VegNews: September + October 2007
Excerpt from "Intelligent Design"...Designer Atom Cianfarani was one of the first to put eco fashion on the runway at New York's Fashion Week. She served as a mentor to students at Parsons in the PETA program. Cianfarani says fashion schools are driven by industries that give them support and materials-the students use what they're given, whether it's fur or conventional cotton. "The alternatives don't have such a large voice," she says. But Parsons welcomed the program eagerly. "Tim Gunn was so excited for the students to be exposed to these alternatives," says Cianfarani.
Cianfarani and her design Partner Genevieve Gaelyn gave an introductory workshop to the students, introducing them to eco fashion and demonstrating their signature fabric: faux leather made from reclaimed bicycle tires. Students applied, and eight were chosen to participate in the workshop/mentoring program. "We met with them and helped them choose their materials, an essential part of the process." Cianfarani said the students were amazed "This was the first time they were exposed to leather alternatives-recycled materials, hemp. They had no idea there was something called "peace silk."
Although material choice is important to Cianfarani, she says that it can't be the only piece in creating a sustainable fashion industry. "There are many ways to measure sustainability," she says, but feels the "triple bottom line of "people, planet, profit" works best for fashion." This changes not only what you use to make the garments, but were they come from, how you pay your producers, and even "making sure your marketing department is using recycled paper." It's the whole picture. Cianfarani now consults with companies to help them develop a comprehensive sustainable philosophy. She recently designed New York's City's first solar-powered restaurant, Habana Outpost, Brooklyn, and has helped companies such as Rubyzaar Fair Trade Imports and CC Jewelry develop sustainable marketing practices, such as sourcing recycling copper and sussing our alternatives to plastics...
Cianfarani and her design Partner Genevieve Gaelyn gave an introductory workshop to the students, introducing them to eco fashion and demonstrating their signature fabric: faux leather made from reclaimed bicycle tires. Students applied, and eight were chosen to participate in the workshop/mentoring program. "We met with them and helped them choose their materials, an essential part of the process." Cianfarani said the students were amazed "This was the first time they were exposed to leather alternatives-recycled materials, hemp. They had no idea there was something called "peace silk."
Although material choice is important to Cianfarani, she says that it can't be the only piece in creating a sustainable fashion industry. "There are many ways to measure sustainability," she says, but feels the "triple bottom line of "people, planet, profit" works best for fashion." This changes not only what you use to make the garments, but were they come from, how you pay your producers, and even "making sure your marketing department is using recycled paper." It's the whole picture. Cianfarani now consults with companies to help them develop a comprehensive sustainable philosophy. She recently designed New York's City's first solar-powered restaurant, Habana Outpost, Brooklyn, and has helped companies such as Rubyzaar Fair Trade Imports and CC Jewelry develop sustainable marketing practices, such as sourcing recycling copper and sussing our alternatives to plastics...
