Alternative Fashion Strategies: Design Incubator with Green Eileen

Sheila C. Johnson Design Center

Arnold and Sheila Aronson Galleries

March 30 – April 5, 2015
Opening reception: April 1, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

From March 30 – April 5, 2015, the gallery is being used as an incubator for the design and handcrafting of product prototypes, using re-purposed Eileen Fisher clothing in combination with locally sourced, naturally dyed fiber and leather materials. In partnership with Green Eileen, a program of the Eileen Fisher Company, participants focus on ethical manufacturing practices by the up cycling of Eileen Fisher garments, diverting textiles away from the landfill, and promoting job creation in local manufacturing.

The gallery is transformed into a pop up workshop furnished with an industrial sewing machine, a portable loom, knitting machine, and various handcrafting tools. All are invited to observe and partake in workshops and view the design and sampling process. Focus will be on the sourcing and lifecycle of materials, highlighting the interrelationships between design, nature, and material production. Workshops are led by students, faculty, and members from the local business where the materials are grown and manufactured. Materials will be from nearby farms, mills, and agribusinesses including Pergamena Leather Tannery, Hudson Valley Sheep & Wool Company, Catskill Merino, and Buckwheat Bridge Angora Solar and Wind Powered Fiber Mill.

Through this workshop series and exhibition, participants will explore the interplay between local production and industrial manufacturing. The work generated and exhibited in the galleries investigates the way textile and clothing production can play a role in fostering the socioeconomic well-being of communities and the environment.

Curated By Laura Sansone, Part Time Assistant Professor Of Design, School Of Design Strategies, Parsons The New School For Design

Workshop schedule:

• Mon 3/30 12:10- 2:50pm 3:50-6:30pm Yarn spinning with Mickey O’Neill & Jamie Badore from The Hudson valley Sheep & Wool Co Farm and Mill
• Tuesday 3/31 12:10-2:50 p.m. Knitting Machine Workshop with Ann Kim
• Tuesday 3/31 2:50-3:50 p.m. Hand felting with Amy John
• Tuesday 3/31 3:50-6:30 p.m. Bengali Dyeing with Nica Rabinowitz
• Wed 4/1 12:10- 3:30pm 3:50-6:30 p.m. Fiber Processing with Sara Healy from Buckwheat Bridge Angora Farm and Solar Powered Mill
• Thursday 4/2 12:10-2:50 p.m. Indigo dyeing with Laura Sansone
• Thursday 4/2 3:50- 6:30 p.m. Shibori Techniques with Annamarie Gavin