Viridis Luxe unveils their Fall 2008 Collection

This fall, eco-chic Viridis Luxe entices shoppers to wrap themselves in hemp. The environmentally friendly fashion label is featuring its signature hemp/cashmere blend in new sumptuous styles, as well as its popular bamboo/organic cotton and bamboo/cashmere/silk blends.

The color palette for fall is rich and opulent, with shades of paprika, fern, beet, espresso, black, pebble grey, aubergine, and lapis available in the bamboo/organic cotton and bamboo/cashmere/silk fibers. The hemp/cashmere styles are available in black, natural, and charcoal.

The Fall 2008 silhouettes continue the Viridis Luxe theme of juxtaposing old and new, timeless shapes with modern, edgy details. Hemp, being a historic fiber, has motivated designer Hala Bahmet to think nostalgically in her designs. Discussing her inspirations, Bahmet cites many diverse sources, such as historical costume/adornment, early 20th century couture designers (notably Madame Vionnet), the Paris scene between the wars, the boldness of artist/designer Sonia Delaunay, German Expressionism, the punk rock movement of the 70's, and tribal textiles/kilims.

The results are beautiful, feminine, and luxurious clothes, all made with sustainable fibers. The designs are versatile, and women of all ages and walks of life are coveting Viridis Luxe, including a strong celebrity following that includes Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Sheryl Crow, Paris Hilton, Julianne Moore, Rachel Bilson, and Uma Thurman.

With the Fall 2008 collection, Bahmet was thrilled to continue her work with hemp, as it is the "greenest" of all fibers. It never requires herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers, does not deplete the soil of nutrients, and grows very quickly with little or no irrigation. Moreover, hemp productivity per unit of land area is three to five times higher than that of cotton. Almost equally as sustainable is bamboo, another fast growing plant that requires no chemicals or pesticides to grow. Bahmet also remarks that hemp and bamboo are durable and drape beautifully, making them not only eco-friendly, but ideal fabrics to design and wear.

The new Fall 2008 collection is a perfect marriage of Bahmet’s passions: fashion, textiles and environmental issues. Bahmet’s innovative designs and aesthetic have put Viridis Luxe in the forefront of “green” fashion, and are proving to the world that people no longer have to sacrifice style for substance.