Tag Archives: DIY

Princeton Fashion Week: Sustainable Fashion Initiative

Leave a reply

SFI organizers and designers

“It’s like Studio 54 in there” says the security guard as he closes the door, “I don’t know if you’re going to be able to get in.” My coworker and I share a perplexed look; we R.S.V.P.-ed! We arrived early, mingled, and were waiting anxiously, pleasantly surprised to see the large turnout. Luckily, we were able to get into the evening’s exclusive event: the Sustainable Fashion Initiative’s (SFI) Fashion Show. After being counted by the museum staff, we were ushered in and directed to our seats just as the lights dimmed. There might not have been a disco ball in sight, but the evident energy certainly felt like we were at a famous hot spot. The audience hushed and prepared for the show to begin as Co-Founder Jenna Rodrigues took to the podium.

Princeton Fashion Week could not have had a more appropriate ending to the seven-days-long series of events and panels—the show was spectacular and ignited inspiration with every model’s pose. Set against preserved paintings and sculpted statues, one could not help but study the revolutionary art form. Fashion has long been wearable art and an extremely personal expression of one’s self, but until recently, one’s values would often times have to be compromised. Now, with designers like Tabii Just—a brand grounded in a “0% waste” philosophy, even incorporating this mindset into the garments’ designs with beautiful draping and flattering construction (see our Tasha Skirt below, available online at Modavanti.com) and REBORN by Soham Dave—a brand that uses natural dyes and partners with artisans, we as consumers and more importantly, as people, have access to an amazing variety of brands that fit our values without compromising on style.

Seated a few rows behind the action, I was able to take in the scene as a true spectator. How exciting it was to see young, educated, stylish college students point out their favorite pieces as they strolled down the runway or to hear whispering among friends as they exchanged validating eyebrow-raises, confirming “CUTE!” while nodding their heads in agreement.

the Tasha Skirt by Tabii Just takes its final twirl on the runway

Models, designers, and participants alike were decked out in the latest sustainable fashion. “This is from A Peace Treaty!” SFI Co-founder Meg Partidge exclaimed with pride, flashing her jeweled finger. Is it true? Are we finally returning to a place in history where fashion can be regarded as valuable and desirable? We have come a long way since 1954. Perhaps we’ve even entered the future?

Want to learn more about the Sustainable Fashion Initiative at Princeton University? DIY: Be fashainable and check out the SFI’s first edition of VERTE magazine, the new e-zine publication for sustainable fashion.

sustainable jewelry at the SFI’s brand showcase

Be sure to view more photos like the one above from the Brand Showcase (held before the fashion show) to find products from A Peace Treaty, Indego Africa, and more!

Sustainable Style – Choose Eco-Friendly Fashion

Leave a reply

^ special thanks to writer Eve for her take on how to be ‘fashainable’ in this guest post:

Anyone with an ear to the fashion grapevine will know that sustainability is totally on-trend right now. Medical advancements mean that infant mortality rates have dropped hugely and we are now living longer than ever before – with the result that our clothing consumption has hit an all-time high. This means higher production rates, an increase in the number of designers wanting to break into this tough industry and, above all, a need for more and more materials.

Sustainable fashion, also known as eco fashion, has begun to infiltrate local chain stores as well as the catwalks, with designers from the top down using fair trade workers and non-toxic dyes in order to make a sustainable statement.

Understanding Eco Fashion

Many people assume that eco fashion is all about recycled fabrics and clothes made from leaves, but this is not true at all. There are a number of different ways you can make a difference to the way you shop without changing your style at all – in fact, you could already be eco-shopping without knowing it!

For example, if you choose faux fur over the genuine article or avoid leather like the plague, you are already following a vegan fashion pattern. Vegans will not wear (or eat) any animal by-product, therefore keeping fur and leather well away from their wardrobes. Or maybe you prefer your fashion one of a kind and therefore buy handmade items? In doing this, you are helping to cut down on waste which is created by mass manufacturing, whilst also ensuring you are buying a quality product which is created to last for years. This cuts down the need to constantly replace worn or damaged clothing, and thus saves the planet. Easy, huh?

There are plenty of resources out there which provide information on sustainable fashion, and once you understand how many ways there are to adopt a sustainable wardrobe, making the switch is a piece of cake.

How You Can Help

So you’ve already decided to cross-check every label for toxic dyes and sworn off anything which isn’t made from organic materials – excellent! You’ve taken a huge step forward and are definitely doing your bit for sustainable shopping. Yet the part many people forget is what to do with the clothes once you’ve finished with them. Shockingly many people forget that clothing and textiles are just as recyclable as plastics, cardboard and glass, and as a result tons of unwanted clothes end up on landfill sites every year. However, it is estimated that up to 95 per cent of these items could be re-worn, re-used or recycled. In that case – why not get creative?

Donating an unwanted sweater to charity or shredding up and old shirt to use as a cleaning cloth is a good place to start, but hardly the most inventive use of the materials at hand. An old pair of jeans with a hole in the knee could be turned into a cute pair of Daisy Dukes or a new purse, while the unused bottom half could be cut up, dyed or redesigned and turned into patches to customise other items. Sometimes, of course, things are too damaged to be saved or re-used, but this is where the true meaning of recycling comes in. Textile fibres or insulating materials can be created from these garments in an ideal example of preventing waste.

Smart Stores

Fortunately, fashion chain stores are now beginning to realise the impact our massive demand for new clothes is having on our planet. Last year, Zara announced its commitment to going toxic-free by reducing the number of hazardous chemicals used in its garment production, while H&M has recently launched an ethical fashion range called Conscious. As well as cutting down on the amount of water used in denim production and committing to using only organic cotton, the retailer is also rewarding customers for dropping off bags of recyclable clothing by giving them money off vouchers for each bag donated. It is very clear that the fashion world is embracing sustainability in a way few other industries are – while clothing manufacturers are making an attempt to use non-toxic dyes in clearing our waterways, the pharmaceutical industry continues to dump harmful materials in the system, for example.

As consumers, we dictate the trends, the styles and the way things are produced; or to put it more simply, if we don’t buy it they won’t make it. By raising awareness of the need for sustainability in all industries, we truly can change the world.

“A recent New York Times article confirms Kline’s observation. In the article, trend
experts and style leaders admit that trends are no longer the all -powerful dictum
they once were. Thanks largely in part to the internet, consumers now have access
to an unprecedented wealth of style information and are beginning to trust their
own interpretation and personal taste rather than mimicking select trends diffused
via fashion advertising and shop windows.”

BSR report leads the way in encouraging us consumers to define our own sense of sustainability

SLOW DOWN fast-fashion & UPcycle

1 Reply

My last post was a selection of a few DIY: Aztec/Geo/Tribal print projects as found on Pinterest. Maybe you visited the upcycle Board for more DIYs and How-tos or maybe you’re asking wait, what does it even mean to “upcycle?”

The board’s description reads: “Re-wear an old garment, wear vintage, add a special detail, buy clothing made from recycled materials, or learn how-to DIY and up your fashion sense.” What’s the best part about upcycling? Just like your own style, it’s up to YOU to define!

Pinterest

Pinterest

Personally, I like to upcycle by recycling different looks in my closet. Also, I try not to buy an item of clothing unless I know I can wear it at least three different ways, especially crossing over between formal and casual. *THINK: this ’1 skirt, 5 looks’ Pin* Need a little help? Get dressed with my tips or get organized with closet consulting services like those offered by LA Closet Design.

Pinterest

Pinterest

Help the environment, save money, and go shwopping at your local Goodwill or Salvation Army to upstage the status-quo in a unique find. Can’t find a thrift store in your ‘hood? There are a number of online e-commerce retailers that offer ways to upcycle with vintage designs like Fab.com or ModCloth.

Fab.com

ModCloth

ModCloth

Not really a vintage fan? Other sites like Modavanti and ahalife let you Do-It-Yourself and shop by customized criteria like products made out of recycled or upcycled materials.

Modavanti Sustainable Fashion Boutique

Feeling crafty? Go big! Grab an old belt and up-cycle it into a new bag:

Pinterest

Pinterest

or go small and just add some lace detailing to an old sweater:

Pinterest

Pinterest

Do you recycle at home?

Find a cool gym bag made from recycled materials like this Cliff Bar wrapper TerraCycle bag

Pinterest

Pinterest

or this fresh-for-summer Fruit & Veggie tote from Stop Traffick Fashion that also provides employment for Cambodian women

Pinterest

Pinterest

Like other terms in the ‘slow’ movement from sustainable to glocal, upcycle is another organic term with a variety of meanings. The holistic concept is that fashion—like food, materials, learning, and culture—should be re-used and preserved, not wasted.

So, let’s slow fashion down and upcycle.

Make 2013 green with a fashion cleanse.

Leave a reply

The Zone diet. Grapefruits galore. Paleo or Vegan. From Low-fat to Atkins and more. Last year it was just juicing. The newest diet craze? A fashion cleanse. Shed the pounds from your closet hangers and dresser drawers by discarding leftovers from years’ past. Improve your wardrobe’s well-being with a design detox by recycling looks or investing in high-quality, people and planet-friendly outfits.

To ring in the New Year why not wring your wardrobe of its extra garments and give away any unnecessary items? For a guaranteed way to lose the weight of worrying about the latest in-thing just look inside yourself. “Buy a new coat to make you feel better!” the guy from “What Not To Wear” exclaims for Macy’s BIGGEST-EVER New Year’s Sale; he screams this declared diagnosis for mental health issues on the television screen. His backdrop? Shiny beginnings bright with promise as images of impeccably-trimmed figures pretend to lift weights or jump high with glee as they reach for the impeccably-timed figures denoting 70% off, the BIGGEST-EVER markdowns to sell-through the retailer’s full stock.

No, Clinton Kelly, I don’t need that new coat to make me feel better. No, Macy’s, I won’t rush to the store or fall for you online, even with your hook of free shipping, to gobble up what you’re throwing out. Just as we have become empowered as consumers to fight the fast food epidemic, confidently opting not to pick the ketchup red and mustard yellow Big Mac, so, too, can we fight our Fast Fashion fix, confidently opting for fresher, green picks. Like many readily-available conveniences in our fast-paced world, big box retailers have capitalized on our changing times—take the “H&M effect” of churning out unhealthy choices—tossing out the season’s projections quicker than a batch of the day’s deep-fried selections. But the times they are still a changin’ for now we have evolved social tools to fight the big retail chains’ advertisement reels telling us how we should look and feel.

Whether you believe that technology has advanced to meet our needs or that we’ve evolved because of an advancement in technology, social media is arguably an online reflection of an offline social revolution. There are political and economic influences, too, with increased government transparency, the rise of B Corporations, and CSR incorporation; this has created opportunities for genuine sustainable development initiatives, for inauthentic “greenwashing” tactics, and for brands like H&M to highlight their conscious actions.

Marketers know that time is of the essence, perpetually flooding our senses with urgency and stuffing us with overwhelm. But guess what: the world did not end. We made it this far; we were able to sustain. Now, it’s time for a come back in order for our culture to maintain. So, let’s welcome the year 2013 with open arms and embrace the 2013 collections with a full mind. As our eyes feast on the latest and greatest fashion statements off the runways and in window displays, let’s #DoItOurselves and make a shared fashion resolution to consume fewer, mindless trends and produce a more mindful, timeless mindset.

From old bottle caps to new office chaps.

Leave a reply

“Where’d you get those earrings?” It was during study hall in high school and I was asking a girl a grade ahead of me named Leah. “Oh,” she replied, “I made them!” Pleasantly surprised, I was like wow, cool, the coolest—or so I thought. Unfortunately, some would discredit her genius gems by questioning the difficulty in the pair’s design. Sure, while the actual construction might not have been extremely advanced (seemed to be a puncturing of a metal bottle cap and an insertion of a hook), the actual idea behind the designer’s creations was extremely modern. Leah and I lived close to one another in the same small community and we soon became friends, bonding over goofy inclinations and inklings of travel. Her creativity and confidence were endearing qualities that I always admired; I mean, she was “upcycling” bottle caps into earrings before DIY was the next BIG thing!

Last year, I moved to New York and found myself living in Greenpoint, bordering Williamsburg. I was fresh out of college and it was a pleasant surprise to again find myself as part of a community. I soon became acquainted with that little Polish neighborhood of artistry, couples, industrialism, and families, often exploring the many mom-and-pop shops and local artisans’ offerings. Working in the city, I soon realized that Leah’s office wasn’t far from mine in the same area of the Fashion District—how funny life is to have an adolescent memory catch up with you in adulthood.

We did catch-up, on a meet-up one day, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that she was still making jewelry. An FIT graduate, she was working for a popular brand while developing her own brand. I had actually seen some of her work on her Facebook page and was eager to own my own piece. During our talk I placed an order, which she accepted and promised to fill right away. It’s no surprise that Leah’s work has gained popularity (a former schoolmate even asked her to design her wedding bands) since her creative confidence is reflected in her line.

Now on Etsy.com, Leah Rose Damour Jewlery is an eclectic mix of classically-constructed collections with a whimsical flare. Take my custom-made gold necklace: the quirky tooth, an upcycled crest from a local dentist, is a fun symbol of a deeper connection as my grandfather was a dentist and a person whom I adored, often draping me in his knowledge. When draped around my neck, the brilliantly-finished molar reminds me to think wisely because it reminds me of him. Etsy has enabled the connection of hundreds of thousands of artists like Leah to advertise and sell their creations to happy customers like myself.

Such a connection is shared between dozens of special occasion party-goers and a former colleague of mine who is exceptionally skilled in analysis, baking, and jewelry-making. Our Merchandising team members would showcase their hidden culinary talents, often times bringing in baked goods to share. My team’s Assistant Planner, Hilary, was always trying the latest baking gadgets and recipes; it was a truly delightful discovery to find that this stellar business grad also had a creative side! Unbeknownst to me at the time, Hilary was quite the entrepreneur who turned out to have her own merchandise online at Etsy in her bloom belle shop. Her line of floral jewelry designed for special occasions is named Hilary Caroline Jewlery and her name is now aligned with a successful launch of an online boutique based out of her hometown.

Home-made treats don’t have to be edible—with local artisan markets in places like Greenpoint or your hometown and with handmade marketplaces like Etsy bringing hometown designers from around the world to your computer —they can be wearable! Do you want to be pleasantly surprised? Look out for the Leah in your life or the Hilary in your hallway and make room for something sweet.

Do you know someone like Leah or Hilary who creates inspiration? Tweet @fashainable with the person’s website/information and the hashtag #inspirate to share a pleasant surprise!

Fashion manifesto.

1 Reply

Are you suffering from any of the following symptoms?

Do you feel a lack of inspiration as you slide back yet another hanger complete with an ill-fitting look-alike garment? Or maybe an overwhelming sense of underwhelm is felt as you push your cart by the sea of cold, metal racks of unappealing cookie-cutter items? Perhaps you instead find yourself elbowing your way through disorganized clothing chaos or frantically searching for that second shoe of what should be a matching pair, wondering the worth in your search as chances are, it probably won’t even be your size.

Fight the epidemic!

Maybe you’ve already self-diagnosed and are now on a personal quest on how to consume less. If you know you suffer from a case of over-consumption and want to fight the epidemic, get dressed for the fashion revolution.

Are you still unsure if you’re a victim?

If the traditional woes of shopping listed above leave you feeling unmotivated to put yourself through such an ordeal, you might be at risk. Maybe you’ve already abandoned the traditional form of retail therapy and prefer the at-home treatment, instead shopping online at your favorite stores’ sites. Or perhaps you are constantly mobile and find that your cell phone is host to most of your purchases? Such technological advances coupled with the information revolution has created an environment in which customers like you can conveniently shop from behind the digital screen after reading everything from product reviews to fabric care instructions.

Despite the interconnectedness between consumer and retailer that now exists, I myself can’t help but feel more disconnected than ever from the products found both on and off-line. Regardless of whether you call the “bricks” or the “clicks” your battleground, the consumption crisis is an internal struggle; it lives inside each and every one of us. I’m talking less about the physical inability to try on a pair of jeans or feel its stitched threads and more about the mental inability to see the person whose pair of hands stitched the jeans instead. Luckily, there are proven remedies to mend the disconnect, including an advantage of the Information Age; this new ability to socially connect, that we can adopt individually and collectively scale-up.

Join the fashion revolution!

United with fellow citizens of the States, the goal of fashainable is to bring America to the forefront of the sustainable fashion revolution. With your help, we as consumers can change the industry by pointing fashion in the right direction. We need to join the ranks of Japan and the UK, Bangladesh, Canada, and Australia, in fighting for more ethical practices; it’s time we adopt the notion of a new manifest destiny for the global fashion industry.

By first choosing to be as mindful as we are about our food choices as we are about our fashion choices to ultimately taking local action by proposing national changes, we can work together and demand global involvement to evolve the fashion industry into a force as influential as the widespread food revolution.

Together, we can fashion a revolution, shaped by US! If you are sick of being a fashion victim and want to prescribe change, make it a point to be more fashainable. Make an appointment with fashainable.com for tailored options on how to re-claim retail and make sustainable fashion a good old-fashioned American value.