As I delved into biblical teachings on resurrection and judgment, I wondered: What if our commitment to sustainability became as essential as faith itself? What if it became the determining factor for one’s resurrection? Would such a paradigm shift compel everyone to reassess their priorities? Don’t we all long for a resurrection? Isn’t it akin […]
Read moreFAQ: What is Circular Fashion?
In opposition to the model of linearity, circular systems consider the before and after of what we normally look at when assessing a system. In a way, it is like the difference between the laboratory and the real world. – Ophir El-Boher
Read moreMUST See 2024 FASHION Exhibits | Barbie®, Naomi, Diné Textiles and more
This year the range of fashion exhibitions include a doll, Barbie®, a model, Naomi Campbell, Diné (Navajo) textile and fashion designs, and the establishment – Chanel and Balenciaga.
Read moreCouture, African Cloth is Tailored for You: a Talk with Komi Jean Pierre Nugloze
The fashion system that is structured in the West, they don’t have in Africa. In the African system there is the triangle of the material, the consumer, and the tailor … there is no second person ever wearing a garment the same as another person … – Joan Drost, Netherlands-based Vlisco Group executive director of […]
Read more‘I Don’t Need Permission to Wear’: Africa Fashion for Everyone
Throughout my journey I have met/spoken to a variety of people from different countries, cultures, races. With this I have realized that you don’t have to be Black to be Afropolitan. You simply have to have an affinity for Afro culture. – Maryanne E. Mokoko Many would say Africa fashion is part of popular culture. […]
Read moreAnkara Cloth Amplifies “Seven Unforgettable” | Maryanne E. Mokoko
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports 71 percent of all human trafficking victims are women and girls and one third are children. Maryanne E. Mokoko’s Seven Unforgettable brings awareness to victims of child trafficking, women’s abuse and lack of empowerment, poverty, and homelessness.
Read more“CLOTH, Construct, CULTURE” is not about ‘cut and sew and sell’ …
It’s about fashion’s deeper purpose …
Read more‘CLOTH’ designers Construct stories …
… About Connection, Dismissed, Earth, and Identity.
Read moreWhat Do Designers Really Think About Fashion? ‘CLOTH’ Designers Speak Out
The fashion industry is not friendly to this kind of thinking and method of designing. There is a constant battle of commercial mandates versus creativity. What’s good for commerce minimizes innovation, curiosity, and experimentation, particularly in the mainstream landscape. -RP Hill
Read moreKyle Denman
Humans are complex beings and to even begin to try and fathom our depth is nearly impossible. We as people have the human experience through both conflict and catharsis, and the human experience is one that is uniquely our own—despite the fact that it is shared collectively among individuals. We as humans are living paradoxes. […]
Read moreCloth Constructs a “Conceptual, Personal, and Poetic Vision of Humanity” | Kyle Denman in “CLOTH”
This collection attempts to delineate the human profile in abstract, psychological and literal ways through silhouettes and storytelling. – Kyle Denman
Read more“mul·ti·po·lar—ex·ist·ence”: fashion and the human experience | A Talk with Kyle Denman
Humans are complex beings and to even begin to try and fathom our depth is nearly impossible. We as people have the human experience through both conflict and catharsis, and the human experience is one that is uniquely our own—despite the fact that it is shared collectively among individuals. We as humans are living paradoxes. […]
Read moreIsabella Diorio
It’s not just about the garment itself but about the story behind it. – Isabella Diorio
Read moreWomen Military Vets Honored in “F. E. T.” | Isabella Diorio in “CLOTH”
When I first learned of Isabella Diorio’s collection about the trail blazing American women who served the military, I was moved by the story and how she used fashion as the storyteller.
Read moreA Fashion Story Honors Women in Combat | EDGE Talks to Isabella Diorio
With nearly 2 million United States women veterans strong, women have been fighting and sacrificing for their country much longer than you may think — even going as far as disguising themselves as a man in order to serve.
Read moreKorina Emmerich (Puyallup)
You don’t take more than you need. – Korina Emmerich
Read moreFashion Examines Culture, the Good and the Not So Good | Korina Emmerich in “CLOTH”
Diane von Furstenberg, former chairman of CFDA, told WWD magazine, “Fashion is by definition a reflection of what is going on in the world.”
Read moreThe POWER of FASHION lies in its ability to transform IDENTITY and CULTURE.
-RP Hill
Karen Glass
The movement of cultural philosophy and engagement from a post-modern, post-industry perspective to a meta-modern vision of self-reflection and self-awareness, has us collectively watching and becoming aware of our actions and their consequences. – Karen Glass
Read moreShanghai Origins Meet America’s Antebellum Deep South | Karen Glass in “CLOTH”
A jacket and skirt ensemble have a story to tell. Did you know that the Yuyuan Garden District of Shanghai China and the American Civil War have something in common?
Read moreFashion Artifacts: a Sustainable Path to Circular Fashion | EDGE Talks to Karen Glass
I began seeing the clothes I had been accountable for making as post-consumer waste: in thrift stores, jammed into markdown racks, and on the streets as rags. Karen Glass
Read moreAlena Kalana
It’s gratifying to create something that people want to own and to wear, but most importantly to appreciate. My hope is to create pieces that are unique now but will still have relevance in twenty years and beyond. – Alena Kalana
Read moreBorn Again. The Rebirth of the Red Bubble Skirt | Alena Kalana in “CLOTH”
Months before “CLOTH, Construct, CULTURE: fashion builds a story” opening date, I received a distressing text message from Alena Kalana, that the front skirt of the red bubble skirt had faded.
Read moreUnconventional Is the Norm | EDGE Talks to Alena Kalana
One thing I want to do is figure out a better way to leave less of a footprint. I am not at all interested in mass production. What I create is art. – Alena Kalana
Read moreRuree Lee
I realized that we are losing our humanity. Our use of non-verbal language is leading to isolation and miscommunication. – Ruree Lee
Read moreCloth Critiques Society’s Screen Addiction | Ruree Lee in “CLOTH”
I wanted to tie the hands so that you couldn’t use your phone. – Ruree Lee
Read more“Presence/Absence”: What PHONE CULTURE Is Doing to Us | EDGE Talks To Ruree Lee
I find that sharing my personal experiences with societal issues and problems give such a special meaning and feeling to my clothes and work. I wanted to share the visualization of the difference between humanism and the world that humans created through their phones. – Ruree Lee
Read moreMaital Levitan
Being born in the USA and moving to Israel, having a “global family” and a mixed identity, were inspirations for this collection. – Maital Levitan
Read moreCultural Identity Through ‘Osmosis’ | Maital Levitan in “CLOTH”
When the history books are written, will our “future self be satisfied” with how the global culture handled “identity”?
Read moreFashion for the Soul | EDGE Talks to Maital Levitan
Soul – the Dictionary definition is an emotional or intellectual energy or intensity, especially as revealed in a work of art or an artistic performance. Maital Levitan personifies this artistic practice with a body of work that reveals an emotionally charged narrative.
Read moreAbiola Onabulé
As someone who is of Yoruba heritage, I am very interested in how pre-colonial elements of Yoruba culture and spiritual practice show up and manifest amongst descendants around the world. – Abiola Onabulé
Read moreVoodoo Dolls, Wizardry, and the Magic of ‘Heirloom’ | Abiola Onabulé in “CLOTH”
“For Yoruba Nigerians (which is my father’s people), cloth is still a very conscious part of the culture.
Read moreThe Power of Cloth and Why We Should Care | EDGE Talks to Abiola Onabule
In an age of socioeconomic inequalities, climate crisis, and a pandemic, characterized by accelerated technological advances and new working models, design plays a crucial role in supporting the ways we care for ourselves, each other and the planet.
Read moreYun Qu
It’s very hard for me to describe how I design with precise vocabulary. I decided to design a collection inspired by Impressionism because I was listening to Claire De Lune by Debussy one night. I could see different dresses and attire in my mind, or my brain, I would say, then I simply drew what […]
Read moreThe Design is in the Details | Yun Qu in “CLOTH”
When I think of Yun Qu’s designs, I think of her ‘crazy’ sleeves and the attention to detail throughout her entire body of work. I have an affinity for sleeve design and the sleeves in her collection Clair De Lune, in my opinion, are a masterpiece in construction.
Read moreDebussy, Renoir, and Hokusai: REIMAGINED Dead Stock at the Hand of Yun Qu | EDGE Talks to Yun Qu
When I was designing the collection, I found some particular fabric that was inspired by Katsushika Hokusai. To be honest, I just wanted to use those beautiful fabrics in this collection, that’s all haha! – Yun Qu
Read moreA Fanciful Fashion Feast | The Art of Upcycling by Narci Lee
Whatever happened to the upcycle queen, Narci Lee, who reclaims unwanted garments, household linens, and textile waste we call rags or remnants, that most of us would throw out?
Read moreCan the beauty of art and the consciousness of artists negate the power of the apocalypse?
What’s So Lovely About the End of the World?
Read more“What’s So Lovely …?” The Making of “Vivi Ann”.
Portland, Oregon-based abstract painter, Erik ReeL, and Ventura, California-based fashion designer, Narci Lee, combined their ecological ethos and improvisational instincts to create a work of art out of discarded textiles, designed to be worn (and talked about) as a socio-ecological statement.
Read more“Strong Spirit in Dark Times”: Ukrainian designer Yevgeniya Melnyk shines a light
Surrounded by the sounds of war, fashion emerges as a strong cultural mark – an encouragement for a brighter future. Ukrainian designer, Yevgeniya Melnyk, knows this first hand.
Read moreFor the Love of “Motherland”. Ukrainian designer Yuliya Rudenko tells why
Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in particular, the hometown of Yuliya Rudenko, Uman Ukraine, has not faltered the courage, resilience, and unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people. If anything, it’s stronger than ever, and that strength, unity, and forward-thinking determination is what you see in Rudenko’s “Motherland” collection.¹
Read more“Everything and Nothing, Excess and Emptiness at the Same Time”: Paula Lessel tells a Grey story
We have a lot of stuff, yet our lives are empty. Fashion can communicate what’s going on in society. One way is more literal by what we wear. Another is more abstract and philosophical in messaging, in storytelling, that makes us think about the world we live in,
Read moreDye Then, Dye Now
Dye ‘then’ was a natural source from nature, non-chemical, non-toxic. Dye ‘now’ is a chemically produced color, mostly toxic, where the residual pollutes our wastewater.
Read moreFashion Industry Charter is on the A-List for Climate Action
Here’s a progress report on the companies involved with United Nation’s Fashion Charter for Climate Change. The Fashion Charter for Climate Change was set up with the support of UN Climate Change in 2018 to provide a pathway for the industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with global efforts to limit warming […]
Read moreFuture of FASHION? Secondhand. WASTE and Ownership REDIRECTED
The global secondhand clothing industry is gaining momentum with tremendous environmental, social, and economic benefits, nearly doubling its volume in four years, rattling the territory of fast fashion. Growth in Numbers = a Circular System The market is expected to grow 127% by 2026, 3X faster than the apparel market with North America leading the […]
Read moreEDITOR’s Letter: HIDDEN in Plain Sight
Designers in Plain Sight Fashion is a powerful medium that influences and transforms society. We don’t always see and understand the cultural impact it has unless it’s documented in history books or presented at art institutions. Even with that documentation it is self-fulfilling, omitting a wide-range of history and artifacts. History shows that creators, contributors, […]
Read moreMuseum Crawl: MUST See 2023 FASHION Exhibits | CLOTH, Construct, CULTURE; Anne Lowe: American Couturier; Africa Fashion, and more
Parallax Art Center, Portland, Oregon, presents “CLOTH, Construct, CULTURE: fashion builds a story”, a first of its kind, showcasing beautifully designed collections from a select group of contemporary international designers who are shaping how culture is represented through fashion. Concerned with cultural, ecological, and sociological issues about the world we live in, Kyle Denman, Isabella […]
Read moreFashion Industry STANDS WITH UKRAINE, #нетвойне. How Can You HELP?
Putin’s unprovoked, horrific war on Ukraine has rattled and rallied the world with an unprecedented global unity across all corners of our society which includes the fashion industry. Even though the entire world spreads the news about my country, the people living in Russia still believe in the “special operation” story. They do not believe […]
Read more