A Short Lesson in Modern French Slang

Bon Chic Bon Genre. Observe the first letter in each word and say them as one word. "Baysaybayzhay." Say that more quickly and there it is, "Baisebeige!" Translated, it refers to people who think they're all that. I am exploring the changing values of world culture and expressing through dress the evolving image of the pillar of our modern society.

Friday, July 23, 2010

WELCOME AND PLEASE BE PATIENT ...

I am so glad you've dropped by in the beginning of this venture and I hope you will visit often. Textiles are my life - long passion and I intend to be engaged with designing and crafting them as long as I live. I think my fascination with them is connected with my love for people and I realized as a small child that textiles are the story of people.

Personally, I think the story has saddened in our times for a variety of reasons. The manufacture of textile fiber products is brutal on the environment. Mother earth is ravaged for fossil carbons, coal and petroleum, to make synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester and acrylic. Furthermore, natural fibers such as cotton and wool have negative effects on the environment. Cotton is only about 1% of the world's agricultural yield yet requires 10% of the total harmful agricultural chemicals in use each year. Overgrazing by sheep denudes the landscape causing mudslides.

Textile fiber product manufacture is brutal to people. It is an industry where slavery and child labor are common. In case you were wondering why so few of your clothes are made in America, this is why.

The materials I use for my own designs are made with conscious choices. There are better options evolving everyday. I will educate you about these materials and this will be an on-going feature of my website.

I also will be discussing various aspects of dress and style you may not have before considered. I think it's sad that dress has homogenized into nothingness in our times. I will challenge everyone to consider making changes in their personal style in order to bring the persona into alignment with the psyche. The results will be astounding.

I do not believe the fashion industry can perpetuate much longer in the direction it has been going in the last 50 years so this blog will not be about fashion as we have come to think of it. I want to see fashion return to the prevailing style of the time period and I want to see style once again reflective of the wearer's lifestyle and values. We are living in the age of infinite possibility in a world accessible to all.

My own design point of view expresses this with what I call pan ethnic style. My shapes transcend cultural boundaries. I experiment with surface decoration inspired by traditional crafts fading into the world's memory. Since I believe in the oneness of all people, I want to perpetuate my history by evolving it in to our modern times.

I believe the world of fashion should be a world of inclusion and not exclusion as it now is. For this reason, I will be giving tutorials on how to make some styles yourself. I will also sell some of my original fabrics and fibers. I also do not believe in the imposition of the designer's ego on the consumer so I will connect you to sources of basic ethical clothing for your wardrobe-building pleasure.

I anticipate this site will be completely operational by November! Please visit frequently before then and watch it take shape. My Etsy store will open soon. Everything is happening quickly now and I am happy! Happy to be of service to you.