What Will Fashion Look Like in 2025? 4 Fashion Futures

Published by Celestyna Brozek on May 20, 2010

I though I would round off techno week at Green by Design by giving you a little peek at a remarkable report I recently ran across. Forum for the Future recently collaborated with Levi Strauss and Co. and published a report envisioning four potential scenarios for how fashion will look in 2025.

Using the Web to Change Consumer Behavior

Published by Celestyna Brozek on May 19, 2010

People need variety and novelty, and therefore will always be consuming. It’s about doing it in an intelligent and sustainable way. So how to get our shopping fix without wasting resources?
Here’s one idea: make the tangible intangible. Can virtual shopping replace physical consumption?
Social media is revolutionizing the world and that includes fashion. Can it train consumers and companies to shop and produce sustainably?

In Defense of Techno-Fashion

Published by Celestyna Brozek on May 18, 2010

There’s plenty of random “techno fashion” out there, so of it really awesome, most of it is…well, as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, whenever there is a new movement or technology underway, the first attempts will always be prototypes – awkward first steps. But to me this phase is the most important! So here’s to the early adopters, the mad scientists, and the dreamers who also dare to do! For instance: Jeans that function as batteries? By using special e-ink…

Fashion Needs Technology Like the Deserts Need the Rain

Published by Celestyna Brozek on May 17, 2010

Sustainable fashion and technology go hand in hand. If I had to name the thing that I thought was most important to the future of sustainable fashion, besides changing the collective attitude of our culture, I would confidently say technology. So this week is an ode to the marriage of fashion and technology in as many forms as we can find. Today: the 60BAG and dissolving wedding gowns

Weekly Rewind: Let Your Conscientiousness Be Your Guide

Published by Mira Torres on May 14, 2010

We’re green. We’re conscientious. We do what we can. We’re quite possibly the better breed of consumers because when we purchase, we make it a moral choice, and decide by finishing with the best possible choice for ourselves, and ultimately the environment. From what inspires us to the different aspects of consumer packaging, this week at Green By Design, we take you to the different perspectives of conscientious producing and purchasing.

Fresh Picked: the Greenest Jewels of All!

Published by Celestyna Brozek on May 13, 2010

We’re not kidding when we call it green! It’s literally made from greenery! Jewelry that grows – on you. OK, enough with the puns, and…eye candy: begin.

Vagadu’s Visionary: Joui Turandot Inspires Us!

Published by Celestyna Brozek on May 12, 2010

Wow, it’s been a while since we did an interview! You’ll definitely get your interview fix with Vagadu’s Joui Turandot, though! Read on for inspiration from the last of the Bohemians – it’s not often we get to chat with a true artiste! Joui is the founder of the label Vagadu, an audacious line of evening wear and separates hand-crafted out of reclaimed clothing. Each piece is nurtured to perfection by Joui’s visionary eye and artistic instincts.

Packaging Fashion: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Published by Celestyna Brozek on May 11, 2010

Sustainability in fashion encompasses a lot of things. It’s not just about using the greenest materials to make your product. The product is actually a tiny fraction of the business – who cares if you’re using organic cotton if your production is sloppy and you generate a lot of unnecessary waste? Or if you pack each shirt in an individual box? Packaging is one key aspect that is often overlooked when it comes to evaluating how green a business is, but that’s where a lot of waste occurs.

Weekly Rewind: Something Old, Something New

Published by Mira Torres on May 07, 2010

There’s nothing we love more at Green By Design than making what was once old new again. There’s something about recycling, upcycling, and revamping that we just can’t resist. Could it be the creative thought that’s put into it? Or the fact that product consumption is reduced? It’s both! Eco fashion garments which are created into new pieces of wardrobe art and combined with environmental goodness is exactly the kind of sustainable work that floats our boats.

Denim Double Down!

Published by Celestyna Brozek on May 06, 2010

Denim is both amazingly durable and incredibly harmful to the environment when produced conventionally – so many chemicals and water go into dying it and applying the various washes and finishes – but I love my denim! A world without jeans would be like an amusement park with no rides….so I’ve started brainstorming/researching ways we can “eco up” jeans so I can look at them without feeling like I’m cheating on the Earth.

Retail Trends Go Green

Published by Celestyna Brozek on May 05, 2010

The fashion retail landscape has taken a few interesting turns as of late – perhaps because of the recession, new marketing strategies were needed, but the common thread in all of these “turns” is a time-sensitive-limited-edition product, which in the vast sea of fast fashion and mass production out there, gives consumers something special and unique. Some “new” trends I’ve noticed are exclusive members only shops, pop-up shops and designer collaborations.

Poem: Sewing and Swapping are the New Shopping

Published by Celestyna Brozek on May 04, 2010

I am seeing more and more community sewing centers popping up, more and more local clothing swaps happening, and more and more workshops on how to make/alter/mend your own clothes. I am officially calling it people – get in on that game before you get left behind. The past is now the future and in this case, being stuck in the present is where you don’t want to be. After all, how are you going to feel when there you are in your community garden with all your neighbors, and you’re the only one who’s wearing store-bought overalls?

Hospital Gowns – From Scrub In to Stunning!

Published by Celestyna Brozek on May 03, 2010

Sometimes all it takes is a little nip here, a little tuck and a little pleat to take something baggy and give it a fresh new face! If it sounds like we’ve gone doctor on you, then you’re kinda right! 1 o.a.k. takes discarded scrubs under the knife and with a ruthless new regimen of pleating, dying, draping and fabulous design, transforms them into confections that rival Armani.

Conifer: Barking Up the Right Tree

Published by Celestyna Brozek on April 08, 2010

Conifer – a new boutique in Cow Hollow – is just the breath of fresh air the SF fashion scene needed! Conifer carries the most perfectly curated and deliberately selected group of designers ever and even has a few of owner Amy Mautz’s own designs!

The forest just got a little more interesting – read Amy’s thoughts on SF fashion and the one green thing everyone should do!

Serious Eye Candy: Reem Alasadi

Published by Celestyna Brozek on March 19, 2010

Today Reem Alasadi deserves mad props for her complex, deconstructed designs and unusual take on how to make fashion more sustainable.

Reem Alasadi bills herself as “the intelligent choice on planet fashion.”

I love how out of the box Reem’s thinking is – she shows there are more ways to be eco-friendly than to use organic textiles or go fair-trade – there is such a multitude of solutions out there – and this is a very creative one!

Irish Eyes are Smiling. . . And so is Zachary!

Published by Celestyna Brozek on March 17, 2010

Zachary’s Smile offers a large collection of women’s vintage fashions (yay!) as well as unique clothing by emerging designers. Today, Zachary’s Smile has two New York locations (and an online shop coming soon!) and three distinct private label collections, which I think is a really smart business model for designers who are unwilling to make the total leap to sustainable design. It’s a good reminder it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Do what you can, take baby steps. But do something, no matter how small. Take the first step.

Unu: “sentimental reasons”

Published by Celestyna Brozek on February 03, 2010

I am so glad I stumbled on this little company because their core philosophy reveals one of the key factors that differentiates green design from mass-produced, anonymous merchandise.

The idea of the singularity of an item that is brought about by a unique history, or as Unu puts it ” the narratives of its creation” is so important to green design. Because if we create, own and love irreplaceable items, then we won’t be so cavalier about disposing of them!

glam is green!

Published by Celestyna Brozek on January 27, 2010

Not only is she dazzling beautiful, but she is the queen of putting together a look! Best of all, she’s always draped in her own designs, most often opulent jewelry crafted from one of a kind vintage treasures, sometimes in vintage custom tinted sunglasses, and every once in a while in a stunning glamour-wrap, made from vintage kimonos. If you’re hearing the word “vintage” a lot, it’s no coincidence.

Outsa-wha?!?!

Published by Celestyna Brozek on January 26, 2010

There are some blogs that you just have to know about. You just do.
Today I introduce you to the Empress of DIY, upcycling and “trashion.” Trust me, normally I’m kind of a snob about upcycling but Outsapop gets inspiration straight from the catwalks.
Viva la tasteful upcycle!

You are the voice of fashion.

Published by Celestyna Brozek on January 25, 2010

Hello all! Sorry for the gap in posting! We missed you, but we’re back now, rarin’ to go for the new year.

Fashion is usually thought of as frivolous and meaningless, but I came across an interesting quote to the contrary on one of my FAVORITE street style blogs, Hel-looks.

I get that it’s fun to express ourselves with clothes, but do we have an actual responsibility to consider our dress an extension or expression of our personality?