The setup for John Patrick s Organic presentation fell into place when he settled on his venue, the lower level of a Garment District church. "I thought, What happens in church basements? Bake sales! " he said. Against one wall, a group of farmers from Patrick s upstate hometown offered attendees local cheese samples, seed packets, and literature on the benefits of sustainable practices.
If Spring s girl had an Okie spirit, her Fall counterpart is a strong, modern twenty-first-century woman. There were scuba-inspired body-con minis and a sleeveless trenchdress made from a recycled polyester treated to look like beaver fur. If that sounds like a departure, it still felt "100 Percent Organic." The clothes had charm, and the focus remained centered on the company s ethical practices: the use of sustainable materials and the team of cottage-industry workers Patrick employs in Peru. Designers frequently offer clothing with no real relevancy to the world we inhabit. It s refreshing to see someone approach their work as part of a greater whole.
