Loomstate !Act Natural!

2012-02-07T15:58:00.000-05:00

Loomstate To Parsons Students: Design A Zero-Waste Garment, And We’ll Make It

MAKING IT

THE CLOTHING BRAND SCHOOLS BUDDING DESIGNERS ON THE ECO BENEFITS OF WASTE-FREE FASHION.

Companies frequently sponsor student competitions at design schools, but they rarely commit to producing the winning submission--and for good reason. For starters, imaginative students might turn in compelling work that is costly or tricky to manufacture, presenting a huge investment for the company that it might not recoup when the product hits the market. But Rogan Gregory and Scott Mackinley Hahn, the owners of the organic fashion brand Loomstate, decided to take the gamble, challenging a class at Parsons the New School for Design to create garments with zero waste.

The students’ work was whittled down to five finalists, with the winner--a loose-fitting anorak with dolman sleeves by Andria Crescioni--chosen at a Parsons exhibition on zero waste. Along the way, Gregory and Hahn coached the class, led by Timo Rissanen, on methods of construction and Loomstate’s style. The key was to maximize a single piece of cloth, using the scraps for pockets and cuffs and external details; Crescioni also sourced leather for detail work from factories in New York’s Garment District. “The width of the final fabric is one of the most important factors for proper execution,” the designer tells Co.Design. “It might sound really limiting, but for me, this process made the end result more unexpected and interesting.”

Loomstate ultimately chose a gray wool with a narrower width than the original design called for, forcing Crescioni to rethink the pattern--and the sizing. "I approached this by creating an easy-to-wear, oversized piece that is being sold as 'one size fits most,'" Crescioni writes. “There are definitely ways to overcome that, though, in order to create zero-waste garments that are friendly to every size and shape.” The anorak is available in limited quantities for $345.

Auroras

2012-02-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

The largest solar flare in the past seven years happened 2 days ago. Now, the rays are beginning to reach Earth. The increased radiation should not pose a threat to the land-bound, but a change we can experience will be the increase in auroras over the next few days! Auroras over Lake Superior, via National Geographic.

TColla Surf Photography

2012-01-30T10:00:00.001-05:00

wonderful photos that brighten up our day, courtesy of tcolla [tee koh-luh]

More at TColla.com. Via NYC Urchin.

Nesting in Big Sur

2012-01-25T13:18:00.001-05:00

Driving along Rt. 1 through Big Sur, you might notice a giant nest perched ever-so-delicately on the rock walls and steeply rolling hills. The structure looks so organic and haphazardly placed that it could just lift off its roost and float along with the coastal breeze.

If you do scale the mountain, you'll find a whole community of these little structures. Treebone Resort in Big Sur offers up yurts, tents spots, and a human nest (!) for guests passing through. While each structure's artistically and skillfully crafted, the view of the ocean is even more awe-inspiring and breathtaking. Suggested items to pack: flashlight, warm PJs, swimsuit, a surfboard, and a sense of adventure.

Bones

2012-01-23T14:11:00.000-05:00

Artist Francois Robert is known for his witty and perspective-changing photographs. One of his more recent works is Stop the Violence, a series of photographs where the subject are collections of human skeletons (from those science class models, not real) arranged to appear like weapons, religious symbols, and signs of war. The striking photographs no doubt bring to mind current world affairs.

See more here.

All images taken from FrancoisRobertPhotography.com.

Ghanaian Recycled Art

2012-01-23T12:58:00.001-05:00

Peak Project, 1999. Tin milk cans and wire.

Crumbling Wall, 2000. Old cassava graters.

Skin of Earth, 2006. Aluminum bottle tops.

Wastepaper Bag, 2003. Discarded printing plates.

El Anatsui, inspired by the "huge piles of detritus from consumption" that pile up in the developing parts of western Africa that lack proper recycling programs, has been fastening, twisting and turning found objects into large-scale art pieces. Each piece is carefully comprised of thousands of bits of hand-collected trash. The sheer input of time on these projects is a clear reflection of his concern for the environment and healthy living in western Africa.

See the details in his large-scale pieces here.

Abadabad

2012-01-13T17:06:00.001-05:00

The tags for Abadabad's songs - "chillwave bedroom-pop california indie pabst Brooklyn" pretty much sum up their sound. They're songs to daydream to until it's warm outside. And when it's warm outside, you'll probably still be playing them.

Check out their site, fb and blog. They're playing a sold-out show tonight Glasslands in Brooklyn tonight.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://abadabad.bandcamp.com/album/park-slope-im-sorry"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Park Slope (I'm Sorry) by ABADABAD&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://abadabad.bandcamp.com/track/indiana"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Indiana by ABADABAD&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://abadabad.bandcamp.com/album/ashley"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Ashley by ABADABAD&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

All images and songs taken from Abadabad's site.

2012-01-09T12:41:00.000-05:00

An installation on view by Hisham drawn by hand.

Subliminal Sunlight, the new group show that will reenergize you with bursts of bright colors and painstakingly precise technique. Numberthirtyfive gallery is showcasing works from seasoned NYC artists our friend and collaborator Hisham Akira Bharoocha, Morgan Blair, Maya Hayuk, Mark Warren Jacques, and Chris Mendoza.

Now through February 12th at 141Attorney Street in the LES.

Feast your eyes & get one of those fun pillows by the column for a dollar each!

A collage by Hisham on view.

2012-01-04T11:31:00.000-05:00

Like our friend Barbara DeVries, the designer behind Plastic is Forever, Richard Lang and Judith Selby Lang collect beach plastic from their beloved beaches and repurpose them. Lang's whimsical large-scale sculptures reveal the sad state of our oceans while giving old plastic new life. Check out some of their works and a short film on their process below.

One Plastic Beach from High Beam Media on Vimeo.

See more at the Lang's website and blog!

2011 In Review

2011-12-30T10:00:00.001-05:00

It was quite a year at Loomstate. There was the beautiful 41Strings event with Nick Zinner's original music for Earth Day, the energizing SRF+CTY collaboration with artists, designers and surfers, our first Zero-Waste garment, trips to Vegas, Paris, LA, Lima among other locales... but most of all, we made a ton of new friends and gained new fans.

As someone once said, "On your deathbed, you're not going to think you needed a bigger house." So we're thankful that you're still reading this, and we hope you'll join us in the new year, where very exciting things are going to happen (no, not that whole end of the world thing).

Here's to a rejuvenating holiday and a fantastic new year!

Green Wrap

2011-12-21T15:43:00.000-05:00

If you came to this post looking for a veggie wrap, let us clarify that this is not about food, though we do make a mean veggie hummus avocado wrap. This is about wrapping paper for all your holiday presents! We're not big on packaging unless it's recycled, so we took this attitude towards wrapping presents. Inspired by a friend's recent birthday pinata and our friends at Confetti Systems, we came up with this easy and fun idea.

All you need are:
- old magazines or catalogs
- tape
- glue (optional)
- scissors
- a fun playlist to get your creative juices going

*Dig up some old magazines or one of the many unsolicited catalogs in your paper recycling pile, and you'll find a lot of colorful holiday spreads. Choose the pages based on the color scheme you want.

*Pull them out from the middle (if there are staples holding them together) so you have larger full sheets to wrap with. Then wrap. The result is usually colorful enough, but if you want the ultra-festive pinata look, move on to the next step...

*Cut remaining sheets into strips. Fold these strips into itself by four or however many that makes it manageable to cut vertically (so you don't have to do the small cuts 50 times per strip).

*Make vertical cuts, unfold the strips and glue/tape onto the wrapped present (it's better to wrap it first before applying the strips). If using tape, conserve and use small pieces to secure just the middles of each side - no need to go all around. Make sure you're applying the tape or glue to the half of the strip that doesn't have vertical cuts.

*Wrap and tape/glue the strips all around until you get to the top, where you can really have some fun with the directions of the strips. You can place them like alternating boxes, or place them all diagonally, in the shape of your gift recipient's first initial, or stand them up.

*Gently brush your finger against the grain of the strip tassels to ruffle them up and give them life, et voila! The most striking and memorable presents your friends and family will ever see. You spent maybe that one hour between work and party, and you got rid of that old magazine pile. High five.

Happy Wrapping!

2011-12-16T13:38:00.000-05:00

A lovely song for the afternoon to a random arrangement of clips of cute animals and frogs. Fan made video for Zoo Kid's "Ocean Bed".

For Green Thumbs' Eyes Only

2011-12-09T12:09:00.000-05:00

These may be the sexiest gardening tools you'll ever see. Inspired by the Guerilla Gardening subculture where small groups meet at night to illegally plant greenery in neglected urban spaces, artist Vanessa Harden invented a series of tools that would allow these undercover green thumbs plant even more discretely.

A camera-looking object can shoot out seed pellets, a briefcase reveals an earth auger, a generic leather purse opens at the bottom to drop flowers and soil. Guerilla gardeners are already actively using the seed pills Harden created. Gardening has never been so exhilarating.

Check out more stealth planting tools here!

2011-11-30T19:06:00.000-05:00

LOOMSTATE'S ZERO WASTE ANORAK

THIS "DO GOOD" JACKET IS THE NEW KID ON THE ECO-FRIENDLY BLOCK

IN THE CURL // VIRGINIA IBARRA // 11/28/11

E-MAIL / SHARE /RSS

By Virginia Ibarra

Loomstate zero waste anorak

The holidays are all about giving back to those who have been there for us, but why do we always forget about giving back to our planet? This season, Loomstate is showing Mother Earth a whole lot of lovin’ by presenting its first zero waste anorak, designed by recent Parson’s graduate Andria Crescioni. The 100 percent wool anorak is decked out with rolled up dolman sleeves, adjustable ropes and leather accents made from factory scraps– being eco-friendly never looked so good!

For A Better World

2011-11-30T17:07:00.000-05:00

A year ago, we went to Miami to join in on the annual Art Basel celebration. Besides sun, sand and fun, we were there to support and document artist/designer Barbara DeVries' installation that featured a structure built from discarded plastic bottles collected by local schoolchildren at the inaugural Arts For A Better World exhibit. Now it its second year, Arts For A Better World continues to showcase art that draws attention to the need for responsibility to create a better future. Last year's show blew us away with the tremendous amount of social and political issues addressed. We're sure this year's, which opened today, will definitely be worth seeing.

Check out the Arts For A Better World site and Barbara DeVries.

2011-11-29T17:44:00.003-05:00

The Fashion Informer is obsessed with the zero-waste anorak!

NOVEMBER 29, 2011
Informed Obsession: Zero-Waste Anorak

I've just discovered the perfect anorak. No, seriously. It's fashioned from soft charcoal grey wool, so it looks surprisingly sophisticated. The roomy hood, adjustable cords and pleated pockets keep things sporty. And the cozy-chic fabric neck closure and roll-tab sleeves lend an unexpectedly fashion-forward edge. But the most winning feature of this gorgeous limited edition topper—designed for Loomstate by recent Parsons grad, Andria Crescioni, and made entirely in NYC—is its zero-waste construction, meaning no fabric was wasted in the making of this buy now/wear forever piece. Merry Christmas, Mother Earth!

2011-11-28T12:54:00.001-05:00

Ecouterre gives our Maggie Cardigan a shoutout for their Eco-Chic Vegan Gift Guide! A 100% organic cotton sweater will do the trick... Get it in Worn Black and True Black.

BUNDLE UP

Let freedom rein—freedom of movement, that is. Cut long and loose, Maggie cardigan by Loomstate offers a veritable cocoon of warmth in textured 100 percent organic cotton.

+ Maggie Cardigan $248
+ Loomstate

2011-11-28T12:35:00.000-05:00

Treehugger on the Zero-Waste anorak and what the anorak's designer Andria Crescioni is up to now!

© Loomstate
Timo Rissanen, Rogan Gregory, Simon Collins, Scott Mackinlay Hahn, and Julie Gilhart celebrate Loomstate's zero-waste anorak.

Loomstate has revealed their first zero-waste garment: a limited edition, 100% wool anorak designed by Parsons graduate Andria Crescioni ($345 atLoomstate.org). Born out of Parsons' inaugural course on zero waste fashion taught by Timo Rissanen, assistant professor of Fashion Design and Sustainability, this time last year, the anorak was created under the mentorship of Loomstate founders Scott Mackinlay Hahn and Rogan Gregory.

© Loomstate

Students from Rissanen's course participated in a design competition to create a zero waste garment. The winner would see their design through to development and production by Loomstate and sold alongside their fall 2011 collection. As I wrote back in February, all of the designs were on view at an exhibit, called Zero Waste Denim, at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons The New School for Design.

© Loomstate

Andria Crescioni's dolman sleeve unlined anorak design with a hood, pockets, and adjustable ropes made the final cut. The garment is finished with leather details made from factory scraps and features versatile sleeves that be unrolled to full length.

Simon Collins, dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons, believes the collaboration proves that zero waste fashion can be a success. He had this say, via the press release:

Zero waste fashion is an innovative design process that produces no fabric waste. In effect, patternmaking becomes an integral part of the process, creating a richer, more sustainable design practice. Through this collaboration, we have proven that zero waste can be a viable manufacturing process for designers.

Hahn and Gregory are making an investment in the future of green fashion by mentoring students and working with Rissanen. Students are tomorrow's designers and educating them on responsible sourcing, dyeing, finishing, and energy consumption better equips them to design green from the get go.

© Loomstate

Crescioni, a recent graduate, already with a zero waste garment produced by Loomstate under her belt, is proving that she is one to watch out for on the green fashion scene. She's putting her design skills to good use with her next project: a collaboration with Peruivian non-profit Awamaki Lab.

Andria Crescioni is currently in the Patacancha Valley of Ollantaytambo, Peru on a four month residency program where she is working with impoverished Quencha women weavers and fair trade textiles to create a capsule collection. She follows in the footsteps of designer Nieli Vallin, a student from Paris's Chambre Syndical de la Couture, who developed Awamaki Lab's inaugural collection earlier this year.

Like this post? Follow Emma Grady, a stylist, award-winning fashion writer, and the founder and editor of Past Fashion Future, on Facebook and Twitter.

Caveman

2011-11-22T18:10:00.000-05:00

Brooklyn's Caveman came out on top as a CMJ favorite and now they're debuting their video for "Easy Water" off their new album on NPR's First Listen. NPR describes the five-member band pretty succinctly, so we quote: "Caveman makes shimmery, atmospheric music with woozy guitars and tribal drumbeats, so it's no surprise that the music video for "Easy Water" has a similar feel."

Shimmery is how we want to feel.

2011-11-19T10:30:00.000-05:00

Stylecaster casts its vote for the zero-waste anorak!

Loomstate and Parsons Go Green(er) For Eco-Friendly Fashion

By Corey Kindberg
November 17, 2011 11:00 am

Every once in a while a student -- a fashion student to be exact -- will do something pretty cool. Enter Andria Crescioni, Parson newbie designer-in-the-making and eco-fashion warrior.

Crescioni was challenged by Timo Rissanen, Parsons assistant professor of Fashion Design, and Loomstate (a green fashion brand), to make something spectacular to wear that produced zero waste. The concept was to use ALL of the fabric (as in nothing left over or nothing to throw away). It may not sound too hard, but when you think of all the fabric scraps you snip away when you're sewing, things can get a little dicey.

There's no question Crescioni rose to the challenge -- her limited-edition anorak is now being sold at Rogan downtown and online at Loomstate.org. With only ten in existence, you can bet you better purchase one of these bad boy before they run out.

2011-11-18T17:30:00.001-05:00

Lucky Magazine loves the zero-waste anorak!

loomstate's eco anorak to debut at rogan's nyc boutique tonight

6:00 PM, NOVEMBER 16 2011

BY ELANA FISHMAN

Parsons The New School for Design

Rogan Gregory and Scott Mackinlay Hahn's organic label Loomstate was among the first high-end brands to promote sustainable dressing. Happy to continue challenging the status quo, the company recently turned the concept of the designer collaboration on its head, teaming up with Parsons The New School for Design on a unique eco-educational project.

Through a course developed by Timo Rissanen, the school's assistant professor of Fashion Design and Sustainability, Hahn and Gregory personally guided students through the process of environmentally-friendly design, from sourcing earth-kind fabrics to integrating nontoxic dyes. Under their tutelage, recent Parsons grad Andria Crescioni created a versatile zero-waste anorak, which the Loomstate duo hand-picked to stock at Rogan's Bowery shop. It's the first entirely no-waste garment to be marketed under the Loomstate label, but it's limited-edition—so get thee to loomstate.org (or Rogan's downtown NYC location) ASAP to snag this one-of-a-kind piece of outerwear. Waste not—want, yes.

All about the Anorak

2011-11-17T14:38:00.001-05:00

From left: Timo Rissanen, Rogan Gregory, the anorak, Simon Collins, Scott Mackinlay-Hahn, Julie Gilhart

Last night, Loomstate, eco-conscious friends and trailblazers came together to celebrate the launch of the Zero-Waste Anorak! With the pattern up on the walls of the ROGAN Store and mannequins in the unisex anorak, conversations about the future of sustainable design can be heard all around the room. That is exactly how we wanted the zero-waste anorak launch to be - sparking discussions and bouncing ideas off the green fashion set.

The pattern, complete with notes and sew lines, by Andria Crescioni is truly genius. It goes outside of the box with inventive cuts, clearly not limited by the rectangular shape of the fabric. Zero waste is all about turning negative space to positive, and it's just amazing how there is no unusable piece - every inch becomes a detail on the final garment.

the pattern!

Guest studying the pattern

Stop by 330 Bowery at Bond, and check out the zero waste pattern & anorak!

No waste, no sweat.

2011-11-17T11:17:00.000-05:00

Zero-waste love from Ecouterre!

You Can Finally Buy Loomstate’s Student-Designed Zero-Waste Anorak (But Hurry, Only 10 Were Made!)

by Amanda Coen, 11/16/11

qwsz
Photos by Amanda Coen for Ecouterre
When Parsons student Andria Crescioni won Loomstate’s zero-waste challenge in February, she didn’t just receive accolades and the approval of her peers. The recent graduate also got to see her design go into production. Her one-size-fits-all topper makes its commercial debut tonight at Rogan’s Bowery store in Manhattan, but it’s strictly limited edition—only 10 pieces were made. If swinging by the store isn’t on the cards, not to worry. Loomstate’s Scott Mackinlay Hahn and Rogan Gregory snuck us in for a sneak preview.

2011-11-16T15:11:00.000-05:00

Check out the Zero-Waste Anorak at Refinery29!

FASHION NEWS

Nov 16, 2011 2:10 PM

Loomstate's "Zero-Waste" Student-Collab Aces The Eco-Friendly Fashion Test

By Jillian Lucas

Imagine being a young designer, fresh out of design school, and having the opportunity to collaborate on a garment with New York design royalty. For one very lucky Parsons student, this too-good-to-be-true privilege is real, and coming to life in an (adorable!) eco-friendly collection designed alongside Loomstate's Rogan Gregory and Scott Mackinlay Hahn.

The first ever "zero-waste" line of imaginative cuts and silhouettes not only keeps in mind the need for unique winter wear, but also prioritizes Mother Nature — every slice of fabric that's purchased must be used in one way or another. The idea is legitimately to not let any resource from the production process go to waste.

The collab came to be as part of a contest in a Fashion Design and Sustainability class at the renowned design school. The winning product, a chic gray and green anorak, dreamed up by recent grad, Andira Crescioni, is now available at Rogan and Loomstate’s online store. With organic denim, thoughtful patterns, and a classic fit, these are the kinds of pieces you'll wear for seasons to come. Talk about sustainable fashion!

Zero Hero

2011-11-15T13:10:00.001-05:00

This anorak is about to start a lot of zero-to-hero jokes. What makes it so special, you say? It's more than just a really chic wool jacket with nice details. It's a zero-waste garment - Loomstate's FIRST EVER! The zero waste process is a new innovative approach to pattern-making to ensure no waste is produced. In a course taught by Timo Rissanen, assistant professor of Fashion Design and Sustainability at Parsons The New School for Design and expert in zero waste design, a handful of students explored different ways of designing with zero waste. Loomstate's own Scott Mackinlay-Hahn and Rogan Gregory served as mentors on the project, educating students on sourcing, dyeing, finishing, and energy consumption of organic denim.

Back in February, Parsons showcased finalist designs that fit the requirements of zero waste at the end of the course, and one design was chosen to be produced and sold. Designer and recent Parsons grad Andria Crescioni, who you've seen documenting her zero-waste journey, figured out a way to construct this anorak using every inch of the fabric, and was guided by Hahn and Gregory all the way to the garment's production.

Because Andria's original design and prototypes were created on a different fabric (muslin and denim), she, the Loomstate production team and the factory here in NYC had to work together to create a new pattern that fits with the fabric they wanted to use. The rope and leather tab finishes were salvaged from the factory floor. An extremely limited quantity of only TEN were produced!

The Journey of the Zero-Waste Anorak

It began with an idea, a sketch...

Image by Andria

Andria created a muslin prototype...

that became a zero-waste denim anorak sample...

pictured above: Andria by her garment with Scott Mackinlay-Hahn, Parsons Dean Simon Collins, and Rogan Gregory

that became a final production sample with alteration notes...

...that became the actual zero-waste anorak!

Loomstate is so proud and excited to finally launch our first ever zero-waste garment, and to do so with such great collaborators as Parsons and Andria Crescioni, who is always looking for new sustainable approaches and is currently working with a Peruvian non-profit on a collection.

The anorak is now available for pre-order exclusively at Loomstate.org and the ROGAN Store at 330 Bowery NYC.

Check out Andria's site, Timo's blog, the Parsons site, and our posts on the zero-waste process.

2011-11-14T11:52:00.000-05:00

Featured in Treehugger's Holiday Green Gift Guide!! Check it out and other fun green gifts.

Get the 100% organic cotton military hat here!

BLUE at Loomstate!

2011-11-09T17:10:00.001-05:00

We are so excited to finally present the BLUE for Loomstate Jewelry by Maria Moyer at Loomstate.org! Artist Maria Moyer, who was also a collaborator on SRF+CTY back in September, created an exclusive collection of stoneware and unglazed porcelain sculptures and jewelry for Loomstate. Inspired by plankton and the ocean, this collection is truly unique.

Hand-formed and carefully sanded by the artist herself in NYC, each piece of jewelry is really more like a wearable sculpture. The unglazed porcelain with a matte ocean-honed-like finish feels very delicate yet weighty like a precious stone. Touching and holding a BLUE piece is strangely calming. We don't know why but we just want one on us all the time.

See the jewelry collection here & get one for a loved one.

Bottle Houses

2011-11-09T12:03:00.001-05:00

We've seen plastic bottles used in houses before, but this is something else. Discarded plastic bottles are packed tight with sand, resulting in brick-like features if not one-upping the traditional building material. According to the BBC article, if done right - the sand needs to be sieved to rid of rocks, these plastic bottle "bricks" are 20 times stronger than bricks, insulating, and bulletproof!

This project is backed by the Nigerian NGO, Developmental Association for Renewable Energies (DARE) with assistance from the London-based African Community Trust. Not only is it three times cheaper to build with sand-packed discarded bottles than with brick, it also looks pretty cool with the circular bottle shapes giving the structures patterns and color.

Check out more photos and info at Inhabitat!

Images from BBC.

Chasing the Swell

2011-11-08T14:35:00.000-05:00

The first weeks of November are prime time for big wave surfing. The LA Times produced a three-part documentary last Fall, Chasing the Swell, that "catches the thrills and dangers of the big wave surfing contest season", and helpfully explains the science behind the swell. Plus our SRF+CTY buddy big wave pro Greg Long is in it, so what's not to love?

Check it out here & be amazed!

2011-11-08T13:07:00.000-05:00

A place where man meets nature.

Pumpkinpalooza

2011-10-31T15:08:00.000-04:00

With over 100,000 pounds of pumpkin on display, The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze in Hudson Valley can definitely take the title of Pumpkinpalooza (which we've deemed it... it's also really fun to say). 14 artists and 1,000 volunteers came together to carve and create elaborate setups, like skeletons floating in the dark or, say, a giant Jack O'Lantern King Kong! Spread out on the historic Van Cortlandt Manor grounds, the displays are accompanied by original sound effects and synchronized lighting. It's in its final week, so check out some photos from Inhabitat and get your tickets here.

All images from Inhabitat.

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze site here.

Hot Toddy Weather!

2011-10-28T10:29:00.001-04:00

Apple cider, pumpkin pies and color-changing leaves aside, one of the best things about Fall is a full-body warming Hot Toddy. Here's our version for an easy and delicious cold remedy, or just a great drink to cozy up with by the fireplace.

You need:

tea

organic lemon

cinnamon stick

raw honey

star anise (optional)

whiskey/bourbon (optional)

Boil water for tea and brew the tea as you will. We like organic black tea, like Numi's Breakfast Blend, but it's good with green, herbal or mixed flavor teas too. Spoon some raw honey to taste - it adds a subtle minty nose which is good if you're not feeling so hot. Add 2 lemon rounds. Stir with cinnamon stick for spice. Add star anise for an extra licorice-like kick, but take it out after 15-20 seconds because one star is surprisingly strong. Add a shot of whiskey if you're in the mood. Grab a blanket, grab a friend, put on a movie & sip up!

2011-10-25T18:30:00.002-04:00

Treasure & Bond

Two of our favorite stores in NYC were rated Best in their categories at Racked.com!

Life Curated

Treasure & Bond, the new retail-cum-philanthropy store in SoHo, took Best New Store, and Life Curated knocked out older neighborhood mainstays to win Best Brooklyn Store.

Check out other reader-nominated winners and staff picks here.

Evidence of Evolution

2011-10-20T18:14:00.000-04:00

We love the stunning photos in this book called Evidence of Evolution and the thought-provoking accompanying text. Check it out at the ROGAN Store alongside the Blue for Loomstate collection by Maria Moyer!

Cultivate Presents Abandoned

2011-10-12T12:23:00.000-04:00

Chipotle doesn't only talk the talk, it walks the walk. Visiting their website, we found all sorts of useful information about the meats and produce they use in their food. When was the last time you heard an international fast food chain make bold claims like 100% of pork sourced is naturally raised?

Another step in the same direction is the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation, established to raise awareness about food supply issues, and to support farmers and ranchers who are working towards more sustainable practices. In the spirit of Halloween, they've created a haunting and thought-provoking video, raising awareness about economic hardship family farms are facing as the American food supply industry becomes increasingly industrialized.

Check out the Cultivate Foundation & their Halloween Boorito costume contest!

Music by Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, covering Willie Nelson.

2011-10-10T11:17:00.000-04:00

We love Detroit Dirt!
Watch this episode from The Perennial Plate on an inspiring Detroit couple turning an empty lot into a burgeoning urban farm, and developing a compost center in the city for all the urban farmers.

The Perennial Plate Episode 73: Detroit Dirt from Daniel Klein on Vimeo.

Blue for Loomstate by Maria Moyer

2011-10-06T12:47:00.003-04:00

Maria Moyer, one of the SRF+CTY collaborators, is back with a stunning capsule collection of ocean-inspired sculptures and jewelry, titled Blue for Loomstate. We had an intimate gathering, celebrating this unique collection and its muse, plankton, last night. The delicate pieces are now available for viewing and for sale at the Rogan Store at 330 Bowery and Bond.

The artist Maria Moyer & Brad Livingstone Black.

Maria's porcelain jewelry pieces are really perfect for any outfit - here paired with ROGAN Fall dresses.

Cheers to The Naked Grape for providing the wine.

One part of the wall installation.

Loomstate co-founder Scott Mackinlay-Hahn introducing Maria Moyer & Waves for Water, to which portions of the proceeds from Maria's pieces will go.

Maria sharing her inspirations & love for plankton!

Documentary filmmaker Nicole Mackinlay-Hahn writing on one of two Loomstate blanks. Scott is sending them to pro-surfer Greg Long & Waves for Water founder Jon Rose who have embarked on a new journey for the cause.

Guests signed Maria's guestbook and read about Waves for Water.

Read our Q&A with Maria Moyer here. Check out MariaMoyer.com and WavesforWater.org.

Cultivate Fun

2011-10-05T11:52:00.001-04:00

Cultivate was a blast!!! Thank you to everyone who came to hang out and jam to music with us. We were busy from day to night and we had so much fun with old friends and meeting new fans.

Our team got to Chicago on Friday to set up the Loomstate / Textiles / Merch booth. We had exclusive Cultivate products for sale, but we also set up a farm-to-finish area where attendees could learn about organic cotton farming, sewing and screen printing. By the end of Friday, we were ready for the crowd.

We had our friend Lika make tees on the spot before having our screen printer put graphics on them. Some active fans even got hands-on and took on screen printing themselves!

Loomstate Co-founder Scott Mackinlay-Hahn talked organic cotton with attendees.

The Loomstate Cultivate team who worked tirelessly to set up the fun Loomstate booth.

We'll be back soon, Chicago. Thank you for a great time!

All images by Loomstate staff Ramon.

TEDx Miami with Plastic is Forever

2011-10-04T17:05:00.000-04:00

Barbara de Vries, the designer behind Plastic is Forever and a collection of Plastic is Forever x Loomstate for Barneys tees, gives a moving speech at the recent TEDx Miami about rethinking plastic use and re-purposing beach plastic.

Cultivate: Music

2011-09-29T17:53:00.000-04:00

We can't wait to rock out with our burritos out to the bands at Cultivate this Saturday!

Representin' our Canadian friends - The Rural Albert Advantage is actually from Toronto, Ontario, not Alberta.

Brooklyn-based White Rabbits has been a Chicago favorite since their first album came out in '07.

Mayer Hawthorne's song titles and lyrics sung in old-school soul style crack us up.

2011-09-29T11:07:00.000-04:00

Spotted on the street: the Loomstate Doba Poncho on her & a ROGAN cardigan on him! Love that our styles are worn season after season.

Bike to Cultivate!

2011-09-28T13:00:00.001-04:00

If you live in Chicago, you already know the many ways to get to Lincoln Park. But may we propose an idea - It's going to be sunny and cool on Saturday, making it a perfect opportunity to bike! Chicago, being one of the most bike-friendly cities in the US, has very comprehensive cycling tips and maps outlining routes throughout all of downtown. Here's more info on biking in Chicago.

Just remember to enter by the South Entrance and follow the music or the scent of spices in the air!

Loomstate goes to the CHI!

2011-09-28T10:24:00.001-04:00

Loomstate will be screen printing tees all day at Cultivate in Lincoln Park this Saturday. Not only will we be having an organic cotton show-and-tell, we'll have organic cotton tees and bucket totes for sale! Plus, we've partnered with Kleen Kanteen to create a reusable bottle - all exclusively available at and for the Chicago event.

The Loomstate booth at Summer Streets

A Visit to the Future AKA Solar Decathlon

2011-09-27T16:53:00.001-04:00

Even though it was more grey than sunny, we went to DC to check out the super awesome Solar Decathlon! We really mean it when we say all teams did a phenomenal job. This was a fun educational trip to explore a more efficient way of living and it's definitely worth waiting in theme-park-like lines. Each house has its own unique ideas for being energy and cost efficient, but they all showed us that green living doesn't necessarily mean living in a spaceship, and that it can be easily integrated and accessible. Besides being blown away by the teams' ambitions and successes, we picked up some ideas that can be implemented now in our existing homes.

A bio-wall with plants that work as an air filter.

A rain water catcher with a trap that opens when it's full.

An outdoor shower that works by catching rain water. We remember making simpler versions of these while camping with metal cans!

We just loved this quote and that it was engraved into the floorboards.

Hanging plant pockets can be added anywhere. DIY or buy a kit.

Empowerhouse team members in their self-printed Loomstate tees!

Check out the scores for each team here, changing daily until October 2nd, when the winner will be announced before all the houses return to their colleges or move to a new neighborhood to become single-family houses like the Empowerhouse. Pay them a visit before they're gone & vote for your favorite for the People's Choice Award!

Cultivate!

2011-09-26T18:15:00.001-04:00

What combines award-winning chefs, local farms, organic cotton, great music, and a lot of burritos? It's called Cultivate and it's happening this Saturday at Lincoln Park in Chicago!

Chipotle, the ever growing burrito chain, is putting on a one-day festival featuring food, farm and music. They're partnering celebrated chefs with local area farmers to create fresh recipes on Mexican classics, like Pozole soup and Carnitas tostadas. There's a day-long lineup of bands, including one of our favorites Brooklyn-based White Rabbits, the catchy and humorous Mayer Hawthorne, and newcomers like The Rural Alberta from Canada. And there's a beer garden serving local brews from Chicago biggie Goose Island to younger breweries with local-only distributions like 5 Rabbit and Half Acre.

Last but not least, Loomstate will be there at the Textile Tent! Similar to what we did at Summer Streets NYC, we'll be showing how organic cotton goes from farm to finish. Everyone who reads about the process gets a stamp, and after experiencing five Cultivate Experience tents, you'll get a coupon for a burrito. It's free to get in, so mark off Saturday on the calendar and we'll see you at Cultivate!

Bottled Up Emotion

2011-09-26T14:39:00.000-04:00

Inspired by artist Chuck Close and a need to positively impact the environment, Chicago artist, Mary Ellen Croteau created an 8'x7' self-portrait made from bottle caps. To create the different color schemes, she color-coordinated by placing smaller caps inside the larger ones.

Recycled art has been growing in popularity and after seeing this piece, we can understand why! We are all about recycling and helping the environment and we love that she was able to create a beautiful piece of art while doing so. Kudos to Mary for her creativity and her passion for the environment. Check out more pictures of the process on Inhabitat.

-Ramzy

From Rags to Rad

2011-09-22T11:20:00.001-04:00

Remember our Loomstate for Barneys Recycled Poncho we made for the Winter? Our team went out to some of the biggest warehouses for second hand and donated goods, and found some amazing blankets in all different patterns and bright colors, perfect for a cozy poncho. We made them in NYC, using as much of each blanket as possible, but still there were scraps and remnants. Knowing that one day these colorful bits will be great for a project, we saved them.

Sarah Frances Kuhn, behind SFK Accessories & former Teen Vogue Accessories Editor, took them and turned them into these cheerful camera straps for the SFK + Loomstate collaboration, dubbed the "Tijuana" collection. Handmade with vintage industrial chains and salvaged blanket and rope, these straps can really brighten up an old camera or a grey tee and jeans day.

Check out this cheerful little guy!

It's like a party poncho for your camera!

City Scenes

2011-09-22T10:54:00.000-04:00

NYC has surprises waiting around every corner but if you aren't paying attention, many sites will pass you by. Luckily for us, Urban Decor has captured some of the artistic scenes that can be found along the city streets. Here are some of our favorite colorful faces!

Sunnyside, Queens: 34th and the Long Island Expressway

The East Village

Under the BQE

Williamsburg, Brooklyn: Berry and North 10th St

- Ramzy

Empowerhouse!

2011-09-21T18:43:00.000-04:00

Empowerhouse on the National Mall! Image from Empowerhouse's Flickr.

Our partnership with Parsons started with our participation in their Zero Waste program several months back (the result of which will be revealed in the coming weeks!), and it's only grown stronger since. Architecture and Engineering students from Parsons, Milano School of International Affairs, Management & Urban Policy, and Stevens Institute of Technology teamed up to design, build, and operate a super-efficient, solar-powered house, named Empowerhouse, for the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. Twenty international teams will be competing in affordability, efficiency, consumer appeal, and design.

A chart outlining Empowerhouse's energy use. Image from the Empowerhouse site.

What sets Empowerhouse apart from other teams' models is that it's going to become a real house for a low-income family in the Deanwood neighborhood of Northeast Washington. And, according to the NYT, with its focus on cost efficiency, it will also serve as a model of sustainable housing for the non-profit Habitat for Humanity. The plan is to move the house to Deanwood after the competition, and Habitat for Humanity will work with the students and volunteers to transform it into a larger two-family duplex. With its passive house designs providing superb insulation, 1,100 square ft. Empowerhouse could need up to 90% less energy to heat and cool itself.

A rendering of Empowerhouse in Deanwood. Image from the Empowerhouse site.

Loomstate wanted to get involved with this awesome project in whatever way possible, so we donated organic cotton blank tees for the whole Empowerhouse team, who then, in their creatively efficient ways, self-printed them with their own design.

An Empowerhouse team member in a Loomstate organic cotton tee with their own self-printed design!

The 20 teams have spent two years designing and building these models, and they're all congregating at the National Mall's West Potomac Park in DC this week. It's open for free public viewing this Friday until October 2nd, so we can all gather some green ideas for our own homes! Check out the hours, directions and special events here.

Follow Empowerhouse on Facebook and Twitter, and check out their website and Flickr!

Waste Under Wavement

2011-09-15T10:00:00.001-04:00

This sculpture is too awesome to not share. Discovered by Ramzy via Streetart Urban. We unfortunately could not find anything else about it.

SFK + Loomstate Camera Straps!

2011-09-14T19:03:00.001-04:00

SFK, the accessories line started by former Teen Vogue Accessories Editor Sarah Frances Kuhn, has collaborated with Loomstate & ROGAN for a collection of super limited edition camera straps. We say super because there are really only six or seven available for sale, and we want to wear them with our cameras, on our heads, and as belts.

Made from industrial chains, salvaged rope, and vintage Navajo blanket remnants, the SFK + Loomstate straps come in a thicker chain and rope for heavier cameras like those serious DSLR's, or thinner chain and rope for your everyday point-and-shoot digicams. They will be available starting this Saturday, and probably not for long, exclusively at the ROGAN Store at 330 Bowery x Bond NYC. Peruse here.

The SFK + ROGAN camera straps:

To celebrate this SFK collaboration, paintings and photography by artist Louise Ingalls Sturges, the first featured artist at SFK's online gallery, will be on display at the ROGAN Store starting this weekend through October 2nd! See some of her work below, and check out her website.

Image from the SFK gallery

Some of Louise's works will be available for sale at the ROGAN Store. If this last one with the horse is there, we called dibs.

SRF+CTY Party Pics & Thangs

2011-09-13T13:25:00.000-04:00

A portion of the SRF+CTY proceeds go to Waves for Water! This includes the custom Chris Christenson surfboards which are, oh yes, up for grabs.

Give the ROGAN Store a ring at 646.847.7567 for info on the boards.

Shop the SRF+CTY tees & totes here!

SRF CTY TALK: GREG LONG

2011-09-12T14:27:00.000-04:00

Image from Billabong.

Two people come up when you google Greg Long. One is a Christian rock singer. The other makes news headlines like "wins RIDE OF THE YEAR"or "attacked by TIGER SHARK", followed by images of giant waves with a tiny dot of a person riding on them. We got a chance to talk to the latter, one of the best big wave surfers ever and our SRF CTY host.

Scott: Who taught you to surf?
Greg: My Pops was a lifeguard for 34 years so I was introduced to the ocean before I could walk. Growing up I was involved in nearly every ocean activity possible. Swimming, bodysurfing, spearfishing, boogie boarding etc. I was 8 years old when I surfed for the first time. I was hooked after my first wave.

S: What was your first surfboard?
G: First surfboard was a 5'10 Spider Murphy single fin. Still have, and ride it today.

Image from Billabong.

S: What's your first big wave memory?

G: My earliest recollection of big waves were from the old Bruce Brown films I watched as a kid. There was a larger-than-life cast of characters like Pat Curren, Jose Angel, Greg Noll and many more. There was something so profound and captivating about what those guys were doing, although, it wouldn't be for a number of years later that I think I would truly understand the feats they were performing. I started riding big waves when I was 15 years old when good friend Jon Walla took me down to Todos Santos for the first time. It has been the number one passion in my life ever since.

S: Since a lot of your big wave surfing is done through travel, could you imagine ever living in NYC?
G: New York is an amazing city. I unfortunately couldn't ever live there simply because I couldn't keep up with the fast pace of life. I grew up in a relatively quiet town and in all my travels have learned to appreciate a slower mellower lifestyle. NYC doesn't seem like a very conducive place to fostering such a thing.

Image from Billabong.

S: Is big wave surfing a good way to avoid the crowds?
G: Yes. Whenever the waves get big, it always seems to eliminate a large portion of the crowd. There is a large amount of respect and camaraderie amongst the big wave surfing community and most of the people who are out on the big days have become some of my closest friends as a by-product of our similar passion.

Greg Long at Waimea Bay during the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau contest in 2009. Image from LA Times Blog.

S: What's your favorite surfboard that Chris shaped for you?
G: Definitely the board that I won "The Eddie" on. It was shaped specifically for Waimea. I only rode it twice. Once the day before the contest and again the day of the event. Winning the Eddie was a childhood dream of mine. There is a special sentiment behind everyone and everything that was a part of that day... especially that board.

S: What's the most important lesson the ocean has taught you?
G: I suppose a reoccurring lesson the ocean has taught me is the ability to adapt to my surroundings. In the ocean you are living in an ever-changing environment. No two waves are ever the same, tides come in and out, winds and currents are always shifting. This is almost an analogy for life in it's entirety. You have to be able to be able to adapt to whatever the world throws at you, and appreciate the miracles that are happening around you at every single moment regardless of the conditions.

Read other exclusive interviews with SRF+CTY collaborators!

SRF CTY: JULIE GILHART

2011-09-12T10:25:00.000-04:00

Among her many titles throughout an enviable career - former fashion director for one of the largest international retailers, stylist, industry expert, influencer, and now avid surfer, Julie Gilhart is most admirably a champion for a more conscious, less wasteful apparel industry. It's only fitting that one of her current projects involves recycling t-shirts into something covetable.

For SRF+CTY, Julie has partnered with Bantu and Tin from Drug Money Art to create one-of-a-kind scarves pieced together from D/M tee remnants and 1985 vintage Live Aid tees. The result is an oversized super soft patchwork scarf meant to drape and gather, and is 100% awesome.

Julie says about the project: "[the Live Aid tees] pay respect and give thought to Yodit Eklund from Bantu whose country, Ethiopia, as you know is experiencing a devastating famine. I feel clothes can hold or at least represent the energy and intentions of those that craft them and we all like to wear talismans of things we care about."

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the scarf, available starting on FNO at the ROGAN store, will go to a non-profit helping people in East Africa affected by the famine.

Julie & Scott at last year's FNO

As a SRF+CTY collaborator, Julie talks to us about surf and style.

Scott: Why do fashion and surfing make such a credible pairing?
Julie: Surfing is all about style or lack off and so is fashion.

S: Why is surf style so casual?
J: The less clothes the better.

S: Once you have ridden one wave haven't you ridden them all?
J: Hah! Once you ride one, you have to have more and that leads to SA - Surfers Anonymous!

S: What is your pre-surf routine?
J: I listen to music. I try to remember to ask the Mother Ocean to be kind to me.

S: Montauk vs. Rockaway? Why are they different?
J: Rockaway has better food and more tattoos. Girls have sexy original style vs. intentional fashion style. Montauk is better for rock finding.

S: We hear Montauk is getting crowded, why do people drive past so many beautiful beaches to go there?
J: Because they have tunnel vision.

S: Dawn patrols or Evening glass offs?
J: Both. I believe in the Art of the Nap.

S: Do you secretly want a Lanvin surfboard? Why or why not?
J: OMG, my secret dream. I would want one because I love him almost as much as I love surfing. I like to have an intimate relationship with my boards.

Follow Julie on Twitter & see Drug Money Art's site & blog!

Via the ROGAN Blog.

SRF CTY TALK: TORI PRAVER

2011-09-10T14:20:00.001-04:00

Image from ToriPraver.com

Hailing from Hawaii, Tori Praver, model, owner and designer behind Tori Praver swimwear, grew up surfing, and knows all about swimwear that can stay put for surfing, swimming, or just laying out on the beach. Just what SRF+CTY needed!

R: What do you think about surf culture in NYC? What's so different or great about it?

T: People that surf in NYC are so stoked about it because it's not something that they can do everyday, so it makes it that more special.... It's almost like a "treat" and when you get to paddle out you really appreciate it... Growing up in Hawaii, everyone surfed. I lived the surf-culture as a child and moving to NYC was strange to me, it didn't really exist. There were no surf shops and not too many surfers. I love that the culture has grown in NYC and more people have realized how amazing the surfing is!!

R: What's your favorite surf spot in NY and why?

T: My favorite spot is in Wainscot. I don't even know if the break has a name, but there are perfect little lefts (my fav because I'm goofy-foot) and hardly anyone ever out.

Image from ToriPraverSwimwear.com

R: Favorite post-surf chill out spot in NY?

T: Joanie’s or the backyard behind the health food store in Montauk.

R: Who's your surf hero?

T: Rell Sunn. She was an amazing surfer and such a strong and powerful woman to be inspired by.

Image from ToriPraverSwimwear.com

R: What's your funniest or most embarrassing surf moment?

T: All of my bikini malfunctions! I once caught a wave and stood up not knowing my boob had popped out!

R: Any rules for surf style?

T: Surf how you want to surf doing what makes you feel comfortable!! It does look really funny though, when a person has a super wide stance...

Image from ToriPraverSwimwear.com

R: What are your surf essentials?

T: A good bikini that stays on, my calf leash, and powerful sunscreen!!

R: What are you most excited about for SRF+CTY?

T: Good vibes and hanging with all the surf stoked people in NYC!

Via the ROGAN blog.

WAVES for WATER: Part 2

2011-09-09T13:53:00.001-04:00

Pro-surfer Greg Long & Loomstate co-founder Scott Mackinlay-Hahn with the Waves for Water filter system.

We've talked about Waves for Water here before, but we can't say enough about this great non-profit and its initiatives. At SRF+CTY, Waves for Water brought a bucket of dirty water (origins: unknown...), attached one of its filters, and encouraged all the partygoers to drink from it. Surprisingly, nearly everyone had a cup of this filtered water by the end of the night.

Optical illusion: That's not a severed hand in the water! Just a reflection of Soft Circle's Ben Vida's hand.

We raffled off a 3-night getaway stay at the Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo (generously donated by the hotel), with all proceeds from raffle tickets going to Waves for Water. A portion of all SRF+CTY sales during FNO and SRF+CTY products will also go to the non-profit.

Chris Christenson buying a raffle ticket, proceeds benefiting Waves for Water.

From our SRF+CTY collaborator pro-surfer Greg Long to our former intern Annie, we're surrounded by dedicated Waves for Water volunteers and there's good reason for that. Check out their website and how you can get involved beyond SRF+CTY!

FNO LOVE!

2011-09-08T17:47:00.000-04:00

It's FNO tonight and it starts in 15 minutes! To show our love to those out and those staying in, we're offering an extra 10% off anything at Loomstate.org, and anything ROGAN or Loomstate the ROGAN Store. The ROGAN Store is also giving out a SRF+CTY FNO Tote with any in-store purchase!

Just use SRFCTYFNO at checkout online or simply go to the ROGAN store to get in on the FNO fun.

See you soon!

SRF CTY TALK: MARIA MOYER

2011-09-08T16:04:00.002-04:00

Image from MariaMoyer.com

Inspired by the water and oceanic life, Maria Moyer creates, by hand, delicate porcelain sculptures with surprisingly lifelike personalities. Yes, really - personalities. The pieces all have something about them that's very animated, from the unusual shapes to the colors and patterns, and should be experienced in person. Her installations will be on view at the Rogan store at 330 Bowery NYC from now through October. And of course, she surfs!

Tell us your thoughts on NYC surf culture!

Like everything else in NYC, the surf culture is pretty deliberate here. Most people have to work a little harder toget to surf here than where I grew up in Southern California.

Who's your surf hero?

Gerry Lopez. He's the Magic Johnson of surf (can you tell I'm from LA?). He's been my hero since I was a little girl and I am lucky to have spent time with him. He's an inspiration now as a snowboarder - a sport I am much better at than surfing.

Just one part of the Maria Moyer installation at the ROGAN store!

What's your funniest or most embarrassing surf moment?

Every time I get in the water, I'm humbled.

Any style rules for the beach?

No perfume on the beach, ladies. It's like having someone blaring a boom box when you're there to listen to the waves.

What are your surf essentials?

Good company. I'm not a very serious surfer - though I am a life-long surf enthusiast. I love being in the water with my friends.

Favorite post-surf, chill out spot in NY?

After a day in the water, whether I surfed or not, the best spot for me would involve pico de gallo and guacamole.

What are you most excited about for SRF CTY?

The confluence of cultures. It'll be fun to see it and to be a part of it - thanks for having me!

We're glad to have her! The pictures don't do her breathtaking sculptures and poreclains justice, so come see them in person.

Check out her website here & other exclusive interviews with SRF+CTY collaborators!

SRF CTY TALK: PRET-A-SURF

2011-09-08T14:22:00.000-04:00

Image from Pret-a-Surf.

Jillian Demling (Entertainment Editor at Vogue) and Karen Mulligan (studio manager for Annie Leibovitz) started Pret-a-Surf when they found a lack of fashionable yet functional surf gear for the modern woman. Now sophisticated women everywhere can surf without feeling foolish in suits and rash guards designed for teenage girls, and SRF CTY gained a very stylish collaborator.

Christina Ricci in Pre-a-Surf shades. Image from Pret-a-Surf.

Rogan: Finally fashion and surfing, why did it take so long to happen?
Jillian & Karen: We think the fashion industry has been waterlogged.

R: Why is surfing so sexy?
J&K: Have you seen Laird Hamilton?

Laird Hamilton. Image from lairdhamilton.com.

R: Can you date more than one surfer at a time?
J&K: Yes, just make sure they are on different coasts.

R: Would you like to see shoe racks and board racks in one system?
J&K: Yes, and we would like it to be Pret-a-Surf. We have our team working on it now.

Emma Stone in Pret-a-Surf shades. Image from Pret-a-Surf.

R: Do you think 'sex-wax' is to surfing as 'organic' is to green fashion?
J&K: Our sex-wax is green and we have developed wax that is just not for your board anymore.

The Pret-a-Surf sunnies available at the ROGAN Store for FNO!

Via the ROGAN Blog.

SRF CTY TALK: BETHANY MAYER of SURF BAZAAR

2011-09-07T10:43:00.000-04:00

Many dream of working by the beach and living in the city, but only a few can pull this off. Bethany Mayer lives in NYC, and is the owner of Montauk's Surf Bazaar, a colorful boutique at The Surf Lodge, and the designer behind the store's namesake line, which features simple, sophisticated beachwear. A longtime supporter of ROGAN and Loomstate (both of which are available at Surf Bazaar), Bethany tells us what she likes most about SRF+CTY.

What do you think about surf culture in NYC? What's so different or great about it?
I think our East coast surf culture is built off of a huge appreciation for the ability to live in a city like NY, but then be such a short distance from an amazing ocean, that is relatively clean, with waves! I am starting to see a lot of West coasters & Hawaiians spending time in the east because the energy around our surf culture is high and built off of this appreciation for access to nature and waves.

What's your favorite surf spot in NY and why?
Montauk... but I can’t tell you where... but it is not ditch.

Do's and Don’ts for surf style?
Do: Create a style in both your surfing and your equipment... customized boards!
Don’t: wear non-functional things to surf just for the sake of looking good... not cute.

What are your surf essentials?
Board, wax, leash, always a wetsuit for warmth in this chilly east coast, water… keep it simple.

What are you most excited about for SRF CTY?
Getting together with some amazing, inspired people involved in the surf culture. These people are my family and it’s great to support and celebrate our culture.

Check out Surf Bazaar online and see the collection in person at the ROGAN Store at 330 Bowery!

SRF CTY TALK: MITCH ABSHERE

2011-09-06T20:18:00.000-04:00

Image from Liquidsaltmag.com

Mitch Abshere, owner of Captain Fin, is collaborating on SRF CTY with limited edition board bags. Having surfed since he was a kid, Mitch knows what's up. He tells us his thoughts on SRF CTY.

What is the worst part about surfing in the city? Crocs in the sewers.

Isn’t it a pain in tha ass to surf in NYC? I have a helicopter, so not that bad for me.

Image from Tugboatroundup.com

Have you ever been at the helm of NY Tugboat? I can honestly say, “yes.”

How can Mayor Bloomberg make NYC more surf friendly? Let everyone have helicopter???

Should city surfers have holes in their boards to lock them up at the beach? Ya much better water flow, better turns!

Mitch in action. Image from Coast Thru Life blog.

Does dazzle really make the wave look bigger in a mag photo? Of course… physics 101.

Wouldn’t it be easier to live in Hawaii? Only because you can tan better.

Why do people in NY only surf on Saturdays? I think because of the shop Saturdays?

Check out a showing of "Be Cool Man", a film by Mitch Abshere tonight at Union Pool & other news at Captain Fin here!

Video: SRF+CTY

2011-09-06T16:03:00.000-04:00

watch our SRF+CTY video! everyone's invited!

SRF CTY TALK: CHRIS CHRISTENSON

2011-09-06T13:51:00.000-04:00

Chris at his studio.

Chris Christenson, one of the best board shapers, has collaborated with us for SRF CTY this FNO, creating limited edition surfboards available for sale starting this Thursday. We asked him on his thoughts on foam dust, Marc Jacobs, the convergence of fashion and surf, and other very serious issues.

Do you think breathing foam dust makes you mad, ie crazy mad? Foam dust is great! Better than cocaine, looks the same and it's free. Keeps you skinny too just like coke.

Inhaling that foam dust.

When traveling, do you prefer window or aisle? Usually I drink a few beers before I get on the plane so I can sleep. Unfortunately, I have the same size bladder as a squirrel so I have to constantly use the bathroom so I prefer an aisle.

Chris waiting to board the NYC L train. So many puns to be made. Image from his blog.

Who is your muse? Music and travel are my muse. From Ludivico Einaudi and Radiohead to Indonesia and Vegas.

Can you comment on the convergence of fashion, motorcycles, surfing and golf? Fashion, motorcycles, and surfing go hand and hand benefitting form each other. Self expression, exploration, risk, aesthetic, speed, style, individuality, and freedom. Golf brings me back to ground zero reminding me that I can still be a kook.

Hard or soft cheese and why? Hard cheese, farts are way less risky.

Do you think that Marc Jacobs could do a couture line and take over at Dior? Who is Marc Jacobs?

NFL trunks, do you secretly want a pair? Only if Rogan or Loomstate make me a pair. I wanna make sure I still look like a jock. Go Chargers!! Super Bowl 2012

Check out Chris' blog!

SRF CTY FNO!!

2011-09-06T12:46:00.002-04:00

Come hang with us this FNO at ROGAN vs Loomstate SRF CTY! With exclusive collaborative work from the best in surf, fashion, and art, SRF CTY is going to blow all other FNO events out of the water. Proceeds from sales will benefit a charity organization for the ocean. Don't miss it!

ROGAN VS. LOOMSTATE SRF CTY

ROGAN store

330 Bowery at Bond NYC 10012

Thursday, Sept. 8th

6-9pm

Featuring custom work by:

SURF:

Chris Christenson

Greg Long

Mitch Abshere / Captain Fin

FASHION:

Julie Gilhart = Bantu + D/M Art

Prêt-a-Surf

Salvor Projects

Surf Bazaar

Tori Praver

ART:

Maria Moyer

Check out exclusive interviews with all our SRF CTY collaborators here!

Graffiti in BA

2011-08-24T17:40:00.001-04:00

A recent trip to the invigorating city of Buenos Aires led us to this fantastic graffiti wall created by the collective Vomit Attack. It's actually a misleading facade commissioned by an upscale restaurant named Tegui intending to hide itself. The colors, the shapes, and the mishmash of different styles of photos and stencils are surprisingly representative of BA itself - energy and activity jumping out from every inch in an approachable and unpretentious way. And that's exactly why we love it.

If you're in BA, Graffiti Mundo tours will take you there and a bunch of other awesome spaces. If you're nowhere near, check them out at Matador.

Check out the Reef Top on ecofabulous.com!

2011-08-24T15:51:00.000-04:00

See the full ecofabulous article on color blocking here & get the Loomstate Reef Top here!

Surf NYC

2011-08-23T15:44:00.000-04:00

Quiksilver Pro is coming to Long Beach next Thursday! From Sept. 1 to 15, 34 of the world's best surfers, along with two wildcards, will congregate in NY to compete for the Quiksilver Pro NY title. The competition itself is not the only happening - we'll be checking out the skate, surf, and music (The Flaming Lips on Sept. 9!) events happening at the Village and in the city. Check out the calendar here.

Can't wait to watch the best take on the Long Beach waves!

Farm to Finish

2011-08-12T14:55:00.000-04:00

Take a fun tour of the farm to t-shirt process through our boards for NYC Summer Streets. Better yet, come tomorrow and next Saturday 7am to 1pm, and see them in person!

organic cotton plants will be there!

Bike, walk, run, skateboard, or scooter over to 51st Street & Park Avenue tomorrow and next Saturday!

Yoxi!

2011-08-08T16:18:00.001-04:00

Check out Yoxi's Trim the Waste of Fashion challenge - Loomstate cofounders Scott & Rogan were invited to judge, along side Geren Lockhart and Angela Lindvall. Watch the team submission videos, vote for 6 that will make it through to Round 2, and see the final idea campaign!

Watch this short video of Scott, Rogan, Geren, and Angela talk about sustainable fashion:

video platform video management video solutions video player

Join Loomstate at Summer Streets!

2011-08-05T16:33:00.000-04:00

Walk, run, bike, take the train, or hop over to Summer Streets tomorrow!

From 7am to 1pm, Lafayette from Brooklyn Bridge up 4th Ave then Park Ave ending at Central Park will be blocked off for anything but cars. You could probably do cartwheels in the middle of the road from the bridge to the park, not that we're recommending it.

Loomstate will have a tent showing how organic cotton seeds become organic cotton graphic tees, screen printing tees right then and there, and raffling them off. We'll be hanging out with the cool kids from Chipotle who will be demonstrating how to make their delicious guacamole. Look out for us by the Uptown Rest Stop / Chipotle Soil to Foil Fair Tent at 51st Street and Park Ave.

We'll be there tomorrow and 2 Saturdays after! Come play!

41 STRINGS VIDEO!!!

2011-08-03T16:47:00.002-04:00

With great pleasure and excitement, we present you The Creators Project's event documentary of the Loomstate 41 Strings for 41st Earth Day!

Featuring Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, who composed original scores inspired by the four seasons, with help from Soft Circle's Hisham Akira Bharoocha and Ben Vida, arranger Gillian Rivers, and, as SPIN says, "a formidable army of guitarists, violinists, and bassists."

Watch the full event documentary at SPIN.

Listen to the full score here or at The Creators Project.

41 STRINGS by creatorsproject

Here's the trailer:

41 Strings & Nick Zinner on SPIN

2011-08-03T16:38:00.000-04:00

Nick Zinner sits with SPIN for an exclusive interview on composing original music for the Loomstate 41 Strings event that happened back on May 11th!

See the interview here.

2011-07-27T16:29:00.002-04:00

Loomstate Plastic Is Forever Tee on Eco-Fabulous!

Strings!

2011-07-27T14:12:00.000-04:00

Artist Sean McGinnis uses colorful string to create sculptures that transform the space it occupies, like the sphere in the mountains pictured above. Some (well, Inhabitat) might say it's "String Theory". We're a fan!

Clean Tags

2011-07-25T16:16:00.000-04:00

South Africa-based art collective Dutch Ink create truly eco-conscious art by using negative space as the positive. Instead of spraying paint on walls, the group takes stencils to dirty spaces and scrub clean within the shapes. The result is a series of "clean tags", revealing their work in the original color the space once was. Our favorite is this one, naturally - a flock of birds flying along a roadside wall.

Via Inhabitat. See more at Dutch Ink.

Renovation Sale!

2011-07-20T16:10:00.000-04:00

Better than painting parties, this mid-summer Renovation Sale will have everything from tees and jeans to dresses and knits at up to 70% off. It's time for some Summer cleaning to prepare for a big store makeover!

At our sibling brand ROGAN's store

330 Bowery at Bond St. NYC

Wed. July 27 - 29 11am-8pm

Sat. July 30 11am-7pm

Sun. July 31 11am-5pm

There'll be a treat for every purchase! See you next week!

Surf Style

2011-07-20T10:51:00.000-04:00

New Loomstate x Surf Lodge mid-summer styles are now available exclusively at Loomstate.org!

The second we brought in the early delivery, we sold out of the navy Surf Life Style hoodie. Don't miss out on this round's black Surf Lodge organic cotton hoodie!

Made in USA.

Re-Up!

2011-07-20T10:35:00.000-04:00

Some of our favorite graphics are making a comeback in fun Summer colors!

Re-up on your Loomstate graphic tees!

Leaf Art

2011-07-14T10:40:00.000-04:00

Artist Lorenzo Duran carefully carves intricate picturesque scenes onto leaves!

More of his work here and here.

2011-07-12T16:35:00.000-04:00

The versatile organic cotton gauze Nautilus Dress featured in this month's Downtown Magazine! Available here.

2011-07-12T13:46:00.000-04:00

Golden Rays migration. Photography by Sandra Critelli.

596 Acres

2011-07-12T10:42:00.000-04:00

Yes, there are 596 acres of vacant public land that could be used as parks, gardens, playgrounds, etc. And that's just in Brooklyn! Imagine all the green spaces there could be instead of junk, garbage, and gravel. A similar project happened in Berlin with striking before and after photos.

Check out 596Acres.org and their Facebook page for more info and updates.

Up Close and Personal with Sand!

2011-07-11T13:58:00.000-04:00

Who knew each piece of sand would be so unique in shape and color? Gary Greenberg, a biomedical research professor at University College London took photographs of sand magnified at over 250 times real life, and discovered sand to be tiny gems.

Via Lost At E Minor and Daily Mail UK.

Adventure Wear

2011-07-08T13:22:00.001-04:00

Washed organic cotton Loomstate Chinos, in The Wall Street Journal's Travel section. Comfortable yet clean and modern, the Chinos are perfect for all types of adventures!

TAU

2011-07-05T12:10:00.002-04:00

Tau translated into music, as interpreted by Michael Blake. The MP3 can be downloaded here.
Enjoy!

Surf Proof

2011-06-29T15:45:00.001-04:00

We got this in our inbox today and we think it's beautiful - the picture and the jewelry both. Check out our friend Jill Platner and her new "surf-proof" bracelets and necklaces!

Loomstate for Surf Lodge!

2011-06-28T10:32:00.001-04:00

Loomstate and Surf Lodge have long been buddies, the first collaboration last year cemented this friendship. We're at it again with the return of the Loomstate x Surf Lodge collection this summer, and the entire Surf Lodge staff outfitted in Loomstate designed uniforms!

Look out for the Loomstate x Surf Lodge return! Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when it starts.

Brooklyn Rooftop Farm

2011-06-27T12:54:00.000-04:00

We finally had a chance to bike over to the Eagle Street Rooftop Farm this weekend. There were herbs and lettuces mostly, with three bunnies just lounging on one side, and some chickens on the other. If you participated in one of their many classes about caring for different types of plants, you could walk away with a little planter to care for yourself!

Bunnies!

Eagle Street Rooftop Farm
All the way west on Eagle Street.
Crossing Franklin Street in Brooklyn (Greenpoint)
Farm/Market open Sundays.

More info here.

Shroom Tea Summer Mix

2011-06-22T11:44:00.000-04:00

Shroom Tea is good for you. We're talking about this playlist right here compiled by Bear In Heaven's Adam Wills, exclusively for Loomstate... and Kombucha.

shroom tea mix by adam wills for loomstate by loomstate

2011-06-20T14:41:00.000-04:00

Unknown stranger spotted at Governor's Ball this weekend with his new limited edition ROGAN vs Loomstate silk-screened tee! Debuted at the Wieden + Kennedy pop-up SHOP, these bright tees are selling out quickly. Also, today's the last day to get one at the sale, so hurry over at 5pm!

2011-06-14T17:16:00.000-04:00

We're doing custom prints on Loomstate tees for the Wieden + Kennedy pop-up shop! Check out our sister brand ROGAN and what they did to the space that will be hosting Loomstate goods.

Wieden + Kennedy Pop-Up SHOP
This Thursday 6/16 through Monday 6/20
150 Varick
6th Floor

Loomstate !Act Natural!

Auroras

TColla Surf Photography

Nesting in Big Sur

Bones

Ghanaian Recycled Art

Abadabad

2011 In Review

Green Wrap

For Green Thumbs' Eyes Only

LOOMSTATE'S ZERO WASTE ANORAK

THIS "DO GOOD" JACKET IS THE NEW KID ON THE ECO-FRIENDLY BLOCK

For A Better World

Ecouterre gives our Maggie Cardigan a shoutout for their Eco-Chic Vegan Gift Guide! A 100% organic cotton sweater will do the trick... Get it in Worn Black and True Black.

BUNDLE UP

+ Maggie Cardigan $248+ Loomstate

Caveman

Stylecaster casts its vote for the zero-waste anorak!

Loomstate and Parsons Go Green(er) For Eco-Friendly Fashion

Lucky Magazine loves the zero-waste anorak!

loomstate's eco anorak to debut at rogan's nyc boutique tonight

All about the Anorak

You Can Finally Buy Loomstate’s Student-Designed Zero-Waste Anorak (But Hurry, Only 10 Were Made!)

Loomstate's "Zero-Waste" Student-Collab Aces The Eco-Friendly Fashion Test

Zero Hero

BLUE at Loomstate!

Bottle Houses

Chasing the Swell

Pumpkinpalooza

Hot Toddy Weather!

Evidence of Evolution

Cultivate Presents Abandoned

Blue for Loomstate by Maria Moyer

Cultivate Fun

TEDx Miami with Plastic is Forever

Cultivate: Music

Bike to Cultivate!

Loomstate goes to the CHI!

A Visit to the Future AKA Solar Decathlon

Cultivate!

Bottled Up Emotion

From Rags to Rad

City Scenes

Empowerhouse!

Waste Under Wavement

SFK + Loomstate Camera Straps!

SRF+CTY Party Pics & Thangs

SRF CTY TALK: GREG LONG

SRF CTY: JULIE GILHART

SRF CTY TALK: TORI PRAVER

WAVES for WATER: Part 2

FNO LOVE!

SRF CTY TALK: MARIA MOYER

SRF CTY TALK: PRET-A-SURF

SRF CTY TALK: BETHANY MAYER of SURF BAZAAR

SRF CTY TALK: MITCH ABSHERE

Video: SRF+CTY

SRF CTY TALK: CHRIS CHRISTENSON

SRF CTY FNO!!

Graffiti in BA

Check out the Reef Top on ecofabulous.com!

Surf NYC

Farm to Finish

Yoxi!

Join Loomstate at Summer Streets!

41 STRINGS VIDEO!!!

41 Strings & Nick Zinner on SPIN

Strings!

Clean Tags

Renovation Sale!

Surf Style

Re-Up!

Leaf Art

596 Acres

Up Close and Personal with Sand!

Adventure Wear

TAU

Surf Proof

Loomstate for Surf Lodge!

Brooklyn Rooftop Farm

+ Maggie Cardigan $248
+ Loomstate