Series 8. Eco Icon No.14

Nature as wearable jewelry.

An iconic ring collection by Pasionae

Pasionae is a New York based contemporary jewelry atelier. Its collection, which include many bespoke and unique one-of-a-kind pieces, combine their experimental use of color, shape and texture to create an architectonic and textural range.

Using the raw, natural forms of precious stones and diverse elements such as emerald, wood, glass and silver, Pasionae gives each individually handcrafted piece a unique stamp and personality.

Primarily inspired by human passions, each of Pasionae’s metamorphic designs capture powerful emotions that embody the concept of l’art pour l’art (art for art’s sake).

These pieces are dramatic, 3 dimensional statement conversation pieces that are instantly collectible and very covetable.

www.pasionae.com

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!!!

www.notjustalabel.com/cjy

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

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.

www.titaniainglis.com

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.

www.titaniainglis.com

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.

www.hulger.com

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….

www.kapowwowobjects.com

Series 6. Eco Icon No.11

Future forward fashion by ‘Le sang des Betes‘

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.

www.lesangdesbetes.com

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!

www.cedricflazinski.com

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!

www.extreme-design.net

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.

www.linhardtdesign.com

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!!!

www.sikiim.com

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!!!

whodidthat.com.au

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.

>www.shigerubanarchitects.com

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!!

 

www.charlottehosten.com

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!

www.lazerian.co.uk

Series 5. Eco Icon No. 7

Camilla Wellton’s architectonic Eco Couture Collection

Swedish born Camilla Wellton made the decision to dedicate her talents to the environment when she was still in her teens. Although  all her designs use only   natural and organic materials, her pieces look anything but ‘natural’. Her new collection seems to be a fusion of ‘blade runner esque ‘ architectonic shapes with a zen minimalist colour palette. Wellton’s collection shows a contemporary directional aesthetic and her sci-fi-esque line of eco-luxe  clothing can be made to order in completely sustainable fabrics.

Finding Eco  loves their mission statement ……it has a wonderful freshness, sincerity and clarity of purpose….

“We are a Swedish Luxury Fashion brand in love with the dream of being the Soul in your wardrobe.

Our office and atelier is located in the heart of Södermalm in the city of Stockholm, Sweden.

We love to Love Nature, Love, Creativity and the Muses.

We love to excel by creating and offering you comfortable, elegant, discreetly luxurious,inspired and confident garments and products

We love to care by giving 10% of our profit to the Swedish NGO Vi skogen
to help promote agroforestry and the planting of new trees in Africa

We love to please by offering a made to measure option for most of our models

We love to delight by creating Eco Couture for those who desire ecological,
unique and perfectly fitted garments.”

So if your wardrobe is missing an organic-silk-lined trench, or a high-waisted woollen capri, of if you are searching for the perfect empire-cut evening gown made from a blend of organic silk and hemp and want to make a fashion forward statement that doesn’t compromise the planet…you’ve found your brand…Camilla Wellton.

www.camillawellton.com

Series 5.Eco Icon No.4

 

‘Marcel would go’ chair by The Skate Study House

Based on their passion for mid-century design, skateboard culture, and the SoCal lifestyle, designers champion skate boarder Pierre Andre Senizergues and Gil Le Bon de La Pointe have launched a new company The SKATE STUDY HOUSE that makes sleek, gorgeous post modern furnishings and accessories out of recycled second hand skate board products. Skate Study Houseis quintessential California – skater cool, mid-century minimal, and totally green.

The latest addition to their eco skate board inspired collection is this witty homage to Marcel Breuer’s iconic chair…but made entirely of recycled skate boards….a collector’s piece in the making…..called ‘Marcel would go’….perhaps it should be called ‘ Marcel would go……..and get one!”

The SKATE STUDY HOUSE ‘s concept is: ‘Living the lifestyle’. For Gil Le Bon de La Pointe and and  Pierre  Andre Senizergues , founders of the brand, this is what fuels their constant inspiration for all their design innovations.Pierre Andre ‘s mission is to explore other avenues of design by seeking to understand architecture, interior design and other eco / sustainable concepts. He has spent a considerable amount of time researching these new concepts — always trying to mix the skateboard culture and green materials with each endeavor.

SKATE STUDY HOUSE /SSH is an innovative design concept specializing in recreating popular furniture through the vision of a skateboarder. The movement of a skateboarder constantly changes — it recreates itself by transcending boundaries and inventing ways to conquer obstacles. It is constantly about anticipation and adaptation to one’s environment. The same is true for living design. The combination of the two produces a mixture of contemporary lifestyle, art and action sports culture, which is all found in this unique collection. Pierre Andre, president and CEO of Sole Technology, parent company of leading action sports footwear and apparel company , continues to push designs that are created with skateboarders in mind and consist of a unique blend of fashion, durability and quality. Channeling his same creative spirit for innovation,

FOR Gil Le Bon De Lapointe, being a skateboarder was a steppingstone to becoming a furniture designer. “You spend a lot of time choosing and using your board — checking the shape, the curves, the elasticity of the plywood,” says De Lapointe, still an avid skater. “The focus you have on the equipment makes it possible for you to use that knowledge for something different.”

Senizergues has in turn received numerous accolades; including the Orange County Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Immigrant of the Year Award, OC Metro’s Hot 25 and Most Influential CEO’s in Orange County and Footwear News’ Power 100. In 2009, Pierre-André was once again recognized in OC based media for his green leadership and environmentally conscious philosophy in business, and most recently Microsoft’s Customer Excellence in Environmental Sustainability. Senizergues was also recognized as one of the Top Innovators by the Orange County Register and by Global Green USA with a Corporate Environmental Leadership Award for his environmental practices and corporate responsibility by revolutionizing the way Sole Technology does business.

As action sports continues to grow in popularity, Senizergues is dedicated to ensuring that Sole Technology remains at the forefront in the industry. To achieve this, he keeps the company steadfastly focused on advances in quality, function and style. His ultimate goal is to make his company’s products the premiere choice to support the next generation.

www.skatestudyhouse.com

Series 5. Eco Icon No.2

Rubber band Necklaces by M2

The Noughties is bringing with it a new breed of multi disciplinary designers who are using their talents across several design platforms to create unique design collections. The new jewellery collection  of  New York based architect Margarita Mileva is a shining example of designers crossing over into other design arenas-outside their comfort zones.

M2 is the new jewellery collection by Milev Architects . Says Mileva “I was inspired  by the  ever-changing character of the contemporary architectural office, where standard tools become obsolete, discarded rubber bands and paper clips became the source of inspiration for this particular collection of necklaces”.

Love the metamorphosing of the humble rubber band into the painterly colours and forms of  this jewellery collection…like a three dimensional tapestry…will be looking at rubber bands with fresh eyes.

www.milevarchitects.com/m2/

Series 4.Eco Icon No.18

Iconic eco jewellery by Maria Mastori

Greek, Athens based designer Maria Mastori’s has launched her latest collection of  ‘ Super size me’  jewellery featuring an eclectic mix of materials, successfully mixing  bright neon-colored threads with gold, crystal, wood and onyx. As a designer  Maria now has a cult following of loyal fans who are drawn to her distinctive, unique pieces which are all upscale, bold and all have an inherent ‘wow’ factor.

Maria  was born in Athens in 1959 .As a teenager she already had a clear idea of the direction she would follow and took art and design courses and at the same time as taking classes on jewellery design and production. Since 1984 she started taking part in group exhibitions with her works. n 1988 she presents her first personal exhibition entitled “The Ships” using silver as her main material.

The catalyst for her connection with fashion accessories was her collaboration with the Couture designer Loukia in 1998. Her second collaboration in fashion started in the spring of 2005 with designer Yiorgos Eleftheriades and in 2006/07 with Angelos Bratis.

Her longest standing and most creative collaboration has been with womens wear designer Filep Motwary. They started working together in 2005 and recently presented their collection together at the Hellenic Fashion Week. In February 2008, she was chosen through the web community of IQONS.COM by design guru Zandra Rhodes as her favorite jewellery and accessories designer.

www.iqons.com/MARIA+MASTORI