connecticut

community studio · climate couture · 2c

2019

community studio

I was selected as one of three designers to create an ecological fashion capsule collection for the bioFASHIONtech summit. The incubator/studio for the summit was located in a local mall in Stamford, Connecticut where designers were able to engage the general public in sustainable fashion through giving them access to the creation of fashion and through our free public workshops. As the lead designer of Community Studio, which is a studio focused on upcycling and community-based production, I worked wth local residents to create upcycled garments to be debuted at the summit with the support of fellow designers Anh Le and Huashuang Hu.

Community Studio also taught free workshops such as sewing, knitting, and natural dye to local residents. This initiative introduced practical ways for people to participate in sustainable fashion not as consumers but as makers. Through understanding the fashion-making process, participants started reflecting on the environmental and human costs of fashion.

director and photographer · james choo

climate couture · 2c

After the summit, I continued working with the summit team to start an ecological fashion venture. We began investigating the regenerative potentials of wool in northeastern America as well as a future of fashion that is decarbonizing and ecological.

Climate Couture is a continuation of the Community Studio approach, inviting people into the fashion-creation process by teaching them to make a garment out of upcycled and remnant materials with support from designers.

2c is a childrenswear line made with remnant materials for the climate-conscious generation.