In an interview with Wallpaper, designer Rogan Gregory, NYC designer famed for his part in putting "premium" back in denim, lays down his thoughts on the eco movement and sustainability.
‘I am definitely
aesthetic-oriented. If I don’t like the way the way something looks but
it’s super-eco, I don’t give a shit. It’s got to look nice.’ He
explains, ‘I’m just not so extreme and I don’t expect people to be so
extreme. I expect people to buy things for the way they look. I don’t
count on people to do it out of the goodness of their heart, I don’t
think you can.’Gregory’s honesty is refreshing. ‘The furniture I make, it’s
steel. It could be a bunch more sustainable, but I like the way it
looks. Blowing glass – not efficient, but it’s existed for thousands of
years. It’s how you define sustainability. I’m not the poster child for
it, but I try to be considerate but sustainable and efficient.’
Refreshing indeed. I’ve been a fan of Rogan’s stuff since his twisted seam, destroyed, red pocket pokin jeans rocked people’s paradigms about how denim should be worn; they were all about the aesthetic then too, glad to see he’s sticking to his guns. Sustainability shouldn’t compromise design; however, there can be some semblance of balance.
Rogan’s way of finding balance is in his different lines; Rogan: "non-eco," straight up clothes, Edun: focused on sustainability and organic materials, and now Rogan Objects: individual pieces of furniture and such made from scratch by hand. The three brands encompass a solid spectrum ranging from traditional (relatively large scale production), to eco conscious (but still marketable), to utter sustainability (recycled, small scale pieces). Looks like a good model to me.
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