Going green is especially attractive when the end product is a tailored outfit or a chic centerpiece. As evidenced by boutiques like Berlin’s Semi-Domesticated, the practice of creating sustainable apparel and housewares exclusively from upcycled objects and waste has become more than a passing fad.
MADE of NEW YORK: The streets of New York have long inspired artists and craftspeople to upcycle urban waste. Now, MADE of NEW YORK is taking repurposed materials to the next level. Sure to strike a chord with enthusiasts of the Adirondack aesthetic, the furniture line is fashioned entirely from untreated wood sourced from abandoned Manhattan buildings dating back to the 19th century. The trio of talent behind the South Bronx-based collection includes a former Creative Director at IKEA, a Parsons professor, and a lumber expert. Their combined experience makes for tastefully rugged minimalist pieces that are built to last…for at least as long as the materials from whence they come have been around.
Picking up where the earthborn material movement left off, designers are using natural dyes to bring color to handcrafted accessory collections. Made for the modern hippie (or hipster), these hand-dyed scarves, bags and jewelry call to mind a beachy femme vibe, best suited for the summer months ahead.
Erin Considine: Brooklyn-based jewelry designer Erin Considine crafts 100% sustainable statement pieces with feminine flair by using all-natural dyes, organic fibers and recycled metals. Taking a delicate approach to last summer’s nautically inspired rope adornments, Considine wraps, weaves, braids, and coils hand-dyed yarn to create intricate textural patterns. Saturated colors are a trademark of Considine’s work, and her hues can be traced to scavenged source materials (e.g., logwood for blues, madder root for pinks and peaches, and turmeric for bold yellows). Think of it as fashion’s response to the foodie foraging movement. One-of-a-kind pieces, the creation of which can be followed on Considine’s Tumblr, cost up to $300.
Last summer, eyeglasses line Warby Parker made the visually impaired proud of their lack of 20/20. Since then, geek chic eyewear has become a staple among glamorous Hollywood elite and fashionable runway stalkers, and there’s been a rush of trendy online eyewear companies that afford would-be four-eyes an element of style without breaking the bank.
Classic Specs: Brooklyn-based Classic Specs believes that fashionable eyewear should be available to everyone. By cutting out the middle man (the norm for this new crop of eyewear startups), Classic Specs can offer prescription glasses for a mere $89. Operating on the try-before-you-buy model, prospective customers can order up to three pairs of frames to sample in the comfort of their homes before purchasing. And if custom eyewear needs to be adjusted after purchase, Classic Specs will reimburse the fee charged by a local optical shop. Unlike other web-based eyeglass retailers, the online boutique has a “brick-and-mortar” location in the form of a regular booth at the Brooklyn Flea.
There are many reasons to celebrate Chaul Chnam Thmey, Cambodia’s New Year, which was this past weekend. Politically, the country is finally putting the masterminds of the Khmer Rouge on trial, hoping that justice helps it move forward. But culturally, it’s already done that, with a spate of new brands, galleries, hotels and boutiques that reflect the kingdom’s roots while looking firmly ahead to the year 2555 and beyond.
Push Pull: In the 19th century, Cambodia made what was considered some of the finest ikat in the world. Today, Push Pull is reviving that textile superiority by teaming with Khmer weaving artisans and opening up their handmade ikat fabrics to the international market through a range of “It Bag”-worthy accessories. It helps that the team includes former employees of LeSportsac and Bluefly, but the strongest selling point of these stylish tote bags, wallets and pillows is the fabric itself. Although Push Pull isn’t launching its full collection until September, it’s already caught the attention of rising chain Madewell, which carried one of their sarongs last spring. Those who can’t wait until fall can choose from one of the three pieces available online now.
Designers have been experimenting with petrological accessories for years, but a contemporary school of handcrafted jewelry makers has brought geology to a new level of chic. Mining natural resources to craft fresh sparkling statement rings, their wares engender a motif that is equal parts socialite and earth mother. Using clay, agates, geodes and metals to stunning effect, these artisans prove that no one is too right-brained for science class.
Pippa Small: Canadian-born Pippa Small started collecting gem and mineral treasures at an early age, turning her bounty into wearable art before earning a degree in anthropology, which she funded with her expert jewelry making skills. Known for using gold around gorgeous uncut baubles of stones such as tourmaline, lapis and hematite, Small’s unique pieces are inspired by Greek, Indian and Tibetan aesthetics. It wasn’t long before she was collaborating with Gucci and Chloe and, reflecting her educational path, forging creative partnerships with various indigenous tribes like the Kuna of Panama, the Batwa Pygmies of Rwanda and the San Bushmen of the Kalahari desert, helping them mine their traditional designs to achieve sustainable economic stability.
