John Patrick layered together the many light-as-air pieces in Organic's Spring 2013 collection to create a series of natural and easy-to-wear looks. Soft-shouldered jackets, button-downs, and sleeveless tops drifted over short skirts or wide-legged trousers effortlessly. Part of the ease comes from a subdued color palette of white, black, cream, brown, and navy blue, but the rest owes to Patrick's soft tailoring and focus on the body. This collection's long, sheer t-shirts and skirts in navy linen strike that chord perfectly.
Sneak Peek — The Complete Anthropologie Capsules From Gregory Parkinson, Karen Walker, John Patrick, and More
Because everyone loves a good collaboration: in just a few short days Anthropologie will launch Made in Kind, a new ecommerce platform featuring 11 exclusive capsule collections from some of the most intriguing designers around. Among those involved in the project's April 5 debut? Established favorites Karen Walker, Gregory Parkinson, and John Patrick; up-and-comers Samantha Pleet and Charlotte Linton; and newbies Rachel Rose and Koto Bolofo.
With pieces priced from $84 to $470, the various collections offer an accessible introduction to each designer's respective aesthetic: there are whimsically printed dresses in vintage silhouettes from Karen Walker, clean-lined blouses and bottoms in sustainable fabrics from John Patrick, and hand-dyed tops and skirts in vivid hues from Gregory Parkinson. "I think women who say 'I never wear print or color' will be surprised when they try on these items," Parkinson says of his collection.
Click through for a complete look at some of our favorite collections from the Made in Kind project, all of which will be available exclusively on Anthropologie.com starting April 5.
Organic by John Patrick Fall 2012
>> "Certain things can make you really happy — a good vanilla cupcake is one. A fun pair of jeans rolled up to the knee is another," John Patrick says. To spread that happiness, the designer has collaborated with Raleigh Denim on some terrific-looking raw jeans — made from recycled and sustainable fabrics, of course — to go along with the season's offering of hand-loomed knits, slouchy leather duffel coats, and wallpaper-floral frocks. Certain things, indeed.
Cozy Knits and Muted Florals Populate John Patrick's Fall 2011 Organic Collection
>> The Organic girl continues to grow up as John Patrick's collection matures, and this season, he says, “She’s a modern-day vagabond. She’s young but sophisticated, and wants an older, more romantic experience of dressing.”
True to the collection's name and conscious sensibility, there were coats of vegetable dyed wool, jackets from recycled cashmere, and trenches from recycled cotton or recycled PET bottles alongside the pretty floral dresses. Amanda Henderson, a knitwear consultant and recent FIT graduate, handknitted the cozy and covetable wool sweaters — in both cropped and knee lengths — with “needles the size of broomsticks.” And show stylist Lauren Goodman topped off the looks with lace-up, heeled Hunter welly boots — "[It's a] nice marriage between the brands — elegance for everyday life," she noted — and masai belts by Jack Spade.
As designers are wont to do, Patrick is already thinking of his next collection: "I'm considering now what my next move is, whether it's a beauty product, shoe, or intimate apparel."
>> Organic's John Patrick Scores Television Show —Sustainable fashion pioneer John Patrick has just been greenlit for a show on Discovery's Planet Green channel, documenting the creation of his Organic line from his studio in Albany to production in Manhattan to his New York Fashion Week presentation. The show, titled The John Patrick Show, is expected to air early next year. “I see this project as becoming part of the organic heritage of the twenty-first century,” Patrick says. “It’s an amazing way to document and assist the entire movement forward for the next generation. We’ve made tremendous strides, and this project represents an investment in carrying the message about intelligent and conscious design.” Patrick isn't the first fashion insider to appear on a Planet Green show — Angela Lindvall paved the way a couple of years ago. [Vogue.com]
Prabal Gurung, Joseph Altuzarra, John Patrick Organic Awarded $25,000 by Ecco Domani
>> In the last year, Prabal Gurung and Joseph Altuzarra have both skyrocketed in the spotlight, and now they have a little extra pocket change for their sure-to-be-watched Fall 2010 presentations. Both designers, along with Ross Menuez of Salvor Projects and The Blonds, were awarded $25,000 apiece by the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation for their Fall womenswear presentations, as was John Patrick Organic, awarded in the sustainable design category, and Irini Arakas of Prova in the accessories category.
For the first time, in addition to their own singular New York Fashion Week presentations, the winning designers will also partake in a group Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation runway show Feb. 15 at the Bryant Park Tents. All the show's comings and goings will be taped for a documentary about the winners, to be aired on the Lifetime Network in March.
Ecco Domani's 2010 Winners Announced
The Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation is toasting the new year with a fresh crop of winners. Prabal Gurung, Joseph Altuzarra of Altuzarra, Ross Menuez of Salvor Projects, and Phillipe Rollano and David Trujillo of The Blonds swooped up the prizes in the women's category. The men's accolade went to Siki Im, and Irini Arakas of Prova got the award for accessories. Last but not least, John Patrick of Organic won the new sustainable design category. Each winner will receive $25,000 to go toward his/her Fall collection.
The winners will show off their lusty designs in the first-ever Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation runway show — which will also feature a documentary about the foundation and the winners — at New York Fashion Week on Feb. 15. Congrats to all!
Shalom Harlow in the House for John Patrick's Spring 2010 Organic Collection
>> A bubbly John Patrick zipped around among the crowd gathered in the unlikely presentation space of Keens Steakhouse restaurant — complete with bar at 11 am (not many partook) — chatting up friends, press, and his star mannequin, Shalom Harlow, who was posed away from the group in a mannish tightly-tailored suit and bowtie. His energy alone increased the enthusiasm for his speakeasy-inspired Organic collection's faded floral shirtdresses, cropped pants, and easy separates. And for all you model-watchers: newly-minted Steven Meisel favorite Lindsay Wixson was there.
New York Fashion Week Tidbits: Zac Posen Downsizes Venue; Karl Lagerfeld to Make an Appearance?
>> New York Fashion Week is just about two weeks away, and the tidbits are flowing freely — a compilation of those so far:

Venue Changes
- Zac Posen, who usually shows at the largest Bryant Park venue in Fashion Week's last evening slot, has switched to a 9 am slot at the much smaller Altman Building [Fashionista]
- Organic, but not vegetarian: John Patrick is showing his eco-friendly Organic line in an upstairs speakeasy at iconic New York steakhouse Keens [FWD]
Jason Wu, Alexander Wang, Vena Cava Among 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Nominees
>> The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund has determined its ten finalists for 2008.
Last year's winner, Rogan Gregory, was announced in November and received a monetary award of $200,000, with two runners-up reiving $50,000 each. For the past couple of years, the nominees have worked with Gap as part of a limited Gap Design Edition collaboration to gain more exposure, and many have also gone on to work with Target in limited-edition runs.
This year's nominees are:
Richard Chai
Jason Wu
Alexander Wang
Albertus Q. Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus
Swaim and Christina Hutson of Obedient Sons & Daughters




