Evian collaborated with Virgil Abloh on a limited-edition collection that aims to address the global issue of sustainability. The “Activate Movement” collection includes a selection of reusable water bottles that feature a droplet motif that represents the potential impact simple small changes can make. Along with the collection, Evian is also launching the “Activate Movement” Program, a sustainable design contest that will give 18-35-year-old applicants a chance of winning a €50,000 grant to pursue their research.
“I believe that every little thing you do can change the status quo,” Abloh, Evian’s Creative Advisor for Sustainable Innovation Design, said in a statement. “That’s what inspired the ‘Activate Movement’ collection because a single drop can be the starting point of positive change. Every idea has to start somewhere, so we were thinking what if we could create that place? A place to empower the new generation.”
For more information on the “Activate Movement” initiative, check out Evian’s website.
Arcadia Earth is an immersive augmented reality exhibition that highlights the struggles of sustainable living on planet Earth. And while the city is full of light shows, pop-ups, and Insta-perfect displays that make a sensory impression, Arcadia Earth is also emotionally impressive aside from the artistic angle. It is the one exhibit to see in New York and potentially more important than any other around because it addresses key threats to the planet.
Arcadia takes guests on a trip down Earth’s complications and efforts we can take to protect it. Among many solutions is avoiding single-use plastic, shopping sustainable, wasting no food, as well as ultimately limiting the number of animal products used and/or eaten. The lively exhibit, which features work from a diverse group of interdisciplinary artists, makes it easy to imagine living sustainably because it uses playful and artistic ways to present the problems and, more importantly, their solutions.
Each installation addresses a separate concern done to represent the harm it has on the planet. One room features thousands of plastic bags to illustrate the amount of plastic bags used in New York City every minute. Other setups illustrate the importance of protecting the oceans and coral reefs, animal life, and forests. Customers can also get a heightened digital experience through an accompanying app. And through that, the visitor learns about simple ways to participate in the planet’s protection program leaving inspired and ready to ditch the plastic cups, bags, nylon clothes, and everything else that threatens the Earth’s health.
Arcadia is located at 718 Broadway. For each ticket sold, the exhibition will plant a tree.
This season, Ermenegildo Zegna challenged itself to #UseTheExisting for its Fall/Winter 2020 show. The presentation was conceptualized in collaboration with American artist Anne Patterson and featured a set decorated with thousands of ribbons made from discarded fabrics, further emphasizing the sustainable angle of the collection. Mixed fabrics, both natural and synthetic, were used cohesively on the range of tailored looks and accessories.
“At Zegna, I have the privilege to experiment at every level, from the mix of fibers to the evolved tailoring shapes,” Alessandro Sartori said in a statement. “It is all about reshuffling or hybridizing categories, breaking boundaries in order to explore new territories: this is our new tailoring lexicon. One experimentation leads to the next, in one seamless dialogue, always keeping in mind that our art should always respect the earth. That’s our mission, as both humans and fashion-makers.”
Take a look at some backstage photos from the show below.
Beyond all the glitz and fanfare of the summer games, the Olympics have a notorious reputation when it comes to sustainability. With all the fairly rapid and expansive construction required to host the world’s top athletes and their supporters for the event (an estimated 500,000 people are expected to attend), the planning can have a devastating toll on the environment. But for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics, officials are pursuing an alternative method to limit the impact of the event.
Athletes competing in Tokyo 2020 will be sleeping on cardboard beds (18,000 will be made for the Olympics and 8,000 for the Paralympics) throughout the duration of the games. Each bed is made out of recyclable cardboard that can support up to 200kg, which is more than any registered competing athlete. The accompanying mattresses and pillows are made with polyethylene materials that are also recyclable and will later be repurposed into plastic goods. Further emphasizing this commitment to sustainability, each medal is being made from recycled products and the symbolic Olympic torch has been remade with upcycled aluminum.
For one of the biggest events in the world to making such a strong effort in limiting its environmental impact is a pretty big deal, and shows that sustainability at a large scale is indeed possible. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will take place from July 24 – August 9.
Showing the power of grassroots efforts, the activewear brand’s program Patagonia Action Works raised $10 million in donations to 1,043 environmental organizations in 17 days. Even better, Patagonia will match the donations, resulting in a total of $20 million for organizations like Conservation Lands Foundation, the Earth Law Center, the Environmental Defense Center, and the Native Fish Society among others. These companies only receive three percent of philanthropic giving annually despite climate change being the biggest existential threat.
The donations started pouring in on Black Friday after Patagonia invited customers and friends to help fund efforts that preserve the planet. Tens of thousands of individual donors quickly contributed to the $10 million amount. In addition to the $20 million, Patagonia will continue donating one percent of their sales to nearly $1,200 grantees.
Patagonia first started with its philanthropic work 40 years ago with a contribution to the Friends of the Ventura River, a grassroots organization. As a result, the degraded habitat was restored. Making gifts to protect air, land, water, and the wilderness, the American brand will be able to continue making products that they love with respect to the planet that hosts it.
Balenciaga knows how to make a statement with old clothes — not too long ago, the designer took over windows of Saks in New York and Harrod’s in London and created a display using donated pieces from the public. It was supposed to be a statement against the excessive toll of fast-fashion on the environment.
Echoing the sentiment of giving old clothes a new life, the Spanish label commissioned architect and designer Harry Nuriev to create a new piece using old inventory from the designer’s archives. The result is Balenciaga Sofa, a laminated sectional sofa that is made from discarded samples, damaged pieces, and otherwise unusable stock. “The piece reflects Balenciaga’s recognition of the responsibility designers have to counterbalance their environmental impact, and dedication to implementing programs that upcycle waste and contribute to a circular economy,” the designer said in a statement.
Balenciaga Sofa will make its official debut next week as part of Design Miami on December 3.
Our latest issue features a look at the Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello Spring/Summer 2020 collection in an exclusive editorial shot by Victor Demarchelier and styled by Paul Sinclaire. Casting by Barbara Pfister.
AROUND THE WORLD WITH LOUIS VUITTON: Since launching as a trunk-making business in 1854, the French designer has expanded into an exemplary symbol of luxury travel.
Go Minami
SELF-TAUGHT: At only 21, designer Reese Cooper has already built an empire.
George Muncey
NOW TRENDING: SUSTAINABILITY: As the world’s second-largest polluter, the fashion industry should clean up its act.
Marina Testino
THE KING OF KNITWEAR: John Targon is doing it all again.
Fall Risk
MAN OF WIRE: Skye Ferrante is the artist turning sculptures into prose.
Tony Notarberadino
PORTRAIT MODE: All clothing and accessories by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. Shot by Victor Demarchelier and styled by Paul Sinclaire. Casting by Barbara Pfister.
Victor Demarchelier
LAST CALL: Shot by Jack Waterlot and styled by Leonard Arceo.
Jack Waterlot
COMMON COURTESY: All clothing and accessories Dior Men. Shot by Thomas Goldblum and styled by Darryl Rodrigues.
Thomas Goldblum
THE YOUNG FOLK: All clothing and accessories by Gucci. Shot by Byron Mollinedo and styled by Nicholas Galletti.
Byron Mollinedo
SKYLINE CRUSH: Baccarat partnered with the esteemed Lady M Cake Boutique for the world’s first luxury cake truck. For this unique dessert dining experience, guests will be able to enjoy the sweet treats, served on fine crystal plates, under the light of Baccarat’s pristine chandeliers in a dreamy outdoor setting. Shot by Kevin Sinclair and styled by Terry Lu.
Kevin Sinclair
OBJECT OF DESIRE: Shot by Andreas Ortner and styled by Philipp Junker.
Andreas Ortner
ONLY THE SWEETEST PLUM: The Plum Guide offers a verified and personalized homestay service.
Wrapping up the year that sustainability became fashionable, Gucci has announced a plan to become carbon-neutral across its supply chain in the near future. This news follows that the brand is also becoming fur-free. Kering, the Italian designer’s parent company, is already a frontrunner in the sustainability race with over thirty brands joining its sustainability pact this summer.
Gucci’s CEO and President Marco Bizzarri took to Instagram to encourage other brands to join the efforts. “As CEOs, we must take responsibility for the total GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions our business activities create,” Bizzari says. “Today we need to be responsible and accountable for the full scope of our GHG emissions and deliver nature-based climate solutions that mitigate these and drive positive change.” A full statement is available on Gucci’s website.
With the continued mounting of revenues, it’s the luxury brands that can lead to a change that does not hurt their business but instead takes into consideration environmental implications. The ultimate key in this equation (as Kering has concluded) is a set plan of action and transparency. Gucci’s participating companies will be held accountable for a publically declared plan of action RE: raw material production and their longterm commitment to carbon emissions.
With sustainability as the major trend of 2019, even alcohol and spirits are advancing as well with new technologies and innovative practices. One such example is New York-based brand Air Co., which is making vodka literally out of the carbon in the air. Air Co. is the world’s cleanest, healthiest, and highest-quality vodka and has already garnered awards from NASA, the United Nations, and the X-Prize, and already landing as a top-shelf spirit at the famed Michelin-star Eleven Madison Park.
Who knew that it takes only love for spirits and a Ph.D. to turn air, water, and sunlight into a sipping vodka? Air Co. was founded by Greg Constantine, a former spirits executive, and Stafford Sheehan, a Yale Ph.D. that developed the technology to convert carbon into alcohol. The duo invented an unprecedented way to use solar power to capture excess carbon from the air and transform it into a spirit. One couldn’t even imagine a better way to rid our planet of carbon than turning it into booze.
Air Co. follows an ethos of “Almost Impossible,” a nod at their almost by-magic technology. Each bottle is equal to the daily carbon intake of eight trees, meaning that we can save the planet a bottle of vodka at a time. It is the one time when drinking alcohol benefits both the planet and the soul. Apart from that, the vodka is also bottled in a state-of-the-art apothecary bottle better suited in a cabinet of curiosities rather than a bar cart. The brand’s label also encourages the patron to peel off the label and reuse the glass bottle.
As we continue the sustainable conversation, brands like Air Co. are proving that we have all the technology necessary to live consciously and clean, and even a bit boozy.
With world markets constantly seeking new clean and sustainable innovations, shoes remain the most difficult products to recreate. Emerging underground cult sneaker brand CARIUMA has succeeded in creating a completely recyclable sneaker out of bamboo. The innovative piece already has a 5000-strong waitlist of eager people waiting to try the shoe.
CARIUMA, based in Rio de Janeiro, uses its own unique blend of natural and recycled materials to create the first-ever sustainable bamboo knit and Sugar Cane EVA shoe that is entirely carbon neutral. The brand also recycles 100% of the water used in the process and makes sure that the bamboo requires no fertilizer and self-regenerates. Further, according to their Code Of Conduct, each factory must comply with fair wages and conditions for all its employees. This results in 360-degree transparency and overall brand responsibility that culminates in truly groundbreaking footwear.
Partnering with Griffin Studio, a UK-based carbon-neutral design agency, Woolrich has updated its signature outerwear with enhanced performance materials. The duo worked with Italian sportswear fabric maker Majocchi on a new Zero Water process, and with some additional collaboration from Seaqual, an organization that combats marine pollution, they successfully created a polyester material using recycled plastic.
The seven-piece capsule honors Woolrich’s signature outerwear but updates it with new sustainably produced materials. Classic brand motifs include the red and black buffalo print and the bright colorways ensure that the winter attire is anything but dreary.
The Woolrich x Griffin Studio collection is available at select stores and online now. Learn more about the innovative production process in the video above.
Bathing Culture, a sustainable soap brand, is revisiting the way we source ingredients and use products by offering an organic alternative. We spoke to Tim Hollinger, co-founder (on behalf of himself and co-founder Spencer Arnold) to delve into this niche market that is in need of an ecologically friendly alternative immediately as well. With the beauty industry spearheading a green revolution, it’s boutique brands like Bathing Culture that make it very obvious that the change is possible.
Could you tell me a bit about your background in bath & body industry and why you decided to focus on sustainability?
As a kid, I loved mixing together all my mum’s products and perfumes into one bottle. I’d add food coloring and wonder why she wouldn’t try it! I didn’t really understand that ingredients in the products I was combining were really bad for both environmental and personal health. The truth is, we all start using products before we can even talk. This means a lot can be taken for granted. My love of tinkering with formulations hasn’t gone away; rather, now I’m paying a lot more attention to what goes into the products and what type of impact each ingredient has. We focus on sustainability because it would be immoral not to. We want to make our mums proud, including Mother Earth.
Tell me about Bathing Culture too– where did this name come from?
We love the culture of bathing! Bathing is so joyful, which is exactly what we need these days! From jumping in swimming holes to soaking in hot springs, bathing is something that connects folks all over the world. Everyone has a story about a particularly special bathing experience, and we’re so honored to remind people of those special moments of self and community care and connection.
How are active sports and sustainability interconnected?
Spencer is a surfer, and I’m a trail runner. These sports can both take you to incredible places. You start to notice things firsthand. The last few autumns while trail running in the backcountry, I’ve started to notice fewer migratory birds. It makes me think about the changing climate, water scarcity, man-made developments altering migration, and the mass extinction that’s happening as we speak (there are 3 billion fewer birds today than there were 50 years ago). This mindset forces us to really challenge ourselves about the impact of the decisions we’re making and the pressure we’re putting on our environment.
If we don’t take actions that offset our impact, we won’t have the places in which we love to play.
Could you describe the biggest problem that you see in bath and body products lately?
Ingredient sourcing is a huge challenge. It’s really easy for companies to think they’re doing the right thing, but in reality they’re causing more harm because they don’t know where or how their ingredients are being made, grown, processed, adulterated or transported. While more and more brands are using natural ingredients in their formulas, they’re sourcing ingredients that are grown with synthetic fertilizers and herbicides; these fertilizers are overapplied, have been made using fossil fuels, and are often creating more environmental harm than good.
We also see a ton of folks using Palm Oil (often hidden in other composite ingredients) and other ingredients from the tropical belt. Not only is it very resource-intensive to transport this stuff (we have to plant trees to offset our sourcing), but harvesting these ingredients often contributes to deforestation. It’s a lot of work to get quality ingredients. We say no to a lot of ingredients that we would love to use, but turn down because they create environmental harm, aren’t ethically harvested, or are incredibly scarce. For example, Palo Santo is an amazing scent, but the trees have been added to the endangered species watchlists. We get chain of custody paperwork, source as much from North America as we can (this is especially important for any minerals used), and use primarily organically-grown ingredients. Despite all of this work, we still have a long way to go.
For the most part, this level of supply chain management isn’t a consideration for the industry, and we’re excited to help change that.
In the current atmosphere of Climate Strikes, social media campaigns, and more, is there an optimistic “light-at-the-end?”
Individuals and organizations taking the climate crisis seriously give us a ton of optimism. We strongly endorse the Green New Deal. We encourage everyone to spend 10 minutes a day consciously taking actions that benefit the environment, from pumping your bike tires to composting, turning off the lights and going to the farmers market, calling your elected representatives, getting educated about what’s happening, and joining grassroots organizations like Extinction Revolution, 350, and Grandmas for Peace, to name a few. Together we can make an amazing impact!
If we take on sustainability, a myriad of other issues arises including human rights, female wages, animal rights, etc. At the same time, some brands are doing one thing correctly and others wrong, for ex: shipping in plastic packages. Can we really be perfect? What’s the goal and ideal state?
When we talk about the environmental crisis, we’re talking about everyone and everything that’s living in this environment. We believe the environmental crisis is exacerbating systemic societal injustices. Addressing our environmental challenges means addressing our societal issues. We understand that change is hard and requires lots of stakeholders (in fact, we’ve told scores of companies we can’t work with them until they improve their environmental practices). While there are a lot of easy fixes, some of the systemic changes take years of constant pressure from companies and stakeholders, governments and individuals. This is going to be hard for a lot of folks, but we’ve made amazingly fast and profound societal and technological changes many times. We were able to spread electric energy from a few areas to the majority of the US in only 10 years, so we can surely make it carbon free in the next 5.
Our perception of wealth needs to shift from consumption to conservation; our perception of success from capital to community. We need to invest heavily in these solutions.
Ultimately, the future we all want is to leave the world better than we found it; healthy and safe with opportunity for our families and communities. That’s something every healthy person, no matter their country or politics, can agree on.
