Our phone-addicted culture has rendered the traditional timepiece all but unnecessary. But this once-beloved accessory is now re-emerging as just that—a small wardrobe accoutrement that can make a big statement about personal style. In varieties ranging from digital to analog to biodegradable, watches are appearing on more and more young wrists every day.
May 28th: When Latvian designer and wristwatch-fanatic Agni Tilla failed to find the fun and colorful watches her heart desired, she decided to make her own. Her resulting line of affordable analog timepieces features clear and colored plastic bands and bold, limited-edition designs at the watch face. A likely progression of the organic materials movement, Tilla’s designs are inspired by natural shapes, materials, and textures –then revved up with her hipster-friendly sense of humor. For those too cautious to rock such bright colors and eye-catching patterns on a daily basis, Tilla’s recently debuted Architect line offers a subtler alternative, featuring black-and-white styling, clean lines at the face, and the same affordable price point.
“Green’ may no longer be a buzz word, but the fashion industry hasn’t abandoned its commitment to environmental friendliness. Instead, young designers are looking at ways to cut out the waste in a business based on consumption with innovative—and quite stylish—results.
Carrie Parry: Carrie Parry honed her design skills at esteemed labels like Marc by Marc Jacobs and Norma Kamali, but perhaps her primary inspiration is the one grounded in sustainability. The Los Angeles-born, New York-based designer is juggling the launch of her eponymous label with obtaining a graduate degree in Socially Responsible and Sustainable Apparel Business. Her debut Fall ’11 collection, which includes fabrics sourced from a women-owned cooperative in India, features interchangeable cuffs, collars, and bows. It’s not a new idea—the collection is named after Mrs. Montague, the 19th century housewife who invented the detachable collar—but Parry is certainly ushering it into the 21st century with fashionable aplomb.
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.
Efforts to be greener have shoe manufacturers working from the ground up. More and more companies are phasing out the slow-to-decompose synthetic materials traditionally used in the composition of sturdy soles. The three brands below are innovating by embracing biodegradable materials that afford improved durability with impressive comfort.
OAT: Two years ago, the brothers behind this eco-minded Dutch company conceived the inconceivable: footwear that leaves no footprint. The resulting sneaker line debuted at Amsterdam International Fashion Week 2011, where the design concept was awarded second prize in the Green Fashion competition. The sneaker’s uppers are natural bio-d canvas, a go-to fabric when it comes to sustainable style. But this shoe’s kicker is its seed-embedded cork sole. Plant or compost a worn-out pair and they will decompose completely, sprouting fresh flowers as they do. Think of them as a tempered take on guerilla gardening. The new 2011 Virgin Collection features six styles in four colors.
The idea of bottling and selling water still brings a smile to the face of most veteran marketers. Really, who could have predicted the enormity of the H2O industry? When it comes to staying hydrated, we prefer the more ecologically sound tap variety, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want our water to be both as pure in composition and stylish in presentation as the processed kind.
Collapsible Reusable Bottles: We love our Nalgene, but there are times when lugging it just isn’t practical. Enter the plastic Vapur “anti-bottle,” which may be the most suitable alternative for those on the run. When not in use, it can be flattened and rolled small enough to stuff in a pocket. Similar to a collapsible camping cup yet more befitting for athletes, the reusable Vapur is dishwasher-safe and BPA-free. Its bright colors, like acid pink and green, and attachable clasp promise to make it the new eco accessory of choice, especially for urbanites who don’t have the luxury of storing stuff in a car. And, though it’s intended for water, you can certainly appropriate it for other uses.
