New York Fashion Week is over, and though I couldn't make it to all the shows, I hit most of the major 'eco' events (and there were plenty of them!) Each season, more and more designers are going green, whether it be by using sustainable fabrics, reducing their carbon footprint through sourcing fabrics and production locally, or using recycled packaging.

The Be Eco Chic runway show and event kicked off fashion week with a splash (literally!) as it was held in the American Museum of Natural History's aquarium room, right under the life-size blue whale. Supermodel Angela Lindvall and Carl Pope of the Sierra Club MC'd a show packed with models (like Lauren Hutton in a couture Maggie Norris riding coat, right), movie and TV stars, and environmental activists. 

To read more about the Aveda "Kick the Caps" plastic-reduction project backstage at Philip Lim, go to E Magazine's coverage/commentary.

For a full-on slideshow of all the highlights, check out The Daily Green's coverage

The Be Eco Chic runway was located underneath the life-sized blue whale in the Museum of Natural History. (This image, and Lauren Hutton, above, both by Remy C.)

Alek Wek in Ralph Rucci recycled raffia jacket, white cotton pants and turtleneck, and eco bag by wek1933 at BeEcoChic.

The hessnatur show highlighted natural fabrics, Gaia-inspired designs, and community-sourced materials. Miguel Adrover (above) is the new designer for hessnatur.

Higuera at hessnatur; crocheted natural alpaca on wire covered with circular alpaca

John Patrick Organic's tableau vivant showed off his organic cottons voiles, recycled polyesters, and naturally-tanned leather designs.

John Patrick said of his collection that it was inspired by "American Gothic"

Johanna Hofring, owner of East Village boutique Ekovaruhuset, along with one of her designs. Eko-Laborative, who put on the show, is a collaboration between Eko-Lab and Ekovaruhuset.

More pieces from Eco-Lab. Forefront: A Horse Dress by Mika Machida, made of Icelandic sheep wool dyed with natural dyes, and a head-dress by Kaori Yamazaki of organic cotton, vintage charms and chains. Middle-ground: Tipi dress by Kaori Yamazaki of organic linen, and an organic cotton hat.    All images by Starre Vartan, unless otherwise indicated.

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I know I'm not the only one to rearrange my home seasonally; not only does it make it easier to Spring clean since you're moving your furniture around, but it brings a sense of newness and change to your living spaces that is a visual refresher. While my home is comfortably set up, recently I realized that a bit more light would make the evenings more cheery, and went in search of an easy-on-the-Earth but still design-savvy lamp. Here's what I found.

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Fashion week is almost over in New York, and for ecofashionistas, the Greenshows were the place to be, with gorgeous clothes by a number of up-and-coming designers featured over four days in the East Village at 311 East 11th (a green condo called Village Green, natch). Some were more literal takes on the idea of green fashion, like Gary Harvey's playful take above and below (recycled laundry bags and pages from the Financial Times).

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