Deep in the coal mines, canaries gave warning - when to take action for survival. Everything is connected. Change. Be strong. Find what you love. Love what you do. Listen for canaries. - Anna Cohen introduction to her Spring/Summer 2008 collection

Inspired by urge to create a sustainable line of “Italian Street Couture”, Oregon’s Anna Cohen has created one of the most beautiful seasonal collections I’ve ever seen in my 15-odd years in the fashion industry. Her Spring/Summer 2008 pieces premiered at the October 2007 Portland Fashion Week to rave reviews and it is easy to see why! Trends from 1920s to 1950s have been channeled into subtle, architecturally appealing collection that focuses on black, white and … oddly enough … orange. Pieces that flatter each and every body type are an unexpected element of the retro-modern menagerie.

Now, let me be honest: I hate orange clothing. Maybe it is because I am fair skinned, but the color just never did anything for me in a style sense. Well … I used to think that way until I saw this collection - my mind has been permanently changed! After working for Italian brands Max Mara, Patrizia Pepe, Guess and Binicocchi and co-designing the United States Women’s Performance lines for Adidas, Anna knows how create flattering, feminine pieces that still retain usability and style season after season.

“It is our conscious choices every day that affect the resources on which all life depends. We must make this transition into personal responsibility a beautiful empowering process,” says Anna. “[My vision is] to be on the forefront of moving both fashion design and the global fashion industry toward more sustainable practices that support environmental and social justice through creating cutting edge fashion apparel using globally responsible business practices.”

Using local production and sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, soy, bamboo, recycled and mill-end fabrics, Anna is honest about the unsustainable aspects of her line as well. By her calculations, 25% of the line (from field to store) is lacking sustainability: garment trims (buttons, zippers, threads, etc.), transportation, and a small portion of processed and dyed materials. There is always more process to be made when it comes to making the fashion industry green - honesty is a vital portion of that.

I’m still searching high and low online to find a store that has this collection in stock, but when I do … stand back people, she’s going to implode!

For more about Anna, check out her appearance in the documentary, “A Passion For Sustainability,” on YouTube.