3 Brands to Follow to Incorporate “Wearable Art” in Your Wardrobe
Everyone finds their own unique ways incorporating sustainable habits to build up their wardrobe. For some, it could be receiving passed down pieces from their family members, or finding a signature piece at their local vintage store.
Another creative habit you can bring into your sustainability journey is to purchase “wearable art” from individual artists. Compared to an online purchase that is a few clicks away from the “Complete Your Order” button, purchasing made-to-order pieces invites you to a whole new experience, which is disengaged from the practice of mass consumption. Contacting the artist and communicating your design preferences in-itself is an endearing process, and it instills long-lasting joy to each piece.
Here are 3 artists who infuse their artistic curiosity in the medium of “wearable art”.
Handcrafted by Naima Renée Dobbs, NAILOH was originally founded in 2020 on Instagram as a platform to post and sell her handmade crocheted pieces. Naima weaves her adoration for textile into her work, using natural and unnew fibers. Each hand-constructed piece reflects her research of textile traditions and her interpretations of Black history and cultural practices.
Growing up in Orange County, California and Sydney, Australia, Anna Santangelo incorporates her childhood memories she spent near the ocean into her namesake jewelry brand, SANTANGELO. Inspired by club culture, surf movies, and the natural world, her made-to-order jewelry uses natural materials, including pearls, glass beads, shells, precious stones, and metals. Each handmade piece evokes Anna’s personal relationship with her wardrobe, which consists of vintage, second-hand, and repurposed clothes.
Praise Fuller is a visual artist specializing in cyanotype photography, and her medium of expression ranges from prints to bandanas. Her bandana is hand printed and dyed in cyanotype formula, ensembled with motifs that reflect integral practices in her life: being on a beach in Galveston, riding horseback while swatting away horseflies, and observing snails disguised in the various ecosystems of Texas.
The perks of purchasing from artists is not only getting to appreciate their unique products and pieces, but the opportunity to directly connect with the creators. Whether purchasing from a sustainable brand or a vintage store, it’s unlikely you’ll get to know the craftsman behind the artistry at a personal level. Being able to share the excitement with the creator upon receiving your order is a distinct experience you can find nowhere else.
Purchasing from individual artists is more than just an act of consumption. It’s about constructing your own community, and it’s something I want to encourage the reader of Sustainable Baddie to integrate into their practice.
Guest Contribution by: Yuka Sakuma