The Battalion is one of the hottest up-and-coming eco-fashion lines around. This collection of eco-friendly knit & jersey dresses, tops, and jackets made exclusively from bamboo and organic cotton is a favorite among celebs like Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ashley Olsen, Julie Delpy and Tatyana Ali. We recently chatted with with the sisters & designers behind The Battalion, Chrys and Linda, to find out more about what inspires their green style.

What inspires your work? For The Battalion, inspiration often comes from a particular era, a scene from a favorite movie or text from a favorite book. For Spring 2009, the we drew inspiration from the 30's erotic icon, Anais Nin, combining romantic touches with the modern edges of 80's new wave. The design goal is to fuel the brand with plenty of iconic, evocative imagery while being inspired by individual style and contemporary culture. Although the collections have strong narratives, The Battalion silhouettes and palettes will always remain clean and modern in order to maximize wear-ability.

Chrys wants the line to connect with the customer on an emotional level by making references to culture. Linda feels it's important to make clothes for the woman who is full of ambition, and always on the go. She is smart, curious, and in tune of worldly affairs. The Battalion doesn't design clothes that could only be worn once to a party, or basic tees that discourage imagination. The Battalion makes clothes that can be mixed and matched; clothes that are classic but with an edge; well designed but not uptight; simple but original.

Who is your favorite designer? Vivienne Westwood - she is not only a fashion designer but someone who jump-started an entire culture.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? Clothing: The Battalion "Jaclyn" legging pants, Lanvin "le smoking" jacket, Demeulemeester combat boots. Beauty: Stella McCartney's organic 5 BENEFITS MOISTURIZING CREAM; Armani FACE FABRIC.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? Come up with a product that is truly yours, and then expand from there.

Where can people find your work? www.thebattalion.us and on Shopflick.


We love all of the amazing independent designers out there and we wanted to find out more about what makes these creative types tick. If you do too, check out more of our Indie Designer Interviews.