Series 8. Eco Icon No. 1
Music to the eyes.
Veronique Lamarre’s upcycled CD case lighting collection
We all know that CDs have been rendered almost obsolete as music has become digitalised. So what to do with the mountains of newly redundant CD jewel cases? Veronique Lamarre found a creative solution to the problem by creating a lighting collection that reuses these cases and ticks all the boxes of form, function and planet. Using jewel cases and CDs as the base material for a dynamic graphic collection of shades, she has given a second life and purpose to the huge volume of redundant CD packaging
Lamarre’s work succeeds at all levels as her lighting design is both covetable and sustainable.; Finding eco particularly loves her Louis Poulson inspired artichoke lamp called ‘ No more music Mr Henningson”
Veronique Lamarre is the perfect example of what happens when design, vision and talent combine to show us that it’s not always the content that shines…in her CD case lighting collection it’s definitely the packaging!
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Tags: about finding eco, artichoke lamp, carbon footprint, cd jewel case design, design, eco design, eco objects of desire, environment, louis poulson, Orianna Fielding, repurposed lighting, social good, sustainable design, veronique lamarre, vision spring
Series 7. Eco Icon No.19
The human side of fashion :Life changing storytelling T’s, healing through shared experiences.
Often in life when we are faced with difficult life challenges like the loss of a loved one, we do everything we can to get through them and in time re – build and move on, However we can all learn from the visionary way Brett Novek dealt with the loss of his father to Lymphoma, As a way of keeping the memory of his dad alive and as a place where other people could also share their personal life-changing stories, Brett Novek started good hYOUman.
He created a concept T shirt and accessory line that featured the stories that people share on the company’s website . This not only helps to raise awareness towards the individuals struggling with life-threatening diseases but they are also a way of healing through sharing a deeply emotional experience.
Brett donates ten percent of all proceeds from the clothing line towards helping the 90,000 people or so diagnosed with Leukemia and Lymphoma every year.
Good hYOUman is a perfect and inspiring example of the growing swell of social businesses. As Brett says, “everyone has a story, and we get out inspiration from the stories you share with us.”
Finding Eco loves this concept as we believe that all businesses should have a triple bottom line because ‘putting back’ is where real value come from.
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Tags: about finding eco, Brett Novek, finding eco, Good hyouman, icons, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Orianna Fielding, shared stories, social business
Series7. Eco Icon No.18.
Inspirational jewellery by EKO-LAB
Designer/ visual artists Xing-Zhen Chung-Hilyard and Melissa Kirgan,are EKO- LAB
They view the creative process as a holistic, almost spiritual experience which translates into beautiful, ephemeral works spanning, fashion, jewellery, accessories and installations.
Their mission statement expresses their vision perfectly:-
“Creativity is a deep unconscious force. A process that reveals the unseen see-able and dreams reality. There’s a peace that comes from designing that in some small way we’re making the every-day more beautiful.”
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Tags: about finding eco, eco design, eco objects of desire, eko-lab, jewellery, Melissa Kirgan, Orianna Fielding, sustainable design, visual artists, Xing-Zhen Chung-Hilyard
Series 7.Eco Icon No.17.
‘Surprise Surprise‘ light by Stephen Johnson
In the same way that Jeff Koons challenged our perceptions of every day objects by playing with their scale ….London based designer Stephen Johnson has designed this delightful, oversized and witty light made out of semi- transparent PET, as part of his ‘surprise, surprise’ collection.
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Tags: about finding eco, carbon footprint, eco design, eco objects of desire, hand made, Jeff Koons, no wastage, Orianna Fielding, PET, Stephen johnson, Surprise surprise, sustainable design
Series7. Eco Icon no.16
BOXING CLEVER.
‘RE-PLY‘ Re purposed cardboard recliner
by Dan Goldstein
When is a a cardbox box not a cardboard box? When it falls into the hands of Dan Goldstein. In this witty , no wastage, recycled furniture collection names Re-Ply or perhaps it should have been called ‘re-apply’!!. This core concept for this project according to designer Dan Goldstein is a rather unique appraoch to both form and method, using broken-down boxes that would otherwise be discarded as garbage to form a reclining lounge chair.
Based in San Francisco,the Re-PLY chair is inspired by designer seats, with its sleek lines and mid century references it would grace any contemporary interior.
The Re-PLY Chair has a few features that sets it apart from other cardboard furniture creations available in the recycled market place. It is reclinable for maximum comfort.The metal base is either powdercoated or zing-plated and the overall dimensions are 30” L x 23” D x 25.5” H It is also available with a felt or faux fur cover and Dan is currently looking for funding to develop the range via Kickstarter.
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Tags: about finding eco, cardboard, dan goldstein, eco design, eco objects of desire, environment, hand made, no wastage, off cuts, Orianna Fielding, re-ply chair, recycled, recycled recliner, San Francisco
Series 7. Eco Icon No.15
‘Just mustard‘ shopper-holic re-useable tote
We are living in a world where the days of plastic bags are thankfully numbered. Re-useable bags are becoming an every day necessity – yet rarely do we find a tote that is as witty, well designed and portable as the ‘ shopper-holic re-useable tote by ‘Just Mustard’.
Designed to look like a designer bag at first glance it is, however, a reusable tote designed to fold up into a little pouch, which can be opened up when needed. The compact nature of its design means it is totally portable- and can be carried around in a handbag and used easily when required.
In an effort to cut down on waste, most stores are encouraging the use of reusable shopping totes by charging customers money for a standard plastic bag. Thegreat thing about the Shopper-holic is its high end design. Form and function in perfect unison….a findingeco’ must!
This concept could be expanded to include a male collection with a series of ‘manbag’ designs! Let’s watch this space!
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Tags: about finding eco, eco design, eco objects of desire, environment, justmustard, Orianna Fielding, re-useable tote, shopper-holic re-useable tote
Series 7. Eco Icon No.14
‘Alter Ego‘ armoire by Mieke Meijer
Dutch designer Mieke Meijer first created the ‘Alter Ego’ cabinet in 2009. It is a witty contemporary homage to the Baroque ornateness of previous centuries. This five piece modular armoire can be assembled to reveal an image of a gold antique cabinet or can be used as five separate storage units.
The ‘Alter Ego’ cabinet can be deconstructed and reconstructed according to taste and functionality. It can be as representational or as abstract as you wish. Finding Eco loves the simple, elegant and adaptable design with its gilded classic references and recycled wood structure.
Order yours now from:
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Tags: about finding eco, alter ego cabinet, dutch design, eco objects of desire, Mieke Meijer, modular furniture, Orianna Fielding, vintage, wood
Series 7. Eco Icon No.13
CJY’s ” Wood Be” Collection
London based designer CJ studied at Central Saint Martins and graduated in 2012. Her latest collection called “Wood Be”,(a play on words), is inspired by the shapes and construction of ancient musical instruments.
CJ re-created them combining wooden pieces with knitted and crocheted forms creating tubes, lines, strings and fringes, as well as waves expressed in different visual ways. , The knitted and crochetted elements were used as the connection between wood and fabric.
The collection also aims to explore the idea of using natural alternative material as the primary source, such as wood, which is one of the most treasure ways to communicate with nature, and to refine the traditional techniques of wood and crafts .
CJ says:
“EACH OF THE UNIQUE PIECES REPRESENTS MY PERSONAL IMPRESSION OF IDEAL WOMEN WHO THEY“WOOD BE”
The focus of the collection is on exploring the combination of traditional technique and contemporary cuts in a subtle way.
This fluid yet inherently architectonic collection is destined to become a collection of collectible , unique – one off pieces. Order yours now!!!
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Tags: about finding eco, architectonic, Central Saint Martins, CJY, crochetted, eco design, hand made, icons, knitted, musical instruments, Orianna Fielding, wood
Series 7. Eco Icon No.12
Iconic recycled paper accessories by Mary Design
Hats made of newspaper always bring to mind , a basic folded boat -shaped effort , best left to pre- school experts. However Mary Design at the Minas Trend Preview in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, has crafted an exquisite collection of , catwalk worthy, graphic, iconic head and neck pieces that have taken fine layered, recycled paper mache from the humble beginnings of an art project to the international fashion arena.
The Ga-Ga esque head pieces that would not look out of place on the cover of Vogue are inspired by historical hat shapes such as the 1920′s cloche hat , another refers to planetary rings, a third re-interprets African ceremonial head gear and turns it into a Stephen Jones worthy iconic piece.
The creative process behind these extraordinary accessories centres on a refined paper mache technique that preserves the finely layered print, which is legible when viewed at close proximity- adding another dimension to the wonders of this collection. If ever there was a collection of pieces worthy of the ‘finding eco’ Eco Icon title – this is it!!! Paper recycling like you’ve never seen before!!!
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Tags: about finding eco, catwalk worthy, eco design, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, environment, fine print, iconic head pieces, icons, Mary Design Brazil, Orianna Fielding, recycled layered paper mache, Stephen jones
Series 7. Eco Icon No.11
‘You are part of the package‘ UEG ‘lifestyle packaging‘ collection
The Polish UEG collective have launched their second project called ‘Lifestyle Packaging’ that they have defined as their [ MANIFESTO] “ Made entirely of Tyvek a fully recyclable fabric made by Dupont essentially for workwear uniforms, it has a finish that resembles paper and forms the basis for the graphics that UEG have applied to the collection.
A form of ‘wearing their politics on your sleeve’ UEG ‘s work is inspired by Polish political heroes, Roman Polanski films and socio political philosophies.
“LIFESTYLE PACKAGING” IS THE SECOND UEG PROJECT, AND HAS NOW
BECOME THE CONSTANTLY EXPANDING AND CHANGING MAIN UEG LINE.
INSPIRED BY PACKAGING AND BRANDING, THIS PROJECT INTERLINKS
THESE CONCEPTS WITH YOUR CLOTHING AND THE PORTABLE DEVICES,
DOCUMENTS, NOTEBOOKS AND OTHER BELONGINGS YOU CARRY WITH
YOU EACH DAY. UEG IS THE PACKAGING FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE.
SIMILARITY IS CHARACTERISTIC OF EVERYTHING THAT IS.
EVERYTHING THAT IS IS SIMILAR.
EACH OF US IS SIMILAR TO SOMEONE ELSE.
DO NOT BE SOLITARY, BE SIMILAR.
A UNIFORM IS THE IMAGE OF YOUR SIMILARITY.
YOUR ‘I’ BECOMES THE IMAGE OF THE UNIFORM.
OTHERS ARE NOT OTHER IF YOU ARE THE SAME.
SIMILARITY GUARANTEES CLEANLINESS.
CLEANLINESS IS THE NEW LOVE.
LOVE DERIVES FROM SIMILARITY.
WHITE IS THE COLOUR OF PURE AND SIMILAR LOVE.
WHITE IS BEAUTIFUL.
BEAUTY IS FLEETING.
LOVE IS PERISHABLE.
WHITE IS AS FLEETING AND PERISHABLE
AS BEAUTY AND LOVE
AND FADES TO GREY.
YOUR LIFE IS SHORT AND FADES TO GREY.
YOUR LIFE IS LIKE THE COLOUR WHITE –
BEAUTIFUL, PERISHABLE AND DOOMED TO FADE.
USE IT AND THROW IT AWAY.
Their mission statement also form part of the graphics applied to their fully recyclable ,much sought after hoodies.
It is inspiring to see ethical designers considering the end of life cycle of their products also.
Find them at: www.ueg-store.com
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Tags: about finding eco, carbon footprint, dupont, eco design, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, end of life cycle, fashion forward, lifestyle packaging, Orianna Fielding, recycled packaging, sustainable design, tyvek, ueg poland
Series 7. Eco Icon No.10
Henrietta Ludgate -fashion’s meteoric star of Responsible luxury launches her ’stunning, seasonless and sublime‘ 2012 collection at Esthetica, LFW, London.
Finding Eco has been a fan of Henrietta Ludgate since her early years as a designer. She has since gone on to pioneer her very particular brand of architectonic, luxurious, slow and responsible couture that has graced the ultimate selection of global red carpets via her unofficial brand ambassador ‘Livia Firth’.
Her collections are designed as a fusion of future proof ,contemporary classics with a minimalist glamour that will look good season after season. A ‘Henrietta Ludgate’ capsule collection which embodies the philosophy of timeless, seasonless dressing is an essential for every contemporary woman who subscribes to the ‘buy less, buy better’ school of dressing.
Her signature collections feature structural, strong shapes with minimalist lines in luxurious British fabrics… The designs are sophisticated with an edge. A combination of sharp lines and drapes which follow the contours of the body. With references to Schiapararelli’s view of clothing as a type of architecture; she believed that clothing should be closely connected to the frame of the body, just as a building’s form is drawn from its structural skeleton.”
For Spring/Summer 2012 there is perfect poolside glamour in Futuristic neon and retro jewel brights and sheer textures inspired by the summer of love and retro sixties minimalism. Her pieces reflect the rebellious spirit and experimentation of the 60s . The modern, minimalist design imbues the pieces with sophistication whilst the high hemlines and flattering tailoring gives the collection a sultry, sexy dimension. The luxurious fabrics highlight the exclusive nature of Henrietta’s clothes, this season she has used eco stretch silk satin causing the garments to gently cling to the body providing an excellent fit. The accessories are as directional as the clothes and feature belts are made from ecologically sourced plastic and the nail art worn by the models, provided by innovative beauty brand Nail Rock, is inspired by the very same material. The bright, almost neon, colours of the plastic being the perfect compliment to both the collection and Henrietta’s commitment to sustainable fashion.
Henrietta’s philosophy is one of slow fashion and lasting style rather than fast fashion and seasonal trends, she designs clothes that are intended to be worn over and over again by different generations; her SS12 once again utilizes designs that will stand the test of time.
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Tags: about finding eco, couture, eco design, eco objects of desire, eco responsible, esthetica, ethical, fashion forward, Henrietta Ludgate, Livia Firth, natural, Orianna Fielding, responsible luxury, schiaparelli, scottish, seasonless, ss 12, sustainable design
Series 7. Eco Icon No. 9
’Rule Britannia‘ eco fashion by ‘Victim fashion street’
Esthetica the ‘Eco fashion’ arm of London Fashion week sponsored by Monsoon had a smaller but no less impactful presence at Somerset House this season.
The high profile pioneers of exquisite sustainable fashion such as Henrietta Ludgate , Junky Styling and Dr. Noki were joined this year by cult designer ‘Victim Fashion Street’ a label started by Mei-Hui Liu. Completely self-taught in fashion, Mei Hui worked her way up through the markets in the late 1990s, from Portobello in the West End to Brick Lane in the East End before entering the more formal wholesale and retail markets later on.Before she moved to London permanently in 1998, she did a stint at the American Academy in Paris and after that she spent a year travelling throughout Italy to observe how artisans, art and fashion co-exist in real-life experiences.
Mei-Hui says of her work “Aesthetically, I suppose it’s what you’d call decadent romance cut with a very sharp edge and a dose of haphazard embellishments. People tend to say that I’m one of the early pioneers of the sustainable fashion movement because I was one of the first to make recycling and up cycling a key part of my brand identity. But, above all else, it’s got to embrace opulence even if it is ethical.”
She is known best known for are my series of recycled vintage dresses using Victorian lace, antique haberdashery and a mishmash of new and old fabrics from various eras – all touched with the spirit of the debauched nightlife that permeated the 1980s.”
She continues “Besides a commitment to sustainability, I guess I’m trying to reach a point where my instinctive love for nostalgia can live side by side with a dash of design innovation. But it’s definitely the sort of innovation that’s approachable, unassuming and totally unpretentious. Maybe it’s also about living with the contrasts that life presents us like harmony and disharmony or old and new and finding a way to make something beautiful out of those contrasts.”
Findingeco loves the irreverent mix of vintage and punk in this up cycled collectible collections of limited edition one offs..we are hearing echoes of John Lydon….’ God Save the Green’…????
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Tags: about finding eco, design, Dr. Noki, eco design, esthetica, fashion forward, green, Henrietta Ludgate, icons, London Fashion week, mei-Hui Liu, Monsoon, Orianna Fielding, sustainable, upcycled, Victim fashion street, vintage
Series 7. Eco Icon no.8
‘Eco PET Chaise‘ by Pawel Grunert
Pawel Grunert was born in 1965 in Warsaw. He graduated from the Facility of Interior Architecture at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts in 1990 with his first ‘eco furniture collection’ called ‘My Private Chairs’. He then went on to take part in several design exhibitions in Poland and internationally, featuring his ever expanding repertoire of furniture objects, sculptures and interior design schemes.
His latest work ‘the ‘ Eco Chaise’ produced for the ‘Eco Trans Pop’ exhibition of ecological design at the Colombari Gallery in Milan, Italy. The chair is made from PET bottles with a stainless steel frame. The bottles can be easily changed if they show signs of damage.The rhythm of hundreds of PET bottles creates an organic undulating structure. For those of us still drinking water from plastic bottles Pawel has taken the transforming of the ordinary plastic bottle into an art form ,creating an extraordinary iconic and unique form ,giving the ubiquitous water bottle a second life to be proud of.
www.grunert.art.pl
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Tags: about finding eco, architectonic, carbon footprint, eco chaise, eco design, eco objects of desire, Ecop trans pop, environment, furniture, green, icons, Orianna Fielding, pawel Grunert, pet bottles, recycled, sustainable, sustainable design, warsaw
Series 7. Eco icon no.7
Iconic Award winning collection by Titania Inglis
Titania Inglis , has just been announced as the winner of the 2012 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award for Sustainable Design, The award, which comes with a $25,000 grant, is a major achievement for any designer, particularly one as young as Inglis, who only launched her now eponymous label in early 2010. Since her breakthrough collection, Inglis has come into her own, creating fresh, , immaculately tailored looks that are as sustainable as they are covetable.
Titania Inglis was born and raised in Ithaca, New York, the daughter of a Chinese mother and an American father, and first became aware of her interest in design during a year abroad in Denmark. Much like her life, her iconic womenswear line is a study in contrasts: minimal, yet luxurious,; architectonic yet feminine; modern, yet rooted in traditional hand finishing.
A strong believer in craftsmanship, Titania drapes each piece by hand in her Brooklyn atelier, and has them sewn in a small factory in New York’s garment district. The line’s materials are selected with thought to their environmental impact as well as their quality, and include organic cottons from Japan, vegetable-tanned leather, and dead stock fabrics from the local garment industry.
Sustainability is at the core of Brooklyn-based designer Titania Inglis’ eco-friendly, experimental,collection. she explains’ ‘The concept of sustainability is a dichotomy in itself. It’s about nature and about the future, and so is my line,’ These contradictions are evident in her spring 2012 separates, featuring asymmetrical diaphanous ,organic cotton creations, playing on ideas of lightness and darkness.
Finding Eco rarely features the same designer twice….but in Titania Inglis’s case – her latest collection is worthy of the accolade of achieving ‘Eco Icon’ status.
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Tags: about finding eco, architectonic, Ecco domani Fashion foundation Award, eco design, eco fashion, hand made, ithaca new york, Orianna Fielding, sustainable design, titania inglis
Series 7. Eco Icon No:6
‘Living tree chair‘ by DSquared2.
Canadian Design duo Dean and Dan Caten of DSQUARED2 designed this decontructed tree as a chair as part of the ‘ Kartell y Milano project’ . featuring a selection of Kartell pieces that were redesigned by 45 different designers, architects, celebrated fashion brands, and other creatives spanning dj’s to writers, including a piece created by the oncologist, Umberto Veronesi, all developed for an auction held at Sotheby’s in October in aid of the Umberto Veronesi Foundation . The foundation was established in 2003 to support the scientific research, through the assignment of research Grant for doctors and researchers, and also to sustain some high profile projects.
The pieces up for auction were created by fashion houses (Aspesi, Dolce&Gabbana, DSquared2, Etro, Antonio Marras, Missoni, Moschino and normaluisa), by the jeweller Vhernier, by photographers Fabrizio Ferri, Maurizio Galimberti, Gabriele Basilico and Paolo Spadacini, by the star-chefs Carlo Cracco and Davide Oldani, by a goodly crowd of designers and international architects (Mario Bellini, Andrea Branzi, Rodolfo Dordoni, Ferruccio Laviani, Piero Lissoni, Alberto Meda, Alessandro Mendini, Fabio Novembre, Italo Rota for the Museo del Novecento, Philippe Starck, Giotto Stoppino, Patricia Urquiola and Tokujin Yoshioka). And again – the Milan e Inter teams, the dee-jays Linus and Fabio Volo, the director, Bob Wilson, the critics Francesco Bonami and Gianni Canova, the illustrator, Rebecca Moses, the artists, Vedovamazzei, the civic institutions such as the Triennale Design Museum with Silvana Annicchiarico, Milanesiana with Elisabetta Sgarbi and the Accademia di Brera; the galleries Cardi Black Box and Giò Marconi, and the writers, Michele Mari and Laura Pariani.
Findingeco adores the use of branches with the leaves still in place reminding us that nature is ever changing ….a veritable ‘tree of life’ as a chair.
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Tags: about finding eco, Dean and Dan caten, dsquared2, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, environment, Etro, furniture, green, icons, Kartell, Kartell y Milano, natural, Orianna Fielding, philippe Starck, piero Lissoni, Umberto Veronesi Foundation
Series 7. Eco Icon No.5
’Iconic Plastic ‘ images by Tomaas
The inspiration for these striking images for New York fashion photographer Tomaas was ‘plastic’ in all its forms and formats. He used plastic cutlery, cling film, sheer plastic sheets, plastic bottles, straws and all manner of discarded plastic materials to create these iconic images.
Never ones to encourage the use of plastic…we at findingeco LOVE the upcycling of plastic to create this series of ’plastic fantastic’ photo art. Far better for plastic to be preserved on a wall than in a landfill !
Reminiscent of some paintings of the great Dutch masters..these images are both sensational and inspirational .
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Tags: about finding eco, eco objects of desire, fashion photographer, iconis plastic, New York, Orianna Fielding, photo art, plastic fantastic, tomaas, upcycled, upcycled plastic
Series 7. Eco Icon No. 4
Silvina Romero’s vibrant sustainable jewelry collection
Buenos Aires based desugner Silvina Romero has created a glorious, textural and vibrant collection of sustainable jewelry or more accurately wearable art pieces. Using recycled pieces of fabric and textiles. Silvina started working with textiles scraps during the height of the Argentinian economic crisis about 4 years ago , collecting discarded pieces of scrap fabric, thread, nylon, and more in a neighborhood called Once, where many of fabric dealers and manufacturers were based. Silvina’s collections started out as ‘Green by default’ as she transformed ’trash into treasure’ and has since achieved wide spread recognition for her beautifully hand -crafted, and carefully considered unique, limited edition pieces. Finding eco loves the organic natural shapes, the vibrant colours and the iconic shapes that Silvina creates as wearable art.
www.silvinaromero.blogspot.com
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Tags: about finding eco, Buenos aires, eco objects of desire, hand made, jewellery, natural, no wastage, off cuts, Orianna Fielding, silvina romero, sustainable, wearable art
Series 7. Eco Icon No.3
‘You are what you tweet‘ The ‘printing’ dress by Microsoft Research
Asta Roseway, a senior designer at Microsoft Research , and Sheridan Martin Small from Xbox developed the’ Printing’ dress, as a visual representation of the integral role that tweeting and texting now plays in our lives. The idea behind this exploration of the use impact of tweets in our social communication illustrates how far our communication methods have evolved.
The’ printing’ dress is a high-tech creation designed to explore the impact of wearable text on fashion and social identity. Built almost entirely of paper ( hopefully recycled!) the dress via its interactive technology allows you to tweet your innermost thoughts in ‘text bite’ form and wear them as public art.
The concept that drove the development of the dress is a homage to the printing press- invention that started it all. “Almost overnight, printing transformed longhand into an assembly of glyphs comprised of letters and numbers,” say Roseway and Small. “This streamlined the sharing of ideas and made replication of the printed word accessible worldwide.”To showcase the flexibility of texting on the go, the designers integrated a custom keyboard that allows the wearer to send messages to a display.
Composed of a bodice, corset, and skirt—all machine-stitched from paper ( comforting that there remains a low tech element within this hi-tech experiment)—presumably to echo the past while acknowledging the role digital ink has on our present. The designers integrated a custom keyboard in the form of a vintage typewriter that allows the wearer to send messages to a display—in this case, the skirt.
Technology-wise, the dress comprises four LilyPad Arduino boards,one USB hub, a laptop, a capacitive keyboard, solid and stranded wire, and a short-throw projector. Hitting a key sends it to the laptop, which then displays the character as animated text. The ‘out there wow factor’ was intentional according to designers Roseway and Small who wanted their piece to be anything but subtle.
“Some may be repelled by its ostentatious presentation, while others might dare to imagine a more transparent and open world,” they say. “It is our hope that this piece will inspire conversations that go beyond fashion or technology to topics such as awareness, accountability, privacy, and identity.”
“tweet dreams are made of this………”
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Tags: about finding eco, Asta Roseway, capacitive keyboard, eco design, Lilypad, Microsoft research, Orianna Fielding, Sheridan Martin Small, social communication, social media, tweet, vintage typewriter, wearble text, Xbox
Series 7. Eco Icon No.2
Peter Hogeboom’s iconic porcelain piece ‘ Spanish Collar ‘
Dutch designer, Peter Hogeboom’s iconic porcelain piece ‘ Spanish Collar ‘ takes centre stage as part of the ‘A Bit Of Clay On The Skin’ exhibition currently showing at the Museum of Art + Design in New York.
New Ceramic Jewelry explores the manifold appeal of ceramics, especially porcelain, in jewelry. Organized by the Fondation d’Entreprise Bernardaud and curated by the renowned German-born goldsmith and jewelry artist Monika Brugger, the exhibition showcases the versatility and allure of the medium, which can be modeled or cast, used alone or with metal, wood, and stone, and vary in color and texture. Best known as the stuff of the luxurious and the mundane, of fine tableware and technical equipment, when used in jewelry, porcelain sparks the visual and physical sensations to become an object of desire.
The exhibition showcases the scope and ingenuity of the more than one hundred works on view and features the work of 18 cutting-edge jewelry artists, including creations by such notables as Peter Hoogeboom, ( whose work is pictured above)
“Ceramic jewelry embodies the creative transformation of a humble Earth material by art and industry into a wearable object of great refinement and sensuality,” comments MAD’s Jewelry Curator Ursula Ilse-Neuman
Peter Hogeboom’s hand crafted ,one -off necklace piece is spectacular in its concept and its boldness of vision. Using such a delicate material as 100% natural porcelain to make such a dramatic statement piece, is clearly inspired.
Findingeco loves artists such as Peter who push the boundaries of the capabilities of the materials they use in the creation of directional avant garde works to challenge our existing perceptions and forever pushing us forward to view things from a new perspective.
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Tags: .peter hoogeboom, A bit of clay on the skin, about finding eco, Amsterdam, eco design, eco objects of desire, jewellery, Museum of Art + design in New York, natural, orianna fielding banks, porcelain, spanish collar, sustainable design
Series 7. Eco Icon No.1
’Avantgarde architectonic capsule collection‘ by Titania Inglis
Titania Inglis designs clothing for the contemporary woman: directional, effortless and essential and ethical!
Experimental construction and functional details elevate these signature pieces into the realm of high design working for daily life. The underlying element of sustainability is a given for a designer who looks towards minimalism as a matter of taste, as well as a method to avoid waste.Each piece is sewn in New York’s garment district from organic cotton fabric woven by Japan’s legendary denim mills.
Her collection ,with echoes of Thierry Mugler in her Boxy T-shaped minidress in black Japanese organic twill with oversized sleeves, princess seams, and black metal zipper at center back. ( large pic) and the muted Zen colour palette of her architectonic yet softly sensual pieces, illustrates to perfection how to put ‘the design back into eco’ .
Now based in Brooklyn, Titania studied at the ultra-conceptual Design Academy Eindhoven and apprenticed at Stærk, ThreeAsFour, and Jean Yu before launching her solo line.
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Tags: about finding eco, architectonic, Brooklyn New york, carbon footprint, design, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, esthetica, icons, organic japanese cotton, Orianna Fielding, sustainable, Thierry Mugler, titania inglis, zen colour palette
Series 6. Eco Icon No. 20
‘Verdi, Vans + Hermès‘...inspirational custom recycling.
Finding a stash of vintage Hermès, scarves in the back of his closet- celebrity stylist and TV style guru Robert Verdi decided that he wanted to re purpose them into something he could wear (other than around his neck) so Verdi called upon skate-shoe label Vans to up cycle several of his vintage Hermès, scarves into instantly iconic and acutely covetable unique custom made sneakers, taking eco-luxe to another level.Since they’re made to order however, Verdi is the only person who will be wearing them anytime soon…..much to the chagrin and big-time envy of the rest of us!! Vans needs to harness this refashion project and push it into production NOW!
Vans is no stranger to sustainable footwear Its latest attempt is the animal-free 106SF , a classic après-surf sneaker that features uppers made from hemp or recycled PET, treated with with water-based dyes and glues that are kinder to the environment.
By contrast as we know Hermès isn’t about to win any ‘ethical design” just yet, but at least they are taking some tenetative steps towards sustainability with the launch of their Petit H’ collection. , a series of “unidentified poetic objects” created from defective inventory and factory-floor leftovers. Under the direction of Pascale Mussard, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Thierry Hermès, a series of eclectic one off pieces were created from ceramic, fabric and leather offcuts.
In the interim….let’s push for ‘walking the talk in style’ in vintage Hermes Vans!
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.19
Natalie Smith’s ‘good enough to eat‘ sugar coated jewellery
British designer Natalie Smith has created a collection of jewellery pieces that ARE literally good enough to eat. The perfect choice for any one with a sweet tooth- you can now wear your next sugar fix. Beyond the obvious novelty value of edible adornment …..Natalie explores the concept of interactive, wearable art and takes it to a whole new level with her sugar-encrusted jewellery. Taking her inspiration from dark doom laden fiction and themes of impermanence and disintegration, Smith forms coloured sugar crystals into unique one-off creations.
Upon completion, each jewellery piece begins a life of transition determined by the environment in which it’s worn and the ambient temperature of its surroundings- the more humid the conditions, the faster the sugar crystals melt, gradually changing colour, and revealing the mix of metals and textures beneath their sugar coated exterior.
A real multi functional, interactive and edible experience…turning your next sugar fix into a happening!!!
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.18
Upcycled ‘fast furniture‘ by GODSPEED
Godspeed was formed on Christmas Eve 2008 in Tel Aviv, Israel, by Dutch designer Joy van Erven and Finn Ahlgren from Sweden.
These Nordic duo established itself rapidly in Tel Aviv, Israel as a visionary contemporary design practice with a lateral, rather unorthodox approach to design.
Using unconventional materials, their design mission was to innovate and re- create….through recycling and up cycling…but in record time…60 minutes to be precise!
Whenever there was a demand for furniture, Godspeed started assembling tables and chairs from scrap wood, found around the streets of Tel Aviv. All the pieces are made within a one-hour timeframe for optimal refreshing results in the design process and final outcome.
By using decayed scrap wood as the design tools, a new language was created. Through the aspect of the time limit, the sketching phase was eliminated and resulted into live sketching, a very important aspect in the randomness and improvisational items. Created out of necessity, serving a functional purpose and working on the border between art and design, Godspeed got to explore a new form of work ethic.
Eliminating the sketching phase and producing every piece by themselves, Godspeed fast became an unconventional designer’s brand, emphasizing the human aspect and usage of its products and offers a different perspective on daily life.
The usage of raw, scrap materials and the recognition and awareness of decay, on both materials and products, give new life to scrap materials and add a new value to their re-incarnation.
Humor, straight forwardness, witty comments and solutions are significant to Godspeed’s style. Take their name….very biblical…GODSPEED and yet look at their website’s name. http://www.weareonlyinitforthemoney.com…; either very tongue in cheek or witty or perhaps the most honest mission statement you’ll ever find….you decide!!!!
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.17.
“Fork Light” by Nick Fraser
UK Designer Nick Fraser creates unique furniture, lighting and interior products that bring a playfulness and a touch of humour to product design.
His distinctive designs celebrate everyday objects by transforming their inherent qualities into new products that are both witty and practical.
Subtly subversive yet fully functional, these products are instantly memorable ….a perfect example of the marrying of design and functiom is his now iconic’ Fork Light’.
By simple manipulation, the fork creates an effective stand on which sits a bird-shade created using simple folding techniques. All the materials are re=used or repurposed…creating a collection of covetable eco icons.
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.16
‘Plumen 001‘ high on design – low on energy light bulb
British designer Samuel Wilkinson and product design company Hulger have launched a revolutionary new low energy light bulb’ Plumen’ that has taken the design world by storm and secured them as a the overall winners of this year’s Brit Insurance Design Awards
‘Plumen is the antithesis of low energy light bulbs as we know them. Rather than hiding the to-date rather un- inspiringly designed traditional compact fluorescent light behind boring utility, Plumen 001 is a bulb that will make you want on to ‘shed the shade’ and let the bulb shine in full glory!
The Plumen bulb uses 80% less energy and lasts 8 times longer than incandescent bulbs, giving you the opportunity to buy an ecological product packed with design and style. It works just like any low energy bulb but it has a lot more presence.
Design critic and chair of the Brit Insurance Design Awards judging panel Stephen Bayley, who presented the award to the designers at a ceremony at the Design Museum in London last month, said ‘The Plumen light bulb is a good example of the ordinary thing done extraordinarily well, bringing a small measure of delight to an everyday product.’
The name Plumen comes from ‘plume’ – the bird’s decorative feather, designed to attract attention to its’ prowess and beauty. Wilkinson commented We believe our designs do the same for the neglected low energy light bulb….. the phrase ‘Light as a feather’ also springs to mind….’Light is, of course, primary to design,’ he continued, ‘[and] without it there can be very little, if any. The design of light sources is thus an elemental component of a design aesthetic.’
The Design museum’s director, Deyan Sudjic, said the Plumen 001 was ‘a worthy winner that is both beautiful and smart’.
The Plumen 001, along with the other shortlisted designs, will be on show at the Brit Insurance Designs of the Year exhibition at the Design Museum in London until 7 August.
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Series 6. Eco Icon No. 15
‘Gretchen Jones‘ post ‘Project Runway’ eco-collection
There haven’t been many bohemian-minded designers on the show. There are many women living an alternative lifestyle. I happen to be that woman — a Marie Claire woman who goes from work to cocktails in a sustainable but beautiful way.”
Her new label will be launched under her own name and was inspired by a disparate gathering of sources spanning Frida Kahlo, Jean Michele Basquiat, Kurt Cobain, and the “experimental town” of Arcosanti in Arizona.
Her approach is both sustainable and fair trade.For materials, Jones sourced locally produced silk, wool, and organic-cotton suiting, as well as alpaca knits from a women’s co-op in Bolivia. But although she considers herself a conscious designer, the last she she wants to be is pigeon-holed as “green.” “I think that limits you and puts too much pressure on a label,” Jones tells us. “To me, supporting myself and my local economy mean more than the materials…I think our local economies are the key to supporting my industry.”
Each piece of the new collection is named after a tarot card .“It’s important to name the collections and items like I do,” Jones explains, “because i feel I get to download each design with a special intimately connected to me. It’s like giving you a part of me.”
For a ‘part’ of Jones’s new collection :-
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.14
“Toy story“ recycled lamp by Ryan McElhinney
TOY LAMP
When is a toy not a toy?….When it’s transformed into the uber one-off objets by visionary designer Ryan McElhinney.
Ryan McElhinney’s career began as a seven-year-old drawing cartoons for customers at his father’s County Kildare pub. Today, the Irish designer’s portfolio displays the same mix of humour and creativity that lead him from Dublin’s European College of Animation to award-winning product and interior design, via stints at Disney and 20th Century Fox.
Working as an animator at the Arizona-based Fox, a chance reading of the first issue of Wallpaper magazine set him on a different path. “Contemporary design was like a breath of fresh air”, explains McElhinney, whose workstation was soon surrounded by style magazines and sketches of cartoon-like sofas and chairs. A career as a product designer blossomed, along with a love of local thrift and house clearance stores. Trawling for materials quickly became an obsession, with Mc Elhinney’s limited budget, natural eye and vivid imagination ensuring he spotted the perfect finds to bring to life his early designs. Full of expression and movement, dollar-a-bag sacks of second-hand plastic toys became the designer’s chosen medium. Telling a story with each manipulation, Mc Elhinney meticulously gloss-painted and fused together each figure in a six week process, creating the first in his series of ‘Toy’ frames and lamp bases.
Each sculpture is one of a kind and hand ceafted at my London Studio. Made of recycled Toys which are bonded toghther and then coated in a High Gloss polyurethane laquer.
Endlessly inventive, designs range from the Knot sofa, winner of the Peugeot Design Awards and finalist in both the BIDA and FX awards, to the Swarowski crystal-encrusted ‘groom and groom’ figures rumored to have topped Elton and David’s wedding cake. Today, recycling is more current than ever and remains at the heart of McElhinney’s work. Fusing old and new, he metamorphoses found objects to covetable sculptural one-offs.. A world away from the dated image of how recycled should look, his avant garde urban projects and hand-made one-of-a-kind sculptures have enjoyed the attention of design aficionados from Philippe Starck to Kanye West, who recently enthused about the designer’s subversively glamorous gold-painted Toy Lamps.
Definitely creating a ‘Buzz’ ….and lighting up ‘Finding Eco”s life…..
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.13
‘Eco Victoriana‘ jewellery collection by Ka/POW/WOW
Central St Martins graduate Mia Morikawa used her personal collection of vintage, discarded and scrapped pieces of fabric to created her KA/POW/WOW jewellery collection. The dramatic, up scaled statement necklaces are an original melding of recycled unique elemets and references to period costume pieces! A form of organic Victoriana hybrid as jewellery.
Inspired by natural structures and emotional landscapes Mia Morikawa learned the language of organic form while climbing mountains and crossing canyons. a self professed warrior of beauty. She is as she describes “currently living loving & laughing in india.” While continuing to produce constructed and deconstructed textile pieces which are equisitely organic in both form and essence.
Her collection includes statement pieces made from thick white rope as well as more knitted designs. The looks are boldly designed to make a confident eco-statement, . Eco-poetry in motion….
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.12
“Tea Ceremony Chair” by Hiroki Takada
Hiroki takada was born in Suzuka Mie in Japan.He studies at the Okinawa Art University and went on to launch his own design practice Takada Design in 1996. His products spanned lighting, decoration and furniture all inspired by natural organic forms.
This latest addition to his collection is new chair called ”tea ceremony chair 2010″. The chair was launched to much acclaim at the Tokyo Designers Week in 2010.
Made from bamboo the chair’s design is inspired by the form of a traditional tea whisk
used in japanese tea ceremonies. The base is split into thinner slats which forms
the elastic backrest, being made of Bamboo it has strength and elegance of form and yet is flexible enough to have some maliability to provide comfort and design..
Takada’s design philosophy resembles a beautiful Haiku poem rather than a mission statement:-
| “I want to make people impressed. And, I want also to impress me. I want to do a new thing. I want to see a beautiful thing. I want to make the thing that time can be exceeded.” |
The ‘less is more’ philosophy is working for Takada…no wastage in production or description….just the perfect marrying of form and function.
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.11
Future forward fashion by ‘Le sang des Betes‘
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L.A based Trang Chau’s designs makes seem to have transported us on fast forward to a future planet of iconic sustainable fashion.. Her label, called Le Sang des Betes ( Blood of the Beasts) was inspired at least in part by the film of the same name(Le Sang des bêtes) a short french documentary film made in 1949 written and directed by Georges Franju.
The cinematic theme features strongly in her debut collection called Aborigine. Chau draws inspiration from a multitude of multi media and creative arenas such as sculpture, film, architecture, and costume design, creating an intriguing collection of darkly modern statement pieces.Chau cites film directors such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder and David Cronenberg. She also draws inspiration from both gothic and modern architecture….self evident by the starkly architectonic elements of her collection.
Committed to using only sustainable materials in her work , her debut collection has a confidence and strength of vision that is unusually found in a first collection. Chau’s unique vision has created an iconic collection of collectable and very covetable experimental pieces that are instantly recognisable. Already a firm favourite with Finding Eco.
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.10
“Ultimate bespoke interactive footwear collection” by Cedric Flazinski
According to Netherlands-based designer Cedric Flazinski his collection is the antithesis to laborious mass production which in addition to being slow is also inefficient, and inaccurate, and in terms of conserving our planet-wasteful. “Automatization and mass production,” says Flazinski, “rely on the proactive use of a massive human effort, based on previsions of what ‘possibly’ could suit the need of a maximum of individuals at any given time.”
Flazinski has pioneered a new system based technology which Instead of offering subtle variations of the same product, enables designers to hand over creative control to the consumer. His MyDesigner collection of shoes, (now on display at the Holon Design Museum in Israel) takes the concept of “made-to-order” to an entirely new level, becoming as he describes it “user-based rather than user-generated.
Before a the making process of single shoe is started, would-be customers generate a personal profile based on a visual questionnaire- a form of personal brand mission satement. This data is then translated into a collection of shape variables that ultimately will form the final product, one that expresses the individuality of the user, Flazinski adds, like a “personal flag.” Or as we at ‘finding Eco’ would say like a reading the rings of a tree trunk.
We are all unique and Flazinski has taken our uniqueness and turned it into a tangible covetable product…..easily attaining our Eco Icon status!
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.9
‘Just in Case‘ collection of up-cycled furniture by Katie Thompson
South African Designer Katie Thompson is the brains behind RECreate. REcreate specializes in taking old pieces of luggage, and a huge variety of other discarded, lost and found in the attic type of objects, and turns them into unique,witty and very covetable pieces of furniture. Although clearly not an original concept- recycling, Katie Thompson’s collection has her unique handwriting and vision stamped all over her one-off pieces.
Using pieces of abandoned furniture and home ware items, Katie recreates a unique, recycled range of furniture, lighting and interior accessories, each piece still carrying echoes of its previous incarnation but with a new image and function. As she says “An object is no longer being used for its original purpose in life! That purpose has expired and I have recreated a beautiful ‘something else.” By blending South African craftsmanship, with high end finishes and her own eclectic perfectionist flair, Katie creates an original end product with a new integrity that epitomizes the very best of South African design.
Katie’s style is always innovative and novel. Her trademark choice of colour, texture and finish give her designs an ever present element of surprise, transforming the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Katie never works within established stylistic boundaries. She creates an eclectic combination of styles, materials and finishes; this skill highlights her passion and her ability to find the intrinsic beauty and new, hidden purpose in the old, discarded items she chooses for her pieces.A hoarder of all things useless, impractical, broken, colourful and shiny; Katie’s designs show tell tale signs of her Dadaist leanings. She has definitely made me look at an old suitcase with new eco eyes!
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.8
Plastic fantastic organic jewellery by Tonya O’Hara
British designer Tonya O’Hara building on the pioneering design formed from pre- and post-consumer recycled plastic by designers such as Patagonia who create fleece jackets, to Melissa who metamorphose it into avant garde shoes, has created an iconic jewellery collection from discarded plastic . O’Hara takes salvaged PET plastic bottles and slices and shapes each piece by hand. The result- contemporary, elegant wearable art …that is a lyrical as it is covetable.
Each piece in O’ Hara’s PET : cell collection is handmade using a unique heat-forming method that doesn’t affect the inherent qualities of the material and allows the plastic to stay transparent.
O’Hara’s love for jewellery making surfaced during her studies at Loughborough University and the School of Jewellery in Birmingham. O’Hara’s vision for her own collection was firmly in place as she graduated but first she had to raise the money to be able to make the pieces.. After eight years of teaching at secondary schools, unwavering focus and dedicated saving O’Hara finally founded PET:cell in 2010.
Her first collection features natural organic forms -inspired rings, earrings and bangles—all made from recycled PET plastic. She explains her vision “It has very much been an amalgamation of the many things in life that excite me, I have had for many years a fascination with transparency and microscopic organisms but also a desire to create something very precious out of something very ordinary.”
O’Hara is already developing concepts and ideas for her next collection. “I’m developing a new range which will focus further on transparency and texture; necklaces and headpieces will also be introduced,” she says.
Finding Eco loves her vision, her delicate organic forms and the fact that thanks to O’Hara’s vision we can wear PET plastic with pride knowing that every piece of the collection means there is one less plastic bottle in a landfill.
Definitely feeding the soul without starving our planet….an eco icon to wear with pride!
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Series 6.Eco Icon.No.7
Icehotel in Sweden launches new ‘ Legacy of the River Suite‘ homage to’Tron‘
With the high profile launch of the much anticipated Christmas blockbuster 3D TRON: Legacy having recently opened to much acclaim in cinemas across the world , a British design duo Ben Rousseau and Ian Douglas- Jones inspired by the Disney movie have launched a ‘Tron’ inspired suite at the famous Icehotel in Sweden. The Icehotel is in Lapland, Sweden is the most famous, was the first and is largest of the ice hotels. It is the ultimate in ‘pop-up’ hotel concepts-as it is a temporary hotel, lasting only 5 months from December to April.Every year the hotel is newly constructed and artists and designers are invited to collaborate in its design and construction.
Rousseau and Ian Douglas-Jones were commissioned by the Ice Hotel to create a TRON-inspired art suite for this winter using the EL wire to provide a futuristic lighting scheme. They only had 13 days to form the interior of the hotel room suite, install the lighting and install the interior scheme, which includes wall panels, a reindeer pelt covered bed and a table.The suite includes many light embedded panels, as well as a bed and table that all had to be created by hand.
With its electric blue ‘Tron’ inspired lighting scheme – this hotel ‘art suite’ looks like it came straight off the lot at ‘Pinewood’ studios. The graphic , linear light motifs are achieved by cutting grooves into the ice slabs and with a variety of tools and then the EL wire was laid into the grooves and water was used to create new ice to “glue” the wire icing over the wire to keep it in place.
As well as being iconic and directional in design terms the scheme for the suite is also highly energy efficient as this particular type of energy efficient lighting technology needs very little energy and consistently and evenly glows in 360 degree. Called EL wire, or electroluminescent wire this low consumption lighting technology has many applications. An EL wire is made of a copper wire coated in a phosphor that glows when an alternating current is applied to it. The energy efficient technology allows just a few hundred feet of EL wire to be battery driven for several hours.
For the design duo their ‘art suite’ at the Ice Hotel called ‘Legacy of the River’, forms part of their broader launch campaign for their new collection of illuminated furniture and interiors products scheduled to be launched in early 2011.
Given that large parts of our planet are covered in snow and ice at present-it is inspiring to see ice being turned into an art form …an energy efficient beacon in our winter of discontent….always good to turn a negative into such a good looking positive!
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.3
Architectonic ‘eco jewellery’ by Lisa Linhardt
Eco fashion and bespoke jewellery designer, Lisa Linhardt, of Linhardt Design ,New York ,says “lots of bling seekers have no idea what environmental impact their fashion choices have until they find her.” As a designer she is totally focused on making “beautiful, sculptural pieces” but without compromising the planet’s resources as she is a ‘green gold jeweller.
Linhardt buys 100% recycled gold from casting houses and refineries that extract it from post consumer material as opposed to being newly-mined. She can also melt the jewellery you never wear to form something new in her studio that is constructed with reclaimed barn wood . Whether the jewellery was hand-fabricated or cast, Linhardt jewellery is made with recycled precious metals. Whenever possible, Linhardt explores the boundaries of traditional jewellery materials by incorporating organic matter, such as bone, wood, and more.
Linhardt’s designs are totally unique and embody an enviable fearlessness ,exploring standard practices of jewellery design and pushing them beyond the norm. The result is an artistic statement piece that communicates a sense of the individual without saying a word. Linhardt expands standard design limitations,viewing her pieces as sculpture and architecture on a small scale.
The ring ( featured above) was a commissioned piece inspired by another Lindgardt piece- a two finger ring. It is made of recycled gold with a milky smooth vintage ivory cabachon that was custom cut specifically . This ring has the ability to flip on to itself and can be worn either as a one-finger ring…and is as beautiful as it is sustainable.
Linhardt is constantly inspired by artisans around the world and has often participated in projects that give back to the artisans and their communities. One project Linhardt continues to take a great interest in is a her affiliation with the Kenya Education Fund – where a portion of proceeds sold in the NYC Gallery sends an African girl to college in her home country.
This is the best of ‘no compromise’ design…. definitely all beauty and no beast….iconic ,sustainable design at its very best.
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Series 6. Eco Icon No.2
‘Soy Story‘ NYC
‘Siki Im‘ pop up store New York
New York based menswear designer Siki Im has collaborated with Leong Leong designer/ architects to create a 10 day pop-up soy foam-covered concept store as part of Building Fashion, a series of collaborations between fashion designers and architects.
Located at 504 24th Street, just under the pioneering Zen gardens of the Highline- the Siki Im x Leong Leong Concept Store opened for 10 days from 5-15 November .
Both the interior and exterior are coated in textured soy-based foam giving the space a textural , organic skin.The store, which features a ramp-like sloping floor, is built around an existing structure that was formerly used as the sales office for the HL23 apartment building by architect Neil Denari.
Building Fashion is hosted by BOFFO and Spilios Gianakopoulos, with Pin-up Magazine and Project No. 8. It pairs fashion designers with architects to explore the cross polination between both areas.The space is filled end to end with large ramp-form that creates an unexpected gathering space with undefined programmatic possibilities.
The Soy-based spray foam was used to cover the interior and exterior of the structure creating a supple surface for inhabitation on which visitors are required to remove their shoes.
Small niches and ledges are carved into the foam to create areas for display and seating.
The clothes are embedded beneath the ramp on either end, encouraging visitors to explore the extents of the space and experience the clothes in very intimate environments.
Finding Eco loves the regeneration of the meatpacking district ….especially the new 3d layering of high level lyrical gardens floating over organically formed soy based pop up fashion moments…..really loving watching that space!!!
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Series 6.Eco Icon No.1
Bamboo ‘Baroque‘ ‘Grandelier‘ light by Loz Abberton
Queensland born designer Loz Abberton moved to Carlton Bluff on the southern coastline of Tasmania, Australia,in 2006, where inspired by the breath-taking natural scenery of her surroundings-the Casuarina forests, Mt Wellington, Carlton Beach and the River, she has designed a sustainable lighting collection of graphic yet organically shaped pieces.
Her background in graphic design and fashion informs her work.Her first range of lighting called ‘ Who Did That Grandeliers ‘ have been launched in a plain bamboo finish which have an inherent e understated elegance of their own. Loz also has plans to introduce screen printed and flocked designs to further expand the initial core range of lighting pieces..
The Baroque (above) and Bloom lights can each be used either as a pendant light, floor light, or wall light . Loz uses only what she describes as “future friendly” materials such as sustainable carbonised bamboo and hoop pine which is laser cut to make the lamps. Choosing materials for their ‘flora friendly’ content, Who Did That’s new range of lighting from hand-printed, FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) ply and veneers, and recyclable polypropylene .
Loz Abberton’s new collection is a worthy receipient of the ‘finding eco’ Eco Icon status…and is definitely lighing up my life!!!
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Series 5. Eco Icon No.20
Suzuki Takayuki ethereal eco s/s 2011 collection
The dark yet ethereal beauty that encapsulates this collection, generates a combination that feels directional and yet has a lyrical fragility. Exquisite to look at and cut to perfection… gorgeous to wear. Takayuki is definitely a rising star in Japan’s fashion circles and worthy of ‘Finding eco’s’ Eco Icon status.
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Series 5. Eco Icon No.19
Recycled Rubber Couture necklaces by ‘My Sister’s Art’
Eco-artist Kathleen Nowak Tucci of sister duo, My Sister’s Art recycles discarded rubber bicycle inner tubing into unique couture jewellery pieces.. Her recycled creations made the cover of Italian Vogue September 2010 issue and were featured in the oil-spill editorial featuring Kristen McMenamy .
Tucci repurposed rubber pieces have been given a new life as statement wearable gallery worthy art pieces. Tucci, who minored in biology in college, is an artist by trade (watercolor, ceramics, polymer clay, precious metals) and an environmentalist at heart. After noticing the inner rubber tubing that her local bike shops threw away on a regular basis, Tucci gathered an armful and began experimenting.
Although Tucci’s jewellery goes hand-in-hand with the current trend of statement pieces and layered necklaces, she said she has never looked to fashion for inspiration.”My sister Margaret was always my muse because she wears avant-garde clothing and likes dramatic jewellery,” she said.
“I have always been interested in design,” she said. “I use the medium of rubber for my inspiration. It is black, flexible and lightweight. I have used my previous experience in many other mediums, to construct and design the jewellery line, which has been driven by the medium.”
While Tucci’s hand-crafted necklaces, lariats, and bracelets are iconic creations and fast becoming collector pieces, they are also addressing a very unresolved land fill issue. Approximately 290 million scrap tires are generated each year in the United States alone, according to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. As tires don’t biodegrade easily and they’re rarely recycled and consequently they usually end up in landfills for perpetuity.
Though small in scope, My Sister’s Art is doing its bit to turn a potential environmental hazard into gorgeous accessories—better adorning us then destroying our world.
Tucci is already focusing on her next collection …for men! She said she has even more ideas than she can create, as she has been extra busy keeping up with the orders for the current line. Her new men’s line that will debut in November 2010.
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Series 5. Eco Icon No.18
‘Paper Tea House’ by Shigeru Ban
Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has designed the Paper Tea House .The house is made entirely from recycled cardboard rectangular tubes, as is the table and four stools in the main room and the customary bench in the waiting area. By including details such as the waiting area, Ban is keeping the design of the house in line with traditional tea ceremony practice, yet has created an almost circuit board like, avant garde interpretation of one of the most classic cornerstones of Japanese culture.
Shigeru Ban is a visionary contemporary architect revisiting Western concepts of Modernism and traditional Japanese architecture responsible for the design of some of the most inspirational buildings across the globe. Dedicated to the exploration of basic geometric elements and innovative use of materials, Shigeru Ban has created unique structural solutions that employ a vision of rational and practical space while respecting the people that will inhabit these spaces . His works are formed around a nucleus of reconciling the natural with the constructed while incorporating a third dimension of the life that will be lived within his structures. Wabi -Sabi for the 21st Century.
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Tags: about finding eco, architectonic, carbon footprint, eco design, orianna fielding banks, Paper tea house, rationalised space, recycled, recycled cardboard tubing, Shigeru Ban, sustainable design
Series 5. Eco icon no. 17
Righteous fashion a/w2010 capsule collection
The concept behind Righteous Fashion evolved in 2004 when Kajsa Cappelen Holst and Paula Kermfors were students studying Human Rights Law in Sweden. After working internationally on development- related questions for some time, they decided they wanted to work on sustainable development in developing countries.
Kajsa and Paula are firm believers that entrepreneurship and trade can be an efficient method for social change and sustainable development in developing countries, under condition that the trade is managed with respect for both people and environment. Inspiring to witness visionary people who not only ‘walk the talk’ in terms of sustainability but also deliver in terms of design.
For Righteous, the three elements design, fairness and environment are equally important.
In design terms Righteous creates real fashion for real women-clothes that meet the requirements of the woman of today; the woman who values not having to compromise on neither fashion nor a sustainable lifestyle.
Righteous Fashion’s philosophy is that quality is a guiding line. High quality is delivered through the accuracy of fit as well as the choice of materials, and not the least through the history of the garments. Quality products can only be created when the people who work on them are well and fairly.
Their entire chain of production is guided by high standards of fairness and environmental concern. They use the finest Organic and Fairtrade certified cotton from India, as well as soft cashmere wool from the goats grazing in the sloping fields of Nepal.
The production unit, ranging from the cotton farm in India to the finished piece of garment in Mauritius , is certified through co-operation with IFAT and the working conditions are registered by FLO. In concrete terms this means for instance that workers are free to join federation of labor units and offered appropriate reasonable payments over the average living wage.
All the cotton used in Righteous Fashion collections is one hundred percent organic, guaranteed by a Control Union World Group certification. Growing cotton organically means, for example selecting the most suitable non- genetically modified seed and using green manure instead of artificial fertilizers. With drip irrigation systems it is possible to save more than sixty percent of water and to improve the quality of the crop and limit the reproduction of harmful insects.By treating the cashmere wool with vegetable dyes and by embellishing the clothes with handcrafted bone buttons, not only are impacts on the environment minimized but also are artisan skills embraced and encouraged.
Righteous fashion is one of a pioneering group of designers who are giving us the possibility to look great and feel good with the total knowledge that what we wear is not costing ‘ the earth’!
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Tags: about finding eco, eco fashion, esthetica, ethical fashion, kajsa cappelen, natural, organic, paula kermfors, righteous fashion, sustainability, sustainable design, sweden
Series 5. Eco icon No.16
Delicious up- cycled tea cup ‘cake stands‘ by Esther Coombs
Southampton based UK creative ceramic artist Esther Coombs has launched her unique collection of up-cycled ceramic cake stands,
Each piece made from a combination of wine glasses and tea cups are as delicious as the cakes they were designed to hold. With the growing trend for highly decorated cup cakes and a return to having ‘ afternoon tea’…Esther’s cake stands are the perfect way to display a host of edible goodies.
This pretty floral cake stand has three tiers and is a lovely mixture of china and glass, with wine glasses dividing up the layers.It is made from found and unloved glass and china found in every place from charity shops.Most of her items are made with some items purchased in a charity shop, so with each piece the purchaser has made a contribution to charity via her charity shop purchase.
When making a cake stand Esther selects a group of china she think will sit well together and wait for a drawing that fits. The city drawings contrast nicely with the flowers on the china. All her cake stands are up-cycled by hand by her and are not suitable for dishwashers or boiling hand washes.
In addition she doesn’t use transfers or prints as all the drawings are done by hand with a ceramic ink pen.
If anyone needed a nudge to consume a bit of Battenburg and a couple of cup cakes…..with one of Esther’s cake stands watch that willpower fly out of the window….
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Tags: about finding eco, ceramic artist, eco, eco design, eco objects of desire, Esther coombs, green, hand made, no wastage, orianna fielding banks, recycled, southampton, sustainable design, tea cups cake stands
Series 5. Eco icon No. 15
‘Dandelion‘ Sideboard /dresser by Iannone Design
IANNONE DESIGN was founded by MICHAEL IANNONE and is a Philadelphia based design and build firm dedicated to the creation of eco-friendly contemporary furniture.
MICHAEL IANNONE graduated from Rowan University in 2000 with a BFA in Studio Art. He has been designing and building furniture for over 6 years, and has worked for two years as a luthier crafting custom solid body electric guitars.Each of the pieces which form part of the sustainiably designed collection has a signature graphic inlay either in a contrast grain or contract wood and finish. All the furniture pieces are constructed in FSC certified plywood. The Dandelion sideboard feature a graphic cut out of white gloss laminate and kirei doors.
The original Signature 2.0 Dandelion design now comes in a six-drawer dresser. Iannone has expanded the range to include other nature based designs such as hummingbirds, silver birch trees, and wild flowers. Its highly reconiseable style features a decorative graphic on a sleek, minimal storage unit. The kirei doors are made from the reclaimed stalks of the sorghum plant and made using a formaldehyde-free adhesive. The cabinet is constructed of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified sustainable plywood also made with formaldehyde-free adhesives. The gloss white laminate is Greenguard certified assuring that it conforms to healthy indoor air standards. All the cabinets in his collection come with premium soft closing doors, and stainless steel legs.
There is a freshness and a lightness of touch to Iannone’s work that represents so well the new atmosphere of simplicity and connectedness with our natural world that we are all searching for….a definite eco icon in the making…
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Series 5. Eco icon No.14
‘Second life‘ couture necklaces by Charlotte Hosten
Montreal based Charlotte Hosten is a jewellery and accessories designer . Her unique iconic fabric necklaces have become the axis upon which her clients base their outfits, creating their look around the necklace.
Charlotte a self-taught designer, was born and raised in Belgium, but is now based in Montreal. At the age of 15 she instinctively learned to create jewellery . Her u.s.p of creating fabric based necklaces was born of a happy accident when one day she couldn’t find a suitable clasp for her creations. She then started to embroider beads onto fabric and ever since, her necklaces have become luxurious sculptures; sometimes made of one of a kind antique jewelry pieces or, for the custom made pieces, with the treasures her clients bring her. Charlotte Hosten’s work is now much featured in the international fashion press and as she states ” are proudly created in Montreal.”
Charlotte has a main focus for her design collections in addition to her creative direction …she is commited to ‘REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE.’She says’ In order to minimize our negative impact on the environment, we make sure we recycle everything we can. We also try to stay away from the printer. Most of the trimming waste is kept to be reused and some of the necklaces (the sari collection for example) have been elaborated using almost only trimming waste. We use a lot of vintage beads, brooches and necklaces to which Charlotte Hosten gives a second life.”
Each of her unique couture pieces are completely original one off’s….and can be customised to include pieces of your own jewellery and fabrics….like a fashion forward living sculpture with echoes of the past…want one now!!
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Tags: about finding eco, architectonic, charlotte Hosten, eco design, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, fashion forward, hand made, icons, jewellery, montreal, natural, no wastage, off cuts, orianna fielding banks, recycled, second life couture necklaces, sustainable, vintage
Series 5. Eco Icon No.13
1975 AMC Pacer ‘Cut-Out Clutch’ by Kim White
L A based designer Kim White has created a unique iconic upcycled collection of hand bags made from vintage car fabrics, Kim White uses never-used textile stock intended for use in the American automobile industry: cars, trucks and vans. She incredibly unearthed an entire warehouse of automotive fabric, which may be the last existing stock anywhere in the US, and she is the sole owner of these amazing textiles.
Each Kim White Handbag is tagged with the year and make of the fabric, so every bag has its own ‘ vintage car’ provenance (i.e. 1983 Camaro or a 1978 Ford Mustang). Kim White Handbags specializes in automotive fabrics from the 1970’s and 1980’s, when color was de rigueur in the automotive industry.
Since these textiles were originally intended for use in cars, they are incredibly durable. Perfect for the creation of handbags in style as well as function. Kim White Handbags, in keeping with the tradition of the American car industry, are sophisticated, beautiful and built to last. And just like American automobiles, they have a widespread appeal.
One of her signature collection is the ‘cut out’ clutch range made using the aztec design that adorned the seats of the fabulous 1975 AMC Pacer . The world’s first small wide car! A turquoise blue squiggle runs down the center, bordered with black on a grey horizontal design. The clutch springs open and stays open, and snaps shut using a simple frame mechanism. Ticking all the boxes in terms of ethical design, style and function…the collection features other vintage sports models such as the Camaro ( pictured below). Get on that waiting list now!!!!
Special Edition Brown Cut Out Clutch
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Series 5.Eco Icon No.12
‘Light reading‘ chandelier by Lucy Norman
British designer Lucy Norman has launched her latest design- the wittily titled ‘Light Reading’ which uses repurposed books to form the cylindrical shade,via her London based design studio Lula Lot.
According to Norman there are an enormous amount of books that are printed each year to be read and then discarded. Although many are taken to charity shops, they mostly end up unsold and charities must then pay for books to be sent to landfill. As there is currently no infrastructure in place to recycle paper books because the grade of paper is low and the removal of the glue on the spine is very labour intensive…Lucy Norman has repurposed these books and has created an iconic retro inspired chandelier.
Each individual page is folded in half, producing a circular arrangement that hangs around a dome. I love the idea that each shade contains a thousand stories…..that have been given a new life…literally lighting up our lives!
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Tags: about finding eco, discarded books, eco design, eco objects of desire, environment, hand made, Light reading, Lucy Norman, Lula Lot, no wastage, recycled, repurposed, sustainable, sustainable design, upcycled
Series 5. Eco Icon No.11
Johan Ku’s ‘ emotional sculpture collection’.
Taipei born Johan Ku began his free-lance graphic design career when he was 17. His acclaim started before he’d graduated from his Ba & later MA courses in fashion and textile design in Taiwan where he was awarded numerous Fashion Design prizes. In 2005, shortly after graduation, Johan set up his own studio and twice took part in Hong Kong Fashion Week in 2007. His highly recognisable signature designs feature dramatic over scaled sculptural forms that are as textural as they are organic in their aesthetic. Called ‘the Emotional Sculpture collection’originally created back by Johan in 2004, won the Avant-Garde Prize in Gen Art Style 2009 in New York. His work has been heralded a the new rising star – “The Glory of Taiwan” by the fashion media.
In March 2010, Johan held his solo exhibition at the Taipei Fine Art Museum with his sculpture-like collections under the theme “Breakthrough”. His creations have been defined as a new form of fine art, as international art collectors queue to acquire his textural master pieces. Johan Ku is currently based in the UK; having recently enrolled a Central Saint Martins MA fashion course, the artist is currently launching his autobiography soon to be published in July 2010..which is bound to be as compelling visually as it will be to learn more about Johan’s unique combination of visionary talent combined with a drive and focus that belies his years.
If you want your art to be wearable, sustainable and collectable…johan Ku is your man.
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Tags: about finding eco, Central Saint Martins, collectable art, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, emotional sculptural collection, fashion forward, johan ku, natural, orianna fielding banks, sustainable design, taipe, textural, textural knits, upscaled knitwear
Series 5. Eco icon No.10.
Tea & philosophy by Today was fun
Today was Fun has created five organic hand blended, herbal teas and carefully wrapped them in a little of their philosophy. Formed in 2001 Today Was Fun had a simple mission:
“To put something nice out into the world.
To have fun and make money doing it.
To learn something from doing it.
To drink a lot more tea while doing it.
And to start doing it today.”
“We may not be able to change the world but we can make the most of today-and that’s as much as any of us can really do”.
For centuries people have known that wisdom and advice,love and support, news and gossip, all go better with a cup of tea.
Tea and philosophy go together so naturally it was obvious to Todat Was Fun that they should combine the two.
and we should all do what it says on the packet……….!
Put the kettle on to boil.
Warm your favourite teapot.
2. Add one tablespoon of tea for each person.
3. Pour in boiling water, allow to brew for ten minutes, and remember:
If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.
Just pretend you don’t know how hard it is.
Hold your ideas up to the light.
Make a date to do something you’re scared of doing.
Pick wildflowers.
Look into the eyes of a child and see the wonder.
Sit under the stars or on the edge of the ocean. S
pend time with someone who believes in you.
Or with someone you believe in.
Make a list of everything you’d do if you were guaranteed success.
Walk under old trees.
Take ‘can’t’ out of your vocabulary.
Risks are worth taking.
Mistakes are worth making.
Take a deep breath.
Plant a seed.
It will grow.
4. Stir and pour.
5. Drink.
Love the tea and the message !!!
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Tags: about finding eco, eco design, eco objects of desire, organic tea, orianna fielding banks, philosopy, recycled packaging, today was fun
Series 5. Eco Icon No.9
Michelle Lowe-Holder’s off-cut jewellery collection
Canadian born Michelle Lowe-Holder studied fashion at the legendary Pratt Institute in New York before coming to London where she went on to complete an MA in knitwear at renowned art school Central Saint Martins. After graduating in 2000, she decided to stay in London and launched her own-name label . Michelle has shown at London Fashion Week and achieved three New Generation awards. She’s been building up a following for her lateral, unique collections which incorporate hand crafted elements such as knitting, beading, handpainting and prints as well as smocking and integrated jewellery pieces that form part of her fashion collection.
This exploration of textures and textiles led her to express her creativity through jewellery as well as her core fashion collections. Her commitment to sustainable design led to her being sponsored by London College of Fashion’s enterprising program for ethical designers , The Centre for sustainable fashion . She designed a new collection that occupied a central space at Estethica this year , launching her new collection of reclaimed ribbon and off-cut based designs. Michelle said of her new collection:
‘Ribbon Reclaim’ is about creating something beautiful from end-of-line fabric and ribbon. I like to explore old techniques and re-use them in a contemporary way.”
The off-cut cuffs have been snapped up by eco-design hungry fashionistas and now can be seen adorning the A-list wrists of many a celebrity…..
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Series 5. Eco Icon No. 8
‘Mensa‘ coffee table by Lazarian Studio
UK-based Lazerian Studio is a creative practice that was founded in 2006, by Liam Hopkins, a Manchester born designer-maker.
Based in an immense raw space which was an ex- hat factory in Manchester, the practice is focused on the creation of functional objects through playful investigation of materials and processes, their aim to imbue objects with a bit of soul without adversely compromising the planet’s natural resources.
Lazerian Studio’s latest collection was showcased at the Designer’s block exhibition in Milan this year. It featured an origami inspired furniture collection made entirely by carefully cutting and folding sheets of cardboard recycled from their factory, the designers creating intricate sculptural forms that are structurally stable enough to be used as furnishings.
Cardboard is not the only material that Hopkins and Richard Sweeney are capable of transforming — their Borealis lampshades and Mensa coffee table ( above) are created from CNC machined plywood, showcasing the designer’s skill in pushing a wide range of materials to their sculptural limit. The designers aim to create minimal waste through their use of repeated forms.
Representative of a new ,dynamic breed of multi-desciplinary design practices..they play as much with scale as with form, applying their design vision to everything from interiorscapes to accessories….all of them unified by their covet ability!
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Tags: about finding eco, architectonic, eco design, eco objects of desire, environment, fsc, furniture, green, Lazerian studio, Liam Hopkins, Milan Designers Block, no wastage, orianna fielding banks, recycled, recycled cardboard, Richard Sweeney, sustainable design, Uk design practice
Series7. Eco Icon No.10
Henrietta Ludgate -fashion’s meteoric star of Responsible luxury launches her ’stunning, seasonless and sublime‘S/S 2012 collection at Esthetica, London.
Finding Eco has been a fan of Henrietta Ludgate since her early years as a designer. She has since gone on to pioneer her very particular brand of architectonic, luxurious, slow and responsible couture that has graced the ultimate selection of global red carpets via her unofficial brand ambassador ‘Livia Firth’.
Her collections are designed as a fusion of future proof ,contemporary classics with a minimalist glamour that will look good season after season. A ‘Henrietta Ludgate’ capsule collection which embodies the philosophy of timeless, seasonless dressing is an essential for every contemporary woman who subscribes to the ‘buy less, buy better’ school of dressing.
Her signature collections feature structural, strong shapes with minimalist lines in luxurious British fabrics… The designs are sophisticated with an edge. A combination of sharp lines and drapes which follow the contours of the body. With references to Schiapararelli’s view of clothing as a type of architecture; she believed that clothing should be closely connected to the frame of the body, just as a building’s form is drawn from its structural skeleton.”
For Spring/Summer 2012 there is perfect poolside glamour in Futuristic neon and retro jewel brights and sheer textures inspired by the summer of love and retro sixties minimalism. Her pieces reflect the rebellious spirit and experimentation of the 60s . The modern, minimalist design imbues the pieces with sophistication whilst the high hemlines and flattering tailoring gives the collection a sultry, sexy dimension. The luxurious fabrics highlight the exclusive nature of Henrietta’s clothes, this season she has used eco stretch silk satin causing the garments to gently cling to the body providing an excellent fit. The accessories are as directional as the clothes and feature belts are made from ecologically sourced plastic and the nail art worn by the models, provided by innovative beauty brand Nail Rock, is inspired by the very same material. The bright, almost neon, colours of the plastic being the perfect compliment to both the collection and Henrietta’s commitment to sustainable fashion.
Henrietta’s philosophy is one of slow fashion and lasting style rather than fast fashion and seasonal trends, she designs clothes that are intended to be worn over and over again by different generations; her SS12 once again utilizes designs that will stand the test of time.
http://www.henriettaludgate.com
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