As much as I hate to admit it, when I hear that a new line is green, I usually lower my expectations a little bit. Of course I know that the market is chock full of stylish sustainable labels, but at the end of the day, it still feels like a much-appreciated bonus: Wow, it's good for the planet and it doesn't suck. Thanks to Linda and Chrys Wong, the designing sister duo behind the high-fashion force that is The Battalion, my backwards thinking is getting a much-needed makeover.

Launched back in 2006, the Wong sisters' avant-garde line is inspired by the flourishing artistic community in their local hipster 'hood, Silver Lake. "Fashion is one of the most readily accessible mediums of art," they explain. "The Battalion was created as a forum where people can come together and find something in common in this multi-cultural world." Ensuring that each edgy piece is both wearable and versatile was a must for Linda, a former designer at Chan Luu; thanks to the magic of drawstrings and buttons, a super-tailored trench coat can pull double duty as a dress, while a comfy dress is easily converted into a shirt with a shawl.

The sartorial options are enough to leave one breathless, especially when you consider the tiny fact that the entire Spring/Summer 2008 collection—a mix of crisp coats, draped tops and body-conscious dresses in a muted palette—is made from bamboo and organic cotton. And it's affordable to boot.

A line that makes being green incredibly easy on the eyes; ladies and gentlemen, we're finally ready to suit up and enter the battle to save the Earth!

For more information please visit www.thebattalion.us; shop the collection online at www.nimli.com.

- Caroline Stanley

Similar Topics:eco, fashion, shopping, spring 2008

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