Discussing Sustainability

I was invited to talk to Pratt Institute's new Sustainable Practices classes on the topic of sustainable fashion design. Having graduated from Pratt in May it was strange to return to lecture to a classes that didn't exist a few months ago. I am more than thrilled to see that Pratt's Fashion Design program has intergraded sustainability in to the curriculum. I feel that modern design is not just a balance of form and function but consequence as well.

I was able to talk to the students about the twentyten and our goal to create amazingly designed high quality clothing that is responsibly made. Most don't even realize that the twentyten utilizes sustainable fabric such as organic cotton and wool, soy, Tencil, and the now debatable bamboo (the bamboo fabrics we use are made from certified organic fibers and yarns) as well as produce locally in Midtown Manhattan.
Additionally, I showed the twentyten look book video (below).

Below is a video the twentyten filmed for the Pratt Design Incubator which premiered at the West Elm/Design Incubator sustainable home office collection Party earlier this month. We discuss briefly our relation to sustainability and the Incubator.

After my talk with the students there was another designer to discuss her experience and relation to Eco Design, designer Eliza Starbuck of Bright You Things. Eliza's claim to fame is designing the LBD for the Uniform Project. Eliza's approach to sustainable fashion is more forthcoming than the twentyten's approach. She feels that the consumer should be more aware of the sustainable aspect of her clothing. Her work also focuses on creating basic garments that can be versatile and long lasting.

Eliza Starbuck in her LBD.

Pratt student, Elizabeth wearing a Bright Young Thing's LBD with the twentyten repurposed 
nail Make-Out Guard for the Uniform Project.