As PETA would say, how do we “feed two birds with one scone,” when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint while also checking off all the names from the gift-giving list? The nonprofit, Women and Climate and sustainable fashion marketplace, The Canvas had a holiday party celebrating exactly that.
Spring Studios’ Mindfulness in Fashion talk, hosted by Alo, featured panelists Bianca Quiñes AKA Quin, Christa Janine, Kirat Randhawa, and Hilary Rhoda discuss mental health in their fields and how it plays into the fashion industry at large. Moderator Chrissy Rutherford asked meaningful questions to discover real experiences, learned habits, and more from each of the panelists. Christa and Kirat shared how growing up in religious homes focused on mental health as something that could be solved by prayer, and how they had to learn that “what it means to be well [for them] is different from what [they] were taught it meant to be well” (Randhawa). Panelists stressed the abundance mindset over the scarcity mindset, and then went into work life balance. Quin advised to “tell yourself [self-care/mindfulness] is non-negotiable, like brushing your teeth” in order to make it a priority. In order to show up for others and in the workplace, you must first show up for yourself and make sure that you’re able to care for yourself. Mindfulness is a “necessary means to be of service to the world” (Randhawa). We’ve all experienced the culture of busy-ness: those who seem frazzled by all they have going on, are perceived to be working harder – but we need to reframe the narrative to recognize that those who are calm and grounded aren’t necessarily not pushing themselves professionally. Overall, the fashion industry and other professional industries are slowly coming around to honor individuals’ mindfulness journeys, there’s still a long way to go. People are rapidly transforming their own self-care routines, and employers are going to have to catch up.
The next talk we attended focused on “quality, eco-conscious design that lasts a lifetime” from fashion to home design. Presented by LoveSac and moderated by Kerry Pieri, panelists Shawn Nelson, Abrima Erwiah, Olivia Ponton, Laura Hodges discussed The Long-term Luxury of Sustainability. Climate consequences affect everybody, and if they don’t feel real, it’s due to privilege and they’re guaranteed to catch up fast. LoveSac (who recently debuted a collection with Alice & Olivia) recycled 350 plastic bottles per couch, and is trying to lead the charge to make good design synonymous with sustainability. Currently, a misconception exists within the industry: you have to compromise on quality design to get sustainable products (think: bottlecap wall art, stiff plasticky rug) – but this is false. Additionally, the most sustainable item is the one you already have. Furniture design cycles used to be every 30 years and every 10 for fashion, but social media has been speeding up the process, and companies are racing to produce more output to satisfy this demand. Ultimately, all the panelists agreed that the biggest companies have the biggest input, so they need to get on board to make a significant difference.
The final talk I attended, Ten Years of Costuming the New York City Ballet Fall Fashion Gala, featured panelists Gianna Reisen, Marc Happel, Humberto Leon, Zac Posen talking about their experiences costuming the NYC Ballet. Donya Archer Bommer moderated a conversation designed for dance, in advance of the iconic Fashion Gala. The Ballet’s Gala features historic costumes over 50 years old that are still in use, as well as new design collaborations. The Ballet has collaborated with over 30 designers, first starting with Valentino back in 2012, under the direction of Vice Chair Sarah Jessica Parker. This Gala is the only time that costumes come first at the New York City Ballet – usually, designers need to prioritize lightness and movement to complement dancers’ movements. It’s also an opportunity for designers to try something outside their comfort zones and outside the usual world of fashion. Humberto Leon spoke about his experience bringing social commentary into his designs for the ballet – he looked at the dancers’ social media to learn about each dancers’ individual style, based their costumes off that, and put them in sneakers. This collection for 2016, meant to be a political protest, is still going around the fashion and dance world 6 years later. He also brought the collaboration back into the fashion world by having dancers be models in his fashion shows. They would “fall”, eliciting horrified gasps from the audience, and rise in a graceful way that showed the entire effect was intentional. In this way, both designers Zac Posen and Humberto Leon illustrated how they needed to reflect the dancer’s essence and the heart of the piece itself in their costumes. The fashion collaborations by the Ballet are a beautiful example of collaboration between two beloved NYC industries.
World Environment Day is celebrated annually every June 5th, and it’s important. I want to save the planet for my future grandchildren so they don’t all die on a fiery earth that my generation helped create.
In the world of fashion today, fast fashion versus sustainability if often the topic of conversation.
Recently, adidas held a one-day pop up event in New York City promoting sustainable fashion and some of its biggest players. This event is tied to Adidas’ larger Choose to Give Back initiative, launched earlier his year, which invites customers to send new or used products from any brand back to adidas through the adidas Creator’s Club App to be resold or reused. As part of adidas’ ongoing mission to help End Plastic Waste, and in an effort to motivate consumers to properly dispose of clothing and other goods they no longer need this holiday season, all pieces on display at the pop-up shop will be available for purchase not in dollars, but for weight in worn goods.
“Clothing waste is a mounting problem, but facing it head-on and shifting towards a circular future will be our solution. At adidas, we see it as our responsibility to bring our consumers along on the journey and create awareness of how purchase choices – from opting for an upcycled shoe to donating end-of-life clothing – can make a huge impact,” said Katja Schreiber, adidas SVP of Sustainability. “We’re excited to bring this activation to life to show consumers that there can be a different, more sustainable model for fashion.”
This fun event, held on December 11th, showcased a “range of one-of-a-kind, vintage and upcycled collections from some of the leading voices in sustainable fashion, including: Theophilio, Ji Won Choi, Basketcase Gallery, Eva Joan Repair, Frankie Collective,Beepy Bella, and Tyranny & Mutation.” Guests were able to bring items from home to be repaired by Eva Joan and there was live screen-printing courtesy of Basketcase Gallery. Additionally guests were encouraged to bring old and used clothing from home in exchange for points which could be used to purchase the custom upcycled fashion on display. Adidas held a press preview before opening the event to the public. The Knockturnal attended the press preview in the morning and even stayed until nearly all the racks were cleared, which didn’t take long.
“Sustainability is instrumental in how we produce our pieces, so we are thrilled to be developing a bespoke collection made entirely of upcycled product from a brand that shares in our values,” shared Theophilio designer and 2021 CFDA emerging designer winner Edvin Thompson.
Here’s a breakdown of the amazing designers present at the event:
We also got an exclusive interview with Frankie Collective Creative Director, Sara Gourlay:
The Knockturnal: We’re here today to help promote sustainability in fashion, can you talk about some of the negatives of fast fashion?
Sara Gourlay: From promoting more consumption to stealing ideas of small designers to not paying workers fairly to using toxic materials, the list goes on regarding how awful and terrible it is.
The Knockturnal: Who are some of your fashion inspirations?
Sara Gourlay: Right now Aleali May she’s definitely my inspiration, she just launched a Barbie Doll that looks like her. I almost had a tear in my eye because as a little girl I would have loved that – to see a) a barbie that looked like me but also have my style. I think what she’s doing is amazing.
The Knockturnal: What can fans expect from Frankie Collective in 2022?
Sara Gourlay: We’re getting into new production, cut and sew, it’s a long process that started 2.5 years ago which involved finding factories that wanted to work with us and finding the sustainable natural material, so it’s been a long time coming, but if we’re going to put something new out into the world it has to be made out of ethical materials and made ethically.
For more information on how to participate in Choose to Give Back and join Creators Club, visit https://www.adidas.com/us/creatorsclub.
The modern-day definition of sustainable living describes a person’s attempt to reduce the use of natural resources.
Sustainability is the new black!
On Wednesdays, we talk about eating more sustainably- at least that’s what NeueHouse’s Creative Couple Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik do. “I had always thought that eating healthy was more so something you do just to look awesome,” recalled Deschanel.
Environmental impact, product transparency, and sustainability are becoming a key focus for the beauty industry. Brands like Natura have been committed to sustainability, transparency, and conscience of their environmental impact from day one. Founded by Luiz Sebra in 1969, Natura’s first store was opened in Brazil and has now become an international top beauty brand.
Any Anthropologie or Urban Outfitters customer knows Brooklyn Candle Studio, the company behind the minimalist jars that house natural fragrances simultaneously comfortingly familiar while reminiscent of somewhere new. And now, Brooklyn Candle Studio offers a candle that embodies their own memories of the borough they call home.