On May 21, join us for a screening and film talk on Out of Fashion, a documentary exploring how to reduce environmental impact through fashion design, with Reet Aus and Anthony Luciano!
Designer and activist Reet Aus first began studying the environmental impact of fashion production during her doctoral thesis. These studies took her to the epicenter of the fashion industry — Bangladesh — and later led her to create the UPMADE® certification system, which enables designers to reduce production waste in factories in Bangladesh as well as Turkey, Poland, Kenya and Estonia. Out of Fashion looks at the most complicated type of waste in Western society — post-consumer textiles — through a journey that led Aus and her co-filmmaker Jaak Kilmi to Kenya, a graveyard of used clothes. Following the screening, Aus and Luciano will discuss the film and the questions it raises. How do you create a produce that does not become trash after a few uses? And what is the designer’s power and role in this chain?
Out of Fashion will be taking place as part of Reet Aus’ UPMADE IN EE exhibition during the NYCxDESIGN Festival. See a full list of events, happening May 13 through May 22 across New York, here.
Advance registration is recommended; sign up at the link above.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Reet Aus, PhD is a fashion designer, researcher, entrepreneur and environmental activist. She founded REET AUS COLLECTION® and developed the UPMADE® certification. She has worked in the field of sustainability for over 20 years all over the world. She is a senior researcher at the Estonian Academy of Arts in the Sustainable Design and Material Lab – DiMa.
As a first-generation New Yorker, a second-generation Italian, and the last of six children, Anthony Luciano is an evolution of artistry and old-world traditions. Both his mother and grandmother were seamstresses, and his father a carpenter. Working and creating with his hands is family tradition, and as Luciano himself says, “Italians in general are known for their craftsmanship; it’s in my blood.” Following his passion, Luciano attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and graduated with a degree in Fashion Design. After a few years in fashion in New York’s Garment District, he changed directions, accepting a position at a boutique accessory company. It was there he found his calling, quickly rising to principal designer.