
By the way, did you know this was how pleating was made? We worked with one of the oldest pleating house in the New York garment district to create beautiful crystal pleating.
Left: The oven where pleat is "baked"
Center : The pleat taken out from the oven
Right: Crystal pleat on vegan leather for the skirt ruffle
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Made in New York
All of our sample making and manufacturing take place in New York. We love the idea of partnering with local businesses and having a piece of mind that our creation was handled with love and care.
Left: First draping of the bodice in vegan leather
Center: Pattern-making in the works
Right: Cutwork waiting to be sewn
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A Better Vegan Leather
We also made a little drawstring bag to go with the dress in BISON flocking vegan leather. Unlike most of vegan leather in polyester, this leather is far more sustainable since it consists 36% rayon which is made of “cellulosic fibers,” a component of all plants. It is also made in Japan and certified to be made free from harsh chemicals often used in countries with looser legislation against harmful toxic chemicals.
Left: Close up of Vegan BISON Flocking Leather
Center: Cutting and sewing
Right: Checking the length of chain strap
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It was such an honor to be the one to design this special outfit.
Thank you Mena!
