Kitschy holiday sweaters are cool. But consciously-crafted sweaters that can serve you all season long? We think those are even better. Yah, we are biased, but hear us out. Only 1% of the materials flowing through the consumer economy remain in use 6 months after sale. (1) That is a lot of waste going into our landfills. And why? Because they either fall apart or fall out of trend. With the fashion industry being the second biggest pollutant in the world, it is time for a change...
Read moreProcess: THE STORY BEHIND FW17
Fall/Winter 2017 is here, and I am thrilled to finally share these pieces with you. When I started "Lady of the Lake," I was thinking about water and the mythological women from Camelot and Hamlet. However, as I worked on the collection... well, I hit a wall. A big, sucky, creative block. Weeks went by with little progress to show for them. And although the experience was trying, it seems fitting that RESPONSIVE TEXTILES' fifth collection would be a landmark one for me as a maker. It would also perhaps be the most RESPONSIVE one yet...
Read moreConsciously Considered: BE MATERIAL-ISTIC
"WE ARE TOO MATERIALIST IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE OF PURCHASING ALL OF THESE THINGS, BUT IN A DIFFERENT SENSE, MAYBE WE ARE NOT MATERIALIST ENOUGH?" ~THE MINIMALISTS
I recently heard this while listening to The Minimalists Podcast at the gym. Let me quickly set the scene. There I am. Hating every moment of this self-induced, treadmill torture when I hear these words and a light bulb flicks on. I paused my workout for a moment to jot this question down. Then I spent the rest of my work out mulling over this statement...
Read moreFrom Kristine: MAGIC BORN OUT OF UGLY BEGINNINGS
What the F is that?!? Well ladies and gents, take a close look and behold. That crazy collection of yarns and drop stitches is the first swatch I ever created on a knitting machine. It is my beginning. An ugly beginning on a path that would quickly become a passion and eventually turn into a career. I found it today while decluttering the studio, and it was wonderful to see this baby again. This swatch was born in the winter of 2012 at my friend Leah's house on her knitting machine. She generously took the afternoon to give me a little introduction to the machine because I had been itching to learn and had yet to get into the class (which I would finally get into that next semester/my final semester of RISD)...
Read moreLately: ABOUT THE UPCOMING FW17 COLLECTION
You heard it here first people! The upcoming Fall/Winter 2017 Collection is on its way at last! Here are a few details/fun facts/sneak peeks to get you as excited as we are...
Read moreFrom Kristine: EMBRACING THE BLUES
Real talk time: I spent most of today and yesterday sitting in my studio, struggling to be productive. Pushing papers to the left and then to the right. The struggle was real. For the past month really, I've felt stuck. My lack of productivity has only made me feel worse. After hours today of being swallowed by this "bleh" feeling, I finally stepped away from my work and took a look inwards. I decided to embrace the blues...
Read moreOur Collaborators: ASTRID VON WINTER, Model
Although RESPONSIVE TEXTILES is a one-woman operation, it still takes a village. Photoshoots, runway shows and the like require me to collaborate with others, whose talents truly bring the work to the finish line. With this in mind, I want to introduce you to the beautiful souls, who work tirelessly on RSPNSV projects. This week, meet Astrid Von Winter: a talented model, who recently collaborated in our "We are Woman." Pulling from her ability to empathize and feel, she brings unparalleled vulnerability and strength when she steps in front of the camera...
Read moreFrom Kristine: ON THE "WE ARE WOMAN" PROJECT
A talented team of women made this project happen. And this time, that included me (Kristine of RSPNSV TXTLS) not only being the designer, but also modeling it up! For all who know me even slightly, you know that I am a behind-the-scenes kind of girl. At my runway shows, my finale walk is literally facilitated by a model holding my hand and guiding me the whole way. So the thought of stepping in front of the camera was completely terrifying and vulnerable, especially in the garments I was creating for this shoot. All I could think of was the list of insecurities I felt about myself. However, I was asking six other women, most of whom are not models, to step out of their comfort zone and participate in this project. I knew it was time to be brave with them...
Read moreStyle Files: REBECCA x THE MOONLIGHT TOP
Fashion is your chosen second skin. It is created to serve you. That is right peeps! Sometimes, it may feel like fashion is exclusive to models, bloggers and the like. However, the truth is that we all have to get dressed in the morning. Well, at least most of us do. Fashion exists for everyone. This has inspired the "Style Files" series, a celebration of personal style where a RSPNSV TXTLS favorite is paired into several looks with pieces already in someone's closet.
We are kicking this off with Rebecca: a beautiful soul both inside and out. She is an architect by trade and inspiration in the kitchen. She took the Moonlight Top and paired it with four of her favorite go-to's, serving up some summer perfection in complete Rebecca fashion...literally...
Read moreProcess: MAKING THE SUNLIGHT TOP
The Sunlight Top is a personal favorite of mine from the SS17 Collection. It is light-weight, cotton and perfect for just throwing on during these hot, summer months. And yes, the fact it's bra-optional is an added bonus. With its over-sized fit and easy drape, this piece gives off an air of effortlessness. However, just like achieving that perfect "bed head / I just woke up like this" look, its simplicity is the product of a great deal of effort. Knitting its panels takes about four hours of active work to complete, and the finishing process (hems, seams, ect) takes about another four. Here is a brief overview of the process for creating the Sunlight Top from start to finish, one row at a time...
Read moreOur Collaborators: JOANSIE ROSE, MUA
Although RESPONSIVE TEXTILES is a one-woman operation, it still takes a village. Photoshoots, runway shows, makers markets. All of these projects require me to collaborate with others, whose talents truly bring us to the finish line. With this in mind, I want to start introducing you to the unique and beautiful souls, who work tirelessly behind-the-scenes at RSPNSV photoshoots, and beyond. Let's be real. These individuals are not only kings and queens of their craft, but also as much a part of Team RESPONSIVE TEXTILES as I am.
We are kicking things off with the one and only Brandy Louise Daye, better known as Joansie Rose! She was the first makeup artist I met when I arrived in Georgia. The stars aligned, and fate brought us together...
Read moreProcess: THE STORY BEHIND SS17
Hooray, hooray! It is finally May! I want to jump up, and rhyme all day! Spring is here at last, and so is the launch of our Spring/Summer 2017 collection: Eternal Sunshine! I have been waiting many months to send these limited edition pieces out into the world. Now that these beauties are finally available for order, I want share a closer look into the intention and story behind this collection. Like a mama hen, I love each of my collections for the unique stories they tell. This one, however, is especially near and dear to my heart...
Read moreFrom Kristine: THE QUOTE OF MY YEAR
"When you start these kinds of journeys, it's like you know when is important to you, but you don't necessarily know where you are going. But you know that if you make decisions based on the things that matter to you, wherever you end up is where you needed to go." ~Bjarke Ingels
I normally begin my week with a quote of the day. Bjarke's words, however, are my quote of the year. I have recently been thinking more about my practice since starting RESPONSIVE TEXTILES. How do I work? Why do I work? What does my work say? Am I fulfilling what I set out to do when I began my brand? Have my objectives changed? Through these reflections, I have realized a glaring problem...
Read moreFrom Kristine: FEELING LIKE A QUEEN IN 2017
Happy New Year beautiful souls! It is 2017, and I am feeling like a queen! My heart is open for what is to come and has so much gratitude for the year that just ended. I want to send a huge thank you to all of team RESPONSIVE TEXTILES (every model, photographer, MUA, stylist, collaborator, friend and lover of the handmade)! It is because these many other supportive individuals and talented creatives that this brand can continue to fight the good fight...
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