Fauxgerty's 'ethical consumerism' reconciles design with sustainability
The relationship between the fashion industry and the environment has long been uneasy. And while many labels have started moving beyond leather, it’s still an integral part of the industry. Enter Chrissy Fogerty, the Creative Director and CEO of Fauxgerty (get it?), who sees womenswear as the launching point for a new “ethical consumerism.” Based jointly out of Los Angeles and St. Louis, Fauxgerty attempts to reconcile hip design and sustainability, creating clothes out of recycled materials and their Better “Leather.”
Fauxgerty is one of the labels showing at the Nashville Fashion Week Ready-to-Wear Show. In anticipation of the collection, Chrissy Fogerty agreed to give us a sneak preview. Here’s what she had to say.
Can you give us a glimpse into what we'll be seeing tonight from Fauxgerty?
We are showcasing our new Spring/Summer collection of dresses, skirts and light-weight sweaters. These pieces are made from pre-loved vintage fabric, sustainable hemp and our innovative faux leather and faux suede. We are also showing some past season favorites and our signature Better “Leather".
How do you approach design?
We create garments with our sustainable mission in mind, so our customers can wear the styles they want while remaining a conscious consumer. We offer contemporary, minimalistic pieces with an easy fit and timeless design. We work with our pattern maker to design pieces that fit a variety of body types and lifestyles.
Fashion has not always been comfortable with the environmental movement. Can you tell us a little about the philosophy of "ethical consumerism" at Fauxgerty?
This is absolutely true! I have always been a part of the fashion industry, but felt internally that my work must be aligned with my ethical standards and professional values. So, when I first started to think about Fauxgerty I wanted to create a brand that could be transparent. We have evolved to become a brand that uses innovative and sustainable faux leather and faux suedes, with vintage and sustainable fabrics. We proudly produce our garments in Saint Louis, only a few blocks from our Showroom and Headquarters.
The fashion industry is built on always thinking about the next season. Where do you see womenswear in the coming year?
Next year, I think the minimalist trend will continue and be married with ‘60s inspiration, incorporating wide-leg pants, bold or abstract florals, and oversized knits in warm tones. At Fauxgerty, we look forward into continuing to expand our product offerings and more style choices like blouses and trousers and expanding our Go-To Collection to incorporate plant-dyed tees and tanks.
Tell us a little about the preparation that goes into putting on a Ready-to-wear show.
We love to make the show interesting while remaining authentically Fauxgerty. We chose runway music from Nashville-based artists and worked with locals to help pull our looks together, including Nashville native Fanny + June for the hats in our show. We reached out to some of our hometown favorites as well, including Saint Louis based Caleres, for our cruelty-free footwear and May’s Place for our vintage band tees.
What attracted you to Nashville Fashion Week?
We have some roots in Nashville, with a Brand Ambassador representing us locally, and we want to continue to grow our connection to Nashville.
Out & About Nashville will be covering the Ready-to-Wear Show tonight at BMI. Visit nashvillefashionweek.com for more information and a complete schedule. You can keep up with Thom Murphy at the Ready-to-Wear Show on Twitter and Instagram at @thomdit. See you on the runway.