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on September 29, 2011
Kym Kym
Posted project update #7SML Backpack Prototype!!
A few updates! We are still sitting pretty at 18 since we last spoke, but I have some news!
I was put in contact with a super inspiring Canadian company from Vancouver called de.brand. They are a new company that responsibly disposes of commercial 'waste', recycling and re-selling what they can. I've contacted them about upcycled (once used commecial waste) canvas and decommissioned military textile products. I'm going to be introducing a small line of sustainable baggage (a backpack and a satchel) to the SMALL MEDIUM LARGE product range. I was inspired to teach a course this fall at SPACECRAFT Brooklyn, on making your own backpack. THEN i was like, why not make a few for my brand ;-)
So, here's a sneak peek at my first prototype, made from reclaimed and printed canvas and nylon cording, still need straps. I even got some awesome brass grommets affixed to the front. I now own a rubber mallet ;-)
In other news, a great little bit of news about fashion giant H&M. They are signing on to an accord with GREENPEACE to eliminate all toxic chemicals from their production chain by 2020! Read more here! LARGE STUFF!
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on September 26, 2011
Kym Kym
Posted project update #618!
Post CommentTo my gorgeous backers!
You all look so so good together, here on my kickstarter, arm in arm in support of SMALL MEDIUM LARGE!
I'd like to welcome Sean Chambers & Melissa K., Sara, Jodi, Jeanette, Adam, Melarkatron and Sonia to the group!! 18 and counting...
I have to say, that I am truly humbled by those of you who have taken the time to muster up the time and strength to actuallly dig out your credit card from the bottom of your purse or pocket or drawer and weave your way through this maze of a website and fund my project!
Some of you have also sent inspiring emails to me, filled with ideas and reasons why this project means so much to you as a supporter of sustainability in your daily lives. I encourage you to continue to share these ideas and actions in any way you can, even if its something as simple as changing to a recycled brand of toilet paper! Smalls acts have large effects!
It's truly incredible.
Here's a sneak peek at a little video of me working on a sample pattern for a workwear jumpsuit at my home-studio in Brooklyn. I mean, who doesnt need a jumpsuit? I look a bit perturbed, as I am constantly trying to find ways to use less material and create less wasted material....it's a process... kymkym.tumblr.com (video might still be loading....)
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on September 12, 2011
Kym Kym
Posted project update #5The Thinker and The Maker.
Post CommentThis post is dedicated to Women in fashion who totally inspire me.
The Thinker: Natalia Allen, founder of www.designfuturist.com
Natalia Allen is a force of nature. She's a graduate of Parsons The New School for Design, where she was named Designer of the Year (an honour she shares with Marc Jacobs, not a big deal...) Instead of starting yet another American mega-brand, Natalia fused her concern for the environement, the market and the craft by creating Design Futurist, a consultancy firm that works with businesses to increase their market share AND up their sales by choosing a sustainable business model. DOPE.
Here, Natalia speaks on eco-fashion and design, championing sustainable fibers, textiles, fabrication methods, and garment care. Highlighting eco-friendly technologies old and new, she addresses the entire life cycle of clothing, from the production of raw materials to the garments’ ultimate fate.
The Maker: Eviana Hartman, Designer @ www.bodkin.us
This label serious rocks my world. Here's a little spot featuring Eviana Hartman, owner and creator of Bodkin, a Brooklyn-based clothing line with sustainability at its heart.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCWj7enwIDk
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on September 8, 2011
Kym Kym
Posted project update #4SOUNDS SUITS!
Post CommentSo this post is totally random.........
I came across this artist who creates these crazy colourful 'Soundsuits' based on his body shape and size. Using natural and synthetic fibres, he makes these freakish costumes that look like the animals from Where the Wild Things Are!! This is a clip from a short film he created for an upcoming exhibit in New York at Mary Boone Gallery.
just check it out......AND his name is NICK CAVE. WHAT?!?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxp8LghDUoM&feature=player_embedded
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on September 5, 2011
Kym Kym
Posted project update #3In the spirit of Labour Day, and a Celebration of all things MADE WELL.
Post CommentI was ruminating today about the essential reasons why I want to create SMALL MEDIUM LARGE when it occured to me that I hadn't told you the meaning of my brand name. What's in a name? Everything.
Last summer I had an idea while talking to friend. That idea was to create a sustainable collection of garments that is standardized by size in mens and womens wear. So a consumer would always know that in our brand, they were say, a medium. Always. Because of the time taken in the design process to measure and create for that size range thus making your shopping experience easy. Simple.
The more conceptual idea behind SMALL MEDIUM LARGE is the ability to collectively create change in the world through small acts that extralpolate to larger issues. My SMALL act, as a lover of fashion and design, is the creation of this ecologically minded brand, where my MEDIUM is the clothing and the message about how our choices as consumers can actually change the world. That being the LARGE. The LARGE impact of informed and conscious consumers actively creating positive change in the world by choosing to support brands, businesses and activities that have innovative ideas about profit, conventional methods of gain and the environment.
All this rumination spawned a 3 hour youTUBE binge on Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, a revolutionary sportwear brand based in California. This brand has been crafting sustainable wear since 1972. Beyond that, Yvon is also the visionary founder of 1% for the Planet, a donation based foundation that encourages businesses to donate 1% of their annual profits to environmental causes (a project I hope to get involved with when I get this project off the ground!) It is my pleasure to share some of the clips I watched tonight, about the importance of quality and relevance of ecologically minded business practices. When WALMART approached Yvon and Patagonia to talk about sustainability, his simple answer was, "How far do you want to take this?" Industry can change the world."What is Quality for our time?" from Patagonia
http://video.patagonia.com/video/What-is-Quality-for-Our-Time-Re
Patagonia's Underwear Debacle: To Package or Not to Package??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvnLUk9IfXA
Yvon on Walmart........with a random spotting of Tom Brokaw.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX0vMd9uNQY&feature=relmfu
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on September 3, 2011
Kym Kym
Posted project update #2Grow Your Own Clothes??!! WHAT!
Post CommentHello my loving and gorgeous backers!
I'd like to start by welcoming Martina Joller to the group! What a wonderful woman, who I also share my birthday with! Thank-you so much for your support and I hope that these updates will inform and inspire you to spread the word so we can make this project a reality!
I came across this AWESOME and quick TED Talk about growing cellulose fibres in Kombucha, a fermented tea (!) and turning it into CLOTHING! This is SO crazy, but awesome.
I have some kombucha in my fridge, I had never really thought of it is as a jacket!
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/suzanne_lee_grow_your_own_clothes.html
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on August 31, 2011
Kym Kym
Posted project update #1TedTalk - The Business Logic of Sustainability
Post CommentHello my fearless SMALL MEDIUM LARGE backers!
Welcome to the first of many blog posts to keep you informed about where we are at! The first week has been a wonderful introduction to this crazy place called Kickstarter!
I am so delighted and humbled by your amazing contributions and I can't wait to see this project come to fruition in the coming year and lucky YOU will be along for the ride!
I've also decided to use these blog posts as a platform for sharing ideas about sustainability and ecology. These are some of the most important parts of why I am creating this label; folding my interests in fashion with my concern for the future of our little blue dot called Earth. So, here is a link to an interesting TED TALK from 2009 by the late Ray Anderson, a sustainability pioneer, who shifted his entire business in carpet manufacturing from wasteful to sustainable!
I like to put TED TALKs on while I am making breakfast or cleaning my room ;-)
Enjoy!! http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ray_anderson_on_the_business_logic_of_sustainability.htmlhttp://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ray_anderson_on_the_business_logic_of_sustainability.html
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on August 22, 2011
Kym Kym launched a project
SmallMediumLarge | 7 Piece Collection | 7 Part Short Film by Kym Kym
SmallMediumLarge is a 7 piece collection designed by KymKym and 7 part film created by Mark Demolar.
Funding Unsuccessful (10/21/2011)
Kym Kym
Brooklyn, NY
Kym Chambers is a fashion designer and artist from Toronto. She studied fashion design, production and pattern-making in New York's garment district. Her work has been featured at Alternative Fashion Week (Toronto) and the 2011 Cannes Film Festival (France). She currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. KymKym is the nickname given to her by her mother.
Love! Keep goin' girl! xo melarkatron
MORE MORE MORE!!!