wondering...about the wonders of this wonderfull...world
foto x arnaldo @MMXIproject
A couple of summers ago, coming home from class, I took the subway with a friend and I told her I was trying to start a blog... then I also told her how time consuming and addicting it had become, and that I was wondering if it was something worth doing... she laughed and asked me to let her know when I was done and give her the"link" so she could read it. Then she left and I kept thinking...why? why should I do this ?
Technology has taken us to a new level and we are now, able to "publish ourselves"! PUBLISH OURSELVES however we want to; if you want to be yourself, transparent and out in the open, or even if you want to pretend to be someone else... YOU CAN! Now you can blog and share your thoughts and experiences with people without having them "altered" by the editors, or "chosen" because of how cool or marketable they are...
This space is for us to share; zaidibirindilindilandia-my own little world, my ingenious- and your thoughts!
On MARCH 7th my thesis collection "MANIFESTO_of_creativemoulding+criticalweathering" was launched on www.MUUSE.com!
MUUSE is an online platform that supports emerging designers by selling limited edition pieces -made to order- of our collections.
I am super excited for this, as it is the first time my pieces are up for sale, and the MUUSE team has a nice following that will help my work be recognized by a broader audience. Plus, it is wonderful to be considered part of a project that has so many talented designers.
CLICK here to see the communication they sent to announce the launch. I'd love to hear your comments (feedback always teaches us something) and would love it if you shared this with people that could be interested in shopping for one of my pieces!
I have to take this opportunity to thank Michael Butterfin + Jordan Cortese for the beautiful photography, Mallory Matoush for being my earthy-woodsy-mossy nymph/goddess and to my sister Ileana for helping out at the photoshoot!
You can see the FULL LOOKBOOK here:
There was an incredible panel of very inspired and inspiring individuals:
- Carmen Artigas: A sustainable design consultant and professor of Ethical Fashion at FIT and Parsons The New School for Design
- Eileen Moran: from NOW Showcase which has fostered incredible support and collaborations between buyers, press and designers.
- Summer Rayne Oakes: from Source4Style
- Deidre McGuigan: INDEGO AFRICA a social enterprise that partners with women artisans in Rwanda on a fair trade basis to drive forward a sustainable, long-term solution to systemic poverty in Africa.
- David Radparvar: from HOLSTEE which produces designer products and sustainability standards.
- Erica Wolf: from Save the Garment Center
This great evening full of motivated, commited, like-minded people working towards a common goal made me realize that being in New York is not that bad after all. Maybe I should think about that saying... "When life gives you lemons (this is a pretty GREAT lemon BTW), make BANGING lemonade"
I have tons of work to do regarding the collection for The Green Fashion Competition, but I'm too inspired and wound up...so I'm sharing with you some of my notes from tonight.
INNOVATION & SOCIAL IMPACT
- be INNOVATIVE with your SOCIAL IMPACT by COLLABORATING and sharing, busines to business, and SPACES.
- share the stories behind your product and TALK | TALK | TALK about what you are doing. This creates AWARENESS
- when you go shopping, ASK the salespeople about where the product was made and the working conditions there... this shows you care, and that message will get through to the people running your favorite brands, and change will happen
- look at the existing business model, re-examine it and think about the life of your product. Create a closed-loop with your customer.
- as designers we can reduce consumption and still keep our customers... its all about that closed-loop. We can create things that SOLVE our world's problems
- let's align our business practices to the Millennium Goals
- make a BOLD statement
WHAT INSPIRES YOU to be a part of the sustainability efforts?
- the opportunity for CHANGE
- women artisans... giving them the TOOLS so that they can later access clients themselves and we can act just as "consultants" and advisors.
How can we INFLUENCE our customers?
- when you have a product speaks for itself and competes with market mostly because of its quality and design.
- through EDUCATION... reaching the people who DO care, and teaching the people who don't (YET)
- through relationship building and long-term story telling
- by establishing a dialog with your buyers/customers... ask them their opinion (even throughout the designing process) so that you are making things that are needed/wanted.
- help customers UNDERSTAND your CHALLENGES, and show them they can be FLEXIBLE in their choices.
What can we do to REDUCE our IMPACT?
- PRODUCE LOCALLY, try to MINIMIZE your carbon footprint, create jobs, and sustain YOUR resources
- Make sure your LABOR workers are working in conditions that meet certain standards.
- ACCOUNTABILITY is important | Humans MATTER | look and force other people to examine the supply chain and to see the connection between everyone and everything. Its NOT just about the materials OR the end product.
- ASK Questions
- establish POSITIVE peer pressure; question your friends, start the dialogue!
- THINK about every purchase you make, don't create excuses or justify yourself.
Its been a couple of crazy days/weeks/months and I PROMISE I will write a long update POST after the 2nd of July (along with pics, emails and pictures to those of you I owe)
THE SCHEDULE:
currently- MILAN (until WEDS)
June29-Jul2 = GORIZIA/Mittelmoda
Jul 2-Jul7= FIRENZE/Pitti Filati
Jul7-Jul19 = LONDON/Miss England
...unknown...
Sept 1-4= (maybe)Paris/Ethical Fashion Show
just some pics of my fun fun time preparing the "collection"
Ye re 1 of the finalists! check Mittelmoda.com for official news!"
OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!
woooooow
OMG, OMG... I just couldn't think. My body got the shivers and I, I just- just started jumping!
Oooh, it's early -OMG! (too much excitement- difficult to contain)
I covered my mouth because all I wanted to do was jump and scream of emotion!
WOOOOOOW!
This is one of those things in life that you want really, really badly.
I'm usually not very competitive- not good at thinking "I HAVE TO WIN THAT"; but this was one of those things I worked really hard for and just crossed my fingers and hope for the best.
(that I at least got in)
I mean, this was happening right when I had garments to hand in, work, internship and school. Only God know why become so set on our ideas...
AND here it is...
This is my reason for returning to EUROPE!
wish me luck.
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