Fashion design contest

We just received notice of this great contest for fashion designers. The deadline is coming up – so read now and get sewing! Or send to a friend that may already be making eco-conscious clothing. Pass it on!

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From substance for FASHION CONSCIOUS PEOPLE:

We are looking for designers that share our passion for contemporary fashion and design that demonstrates respect for our magnificent planet.

Each month our in house team produces the Design Lab Collection TM in harmony with our no waste philosophy. Our Design Lab Collection TM is always made from the re-purposed material of our overstocks or discontinued styles.

In March, we are giving an aspirant designer the opportunity to showcase their talent on our monthly Design Lab Collection TM platform. The designer we select will gain tremendous exposure for his/her talent in an upscale boutique setting and on our website, as well as a monetary grant of $1,000.00.

Your goal, should you be selected as one of our three finalists, is to produce a four-piece collection using materials that we provide you with to re-purpose into high quality, wearable design.

All interested applicants should complete the attached application and submit it on or before the deadline of February 14, 2009.

ELIGIBILITY
•    Applicants must be 18 years of age or older
•    All interested applicants must complete the attached application and submit it on or before the deadline of February 14, 2009

TO APPLY:
•    Submit the contest application via mail, email, or in person at our store front location: Substance, 783 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215 PDF: Substance Contest Application
•    Your application must include images of three samples of your most recent work. Include an image of the front, back, and a detail shot that shows the quality of the workmanship of your design. Your samples may include apparel and/or handbags.

RULES AND OBJECTIVES IF CHOSEN AS A FINALIST
•    Along with two other finalists, the designer we select will have five weeks to complete a four piece apparel or accessory collection with an innovative visual use of language.
•    The theme or inspiration for all four pieces in the finalist collections is “What gives fashion meaning?”
•    All designs produced for the judging in this competition will become the property of Substance for

FASHION CONSCIOUS PEOPLE, LLC
•    The top three finalists will be competing in the design and sewing of a 4 piece collection of high quality, wearable styles from repurposed materials. At least 80% of each piece in the collection will need to be created with materials from garments and handbags that we provide. The remaining 20% of the materials used in each piece can be purchased new. Although, we do encourage the use of all natural materials or redesign from 100% recycled materials.
•    The finalists’ four piece collections make up can be one of the following ways:
A size run (S/M/L/XL) of one garment category (such as a group of four dresses)
A four-piece collection of styles from different categories that work worn together or are just as compelling sold as separates.

Substance Aspiring Designer Application

You can submit this contest application via mail, email, or drop off in person at our store front location on or before the DEADLINE of February 14, 2009.

Please attach images of three samples of your most recent work.  Include an image of the front, back, and a detail shot that shows the quality of the workmanship of your design. Your samples may include apparel and/or handbags

Name:________________________________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________

City:_____________   State:________________ Zip:_________

Home Phone Number:_____________________________
Cell Phone Number:_______________________________

Briefly, in 300 words or less, please tell us about yourself.

•    Tell us what inspires you to design.
•    Include information about how long you have been designing and your aspirations in the field.
•    Describe one way you feel the fashion industry could do a better job of preserving the environment.

Applications can be mailed to, dropped off at our location below or emailed to christinag@shopsubstance.com

Our mailing address is:
Substance for FASHION CONSCIOUS PEOPLE
783 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614.299.2910

We at Substance would like to hear from other designers who share our passions. To learn more about us, visit our website.

If you have any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to call, send an email or come in and see us!

Tags: contest, eco fashion, Fashion, recycled materials

Miss Vermont sports a gown by Tara Lynn

The gown, designed by Tara Lynn (D2E exhibitor), is made of hemp and silk, the bodice and cascade accented with gold lace from a recycled curtain and then encrusted with recycled beads and sequins.

We were excited to hear that Miss Vermont 2008 wore a gown designed by Tara Lynn, one of our fashion exhibitors at D2E. What a great way to bring sustainable fashion to a wider audience.

Miss Vermont 2008, Ashley Wheeler, is putting the final touches on her preparation for the Miss America pageant in January. She has fine tuned her vocal piece with the help of a local coach; she has been grilled by panels of “mock” interview judges, and has met regularly with a personal trainer. This week she is picking up her custom-made evening gown from eco designer Tara Lynn… and the cool thing is that this gown was not made in New York or California, but rather in Sutton, Vermont. And it’s green – not forest green or sage green, but green the concept – it’s an eco-friendly dress made of hemp and silk, and lined with hemp and organic cotton.

“I was raised as part of a family-run business and I understand how important it is to support locally-owned and operated businesses. So when it came time for me to purchase an evening gown for the Miss America pageant, I decided to keep my business in Vermont and call upon a designer from the Northeast Kingdom. I had heard about Tara Lynn and it was very appealing to go “green” for Miss America. I will be making a significant statement and suspect I will be the only contestant who has chosen to go this route. I think this is the perfect way for me to share my stance on preserving our environment and set myself apart from the other contestants.”

Tara Lynn Scheidet, owner of Tara Lynn, is a talented and innovative designer, and is said to be the poster child for sustainable business in Northern Vermont. Her unique collections are inspired by and dedicated to environmental causes. Tara Lynn’s studio runs off solar electricity. The shelves are stocked with vintage and recycled materials collected over years of yard sale shopping. The ceiling is adored with inspirational pictures hung over a floor of antique sewing machines. Since the company started in 2005 it has become a team of talented women. They all stand behind the same mission to increase awareness of biodiversity, promote sustainability and be proud of what they do and the clothing they make.
The designer of Miss Vermont’s evening gown shares, “Beauty is not artificial. Natural clothing is sexier than lifeless textiles made from hazardous materials. When women wear my clothes I want them to feel exuberant and special rather than objects of desire: strong, smart and powerful. Stylish sexy women set the example for the next generation.”

As a representative of America’s #1 scholarship provider for young women and an organization whose mission is to promote personal and professional development, civic consciousness, service, higher education, and integrity, Ashley Wheeler believes she has found the “perfect fit.”

Tags: eco fashion, Fashion, hemp, local designer, recycled materials

From jell-o mold to fun and functional clock

Multi-functional items in your kitchen.

On the Tuesday before Christmas I met a friend in Harvard Square to check out the annual craft fair at the local UU Church. As usual, it did not disappoint us. It was inspiring to see all the creativity from local arts and crafts people. These clocks made from old plates and tins were one of my favorites. You can purchase one of these beauties at www.artstargirl.etsy.com.

Below is Kennie Kaumzka from Metal Magic. (My flash does not do his work justice.) He makes these candle and electric lanterns out of ordinary household tin cans. Using an ocy-acetylene torch with a pencil-thin flame, the original designs are burned into the cans without drawing or stenciling. As Kennie states, “The lit candle lanterns, uniquely hand crafted, envelop a dark room with flickering magincal patterns.” So if you want to create some instant atmosphere – check out these lamps. www.tincanlights.com

This is the kind of stuff we love to see at D2E. Local artisans making useful and beautiful things out of recycled materials. Sustainable art – can’t get much better than that.

Kennie at his booth of magical lanterns.

Tags: arts and crafts, boston crafts, local artisans, recycled materials, sustainable art

Recycled Art by John Bassett

John Bassett will tell you he’s fascinated by light, structure, line, texture, balance, and color … in that order. Growing up in a family of both artists and thinkers, it’s not surprising that he can articulate his creative process in such exacting terms. What might surprise people is that he can also beautifully articulate what he does for an audience of five-year-olds. And for someone who has recently exhibited his work at the Children’s Museum, he’s has a lot of practice doing just that!

Big question first: So what are you doing to reduce your global footprint?
I make art from recycled stuff.

That works! Now, onto what we’re all wondering: How do you explain your profession to a five year old?
“I melt bottles and make things for people to look at.”

Have you always been a glass artist?
No, I actually worked most of my life as a carpenter, but I’ve been doing glass since 1979.

What is it about glass that you find so interesting?
I’m happiest in the rich, associative world of recycled glass and other found objects. I find myself focused on that most conventional quality of glass—its transparency.

Any early influences?
I was a kid who drew and painted. My uncle, Richard Bassett was a painter, but I think it was really my grandmother’s gardener who was my biggest influence. His name was Joseph LeBeau. Today, he might be considered a “naïve artist.” He also made fantastic, wonderful moving toys for kids using brightly painted Popsicle sticks and discarded lumber. He gave them all away. I have only a very small toy he made and don’t know if there are any others left. I think the kids who enjoyed his toys were the only people who appreciated what Joseph made.

That seems sad.
Joseph LeBeau’s story isn’t really sad, I think. He was loved and is still remembered by me and probably by his family and a few other kids. A lot has changed for the better since the 1940’s and 50’s when he made his toys. People have learned to see and to value naive artists and the things—buildings, signs, manufactured stuff—we see every day. And people have also learned to value kids’ art. I remember when I was an architecture student about 1963 going into a public elementary school in Cambridge and asking for kids drawings and paintings. Teachers were surprised by my interest and many didn’t save the art—and neither did the kids. That wouldn’t happen today.

I’ll bet Joseph be happy that kids are enjoying you’re work.
I think he would!

Visit John at www.basglas.com.

Interview by Anna Goldsmith of the Hired Pens.

Tags: art, footprint, glass, hired pens, john basset, recycled materials