Academy of Art University School of Fashion, San Francisco, CA
Textile design students launch one-of-a-kind organic cotton tote bags
spring/summer 2009


Art pieces instead of plastic bags

On 21st May 2009 textile design students from the School of Fashion at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, have presented over 100 one-of-a-kind tote bags made of organic cotton with artful eco-friendly water-based ink illustrations. The total purchase of the bags goes to the student scholarship fund.

The trainers
The students are trained by experts such as the journalist and illustrator Gladys Perint Palmer, executive director of fashion, who is working at the time on her second and third books 'Fashion Bible' and 'You are not on The List' gladysperintpalmer.com, or Simon Ungless, director of fashion. The graduate from Central St. Martins School of Art and Design (1992) is a specialist in fashion design, textile design, forecasting, brand development, and marketing. He has collaborated with Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Paul Smith (interview with Paul Smith in June 2009 about "The Unexpected" beautyme.com/fragrance/
2009/paulsmith6-2009.htm), Versace etc.

fig.: Tote bag by Sarah Appiah, spring/summer 2009.

Tote bag with 'Care Instruction'
The aim of the students was to reduce the use of plastic bags with an artful alternative. Inside each bag you can find following ‘Care Instruction’:

"I am a one-of-a-kind creation made with love by an Academy of Art University Textile Design student. Only the most earth-friendly cotton and dyes were used to produce me. Fill me with groceries and picnics. The day when I become too threadbare to be worn, repurpose me into a print for your wall. The planet will thank you for creating art and not waste. As an added karmic boost, all profits go to the student scholarship fund."


About the School of Fashion
Established in 1929, Academy of Art University is the largest accredited private art and design school in the U.S. with over 13,000 students throughout San Francisco as well as nationally and internationally through the growing online program with ten areas of specialization: Fashion Design for Womenswear, Menswear, and Childrenswear; Technical Design; Textile Design; Knitwear Design; Accessory Design; Costume Design; Fashion Illustration; Fashion Journalism; Fashion Merchandising and Visual Merchandising.

Responsible for the global success of the online educational program is Ellen Sears, the director of online fashion. She has collected experience at companies such as Macy's, Burberry, The Limited and Jones Apparel Group. Ellen Sears is a graduate of the University of California www.academyart.edu.


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