“Design For a Living World” – High Fashion and Design Meet Conservation in New Photo Exhibit
Photograph courtesy of Ami Vitale
Photographer Ami Vitale has motored the highest pass in Kashmir, dodged rampaging elephants in India, and photographed the spirit lions of Tanzania. She has tracked snow leopard in Nepal and watched sea lion clubbing in Oregon. But until recently Vitale, one of our favorite photographers (and ADVENTURE contributors), had never ventured into the high-stakes world of fashion and design. That all changed on Wednesday night, when Vitale’s latest endeavor, “Design for a Living World,” a project conceived and executed by The Nature Conservancy, debuted at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City. The initiative paired famous designers with sustainable products from around the world. Fashion designer and TV personality Isaac Mizrahi traveled to Alaska and designed a runway-worthy dress out of salmon leather, a material used by Lewis and Clark (it’s three times stronger than cow leather!). Jewelry designer Muehling transformed Micronesian vegetable ivory and ocean-harvested black and Keishi pearls into a series of bracelets and necklaces. Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam Memorial, worked with Maine timber. Yves Béhar went to Costa Rica. And Ami was there to capture it all. The project, a year in the making, will run in New York until January 2010, before traveling the country.
Related Topics
Go Further
Animals
- This ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thoughtThis ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought
- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
Environment
- Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?
- The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
History & Culture
- Meet the original members of the tortured poets departmentMeet the original members of the tortured poets department
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
Science
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
Travel
- Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico