Insights · October 19th, 2010
The future of fashion is no longer just about how you look; it’s about how your clothes were made and what materials were used in the process. Natalia Allen was appalled by the practices of the fashion industry. “We’ve been taught to design recklessly,†she said. “We move from season to season, reverie to reverie, inspiration to inspiration.†So she founded Design Futurist to help create sustainable solutions to these problems. UTNE magazine said, “8,000 chemicals were used to make the clothes in your closet. Approximately 1,800 gallons of fresh water were used to manufacture the jeans you’re wearing right now. All-too-commonplace numbers like these make it clear that the fashion industry needs an eco-makeover. Natalia Allen is up for the challenge. She is featured in the current issue of UTNE as the “Conscientious Fashionista” as she continues to team up with high profile clients such as Calvin Klein, Quicksilver, and DKNY to help implement sustainable methods and materials.
This week the Social Ventures Network – Fall Invitational will bring together a vibrant community of social entrepreneurs to explore new ways to create a just economy, strengthen their collective impact, and share resources and experiences in leading sustainable enterprises. Natalia will present the remarkable work of her firm Design Futurist to inspire and inform fellow entrepreneurs.
In this video, Design Futurist gives a quick explanation of some of the new sustainable materials that are available as well as some advice on how to be more sustainable in the rest of your life.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ8xncocrvk&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
