by Purba | Dec 14, 2020 | Fashion and sustainability |
Cactus leather- a strange name if you hear it for the first time as we all are habituated with animal leather. Astonishing to hear or not, this cactus leather is going to save one billion animals killed for fashion as an alternative to animal leather. What a boon for the animal lovers! If you want to know how cactus leather is going to save the animals, this article is for you!
Cactus Leather- why is it needed?
Leather is one of the most known material to the common people. It is part of a booming $80 billion industry. But leathers are much problematic because of using animal products & harmful chemicals with it.
And if we come to the fashion industry, then we can easily notice that the fashion industry is the 2nd largest polluter in the world! And leather is a staple in the fashion industry.
Additionally, a quote can be included- “The global leather industry kills more than a billion animals for their skin & hides”-PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
Again, to get leathers from animals, the treatment process involves tonnes of chemicals. This process is not only harmful for the environment but also creates non biodegradable leather products. Almost in most of the industries, leather comes from a cow & the cow has to drink up to 1800 gallons/yr.
The story doesn’t end here! In the tanning process of leather, it needs more water. Overall, this process creates 100,000,000 tons of wastes in the fashion industry. So, these kinds of problems should be maneuvered sincerely. And it’s a matter of great success that it’s not a problem moreover. Because two entrepreneurs from Mexico named Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez have invented the method of metamorphosing Cactus into vegan leathers which was named “DESSERTO”.
These two people achieved this result after much brainstorming, mental stress & physical efforts. And it is marvelous & can be said that it has been designed to bring a change in the world of leather.
Cactus is available everywhere in Mexico & it is eco-friendly. Desserto is made from cacti grown in the Mexican state of the Zacatecas.
How Desserto made cactus leather?
Someone may ask in this process much cactus is needed. Then it may be harmful for the plants.You may ask to have an alternative process for saving animals, won’t the process be harmful to the plants? Then friends, relax! Cutting cactus is just like a haircut.
Process:
At first, they select mature leaves of cactus without embezzlement of the cactus plant & do a new harvest every 6 to 8 months. After cutting mature leaves for 3 days they dry them under the sun to achieve the perfect humidity level as per need.
Then organic raw materials are needed. After drying, organic raw materials are processed & mixed with some non-toxic chemicals which are eco-friendly to the environment. Then it is shaped into any texture & different colored leathers can be gotten. In this process, no pesticides or herbicides are used. Another matter of pleasure that in this process, irrigation is not needed as the cacti grow perfectly as per need with rain water and earth minerals are easily found in the area.
Now, a question can be asked that can we use anything else alternative to cactus for bringing a change in the world of leather. Then the below points are the answers of your curious question peeking in your mind.
Benefits of Using Cactus to Produce Vegan Leathers:
- This vegan leathers aims to create a sustainable & cruelty free environment.
2. Can save the world from the dangerous toxic chemicals which are harmful to both the animals & all over human beings.
3. These types of leathers absorb Carbon-di-oxide which is a great sign of saving the world from global warming & thus it can be said this process is a current need of today!!
4. It’s breathable, flexible & comfortable to the skin.
5. It doesn’t stain, works up to 10 years.
6. The cacti leather is partially biodegradable.
7. During the manufacturing process less cows as well as animals are harmed.
8. Cactus has rugged & thick skin which makes the desired texture to forge animal leather.
9. Cactus doesn’t need water to grow up which is much beneficial especially in deserts.
10. Billions of animals killed for fashion can be saved through this process.
11. This leather is durable, high quality, soft & organic!
12. In this process, it doesn’t contain any plastic which is a good sign for the environment.
13. Cactus leather’s price is much less than animal leathers. And with it you can make cactus leather shoes, cactus leather bags, wallets, belts, jackets, etc.
So, the benefits are many & it should be grabbed as soon as possible. Moreover this cacti leather can be used like regular leathers.This desserto can also be used to make accessories, clothing, furniture, and even car interiors.
Additional information on Desserto, the cactus leather innovators!
Consulting services
Desserto is providing consulting services to brands addressing design, applications, and sustainability along their value chain.
Desserto gives keynote speeches
Desserto provides speeches about their experience creating a successful brand encircling Cactus Leather and having a positive impact in the fashion industry as a disruptive sustainable innovation force.
Desserto provides student services
As an extended courtesy to support young talents, upon limited project submissions per month, Desserto provides:
- Access to their standard material selection with no minimums.
- 1 swatch-book per request which is free of charge. Only courier fee will apply.
- They provide additional support.
- All the supports can be accessed only with valid student ID
Conclusion:
Desserto has attracted everyone’s eyes in International Leather Fair Lineapelle 2019 in Milan, Italy. If Desserto’s cactus leather making process and the sustainable products can be used broadly, we can hope to have a sustainable environment & can live peacefully and sustainably.
Nashita Ahmed
Dept.Environmental Science & Engineering,
Bangladesh University of Textiles
Id:2020-1-10-041
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by Purba | Oct 14, 2020 | Top fashion news |
How did fashion get mass acceptance? If you think about it deeply, you are bound to get numerous answers. But the most prominent answer that will peep in our mind is media. Magazine, newspapers, websites, blogs, social media platforms, television and books are the sections of media. Media enabled consumers to have much more interaction with the fashion world. Designers, trendsetters, editors influence and are influenced by media. We know that fashion made its debut before media-at least as we comprehend the term ‘media’ now. So at first it’s important to know what the word ‘ fashion’ actually means. Today most of the people regard fashion as those attitude and style of dress that are popular within specified time frames and adopted by the masses. Famous fashion designer Coco Chanel quote about fashion and that is,
“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress;
Dress impeccably and they remember the woman”
Fashion influences our life style. It doesn’t influence not only because it allows ous to dress fashionably but also gives comfort and protection, conceal nudity and express modesty.
Most of the time people follow the famous fashion designers, fashion weeks or the trends going on and the best way to know about this things is media. The word ‘media’ comes from the latin, meaning ‘middle layer’. Media works like a middleman that serves ‘to bring together’. In fashion, media is a rising segment of the fashion industry. It creates content that impresses consumer’s behaviour and desire through print journalism, television, social media. Fashion magazines had long been leaders in fashion journalism but now in the modern time fashion media is expending and establishing itself as the new leader. Media has brought about new channels to advertise fashion houses to reach their target markets. Although the marketing strategies and tactics have changed but the target of marketing fashion remains the same and that is to attract and hold customers. The relationship between fashion and media has come to exist after decades of evolution and the impact is infinite. It has become easy for fashion communication to provide the rapidly modernizing world with mass products more cheaply and quickly than when this works were done by hands. Labels are now able to connect and build lasting relationship with customers at the push of a button.
Fashion industry is one of the business sectors where frequent changes occur. To spread current changes among the mass people, fashion brands use media and advertise their target markets. It provides the customers with company updates and announcements about new fashion lines, events and promotions. Fashion business should concentrate on posting a myriad of contents to stay relevant to the customers. Brands put their clothing in magazines and consumers get ideas and inspiration about the new arriving through the pages. In fashion shows models wear the designed cloths done by named fashion designers and media covers the show on television so that people can watch. The runways of the big four ‘Paris, Milan, London and New work’ dominated the scene across the globe for many decades. Media eyes were always trained on the big four. Through the internet fashion can be expanded without a runway, expensive adds or an actual store. In the twenty first century the apparel industry has been marked as the retail market selling fashion online. Media has given the opportunity to general people to feel more connected with fashion world. It has a significant role in boosting the fashion industry.
Musharrat Tasnim Soumeen
Department of Textile Fashion and Design,
Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX),
Batch :46
Id:2020-1-6-004
![GUCCI: A Luxurious Fashion Brand]()
by Purba | Oct 14, 2020 | Top fashion news |
What is Gucci?
Gucci is one of the most luxurious and fashionable brands. It is an Italian fashion brand which was established in 1921 by Guccio Gucci in Florence, Italy. Before all, Guccio Gucci was a porter at the Savoy hotel in London when he first became enomored with glazing suitcase for guests. At the beginning the brand produced leather goods, silk good, luggage, shoes and hand bags. Now its product lines include ready-to-wear, makeup, fragrances and home decoration.
Why is it called Gucci?
The GG stands for Guccio Gucci, the father of the company. The name Gucci comes from Guccio Gucci.
What is the meaning of Gucci?
Though Gucci comes from its founder’s name, its meaning is worldwide taken as ‘fancy, very fashionable.’
The history of Gucci
In 1938, three sons (Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo) of Guccio Gucci joined the business. Guccio’s sons were tasked with expanding the brand’s presence, bringing Gucci to Rome and at last Milan. In 1950, Gucci experienced unbelievable success as a label of choice amongst rich travelers, actor or actress and other well-heeled customer, amazing designs. Guccio Gucci died in 1953. After that the business continued under the direction of his three sons, Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo. When Rodolfo Gucci passed away in 1983, the control of this brand passed to his son, Maurizio. On this period, the brand experienced a lot of troubles. In 1993, the Gucci family was entirely ousted from the capital of the company. After that, the brand was revived with a provocative ‘Porno Chic‘ props which puts seduction at the centre. Gucci was acquired by the French conglomerate Pinault Printemps Redoute in 1999.
American designer Tom Ford was hired as a ready-to-wear designer in 1990. Four years later, he promoted to Creative Director. During that period, Ford was credited as being instrumental in helping to recover Gucci’s fame. In 2004, Tom Ford replaced by Frida Giannini and he presented his last collection with Gucci. Frida Giannini took control of both men’s and women’s ready-to-wear in 2006. During 2020s, Gucci became an iconic ‘Geek-Chic’ brand.
Alessandro Michele is the current creative designer for Gucci since 2015. Michele was responsible for a number of executive roles before taking on creative direction for Gucci. Marco Bizzari is CEO of Gucci since 2014. After few years, Gucci had achieved record sales under Michele’s leadership, fuelling an 11% boost in profits for the brand’s parent company. Now Gucci is owned by the French luxury group Kering. In 2019, Gucci operated 487 stores for 17,157 employees and expanded their brands all over the world. Recently, Michele declared in May 2020 that Gucci clasping seasonless fashion and leaving the structure of Fashion Week behind. It will also be cutting down on its shows, going from five to just two every year. And the brand’s high performance will be continued always.
Gucci’s logo
Gucci logo regarded as the most recognizable in terms of luxury branding. Aldo Gucci, son of the founder of Guccio Gucci, designed the Gucci logo for his father. The use of the two G’s is in reference to the initials of Guccio Gucci himself. It’s an artistic, significance and most memorable way to create the founder’s signification in a visually endless way.
GUCCI logo
Gucci brand is influencing world’s people day by day. Actor, singer, dancer, wealthy people, people who walked on the red carpet or who attending functions like to wear this brand dress, shoes, bag etc. Elizabeth Taylor were photographed carrying bamboo – handled Gucci bags and the Horsebit loafer in 1953. Few years later, Jacqueline Kennedy was spotted carrying a Gucci bag, the fashion house named it ‘ The Jackie ‘. Also Grace Kelly had an influence on Gucci’s designs as well. On that time, Gucci had stores in Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York and many other places. In 2019, Harry Styles attended Met Gala by wearing Gucci brand dress.
What is the Gucci font?
You may be curious if you love typography and wonder which font it is in every text you see, the font of GUCCI is Granjon.
Does Gucci have a slogan?
Unlike most brands, Gucci doesn’t have any particular slogan. They have simple phrases communicating with the themes of different ads though.
What is unique about Gucci?
Gucci has developed over the years as a sign of abundance representing the luxury and glamorous fashion house. Gucci has so many products such as hats, gloves, jewellery, watches, shoes, bags, dress, belt silks etc. Gucci designed dresses are so unique and stylish among othe brand dresses. This brand has their every seasonal dress collection. This company organizes fashion shows to show their design products to the buyers or public. They make shoes which are very comfortable. However, Gucci’s every product is so amazing and demanding that recently, they create a lot of profit by selling these things . According to me ,this brand is on top of the list. I like Gucci’s product so much.
HERE IS A QUOTE OF ALESSANDRO MICHELE, “THE WAY YOU DRESS IS REALLY THE WAY YOU FEEL, THE WAY YOU LIVE, WHAT YOU READ, YOUR CHOICES. THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO PUT INTO GUCCI.”
Why Is Gucci So Expensive?
The reasons are given below:
- Rich heritage and smart business strategy
- Global brand recognition
- Unique and well researched elements of design and clever marketing to stir consumer emotions
- Endorsement of royals, politicians, heads of state, movie stars, a history that confers the Italian label with a unique sense of prestige, status, and desirability.
- Celebrity endorsements
- Excellent and unquestionable quality of their products
Who designs for Gucci?
Alessandro Michele, the Creative Director of Gucci, is in the creative world of fashion design from 1994-present and serving Gucci.
Trending products of GUCCI
There are many products that Gucci has produced and won the heart of its customers. We are talking about some of the most trending products of Gucci here:
The Gucci belt
Gucci belt is so much iconic that you can visualize it even without seeing its photo. You have seen celebrities wearing the belt with pride. This is undoubtedly a unique and coveted piece of Gucci.
Gucci Belts for Women. Courtesy: FARFETCH
The Gucci silk scarf
Gucci GG Bee-print Silk Scarf. Source: Pinterest.
Interlocking G Horsebit silk scarf in ivory | Courtesy: GUCCI® US
Gucci silk scarves are classic products that has faced the examination of time.
The Horse-bit Loafers
This unique piece is a classic. Starting its journey in the 1950’s, it has seen many changes in the designer team but the original design has remained unchanged and the coveting from the customers is still the same.
Gucci’s Iconic Horsebit Loafer. Photo courtesy: GQ.
Sumaiya Ferdousi Arpa
Department of Textile Fashion and Design,
Bangladesh University of Textiles,
Batch: 45
ID: 2019-1-6-021
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by Purba | Oct 14, 2020 | Fashion Illustration |
For those who know Prada, they and everybody else should also know what Miuccia Prada, Italian head designer of Prada once said. She quoted, “Fashion is instant language”.
Getting deeper into this quote, we can discover how this quote can open many doors to learn and engage in the language itself. One of the ways is fashion illustration.
In other words, if fashion is a language, let fashion illustration be the words. Fashion illustration is, in fact, like a picture worth 1000 words. But doesn’t a curious mind want to know, what exactly fashion illustration is?
As Wikipedia would say- fashion illustration is the art of communicating fashion ideas in visual form. Now there’s going to be people who’ll think, “If this writer needs to quote directly from Wikipedia, I could’ve done it on my own”, right?
Well, defending on the writer’s side, there is actually more to it. Fashion illustration indeed is a form of art. But it not only visualizes the idea what a clothing should look like, but it also shapes the style of the current generation.
As fashion illustrator Graeme Aymer said, “Fashion illustration is a style itself, and it is currently enjoying a Renaissance”. Designing clothes through drawings and colors are the basic tools.
But an illustrator also has to think about the future before the actual creation of the clothes.
Fashion Illustration by hand. Image courtesy: Author.
Now the question is, what should an illustrator put into a fashion sketch? One must ensure to put embellishments, render the fabric accurately, put the prints and seams. But before all of these, one must know how to draw the human figure with appropriate body size, shape and most importantly- expression! You got to admit, a figure wearing clothes with profound expression is what catches the attention of clients and persuades them to buy the dress!
Putting aside all these somewhat boring theories, let’s look at something more interesting and fascinating. In the fashion world, broadly speaking, one can find fashion illustration to be of 2 types-
- The first type is what the writer would like to call ‘objective’. This refers to much realistic and sensible forms of arts. In this case, the fashion illustrator tries to put the fashion ideas in such a way so that the clients can easily understand what the clothing wants to say. Say, you are drawing a full-length evening gown made of silk with drapes and off-shoulder bodice, you may want to render the sketch off the fabric with shine and white highlights contrast to any other color you are using. And in case of making the sketch more ‘sensible’, one can try to sketch the figure with 8-head, 9-head or 10-head figures with appropriate measurements. This makes the sketch more lively and more relevant to real human figure.
This type of illustration helps the client to know exactly what the final outfit is going to be and this also helps to produce the garment if it is thought to be made in bulk.
As you’re interested in Fashion Illustration, you’ll also be excited to check 12 Fashion Illustrations Done by Students Which Will Blow Your Mind!
Now if an illustrator is enthusiastic and a big-dreamer who wants to start their own clothing business or wants to work with a design team, one must know the following 6 types of fashion sketches-
- Fashion Flat:
Fashion flats. Image source: Pixabay
This is a 2D sketch normally made in black & white. It can sometimes be a rough sketch. If further the designer has a solid idea, one can add details and color to the garment.
- Tech Sketch:
Tech sketch. Image source: makersow.com
In this case, some details are added to the fashion flat in written form.
- Spec: Specs have precise presentations of the illustration with specifications added such as trims, seams, cost, manufacturing process etc.
Specs. Image source: Online clothing study.
- Working Drawing: This drawing is made specifically for the pattern maker who would make pattern pieces according to the pattern drawings illustrated here.
- Presentation Drawing: This is made for the client or producer to make them visualize the final dress.
Presentation drawing. Image courtesy: Courtney Trowbridge
- Fashion Croquis: The term Croquis refers to ‘sketch’ in French. This is a template drawing over which one can trace and draw a garment to remake it or to modify it. There are great books for helping in drawing fashion flats that also provides croquis.
Fashion Croquis. Image source: Shutterstock
Well, this objective drawing is now what makes the fashion world go forward. In many cases, designers or illustrators can recreate already famous dresses by adding their own persona but still keeping it sensible to the viewers on what the dress is actually defining.
- Now the other type of illustration is both old and new. This is something that can be called ‘abstract’. In this case, you as an illustrator can draw fashion sketches in your own twisted and unreasonable way. There is no standard measurement, rather however you present a theme of a dress, it is perfect in any way. Although these illustrations are somewhat difficult to comprehend, they do give the essence to exaggerated and independent taste.
One of the famous fashion illustrators is Antonio Lopez. This Puerto Rican illustrator was famous for his illustrations being futuristic, bold and dynamic. His first works of art was named El Museo del Barrio, which was made in 1978 using watercolors and pencils. You will definitely notice how the body structure and shape of the garment looks absurd but that is the way this creates the modern art look, putting fashion as a form of visual ornament in a non-representative way.
This form of illustrations is highly used to recreate already made garments in a new style to promote them in magazines and books and also to keep them in the history of fashion. This unusual type of illustrations are now becoming popular day-by-day, although these forms of art had a decline in the late 30’s when the magazine covers started to use photographic images instead of abstract arts.
Tasphia Zaman Department of Textile Fashion and Design, Bangladesh University of Textiles. ID: 2018-1-6-009, TFD-44
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by Purba | Oct 13, 2020 | Our works, The story of Fashionnovation |
Digital Wall Magazine: The Very First of Its Kind in The Varsity!
In 2019, we felt that there isn’t any platform for the TFDians to publish their write ups though they are extremely talented in writing.
Kazi Purba, being a writer of Kaler Kantho and Textile Today himself, immediatedly took a decision to do something for it. He asked Md. Mahamudul Hasan and got his positive feedback. As there wasn’t any funding, Kazi Purba came up with a new form of magazine-‘Digital wall magazine’ and launched ‘Ronger Jadukor’ with his hard earned money from feature writing!
All the students who wrote in Ronger Jadukor, showed that we, the TFDians are not only creative in drawing, painting, we are also master at writing.
The students from TFD-43, 44 came up with wonderful stories, poems and illustrations. we became overwhelmed by reading all of the writings and a seed of another venture started to grow in his mind.
What’s the venture? Well, let’s keep it a secret now! By this time, the venture is well alive. If you are a member of Fashionnovation, you already know it. But if you aren’t, you just need to keep patience and go through our next history timeline writings!
Kazi Farhan Hossain Purba, the Founder and President of Fashionnovation standing beside the digital wall magazine ‘Ronger Jadukor’. He is also the editor and publisher of the magazine
