The world’s first climate positive period brand, that’s quite the accolade! Co-founder of DAME, alongside Celia Pool, Alec Mills is a friend of Petit Pli. He’s also a parent to 4 LittleHumans (in his own words: 'Goodbye invitations!'). In our words: Clothes that Grow childrenswear could come in handy for the Mills family!
Like us, DAME identified an industry needing innovation and a 21st century re-think, we first met as winners of the Dezeen Awards in 2018 (pictured above). DAME are out to smash taboos on a topic that is fundamental to all human life, all the while unlocking superior sustainability. DAME work to ensure that people with periods everywhere have access to better products, education and resources. So far, they’ve also saved over 12 million plastic applicators from going to landfill.
Based in London and brimming with fun activities for kids, we spoke to Alec about his thoughts and recommendations for the Petit Pli community. We particularly loved the words of advice he’d give to his LitlteHumans, we reckon they strongly apply to us all! Standby for Alec’s 5 Things:
1. Ain't no mountain high enough
There's an awesome climbing gym in Earlsfield where I take the children. It's called The Font. There's always good music in there, collaborative vibe, and clinging to the wall is a guaranteed way to clear your mind.
2. Eyes & Ears
Craft-based activities that require building are a guaranteed win. Kiwi Box do a cool monthly delivery for different ages. There's also nothing better than an old school walkman off Ebay.
3. No Fiction
I'm deeply non-fiction biased, two books I've enjoyed recently are Anya Hindmarch's biography 'If In Doubt Wash Your Hair' and 'A Rolling Stone' by Geordie Stewart, a friend of mine who biked across Asia and wrote a very egoless and honest account of his reasons for doing so, and learnings along the way.
4. LittleHuman Advice
Do what makes you happy. Be kind. Trust your instincts. Don't wake me up early on weekends.
5. DAME Acclaim
Our new product launch happened in July - we've created the world's most comfortable period pants and are excited to get them out there. You can join the waitlist!
Thank you, Alec, for your time, your wonderful work and wise words.
Don’t miss our next Petit Portraits series of 5 things recommendations in our upcoming monthly newsletters. Scroll to subscribe!
The Petit Pli community is abound with amazing creativity and curiosity, July’s ‘5 things’ interviewee is no exception. A lover of colours and expert in sharing climate science through illustration, Qiyun is the face behind The Weird and Wild.
Qiyun graduated with a Bachelors of Environmental Studies from the National University of Singapore, but is a self-taught doodler! She combines technical sustainability expertise with vibrant visuals to make climate issues accessible.
When Petit Pli and The Weird and Wild first launched a 5 things recommendation conversation, we weren’t expecting fantastic illustrations to emerge visualising Petit Pli’s story, mars tests and technical outerwear. But that is Qiyun!
Step into her world:
1. Ecosystem Adventure
I live in Singapore, our small island has amazing intertidal zones and is home to an estimated 23,000 species of terrestrial organisms! I'm fascinated by the incredible creatures that thrive in demanding environments.
2. The 5-9
I started The Weird and Wild to explore sustainability communications in new ways instead of the typical green-blue colourways and jargonistic content. I’m also building a podcast, Climate Cheesecake, and also interactive media platform, Climate Commons.
3. Planetary Wisdoms
Reevaluate the value systems that we’ve been taught to view nature and sustainability. It’ll take time and support to break free from extractive and consumerist notions of what sustainability is.
4. Book Beetles Only
I'm reading a bunch of graphical books on climate change written for children - my current favourite is Beetles for Breakfast by Madeleine Finlay and Jisu Choi.
5. Innovation Inspiration
Petit Pli’s ethos has always drawn me in. Design, innovation and rethinking fashion consumption - brilliant! I also really love visual essays from Nice and Serious on issues such as water conservation.
Thank you, Qiyun, for your time, words and wonderful illustrations.
Don’t miss our next Petit Portraits series of 5 things recommendations in our upcoming monthly newsletters. Scroll to subscribe!
This coming weekend will see much of the UK immersed in an abundance of celebrations for the Queen’s platinum jubilee. A jubilee, by definition, is a special anniversary celebration - an occasion celebrating a landmark passing of time from an important moment in history.
Team Petit Pli recently came across this image of a group of ambitious young astronauts celebrating at the silver jubilee of 1977.
Only a few years ago, we were celebrating the astronomical half century jubilee of Neil Armstrong’s landmark first steps on the moon.
These landmarks really get us thinking about the passing of time and the steps and leaps of progress we make that are worth celebrating.
If we look back to the moment in which this image was taken, the 1970s is a landmark era in fashion, but one which in many ways saw the start of overproduction of cheaper, synthetic clothing. Fast forward to today and we’re proud to be part of a movement tackling overproduction and overconsumption, providing rocket fuel for change and progress.
According to the Pulse of the Fashion Industry report, if the fashion industry addresses the environmental and social fallout of the current status quo, by 2030 the overall benefit to the world economy could be about €160 billion (USD 192 billion).
At Petit Pli, we’re on a mission to challenge the status quo and help mitigate overproduction and waste in the industry, by providing adaptable adultwear and sustainable childrenswear to last many years of child-like hope, celebration and wonder.
Wishing you all a stellar jubilee weekend!
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“A way of life which is in absolute harmony with the environment”
To complete our bank holiday we are transporting you into the world of Greek Yoga Guru Panagiotis Kontis, who is wearing our Mask in Eclipse Black and showing his very impressive levels of flexibility!
I am currently teaching yoga through mindful movement based on either traditional yogic techniques or by evolving old techniques into more modern movement patterns. I also perform Thai massage which is my passion.
I wake up early in the morning and start with some cleansing exercises and meditation. I then have my classes and treatments, with breaks in between to rest and nourish my body.
The love and trust that I had from my students and people that I was treating during that time.
It means a way of life which is in absolute harmony with the environment, where humans protect our ecosystem and our planet. A way of life where there is absolute balance, respect and love.
If I could go back in time, I wouldn't change anything because my experiences shaped me into who I am today. I would however share all the things that have inspired and influenced me in recent years.
A big thank you to Panagiotis for sharing your wise words with us about how our experiences and individual realities shape and mould us into unique individuals!
For more inspiration from Panagiotis you can check his instagram account.
Published: 31/05/21
]]>Hailing from Budapest and based in London, Nagyedi is an independent singer, songwriter, music producer and very cool mamma to her son Mika.
Her latest song is inspired by her relationship with Mika and was written during the first beautiful and challenging weeks of motherhood.
Above is the cover-art for Edi Nagi’s single called “Out of this World” in which her LittleHuman wears one of our first ever suits in Green Ore! Little Mike looks ready to explore the world in his Petit Pli suit.
The song by NAGYEDi is available on every streaming platform & has even been released on NFT!
We are super grateful to Nagyedi for sharing the meaning behind her song with us.
We’ve been listening to it this weekend and would love for you all to do so, too!
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“Look at the past to be able to move forward sustainably”
We are delighted to share our Petit Portrait showcasing the effusive and talented Sreelakshmi. She and her family wear Petit Pli’s Mask.
I spend a lot of time in the world of music and design, both for work as I am a Product Designer, and for fun. I also enjoy making up comic strips in my head and people watching - I love paying close attention to what people say and do!
In the past year, it’s been a combination of working with multiple screens in my room, exercising with cans of tomatoes as dumbbells, elaborately planning walking routes for weekends, feeling embarrassed just after involuntarily blurting out “you’re on mute” on video calls, and attempting to eat food that tastes good every day.
I baked my first cake, and a dozen more since the pandemic began. Didn’t miss a single episode of Time Crisis (an internet radio show). Some virtual concerts I’ve live-streamed have been amazing - but yes, I can’t wait to get back to a concert in real life! I also started doodling more!
My parents come from a small town in Kerala, India, and everything I’ve seen in my grandparents’ houses have an element of sustainability in them. Baskets and mattresses made out of plant by-products, clothes that are passed down for generations and stored in the most durable and hygienic ways…I could go on and on. I’m going to make it a point to look at the past to be able to move forward sustainably.
As a woman, learn to look people in the eye and accept compliments especially when you deserve them. Everyone who’ll ever say your skin is too dark will also conveniently forget to mention you’ll almost never experience a sunburn. 😌 And do not put more pink blush on your face to please them 😇.
Thank you for your time & words, Sreelakshmi!
Published : 27/05/21
Don’t let the fear of not being good enough turn you away from what brings you joy”
This Petit Pli Portrait Blog features Leonora Oppenheim, a visual artist based in the UK. Leonora specialises in the emotional, physical and environmental boundaries of the human body and its connection to the surrounding landscape. Leonora wears our Petit Pli Mask in Orion Blue. Keep reading to find out more about this wonderful, inspiring artist.
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1. What is an average day like ?
No day is exactly the same for me. I might be teaching an embodied practice workshop on Zoom, or working on a design communications project, or making new artwork. Being stuck working from home this past year, like so many, I am trying to be as creative as possible within the limitations of my house. I feel fortunate that I can attend my first year of training as a Feldenkrais (awareness through movement) practitioner from my bedroom floor via Zoom.
2. What does sustainability mean to you?⠀
For a long time, I worked on environmental design communications, where sustainability meant looking after the health of planet Earth for the wellbeing of future generations. I think learning to take care of ourselves, physically and mentally, really builds our capacity to look after planet Earth.⠀
3. What has been the window of joy for you during the pandemic?
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At the beginning of 2020 I moved from London to Somerset, and one thing that brings me joy every day is walking in the fields surrounding the town where I live. It’s been fascinating getting to know this rural English landscape and finding ways of moving through this new topography.⠀
4. If you could go back in time and speak to your LittleHuman self what would you say?⠀
I would say, trust in your love of drawing and making with your hands. Don’t let the fear of not being good enough turn you away from what brings you joy. Learn to listen to your body and trust what it tells you, it’s a lifelong relationship and the most important one you’ll ever have.⠀
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We are so grateful for what we have learned from Leonora! Find out more about the artist and keep up to date with her latest projects on her website.
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“Parenthood to me is the most devastating kind of love”
Emma is a photographer based in the USA! We invited Emma to take part in our portrait series as we felt her adventures with her children deserved to be shared. We were also inspired by her message to her LittleHuman self.
1. What is an average day like ?
My husband and I both work from home for a digital marketing firm called Ring Digital. We are fortunate to have the best nanny most days of the week. We do our normal morning routine together and I take breaks to eat with the boys and go outside with them during the day. Then it's family dinner, a walk in the neighbourhood, bath time and bed. The weekends are for adventures and ice cream!
2. What does parenthood mean to you?
Parenthood to me is the most devastating kind of love. I say devastating because the joy and grief that come from being a parent hold so much weight, but simultaneously we get to discover that our love for our children is a light that brightens everything it touches.
3. What has been a window of joy for you during the pandemic?
A bright spot during the pandemic was moving to a new home that has more yard space and a pond in our backyard. The boys love watching the ducks, our resident Blue Heron, and getting to play ice hockey in the winter with their dad.
4. What does sustainability mean to you ?
Sustainability to me started with my love for thrifting and second-hand and vintage goods. I thrift as much as I can! It also means listening to other people who know more than I do about the small things I can change in my life that have a big impact on our environment . The amazing blogger Aimee has taught me so much over the past two years!
5. What would you tell your LittleHuman self?
If I could go back and tell Little Me something I would hug her and say, “You are bigger than your fears, you are stronger than you think, and you are so loved.”
Thank you so much for taking us into your world, Emma!
“The pandemic has given me the opportunity to try some new hobbies that previously I might not have explored.
We are thrilled to take you all to the West Coast of the United States with our next Petit Pli Portrait featuring Josh, a Product Designer who’s been teaching himself 3D CAD.
1. What do you do?
I work as a product designer for a company called Fictiv, who are looking to revolutionise modern day manufacturing. In my role I’m responsible for helping define and design the online ecosystem we have for ordering precision-made parts on demand. Basically, making our customer experience as good as it can be.
The pandemic has given me the opportunity to try some new hobbies that I might not have explored otherwise. I have been learning how to ski, which is something I’ve always wanted to do but never had time for. I also started teaching myself the 3D CAD tool Blender. It was a great time for self reflection as well and slowing things down to focus on what makes me happy.
Sustainability to me is a mindset and a mission. Being in the design field exposes you to so many companies that are looking to tackle the sustainability problem head-on. It’s exciting to see, and while daunting, I know that each new innovation gets us one step closer to a more sustainable future. It’s going to need to be a collective effort.
4. If you could go back in time to speak to your LittleHuman self what would you say?
I would tell myself that you don’t need to already be good at what you want to do. These days there seems to be this notion that kids should naturally have a knack for whatever field they want to get into. But they call it learning for a reason. It’s learning how to do something that’s the real journey and where you start to define your craft.
The pandemic and lockdown brought us new challenges indeed, but we cannot agree more with Josh that it was also an opportunity for many to explore new interests and hobbies!
Thank you to Josh for sharing your experience with us.
Published: 9/04/21
“I don’t want to buy anything if it’s not going to be with me for the next 5-10 years at least”
Today’s Petit Pli Portrait features Marawa Ibrahim - an LA-based roller skating and hula hooping extraordinaire and founder of consciously sourced and manufactured activewear brand Paradise. Not only does Marawa run her own brand, but she is also the author of ‘The Girl Guide - A Stylish Agony Aunt for Any Girl Growing Up’.
When skating by the beach in LA, her MSK is a necessary companion - the lightweight design is what makes them perfect for active humans! Read on for a look into the joyful mind of Marawa, circus star and conscious consumer.
1. What do you do?
I am always so bad at this question... I run an online shop, but also, I am an International showgirl currently trapped at home.
2. What is an average day like?
Our pandemic time has been like Groundhog Day but kind of nice - sunrise with coffee, lots of breastfeeding, some laptop work, lots of FaceTime with family and friends, cooking, and if it’s not too cold, some gardening.
3. What has been a window of joy for you during the pandemic?
Slowing down! It was a great opportunity to take stock of work and life and cut out anything that wasn’t important, useful, or healthy. Also skating at the beach in the early morning when no one is there kept me sane!
4. What does sustainability mean to you?
Short term fixes, trying to always think long term with any purchases. I don’t want to buy anything if it’s not going to be with me for the next 5-10 years, at least.
5. If you could go back in time to speak to your LittleHuman self what would you say?
In 2019, you will think you should stay in LA for Christmas, but really you should pack up and go back to Australia.
We are forever inspired by Marawa’s way of life and joyful attitude!
]]>We are thrilled to introduce our Petit Portrait subject Christian, who is a real life NHS Hero.
As of March 28th 2021 he has spent 18 years working as an ICU Nurse for the NHS! Christian moved all the way from the Philippines 🇵🇭! to practice in the UK and we could not be more excited to see an NHS hero sporting our Petit Pli Mask.
1. What has been a window of joy for you during the Pandemic?
My window of joy during the pandemic has been walking my dog, Max.
2. What does sustainability mean to you?
For me, sustainability is the ability to maintain and meet today’s needs without compromising the needs of the future generations.
We couldn’t agree more and are very jealous of his daily walks with Max!
Thank you, Christian, for all your efforts during the pandemic!
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“Nothing is created. Nothing Disappears. Everything is just transformed”
This Petit Pli Portrait features the powerful YogiHuman, Kat Pither, founder of Yogi Bare, a sustainable yoga equipment company that will soon be recycling flip flops as part of a secret project. Kat is wearing her MSK in Infrared, which was created in Portugal with our awesome production partners who are 100% CERTIFIED GREEN ENERGY - which means their energy is generated from either water, the sun or organic sources. As Kat would say, her MSK has been created from positive transformation!
Kat’s approach to mindful ways directly translates to her work with Yogi Bare. Keep reading for a glimpse into her world!
1. What do you do?
Aside from causing mischief, I'm the founder of eco conscious high performance brand Yogi Bare. My job is kind of like the nutty professor meets cupid, connecting Yogi’s to their eco soul mates!
2. What is an average day like?
I believe you have to make time for a little day dreaming, so I rise really early just to sit and be with my coffee and delve into my imagination. Sometimes this leads to a poem or an imagination meditation, and sometimes I just revisit rad memories or plan adventures.
I try to stay off screens/emails for these first few hours, because my days are quite chaotic, so I make sure to get my meditation, movement, cold showers and creative time in early. Then, no matter how off-piste things go, I know at least I’ve looked after myself in some small ways.
My days are wild and varied with Yogi Bare – from designing, sourcing and testing new sustainable innovations, to conjuring up all the Yogi Bare creative and marketing, to making sure our rad team is happy and supported – which is the most important thing to me. I’m super lucky that Yogi Bare has enabled me to employ my best friends and they make every day so much fun!
Beyond Yogi Bare, I love to write. My phone notes and notebooks are full of scribbles and little poems – it’s my favourite way to switch off.
3. What has been a window of joy for you during the pandemic?
Noticing the birds. When I feel utterly lost or like an anxious hummingbird, I play this new game with myself and ask myself if I can notice the birds. I try to tune into them and it’s an instant five minute mindful reset.
I’ve also started recording all my imagination meditations and poems to then share them openly and it’s given me so much joy.
4. If you could go back in time speak to your LitlleHuman self what would you say?
Hey little one, if I could tell you anything it’s this: Only you can experience this life, this world, its inexplicable magic and majesty. So follow your own rule book, be bold, be unafraid and unashamed to perceive things your way. Keep your eyes open to the wonders of the day to day. Oh, and don’t shave half your head when you are 16 .. it’ll leave you wonky on top for the next few years.
5. What does sustainability mean to you?
Honesty. Transparency. Slowness. Intention. Awareness. Connection.
And remember this: Nothing is created. Nothing Disappears. Everything is just transformed. This gives a layer of consideration to each purchase. If it’s not disappearing, will it be transformed for good or bad, and how can I help that process?
We are delighted to have gotten the chance to get to know more about Kat and we will be practising her mindful bird listening exercises from now on.
Life can seem overwhelming and stressful but we encourage you fellow humans to take a minute and tune into the birds-and tune into ourselves.
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“The path to sustainability is a journey, and we can all start by taking small steps to get there”
Our next Petit Pli Portrait blog features wonder mother Rachel, who is responsible for Depop's global seller organisation. Rachel began her parenting journey during lockdown and her LittleHuman has been loving conquering mother Earth in our mini bottoms and pullover set in Ferrous Clay. Our Clothes that Grow are made to be lightweight and super soft against the skin so they can be worn as outerwear or on their own! We are so happy to have had the opportunity to get to know Rachel better and get a glimpse of her everyday life as a new parent.
1. What does parenthood mean to you?
Taking on a new role in life, one that for me is incredibly fulfilling. Learning who my daughter is and helping her to navigate the world. Discovering and developing a new relationship.
2. What is an average day like?
A mix of caring for my little one and making time for my own needs too! Lots of smiles, cuddles and discovery. On weekdays I work from home now, so I am lucky to be able to spend my breaks and spare moments with my daughter.
3. What has been a window of joy for you during the pandemic?
The opportunity to focus on my family, hunkering down just the 3 of us. My daughter was a lockdown baby, so seeing her grow brought us a huge amount of joy. The pace of life has also slowed down for us, which has made us more aware of the present moment. I have learnt to appreciate the power of now instead of counting down to future plans!
4. What does sustainability mean to you?
It’s about taking responsibility as an individual and as a society. The path to sustainability is a journey and we can all start by taking small steps to get there. What we collectively choose today as individuals can have a lasting impact on our future generations.
5. If you could go back in time to speak to your LitlleHuman self what would you say?
Worry less, explore what you love more and don’t grow up too fast - there’s plenty of time for adulting!
Taking inspiration from Rachel, we encourage you to look at a sustainable lifestyle like a long slow walk rather than sprint. If we all come together and make small changes, one step at a time, we can make a change for our Mother Earth.
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“Sustainability can and should be applied to several areas, especially fashion”
This Petit Pli portrait blog has been beamed to us from Madrid, Spain, as it features Alicia, one of Petit Pli’s first team members. Alicia is due to take on the world as a new graduate in June 2021 and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for her! For now, however, this little peek into her inspiring mind will do. Read on to find out more!
1. What do you do?
I’m an international relations & communications student living in Madrid! I am passionate about entertainment, cinema, fashion and music. Professionally I’m just a student, but I like to think of myself as a creative explorer and Internet adventurer.
2. What is an average day like?
I keep up with my University work, make sure to do some exercise to keep a healthy mind, and enjoy a bit of reading and a film or two…
I am very lucky that my city’s restrictions are not as strict as others, so I like to meet my friends to grab a drink at a terrace at some point in the day now that the days are longer.
3. What has been a window of joy for you during the pandemic?
My podcast, Podcast SIN FAVOR. It’s my little side project that I started during the very long lockdown in March. It’s my very own space where I can talk about everything I want to. It’s freeing and even therapeutic.
4. What does sustainability mean to you?
Future, opportunity and responsibility. Ever since I worked at Petit Pli, my awareness and attention towards the environment increased. I learned that sustainability can and should be applied to several areas, especially fashion, if we want to take care of our planet and the future generations.
5. If you could go back in time to speak to your LittleHuman self what would you say?
Alicia, hold on tight, the world’s about to go crazy. There’s going to be this thing called Bitcoin, use less plastic and stay strong. Math exams will be over soon!
We are grateful for Alicia and our community of TallHuman supporters in Madrid and we encourage you to have a listen to her podcast SIN FAVOR to hear more from the inspiring Alicia!
“You, and no one else, are entirely responsible for who you are”
This Petit Pli portrait blog features Grace Ho, a product designer and artist in Virginia, USA. When she isn’t going on motorcycle rides with her MSK, you will find her making art or simply watching Netflix on the couch with her husband and two dogs.
Keep reading to learn more about the amazing and innovative Grace.
1. What do you do?
I'm a Product Designer at WillowTree, a digital product company in Virginia, USA. I spend my days dreaming of ways to innovate digital products (mobile apps, TV apps, websites, etc.) with amazing client teams. I'm also an artist at heart and spend weekends crafting with my hands.
2.What is an average day like?
Coffee first, then I always spend a few quiet hours designing when my mind is fresh before meetings and team collaboration times. I spend my evenings on the couch with my husband and two dogs, watching a show or movie.
3. What has been a window of job for you during the pandemic?
We have beautiful mountains in Virginia, so when the weather is warm, my husband and I usually go on motorcycle rides. It's a nice way to be outdoors while being away from people. I also enjoy redecorating my house and making art. Most recently, I picked up some clay, moss, and resin to upgrade a wooden tray I found at a thrift store.
4. What does sustainability mean to you?
Mass production has never been easier. Plastic is a lot cheaper to make, cheaper to buy, and easier to discard, when it then ends up in the ocean or exported to a developing country, supposedly to be recycled. Sustainability, to me, is to understand the devastating effect that plastic consumption and waste has on the environment and humans; to recognize that recycling alone cannot keep up with the volume of plastic waste; and to make critical personal lifestyle adjustments. I reuse as much as possible, buying products designed to last a long time and buying products that recycle plastics to reduce existing waste, like Petit Pli MSK.
5. If you could go back and speak to your LittleHuman self, what would you say?
I’d tell myself: “A lot of people are going to impose their idea of what a woman should be on you. But remember, you, and no one else, are entirely responsible for who you are, what you'll get out of this short life, and how you’ll leave your footprint.”
We aim to give our LittleHumans the same message Grace would to her LittleHuman self, that we are our makers and we decide who we want to be and the impact we want to have on our mother earth.
In our second Petit Portrait, we would like to introduce you to another epic member of our TallHuman community, an epic mask maker by the name of Magnhild Kennedy wearing our Khaki-Ray MSK and her partner in crime Dalston Pier in Infra-Red.
1. What do you do?⠀
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I’m a mask maker. Not the kind that’s useful in a pandemic.⠀
2. What is an average day like?⠀
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Normally I wake up way too late. When I’ve fed myself, I make a big pot of tea and waddle over to my work desk. There I’ll sit sewing for about 10 hours. Whilst working I watch movies back to back. Mostly action or sci-fi/fantasy. I’ll watch anything that has a good speed to it, it helps spur on the work.⠀
3.What has been a window of joy for you during the pandemic?⠀
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The lack of FOMO has been a welcome relief and given me more time to sit and look through books. And I’ve walked a lot! My body is happier than it has been for years.⠀
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4. What does sustainability mean to you?⠀⠀
If you take something useful out, you must put something useful in. For my work I often use stuff that has already done one or several jobs before it ends up on my pieces. For me, that brings a sort if equilibrium to the making, and it gives the work a license to be.⠀
5. If you could go back in time speak to your LittleHuman self what would you say?⠀
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Don’t worry so much about school and get into your hobbies. And floss your teeth!
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If you would like to share your MSK journey please email us at care@petitpli.com.
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We are beyond lucky to have a community of Humans Little and Tall who are as brave as they are bold. And we can’t wait until we can all start seeing each other and sharing our stories in real life!
Until then, we want to share your stories, perspectives and adventures on Planet Earth here in Petit Portraits. Today, we would like you to join us as we travel to Zurich to hear from TallHuman Anne an entrepreneur and chemistry wizz 👩🔬 on a mission to make the outdoor clothing sustainable!
1. What do you do?
I’m a chemical engineer and co-founder of a startup called Dimpora technology. We develop sustainable, functional membranes for the outdoor textile industry. I am very proud of what we (my co-founder Mario and I) have accomplished so far. It’s a bumpy road, but it’s our road.
2. What is an average day like?
50% emails, 30% calls, 15% team and 5% coffee. I’m hoping there will be more lunch and less for emails soon!
3. What has been a window of joy for you during the pandemic?
My new corona hobby is origami! I’ve surprised myself with the patience and care I owe to the waif objects I create. All my friends and family are swimming in origami gifts. I can’t stop folding!
4. What does sustainability mean to you?
For me it’s an approach. I grew up with parents - my mother mainly, who were aware of their impact. But, it was only until I became a Phd student that I realised my job could match a way of life.
5. If you could go back in time speak to your Little Human self what would you say?
This may sound cheesy, but I would tell myself that where there is passion there is possibility, nothing is too difficult. Also, listen to my mother more!
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The powers of clothing are profound. Clothing communicates identity, demarcates time and drives economies. Not only this, clothing enables humanity to thrive beyond our atmosphere. Lab-blended fibres, tightly packed seams and high-strength materials have made space a survivable reality. At Petit Pli, we use space as a probe to seek innovation and find inspiration in the complex systems that allow exploration beyond our Earth.
[The Petit Pli structure stems from a project about deployable space satellites, a project that you can explore here.]
In this blog, we will be looking at the space suit - the clothing and materials that allow us to transcend the human condition.
Astro and cosmonauts were made to live on Earth, not in the extreme conditions found in space. In space, astronauts are exposed to temperature conditions which vary from a chilling -120 degrees Celsius in Earth’s orbit, and a searing 120 degrees in sunlight. Not only this, by leaving Earth’s protective shield they are exposed to high levels of space radiation. This can place astronauts at significant risk for sickness, disease and has the potential to damage the central nervous system. Without the protection of the ozone layer, a year spent in Earth’s low orbit, where the International Space Station resides, results in a dose of radiation 10 times that of the same time spent on Earth.
In addition to radiation, the absence of atmospheric pressure and oxygen has the ability to weaken muscle performance. Without gravity, the body is more susceptible to fractures, fatigue, and bone demineralisation. In the vast vacuum of space, the dangers also comprise of the unpredictable and blistering movement of space debris - travelling at harmful velocities.
To survive in these vast and intimidating conditions, astro and cosmonauts rely on the space suit as a protective tool. To guard against micrometeorites and debris, the space helmet is constructed from the same material found in bulletproof glass, a flexible polycarbonate. The material is used with the aim of absorbing the energy and preventing fatal penetration.
No space suit has ever ruptured in the vacuum and at most astronauts will suffer some discomfort and bruising from the harder components of the suit. The construction of each suit requires careful stitching of seams, sewing and cementing the various high-strength composite materials together – attaching metal parts to intersect the different components. One spacesuit alone weighs approximately 280 pounds on the ground - while in space, a suit weighs nothing. Each part, from upper and lower torso to arms and legs, is made in different sizes to accommodate the individual astronaut and their varying body-types. Every Apollo mission requires 15 suits, custom tailored for each astronaut. While on Earth, the tailored suit is a formal dress for the everyday, in space, the bespoke space suit is a 24/7 survival necessity.
The process of dressing for space is laborious and involves several strict stages of dress. For Apollo 11, the mission that placed Neil Armstrong on the moon in 1969, the astronauts had to first apply a layer of salve, followed by maximum absorbency garments - a rubber bag, tube and waist-mounted collection sac for urine. Next, they would dress in stretched cotton long johns and then ‘don’ their bespoke, multi-layered space suit. After this, they would add two layers of gloves and headgear, the first being a nylon pair for comfort followed by heavier gear that would lock to the suit with aluminium rings. Finally, the astronauts would wear their tight ‘Snoopy Caps’ that held the communication system under a wide, bubble helmet.
Surprisingly, the risks of space walking often occur within the suit itself. In some cases, spacewalkers have been known to cough on the water from their drink bag, and one astronaut experienced temporary blinding after he spluttered on his water, a droplet hit the soapy material of his helmet visor (to prevent fogging) and bounced back into his eye. As tears do not fall in zero-gravity, it can take half an hour for the droplets to evaporate and for vision to return. In 2013, astronaut Luca Parmitano experienced a serious suit malfunction. While on a spacewalk, the helmet of his suit started to fill with water, posing the danger of drowning. Though he made it back to the airlock, there was an excruciating wait for the hatch to repressurise before they could remove his helmet. At mission control, they considered advising to carry out an emergency repressurisation to speed up the process and get off Parmitano’s helmet, but this could have seriously damaged his hearing. In the end, Parmitano made it out and his helmet was removed – with over a litre of water estimated to be inside. Engineers found that contamination had clogged one of the suit's filters, causing water from the suit's cooling system to back up.
Despite the dangers of space exploration, with thanks to innovation and technology humans can now survive and succeed in these conditions. Here, clothing is designed to support observation, discovery and future pioneers. At Petit Pli, we share this desire to clothe the future of humanity, but instead starting with our little pioneers - the next generation. Our mission is to provide a protective and transformative tool for exploration on Earth. To reduce our environmental impact by applying this innovation to garment design, extending the life of our clothes and encouraging the next generation to value their second skin - our original technology.
]]>On the southernmost tip of the planet, human life is sparse. The icy continent of Antarctica is the only landmass on Earth without a native human population. However, the windiest and driest place on Earth is now a temporary residence to a chiliad of polar workers, a population of operatives that quadruple in the 0°C summers, surviving and working in the 200 mph winds and bitter conditions. While the solitary human has not evolved to survive the cold extremities and perilous landscape of Antarctica, with thanks to composite materials and the transformative power of clothing, inhabiting the boundless polar desert is now possible. Humanity can now rely on versatile clothing that encourages limitless exploration - designed to support movement, to protect from the outer elements and that is made to last.
With temperatures that can plummet below -60°C, surviving and working in the numbing condition of Antarctica requires careful consideration of clothing and gear. Antarctic apparel and equipment must reduce the risk of injury from the harsh temperatures, severe winds and UV radiation - as well as consider the threat of avalanches, cornice collapses and copious crevasses. Before the introduction of technical fibres and materials, now the second skin to modern-day polar workers, Antarctic explorers would wear natural fabrics - camel-hair fleece suits and leather jackets covered with layers of fur from reindeers and wolves. The biggest problem with these materials was the moisture retention as clothing and sleeping bags would retain liquid and perspiration which would then freeze into solid cocoons of ice. With the sweat from man-hauling and dog sledding, as well as the moisture from the surrounding icy surfaces, clothing from early exploration would quickly become uncomfortable and dangerous once it started to freeze.
In the Arctic, the Inuit inhabitants would reduce the danger of perspiration by wearing loose fitting furs for ventilation while working, that could then be drawn tighter in colder conditions when at rest. For protection against sea spray and sleet, Inuit men and women would dress in parkas constructed from sea mammal intestines. The intestines and membranes would undergo several washings, peelings and scrapings with a blunt tool before being constructed with a waterproof stitch to minimise exposure to the outer elements.
Meanwhile, in the southern polar desert, explorers quickly became prone to frostbite, hypothermia, cold water shock and non-freezing cold injuries – the Antarctic version of trench foot. Without effective equipment, the extreme cold climate causes the body temperature to drop dangerously low, and as the body responds by narrowing blood vessels - blood flow to the extremities is decelerated and the tissue fluid freezes into ice crystals - resulting in frostbite.
The need to develop effective polar clothing became a question of survival, not just comfort.
The most significant change in Antarctic clothing came with the development of the layer system. Established in the Heroic age, the layer system is still practiced today as an effective protective structure and method for controlling body heat. The idea is to have a base layer that wicks away sweat, followed by a comfortable insulating layer designed to trap air, and a windproof outer shell to protect from the elements. Today, the layer system has developed with the introduction of man-made fibres, technical insulating materials and zip fasteners. Using man-made materials has become vital to ensure safe and successful operation in Antarctica. Polymer fibres reflect moisture and perspiration, therefore reducing the risk of freezing.
With thanks to the power of moisture-wicking materials and technical ventilating fabrics, Antarctic conditions have become hospitable and accessible for discovery. Antarctic clothing acts as an armour for those who seek to understand and solve our planet’s environmental situation. While effective polar clothing has made these conditions survivable, right now - the survival of humanity depends on slower consumption and the need to extend the life of our clothes. At Petit Pli, our suits have been designed with this in mind. Designed to support movement, to transcend the average garment use and to protect from the outer elements. Like the layer system, Petit Pli is created with durable, versatile materials - acting as an effective tool to support exploration and encourage a more innovative, sustainable and wearable future.
Over & Out
The Petit Pli Team
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What do Hannibal Lecter, Lex Luthor, Darth Vader and plastic share in common?
The answer is nestled in the title of this week’s blog - they are all modern-day villains! However, plastic is the only villain in our riddle which isn’t a work of fiction.
The problems caused by plastic use and misuse are very real. But, like all beloved baddies of literature and film our nemesis called plastic isn’t wholly evil, just a little misunderstood!
Misunderstandings are often solved by taking a step back, plastic is no exception. By stepping back into plastic’s past we learn that its first uses were wholly noble, even heroic. In the1800s everything from combs, piano keys, false teeth, buttons, pens and billiard balls were made using ivory. Mass manufacture of ivory items in the 1800s was caused by a European frenzy for elephant tusk products; at the peak of the trade 800–1000 tonnes of elephant ivory left Africa for Europe. The mass export of ivory destroyed elephant herds in central and eastern Africa and caused irrevocable damage to indigenous communities. Further, ivory products were expensive and inaccessible to many. However, in 1862 a man named Alexander Parkes created “a substance hard as horn, but as flexible as leather, capable of being cast or stamped, painted, dyed or carved”. The material — Parkesine, the first man-made plastic and ideal ivory substitute.
Parkesine had little commercial success but its creation opened the doors for John Wesley Hyatt to invent a plastic called Celluloid. Celluloid could mimic ivory, imitate the veining of marble and the translucency of semi-precious gems. But more importantly, unlike Parkesine it could be made en masse. Celluloid outperformed its natural competitors in strength, pliability and production efficiency. But the pros of celluloid extend beyond the physical, its invention democratised luxury goods. Pianos, jewellery and teeth became accessible to the many instead of the few, resulting in society moulding itself ‘fantastically’ anew.
By creating materials that transcend nature the ‘Plastic Age’ transformed reality. We live faster, longer and safer lives because of the material. Planes, trains and cars are safer, lighter, more powerful and more fuel efficient. Medical equipment is cheaper and easier to maintain. Home appliances are safe to handle — even with wet hands! And man-made plastics have opened up the doors for computers to compliment our lifestyle. Though plastic has made our lives more convenient its misuse and rampant disposal inconveniences nature. Plastic’s presence in our rivers and seas is looting our oceans of its marine life and robbing our Earth of its health. Every year marine environments are greeted with 8 -12 million tonnes of plastics and if current plastic disposal rates are sustained, by 2025 our oceans are expected to contain 1 tonne of plastic for every 3 tonnes of fish.
Fortunately, the villainous acts of plastic are human-made, meaning they can be human-fixed! To ensure plastic remains above sea-level, together we must adapt the entire plastics value chain. Our plastic bags, boxes and cutlery are valuable resources that should remain on-land and in use. To ensure our plastic products remain on land and in use policy makers can create regulations which encourage sustainable consumption and reuse of plastics, designers can reframe how we value plastics by repurposing plastic waste into pencils, jumpers and furniture, and engineers can create new materials from recycled plastic stocks. However, the efforts of designers, engineers and policymakers will be moot if human behaviours aren’t refashioned in time. For this reason, Petit Pli has been designed with slow consumption in mind. By our clothes being able to grow, not only do they extend the use-life of plastics, they act on a psychological level — instilling sustainable behaviours in the next generation. Along with inspiring the next generation to consume sustainably Petit Pli’s designs reframe the value of plastic and make recycling a doddle; all our suits consist of a monofibre construction — making them significantly easier to recycle than blended fibres! Petit Pli hopes that in the future more designers will embrace circular design principles and humanity’s behaviour shifts to support sustainable object production and use.
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Whoosh. Click. Briinng-briinnng. Boop. Bzzzz.
Sound familiar? It should do. It’s the soundtrack of the 21st century, performed by an orchestra of our most beloved technologies — consumer electronics. These devices do more than pierce (and punctuate) sacred silences, they enable us to conduct our lives with greater efficiency. As a result, gadgets have become an integral part of our lives — leaving some of us believing that life cannot be lived without them!
Fitbits may help keep us fit, and iPhones keep us incredibly connected but neither provide warmth or shelter. However, there does exist a technology which is more pervasive than the consumer electronic, used more intensively and is one we really cannot live without. This technology has no song. Yet it has defined, changed and shaped the world we live in. The technology furthers our physical abilities and acts as our second-skin. It has many forms, t-shirts, jeans and socks are just a few! The device in question is cloth — humanity’s original technology and our silent hero.
Our world is surrounded in cloth. We use it to frame windows, cushion floors and catch winds to foreign shores. Along with our world, cloth surrounds us! We fold ourselves into its creases during sleep and are swaddled in it like a spool at birth. Ahead of leaving our homes with brushed teeth, minty breath and wide eyes we put on at least two layers of the stuff — four if you’re living in the UK! Clothes are one of our most vital possessions and their role more fundamental than maintaining a social facade. Clothes guard us. They shield us from the perils of the natural world and allow us to enter environments our skin cannot provide protection for.
Our skin accounts for approximately 16% of our body weight. It shields our soft tissues from puncture and prevents infection. Along with being a physical barrier, our skin acts as an interface between our external environment and our internal hard-drive, the brain. When our skin senses changes in temperature and pressure our body listens. On cold winter nights, our skin signals for the hairs on its surface to stand up — creating an insulating layer. Most often this blanket of trapped air is not enough to keep our bodies running at a toasty 37℃. In such an event, our bodies react by telling us our best two options for keeping our internal systems firing at all cylinders:
1. We need to pick-up our pace
2. We need to run back inside and throw on a trusted scarf
Most of us would choose option 2. Option 2 satisfies long-term needs. And enables us to enjoy standing and surrendering our nose to collect flakes of snow, walk an extra 30 minutes with a date and affords us the the opportunity to watch a sunrise over a windy moor without numb toes. Option 2 unlocks new possibilities.
Clothing has opened possibilities for humanity to explore beyond the terrestrial environment. Lab-blended fibres have allowed humans to survive crushing depths in the Pacific, sit atop Everest and make outer-space hospitable. They are the ultimate piece of wearable technology. Despite these feats and our basic need for clothes we have lost respect for them. We bury our clothes ahead of mending them — with serious environmental consequences. It is estimated that each year £140 million worth of clothing enters landfill and our unused clothing is worth approximately £30 billion.These numbers are shocking, but suggest opportunity — an opportunity to design clothes that won’t endanger our future. The average lifetime of an item of clothing in the UK is estimated as ~2.2 years. However, if clothing life was extended by nine months carbon and water footprints can be reduced by 20–30% each. With LittleHumans growing seven sizes in their first two years on Earth, the life of their clothing can be extended if we create clothes that grow with them! By doing so, not only do we stand to reduce our environmental impact we hope to inspire the next generation to value their second-skin, our original technology.
Over & Out,
The Petit Pli Team
Hello Fellow Humans,
What is the value of water? We drink it, we bathe in it. It’s so essential that it factors into every aspect of our daily existence, including the clothes we wear. Yes, there is no life without water — and there’s no fashion either. Despite this, we tend to put little thought into where our water is coming from or how much of it we’re consuming. And all the while we’re running dry the well of Earth’s most essential resource.
Fashion has an extraordinary impact on freshwater resources around the world. Every stage of a typical garment’s life cycle requires excessive amounts of water and can be extremely polluting. Today, the greatest consumption of water occurs at the earliest stage during the growing or synthesis of textile fibres. In contemporary cotton agriculture, anywhere from 10 to 20 million litres is used to yield just 1 kilo of cotton, equivalent to your favourite pair of jeans. This thirsty crop is often farmed in regions with high water stress or water scarcity, even resulting — in tandem with the effects of a warming climate — in the desertification of the Aral Sea region in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Unfortunately, the latter stages of a garment’s life cycle are similarly wasteful, as both its factory finishings through chemical dyes and processes and regular presence in our washing machines take a heavy toll on freshwater resources.
But perhaps the greater threat posed by our modern clothing production methods on freshwater resources is contamination. Agriculture contributes through the use of harmful pesticides and fertilisers that seep into run-off, which then finds its way to the nearest body of water. There it is joined by the waste of nearby factories responsible for the synthesis of fibres and the dyeing of textiles. Thus, the water supply that local residents use for drinking, cooking, and bathing is poisoned with agricultural chemicals and textile dyes so toxic that they are prohibited in certain countries for their disruptive hormonal and carcinogenic properties.
When access to clean water is as simple as the turn of a faucet, it can be easy to take for granted that which is a precious resource for too many others. The fact is, almost half the world’s population will suffer from high water stress under continued current conditions of water pollution and overconsumption. So what can we do? Most importantly, we can buy sustainably by looking at labels and doing research to find out what materials clothes are made of and where they come from. But even as conscious consumers, washing clothes is presently unavoidable; and that’s why clothes with the capacity to stay fresh longer are pertinent to future fashion innovation! In the meantime though, be mindful of every wash and only run the machine when there’s a full load. There’s also no shame in taking a sniff, checking for stains, and seeing if you can get one more wear out of that top or those jeans!
There is no fashion without H2O — so remember to ask yourself, “What’s the deal with water and what I wear?”
Over & Out,
The Petit Pli Team
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