Solid Gold Boutique joins Austin Fashion Week with an Eastside Block Party

Last night we attended Solid Gold Boutique‘s Eastside Block Party for Austin Fashion Week.  Showcasing the latest line from local fashion designer Rene Geneva Design, the shop promised food, drink, hot tunes and a really good time.

To clue you in: Rene Geneva is an anomaly in the fashion industry.  She practices an eco-conscious approach to design and production while creating modern, fierce clothing and corsets.  From eco-friendly fabrics to carbon neutrality and donating fabric scraps to local schools, Rene attempts to leave no eco-footprint.  She even  helped build a solar electricity project for a Nicaraguan women’s sewing co-op.  When did green fashion get this hot?!

Prepping a model before the photo shoot

I’m a former assistant of Rene’s, so I was excited to see the progress she had made in the last four years.  I got to the event a little early, which gave me plenty of time to check out everything before the masses arrived.  Perusing Rene’s new clothing, I found hemp silks, slinky bamboo-cotton blends, lacy ruffles??  Flirty and feminine–not what you expect when you hear “eco-chic.”  I still think her corsets are super sexy, mixing warrior with sexpot for a really unique look.

Rene Geneva Design was recently accepted into the Ethical Fashion Preview at Nolcha Fashion Week in New York City.  Nolcha Fashion Week is held simultaneously with New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to promote independent and emerging designers.  She’ll be part of the show on September 14th at the Carlton Hotel on Madison Avenue from 10am to 12pm so check it out if you’re in the area!

Check out the pics below for party pics and a look at Rene’s collection.  [Also, check out my full flickr set of Solid Gold Boutique's Austin Fashion Week Party]What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

Bronze Corset Top from Rene Geneva

Organic Western Dress by Rene Geneva

Silky bridal corset and dress by Rene Geneva

A true Texas beauty outside Solid Gold Boutique

Rene Geneva and Tolly of Austin Eavesdropper