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New York City garment industry veterans Anthony and Celeste Lilore launched RESTORE CLOTHING to produce timeless, well constructed, essential garment collections using socially responsible practices. Their "Buy Better, Buy Less" philosophy is one of the building blocks of RESTORE CLOTHING, which is responsibly crafted in NYC using Earth Friendly components. When they first came to the Baruch College SBDC in 2005, the Lilores had already been in the clothing business for 11 years, with a focus on corporate uniforms and promotional items. The Lilores source and manufacture domestically in NYC from North American textiles using low impact dyes, and They incorporate fabrics made from pre-consumer and post-consumer waste made from plastic bottles. The Lilores came to the SBDC for assistance in improving their business operations with a view to expansion. Over the years they have attended several SBDC workshops and met with advisors to discuss a variety of operational issues. They wanted to change and improve their business model in a socially and environmentally responsible way. The Baruch SBDC helped them evaluate a number of possibilities including growth and sales issues, manufacturing issues, partnership and investment problems. The SBDC conducted financial analyses to assist in setting priorities and overall strategy as the company moved forward, and the Lilores invested $175,000. They formed a team of highly qualified garment designers and support staff to create a men’s active wear sports line with accessories while maintaining their existing
Idealist in NYC
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Our favorite part of our work at RESTORE®CLOTHING is the extent of what we are learning and the connection to our community. Thank you you Jillian Blume and the New York Observer for highlighting Lifelong Learning and for shining the light on us and the Sustainable Designer Entrepreneur Certificate Program at FIT coming in March 2010!
PROFILE
Celeste and Anthony Lilore
Over the summer, Anthony and Celeste Lilore attended a series of classes on Sustainability in order to stay current for their brand of eco-friendly apparel, RESTORE®CLOTHING. The "Tools of the Trade-Go Green" series was held at The Fashion Institute of Technology.
We took the classes to make sure we're in compliance with what's happening from a labor standpoint and from materials," says Celeste. "But in addition to the educational benefits, we also made wonderful connections that have evolved into both personal and business connections with like-minded individuals."
When they decided to launch RESTORE®CLOTHING, they were already living a green lifestyle. They had a company that makes uniforms for luxury cosmetic and fragrance companies, and when sourcing textiles for these private label clients, they kept stumbling on eco-friendly fabrics, but they couldn't sell them. "Five years ago, I don’t think people were as aware as they are today."
So we had this vision, Celeste says. "We wanted to take what we know how to do professionally and marry it to our driving interests, which are wellness and the environment. We did a boatload of research on the internet, but we couldn't find any sustainability courses that were offered locally and were economical until the series at F.I.T. came up."
Celeste describes the classes as very open, with fruitful exchanges between the people who led the classes ad the people who were attending. The majority of people that attended the class were either starting green businesses or already had them, and they were looking for some kind of support network. There were students in the classes that I already knew, and we connected even more with the community."
It helped the couple gain a greater understanding of sustainability across a multitude of disciplines. "It also taught us about fair trade practices and what can actually happen in communities offshore. One of the seminar leaders owns a handbag company, and he employs women in three Mexican villages. He is the largest employer of people in those villages. It was very inspirational."
They are now excited to learn that F.I.T. is launching a new Sustainable Design Entrepreneurs Certificate program this March. "It should be of great value to many entrepreneurs trying to learn how to go green or to help their clients go green."
RESTORE Clothing Review - Wearing is Believing
by Neil Chambers, New York City on 10.20.09
Anthony and Celeste Lilore, creators of RESTORE Clothing, are an eco-force to sit-up and play attention to. While other clothing brands merely skirt under the minimum requirements to be called green - the Lilore team put their brand where their mouth is. RESTORE (an acronym for Responsible, Earth Friendly, Sustainable, Technological, Organic, Recycled and Ergonomic) is urban-centric active wear that caters to the needs of both sexes without losing style, functionality or environmental-friendliness. The timeless cuts are modern making the garments easy to wear to a yoga class or out after work. Embedded in each piece of the collection is a commitment for well-crafted details and a taste for excellence.
RESTORE provided Lucy Jones and myself with free samples to try-out to see if the clothes could stand-up to city-life New York style. For two months, Jones and I wore the products to work-out sessions, half-marathons, yoga, pole dancing (Jones, not me), restaurants, events, museums and the park all the while throwing them in the laundry over and over and over to see how durable and true-to-form the clothing real was.
Jones says: The fabric stays stretchy and soft to keep the support you need for a yoga class and felt comfortable walking around in the spandex pants in public. When I first was introduced to the pieces, I thought it would feel plastic since they're made from recycled plastic bottles. I found the clothes are just the opposite - very cottony and comfortable, even when working up a sweat. The design really understands what someone needs to realistically work out. Plus, I like the way the garments look walking around the streets of New York City. I use the pants and the top in my S-Factor classes and they are perfect. The tops have a built-in demi bra so, unless you are busty, it is great for yoga, Pilates, walking or cycling.
I didn't think the clothing was going to make the grade for me. When I first got the pants, they kinda looked like cotton jogging pants I was issued in jr. high gym, which, I wasn't a fan of. But you really have to wear them to experience just how amazing they are. Sense I started testing them - I've started to wear them more and more. Anthony Lilore told me I'd love them - but I thought he was just trying to be a good salesman. I discovered he wasn't blowing smoke - they are super comfortable, quite stylish and great for an early morning run. The only drawback is that I found myself fishing out the drawstring of the pant waist. Of course, I keep fishing it out because I like wearing the pants so much.
The fabrics used range from organic cotton and Repreve® nylon made from100% recycled fabrics to lining made of Cocona®, an activated carbon from the shells of coconuts. Their zippers come strictly from eco-conscious manufacturers, their hangtags are printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper with soy ink and their garments are shipped in biodegradable bags and recycled cardboard boxes. Plus the Lilores are actively involved in Made in NYC which supports over 7,000 manufacturing companies in NYC employing nearly 100,000 New Yorkers.
With the return of a Made in America philosophy, Manhattan's Garment Center is reinventing itself as a design destination. Not since the need for soldiers' uniforms during the Civil War and the ready-made clothing trend of the 1870s has there been as much opportunity for growth in the Big Apple. While we will likely never again see 70 percent of the nation's women's clothing produced here like it was in 1910, smatterings of companies large and small are carving out new niches in the heart of the city. Here are some of the best and brightest.
Celeste Lilore became an outspoken advocate for the Garment District after repeatedly losing contractors in the area. We lost a cutting room, then another contractor. I got furious, she says, later realizing that zoning had been changed to make way foor high-rise apartment rentals. Lilore and her husband Anthony, himself on the board of Save the Garment Center, have made it their mission keep their cutting, sewing, design, and distribution for their apparel businesses, NOCHAIRS and RESTORE, in New York.
NOCHAIRS is a uniform design firm catering to fragrance and cosmetics companies including Clarins, who the company just launched uniforms created from Repreve recycled polyester for. Each carries a newly-minted green Made in NYC label.
RESTORE is an activewear and lifestyle brand created from and eco-friendly fabrics including recycled nylon and organic Supima. It is carried in Canyon Ranch and The Sports Club/LA. It aligns with what we believe in philosophy and business, says Anthony. We can continue to do our work and give back to the community.
Spotted in the RESTORE offices are Recycline cups, business cards printed with soy ink and a couple who prefers public transportation and motorcycles to cars. We're saying that if you buy something new, it should be responsible, says Anthony, to which Celeste adds, We like to say our garments are crunchy on the inside.
-More than 50 percent of all NYC fashion-related jobs are found in the Garment Center and surrounding neighborhoods. (NYCEDC)
-NYC accounts for 11 percent of all U.S. apparel manufacturing jobs. (NYS Dept of Labor)
-Fashion Industry employment within the Fashion Center BID (i.e. Zip Code 10018) is estimated to be 23,884. (The Fashion Center BID)
-In the NYC zip code are of 10018, based on recent (2008) deals within the Fashion Center BID, retail rents can range from $55.00 per square foot for a side street location to $180 per square foot and higher for an Avenue location, depending on the size of the space. (the fashion Center BID)
I've been thinking for a long time that I need to post about going to the gym as a woman and your individual style. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect anyone to get dolled up for going to the gym and reshaping your physique. But I noticed on a personal level that there is a difference in how I feel when I go to the gym in baggy shorts (that I stole from my husband) and a t-shirt (that I also stole from my husband) versus a stylish work-out outfit that complements my physique.
You see, I walk to the gym so I have time to think about this topic during the walk there and back. As much as I tell everyone no one is paying attention to what you wear or do at the gym, you personally can't shake the feeling. You may want to hide your figure, so you wear baggy clothes. Or maybe you think it doesn't matter, so you wore the same workout outfit you've owned (and barely used) for the past 10 years. It's a little tight, the material is a little itchy. Oh well, who cares.
YOU DO! Do you know you will probably have a better work out if YOU feel good about yourself. It's like a job interview - DRESS FOR THE PART! You are working out because you want to look and feel fabulous. Show it from day 1 at the gym! When I am wearing clothes that make me comfortable and make me feel cute, I seem to have boundless energy and can push out that one extra rep that just might make the difference and really tone my muscles!
Where can you find these cute clothes? Well, the eco-friendly mom behind the muscle (that's me) says you have to check out Restore Clothing. Restore Clothing is responsible, earth-friendly, sustainable, organic, recycled and STYLISH. They are committed to environmentally and socially responsible practices. They source and manufacture domestically in New York City from North American Textiles and use low impact dyes. They also support and contribute to the environment by committing 1% of their revenues to 1% For the Planet. Plus, Restore Clothing is Third Party Certified Organic.
Restore Clothing is transitioning to Dream Repreve Recycled Nylon. They are the first to adopt Repreve® Nylon in a commercial application to reduce new material consumption and keep their impact on the resource supply chain to a minimum. Additionally they use Post Industrial Coconut Carbon (Cocona®) as a moisture and odor managing fabric.
Did you ever imagine that the clothes you work out in could be so environmentally conscientious? Now, Restore Clothing has both men and women's apparel, but I am going to assume that 99% of you reading this want to know about chic styles for women that you can wear to the gym, out shopping, picking up kids - and feeling good with every step.
Me personally, I was attracted to the crossover bra and active shorts. Especially in Florida, where it can get quite steamy, I like to workout either in shorts and sports bra with a tank over it - or sometimes just the sports bra with shorts. Both the crossover bra and active shorts from Restore Clothing are available in expresso or black. I loved the expresso for a change of pace! A find it to be a nice, natural color that would work well with most skin tones.
The crossover sports bra is available in sizes XS to XL. It is a medium-impact racerback bra, so it would be good for the elliptical, power walking, hiking, walking, yoga, pilates and weight training. I love the stylish crossover front, which would work well for women with petite busts, as well as larger sizes. It is soft, stretchy and comfortable. Plus the Cocona® Knit Lining is awesome for odor and moisture management! (Yes, I sweat when I work-out ... and sweat can be stinky if not controlled!). Better yet, the Cocona® Knit Lining technology lasts for the lifespan of the bra! I requested a medium, because I feel like I have a wide back at 36 inches, even though my bust itself is small. I find the fit to be perfect for me - exactly what I expected. The crossover bra is $50 from RESTORECLOTHING.COM.
If you like the crossover sports bra, but want more coverage, check out the crossover tank. You could easily wear this to the gym or even out for a Moms Night Out (MNO) with some jeans!
I wear the crossover bra with the active shorts. The shorts are form-fitting, but that helps show and slim your shape instead of making your hips look larger in baggy shorts. There is a contoured waistband that sits comfortably below your natural waistline. I like that better, so I don't feel restricted when lifting weights. Plus, it's cut lower in front and higher in the back to keep you covered whether you are doing a yoga pose like halasana or working abs with leg lifts.
The active shorts and crossover bra were my top picks from eco-friendly Restore Clothing's selection of active wear. But you have to check out the complete selection of stylish clothing designed for fitness and fashion!
by Maureen
Celeste and Anthony Lilore, founders of NYC-based, RESTORE® Clothing are on our eco radar. Having recently met them at a green gathering, they do walk the talk.
Their active wear, RESTORE, spells out all that a conscious fashionista could want: Responsible, Earth friendly, Sustainable, Technological, Organic, Recycled and Ergonomic, (meaning not unisex).
In addition to aspiring to these planet-friendly attributes, their threads are also versatile - allowing you to transition from yoga or Pilates to street wear, seamlessly.
Made right here in NYC, find the crossover bra (above), made with post industrial coconut carbon, (Cocona), a moisture and odor managing fabric, ($50); and cool duds for studs @ restoreclothing.com
Its Garment District
by CHARLES V. BAGLI
New York's garment center, once the heart of an industry that employed hundreds of thousands of workers and produced most of the clothing in the United States, is in danger of extinction.
For decades, cheaper foreign competitors and rising rents forced many of the sewing and cutting rooms and the button and zipper shops that once thrived on the side streets south of Times Square to close, shrink or move as mass production shifted to China, India and Latin America.
Now, even the remaining factories and shops that make the couture coats, dresses and other apparel for glamorous fashion designers like Nicole Miller, Yeohlee Teng, Anna Sui and Nanette Lepore are in jeopardy. Owners say they are caught in a vise between declining retail sales and landlords eager to find better-paying tenants.
Some city officials and industry leaders worry that if manufacturing is wiped out, many of the designers who bring so much luster to New York will leave, along with the city's claim to be a fashion capital rivaling Paris and Milan. The damage would be undeniable, given that the industry's two big annual events - Fashion Week in September and February â€" attract enormous numbers of visitors and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity.
"If you don't have production in the garment center, there would be no reason for designers and suppliers to cluster in the district," said Barbara Blair Randall, executive director of the Fashion Center Business Improvement District. "We're down to 9,000 jobs."
The Bloomberg administration is now considering designating one or more large buildings in the garment center solely for manufacturing and related businesses. For 22 years, the city has protected the garment district through special zoning that restricts building owners - from 34th to 40th Street, between Broadway and Ninth Avenue - from converting factory space to offices, which command higher rents. Landlords have long railed against the restrictions, and their complaints have gained traction with the Bloomberg administration.
But even as the city weighs whether to do away with the zoning restrictions, city officials, union leaders, designers, property owners and manufacturers are devising other ways to save the garment center with a proposal that would have been unthinkable even a decade ago. But city officials say the industry has shrunk to a point where it could be reasonably consolidated in a few buildings, rather than several blocks.
"It's not mass production," Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey said of the garment center. "Clearly, what's occurring is much smaller and more high-end compared with the actual production that used to exist. The idea is, we want to keep garment manufacturing in the garment district."
The effort to shore up the garment center comes as Manhattan's other blue-collar districts - printing, fur, meatpacking and fish - have disappeared, overrun by white-collar offices, residential development and expensive retailers.
Initially, city officials had wanted to quickly rezone the garment center, much as they had revamped the adjacent Hudson Yards district in 2005, and move the remaining clothing manufacturers to Brooklyn or Queens. They argued that the current zoning restrictions had failed to stem the loss of manufacturing jobs in the district, which have hovered around 9,000 in recent years, from 16,000 in 1995.
But a group of industry shop owners formed an organization called Save the Garment Center and resisted, as did the unions, arguing that moving sewing shops to Queens or Brooklyn would mean the end of the industry.
The shop owners soon enlisted some high-end fashion designers who manufacture most of their clothing at the center's factories. The designers' orders are more likely to be 3,000 or 4,000 pieces, not the production runs of 100,000 pairs of jeans that are now typically sent to China.
"Sustaining some form of the industry contributes to our status as a fashion capital of the world," said Ms. Teng, the designer. "Access to manufacturers is profound. After all, fashion is about timing."
Andrew Ward, director of designer development at the Garment Industry Development Corporation, a nonprofit group of shop owners and union officials, estimated that only 5 percent of the clothing sold nationally is made in the United States, mostly in New York City and Los Angeles. But because those products are generally more high-end, they represent 24 percent of total national sales, he said.
Anthony Lilore, who owns a design house on West 38th Street featuring an organic clothing line called Restore Clothing, said he manufactured 95 percent of his clothing in the garment center, where he can walk to sample rooms, pattern makers and factories to oversee production quality.
Chen Zheng owns New World Fashion, a sewing room on 37th Street, near Seventh Avenue, where 28 employees, most Chinese, stitch together coats, dresses and tops for the designer Nanette Lepore. Her production order this month is for 3,700 pieces, down from 4,000 a year ago. In order to help pay his rising rent, Mr. Zheng said, he recently sublet 15 percent of his space to a yoga studio.
At his factory on the same street, Rodger Cohen pointed to the shirring machines that were steadily gathering and stitching a long roll of hammered silk fabric for a high-fashion dress order and lamented the machines he had tossed away.
Mr. Cohen, president of Regal Originals, a pleating and stitching shop, said he was forced to cut the size of his factory in half last month and dispose of the aging machines that he no longer had room for. "No one else is going to open a shop today," he said. "It made me sick to throw them away."
City officials and industry leaders, including the Fashion Center Business Improvement District and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, have started to coalesce behind the proposal, from the unions Unite Here and Workers United, to designate one or more buildings for clothing production, while eliminating the zoning restrictions.
To stem the proliferation of budget hotels in the district, Mr. Sheekey has agreed to a proposal from Unite Here requiring developers to obtain a special permit for hotels in the garment center, and possibly other industrial areas.
Under the proposal, a nonprofit organization would operate and subsidize the designated buildings, charging viable rents for manufacturers: $16 a square foot, for example, instead of the $35 frequently paid by architects and small companies in the area. In turn, the nonprofit group would be financed through a small tax on property owners within the district.
City officials say that they are looking for a 300,000-square-foot building, but the unions and others say that as much as one million square feet of dedicated space is needed for the industry to prosper and expand.
"We need very broad-based support," said Ms. Randall of the Fashion Center Business Improvement District. "We need to know that the majority of owners approve."
It is unclear how most landlords view the proposal, which would entail some sort of tax assessment. But Eric Gural, a managing director of Newmark Knight Frank, a real estate company that owns five buildings in the garment center, favors the idea. Lifting the zoning restrictions, he said, would immediately increase the value of the properties, far more than any tax to preserve manufacturing. "The bang for your buck is enormous," he said.
Still, some shop owners and designers worry that city officials are not intent on preserving enough space for manufacturing. They also question whether the companies that move into the designated manufacturing sites would have an unfair advantage over workshop owners who are paying higher rents in the district.
"We need the mayor's support to enforce the existing zoning laws as they were intended," said Ms. Lepore, who makes 80 percent of her clothing line in the garment center. "Without the garment center, young designers cannot survive. If we fail to protect this district today, New York will not be the fashion capital of the world tomorrow."
As fashion industry veterans, long time New York City residents and devoted environmentalists, Anthony and Celeste Lilore understood firsthand the needs of modern, urban dwellers to have crossover clothing that blends functionality, fashion and responsible production.
With a clear pioneering vision in mind, this husband and wife team launched RESTORE® CLOTHING to produce timeless, eco-friendly active wear collections with the heart and soul only a conscious business can.
One year after their launch, Restore® has been named one of the top innovators in the apparel industry and has proven sustainable clothing can be luxurious, versatile and a success!
Sustainable Clothing: Fashionably Caring for our Environment
The Restore® acronym stands for "Responsible, Earth Friendly, Sustainable, Technological, Organic, Recycled and Ergonomic", a name that represents the standards and innovation they stand for. And while it may seem that every one is going "eco" now a days, as their name suggests, the Lilore's have gone where few have gone before in terms of sustainability and functionality.
Firstly, nothing in Restore® sustainable clothing has been used without careful consideration of the environment. And although some of these fabrics practically sound science fiction, their products are luxurious, sustainable and oozing with sustainable comfort.
The fabrics range from organic cotton and Repreve® nylon made from recycled fabrics and water bottles to lining made of Cocona®, an activated carbon made from the shells of coconuts! But they don't stop there! Their zippers come strictly from eco-conscious manufacturers, their hangtags are printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper with soy ink & their garments are shipped in biodegradable bags & recycled cardboard boxes.
Now that is a conscious business taking environmental responsibility to heart.
Sustainable Wear: Crossover Clothing that Moves as You Do
The Lilore's sense of care is not limited to the environment. Their costumer is the other main aspect being considered on the design drawing board.
In addition to the extraordinary fabrics and timeless silhouettes of the Restore® lines, all of their sustainable clothing is designed, cut and manufactured for the "crossover" lifestyle. From fashionable daywear to clothing ideal for fitness, yoga or the spa, this truly is clothing that can be worn from working out to going out after work.
This crossover capacity may seem hard to believe but Anthony Lilore, who has previously designed for brands such a Club Monaco and Perry Ellis, has mastered the art of the crossover look. One peek at their lines and you quickly see how easy he has made this seem.
Sustainable is good when it comes to conscious business. And when it comes to Restore®, sustainable refers more than just to the preservation of the environment. With crossover wear such as this, it is also sustainable to the client's lifestyle, time and clothing budgets!
Green Pioneers Transform the Fashion Industry
Always seeking better options for green garment production, the Lilore's began to use synthetic yarns by Unify made of 100% of recycled materials. Seeing the possibilities and potential ecological impact of such eco-friendly fabric, they were highly influential in persuading Unify to further develop their recycled yarns. As a result, Unify has developed a new line of nylon named Repreve set to come out this summer.
The production of such fabric offsets the need to produce new polyester and nylon, reducing the use of petroleum-based resources. They estimate that the current annual product of Repreve will conserve close to the equivalent of 6 million gallons of gas.
The Restore® Bottom Line
From their pioneering use of fabrics to their innovative crossover designs, the Restore® sustainable clothing line is showing us the kind of out of the box thinking that make for a successful conscious business. More so, Restore® has shown us the power of innovation and vision and how one company, one couple and a committed heart-centered mission can change a whole industry and benefit our whole world.
Company KUDOS
Congratulations to the following NYC manufacturers:
Restore® Clothing, designers and purveyors of responsible clothing combining fitness and fashion styles through the use of cutting-edge earth friendly fabrics, for being named one of Apparel Magazine's "Top Innovators."
I don't know about you, but I hate lugging a big gym bag to work, and if I go home to change after a long day, the couch starts calling my name louder than the treadmill.
I have found a solution to the two-wardrobe problem and a way to celebrate Earth Day: Restore Clothing. Not only can you wear these tops with built-in sports bras to work and out on the town, they are meant as fitness wear too.
I haven't even told you the best part yet... they are the most environmentally-friendly outfitter I have found. If you care about the environment this is a must-have. RESTORE stands for: Responsible, Earth Friendly, Sustainable, Technological, Organic, Recycled, Ergonomic®. The materials are chemical-free, organically grown or recycled and come from North America to save on fuel. From the coconut lining in the sports bras to their paperless business cards (they are made of stone but look like paper), to their earth-friendly packaging, they believe you buy better so the clothing lasts, and doesn't end up in a landfill.
To help you get in shape and save the planet, I have arranged a 15% discount for my readers. Just go to their website and pick out the clothes you love, then enter the code "NIKKI" at checkout. I especially love the tops with built- in sports bras like "classic tank with shelf bra," the "draped front top" (perfect for under a suit and then cardio-sculpt class) and the "crossover tank." Their men's line is also trendy, sophisticated and comfortable.
If you are in New York City today. 4/5/09, you can stop by their sample sale as listed in Time Out New York.
ECOCHIC INTERVIEW
One of the many outstanding qualities of eco friendly fashion is the innovative use of materials, taking what we would not expect to use or reuse to make lovely and earth friendly designs. It's outstanding to me the way designers apply themselves to the challenge of revamping clothing production to embrace eco friendly practices. Their work is paving the way for future generations and I believe that this innovation of today will slowly make its way into becoming the norm. These pioneers have that amazing ability to approach things from a new perspective, embracing our technology to explore and evolve. Utilizing the positive aspects of our technological capabilities, RESTORE is one inspiring example for our future possibilities in which technology and the earth can walk hand in hand towards a progressive future ,
Click here to read full article at:
Sapphire Whisper
TOP INNOVATORS BY APPAREL MAGAZINE
Restore® Clothing
HEADQUARTERS: New York, NY | www.restoreclothing.com
NOMINATED BY: Unifi/Repreve | www.repreve.com
In only a year, fashion industry veterans Celeste and Anthony Lilore have seemingly met all their lofty aspirations with their development of the Restore Clothing line; an eco-friendly, socially responsible brand that was launched in May 2008. The Restore acronym symbolizes the stringent standards that the Lilore husband-andwife team adhere to; it stands for Responsible, Earth Friendly, Sustainable, Technological, Organic, Recycled and Ergonomic.
Restore Clothing aims to bridge the gap between fashion, performance and environmental friendliness, as it produces transitional apparel designed for activities such as yoga and Pilates (versatile enough to go from work out to out after work the company proclaims.)
All those ambitions notwithstanding, the clothing created by the Lilores (Anthony previously worked in the design area for brands including Club Monaco and Perry Ellis) is manufactured exclusively in New York City - with the couple being just as adamant in their passion for saving Manhattan's garment district as they are about the environment. They assert that the elimination of excessive fuel by manufacturing so close to home benefits the environment and local community. As it built its brand, the Lilores' grandiose vision has become a Unifid one.
Restore Clothing sought out Unifi, the prominent producer of multi-filament polyester and nylon textured yarns and related raw materials, as Celeste sought an ecofriendly replacement for fabrics containing polyester.
Restore Clothing began to use Unifi's Repreve environmentally friendly polyester yarns, made from 100 percent recycled materials. Thereafter, the Restore brand was instrumental in persuading Unifi and Repreve to take the Repreve line further and develop an unprecedented nylon 6, 6 yarn that is similarly made from 100 percent recycled materials. Restore Clothing was the first to adopt the Repreve nylon in a pilot program and the Repreve product is scheduled to be commercially launched this summer.
The Repreve yarns are used in several of Restore Clothing's styles including the crossover tank, crossover bra, drape front top, active short, active capri and active pant and hoodie. According to Unifi, the production of Repreve offsets the need to produce virgin polyester and nylon, conserving petroleum-based resources. On average, current annual production of Repreve is estimated to conserve the equivalent of six million gallons of gasoline.
The distribution channel strategy by Restore® Clothing is focused, with the line being offered at spas, specialty sports and fitness stores and facilities.
The Lilores describe their line as slow fashion, characterizing it as timeless with nothing in excess and everything in balance.
Through Restore Clothing, they are restoring faith that apparel can be functional, fashionable and also socially conscious- on many different levels.
Apparel Magazine - 2009 Top Innovators Report
One of the many outstanding qualities of eco friendly fashion is the innovative use of materials, taking what we would not expect to use or reuse to make lovely and earth friendly designs. It's outstanding to me the way designers apply themselves to the challenge of revamping clothing production to embrace eco friendly practices. Their work is paving the way for future generations and I believe that this innovation of today will slowly make its way into becoming the norm. These pioneers have that amazing ability to approach things from a new perspective, embracing our technology to explore and evolve. Utilizing the positive aspects of our technological capabilities, RESTORE is one inspiring example for our future possibilities in which technology and the earth can walk hand in hand towards a progressive future ,
Click here to read full article at:
Sapphire Whisper
GREEN FASHION
Of all the strategies we'll post about this year, this is the one I probably know the least about...but here goes:
Fashion can reasonably be described as planned obsolescence - Each season's new styles require new upgrades and disposal of the old unfashionable stuff.
However, there are a few things we can do to green our fashion sense.
1. Buy clothes with a commitment to sustainability.
The lovely and comfortable items produced by RESTORE are the next generation of clothing.
I met Celeste Lilore, one of the owners of RESTORE® Clothing and she wouldn't let me out of our handshake until she completed RESTORE's motto of "Responsible, Earth friendly, Sustainable, Technological, Organic, Recycled, Ergonomic".
They practice what they preach: RESTORE® clothing is manufactured in NYC, they use locally sourced materials, and ship their goods in bio-degradable containers. In April/May, they will transition to Repreve® recycled Nylon, becoming the first in the marketplace to offer this fabric commercially and for which they are being nominated for an award in innovation. They also design their items to last.
Visit RESTORE's website and enter the code "TOEPRINT" for a 25% discount!
Another designer with a strong commitment to corporate sustainability who I have admired for years is Eileen Fisher.
Recently however, I was shopping at an Eileen Fisher store and noticed that almost everything in the store was made from Italian yarn but fabricated in China and thought that there were too many miles in those clothes. When I wrote to the company to express my concern, they confirmed their commitment to maintaining a meaningful level (15%) of clothing and raw material production here in the United States. They also develop lasting relationships with their factories and only partner with those who make a commitment to the global labor standard SA8000 (Social Accountability International's system for managing ethical workplace conditions throughout global supply chains.)
I mentioned this encounter to Celeste and she told me that Eileen Fisher is one of her two heroes in the clothing business (Patagonia is the other one) and that "Eileen Fisher has always done slow, responsible fashion. They have a wonderful organic cotton collection and a fabulous fair trade Peruvian knit collection. When we look for factories to work with and we find one that does work for Eileen Fisher, we jump for joy! because of their commitment to social responsibility."
2. Buy gently owned vintage clothes.
3. Have a clothing swap with your friends.
4. Hand-me-downs: Save the clothes your kids have outgrown and make a new parent very happy - bonus points if you separate the clothes into packages by age and season.
5. Make it yourself: Do you knit? sew? Most yarn/knitting shops have lessons and the Purl Bee blog has some of the loveliest items (with instructions) this side of Martha Stewart. You can always join a knitting circle.
I promise this is the last you will hear from me this year about fashion! Happy dressing!
bizlightenment.com
The Green Business Competition is a groundbreaking platform to promote emerging green businesses in New York. The competition will reward investment funds to companies that have the ability to revolutionize their industry by working with our ecological resources while creating economic opportunities.
Restore® Clothing was among the Semi-Finalists.
bizlightenment.com
Nominated as a candidate for Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum's 2009 National Design Awards program for excellence in Fashion Design. The only awards of their kind in the nation and the museum's largest education initiative, the awards celebrate design excellence and innovation, and also serve as a critical gauge of the impact of design on the quality of American life.
RESTORE CLOTHING
Stylishly Sustainable
"Taking care of yourself - and the environment - is getting easier as clothing manufactures introduce earth-friendly, comfortable, and formfitting new fabrics into their lines. RESTORE™CLOTHING (restoreclothing.com), for example, uses a material made from coconut husks that offer extremely high UV protection and also repels bacteria."
"There's even an active-wear fabric made from post-consumer plastic bottles (also available from RESTORE™CLOTHING) - which helps, perhaps, to make up for all those water bottles used in the gym."
Danielle Braff
CAN SEVENTH AVENUE BE SAVED?
RESTORE™CLOTHING co-founder Anthony Lilore rounded up signatures for a petition last year, after suppliers and cutting rooms his company had used for years were displaced. "The landlords nearly tripled the rent when the leases were up. How do you possibly stay in business?" he said. "A lot of the floors were just vacant. Landlords would not renew the lease and let the place stay dormant until they could rent it for significantly more money".
But the boroughs are not the answer for him. "Let's face it, kids don't come to New York City to get involved in the fashion industry to work in Long Island City. They don't point to a building in Long Island City and say "That's where 'Project Runway' was." It's right here on Seventh Avenue and 40th Street", he said. "The beauty of this neighborhood is that it's such a concentrated supply and labor network that even if Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan and Calvin Klein get some of their samples from Italy, they get here and sometimes still have to be altered. By allowing these people to move to other parts of the city, your support network disappears".
Anthony Lilore
The Crossover Tank with racerback (style RST-BRA-T-01), Active Capri Pant (style RST-ACT-C-01) with a 23" inseam and inside coin/key pocket and Zipup Hoodie (style RST-W-HOD-01) with an inner-music device pocket are made of 86 percent Meryl nylon and 14 percent Lycra and come in black or espresso, in AXS-S and W16-24.
Spotlight on Retail: The Green Movement
RESTORE™CLOTHING (Responsible, Earth friendly, Sustainable, Technological, Organic, Recycled and Ergonomic) is in tune with the LOHAS Consumer (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) in that we recognize the impact of product lifecycles on our health and our environment. This mindset is a powerful force that is also redefining the marketplace. The spa industry has a unique platform from which it addresses the person, consumerism and the environment simultaneously.
A healthier environment as a result of responsible choices and product purchases is the NEW, New and Improved that is driving all markets. One look at the newspapers, magazines, TV or the web will reveal what the leaders of the spa industry have known for years, Go Green or become irrelevant. According to the Natural Marketing Institute: In the green industry, 2007 may be marked as the proverbial tipping point. Never has so much corporate activity, media attention, and consumer involvement been directed toward sustaining the planet, improving the lives of people around the world, and protecting the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
We at RESTORE™CLOTHING, start with responsible sourcing: Extra-ordinary North American textiles ranging from Technical/Performance fabrics and trims to Certified Organic Cottons and Non-Virgin Polyester made from recycled polyester and post consumer water bottles. Our timeless silhouettes, MADE IN NYC using sweatshop free labor, satisfy the demands of the active and crossover lifestyles of our customer base, the LOHASIAN. The garments enable free and comfortable movement throughout the day from Work Out to Work and Out after Work. Our clients also find satisfaction in knowing that we donate 1% of our sales to the environmental charity, 1% for the Planet.
Down to the last detail, every decision is a considered choice that results in greatly reduced Environmental Impact. Our zippers are Ideal Earth Recycled Polyester Zippers and our garments are packed in biodegradable cellulose based Bio-bags. Part of our mission is to teach all consumers to WASH RESPONSIBLY: Cold water, biodegradable detergent, NO BLEACH, line dry. We have formed a strategic alliance with Forever New®, U.S. manufacturers of pure, organic, biodegradable fabric care. One can save up to 80% of energy per load by washing in cold. Many small green steps add up to one big force.
RESTORE™CLOTHING launched an eco-conscious yoga and lounge line this spring using materials made from recycled post-industrial and consumer products like plastic water bottles. The company incorporates Cocona (a coconut carbon that functions as a moisture/odor manager) and Bac-Shield (an anitmicrobial finish made from Snow Crab Shells) into its designs as well.
The trend appears to have had an impact on everything from spas looking for small batches of t-shirts to cosmetic brands looking for uniforms.
"We just did a study looking at the cost of making something in New York versus China and the dollar difference was surprisingly small," said Celeste Lilore co-owner of New York-based RESTORE, a clothing line, and NOCHAIRS, which does private label work.
"We've done a boatload of research on the activewear side, and have discovered that differences in labor costs are starting to shrink and the issues of quotas and duties and beginning to have an effect as well", she said. And beyond that, more and more customers are turning to a lifestyle of health and sustainability. There's a shift toward a more ethical consumer."
The Tank with Shelf Bra (style RST-TNK-06) and the Full Pant (style RST-FULL-06) are made of 90 percent organic cotton and 10 percent Lycra jersey and come in black, espresso, midnight blue, robust and whit, in XS-XL and W 16-24. The Crossover Bra (style RST-BRA-01), line with 100 percent Cocona, a moisture and odor-managing fabric made from Coconut shells, and the Active Pant (style RST-ACT-P-01) are offered in black or espresso, in XS-XL, and are made of 86 percent Meryl Nylon and 14 percent Lycra fabric from a socially responsible U.S.A. factory.
