bARBARA I gONGINI (Denmark)

Esther Perbandt (Berlin)

Friederike von Wedel-Parlow (Berlin)

ica watermelon (Berlin)

Kristofer Kongshaug (Norway)

*magdalena schaffrin (Berlin)

MAXJENNY (Sweden/Denmark)

Naoto Niidome (Finland)

Tarané Hoock (Berlin)

..

photo: Nicy de Silva

How and why do I engage in aspects of sustainability in my fashion design?

Sustainability for me is an important aspect in my work. This is my mind set within the industry – there are clear limits for what we will do to reach our goals… We will always produce in a fair trade production place, we will use all from 50 – 100 % organic fabrics in each collection, we will use bi-products within fur and leather production, we will use no chrome 6 in the dye process of leather, we will work with new aspects within the concept – such as making multifunctional clothing and de-constructing old or existing objects, cloths or fabrics. It is highly satisfying to find new ways within the industry that is not quite there yet, therefore smaller actions are as willable as bigger actions in this aspect. My aim is 100% sustainability… We want to be ban-breaking within Nordic design, demonstrating a stronger edge design with a strong political profile.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

Sustainability for me is awareness and taking responsibility for ones actions.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

To be a holistic consumer must be, by my assumption, an ultimate goal.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

To live by and aim for a holistic principle is for me an ultimate goal in production as well as in daily life.

bARBARA Í gONGINI
+45-70 21 21 40
barbara@igongini.dk

www.barbaraigongini.dk

Photo: Sebastian Stottele, Model: Madlen Wilk / Seeds, Make-up/Styling: Konstanze Krischer

I am a full time skipjack, “as a side job” I am leading a company of fashion design for womanswear and accessories, which requires a lot of courage and power. With these two main activities I often become a role model for other people. I want to pass this strength on to others. My aim is to circulate courage and power to think and act autonomously, to encourage going different or new ways and to act responsibly towards yourself and your environment.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

As a designer we become a role model and therefore it is important to create responsible and sustainable designs. This is not always as simple as it seems, especially when you have already built up your brand identity and personal signature in terms of design and style. The aim of keeping your style, your price range and your customers whilst merging this with a sustainable product and production often creates extreme confrontations. But still there are ways of starting in smaller steps, changing habits and attitudes. The on-going finacial crisis forces me as well as a lot of other people to think more sustainably and handle ressources with much more care.

If the financial crisis is encouraging people to approach thinking in a more sustainable manner we should to some extend be grateful for the crisis.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

Esther Perbandt, photo: Ulf Dieter

You can not be an angel 365 days per year. I am not pressurising myself. I

know that sometimes I am a devil and that I could do better. Still I try to be aware and choose rather sustainable products. I wish that one day there will be no more price difference between sustainable and non sustainabl products.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

Sustainability is a big subject and the new trend which I don’t like at all. But the way I approached it may help others as well to do little steps. Sustainability for me doesn’t mean to change your complete lifestyle. It is about starting to think different and be aware and just try to do better. And if it is only that you decide to reduce the time of taking a shower from ten to seven minutes. Imagine how much water you save in one year. I can totally identify with the feeling of awkwardness you may have when you actually want to change something.

Esther Perbandt
+49-30-24 61 08 92
mail@estherperbandt.com

www.estherperbandt.com

Fashion by Friederike von Wedel-Parlow, Photo: Özgür Albayrak Model: Anne Meister Makeup: Christina Roth Styling: Allessandra Coico

How and why do I engage in aspects of sustainability in my fashion design?

Working with nature’s limits is a great challenge. New impulses and solutions are

teased out by sustainability restrictions, by skrutinizing values, rules and goals of the fashion sector. The seemingly technical and efficient approach of the collection results in figure hugging feminine outfits. Made from rectangular pieces of eco-friendly materials, this eveningwear is both avantgardist and ecological,comfortable to wear yet spectacular to see.

Friederike von Wedel-Parlow

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

struggle and pleasure

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

Less is more

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

A duty and a gift

Friederike von Wedel-Parlow
+49-30-24 04 73 80
friederike@vonwedelparlow.com

www.vonwedelparlow.com

Photo: Frauke Fischer, Model: Josefin Herrmann, Seeds, Make-up/Styling: Manuela Kopp

How and why do I engage in aspects of sustainability in my fashion design?

I am aware that everything I do has a certain environmental and social impact on our ecosystem. The negative effects of the conventional production of textiles are obvious and when I started my fashion- label it was clear that I would go a different way. Sustainable fashion design implies many things. For me the most important aspect is considering environmentally friendly, fair trade materials and a social production.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

For me as a designer sustainability means to create and produce long-lasting and emotional products, it challenges me to think twice as much about the implementation of ideas.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

I try to comsume with a higher awareness of the origin and production methods of the things I buy.  With a bit of research work it is possible to find sustainable options for almost every product. Also I have been a vegatarian for more than 10 years, which is a very sustainable choice.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

Sustainability plays a big role in my personal as well as in my professional life. I think it is necessary to rethink old structures and to find and practice new ways, even though it is not always comfortable.

+49-163-6967831

ica_watermelon@gmx.de

]]> http://www.berlinordik.com/designer/fashion/juliaknuepfer/feed 0 http://www.berlinordik.com/designer/fashion/kristoferkongshaug http://www.berlinordik.com/designer/fashion/kristoferkongshaug#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 09:00:43 +0000 admin http://www.berlinordik.com/?p=1213

Fashion by Kristofer Kongshaug

How and why do I engage in aspects of sustainability in my fashion design?

For KK, design and fabrics are the most important things to establish an expression, whether the materials are sustainable or not. After reading and learning more about this GREEN part of the industry, we started looking at what materials we already were using and discovered that we had for long time been using both biodegradable fabrics, organic cottons and several new sustainable fibers in our garments. This without really having a green agenda.

We still don’t like to call ourself a green company, we always use the fabric which fits the esthetics of the brand, whether it is sustainable or not, of course if it is, it’s always a plus. We truly believe that sustainable materials will be the future of fashion, but we see it as the fabric manufacturer’s responsibility to take the necessary measures to make this happen.

If the factories could offer a product that can compete both with price and design, we would already have a green industry. Sadly this is not the case, it’s impossible for us to be a completely green company without changing the image and philosophy of the brand.

One of the biggest challenges as a fashion designer is the constant fight against time. I’m sure we all could be better finding alternative sustainable materials, but time is money. Big companies with huge resources don’t really have any excuse to not try harder. I think young companies with limited recourses somehow should get rewarded. This can be done in two ways:

1. Direct sponsorships from the industry, not from one company, but from a common organization for all green fabric manufacturers. This should not be a sponsorship that gives materials for free. But a sponsorship which gives small companies with profits under a certain limit a good discount, and no minimums on orders.

2. Government funding: A funding for use of sustainable materials over a limited period of max 3 years or until the company is profitable. This should only be for startups, and companies younger than 3 years.

I truly believe many young designer would be much more likely to choose green if they had one of the two options above. And I think both parts would gain with a sponsor solution.

Kristofer Kongshaug

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

trouble, it means boring basics… and I hope this will change. I think it is important, and that we all have some kind of responsibility. But it’s not my main focus, as I mentioned before, when we use sustainable fabrics, it’s usually a choice done with respect to the fabric style and not necessary because it’s a sustainable material…

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

I’m more likely to buy other sustainable products than cloths. I will not buy a garment just because somebody put green or sustainable in my face and think that this will sell the product. We buy what we like, if the garments I buy happen to be sustainable good, if not…

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

A challenge, I don’t think the industry is ready yet. The possible options of fabrics are still to poor, at least for the luxury industry. When this change I see no reason why the industry shouldn’t as well…

kristofer@kristoferkongshaug.com

Photo: Jan Rasmus Voss

How and why do I engage in aspects of sustainability in my fashion design?

Is there any other possibility than engaging aspects of sustainability in the fashion design nowadays? Sustainability has an impact on all levels of a fashion brand:

Long lasting design: The look of my collection is timeless and marked by classical pieces. The careful selection of fabrics, the high quality of production and the attention to the line and shapes, give the collection its specialty. My intention is to create clothing, where the design, the cut and the material merge into perfection. Therefore I have stopped working in the classical rhythm of two collections per year. That means for me, that I am concentrating on one collection, which will grow bigger in a healthy way. It changes seasonal in the chioce of material and colour.

Materials: I use only natural fibres, such as organic cotton, linen, silk, hemp. Most of them are organic certified or follow high eco standards. My cotton for example is 100% organic, most of my linen is organic, grown without harmful chemicals. But even my fibres which aren´t organic grown are still completely natural, because I use the same strict manufacturing guidelines as I do for organic: no toxins, no harmful substances. My organic silk comes from the only organic silk farm in the world. The specialty of organic silk is the forage of the silkworms. They get fed with biodynamic grown mulberry tree leaves. My wool is manufactured in Germany and is only mechanically treated, again: no toxins, no harmful substances.

Production: I am producing all my garments in Germany / Berlin. Therefore I guarantee high social standarts and avoid long shippings.

Magdalena Schaffrin

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

Making a difference. Working in the way I do, I make a bigger difference than as a consumer. Creating sustainable fashion shows people the normality of sustainability and the feel good factor of ecofashion.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

Making a difference, but with a smaller impact.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

Being aware of quality. High quality is one of the most important aspects regarding sustainability. In the best case combined with the awareness of using natural recources, toxic chemicals, energy, creating waiste and working conditions for people. Crap made from ecofriendly sourced material can never be sustainable, it is waisted time, energy and recources.

Magdalena Schaffrin
+49-30-99 21 27 45
info@magdalenaschaffrin.com

www.magdalenaschaffrin.com

pantone ski origami jacket, photo: Lars G Svensson

How and why do I engage in aspects of sustainability in my fashion design?

MAXJENNY has been turning heads as one of the brightest new stars on the Danish fashion scene. This talented designer produces striking garments for the woman of today. Edgy, sophisticated and affordable, her designs are also created with environmental consideration as a core value. MAXJENNY’s latest collection includes multi-functional raincoats made from recycled PET fibres, and cutting edge garments of recycled polyester. Both materials have a wonderful look and are unique to the touch. There are also pieces made with bamboo fibres, another sustainable yet wearable material. All MAXJENNY collections are produced according to fair trade principles. MAXJENNY creations are visually striking and easy to wear. Drapings and geometric silhouettes are a large part of the overall look, resulting in garments that are elegant yet casual.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

Beautiful and longlasting timeless design in environmentally friendly fabrics.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

Beautiful and longlasting timeless design in environmentally friendly fabrics.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

Beautiful and longlasting timeless design in environmentally friendly fabrics.

+45 8827 7998
info@maxjenny.com

www.maxjenny.com

Naoto Niidome, photo: Ruut Lahdenmäki

How and why do I engage in aspects of sustainability in my fashion design?

In this aspect:  I´m using sustainable materials as much as I can. I used ecological material for the first time in 2003 when I designed a collection for the Finnish textile and fashion brand Marimekko. The material was 100% bamboo. After that I have used sustainable materials such as milk, eco-cotton, eco-wool etc. Costs of those materials are still high but they are excellent. Nature has given so much and protected the human race for such a long time, it is time that we humans save the nature.

Naoto Niidome

At the moment it is still difficult in clothes production to use only sustainable materials or methods at all times. Even so I´m very happy whenever I find a sustainable solution and it is also a possibility for creative work.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

We need clothes, we need fashion but we don´t need to be a reckless about it. Purchase of clothes should be pleasure but also deliberate.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

It was good attitude to take sustainability into account in everyday life before, now it is an unavoidable responsibility.

Hietalahdenkatu 5 M 1
00180 Helsinki
FINLAND
+358 40 578 3802

nn@niidome.fi

Fashion by Tarané Hoock, Photo: Frauke Fischer, Model: Josefin Herrmann, Seeds, Make-up/Styling: Manuela Kopp

How and why do I engage in aspects of sustainability in my fashion design?

During my studies I worked consistently with the theme of “memory” – to design time. Sustainability, not only in terms of sustainable production, but also sustainable design. To concentrate the transcendental (the fashion) and the permanent (the values of life) in one concept. To find an identity for the garment, to make clothes which are “like friends”. Sustainability as an artistic concept.

Tarané Hoock

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

transforming design into an art form.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

costumers want something that stays with them for more than one season.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

Responsibility.

www.taranehoock.de