Dunya Atay
I just stumbled across this image on Cyana TrendLand. It’s strikingly similar to the one below which dates from over 40 years ago and I love when that happens, when something seemingly isolated finds a niche. I would love to do a lookbook with this artist! Maybe one day (soon)?
More info on the artist here.
Thank you!
While I was in Montreal for the holidays, my mother arranged for me to meet with one of her clients who had been admiring my clothing via my lookbooks and the many samples my mother wears to work (and wears very well I might add). She wanted to meet with me because she had been collecting bolts of fabrics for nearly 40 years to make clothing for herself, but had not yet done anything with it. And she wanted to GIVE IT TO ME! Piled up on her table, this amazing woman had all these beautiful wools from Scotland, Irish linens, and printed cottons from Liberty of London (!!!). I felt like a little kid in a candy store. She informed me that some of the textiles were leftovers from making uniforms for Canadian Mounties, another piece of off-white wool was wool used for nuns’ habits that she had bought in a remnants store in Montreal in the 70s that has since closed down. I could see all the memories attached to each of these bolts. And that made me very hesitant to take anything away from her.
But all she asked in return was that I make her a dress or a skirt from one of the fabrics. And she wanted something that I designed, something like the pieces I gave to my mother. The rest of the fabrics will be used for show pieces in the Fall 11 presentation during fashion week, only 6 short weeks away. And I can’t wait to show you all the incredible fabrics I received from this benefactor! I’m so grateful to have the support and encouragement of people like this in my life.
The photo above was taken from a rubbing in the front hallway, I noticed it as I left with my overflowing bag of wool and cottons. My new benefactor informed me that she had taken the rubbing herself from the floor of a church in England, it may have been St James Church! I have a feeling the silhouette and emotion from this image may make its way into the presentation as well. Sometimes these things just speak to you.
Re-Dress
The above chart is closer to what I meant when I referred to the Life Cycle of a Garment in a post earlier this month. I came across it while looking around on the Re-Dress website, which is worth checking out if you have some time to browse, it’s full of great information. I’m hoping to be able to attend Fashion Evolution 2011, Ireland’s 4th Ethical Fashion Week in Dublin this May. Re-Dress has invited me to show my collection at the event and maybe event host a seminar or lecture series while I’m there. I’ll be honest, I have a soft spot for all things Irish, so when the opportunity to meet Ireland’s ethical fashion community arose, I jumped at the chance. I’m also really excited about any burgeoning community interested in learning about and promoting ethical fashion.* The more I look around on the Re-Dress website the more I love it. And I wish I could attend more of their workshops. Creative Crochet Wednesday? Bow Ties & Bellinis? Yes please!!! I’m getting ideas…
*Notice my use of the word ethical in lieu of eco or sustainable. I was interviewed by a graduating student at Parsons last week and in the course of our hour-long conversation I noticed myself using the word sustainable too many times to count, so I’m making an effort to try out alternatives.
(Wish me luck getting back to New York this week. I hear the storm is pretty bad. Who would have thought I’d have to travel to Montreal to get away from the snow storm?!)
T minus two weeks
I’ve been on a little shopping spree lately. By normal standards, it probably wouldn’t be considered a “spree”, but it was for me. This week I bought a sweater, a pair of baggy trousers (sorry Bliss!), a dress and two necklaces. No shoes, because I have plenty of those. There are a few reasons for this spree. One is because it’s almost Christmas and I felt like treating myself. Another is because I had a very lucky week filled with great news (not even good news, GREAT news) and I felt like celebrating. So I bought clothes. (I swear it was all sustainable, recycled, vintage or made by independent designers, but it was still new stuff to fill my closet.) The last reason for the recent purchases… I’m stocking up for next year.
During the Wear Your Love event earlier this week, my friend Caroline and I were inspired by co-founder Sofia’s own personal challenge and ultimately decided to not buy anything new for the entirety of 2011. No new socks, no new unmentionables, no vintage, no accessories, no accepting gifts. Food, obviously, doesn’t count. We haven’t discussed furniture, but lets be honest, we live in tiny apartments in NY so there’s not much need for new furniture. I won’t be taking this on as a fundraising project like Sheena (she’s far more dedicated than I could ever be), nor will I share my daily outfits with the www. I will however, stick to the promise and not make any purchases. I’m sure my bank account will thank me if nobody else does.
Here’s the one hitch to this grandiose plan: I produce a collection of clothing twice a year. Yes, the sustainability guilt is sinking in again. Caroline informed me that in order to stick to the plan, I can’t wear any of the new clothes I’ll be producing throughout the year. This sucks because I like my clothes. That’s pretty much the only reason I make them for people.
So exactly two weeks from today will be the first of 365 days of no new purchases. If we need something we have to make it. If we’re missing something, we’ll have to improvise. In preparation I cleaned out my entire closet, gave away two bags full of clothing and took stock of what I actually own. Which is a lot. A whole lot. Enough for a several years worth of outfits.
My questions to you are these:
Is it contradictory for a clothing designer to stop buying clothing? I don’t really want everyone to take on this challenge, because, after all, I make my livelihood selling clothing.
Does buying fabric to make new clothing for myself count as buying something new? And if you think it does, is there any way around this?
Would swapping pieces with a friend be considered an acceptable means of acquiring new stuff without breaking the rules?
(and no, I didn’t ask for new clothes for Christmas, but I might need new socks now that I think about it…)
Yes I AM ready to accept credit cards, thank you very much Square! My new favourite toy arrived in the mail today just in time for me to try it out at the Annual Mary Meyer Holiday sample sale starting tomorrow. Come buy something so I can play with it!
Mary Meyer presents our 3rd Annual multi-designer holiday sale. This year the sale will take place in Williamsburg and includes more designers then ever before. Goods include: designer clothing, jewelry and bags, gift cards, handmade candles, calendars, handmade soap and vintage clothing. All designers are local and most will be manning their booths. Prices will range from $5 to $300. Most designer goods will be marked down to wholesale prices. Complimentary drinks will also be provided.
On Saturday 12/18 at 7pm Bonnie Pipkin Presents will be performing A Spooky Christmas Story
Designers & craft people include:
BLISS LAU, jewelry, http://www.blisslau.com/
CHRIS HABANA, jewelry, http://www.chrishabana.com/
CHRISTIAN BEAUJEAN, clothing, http://www.christianbeaujean.com/
COOK & GATES, bags, http://cookandgates.com/
COSTALOTS, sunglasses, http://www.costalots.com/
DA BRUXA, organic skin and body care, www.dabruxa.com
FOX & FAWN, vintage clothes, http://foxandfawn.blogspot.com/
GOLDIES SOAP, handmade soap, http://goldiessoap.com/
KIN FOR KIN, cards and gifts, http://www.kinofkin.com
LAUREN WHITE, handmade candles
LISA LEVINE, jewelry, http://www.lisalevinejewelry.com/
MARY MEYER, clothing, http://www.marymeyerclothing.com/
MELINDA SALAZAR, feather extension for hair
ROUND DESIGNS, jewelry, http://round.myshopify.com/
STEPHANIE LEVY, lunar calendars and cards
STUDY, clothing, http://4equalsides.com/fall-2010/
THE WILD UNKNOWN, calendars & prisms, http://www.thewildunknown.com
The sale is located at 555 Metropolitan between Lorimer and Union, from 12-8 this Saturday and Sunday. See you this weekend!