With so much deception in green marketing, finding a designer who is deeply committed to his or her ideals is like a breath of fresh air. For those of us who want to seek out the genuine article, take a peek at someone who really took the plunge: Brook Delorme, the designer behind Brook There.

Based in Portland, Me., the designer makes clothes that not only fit her organic lifestyle but also accommodates the fashion-savvy consumer. Ms. Delorme got her start as a young teenager, just learning the basics from the best teacher of all: herself. With her obvious talent and an extreme attention to detail, it only made sense to translate her passion into a career. 

Brook There soy/bamboo "optional hoodie," $135. (Courtesy of BrookThere.com)

Her inspiration comes from a sustainable lifestyle that is far from ordinary. She works with Locally Known, an organic farming label based in nearby Bowdoinham, Me. She prefers to use sustainably-grown fabrics in her designs, rather than recycled textiles because she feels it inspires innovation. 

Likewise, she concentrates heavily on garments that are unconventional yet functional. With different shapes of styling – asymmetrical necklines, long sleeves with quirky holes cut out for thumbs, offbeat hem lines — she makes clothing to be flattering and comfortable.

With an emphasis on fabric sustainability, some designers find it can be difficult to capture bright colors due to most organic dyes being somewhat dull. In order to fully bring her clothes to life, she uses fiber reactive dyes that have a smaller impact on the environment.

With the right kind of vision, and the patience of trial and error, DIY-ing is actually… doable. Since going green has become widespread, it is much easier for novices to find better fabrics. Brook There exclusively uses fabrics that were developed with sustainability as a priority. Ms. Delorme may have natural talent, but you might have a niche for sewing and reconstruction… but you never know until you take the risk. Go to your local Salvation Army or thrift store and let your inner Project Runway winner come to life.