Everything in life, directly or indirectly, has a great degree of mystery. To paraphrase Warren Zevon, "Some days I feel like my shadow's casting me." Persons, places, things … time itself is a mystery. You know, like, who can explain it? It's really difficult to define anything. What's slow can speed up. Love can turn into hate. Peace can turn into war. Pride can turn into humility. Anger to grief. How would you define a simple thing like a chair, for instance—something you sit on? Well, it's more than that. You can sit on a curb, or a fence. But they are not chairs. So what makes a chair a chair? Maybe it's got arms? A cross has arms, so has a person. Maybe the chair doesn't have arms? Okay, so it's a post or a flagpole. But those aren't chairs. A chair has four legs. So does a table. So does a dog. But they're not chairs either. So a chair is a mystical thing. It's got a divine presence. There's a gloomy veil of chaos that surrounds it. And "chaos" in Greek means "air." So we live in chaos and we breathe it. Is it any wonder why some people snap and go crazy? Mystery is ancient. It's the essence of everything. It violates all conventions of beauty and understanding. It was there before the beginning, and it will be there beyond the end. We were created in it. The Mississippi Sheiks recorded a song called "Stop and Listen" To most music aficionados, it's but a ragtime blues. But to me, it's words of wisdom. Saint Paul said we see through the glass darkly. There's plenty of mystery in nature and contemporary life. For some people, it's too harsh to deal with. But I don't see it that way.
-Bob Dylan, October 2011
New York International Gift Fair- August 2011
DIGS had a great turnout at this summers New York show where we premiered our new sustainable and fair-trade collections!http://www.nyigf.com/
Designer Spotlight: Saara Renvall
Helsinki, Finland: Saara Renvall is a designer working with furniture, objects, jewelry, spaces, and interior. After finishing her 3-year training as a carpenter, Renvall graduated from the University of Art and Design in Helsinki and received her Master of Arts in 2002. She has studied shorter periods in India, Denmark, Japan, and the UK; gaining expertise in different design cultures.
( ) Fashion's Night Out
“We celebrate materials instead of apologizing for them.” Only one of the many intentions listed on ( ) Fashion’s Night Out’s website hosted by Of Rags, EcoSalon and NYC Fair Trade Coalition at the new Textile Arts Center in NYC’s WestVillage.
( ) FNO featured 14 ethical brands – including us, of course! – who have dedicated their businesses to respecting all parts of their supply chain from the dyes to the people who make the product. What’s up with the parenthesis? Those are for you. Some people might fill in “sustainable.” Some might say “innovative.” For me, I’d fill those parentheses with “positive.”
That was my first feeling when I walked into ( ) FNO. Everyone was happy and interested in the clothing, design and story behind each piece. There were amazing people all around willing to talk about sustainable, fair trade fashion. And with fair trade wine being served courtesy of Fairhills Wines and yummy baked goodies from Gone Pie Vegan Bakery, the atmosphere was definitely laid-back and friendly!
We premiered Scarfitecture and displayed four of the seven architectural designs from Anna Dyson, Dukho Yeon, Chris Sharples and Ali Soltani. Each scarf was made by an artisan from Ecolibiri in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. The scarves are made from reclaimed and recycled materials such as unraveled sweaters. They seemed incredibly cozy and warm, perfect for fall.
Anna Dyson and Dukho Yeon's scarves
Chris Sharples' scarf
I especially enjoyed Ali Soltani’s scarf. I loved the extra feature that you could unbutton each piece and make your own design – one day it could be a scarf, another day a poncho!
Ali Soltani's scarf
Ali Soltani and Anna Dyson visited the event to see their work on display and to gander through the other designers' work.
Global Goods Partners showcased their lovely silk necklaces and Feral Child, their exclusive "Stop the Fashion Pirates" t-shirt. Loved Erin Cosidine's delicate, yet industrial jewelry and trendy hand-painted tees from Of Rags. EcoSalon also had awesome giveaway bags made by NO CHAIRS that were filled with eco-friendly goodies like a nau scarf, a Pawling Print Studio card, HAND/EYE Magazine and a Mission Savvy coupon.
Make sure to keep updated on DIGS. Scarfitecture scarves will be cautioned in December!
Julie Miller, sustainable fashion professor at Pratt University; Rhea Alexander, founder and designer of DIGS; Ali Soltanit, DIGS Scarfitecture architect. Photo Credit: Amy DuFault, EcoSalon
The Fire's Gone Out But The Light Is Never Dying
When Bob Dylan arrived in Britain in 1965, he was asked by a journalist: "What's your real message?” He replied: "Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb."
On 1 September 2011, a ban on the manufacture and importing of 60W incandescent light bulbs came into force across the European Union. The imposed switch to low energy Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFL) has been driven by a hope of reducing man-made contribution to climate change. Similar moves are occurring all over the globe. However, many have expressed resentment at the change being imposed rather than voluntary, and there is a widespread view that CFL bulbs trade several aspects of light quality in order to achieve their lower energy consumption. CFLs have been described as ugly, with harsher light, adversely altering the color of illumination and painfully slow at reaching a useable brightness. We here at DIGS support evidence-based conservation of the planet, but sees fit to mark the passing of what has been described as a mini-laboratory in a glass jar.
Light fascinates.... and has fascinated since ancient times. Genesis 1 describes light being created before the sun, moon and stars. Perhaps some things only exist by reference to others, eg their opposite. Light and dark are opposites and it may be that we need one as a reference point to understand the other: it’s possible to define darkness as the absence of light, and light as the absence of darkness. Light has wave properties – it’s an electromagnetic vibration at a given frequency or at a multitude of frequencies and our eyes can only recognize a tiny fraction of them. So, it’s a bit like music then – music for the eyes. String Theory in physics suggests that all matter is derived from the vibration of minuscule strings, so maybe everything comes down to music.
So what music is fitting to play at the passing of this technological achievement? What should be the components of a Requiem For An Incandescent Bulb?
A good place to start would be with the guy usually credited with inventing it, Thomas Alva Edison. He’s from New Jersey you know. In actual fact, after Humphrey Davy generated the first incandescent light (though not in a bulb), more than 20 inventors of the incandescent bulb are listed ahead of Edison. What Edison did was improve it to the point where it was reliable, generated useable quantities of light, and was suitable for mass manufacture. Edison is also credited for inventing the phonograph; rumors of whose death were exaggerated as well.
New SCARFITECTURE video!
Watch this GREAT short firm about the process and progress of Scarfitecture's scarves.
Produced by Gabe Rodriguez, an award-winning New York filmmaker. His new film Q To the 6 Train will be premiering at Anthology Film Archives this Wednesday.
Don't forget to join us at (Sustainable) Fashion's Night Out this Thursday, September 8 at the Textile Arts Center in NYC! The shopping event will be from 6-10 pm, and SCARFITECTURE will be premiering it's scarves! Get an up-close-and-personal look at these handwoven works of art. We will begin accepting bigs for the auction in December.
Hope to see you there!
Scarfitecture to Premiere at FNO!
Field Report 7: Galia Solomonoff and Maria Mejila Martin
Field Report 6: Anna Dyson and Sabina Perez Mendoza
Artisan Spotlight: Diaz Studio, plus 20% off colorful jewelry!
Lima, Peru: The Diaz Project started in mid-2006 when Mery-Luz decided to quit her job and fully engage in textile design. This decision allowed her to spend more time with her daughter (then two yrs old). Her home became her workshop where artisans work an 8-hour day, but based on her own experience as a mother, she realized her artisans were absent from home for long hours but needed the income to provide for their children, so she gave them the materials to work from home. They meet weekly to work together and organize orders. This flexibility allows the women to perform their family duties while still bringing in an income. Mery-Luz believes a mother is an irreplaceable presence and is vital to the development of a child. This flexibility made the artisans happier and their work performance improved as did the quality.
Special Designer Offer: Use code NL0810 to receive 20% off ALL of the colorful jewelry made at the Diaz Studio. These lovely pieces are carefully assembled, crocheted, wrapped, and glued by hand from scrap and industry by-product like wood, threat, silk ribbon, and yarn.
Field Report 5: Winka Dubbeldam and Isabela Pichilla Ramos
Artisan Spotlight: Mend
Gulu, Uganda: In northern Uganda, thousands of girls have been kidnapped by a rebel army. After escaping an abusive life, these now grown women often return home as mothers. Unable to return to school because of their duties, they are left to fend for themselves. Many are trained to sew as part of their rehabilitation, and this- our latest and potentially greatest program to date- will further enable such women to MEND.
MEND has a sewing facility with 13 women, 1 Pattern/Fabric Cutter, 1 Technical Manager, and 1 Production Coordinator all based in Gulu, Uganda. All the women were former sex slaves, abducted very young & tortured for years by Joseph Kony's rebel army. Now they are all rehabilitated and have been given full time employment.
Mend is a new brand & handbag line by Revolutionaries at Invisible Children. Each Handbag has been individually created and sewn by a woman whose name is forever labeled within and will tell the story of the women who made it, and build into the healing and advancement of the war-affected areas of Uganda.
Special Designer Offer: Use code NL0804 to receive 20% off all MEND'S messenger bags! Available in black or army green, these spacious and comfortable bags are a back-to-school essential.
Field Report 4: Ali Soltani and Eva Concepcion Sajuin Chiyal
Artisan Spotlight: Same Sky
Kigali, Rwanda: Same Sky is a fair-trade company whose mission is to empower women worldwide and inspire a movement of women empowering women. Founded in 2008, SAME SKY aims to be a part of the global movement lifting women out of poverty by giving them the tools to become entrepreneurs and lead self sustaining lives.
During the 1994 Rwandan genocide, women in Rwanda were subjected to sexual violence on a massive scale. According to the International Criminal Tribunal, more than 250,000 women were raped and, of the survivors, approximately 70% were infected with HIV/AIDS. In addition, they were left impoverished after their husbands, fathers, and brothers were murdered. Same Sky was born with the goal of empowering these women to rebuild their lives and communities.
In Rwanda, Same Sky first partnered with Gahaya Links, a handicrafts organization founded in 2004 by sisters Janet Nkubana and Joy Ndunguste. The artisans making SAME SKY bracelets work in a collective and are free to discuss social issues of the day such as domestic violence, western medicine, and opening a bank account. SAME SKY also provides the women artisans with a daily stipend that covers transportation to and from work and a daily meal. Their wage is ten times the average wage made by women in sub-Saharan Africa. The income they earn ensures they can provide food, education, and healthcare for their entire family.
Special Designer Offer: Use code NL0728 to receive 20% off all of Same Sky's glass beaded bracelets!
Giveaway Alert! Win our Gracia necklace from Mimi Loves All Eight!
Win this gorgeous purple and grey necklace made from silk, thread, and wood, designed by Mery Luz Diaz in Lima, Peru! Mimi Loves All 8 is giving it away, find all the details on how to enter here!
Field Report 3: Dukho Yeon and Gloria Nimacachi Yaxon
Designer Spotlight: Tawny Reynolds of Sundrop
Minneapolis, Minnesota: Tawny Reynolds is a sustainable thinker and talented craftsperson working in Minnesota. At an early age, she had an interest in lenses and the heat they derived. After experimentation, she started melting glass with the Fresnel lens to create all sorts of forms and eventually came up with her jewelry collection. The cool thing about this process of melting recycled glass is that it has no emissions nor consumes any fuels. Wanting to examine her entire production footprint, her studio also uses partly recycled silver in the bindings and recycled paper in the packaging.
The process is mostly solar; first the lens is tilted until the sunlight is focused on a rock attached to a wire stand. The lens rotates both horizontally and vertically to adjust as the position and angle of the sun which changes throughout the day. The hot spot is concentrated and can get up to 3000 degrees Fahrenheit! Gravity and surface tension pull the molten glass into a lobe that cools as it falls and stretches into the sun drop shape. The final sun drop is connected to the strip by a thin stringer of glass, which breaks off to disconnect it. Tawny's earrings and pendants are made from recycled liquor and beer bottles to get their vibrant color. Can you guess which ones she uses?
Special Designer Offer: Use code NL0721 to receive 20% off Tawny's earrings and pendants!
Field Report 2: Juan and Sara Matiz + Oralida Mendoza Vasques and Michaela Ujpan Mendoza
Designer Spotlight: Patti Carpenter
New York, New York: Patti Carpenter is an International Product Design and Development Consultant and Trend Forecaster. A native of Washington, D, she now resides in New York City and holds degrees from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York.
With a career that spans more than three decades in the Fashion Industry, she has worked with a wide variety of high-end and designer brands and retailers. In 2001, she founded Continuum Home, Inc./Carpenter + Company. Patti is passionate about integrating new product development with cultural/artisan sustainability, fair wages, and environmental and social responsibility. As consumers of high quality goods expand/strengthen their interest in these concerns, she believes these attributes will be more influential on purchasing decisions, providing a clear business advantage to companies that make a genuine commitment to sustainability and responsibility.
Special Designer Offer: Use code NL0714 to receive 20% off Patti's gorgeous seed necklaces! Also check our her adorable Haitian Ju Ju Boy and Girl dolls; made from scrap yarn and cotton by Haitian artisans.
Recycled newspaper made into "wood"
In my mother's best efforts to keep me busy on a rainy day as a kid, she would sit me down at the kitchen table with a stack of old Good Housekeeping's, a jar of elmer's, and a couple of wooden tongue depressors. I would roll strips of the magazine paper into something that resembled a jewelry bead, then string the gluey mess into a necklace with some kite rope. I then presented this masterpiece to my Mom; a handmade gift just for her! Love her for at least pretending to wear it to work -- even if ended up in the glove compartment of her car as soon as she left the driveway.
I recalled this happy memory when I read this article on TreeHugger about Dutch designer Mieke Meijer's recycled paper "wood" -- however, our two art-forms could barely be held to the same standards. Meijer stacks, clues, and rolls recycled newspaper into "logs", in which she creates fantastically beautiful and functional furniture and home decor. Surely none of this stuff would wind up in the glove compartment!
