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Stewart + Brown

Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, partners in life as well as work, launched their ethical fashion brand, Stewart and Brown, in 2002 in Los Angeles, California.  Inspired by their love and respect for nature, as well as shared passion for design, the duo set out to establish their label as a pioneer in the sustainable fashion movement.

With a background in graphic design and fine art, Stewart and Brown are united in their shared artistic heritage, working with some of the foremost lifestyle brands in their careers.  A fusion of experiences filtered through the brands unique and personal aesthetic, Stewart and Brown produce a quirky, wearable collection full of life, layers, textures, muted colors, lengths and asymmetries, with a very Parisian sense of style; the kind of easy wear, yet stylish comfort that Parisians achieve so effortlessly.

With a belief that we all bear the responsibility to protect our planet for future generations, the couple finds inspiration in their committed team of caring individuals.  Promoting a symbiotic relationship between business, community and nature, the partners strive to attain the highest quality product, produced with a minimum of the earth’s precious resources.  Aspiring to apply sustainable wisdom in every area of their life and work, they inspire others in equal measure to being inspired.

With a range of fabrications in their collection, including pima cotton, lightweight, heather and pointelle jersey, as well as French jersey, hand knits; crepe and indigo dyed gauze, Stewart and Brown also utilize Mongolian cashmere.  Working only with organic cotton and non-genetically engineered seeds, free of pesticides and herbicides, the brand participates in good stewardship, helping to preserve and sustain air, water and food quality for future generations.  Also working with the finest, most luxurious quality cashmere, produced entirely from the downy undercoat of the Mongolian goat, with all harvesting, spinning and knitting is undertaken entirely in Mongolia, in an effort to help sustain an ancient and nomadic way of life for Mongolian herders.  Their all-natural knitwear collection comes from renewable free-range resources that do not involve petro-chemicals through processing.  The collection also includes Tencel, hemp silk and hemp linen combinations, as well as factory surplus fabrics, remnants that would otherwise be destined to landfill.

Stewart and Brown donate a percentage of all sales to non-profit NGO’s in environmental and social welfare organizations.  Pieces can be bought online from their website as well as at a range of boutiques across the US, Canada and internationally, and recently wining WGSN’s Best Eco Brand for 2011.

Website: www.stewartbrown.com

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