Posts
Future Beauty: 30 years of Japanese Fashion
45 minutes ago
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Clothing of the Future: Predictions from the Past and Present
Gotta love Ecouterre articles that spur a research trip into Youtube. To think that 80 years ago, fashion experts' predictions were to be so spot-on!
Innovation is predictable, perhaps? We now think of technology as a daily essential and it seems perfectly alright to merge technology with next-to-body items we use and carry every day. It is also intriguing to think about the potential of wearable technology to enable user-experience to reach higher levels.
Innovation is predictable, perhaps? We now think of technology as a daily essential and it seems perfectly alright to merge technology with next-to-body items we use and carry every day. It is also intriguing to think about the potential of wearable technology to enable user-experience to reach higher levels.
It's interesting to think about all these advancements in the context of 'costume' and not so much in terms of practical everyday applications, though perhaps a breakthrough is soon to come. And it always helps to have a sense of humour when wearable technology crosses the ludicrous line.
Now to incorporate sustainability and eco-design into the futuristic mix...
Monday, August 29, 2011
More Recycled Paper Furniture
Recycled Paper Furniture that is also truly inspirational modular design!
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| http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2010/03/02/molo-design-paper-softseating-recycled-paper-furniture/ |
Beautifully described:
"softseating uses honeycomb structure and fans open into stools, benches, and loungers. Each piece of softseating has magnetic end panels, allowing an element to connect to itself, forming a cylindrical stool or low table, or to connect to other elements of the same size in series, creating long winding benches and endless possibilities for seating topographies. The beauty of these pieces is that they are sculpturally abstract forms, each made from a single material, that can be used creatively and interchangeably as seating or low tables."
The idea of playing with furniture and space simultaneously seems like infinite fun!
DIY Magazine Stool & Recycled Paper Furniture
...wondering if it would also work with Yellow Pages with the sides painted, and straps made from elastic or discarded bag straps...the base is probably more tricky to source and perhaps needs some carpentry skills...
With all the paper waste that life generates, be it at work or at home, it seems a good/sustainable idea to find new and innovative ways to create raw material through recycling waste paper, use it for furnishing, thus effectively creating new product life-cycles without using up more virgin wood resources...
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| http://www.econesting.com/2011/08/10/diy-magazine-stool/ |
With all the paper waste that life generates, be it at work or at home, it seems a good/sustainable idea to find new and innovative ways to create raw material through recycling waste paper, use it for furnishing, thus effectively creating new product life-cycles without using up more virgin wood resources...
Perhaps the challenge is in durability and long-term functionality in view of daily wear/tear. Paper is still seen as disposable and/or not as strong as conventional furnishing materials such as wood/plastic/leather/etc. We have to rethink the concept of sustainability in our furnishings when considering waste paper as a new raw material.
Below: an inflatable paper sofa from http://www.e-side.co.uk/product/58
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| http://inhabitat.com/take-a-break-on-the-blow-sofa-a-seating-option-made-from-recycled-paper/ |
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Yarn maker opens facility in Yadkinville
RICHARD CRAVER, JOURNAL REPORTER, Winston-Salem Journal
Winston-Salem Journal (North Carolina)
May 5, 2011
Unifi Inc. hopes that its new $8 million Repreve recycling center will not only help sustain the company's return to profitability, but also set the standard for the textile industry.
On Monday, the Greensboro-based yarn manufacturer began running two extrusion lines around-the-clock at the 50,000-square-foot facility on its Yadkinville complex.
"Sustainability is a conscious commitment, and this center is a perfect example of how research and development and reinvestment can work for this industry in this country," Bill Jasper, the chairman and chief executive of Unifi, said Wednesday at the grand opening of the center.
At full production, the center expects to convert about 42 million pounds of recycled products a year -- 31 million pounds of post-consumer plastic bottles and 11 million pounds of post-industrial fiber and fabric waste -- into chips for use in its Repreve polyester yarn.
Reaching that level would result in 900 million plastic bottles being recycled and the equivalent of 16 million gallons of gasoline not being required to make virgin polyester and nylon, the company said.
Read the rest of the article: http://www.waste-management-world.com/index/from-the-wires/wire-news-display/1412371595.html
Winston-Salem Journal (North Carolina)
May 5, 2011
Unifi Inc. hopes that its new $8 million Repreve recycling center will not only help sustain the company's return to profitability, but also set the standard for the textile industry.
On Monday, the Greensboro-based yarn manufacturer began running two extrusion lines around-the-clock at the 50,000-square-foot facility on its Yadkinville complex.
"Sustainability is a conscious commitment, and this center is a perfect example of how research and development and reinvestment can work for this industry in this country," Bill Jasper, the chairman and chief executive of Unifi, said Wednesday at the grand opening of the center.
At full production, the center expects to convert about 42 million pounds of recycled products a year -- 31 million pounds of post-consumer plastic bottles and 11 million pounds of post-industrial fiber and fabric waste -- into chips for use in its Repreve polyester yarn.
Reaching that level would result in 900 million plastic bottles being recycled and the equivalent of 16 million gallons of gasoline not being required to make virgin polyester and nylon, the company said.
Read the rest of the article: http://www.waste-management-world.com/index/from-the-wires/wire-news-display/1412371595.html
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Plastic = Doom
(Even the preview will totally set alarms bells off in your head.)
Are we doomed? What can be done? Can we ever be free of plastic?
HOW can Generation X and Y fix this disgusting legacy of the Baby Boomers and their elders?
HOW can Generation X and Y fix this disgusting legacy of the Baby Boomers and their elders?
Is it even possible?
Monday, May 9, 2011
“I’m inspired. Now what?” – A Beginner’s Guide to Social Change
Six Habits of SOCIAL Entrepreneurs
View more presentations from Charles Tsai
Author: Charles Tsai
Charles Tsai is a journalist, writer, speaker and consultant for social entrepreneurs. He's also the creator of SOCIAL Creatives, a new framework to understand and practice social entrepreneurship through six key best practices.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Where will you get your organic cotton from? | The Ethical Fashion Source
"Organic cotton production rises, but supply is still tight. Textile Exchange reports a 15% rise: India, Syria and Turkey lead.
Designers wishing to align their work with increasing consumer demand for the quality and luxury feel of organic cotton have to re-think their buying strategy – supplies of organic cotton are getting tight, and the leading sustainable textile organization is urging designers, brands and retailers to get closer to the growers. Textile Exchange says that working direct is the best way to ensure continued supplies with an ethical, organic growing and production chain..."
Continue reading: Where will you get your organic cotton from? | The Ethical Fashion Source
Continue reading: Where will you get your organic cotton from? | The Ethical Fashion Source
Gorgeous Jacinta
Friday, April 8, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Greed is Not a Virtue by David Korten | Common Dreams
"We humans are living out an epic morality play. For millennia humanity’s most celebrated spiritual teachers have taught that society works best and we all enjoy our greatest joy and fulfillment when we share, cooperate, and are honest in our dealings with one another.
But for the past few decades, this truth has been aggressively challenged by a faith called market fundamentalism - an immoral and counter-factual economic ideology that has assumed the status of a modern state religion. Its believers worship the God of money. Stock exchanges and global banks are their temples. They proclaim that everyone does best when we each seek to maximize our individual financial gain without regard to the consequences for others.
In the eyes of a market fundamentalist, to sacrifice profit for some presumed social or environmental good is immoral. The result is a public culture that proclaims greed is a virtue and sharing is a sin..."
Continue reading...http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/04/06-0
But for the past few decades, this truth has been aggressively challenged by a faith called market fundamentalism - an immoral and counter-factual economic ideology that has assumed the status of a modern state religion. Its believers worship the God of money. Stock exchanges and global banks are their temples. They proclaim that everyone does best when we each seek to maximize our individual financial gain without regard to the consequences for others.
In the eyes of a market fundamentalist, to sacrifice profit for some presumed social or environmental good is immoral. The result is a public culture that proclaims greed is a virtue and sharing is a sin..."
Continue reading...http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/04/06-0
Sunday, April 3, 2011
New Life for the Art of Lace-Making - WSJ.com
Lace is certainly a specialty fabrication where perhaps the less mass-produced, the more precious it is. In this case, handcrafting in the production process has not yet been adequately replicated/replaced by the machine.
There is also a marked difference between the authentic French/Swiss-produced versions and the stuff produced elsewhere, but perhaps only fabrication nuts would spot this? Perhaps one day Chinese manufacturers will catch up?
When such intricacies are designed into product, do potential consumers realise, or even want to know, about the painstaking labour that has produced this object (be it a garment or accessory) that they have purchased?
Is there a degradation of authenticity and therefore perceived value, when something so trendy/trend-driven explodes into the mass market, or trickles down-market?
How can sustainable fashion designers deal with this barrier of perception and create genuine understanding of the products' value?
As a consumer, would you choose to chase after the real stuff, and pay more? Or just be content with the cheaper and less beautifully-made copy/substitute?
From a design perspective, would you incorporate lace into your product? Is it a sustainable fabrication, and does it have longevity? Or is it simply too difficult to work with/care for? How could we possibly innovate and use newer technologies to produce an alternative that fulfills more sustainability criteria? Laser-cutting, or 3D printing, perhaps?
I have been chasing after vintage Victorian hand-made lace blouses for a while now...no doubt, inspired by the current explosion of lace in fashion, and wanting to acquire for myself, something truly vintage/authentically handmade, so as to see the difference between the old and the new...
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Making and Re-making: a somewhat Photo-fanatical post
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| Pin-cushion with built-in pockets for bobbins, bobbin-cases, and feet, made from a shrunken beanie |
Yes. Lots and lots of pictures. And an embarrassing confession: I keep my trusty little Panasonic camera on hand at all times, but am probably not as trigger-happy as an "aspiring blogger" should be.
And processing/editing/uploading/actual blogging takes a while too (held up by procrastination, of course).
Anyway, a little history of what went down not too long ago...
We did attempt to hold crafting/making sessions at the Richmond Library meeting/function room several times in February 2011, but sadly, the turn-out was rather low. Let's imagine a little tear rolling slowly down my cheek...was it bad timing, short notice, or Facebook being not quite the best way to organise events?
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| Ms. Bell the beading maestro in action |
Even so, many thanks to Allison and Jackie (and Charani, for those few short moments) for coming by to keep me company while some of these projects were underway...perhaps one day Restructors will be able to hold crafting/upcycling/making jam sessions in real style...we can only hope!!!
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| Complete: little girl's multi-functional reversible pinafore/skirt with strap/sash options, made from remnents & scraps |
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| Incomplete: reversible and dual-direction convertible hooded shrug-jacket with adjustable cuffs, turns into a scarf, also made from remnents and scraps |
On a side note, documentation can be such a tiring process, isn't it? The creative working process needs to be evidenced in order to be exhibited, and the creation of evidence is another layer of labour unto itself. Thank goodness for this tree-saving online channel which renders the need for hard-copy printing unnecessary.
What is crucial about this documentation of processes is being able to show in a tangible form all the labour, diligence and thought that contribute to end-product creation.
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| Second-hand bright purple polyester tank top, approx. size 16, before destruction |
Especially in the case of upcycling old/second-hand/discarded garments, where personally I feel a strong need to justify the act of destruction (cutting it up) and reconstruction, through the evidence. And this evidence must not only show experimentation and exploration, but also project a thoughtful and considered process which effectively involves eco-design and sustainability concerns.
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| Reconstruction stage: ombre-dyed second-hand Thai Silk scarf attached to tank, followed by attachment of finger-knitted acrylic yarn cording as trim, sewn on by hand... |
I have to stress that by no means is this a perfect or flawless process, and honestly there is a huge amount of stress to produce an end-result with certain levels of wearability and aesthetic quality. Already, considering cradle-to-cradle fabrication standards, attaching silk to polyester/acrylic could be a big mistake. However, the deterioration of the silk fabric with wear and tear, contrasting in texture and sheen against the polyester over time, would be an intriguing process in itself...
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| Jackie models the reconstructed but incomplete tunic |
The result is an asymmetrical garment that appears to have a different weight on the left and right side, resulting in one sleeve seeming longer than the other. Not having a discernible front or back (which was the intention) could make for an interesting, albeit disorienting, experience for the wearer...and the drape effect was a pleasant surprise.
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| Does it work? Is it too bulky? Is it ugly? Should more be done? |
Another question: was this truly zero-waste? Not exactly. More like "minimal waste"; as in the process of unpicking the side seams and sewing on the silk scarf, some bits had to get trimmed off.
The doubts (one of many) lingering with this garment at present is when to stop; whether or not to insert drawstrings into both the sleeves so as to be able to adjust their length and the overall proportions of the garment itself.
What do you think?
Another line of exploration I have been trying out is arguably a process of "re-fabrication", which is essentially geometrically organised collaging of cut-up fabric scraps from sample books and remnents to form a whole new piece of material to work from, largely inspired by quilting, which was one of my late paternal grandmother's greatest skills.
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| Good collage or bad collage? |
The issues here, outside of colour coordination headaches: combining synthetics with naturals (potential care/maintenance problems galore), construction (lots of bulky seams), and TIME. This process is experimental, excruciatingly slow/tedious and gets increasingly difficult as the size of the composite expands.
I am not even sure this is the best possible configuration of shapes, and probably never will be. The possibilities at this stage are already endless. And then, after these 2D shapes are sewn together, what 3D garment can be sculpted from this quilted piece? More possibilities...
Friday, March 11, 2011
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