The document summarizes an article about sustainable fashion designers in North Carolina who are featured in the Redress Fashion Show. It profiles six designers - Katina Gad, Mary Ashlyn Thomas, Piper Honigmann, Ashley Mason, Juliana Fadl, and Timothy Cohen - and discusses their sustainable materials and practices. The Redress executive director explains their goal of educating people about the environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry and increasing sustainable fashion options for consumers.

1. 42 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 CARY MAGAZINE 43
Fashion
Conscious
WRITTEN BY NANCY PARDUE | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN
HAIR & MAKEUP BY TWISTED SCIZZORS, CARY
A
movement is underway to “redress” the Trian-
gle, from the inside out.
Changing the way we think about fash-
ion — and create it — is the work of Redress, a nonprofit
educating people on the impact of their buying decisions, in
part through the annual Redress Fashion Show highlighting
responsibly-produced apparel.
“All of us wear clothing and we’re making a choice every
time we purchase that apparel,” said Redress Executive Direc-
tor Beth Stewart. “Most people have a complete disconnect
with how their clothing is produced. They have no idea who
made it or what it’s made from. We are actively working to
change people’s mindsets about what fashion is.”
The fashion industry has a massive impact on the envi-
ronment, and is counted among the world’s largest polluters.
It also impacts human rights, with some 40 million garment
workers worldwide.
Local designers offer creative,
authentic eco-chic apparel
continued on page 44
Change Your Clothes
Consider the impact of your
apparel and choose pieces
that are:
➤ Upcycled
➤ Made in USA
➤ Handcrafted
➤ Vintage or resale
Or use:
➤ Natural dyes
➤ Fair-trade practices
➤ Organic or eco-friendly
fabrics
➤ Little to no-waste
patternmaking
Information from Redress,
redressraleigh.com
Inspired by the traditional wear of her fair-trade partners in Guatemala, designer Katina Gad offers up this fully-lined
skirt with pockets, naturally dyed with coconut and coffee, and boasting hand-carved wooden buttons. The top is
made of cotton grown, spun and woven in Guatemala, and dyed using basil.

2. 44 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 CARY MAGAZINE 45
“Right now, there are not enough op-
tions for consumers to buy sustainable ap-
parel,” Stewart said. “Without providing
that choice for consumers who want to
purchase differently, the current negative
cycle will continue.”
But Stewart and the Redress commu-
nity see positive change happening in the
Triangle fashion scene, where entrepreneur-
ism thrives.
“All of this is leading to a growing
interest in creativity and authenticity in
terms of connecting with the stories behind
something, a product, a store, a restaurant,”
Stewart said. “There is a strong pride for
North Carolina, and making things in the
South.”
So what is eco-fashion?
“We consider sustainable fashion to be
anything where the designer is consciously
considering these impacts when creating it,
perhaps by using more eco-fabrics or ensur-
ing a living wage within their supply chain,”
Stewart said. “We also consider resale and
vintage to be another aspect of sustainable
fashion — responsible purchasing by buying
something that doesn’t add to the enormous
waste created by the industry.”
Six designers were selected to take part
in this year’s Redress Fashion Show expe-
rience. Each produced fashion collections,
took part in educational sessions and men-
toring, culminating in the fashion show
and exhibition held in August, which puts
them in front of leaders in the fashion and
textiles industry.
“These six designers love being a part
of the North Carolina fashion scene and
recognize the growing opportunities here,”
Stewart said. “They simply need more
knowledge about production and creating
a sustainable business, in addition to sup-
port from the community, to keep growing
their brands. For many reasons, they are
invested in the idea of sustainable fashion
and believe that there is a growing market
for that in the Triangle.”
Katina Gad,
Raleigh
Unity Outfitters, unityoutfitters.com
About twice a year, Katina Gad travels
to visit her colleagues at the Casa Flor Ixcaco
women’s weaving co-op in Guatemala, her
fair-trade partners in creating environmen-
tally-conscious fashions and accessories.
For this fall collection, inspired by these
Mayan women, Gad uses 100 percent or-
ganic and naturally dyed cottons, each piece
woven and dyed by the co-op using dyes
such as eucalyptus, basil and coconut.
“The fabric is fairly traded, and pur-
chasing it helps to provide women and chil-
dren in rural Guatemala with food, educa-
tion and other necessities,” Gad said. “The
finished clothing is designed, cut and sewn
here in Raleigh.”
While the pieces pictured were made
by Gad for the fashion show, when hiring
to fulfill larger orders she pays a living wage
to local and single mothers to do the cutting
and sewing.
“My goal is to produce beautiful and
classic looks while providing meaningful
work to women in need both here in North
Carolina and in Guatemala,” she said.
On the Redress experience: “It has
helped me get my process streamlined. I’ve
made a lot of great connections, and had my
eyes opened to new possibilities for my busi-
ness.”
TOP: Gad designs these colorful, durable backpacks, while her
sweater features hand-sewn elements.
ABOVE: The purple multi-directional wrap can be worn five different
ways, and is colored using basil and walnut dyes. The silk tank
underneath was dyed in basil and charcoal, and the jeans are made
with denim from Cone Denim’s White Oak plant in Greensboro.
LEFT: This dress is dyed with eucalyptus and charcoal dyes; its
neckline is hand-beaded by Gad’s fair-trade partners in Guatemala.
continued from page 43

3. 46 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 CARY MAGAZINE 47
Mary Ashlyn
Thomas,
Broadway, NC
Broadway Squared,
maryashlynthomas.com
Seeing a need for more office-appro-
priate, day-to-night clothing options, Mary
Ashlyn Thomas found inspiration in her
daily commute: Abstracted florals and an-
gled style lines that have launched Broadway
Squared, such as the dress straps that mimic
highway overpasses.
The clothes are made using 100 per-
cent organic cotton twill, poplin, silk crepe
de chine, and cotton-spandex from custom-
textile company Spoonflower in Durham.
They’re also meant to be durable, and to flat-
ter various body types.
“Comfortable is important,” said
Thomas, who designs her prints to encom-
pass the classic looks she loves, with modern
design elements. “I want it all to mix and
match.”
On the Redress experience: “I’m just
getting started, and they’ve shown me the
steps I need to take in business planning, the
things to think about. Learning from people
who have this level of experience has been
very helpful.”
ABOVE: The cold-shoulder blouse
is made of silk crepe de chine,
and the shorts of 100 percent
organic cotton twill. Thomas
designs her prints to encompass
the classic looks she loves, with
modern design elements.
LEFT: This mix-and-match line by
Mary Ashlyn Thomas was inspired
by her daily commute, such as
the straps on her cotton-spandex
swing dress, which mimic highway
overpasses.
Piper
Honigmann,
Carrboro
Pipevine,
etsy.com/shop/pipevine
Having spent a few years living
on a sailboat with her young daughter,
Piper Honigmann learned a lot about
waste and pollution along our water-
ways, issues she addresses in her fash-
ions, using organic cotton knits made
by Spiritex in Asheville.
“My line started with the fabric, lo-
cally sourced and organic,” Honigmann
said. “The sustainability of the line is im-
portant; it will be made in North Caro-
lina, maybe even in Carrboro.
“And the main theme is mixing
colors in unusual ways. These pieces fit
almost everyone, are wearable and com-
fortable.”
Her tiered pieces are made using
long rectangles of fabric to reduce waste
and maximize her color-mixing capa-
bilities.
On the Redress experience: “My
mentor has encouraged me to think, to
compare selling my fashions directly on
Etsy, or wholesaling to retailers.
“There’s been a fashion scene de-
veloping in Raleigh, and now I’ve met
successful people in the industry, who
all have some good tips about different
aspects of the business — and there are
a lot of aspects!”
RIGHT: Designer Piper
Honigmann’s overlap-
ping one-shoulder tops
can be mixed and
matched for fall.
BELOW: Honigmann
uses long rectangles
of cotton knit fabric
in her tiered designs,
resulting in very
little fabric waste and
offering maximum
color mixes. “My line
started with the fabric,
locally sourced and
organic,” she says.
“The sustainability of
the line is important; it
will be made in North
Carolina. And the
main theme is mixing
colors in unusual
ways. These pieces fit
almost everyone, are
wearable and comfort-
able.”

4. 48 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
AD
CARY MAGAZINE 49
Ashley Mason,
Raleigh
Rook and Roman, rookandroman.com
Strength and power is the focus of Ashley Ma-
son’s collection, which uses a restricted color pal-
ette, clean lines, and remnants of knit, jersey, syn-
thetics and woven fabrics printed at Spoonflower.
“My clothes are inspired by the feminine
glam, Studio 54 era,” said Mason, “and focused
on female strength and ownership, and power.
Shape and flow are important to me, in dramatic
silhouettes.
“An important idea to me is that high fash-
ion with environmental consciousness should be
accessible to everyone, of every body shape and
social-economic status.”
On the Redress experience: “My favorite part
has been learning about the nitty-gritty work that
comes after the big idea, like techniques, manu-
facturing and life cycle. This is not an education
you would get anywhere else.”
Shape and flow are important to designer
Ashley Mason, who uses a limited color pal-
ette and clean lines to create the dramatic
silhouettes of her collection, representing
female strength and power. Her pieces,
including tank and high-low skirt, left, and
fitted dress, below, are made with knit,
jersey, synthetic and woven fabrics. Jewelry
is courtesy of Moon and Lola.
49 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
Juliana Fadl,
Durham
Moon. Flower. Child,
moonflowerchild.com;
etsy.com/shop/oMoonFlowerChild
With overlapping layers and varying
lengths meant to mimic rolling sand dunes,
this serene collection titled Desert Sage by
Juliana Fadl marks her first foray into bridal
wear, as she prepares to become a bride her-
self in the coming year.
Her materials are handwoven cottons
and natural dyes, jersey, and lace and mac-
ramé detail to echo desert foliage.
“It’s a journey of related imagery,” Fadl
said, “the desert, sandy dunes, the touch of
green and the transition from dark to pur-
est white. I want people to think that here’s
a bridal collection they haven’t seen before,
something different in its colors and use of
fabrics.”
Fadl also designs everyday wear for
men, women and children.
On the Redress experience: “I’ve met
other entrepreneurs and I’m learning from
them, gathering new ideas and points of
view.”
ABOVE: Handwoven
natural materials shine
in designer Juliana Fadl’s
first-ever bridal collec-
tion. Her bridal gowns
of overlapping layers
and varying lengths are
meant to mimic rolling
sand dunes; the dress at
top right is two pieces,
with a jersey skirt and
macramé detail.
LEFT: Bridesmaids’
dresses echo the serene
desert theme.

5. 50 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
Timothy Cohen,
Raleigh
Perspectus Clothing,
instagram.com/perspectusclothing
Math and science meet fashion in this
menswear line by Timothy Cohen, a self-
taught designer who incorporates the Fibo-
nacci Sequence into his designs, a series of
numbers in which the next is found by add-
ing up the two numbers before it.
In nature, the sequence results in spi-
rals such as those found in sunflowers and
hurricanes. His bold designs are created us-
ing sustainably-made, digitally-printed fab-
rics from Spoonflower in Durham.
“It’s important to me to show every-
one that we’re all connected,” Cohen said.
“These patterns are one of many eye-open-
ing examples of how all animals and people
on earth are connected.”
On the Redress experience: “As a self-
taught designer, this education on sustain-
ability, how to manufacture, and the busi-
ness side of fashion really helps show us
the way,” Cohen said. “Fashion is so much
more than the runway. I’ve met educators,
distributors, people in the forefront of the
industry.
“I’m working to become successful in a
way that makes me happy.”
Designer Timothy Cohen marries
math and science in his menswear
line, with patterns reflected in nature.
From left, pattern inspirations are
sunflowers, ferns, and seahorses.
The bold designs are created using
sustainably-made, digitally-printed
fabrics. “These patterns are one of
many eye-opening examples of how
all animals and people on earth are
connected,” Cohen says.
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