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In honor of Earth Day we are continuing to feature artists who are working with artisans to create eco-friendly, fashion forward products.  This post features Escama Studio, a collaborative design studio based in California and Brazil.

Carol Cassidy, Founder of Lao Textiles, will be at the AsiaStore in New York City on the 15th & 16th of April, 2011 from 1:00 - 4:00pm.  She will be showcasing an expansive array of her latest textiles including her signature brocades, jacquard weaves and ikats.  Carol's book Weaving Tradition will be available signing.

Patti Carpenter just returned from Haiti where she had the opportunity to work with four artisan groups.  She said it was an incredible trip, very emotional -- balancing all the devastation that is still quite present with the hope, talent and spirit of the artisans.  Patti was able to get out of Port Au Prince and into the countryside.  The last few days of her trip she worked in a small town in the mountains named Fond des Blancs with a great group of embroiderers and knitters at Haiti Projects.  Patti hopes to return again soon.

Orijyn has been accepted, for the third year in a row, to participate in the 2011 Santa Fe International Folk Art Market (Market).  The mission of the  Market is to foster economic and cultural sustainability for folk artists and folk art worldwide and to create intercultural exchange opportunities that unite peoples of the world.  The Market fulfills its mission by providing opportunities for some of the world's finest folk artists to participate in an annual festive, two-day event which will take place this year from the 8th to the 10th of July.

Ecoist has been shortlisted for the WGSN Global Fashion Awards in the Most Sustainable Brand or Retailer Category.  The Global Fashion Awards is the first-ever awards program judged by the industry to recognize and reward those businesses and individual who are pushing the boundaries of fashion, propelling the industry foward and setting the style agenda on a global scale. 

Sobral has been shortlisted for the WGSN Global Fashion Awards in the Most Sustainable Brand or Retailer Category.  The Global Fashion Awards is the first-ever awards program judged by the industry to recognize and reward those businesses and individual who are pushing the boundaries of fashion, propelling the industry foward and setting the style agenda on a global scale. 

An exhibition of textiles by Carol Cassidy opens on the 14th of October 2010 at the Shalini Ganendra Fine Art, The Private Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia. All textiles in the exhibition are hand woven with the finest silk, cotton and natural dyes, and each are unique pieces.  Shawls and home furnishings will also be featured.  The exhibition runs through the 30th of November 2010.  

On the 16th of June the winners of the 2010 Independent Handbag Designer Awards were announced in New York City.  Dalia Pascal was awarded the 2010 award for the "Most Socially Responsible Handbag."  Her handbag met certain ethical and moral standards in regard to production, employment and philanthropy while impacting the local culture.