The Uniform Project
I came across this piece while researching slow fashion for one of the weekly exercises. I found this individual’s project quite interesting and I really enjoyed looking at the many styles she created with the one basic dress. Below is a description of her mission from the uniform project website. http://www.theuniformproject.com/
In 2009 Sheena Matheiken launched the Uniform Project which was created in collaboration with a friend and former fashion designer Eliza Starbuck, pledging to wear one little black dress for 365 days as an exercise in sustainability and a fundraiser to support the Akanksha Foundation— a non-profit organization providing education to underprivileged children living in Indian slums. And for the next year, Sheena’s unusual creative challenge took place; to wear the same dress for an entire year, while having to make it look unique every single day. She would reinvented her uniform by accessorizing with vintage, handmade, reused, or donated pieces. A blog was created for followers of the project which covered the development of the fundraising.
In 2009 Sheena Matheiken launched the Uniform Project which was created in collaboration with a friend and former fashion designer Eliza Starbuck, pledging to wear one little black dress for 365 days as an exercise in sustainability and a fundraiser to support the Akanksha Foundation— a non-profit organization providing education to underprivileged children living in Indian slums. And for the next year, Sheena’s unusual creative challenge took place; to wear the same dress for an entire year, while having to make it look unique every single day. She would reinvented her uniform by accessorizing with vintage, handmade, reused, or donated pieces. A blog was created for followers of the project which covered the development of the fundraising.
Sheena’s LBD was a button down reversible A-line, designed to be worn front to back or as an open tunic. (Sheena had 7 identical dresses which she would wear everyday for the year) As the project gained popularity, so did the demand for the dress. The increased demand to share in this movement prompted U.P to produce their own proprietary fabric in an organic cotton and silk blend. Limited numbers of Classic LBDs were available while the project took place. Patterns for the dress were also available. The use of repurposed, vintage, handmade and recycled goods created each look, which was used to encourage consumers to “shop” in their own closets and reinvent a piece rather than throw it away( sheena used pants as a shrug, modified a skirt to create a dress), the blog also offered an open forum on the discussion of green fashion.
All images from http://www.theuniformproject.com/
Sondra
No comments:
Post a Comment