Sunday, September 13, 2009

The NOW Designer Series - featuring....SUST ** Ryann ** naturevsfuture





SUST.... stands for:

sustainable, adj. - Ecol. Of, relating to, or designating forms of human economic activity and culture that do not lead to environmental degradation, esp. avoiding the long-term depletion of natural resources.

sussed, adj., Brit. colloq. - Well-informed, in the know; streetwise, 'cool'.

This is the self-proclaimed definition, or slogan if you will, you will find on SUST's website
.

Founded in 2007, SUST consists of eccentric, yet high quality, stylish and timeless basics. Tristan Gribbin and Marion McKee - best friends since 1980 - fill every collection they design with a rainbow of brilliant colors. Based in San Francisco, the line is influenced by NoCal's alternative culture. New Wave, mod, punk and the retro styles of the 80s fueled and molded Tristan's and Marion's creative juices early on. Both designers traveled the world and evolved their own creative vision, always keeping the idea of a new fashion movement - designed to unite the masses - in the back of their minds. During a birthday weekend that reunited these two, SUST was born.
You can order this fabulous line right off the website.


Ryann

"...Ryann, created by designer Raina Blyer, is a guilt free wearable collection with a downtown punch for the fashion warrior in all of us."

Ryann focuses on design and tailoring, with fabrics varying in color and chosen according to the season. Elegant and timeless, but yet modern and current Ryann tries to appeal to the eco-conscious fashionista in all of us. Collections are meant to be worn for many seasons to come. Organic cotton and wool, Ahisma and conventional silk, soy and recycled fibers, bamboo, hemp and linen are all used when creating this fabulous women's fashion line.
Lifelong environmentalist Raina Blyer is the brains behind this genius operation. The Brooklyn native learned to sew at the age of three. Studies in Holistic Health drew her to Boston, but her heart remained in New York, where she returned to study at FIT. Working for designer Arjan Khiani, she helped to sew and design clothes for celebs like Britney Spears and Cindy Lauper. Being immersed in the industry allowed Raina to see firsthand, that much of what was going on contradicted her beliefs. Though many experts told her that a 'sustainable' fashion line would never get off the ground, she was determined and thus, in 2005 Ryann was born. As the fashion industry has grown and changed, so has Raina - never losing sight of her ideals along the way.
You can find Ryann on Raina's website or at various local retailers in New York City.


naturevsfuture®

“The more we advance the more we need to consider nature before we deplete it. In this tension to find balance is the living energy of the collection and hence the name.” says Valenti.

In 2002, six years after graduating from Parsons and designing Streetwear, Brooklyn native Nina Valenti founded 'naturevsfuture'. For her, it was a way to expose her unique aesthetic. Inherently classic with a futuristic edge, this women's fashion line teeters the line between cutting edge fashion and 'eco-consiousness'. Valenti incorporates more and more organic, sustainable, renewable and biodegradable materials in current and future collections. Mixing such fabrics as organic cotton, organic wool, hemp, soy, bamboo, seacell® (seaweed), lyocell (wood pulp), Ingeo™ (created from corn), along with recycled and technological fabrics such as Polartec® (made from soda pop bottles or industry waste) she believes in creating pieces for longevity. Nina's inspiration is drawn from everything that stimulates her senses - architecture, furniture, music and art, incorporating rhythm and movement into each piece.
The women who wear ‘naturevsfuture’ are intelligent, independent and creative women who do not follow trends but rather make their own statement. They like to look sexy but with a sophisticated and creative edge.
'naturevsfuture' has already received a promising amount of press in such publications as WWD, Italian Vogue, ELLEgirl, Nylon and Fader. She has been featured on the show Gilmore Girls and in 2004 was asked to design uniforms for the staff of the Alex Hotel's Restaurant Riingo.
In 2008 Valenti added a men's line.
Her line can be purchased through her website
and in various retail stores throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

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