In a strange bit of serendipity...

Regular readers may remember a little while back a friendly commentor inviting me to "get back to the city and blow [my] wad in Barneys" (it was Jan 28th if you'd like to refer back).

Well, I don't think this is what they had in mind, but...

NEW YORK — Barneys New York is embracing green — the "green" movement, that is. Organic and eco-friendly products will be introduced across all product categories in the company's 17 stores, starting with this month's launch of casualwear collection Loomstate for Barneys Green in its 12 Co-op units. The retailer is also planning a green Christmas with store windows, advertising and holiday catalogues displaying an environment theme. While organic apparel is still a small part of the overall fashion industry — global organic cotton product sales were $583 million in 2005, according to Organic Exchange — Julie Gilhart, Barneys' fashion director, said the issue is on designers' radars. "I feel very encouraged because some of the biggest designers are thinking about this," she said. "It's not a trend. A trend is something that dies. It's a movement." "Green" and fashion have at times seemed like an oxymoron. But Barneys is determined not to make green a crunchy, granola affair and plans to make green products a permanent, and growing, part of its offering. The retailer also is trying to introduce style to a category that's traditionally had as much sex appeal as a burlap sack. "Customers have to have great fashion and great style," said Gilhart, who has been beating the green drum at Barneys. "They're not going to give that up. No way." In addition to Loomstate for Barneys Green, the specialty chain is launching two cosmetics brands, one organic and one all natural; buying nonleather shoes from Stella McCartney, and developing its own line of nonleather handbags, said Gilhart. "There will be other things coming in the store," she added. "We're going to be doing a lot for Christmas." Gilhart, who has seen dramatic runway shows and discovered young, talented designers for the store, said the green movement "is one of the most interesting things that's happened in my fashion career. It's going to change the way we look at fashion. It's definitely permeated the Barneys culture. A year ago, I was not asking [designers] where their clothes were made and what kind of compliance they adhere to. 'Compliance' was not in my vocabulary. I really thought organic was something cool and personal I did outside the workplace and never anything that could be considered in a high-fashion marketplace."

As the friend Nina who tipped me off to this said, not that you need an excuse to shop in Barneys, but...