Did you know that women account for 85 percent of all consumer products? In TrendsActive’s opinion, women aren’t a niche – they are the primary change-makers. The world is more feminine than ever, but most world leaders in business and politics are still male. Nevertheless research shows that women are the drivers behind sustainability. Women take care for themselves, their family, their friends and the world.

In the beginning of this year I joined the TrendsActive team for a while to do some very interesting research about social cultural trends focusing on women trends. In the book “In Your Purse: Archaeology of the American Handbag” I could read that American women carry around 66 items in their bag to help them through the day. Hmm that’s a lot right..? An interesting trigger to count the stuff in my own bag.

Okay, this is a really selfconfronting thing to do. Trying my very best to live an eco-conscious life and seeing my (over)consuming behavior at the same time. Do I really need four different type of lipglosses?  In total I count 36 items,  but after I checked the stuff, cards and coins in my loaded *) blue purse, I counted 51 things. Let’s have a closer look.

My top 3 musthaves are:

1. Solid perfume FIG bought at Doctor Feelgood, a masage company in Amsterdam where you can find all sorts of Feelgoods! Toss this adorable perfume in your bag to refresh your scent on the go! This eco-friendly and socially responsible perfume is made with organic soy and coconut wax containing natural and essential oils. I am hooked to this sweet fig fragrance which makes me feel fresh fruity all day.

2. This mobile phone cover is handmade by OMA (Oma is Dutch for Grandmother) bought at Charlie + Mary.

3. These cool wooden sunglasses! New in town and findably at Charlie + Mary.

Things back in bag for now. If women are IN CHARGE like TrendsActive is saying, than fashionista’s behind Charlie+Mary store, Charlotte van Waes + Marieke Vinck and founder of Doctor Feelgood, Esther van der Plas, are definitally THE trendsetters in doing conscious business!  While Charlotte and I are enjoying another coffee in the sun, I suggest you to have a closer look in your own bag. In case you are a stuff 66+ type of bag person (quite heavy stuff right?) you might need a Feelgood massage soon! More bags click this!

///GUEST BLOG FOR CHARLIE & MARY

Still thinking that it is hard to look absolutely stylish and responsible in the same time? Well, surprise it’s not! In ‘What to wear today?’ I will show you my favo Hiphonest outfits, styled together at Charlie + Mary, an ecofashion store based in Amsterdam.

This morning, the first thing I heard was rain, rain, rain. ‘Hello it’s summer’, I thought…’Now I definitely should be prepared for some upcoming RAINY festivals.’ The good news is that later this day I found myself the ultimate festival look.

Remember those good old 90ies were the ladies combined their grey bodystocking with a tight Levis 501? Well I do, and I totally fell in love with this nude bodystocking called Sara.  The perfect underwear for a festival, especially when you wear a dress and need to go to the toilet. This stocking is made by the label Underprotection and is made of bamboo, which makes it very soft and sustainable.

On top of the stocking we need a bright color. This stunning red top is made of organic cotton and bamboo by designer Camilla Norrback. In case you overeat, don’t worry, the pleats and loose fit will hide a little belly. And for the size 38 lucky basterds amongst us, if the sun arrives, why don’t you just walk around in only this sexy stocking?

What about your legs this summer? In the city you see a lot of girls wearing those small skirts or shorts, showing their naked legs in tough boots.  I think this perfectly matches the festival look.  So let’s go for the chino style shorts, made of organic cotton, also by the fabulous designer Camilla Norrback. By stepping into these pretty Kiboots you don’t have to be afraid for blue toes anymore. Just find yourself the best spot before the stage. These Kiboots are fairly made in Marocco out of organically tanned leather and vintage Kilim carpets. All boots are unique and tell their own great history.

This bag by label Halona will easily carry your stuff like booze, water bottles and a picnic blanket. The applications are made of old couches, embroidery works and other recycled materials. And last but not least. The musthave item for the ultimate festival look, the shinny parka jacket by Studio Jux. It is made of a combination of organic cotton, hemp and recycled polyester. And I guess the designers are huge festival lovers too. They nearly thought about everything! Rain proof, handy bags and a detachable hood. I say let’s go and let’s have some fun!

///DESIGN

Wow…I felt like entering a fairy tale when I visited the Ijm colour pop-up store, perfectly matching colours on walls and ceiling and these enchanting String Gardens. Imagine these beauties by nature in your house, balcony, and bedroom…

Read the rest of this entry »

///UPCOMING EVENT

In the mood for a vintage fashion swap party, green beauty products and hiphonest fashion? Hiphonest teams up with ECOFABS again! Visit the ECOFABS FASHION PLEIN, during Amsterdam Duurzaam (3 July 12.00/18.00 hrs) read MORE.

///Written for INDEMODE.nl

Plantaardige kleurstoffen, green gadgets, cradle-to-cradle en technologie? Lees meer over de trends van 2011 op de website van Indemode.nl.

///EVENT

Strawberry Earth presents: Sustainable Fashion, Art & Live Music today in TrouwAmsterdam

After successful events like the Strawberry Earth Film Festival and Strawberry Earth Hotel Crash, Strawberry Earth proudly presents Strawberry Earth Wonderland, an international event combining eco fashion, art and music.

Read the rest of this entry »

///PRESENTATION

Would you like to know all about the latest kool HIPHONEST gossips, labels, events and stuff? Visit the presentation by Annouk Post at October 3 from 14.00/14.45 during the Textielweekend in Tilburg (location: auditorium Audax Textielmuseum Tilburg).

Check out the programme here

///EXPO INSIDE DESIGN 2010

Amsterdam based bag designer Kim van Beek presented Buddhi bags.

1. What is your story behind your product? To design for a developing country. Nepal. I developed a new design for an old craft: felting. A craft which they master well in Nepal.

Read the rest of this entry »

///VISUAL REPORT

Wondering where you can find these alluring designer products? Check out former posts and links participating designers/stores at the right. (credits in this report will follow asap).

Enter room 210

Read the rest of this entry »

//IN THE BEDROOM

///IN THE BEDROOM 2

///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Ahrend presents table and chairs.

///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Utrecht based eco-friendly store Smile Superstore is presenting some innovative products: Ecogen products designed by Hans Maier-Aichen, Paraplu Brelli and fair trade condoms.

Interview with Hans Maier-Aichen, the designer of ECOGEN.

Hans Maier-Aichen is a Stuttgart (Germany) based Designer, Curator and Professor for Product Design .

1. What is your story behind your product? Try to avoid any plastic waste for the future and designing some archetypic/longterm, super normal products for everyday life with a 100% compostable material.

2. What are your values of luxury? To do LESS but BETTER products, reading LESS BUT BETTER books, try to stay independent from most of global and Read the rest of this entry »

///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Entrepreneurs Marieke and Charlotte are living in Amsterdam and are the owners of Charlie+Mary a fair concept.

During INSIDE DESIGN Marieke & Charlotte present the labels:

Achemist, Beyond skin, Camilla Norrback, Charlie + Mary, Knowledge, Own me drawings, My Paper Bag, Nkuku,Satara, Skatebord bangles, Studio JUX, Veja,TOMS, Chatoui,

1. What is your story behind your product? All items in our store are hip, fair + eco friendly. All our brands have  a story to tell. We communicate the brand’s philosophy, production methods and innovation in the field of sustainability through our concept.

2. What are your values of luxury? Good quality, comfort and feeling good by Read the rest of this entry »

///IN THE BEDROOM

///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Blanket dyed with Rubia red.

///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Rob van den Dool & Stephan Zeijlemaker, two Amsterdam based entrepreneurs and owners of Yumeko are presenting sleeping products:

1. What is your story behind your product? We found out that the products people sleep on and under in bed are actually rather harmful for both environment and society; because of the way they are produced and the materials that are used. We also found out that in the market there are no brands that offer organic sleeping products that are high quality, beautiful and affordable. That is why we started Yumeko. A new brand in ecolicious bedding.

We made a quest around the world for the best organic and fairtrade materials and put together a beautiful collection of sleeping products: duvets, pillows and bedlinnen of the highest quality.

2. What are your values of luxury? Our values of luxury are high quality, beauty, tranquillity, indulgence, softness, exclusivity, honesty

3. Where do you find inspiration? We find inspiration beautiful things around us that make us happy because of the way they look and feel. We love brands that are honest and optimistic; brands that make us feel better; brands and products that create surprises Read the rest of this entry »

///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Join the Pipe is a 2 year old Dutch label.

1. What is your story behind your product? Jointhepipe.org is an internationally oriented foundation, making an honest effort to solve the water problem in the world. The main goal of jointhepipe is to bring water to all of those without water and to reduce the usage of disposable plastic water bottles. As part of this movement, Jointhepipe has designed a sustainable use water bottle, modeled off the shape of different segments of a water pipeline, intended to encourage and simplify the use of tap water drinking. JTP is actively working with proposals and plans to install specially designed JTP watertaps in public areas like parks and bus stops, so that with a JTP bottle you can easily fill up with water while you are out and about.

By drinking tap water from Jointhepipe.org water bottles or carafes, users can help us realize our dream: building the longest water pipeline in the world and providing everyone with clean drinking water. The donations collected through the sale of the jointhepipe.org water bottles and carafes will be used to support water projects such as the construction of water pipelines and water wells in developing countries. Read the rest of this entry »

///EXPO SUSTAINBLE LUXURY

Singgih Susilo presents Wooden Radio.

///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Cecilia Sörensen is a fashion designer living in Barcalona. She is keen on gardening and presents Re-do Shirt 108.

1. What is your story behind your product? I started to design shirts for women from recycled classic white men’s shirts in 1999 and have one in the collection ever since. All the shirt models that we do continue from one collection to another.

2. What are your values of luxury? Part of my collection is made from recycled material. For example old men’s white cotton shirts that are transformed into women’s by pleating, gatherings and appliqués, and Read the rest of this entry »

///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Gitte Nygaard is an Amsterdam based maker of jewellery and other body/human related stuff. Gitte presents: Cherryup/Starking Hardy Giant.

1. What is your story behind your product? The installation Cherryup is made from bamboo and jewellery wax and it shows the stage before the pieces are being processed (cast) – they are potential jewellery, but offers a pause between actual production and consumption.

The jewellery installation Cherryup offers questions and reflections to the sustainable and social potential in jewellery. Like the cherry blossoms, most of these creations will return back to their original form, melted wax, that can be used again in a new phase. I have used the Cradle to Cradle example of the cherry tree, which at first glance may not seem effective, but decorative and wasteful. Only a single fruit has to meet the ground in order to reproduce, while thousands of flowers and fruits that might seem like waste –is actually food for a whole natural system.

2. What are your values of luxury? The slow process of making is visible as embedded time, Read the rest of this entry »

///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Mary Huang is an interaction designer, fashion futurist and living in Copenhagen-NYC-San Diego. Togerher with and Jennifer Kay they present: Dandelion

1. What is your story behind your product? Inspired by the theme of climate change, Dandelion explores ideas of personal, mobile power generation and kinetics. What if we failed to prevent a climate catastrophe? What if, like castaways after a storm, we had to invent energy sourcing devices from the debris at hand?
Made from 99% salvaged materials, Dandelion is a wearable that captures energy from wind and human movement. It is a structure of miniature windmills that embraces the wearer. When walking or standing outside on a windy day, the windmills turn. Small individual power generating circuits transfer the rotational energy into usable voltage. It is fashion that creates an interface between nature, technology, and people.

2. What are your values of luxury? In luxury I value distinctive, but timeless design that balances a beautiful use of materials and a novel approach Read the rest of this entry »

///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Hella Hernberg is a designer/architect living in Helsinki (Finland) and presents Bol lamp.

1. What is your story behind your product? The idea of Bol was started as an experiment with old household textiles and laces. I was inspired to create new value for the material that someone has left behind; old curtains, embroidered pillowcases, table cloths and so on. Although the first Bol was developed a few years ago, the process of reusing, or upcycling, textiles, is something I have enjoyed doing since childhood, so it has been rewarding to combine this kind of self-taught ways of doing into my work. What I like about old materials, is that they already have stories that enrich the new design and make unique objects.

2. What are your values of luxury? Luxury means quality. A lot of things I value the most, are something that need time and attention, not necessarily money, to obtain. For example, fresh, self grown (or self made) food, handmade furniture or clothing, Read the rest of this entry »

///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Designers David Luxembourg & Daniela Pais based in Eindhoven are presenting: F.O.F.F., La. Ga. Bag, Xisto games and Elementum.

1. What is your story behind your product?

F.O.F.F.

– F.O.F.F. in its current incarnation is a spin off from my 2006 masters project ‘the volution’, to which it also provided the initial design inspiration. Right now its more of a social project then a product – as owning / adopting a F.O.F.F. is the starting point for creating you own micro community. Wanting to give them the widest range of expression I chose to keep them faceless – giving a chance & freedom for their owners to determine their identity and not forcing any association which might be pre planed by companies out for brainwash and money.

La. Ga. Bag -

The La.Ga Bag was the first product designed together by Daniela Pais and Jorge Moita under the name Krv Kurva. It started as a white canvas and soon became dressed with artworks from different designers, artists, friends and lovers. Love is science is a special edition made for the Portuguese Museum of Knowledge and science. The idea of the artwork started from the concept of the designer Marisa Vinha about what happens when we fall in love. David Luxembourg developed the final artwork that carries this knowledge. Awarded with the National Prize for Design – Sena da Silva Trophy, of the Centro Português de Design, in the category of Product Design, in 2002. Made in Portugal, 100% Tyvek Graphics Quality, water, radioactive and biochemical resistant. It weighs 40g and loads up to 55Kg. Machine wash at 30ºC. HDPE 2 Recyclable.

Xisto games –

the story for the games starts in Portugal, in the region known as Aldeias do Xisto (known for its traditionally stone built houses) the local municipalities there run a project, a network of shops called ‘loja do xisto’ that promotes local & sustainable production, craftsmanship tourism and design. In one of them I saw a ‘made in china’ domino set with the logo of these shop and was moved both to protest against it and to offer an alternative by designing games  that will match the agenda and intentions of the project in it originality.

Elementum - ELEMENTUM started as a research called Clothing Species and developed during my master thesis at the Man& Humanity department of Design Academy Eindhoven between 2005-2007. This research was prompt by the waste created with fashion and clothing production and consumption. I tried to find other ways of producing and consuming. The result is a collection of 6 different pieces in a tubular dimension, where minimum cuts provide maximum use. The story is about creating less waste and is also about giving the opportunity to use and enjoy our clothes much more.

2. What are your values of luxury? Read the rest of this entry »

///PROGRAMME ROOM 210 INSIDE DESIGN

Friday 24:

10.00/11.00 Charlie+Marie

11.00/12.00 Ecofabs

12.00/14.00 Flowerbar (taste Dutch flowers) by Food & Jazz dj’s.

13.00/14.00 Anna Korshun, Nina Sajet, Jeanine Wolthuis INDISHA

15.00/16.00 Marina Toeters & Jesse Asjes

17.00/18.00 Frank van Beuningen (YOI) & Jeroen Loots (st. DOEN)

Saturday 25:

11.00/12.00 Sjoerd Vroonland, Yumeko (Stephan Zeijlemaker)

12.30/14.30 Flowerbar (taste Dutch flowers) by Food & Jazz dj’s.

14.00/16.00 Fioen Balgooi & Miranda Hoogervorst

15.00 Jeanine Wolthuis INDISHA

Sunday 26

12.30/14.30 Flowerbar (taste Dutch flowers) by Food & Jazz dj’s.

14.00/15.00 David Luxembourg

17.00/18.00 Audrey Weeren