Isaac Mizrahi's Sustainable Salmon Leather Dress

One view of Isaac Mizrahi’s sustainable salmon leather dress. Photo from Nature Conservancy

A Saturday afternoon trip to Chicago’s Field Museum was rife with knowledge. Not only did I get to experience the new Whales: Giants of the Deep exhibition, but I was also able to walk through the Nature Conservancy’s traveling exhibit, Design for a Living World.

“Sustainable design” is very much on the minds of every industry, not only because it’s “in” right now, but because it is in everyone’s best interest to curb consumption, conserve materials and support communities. Design for a Living World explores sustainable design through the work of ten designers, who use sustainable materials from around the world in their work. There are stories behind each material, from how they are sourced to the communities who subsist on economizing them.

The featured materials include chicle latex (from Central America), hardwood and jipipapa (a fiber derived from palm leaves) and bamboo. A favorite of the collection, though, and truly deserving of being called “worldly style” was Isaac Mizrahi’s use of salmon leather. Yes, that Isaac Mizrahi and yes, salmon leather.

According to the Nature Conservancy, the food industry—particularly within fish processing—discard large amounts of potentially useful material as byproducts from canneries and smoking plants. Salmon leather, which is derived from descaling salmon skin, doesn’t require the same chemicals used in traditional tanning—acid and lime, both of which are toxic yet disposed of in environments. In an effort to restore fish habitats in places like Alaska, where salmon is a central factor in the economy, the Conservancy hopes to create a renewable resource in the manufacturing of salmon leather.

Mizrahi’s salmon leather dress features the material in sequin-like discs called paillettes sewn onto chiffon. Mizrahi left the leather undyed, showing off its natural ivory hue and scaly texture. He then used more discarded salmon leather for a matching pair of open-back heels. The outfit is an elegant use of sustainable materials, though it doesn’t seem to be available to consumers as of yet. In an interview with Smithsonian Magazine (dated April 2009), the designer says the availability of fish leather on the mass market is “within the realm of possibility”.

If any designer can make salmon leather look half as good as Mizrahi, then we’re all in for a treat.

Design for a Living World runs through November 13 at Chicago’s Field Museum.

Historic Maps as Art

Japanese crane print by Jason LaFerraraNot gonna lie: Sometimes, it’s hard to find Worldly Style inspiration when you haven’t left your hometown in a while (exhibit A: myself). Often, one has to hit the internets for something to pique one’s interest. Well, thanks to Design*Sponge, we’ve got something that does just that: Jason LaFerrara’s prints created from old maps.

Nothing says “travel” quite like the thin, well-worn lines of a map, and LaFerrara’s prints tell another story, that of the fauna pertaining to the particular region used in the piece. Yes, sometimes all one needs is a good map to tell a story of a journey, but there is something to be said about LaFerrara’s work: it interweaves a natural narrative in with his chosen medium, in much the same way a map itself tells the story of a journey and a place.

There are a ton of prints in LaFerrara’s Etsy shop, with prices ranging from $50 to $200. The Japanese Crane print (seen above) is one of the artist’s newest work, and all proceeds from sales of the print benefit the Red Cross’s Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Relief. There are only 18 available, however, so get your hands on it fast.

Baggage Claim: Erika Nelson of World's Largest Things

Erika Nelson, founder and curator of The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things, talked to Galavanting about what she packs when she hits the road.

1. Notebook: “I do bring my laptop sometimes, but not always. What I love about these trips is that i can unplug and just say ‘you know what, I’m on the road, why do I need to be distracted by checking my email or Facebook statuses?’ I love focusing on the map, finding the next big thing and enjoying the road trip.

2. Rand McNally’s Atlas: No TomTom or Garmins for Nelson, who prefers the old school charm of her trusty Rand McNally. “It’s pretty tattered. I don’t always have mobile computing, so when I hear about a [world’s largest monument,] I make a note and immediately make a circle on the map so I can swing by later. [The atlas] really ends up being a list of what’s large, where.”

3. Camera: “I use whatever I have. I was using a Canon film camera for a while, but now use a little point and shoot.” Certainly not a point-and-shoot, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is but one camera to consider, especially for the intrepid travel photographer. At 21.1 megapixels with an ISO range upwards of 6400, the EOS 5D is an ultra-sensitive, full-frame camera which delivers smooth shots everytime. Pulling double-duty, it also has a Live View mode, which enables users to shoot broadcast-quality HD video capture.

4. Truck: You can’t really hit the road without wheels. “That’s really all I need for a roadtrip,” says Nelson. The Mobile Museum (pictured), has since been retired, due in large part to prohibitive gas prices. Instead, the models are part of a sideshow setup, channeling the same kitsch appeal of the monuments Nelson documents. 

5. Toothbrush/clothes: “It kind of goes without saying.”

Photos by: Canon EOS 5D Mark II from store; notebook by rachelyra; Rand McNally Atlas from store; toothbrush by oskay; World’s Largest Things Mobile Museum photo by Erika Nelson for World’s Largest Things, Inc.

Terminally Hip: Ebony @ London Victoria Station

Galavanting is proud to announce a new regular feature: Terminally Hip! We’ll be keeping a fashionable eye out for travelers with a certain pep in their step and feature their photos in Worldly Style. There’s a lot of style out there, beyond what you see in the magazines. It only makes sense to show-off how we galavant, beyond just the destinations. Twice a month, we’ll bring you photo dispatches from around the globe with travelers in transit: at the airport, the bus stop, the train station, on cruises.

The journey is just as important as the destination, so why not look great while you’re on the move? Without further ado, let’s introduce you to the first in what we hope to be many street style photos from around the world!

Name: Ebony

Traveling from: Leeds via London to her home in Brighton, by train.

Station: London Victoria Station

Ebony wears her belt effortlessly cocked to the side as she travels home to Brighton. She’s dressed casually, yes, but not in the seemingly de rigeur travel uniform of sweats and oversized shirts. Ebony is comfortable yet still expresses her sense of style and ease. Her scarf is a great color and subtly matches the belt. Coupled with her smile and (wonderfully) windswept hair and you’ve got a traveler who makes it all look so easy!

Photo by Candace Rose Rardon. If you have photos of particularly stylish galavanters, send them to joseph [at] gogalavanting.com and it may just be featured!

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Candace Rose Rardon is a freelance writer, part-time photographer, sometime musician, and full-time lover of mochas and Moleskins. Although originally from Virginia, she is now based in London, where she is studying towards a Master’s in Travel Writing from Kingston University, and recent published stories have covered working in New Zealand, saving money in Macau, and cycling in Denmark. You can join her on the road less taken on her blog, Rare Travels, or follow her adventures on Twitter

Goods That Do Good: World of Good

It’s one thing to want nice things. It’s another when buying nice things do nice things for nice people. That’s where World of Good comes in. A one stop shop for buying artisanal and socially, environmentally responsible goods, this eBay shop gives back with every purchase.

Sometimes, though, it’s not enough to say something “does good.” Consumers often have to do some of their own research rather than rely on a product’s marketing. Luckily, World of Good verifies all of their products, sellers and producers; each item tells you which Trust Provider (”an organization with a stated mission of promoting social or ecological good”) verified the product.

What more, you’ll also see what kind of impact you’d make when purchasing the product (eBay’s Goodprint system). Goodprint breaks down positive impacts by category. People Positive promotes empowerment of a culture, producers and communities. Eco Positive goes beyond “going green,” letting consumers know if a product is carbon neutral, can be recycled or is sustainably harvested, amongst other things. Animal Friendly is exactly how it sounds, while the last category, eBay Giving Works, lets consumers know if sales of the product go to a non-profit organization.

There’s a lot to check out at this extensive online retailer, but we thought we’d highlight just a few of our favorites. 

[1] Kionda Bag made from recycled plastic: The Sisal Sister, a collective of 60 women in Kakuyuni, Kenya, craft these traditional bags from recycled plastic. This process is indigenous to the village and though traditionally used to carry vegetables and other goods, they make for colorful, well-made totes.

[2] Mata Traders Fair Trade Tie Top: This easy, breezy tunic is just one of many sale-priced items from Mata Traders, which sources fair trade goods handmade in India by women co-ops and artisanal groups. These producers are paid a livable wage and work from home or in small workshops, as opposed to factories. Mata’s goods also utilized fair trade certified cotton, which benefits small family farms. The clothing itself uses traditional materials, like eco-friendly vegetable dyes.

[3] Hemp SnoTire: Made from certified organic cotton lining, hemp uppers, PET laces (from soda and water bottles and rubber from old car tires, these shoes are insanely eco-friendly. Simple Shoes are simply worth checking out.

[4] Recycled Feed Bag Messenger Bag: Recycled feed bags are crafted into these cotton-lined messenger bag. Colorful as well as durable, no two bags come out exactly the same. The best part? They’re handcrafted in Cambodia by disabled and disadvantaged women, who are paid in excess of the fair trade guide minimum wage standard.

[5] “Atlantis” Handmade Hammock:  This handmade hammock is beautiful, utilizing traditional Mayan techniques. The Maya Artists of the Yucatan pay above the fair trade minimum while also employing marginalized ethnic groups, according to the Trustology system.

Check out World of Good for more planet-positive goods.