Making the world eco-friendly, one stitch at a time

It was only a matter of time before the idea of sustainability reached the fashion industry.

“Seven years ago, I was surprised no one had thought of it either,” said apparel designer Linda Loudermilk.

And it was only a matter of time before her message of eco-friendly designs reached the Plains.

Loudermilk was the special guest at a private reception for a group of Auburn University apparel design students Wednesday night at Creekwood Castle in Auburn.

For the students, it was a chance to meet the woman who coined the phrase “luxury-eco” and discuss their own designs with her before she speaks today as the distinguished lecturer for the 2008 Grisham/Trentham Design Symposium. Today’s presentation, which is at 11 a.m. in the auditorium of The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, is open to the public.

Loudermilk has spent the last several years researching and developing ways to use organic textiles, such as bamboo, seaweed and corn, into her designs. It takes time to market the idea, but celebrities like Jane Fonda and Robert Downey Jr. have followed the trend, wearing her pieces.

The idea is hard for some people to accept, but Loudermilk is confident she can sell anybody on it if she has the chance to talk to them.

Senior Christy Mikels may not have gotten much of chance to talk with Loudermilk Wednesday, but she’s already sold on the eco-responsibility design concept. She designed a skirt and bustier out of orange plastic bags and pop can tabs for a class at Auburn.

“That’s the way the world is turning,” she said. “You’ve got to keep up.”

Senior Lindsey Barnett isn’t opposed to the idea either. She actually used paper she had made as a child to help create a top and shorts.

“That’s when my creativity started,” she said. “There are so many memories in that paper.”

Loudermilk, who said she did trash bag designs when she was in college too, made sure to tell every student she spoke with to ask for sustainable materials. They may not have it at first, but they’ll catch on.

“And if they don’t know where they can get it, they can call me,” she said.

It’s a fashion revolution and Loudermilk wants to take everybody along for the ride.

“This is just the beginning,” she said. “Now, I need to teach them how to take it to the next level.”

In addition to the lecture Thursday, the apparel designs from the Auburn students will be on display.

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