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 Eco-friendliness is taking the fashion world by storm! Meet American designer Tierra Del Forte as she introduces us to her environmentally friendly organic denim line 'Del Forte Denim'.

How did you begin your career in design?

I am a native Californian and have my degree in Fashion Design from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco. After graduating from college I moved to New York, where I started my career in denim design. Although I loved New York while I was there, I am so happy to be back in my hometown and to be doing something I love everyday.

How did the establishment of the label come about?

After working as a designer in the mainstream fashion industry for about seven years, I was ready to take the next step and launch my own label. Before starting Del Forte Denim, I spent at lot of time thinking about how to make what I did for a living mesh with my personal values. I realized that having an ethical company was really important to me and I set out to discover how I could have a successful fashion brand that I could also feel good about. Using only organically grown cotton for Del Forte is one significant way my company makes a positive impact.

Following the increase in environmental sustainability and affects of global warming, have you witnessed an increase in the demand for eco-friendly denim?

Absolutely! We launched Del Forte in 6 stores in the US in 2006 and four seasons later Del Forte Denim can be found in almost 200 boutiques in nine countries. When we first started we were one of a small handful of companies making organic cotton denim, now I’m seeing more and more brands, even some of the largest denim labels add organic pieces to their lines.

How would you describe your ideal consumer?

The woman who wears Del Forte Denim is a very savvy shopper. She is interested in how and where products are made, but she is never willing to sacrifice quality or style! The Del Forte woman is not a slave to trends. She has her own unique style and wears what looks good on her body. Our customers come in all shapes and sizes; some look great in super skinny jeans, others look their best in a flared leg and we have styles to suit all types of bodies.

Does Del Forte Denim have a signature style of jean?

All of our jeans have signature details that make them special; such as the art nouveau inspired embroidery inside the fly, the custom made rivet on the coin pocket and the seamed back pocket. All of these details add up to make a unique, luxurious garment, no matter which style you wear. As a fashion label, our styles are always evolving, but you can always recognize Del Forte by our unique details.

Does the brand offer a variation of styles each season?

Del Forte is first and foremost a fashion label, so we show a whole new collection each season. This spring we had a Mariner theme and showed sailor style pants and skirts, high-waisted trousers and shorts in dark denim and white denim. For Fall we moved in to a sophisticated bohemian feel, featuring wide-leg trousers, a menswear inspired vest with enamel buttons and shrunken blazers.

Are the jeans completely manufactured in the US or abroad during the manufacturing process?

Our jeans are manufactured in the US. Using domestic resources is important to me for several reasons. The first being, I am able to visit the factories I use on a regular basis, so I am 100% confident that Del Forte Denim is made under ethical working conditions. Another benefit is that I am able to greatly reduce the amount of fossil fuels used in the production process, simply by keeping our resources concentrated in a small area.

Is it more costly as a brand to use 100% organic cotton?

Yes, at this point organic cotton is still at least 30% more expensive than conventional cotton. Because organic cotton uses no chemical pesticides, it is much more labor intensive. The certifications process itself is costly and so is the transition period (the 3-5 years it takes to transition a farm from conventional to organic). All of these factors make organic cotton more expensive in the short term, but the long terms benefits far outweigh the costs. Organic cotton is safe for the environment, farmers and for the women who wear Del Forte Denim.

What encouraged partnering with the The Sustainable Cotton Project?

When I started Del Forte Denim, I did a lot of research into what organizations had projects that meshed with my own values and goals and learned that The Sustainable Cotton Project was working to bridge the gap between farmers and the designers and manufacturers who could use organic cotton. Because entire communities benefit from organic farming, the SCP positively impacts a huge number of people.

What are the benefits of a such a partnership?

For me the benefits for me are a lot of knowledge and resources. For example I was able to visit organic cotton fields, see first hand how organic cotton is grown, and meet the farmers who grow it. For the SPC, the benefits of working with fashion companies is that we bring media and consumer attention to the farm, making their cause visible to a wider group of people.

Do you think there will be a increase in the fashion industry of labels taking a more eco-friendly position regarding their products and working practices?

We’re definitely seeing it here in the US. Everyone from Walmart to Barneys New York is launching some kind of environmental initiative. The problem we’re having now is that there is a lot of greenwashing going on- companies adopting the look and language of sustainability, but without actually changing their production practices in any way. I think sometimes it can be difficult for consumers to tell which companies are making genuine environmental improvements and which ones are just changing their packaging to be bright green. Luckily, Del Forte has been committed to organics for long enough, that people know we are authentic.

As an eco-friendly business what would you say to other designers/labels or other businesses who have not taken an environmental initiative?

Honestly I don’t believe what I have to say on this matter is nearly as important as what consumers are saying. As more and more shoppers demand eco-friendly apparel, successful labels are not going to be able to ignore the issue. It’s the companies who can honestly address this demand who are going to be successful in the long term.

What does the future hold for Del Forte Denim?

I’ve always planned to do a men’s line, but that will have to wait a little while longer so I can concentrate on what we’re doing well now, which is our women’s line. We are expanding our collection to include a wider variety of fabrics, mostly other organic cottons, but some other eco-friendly fibers as well. We are also adding a lot more stylized bodies to the collection because we had such an amazing reaction to our fashion pieces.

 For more information and stockists; www.delforte.com