I’ve been waiting for a good reason to offer a roundup of subversive craft work, and this recent bit by Just Seeds collective members is the best I could ask for. We’ve also seen the Grannies Knit for Peace, but today we’re focusing on the Knitta crew, and microRevolt.
Hacking Couture focuses on the documentation of established fashion identities in order to create a shared library that allows democratic access to its findings and contributions and to derive new and evolving fashion aesthetics, serving also as a platform for self-expression and nest for new ideas. It’s open source fashion.
Rosa Loves is making big waves. The project was recently named one of AOL’s Top 12 Businesses That Could Be The Next Big Thing. Their drive is to meet small, specific goals (feeding communities, raising money for a family in need) through t-shirt sales. The shirts are well designed, and I like that their focus extends past charity:
Everyone has a story. Everyone has a need. By using art and creativity, we hope to foster hope and encouragement through the aid of apparel.
Rosa Loves is less about charity and more about awareness, awareness that we are all apart of something greater and are therefore joined by common threads.
Instead of donating to larger charity organizations that were already established and had financial support through other ways - it would go to specific individuals with needs in the community around us.
This firm belief in grassroots fundraising, and in their ability to enact a direct impact sets Rosa Loves apart from the crowd. Plus, they are friends with Groundswell favorites People Not Profit, which earns their keep in our book.
Previously on Groundswell:
Liberation Ink is an apparel printing and design collective created to fund social justice organizing.
In keeping with their philosophy to fund social justice movements from within, they have developed a clever business strategy that includes fundraising partnerships with the May 1st Alliance and the Deporten a la Migra Coalition. Profits from their sales go directly to organizations working for change.
Liberation’s t-shirts are produced without sweatshop labor, and many of their accessories are fair trade and/or organic. In addition to their already fantastic work, they do custom runs!
Also, if you like these guys, check out People Clothing from Austin, TX.
After reading yesterday about the role and ethics of photojournalism (an oft-discussed topic here at Groundswell) it’s opportune to hear news of the new Alabama Chanin line. The eco-fashion studio is currently showing for Fall/Winter ‘08 at LF8 Studio in New York City alongside civil rights photographer Charles Moore’s work. Designer Natalie Chanin chose to create this season’s work as an “homage to Charles and all of the people of this nation who stood – and walked - together for change.” Alabama Chanin uniquely focuses:
not only on sustainable textiles, but also on preserving the traditional crafts techniques of rural America. Working with artisans in Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi, where the civil rights movement was born, their mission is to create treasured life-long clothing steeped in history, but with a “contemporary design aesthetic”.
Alabama Chanin is also showing with Italian accessory designer Henry Beguelin, whose handmade work makes use of recycled materials.
Via TreeHuger.