Purity by Melissa Funk

purity. value from concept to creation

melissa funk

respective Unsatisfied with the unethical production of common substances, such as the food we eat and textiles used in our clothing, we are becoming eager to grasp a better understanding of their makeup. Organic foods and naturally dyed fabrics have emerged to the forefront for consumers. Alternatively, we are looking at the individual fragments that make up a product as a whole in order to reconstruct the original. Reexamining the use for various items can help recreate ways to live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle through them.

Trend

construct Did you know that Americans discard around four-fifths of a ton of trash per person per year? Did you also know that only 28% of that is recycled? With this extensive amount of waste, our environment is instantaneously being filled with dangerous and harmful toxins. Reducing and reusing has become a favored response as means to improve our carbon footprint. Creating dye from decaying balls of cabbage, seeing the value of dust and its potential benefits, and using newspaper to create wood, have been monumental experiments to engage the idea of reuse. By looking at oddments as avenues for creating different items, we are able to diverge from such a wasteful lifestyle.

Trend

meticulous With recent hype of organic food and materials, beliefs around ethical production have come to the forefront for many companies. Local production and ethical trade are now just as important as the final product. With a greater concern on the product creating a statement through the process it undergoes, improved working conditions, reduced outsourcing, and giving back to the environment as well as the humans that inhabit it has escalated as a significant aspect in a brand.

Trend

purity is a factory model concept which celebrates the process and people behind garment creation. It embraces ethical sourcing and production practices while fostering a stronger connection to the clothing we wear and the community who makes them. By appreciating a meticulous production process, this womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fall/winter 2016 lounge wear collection aims to give back to the environment and the people that reside in it.

Problem Statement

Designers are collectively adopting the use of eco friendly, sustainable fabrics in hopes to offset the wasteful habits of the textile industry. Recycled plastic is spun into threads to create garments and food remnants are being used to dye the fabric. This movement towards responsible design is driving innovation through unique uses of discarded materials.

Justification

Alabama Chanin home grown organic fibers local production create an experience: cafe, factory visits clearly tell a story of their workers

Eileen Fisher made in the USA (20%) organic material certified dying: no harsh chemicals fair trade environmentally responsible Landscape Analysis

Delikate Rayne cruelty free vegan material crafted in the US clean and safe working conditions

Leviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jeans made of recycled materials: Waste Less Denim Collection

Landscape Analysis

Meet Abigail a daughter, mother, and a fiance twenty-eight years old a perfectionist an analyzer a collector resides in a two bedroom apartment in Chelsea, New York shops at whole foods degree in microbiology from Penn state chef at Nobu has every spice known to man in her pantry loves to travel for food inspiration favorite dish: stuffed grape leaves favorite color: currently blue, but it changes frequently hobby: gardening

Persona

Between cooking for a restaurant full of people to taking care of her three year old daughter, Abigail leads a very busy lifestyle. She values her quiet time out of her work uniform and into a comfy knitted sweater. These staple pieces are easy to throw off and on when needed while providing luxury and a beautiful outer aesthetic to her look. Persona

Serendipity :luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for

Concept

Sometimes what were looking for is what we already have access too. Instead of discarding, reuse and make into something new. Serendipity inspires the design process through spontaneity and chance to create something beautiful. It aims to promote the value of nature, infused with reclaimed items in order to minimize damage to the environment. These one of a kind pieces will be naturally dyed, leaving the color it produces up to an incidental process. Our goal is to reinstate those bad habits we have so effortlessly adopted.

Concept

This collection of knits will be sourced from a local farm in Defiance, OH. Winding Creek Alpacas & Llamas is a fiber farm that raises llamas, alpacas, shetland sheep, and angora rabbits order to produce fibers for sale. In collaboration with this farm, Evolution will provide consumers with knitting, spinning, weaving, and fiber dying classes, in hopes to encourage young adults to learn the basic skills of organic fabric making.

materials

Winding Creek sheers their animals annually, which in turn is made into fibers for Purity to sell. We harvest their wool every six months to create new garments. They also sell a variety of vegetables such a corn, tomatoes, and purple cabbage, which we utilized every season to create our dyes.

roving yarn

Organic knits will be sourced from The Bamboo Shop. We work collaboratively with them to create the most sustainable as well as comfortable lounge wear pieces.

organic cotton jersey knits materials

When creating my color palette, the dyes were left to sit for 4 hours then the yarn and paper would dry overnight. The end result was very interesting as the dye took differently to the roving yarn than it did to the paper.

color palette

paprika

Turmeric

wine

cabbage

color palette

merchandise

paprika + chili powder Paprika was used because I hoped for a similar effect as the turmeric. At first, the paprika wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t changing color to much, so I added more along with a touch of chili powder. The spontaneity of this decision produced a brownish-red color on the yarn and a greenish yellow on watercolor paper.

small, medium, large, $126

small, medium, large, $188

paprika

red wine Wine presented itself to be the most drastic in changing color from fiber to paper. The roving yarn turned a pinkish color, while the dye on paper was purple.

small, medium, large, $245

small, medium, large, $126

small, medium, large, $115

purple cabbage The cabbage was one of the first ingredients I chose to create this dye. It had such a rich purple color that I was drawn to it and the possible color it could make. To my surprise, it went through various stages of changing color, from purple to blue to green, as I added baking soda. This unexpected color ended up creating beautifully, unexpected colored yarn.

small, medium, large, $126

small, medium, large, $115

small, medium, large, $236

turmeric Turmeric was one of the easier ingredients to choose because I knew it had a very vibrant color that lasted. I have used it in my food and it always leaves the bowl yellow following my meal. Little turmeric was needed to create such a vibrant yellow.

small, medium, large, $126

xs, s, m, l, xl $25

xs, s, m, l, xl $40

Lounge wear undergarments

xs, s, m, l, xl $25

xs, s, m, l, xl $40

Lounge wear undergarments

xs, s, m, l, xL $35

xs, s, m, l, xL $40

Lounge wear undergarments

xs, s, m, l, xl $65

xs, s, m, l, xl $45

Lounge wear undergarments

xs, s, m, l, xl $65

Lounge wear undergarments

xs, s, m, l, xl $75

Lounge wear undergarments

for roving knits Hand wash in cold water lay flat to dry do not iron, bleach or dry wash

purity.

purity .

The hangtags are able to be removed from the string they are attached to and turn into a coaster. The bags you carry your clothes in will be insulated in order to be used as a lunch box.

branding

cabbage boil water and cabbage for 30 minutes drain cabbage soak wool for 1-2 hours (or more for richer color) hang dry

Each tag will explain how we got our dyes for the season in order to prompt the customer to go do some natural dying and experimenting on their own!

turmeric boil water add small amount of turmeric turn off heat once water is at room temp, let yarn soak for 1-2 hours hang dry

wine soak yarn in wine for 5-6 hours hang dry

paprika boil water add paprika and a touch of chili powder once water is at room temp, add yarn and soak for 1-2 hours hang dry

branding

When a customer walks in our store, we wish for them to feel as though they are in their own closet. We strive for a comfortable, relaxed environment as they browse the store. Our knitwear pieces will be showcased as pieces of art. in this rustic looking boutique.

store environment

Thank you for visiting Purity. We value your time spent with us and strive everyday to make your experience, from concept to creation, the best it can be.