///WALL OF FAITH

An ode to the people who make this Hiphonest movement happen. At the page Wall of Faith you can meet the enterprising creative pioneers who dare to stand out. ‘Dare to share because you care!’

Fashion designer Meiling Chen, Based in New York City.

Meiling Chen’s designs are a free-spirited journey into the uncharted terrain of contemporary ready-to-wear and eco couture. The NYC-based designer launched her first sustainable fashion collection in 2008, and has since participated in runaway shows during New York Fashion Week as well as numerous gallery exhibitions. She also collaborates with Ekovaruhuset (‘House of Organic’), Paris, New York, and Stockholm.

Meiling’s work is organically interdisciplinary with creative ideas patterned after her Taiwanese upbringing. A family tradition of bespoke tailoring led her to pursue fashion design at FIT, post-graduation from the School of Read the rest of this entry »

///DESIGN

How much fun to know there are some new ‘gods’. These 5 Eco gods are  designed by Irene Hinderks.

‘This is one of my graduation projects at the Design Academy Eindhoven.I created these five new “gods” representing a new standard in life.’

///WALL OF FAITH

New face on Wall of Faith.

Based in NYC, Italy, Bulgaria

Eco-fiber artist and writer Abigail Doan creates recycled fiber forms and textile installations as a means to stimulate dialogue about her own memories of a homespun upbringing on a small family farm and life today navigating the urban landscape. Sustainability is very much a personal issue, and even though there are guidelines for what we must aim to implement and put-into-action, if you do not find a lifestyle that advocates balance and beauty, then a future based on sustainable methods is not really a reality.

I am a farmer and artist at heart, though I began writing about sustainable textiles and fashion as a means to examine the interconnected threads and patterns of our lives that are openly frayed and in need of repair. I make a point of breaking down categories and prejudices when it comes to reviewing design and fashion items, as there is no excuse for a well-made piece being understood by only a handful of folks. Fair and ethical practices are intrinsic to the integrity of any craft or business, and we need to share this message with everyone we meet.

People who do and make things for honest reasons really inspire me. There is, indeed, an interesting global shift occurring right now, as product materials necessitate care and resourcefulness in how they are treated. I believe that style will be increasingly informed by our ability to see into and through everything that we grasp and adorn ourselves with – as we push towards a moment where awareness has a texture and value that is irresistible in its appeal.

You can follow my journey on Ecco*Eco and my artist blog, Abigail Doan

///WALL OF FAITH

Proud to present the first faces posted on the page FACE SPACE @ WALL OF FAITH

1) Rianne de Witte: The designs of Rianne de Witte are the result of sophisticated simplicity, clear lines, feminin fit and sustainable fabrics.
Rianne de Witte is known for her sustainable way of working since 1996. From 2005 she became member of Made-by. Made-by supports fashionbrands to produce with respect for people, animal and planet. You can recocnize the made-by brands by a blue button,. Rianne de Witte opened her first eco fashionstore in 2006, Breda NL

2) Elena Simons: With a background in art, advertising and environmental activism, Elena Simons (1977) has been working as a Social Inventor for eight years. She is creative director of Wonder, a Dutch non-profit organisation that makes social action fun.

One successful art project is the visit of a group of welfare recipients to the wealthy in their mansions, bringing symbolic gifts as a way to say thank you for taxes. On another occasion a luxury department store unknowingly sold high quality goods from the trash, after Elena and friends had put these back on the shelves with real price tags.

Fun with Muslims, a political gift book, Read the rest of this entry »

///FASHION/ART

In 2003 I visited New York City for the first time. Being overwhelmed by the magnificent energy of this city I started a street research for honest fashion. A handful of underground organic T-shirts labels and some re-vintage designers were the results. Not really a store for eco fashion yet.

Six years later (December 11-13 2009), two of my favorite Hiphonest creative’s, Meiling Chen and Abigail Doan, managed to organize a tempting art fashion performance, named -A weekend of ‘Fearless Dreaming’-.  This alluring event took place in the pearl of ecofashion stores, the beautiful House of  Organic/Ekovaruhuset.

This art fashion performance showcased artists & designers including Meiling Chen, Abigail Doan, Sara Hubbs, and Rob Strati. Artists presented their work and besides they offered on-site activities and dialogues about the notion of ‘fearless dreaming’ and its role in art, fashion, memory, and placemaking.

Weekend visitors to the House of Organic/Ekovaruhuset had the possibility to contribute to the collaborative experience by writing down ideas related to their own notions of ‘fearless dreaming. The documented text and portraits were displayed on the store’s walls as part of the ‘fearless dreaming’ showcase/installation exhibition.

(All pictures made by Abigail Doan check more here)

Meiling Chen created interpretive, hand-drawn portraits of the weekend’s visitors, while also encouraged guests to draw, map, and diagram their own dreams, memories, and visions of the future, etc.

Eco-fiber artist Abigail Doan created recycled fiber forms and textile maps as a means to stimulate dialogue about her own memories of a homespun upbringing on a small family farm and life today navigating the urban landscape.

As an extension of Meiling Chen’s design label, ‘Fearless Dreaming’, it is the collectives wish that visitors to House of Organic/Ekovaruhset will be encouraged to share and talk about their desires/dreams and create new possibilities for ‘dreaming fearlessly’.