D6, A fanastic new eco-friendly line out of Los Angles has just launced with a realistic approach to being green. Focusing on two issues they believe to be most critical, carbon emissions and water conservation, Degree 6 believes that fashion can co-exist peacefully with the environment, and they plan to practice this belief every day.
The creative force behind Degree 6 is designer Cassie Stevenson who now resides Los Angeles after growing up in Portland, Oregon. Having studied and worked in fashion, Cassie noticed a large gap in the marketplace for modern and versatile green lines and developed the entire line to fit that need. Here's what Cassie has to say about being sustainable and sexy.
When did you realize you wanted to become a designer? I have always loved art and design, from painting, to photography to jewelry making, but fashion has always been my true passion. I thought of it as a hobby for most of my life, not necessarily a career. After getting my degree in PR/Advertising, I realized that I did not want to do anything but design clothing. That is when I decided to focus 100% on fashion.
Where did D6 come from? My vision was to create a comfortable quality line of sexy styles that everyone can put on and feel good while promoting awareness to our environment and practicing the greenest process possible.
What was the first article of clothing you ever designed? My first designs were dresses. I love to design dresses!
The first thing I noticed were how incredibly soft your pieces are, while many other eco-friendly lines are a bit more rough, how did you create these fabrics? Fabrics are extremely exclusive and chosen not only for their green qualities, but for their versatility, softness and comfort. The main fabric we use is Bamboo Sorona, which is made from Bamboo and recycled bottle caps. We also work with Hemp, Organic Cotton, and recycled polyester for select styles with trims such as organic cotton drawstring and coconut buttons.
Where is the line made? All manufacturing and production of Degree 6 materials and garments happen downtown in Los Angeles. Our ultimate goal is to create a sustainable production factory in Los Angeles.
What's your favorite part about conceptualizing a design? I love working with shapes and colors…I love doing story boards for each collection, then seeing the design go from paper to the actual sample is always my favorite moment with every piece.
Who are you designing for? Everyone!! Anyone who loves to take a comfortable sexy basic and add their distinctive style to make it their own.
It seems like these days everyone is designing something “green” do you think it is more than a marketing hype? Maybe for some designers it is purely about marketing. However, Degree 6 is 100% committed in developing a “green” process to produce and manufacture fabric and garments from start to finish. One of the most notable aspects of Degree 6 is the fabric composition, which all depends on the fact that it is organic and sustainable. The development of each fabric is the basis of every design.
What sets D6 apart? We are not just trying to use “green” as a trendy marketing tool. We are actually trying to educate people on what it means to be green and how much impact they can have just by making a conscious decision when they shop. D6 is sustainable and SEXY!
What is next? Continuing to strive to make Degree 6 a completely sustainable company while creating styles that are comfortable, sexy, and fashion forward.
By Alexandra Malloy
