In need of something to read

 

Thank you Peppermint Magazine and Leeyong, for the interview you did with me, a while back.  You can still get this in stores around the country if you'd like to read more about the story behind the MüCKE label.

 

 Some other great reading is this piece about Isobel Davies.  She is fearless, focused and passionate, where it is most needed.  Grab the latest copy of Dumbo Feather for an inspirational read on Davies and other fascinating people.

time to share

Hey there,

I've decide its time to broaden the discussion.  I'm being thrown a lot of info at the moment.  Articles from one side of the info-net to the other...time to share..

Zandra Rhodes, YIELD exhibition, Wellingon NZ.

YIELD- an exhibition looking at zero waste concepts in the fashion industry.  Holly Mc Quillan the co-curator has some interesting things to say about the show here
I'm enjoying this discussion as zero waste is something I am aware of, do my best to consider and incorporate.  Having said that, with all my other limitations in designing, ie recycled material, working with clothing not flat fabric, maintaining a viable re-manufacturing model within these limitations etc it is not my main focus in the design process.  I focus more on putting the 'waste' from my production processes back into the making and designing system.  You can see the latest restults of this process if you make it along to the Sisters Market tomorrow- 10-4pm @ the Brusnwick town Hall.

Haven't yet read this one, but plan to at some point.  I think this is exploring the challenges involved in making it possible for consumers to make good choices when purchasing clothing.  It's a really complex area, one that I struggle to offer any answers to, but that is being discussed more and more amongst those of us in the industry.  I hope to be able to throw some ideas around in this space, though, at some point.

And one more piece to get your noggins thinking.  The thing that troubles me about this article is its as if the writer is hunting for a single/perfect solution.  I'm not so pleased when she talks about the pre-organic farm "not being organic at all'.  If we didn't support farms in transition, then we'd have business going 'out of business' for 5 years or so it takes become certified as 'organic'.  I agree there are issues with the 'recyclable shoe not being able to necessarily be recycled', but I don't think that is necessarily greenwash.  It is inevitable that certain parts of industry will change before the other parts catch up.  We really are still at the very beginning of a a very big learning curve.  Lets stay positive about it and keep the discussion happening.

Signing off for now but see you soon.

THIS IS HOW WE

Forwards backwards upside-down; by MüCKE

 Senorita, brooch; by Emma Grace

From the FRONT: Forwards backwards upside-down #2; by MüCKE When 2 becomes 1; by MüCKE Study of Drapery in Silver, neckpiece; by Emma Grace

From the FRONT: The New Power Generation, neckpiece; by Emma Grace Study of Drapery in Gold, neckpiece; by Emma Grace 1 + 1= a jumpsuit; by MüCKE

I planned to rattle on to you about how magical the whole experience has been for me.  but no.  instead I thought I'd just offer you some visuals.  leaving a little to your imagination.  and. hoping that you'll get to see the show in the flesh. for your own little eyes. possibly invoking some kind of response. from you. from the outside.  and. if not. that is ok too.  regardless. I can confidently say. 

I am happy.

All jewellery and clothing was made using reclaimed materials.
Wearit is on at Stockroom in Kyneton Victoria until Sunday 3rd April 2011

Only open Wednesdays...(part 2)

A picture of the finished dress you ask for... here is a 'not quite there yet' version.  Bit of work yet to be done to make it sit beautifully on the body, but at this point I am loving the shapes just hanging there on the wall (yes a front view Julian!!...but the back is well, dull at this point in time..and I can't hang it sideways)  The one on the right is using the same concept only it's made from recycled men's shirts.  This one is also fun but needs some jigging...I got it on...just.. but got a little stuck trying to get it off..yes awkward..and a little embarrassing...thankfully no-one else was in the studio at the time, so I got to experience that little moment

alone

Only open Wednesdays

 I booked in to do a workshop a few weeks ago.  It looked interesting.  A lady from the studio recommended it too me, said the guy was AMAZING.  So I did. it.  Here I am 5 days later still blown away by the power of such an experience.  Julian was, well, much more humble than his promotional material had lead me to believe.  In fact I was empowered by his openness and willingness to share his ideas.  This doesn't normally blow me away, in fact people have said the exact same thing to me when sharing the secrets behind my work.  But Julian managed to remind me, that by sharing our ideas, we are pushed to find more.  In being pushed to find more, we challenge ourselves.  And that's a good thing right.  I do preach the idea of not fearing this offering, but at times I'm not sure that I entirely trust in it.  It would be true to say that sometimes I loose faith in this mentality.   But I reckon that Julian has managed to make it stick this time.  Lodged it in a place it hasn't been before.  Somehow I feel like he has allowed me the confidence to trust in that idea.  I really do feel it.  Without this mentality as designers  we can hold ourselves back.  Without this mentality we can loose trust in the world to provide us with a playground for learning and interacting and growing better within ourselves. Without it,  there's no reason to be brave and to move forward.  

As I said, Julian appears not quite so humble on his facebook page (!) but in real life he presents a truly inspiring picture of someone purely driven by the desire to inspire, push boundaries, challenge convention (and ourselves) to dig below the surface.  His philosophy goes well beyond the limitations of a designing a dress.  That's what I love about his work.  You could spend hours perusing his site.  Thankfully it's only open Wednesday's.  Yep, one day a week between 10am-8pm, so I can't.  Just Wednesdays.  That way only those who truly want to know what he's up to will bother setting their alarm not to miss it!  Apologies I'm posting this a bit late, you'll have to wait till next week now.

Incredible.  I love a bit of unexpected inspiration.  It's mind blowing.  Hard to put into words. 

Now here's some visuals to help disperse the intensity of all the text...

Haven't you heard?

I have exciting news.  I've been keeping it a secret but word is getting out, so I've decided to fill you in.

I've been working on a show with the gorgeous and talented Jeweller Emma Grace.  

We are quite excited.

In just over 3 weeks we will be launching Wearit, an exhibition and workshop series, run by Emma and myself.  Have you ever wanted to learn how to make your very own MüCKE shirttop, or perhaps you've got a stash of jewellery that's just been lying dormant in the hope that you will one day invigorate new life into it.   Well, that chance has arrived and with a total of 8 workshop dates and times you'll be sure to find something that suits.  That is of course, unless you're in Sydney.  Tell your Victorian friends and before long you may even find us in Sydney offering you the very same gig.  Spread the word.  Share the 'make it yourself' recycled love.

Thanks Jacqui @ a novel idea for fixing up our flyer and promo material.

We L O V E it!

Sweet somethings

Talking about less stuff...I've got a lot more tshirt scraps than I know what to do with so, how about a lovely pair of these to add to your collection?...and help me make some space in my studio.  Its nice to do good things for people and they wont clutter, but they might just stutter sweet somethings in your ear.

Images 1 & 2:  Recycled t-shirt scrap earings.  Waste-tee donut earings
Image 3:  Recycled t-shirt scrap earings. Waste-tee small hoops
Available here and here

cars, bikes, sustainabilty, yasi & another New Year.

Today.  

It's the first day of the Chinese New Year. 

Year of the Rabbit, hippity hop... 

Some of you might feel like you'd like to start the year again.  

I've had good feelings about this year, 2011.  

Double 1's after all.  

Such balance, visual greatness in numbers like that!

  We've already had 1.1.11 and 11.1.11, and how about 11.11.11 yet to come.

Regardless of all that, I still think I had a false start to this year.

Four days ago a car crashed into me,

on my bike*

I was lucky, 

VERY

lucky

to escape with just bruises,

bumps

and some grazes

minus 1

bike.

So, today is a New Year and I'm back at work

again

but I'm not yet feeling 

100%

I doubt whether all the people in Queensland who've lost their homes, or part thereof, to the floods or Cyclone Yasi, will feel its an ideal time for a New Year either.  The list of natural disasters could go on.

Some perhaps will just be thankful to be alive.

I'm definitely thankful, there is no doubting that,

still, 

I think I'll wait and see

how I feel in March.

 Begin the year with the Tibetans perhaps.

Any takers?

. 

*head to this here festival if you're baffled as to why I might be riding my bike around the city in the first place!

Sustainability at its best

Emma Grace Treasury workshop

The Treasury is a jewellery "fix-it- remake it- recreate it-preserve it- don't throw it out!" workshop being run this weekend by the clever and talented jeweller, Emma Grace.  I've also been invited along this weekend to share some ideas and inspirations on adapting old things into new things.  

In Emma's words, this it what the workshops are all about:

"It is an opportunity to re-connect with the idea of community; to exchange skills, materials, thoughts and inspiration. Participants will sit around the table with plates of food and tattered jewellery piled high and leave at the end of the day with a bundle of ‘new’ jewellery and a bunch of new friends.

The Treasury is about sustainable fashion – moving away from ‘throw-away culture’ and leading back towards the way we used to live; where if something broke, you fixed it, and if it got old, you made it into something new."

Wow.  I love it.  Come join us!

Tix are $20. Sunday 31^st Oct, 2pm-4.30pm. RSVP here to get involved!

a part of the process

On Tuesday, screen printing in the outdoors turned into a quick dash and scurry inside as the droplets started falling.  Oops!  At least its water-based ink I'm using and not a great deal of accuracy is required, its just the texture I'm after for the screen printed t-laces you can see below.

Screen printing on the ironing board!

Drying the printed tees

Cut, stretched and bound.  Just the labeling to go.

I've been seeing a few similar accessories to the t-lace of late...In fact they seem to be everywhere, but largely not created from recycled materials.  Let me assure you that MüCKE is a design label (ie. I design solutions, I don't follow fashion) and that the t-lace was created out of an explorative process, over 4 years ago.  In the coming weeks I'll post some pics and give you more on the background of the MüCKE t-lace.  For now, feel free to browse a selection of them for sale here.

Warm Winter Woolies...

www...welcome MüCKE to the blogging page! At last we have a place to share our inspirations, processes, news and images from the MüCKE studio. We hope you too can participate or perhaps just muse at our journey exploring the realms of sustainable fashion. Join us for the ride!

Is that a jumper or a scarf you say?...No, its a jumperscarf!
The latest release from the MüCKE studio is now available from Craft Victoria and Milly Sleeping. Each piece lovingly handmade from an old jumper, each piece unique in fabrication and detailing. Stay tuned for more pics coming soon!