Shoe Dogs and The Shoe That Grows

Photo Courtesy: Because International.

The Internet has recently been abuzz with the story of Because International's shoe that adjusts and expands with a growing foot.

The idea for The Shoe That Grows came to Founder and Executive Director Kenton Lee, on noticing the basic but alarming footwear issue while he was living and working in Nairobi, Kenya in 2007.

Photo Courtesy: Kenton Lee

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 300 million cases of severe illness are caused each year due to poor or no footwear.

After approaching many of the world's leading footwear manufacturers, Lee knocked on the door of the Portland-based company, Proof of Concept.

Headed by former Nike and Adidas exec Gary Pitman, Proof of Concept began in 2006 as a rapid prototyping service bureau for a range of industries. It soon became obvious however, that his 22 years of shoe experience, was an attractive draw to footwear companies that were looking to develop products.

The Proof of Concept team is now made up of footwear industry veterans with a collective 80+ years of experience; what sets them apart, is their ability to embrace the tools and thought processes involved in designing with cutting edge-technology.

“What makes us unique is the fact that we have been at the forefront of helping the industry identify and utilize cutting-edge product creation tools like 3D scanning, 3D computer modeling, rapid prototyping, and virtual visualization. Basically, we are “Shoe Dogs”, a term used for experienced shoe experts who are always looking for ways to use modern digital tools when creating new products.”

— www.yourproofofconcept.com/overview

Brainstorming with Lee, Pitman used a 3D printer to prototype at least 8 different variations of the design before they were happy with the product.

Armed with 100 pairs of the new invention, Lee tested the product in Africa before putting in an official order for 3,000 pairs at the end of last summer.

See how it works in the demo below and help the cause by getting involved

Warby Parker Hits the Million Mark

Image Courtesy: Warby Parker

Earning genuine recognition from a loyal, style-savvy following, eyewear company Warby Parker recently announced that it has now sold a million pairs of glasses.

This is not only a success story for the in-house teams who take the product from concept to market, but it is a genuine triumph for the sustainably-focused, philanthropic business model, as the true impact of that figure goes way beyond touching the lives of a million consumers with great design.

Image Courtesy: Warby Parker

“Warby Parker was founded with a rebellious spirit and a lofty objective: to offer designer eyewear at a revolutionary price, while leading the way for socially-conscious business”

— warbyparker.com

Setting a goal to help the estimated 700 million people who don’t have access to glasses or eye care, Warby Parker makes a monthly donation to non-profit partners such as VisionSpring, to source an equivalent number of glasses for those in need around the world. Funds are also allocated to educational programs, so that partner companies can teach local people how to give basic eye exams and sell glasses at affordable prices in their communities.  

The grassroots start-up has raised total funding of $115 million to date, scaling at a phenomenal rate since its humble beginnings in 2010.

Click here for further information about the company and to shop their designs.

The Next Black: A Film About The Future Of Clothing

Presented by AEG, Stockholm creative agency House of Radon recently premiered their exciting new documentary, The Next Black: A Film About the Future of Clothing.

Beautifully narrated both verbally and pictorially; an inspiring selection of apparel industry visionaries share their insight on the paradigm shift that is not only taking place, but is gradually gaining the necessary momentum to permanently change the way we create, wear and relate to our clothes. 

Nancy Tilbury offers a glimpse into the world of Studio XO, "making science-fiction, science-fact", putting machines on our bodies and merging fashion and technology to create digital couture experiences.

Matt Hymers reveals how Adidas are innovating with fabric sensors in what are coined smart clothes; collecting and applying real-time performance data from "wearable environments" to ultimately improve health and elevate lifestyles.

Suzanne Lee of design consultancy BioCouture, demonstrates the remarkable process of growing sustainable fabrics from living materials. Highlighting that "there is no time for R&D in fashion", she works in collaboration with scientists and engineers to constantly push the boundaries of how we think and produce our clothing.

Rick Ridgeway discusses how the Patagonia team is petitioning for conscious consumption, asking consumers to “only buy what you need”. He stresses the importance of buying less but better and repairing rather than replacing.

Working with the Bangkok-based textile manufacturer, Yeh Group, Sophie Mather explains the revolutionary technique of Dry Dyeing. The highly compressed gas, Supercritical CO2, has multiple benefits, including the use of 50% less energy and chemicals than traditional fabric dyeing methods.

Last but certainly not least, we see how Kyle Wiens and the iFixit crew are spear-heading the mending culture; teaching people how to take responsibility for their purchases by fixing their own stuff!

Brilliant role models, acting as beacons of light for the conscious fashion movement. 

Watch the full 45-minute documentary here

Investing In Sustainable Business Practice

Source: The Guardian

There was a time when the topic of sustainability was deemed a nice gesture but certainly not a serious driver of business strategy and investment capital. The foundational importance of health, well-being and natural abundance is rarely prioritized in the faster, cheaper, more model.

However, thanks to the rising awareness of critical decision makers, transparency is no longer a fashionable buzzword reserved to the radical minority; it is rapidly becoming the norm, lifting the proverbial curtain on organizations that choose to operate with indifference.

Environmental degradation and climate change are now being recognized and cited as top global business risks. The future of everything is reliant on the preservation of existing resources and the creation of alternative solutions.

Businesses that successfully apply and demonstrate a triple bottom line approach to their practice are becoming an increasingly attractive investment prospect.

Janet Ranganathan, takes a closer look in her article Three Reasons Investors Are Beginning To Take Sustainability Seriously.

In celebration of such practice, the winners of the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards 2014, were announced in London yesterday. 11 categories were divided into two sub-categories of innovation and impact.

See the results and learn more about the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards here.

Stella McCartney Joins The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

Continuing to pioneer as one of the most visible brands in the conscious fashion sector, Stella McCartney recently became the first global fashion brand to partner with The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network  (WFEN).

Committed to creating beautiful products through sound business practices that equally respect the producers, land, and wildlife; WFEN and Corporate Members, work together with a shared vision for a world where people and wildlife not only coexist but thrive.

“Stella McCartney has consistently embraced a Triple Bottom Line approach to business. We applaud the brand’s leadership in initiating efforts towards responsible sourcing across a range of Wildlife Friendly® fibers, textiles and raw materials from around the globe.

We don’t have to choose among people, planet or profit, but instead can work to benefit both business and biodiversity.”

— Julie Stein, Executive Director of Certified Wildlife Friendly®

Australian Indigenous Fashion Week

Image Courtesy: The Guardian/Anna Kucera

The Australian fashion industry embraced a powerfully beautiful part of its cultural heritage last week, through the inaugural Australian Indigenous Fashion Week (AIFW).

The event ushers in a monumental shift of awareness towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, and AIFW's national mentoring platform looks set to provide fertile opportunities for indigenous artists to create and communicate through the medium of fashion and textile design.

AIFW aims to harness the story-telling roots and traditional skills of the indigenous communities for a new kind of apparel supply chain; showcasing and celebrating the artists' work in a modern, commercial forum.

“There’s this sort of translation there between telling a story and using very old traditional methodology, such as land and sea management, to make garments which are sustainable. Communities have taken their skills and used them for fashion. It’s a nice ecosystem.”

— AIFW founder Krystal Perkins, speaks to BoF

Read more on this story via The Business of Fashion

BIONIC Yarn Continues To Break It Down

Pharrell Williams adds an Adidas sneaker collaboration to his growing roster of eco-conscious fashion initiatives.

Complex problems often require complex solutions, but with the right kind of creative communication, even the most innovative of processes can be distilled, packaged and understood.

This simple but powerful infographic illustrates BIONIC Yarn's state of the art manufacturing process, which turns recycled ocean plastic into durable, versatile fabrics.

Image Courtesy: BIONIC Yarns

Kelly Slater Leaves Quiksilver For Sustainable New Horizons.

““For years I’ve dreamt of developing a brand that combines my love of clean living, responsibility and style. So I am excited to tell you that I’ve chosen The Kering Group as a partner. They share my values and have the ability to support me in all of my endeavors.””

— Kelly Slater

Image Courtesy: ASP World Tour Surfing

Wearable Technology Show, London

Intel futurist Steve Brown highlights a crucial factor of wearable tech's success :

A device has to fit in with what is important to people... how do people use it? How does it help people be their best selves?

Technology is just technology: what matters is what you can do with it.

CNET's Rich Trenholm reports from London's Olympia.

Image Courtesy: CuteCircuit.  Pioneers of the interactive fashion world since 2004. cutecircuit.com

From ‘Fashion Conscious’ To ‘Fashion Conscience’

Fashion Features Director of Vogue India, Bandana Tewari, and Creative Director of Gucci, Frida Giannini, discuss the influential role that clothing brands can play as agents of change.

Source : The Business of Fashion.  Image Courtesy: Vogue India.