Williamsburg Fashion Weekend’s founder, producer and creator Arthur Arbit is all about conscientious, ethical clothing made here in the USA, not in 3rd world countries.

His message was when you’re shopping for clothes made in the corporate fashion world, someone’s paying with their blood. But not these clothes…each piece of clothing featured in the shows was made by its designer’s hands or otherwise American born.

Details and photos for each designer after the jump!

Nathalie Kraynina’s reinterpretation of the “little black dress” included many separates that could be easily added to your current repertoire. Her styling combined masculine & feminine, pairing thick brows with ethereal three-piece braids. Cool drapey pants with extra long sexy slits tied at the ankle; tail-front sleeveless tops in color-block or studded; and shimmery slouchy tee tops – just to name a few of the goodies here! Rounding out the show, she finished with a showstopper black swan in tulle.

NJ native Mark Tauriello brought us a futuristic and melancholic vibe with his Alien trilogy inspiration. Mark used color pallette from the film, notably the green mist, represented here in chiffon. His trademark kaleidoscopic photo-realistic prints of such industrial footage as high tension towers & A/C vents create an ’80s avante garde futuristic sensory overload. Trapezoidal skirts & dresses worn with techy leggings for the girls and dudes in sexy hi-tech fab shorts. Rubberbands draped skeletally across sleeves & pant legs and greenish liquid tube body harnesses as accessories completed the look.

Columbian born Juanita Cardenascreated a space-age candy land filled with astronauts, floating cupcakes and cotton candy. The polychromatic active wear line flexed well on her model/performers, ranging from burlesque, aerialists and circus folk.

Marcus Hicks and his two-foot muse, Marqua Marquis, were in a very dark mood when designing their SDN spring line. From sustainable bamboo & organic fabrics emerged striped and ruched flirty knit dresses, as well as sleek tank-style maxi dresses in solid & plaid. Other notable details were jumbo “hand” shaped pockets, hood-as-1-with-body and adorable curly fro hair (a visible nod to wooden Marquis), all topped off with hats by La China Loca.

Behind RHLS, Ruffeo Hearts ‘Lil Snotty are a couple of self-taught designers with a big sense of humor. This season, the duo created works of modular pieces with sheer geometry, resulting in “functional nudity.” This barely-there collection will make you smile and wish you were flying a kite.

Stephanie Hinson escaped to the badlands of South Dakota. Her pretty pieces included sets of bralettes with shorties and a chambray wrap halter jumpsuit. Hand-dyed solid hemp/silk garments and exotic ikaat wovens complemented details such as contrast insets and origami folds.

Melissa Lockwood created clothing out of salvaged large strips of coverlock stitched fabric swatches discarded from cutting factories, thus sparing our landfills if a little bit. By adding armholes & necklines…scraps were transformed into cute tank & halter dresses. Also, big monster graphics on oversized t-shirts were charming.

Bibiana + Black Cabinet presented an alternative full body jewelry & accessory line with a gypsy vibe. Versatile chainmail pieces can be worn over shoulders like epaulettes, draped over hips or any number of possibilities as demonstrated in the show. Other uncommon objects included eye patches, dangling chain/charm pendants & necklaces and wallet chains.

Using natural materials, Brittany Erb produced Japanese-influenced clothing comfortable enough to do yoga in. Details include unusually placed cutouts, uneven hemlines & creative gathering.

Desira Pesta fused the conservative looks of 1965 such as shirtdresses (fit & flare silhouette) with a Rock & Roll Woodstock aesthetic.

Visual pop artist Marco Santaniello used fashion to deliver his message about corporate greed, government and religion. As customary, the statement was presented in his signature crayola colors. Gun-toting soldiers and gigantic shiny eyeballs were appliqued on supersize sweatshirts. Well-appointed accessories of army figurine necklines, (toy) pistols and hands-over-eyes sunglasses complete the look.

Uta Bekaia’s theme of 1920s Dandy-goes-to-Williamsburg theatrical costume show featured elements of human & animal. Bodies draped in bejeweled period pieces, while faces & hands were masked with beaks, bird feathers & claws. Leg of mutton bed jackets, bustles & spandex leggings galore!

The shape of the triangle, representing woman & divinity, was clearly represented in Uta Brauser’s helmets, tops and skirts, along with other geometric friends, such as the pentagon & octagon. As well, intricate triangle-shaped details appeared on hems of irridescent raincoats & eggshell colored maxi dresses. Super fun pieces were the environmentally friendly “fur” bombers, boots & vests made of strips of plastic bags in black & white.

Geary Marcello’s NYC 1970s disco underground inspiration encompassed sexuality, glitz and hella androgyny. Cropped long-haired fur jackets & rhinestone studded denim jeans & jackets traipsed the runway.

Want to see more? Check out an extended photo set from the event from Greenpointers contributor Peter.