GUILDED: Where Philosophy Becomes Practice -- Indiegogo

Our Story

After years of working in the fashion industry, we realized what a destructive impact the clothing and textile industry can have on communities, environments and economies around the world, so we committed ourselves to researching and promoting sustainable design as a solution.

The information on sustainability that is currently available can be confusing, misleading and incomplete. Our mission is to build the centralized resource and standardized vocabulary for sustainable design that doesn't yet exist in in fashion and textiles.

Press Coverage to Date:

Ecofabulous: "Raising Money for Sustainable Design Education"

Treehugger: "Announcing GUILDED, A New School for Sustainable Design in New York"

Ecouterre: "Interview: Bahar Shahpar and Tara St James Talk Sustainable Design Education at GUILDED"

Ecosalon: "GUILDED's go-go girls"

Our Impact

We've written a curriculum of Sustainable Design Fundamentals that will be offered as seminars in our studio in downtown NYC, but also (and more importantly) as a series of online interactive webinars that will be accessible to people around the world.

Ultimately this isn't just about us, this is about an entire community of dedicate people who want to learn.

To give you an idea of the ground we'll cover, here are the class titles for our

101 Series: Sustainable Design Fundamentals

Clarifying the Confusion: Defining Sustainable Fashion

Fibers & Fabric: An Analytical Comparison

Fair Trade & Labor: How Important Are They in the Big Picture?

Producing in New York City: Is It Still Possible?

Dyeing Decisions: Is Any Dye Process Sustainable?

Custom Textile Development: If You Can't Find It...Make It!

Zero Waste Design: Does It Really Make a Difference?

Local Production: Building Efficient Supply Chains

China: What's the Big Deal?

Brand Positioning: Telling the Story of Sustainability

We have the information creative professionals need, and we believe the best way to get it out there is to build an entirely new platform for professional education. With GUILDED, we're creating customized learning modules and immersion training for entrepreneurs, designers and corporate teams. We're offering seminars and workshops in sustainable methods and practices, as well as master classes in artisan techniques. Class topics range from design and production to business administration to lifestyle tools - but every educational experience, whether in-person or online, one-on-one or in a group, is designed to provide students with strategic, practical, relevant and immediately accessible tools for implementing and activating sustainable design thinking into their business and products.

What We Need & What You Get

What we actually need is $40,000 (but our campaign is for $15,000 because it is the bare minimum necessary to launch our education program in the Fall). Here's where the money will go:

furniture for the classrooms

technology tools (i.e., projector, screen)

web development to build an interactive classroom for remote seminars
producing community education events
statistical analysis and market research
designer surveys and beta testing with industry experts
creating seasonal trend reports

production for first series of video seminars teaching (101 Series: Sustainable Design Fundamentals)

videography
lighting
sound
editing and post-production

We want to do this right, not halfway or "good enough". The fashion industry needs a wake-up call, but it won't pay attention unless the education we're offering is meticulously packaged and well-presented. It IS the fashion industry, after all! And we're doing this all on our own, no other funding, so the more money we raise, the more professionals we can reach.

Other Ways You Can Help

GUILDED is committed to social and environmental leadership, but we need your leadership as well! Help us share our mission by passing this on to your friends, writing about it on your blogs, connecting through Facebook and Twitter, and by coming to our seminars and workshops right here at the studio.

For more information, visit our website here.

PHOTO CREDITS...
HP Unlocking Your Energy. 2011 Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Ecosystem, Spoken Glass, A Perfume Organic, Blades Natural Beauty, Source4Style, Spa St James (Montreal) Apotheke (NY), The Fat Radish (NY)

EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS...
To our amazing interns for their enthusiastic editing and megaphone-making...to our patient families for their endless support...to our community for giving us the space to grow into the leaders we are...to Oliver for #winning (a huge trophy)...and to dark chocolate for bringing us back from the edge of insanity.

Team on This Campaign:

GUILDED state
Bahar Shahpar
Co-Ruler
Tara St James
Co-Ruler
Katelyn Ridgeway
Studio Elf
Stefanie Iris Weiss
Ecosexpert
Starre Vartan
Travel Warrior and Wordsmith
Meghan Sebold
Architect of Artisanship
Elizabeth Cloyd
Fabric Forager
Abigail Doan
Fiber-Arts Superhero
David Radparvar
Regulator of Radness
Jessica Marati
Cheerleader for Change

0.579 Complete

$8,685

Raised of $15,000 Goal

0 time left

Flexible Funding campaign

This campaign received all of the funds contributed on Fri Aug 05.

Perks

for your contribution

$10 ECOSYSTEM NOTEBOOK

We will send you an Ecosystem notebook made from post-consumer recycled paper in 1 of 4 flashy colours! Plus a HUGE thank you on our website!
$20 STUDY NY POCKET SQUARE

We will send you a Study NY hand-stitched pocket square made from vintage and sustainable fabrics. And of course a HUGE thank you on our website!
$20 COPY OF "STYLE, NATURALLY"

We will send you a copy of the colorful guide to being stylishly green, "Style, Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion & Beauty," signed by the author (and our good friend) Summer Rayne Oakes. And of course a HUGE thank you on our website!
SOLD OUT! - 3 Claimed
$20 SPOKEN GLASS ENGRAVED BOTTLE

We will send you a beautiful 1 liter, swing-top bottle engraved with an inspirational message by Spoken Glass in Venice, CA. Let this be the way you kick your plastic water bottle habit! And of course a HUGE thank you on our website!
SOLD OUT! - 3 Claimed
$20 COPY OF "ECO CHICK"

We will send you a copy of "The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to Be Fabulously Green," signed by the author (and our good friend) Starre Vartan. And of course a HUGE thank you on our website!
SOLD OUT! - 10 Claimed
$25 FREE SEMINAR AT GUILDED

You will receive one free seminar of your choosing (upcoming seminars can be found on our website). --valued at $30-40 Plus we will stencil your name on our studio wall for everyone to see. And of course a HUGE thank you on our website!
$25 SKINCARE GIFT PACK

We will send you a gift pack from our favorite natural skincare expert, Jessa Blades of Blades Natural Beauty, consisting of a soothing herbal bath tea and calendula rose cleansing facial grains (yum!) --valued at $33. Plus we will stencil your name on our studio wall for everyone to see. And of course a HUGE thank you on our website!
SOLD OUT! - 5 Claimed
$45 ACAI NECKLACE

From the Andean Collection, a multi-strand acai necklace (retail value $55). Plus we will stencil your name on our studio wall for everyone to see!
$50 A PERFUME ORGANIC

We will send you a full-sized bottle from our favourite natural perfumer, A Perfume Organic, who created a custom scent for the FW11 Study NY collection. You will also receive a polaroid depicting your backer number in a creative way (think of it as mini art). Plus we will stencil your name on our studio wall for everyone to see. And of course a HUGE thank you on our website!
SOLD OUT! - 5 Claimed
$50 SUSTAINABLE FABRICS

Receive $100 worth of organic and sustainable fabrics of your choosing. Come to our studio in NY and select from an array of our stock, prices start at $5 per yard. You will also receive a polaroid depicting your backer # in a creative way (think of it as mini art). Plus we will stencil your name on our studio wall for everyone to see. And of course a HUGE thank you on our website!
$50 WORKSHOP

One free workshop of your choice (upcoming workshops can be found on our website). --valued at $75-150 if purchased on our site You will also receive a polaroid depicting your backer number in a creative way (think of it as mini art). Plus we will stencil your name on our studio wall for everyone to see. And of course a HUGE thank you on our website!
$50 YOGA SESSION

Private yoga session with one of our esteemed certified yoga instructor friends, trained in vinyasa flow yoga. You will also receive a polaroid depicting your backer number in a creative way (think of it as mini art). Plus we will stencil your name on our studio wall for everyone to see. And of course a HUGE thank you on our website!
$50 SPA SERVICE AT SPA ST JAMES

Your choice of a facial, massage OR pedicure at the world famous Spa St James in Montreal (each valued at over $85). You'll want to buy more than one of these once you've been to this incredible spa (of course, we're a little bias).
$60 SUPAYANA GREY SLEEVENECK TOP

These blouses are made with vintage mens' button up shirts. They have flutter sleeves, elastic at the waist, and an interesting neckline made with the original sleeves. Valued at $64 on etsy. Plus polaroid art and all the thank you's.
$100 PROSE NECKLACE BY DLC BROOKLYN

Mixed vintage chain and charm necklace by DLC Brooklyn. Plus polaroid art, your name on our studio wall and the HUGE thank you on our website.
SOLD OUT! - 1 Claimed
$100 STUDY NY DRESS

Receive a 4-way square dress from Study NY, which you can see on the website. Plus of course one-of-a-kind polaroid art made for you by us, your name on our studio wall, and the HUGE thank you on our website.
$150 STUDY ZERO WASTE IKAT SKIRT

Zero-waste skirt made using hand-woven ikat from Uzbekistan. Made in NYC, $315 value. Plus polaroid art and all the thank you's.
SOLD OUT! - 1 Claimed
$150 HAND CROCHETED AMBIKA BIKINI

Hand crocheted by ethical designer Ambika in upstate New York. Featured in W and Vogue. Valued at $250 Plus the art and thank you on our wall!
SOLD OUT! - 1 Claimed
$200 CLOSET CLEANUP & STYLE SESSION

Stylist Bahar Shahpar will come to your house for a personal style consult and wardrobe rework helping you toss what doesn't work and giving you tools, resources and a shopping guide to create your best self. A 3-hr session valued at $500.
$250 6-MO SOURCE 4 STYLE MEMBERSHIP

Receive a six-month membership to Source4Style.com plus a $50 swatch credit. This has a $350 value. You know you need it! Plus of course one-of-a-kind polaroid art made for you by us, your name on our studio wall, and the HUGE thank you on our website.
$250 3-HR CONSULT SESSION

3 hours of consulting services with Bahar and Tara in person or online. This can be, but is not limited to, career consults, collection reviews, as well as sourcing strategies. Plus of course one-of-a-kind polaroid art made for you by us, your name on our studio wall, and the HUGE thank you on our website.
$250 STUDY NY CLOTHING

$500 worth of Study NY clothing from the Fall '11 collection (oh yeah!). Plus of course one-of-a-kind polaroid art made for you by us, your name on our studio wall, and the HUGE thank you on our website.
SOLD OUT! - 2 Claimed
$300 ORGANIC MIXOLOGY @ APOTHEKE

You have your choice of a Mixology workshop with expert cocktail connoisseurs who will teach you how to use organic and artisanal herbs from their rooftop garden (1 person) OR An organic cocktail tasting (for 6 people), both at Apotheke, NY's premier organic cocktail bar. Plus of course one-of-a-kind polaroid art made for you by us, your name on our studio wall, and the HUGE thank you on our website.
SOLD OUT! - 2 Claimed
$400 DINNER FOR 6 @ THE FAT RADISH

A chef's table gourmet dinner for 6 people at New York's new favourite restaurant, the Fat Radish. Plus of course one-of-a-kind polaroid art made for you by us, your name on our studio wall, and the HUGE thank you on our website.
SOLD OUT! - 1 Claimed