THE MATERIAL Lab
OCT.27.19
THE MATERIAL Lab was a panel conversation designed specifically for fashion professionals. Fashion professionals from Design, Sourcing and Production backgrounds were invited to a conversation about sustainability, the current fashion system, and barriers to change. PRETTY/UGLY designed a facilitation workbook where attendees can finish a short survey, leave comments for PRETTY/UGLY and to take notes.
The panel revealed several concepts that led to three key insights that shaped PRETTY/UGLY fundamentally. First that there is no shared language defining the mission of sustainability. The mission of the concept varies depending on the area the fashion professional works within which results in varying frames and analysis of priorities.
Secondly, over a two hour conversation specifically about sustainability in Fashion the word NATURE was never mentioned by the participants. PRETTY/UGLY highlighted this disconnection for the group, and there was an audible gasp in the room as they realized what we already suspected, that NATURE and SUSTAINABILITY are not connected in Fashion.
Lastly, and most provocatively, the role of the Designer began to emerge. The Designer as "Rejector" concept was discussed, it’s a perversion of the role that designers are rewarded for their discernment and ability to reject goods that will ultimately lead to waste. As the conversation unfolded from the Designer’s perspective it is noted that because “sustainability” is just now being taught in school, professional designers learn about the impact of their work only after starting their career.
PRETTY/UGLY notes that if the industry has not defined sustainability as a realignment between MAN and NATURE, then the best the industry can hope for is simply damage mitigation.
OCT.27.19
THE MATERIAL Lab was a panel conversation designed specifically for fashion professionals. Fashion professionals from Design, Sourcing and Production backgrounds were invited to a conversation about sustainability, the current fashion system, and barriers to change. PRETTY/UGLY designed a facilitation workbook where attendees can finish a short survey, leave comments for PRETTY/UGLY and to take notes.
The panel revealed several concepts that led to three key insights that shaped PRETTY/UGLY fundamentally. First that there is no shared language defining the mission of sustainability. The mission of the concept varies depending on the area the fashion professional works within which results in varying frames and analysis of priorities.
Secondly, over a two hour conversation specifically about sustainability in Fashion the word NATURE was never mentioned by the participants. PRETTY/UGLY highlighted this disconnection for the group, and there was an audible gasp in the room as they realized what we already suspected, that NATURE and SUSTAINABILITY are not connected in Fashion.
Lastly, and most provocatively, the role of the Designer began to emerge. The Designer as "Rejector" concept was discussed, it’s a perversion of the role that designers are rewarded for their discernment and ability to reject goods that will ultimately lead to waste. As the conversation unfolded from the Designer’s perspective it is noted that because “sustainability” is just now being taught in school, professional designers learn about the impact of their work only after starting their career.
PRETTY/UGLY notes that if the industry has not defined sustainability as a realignment between MAN and NATURE, then the best the industry can hope for is simply damage mitigation.
PRETTY/UGLY WORK
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