blown minds, inspired hearts & great coffee at the #RemakeChallenge Workshop

Last week we had the privilege of attending Live Eco's workshop for the Remake Challenge competition at Design Time, School of Interior Design.

Design Time, School of Interior design - what a beautiful venue!

When we first heard about the Remake Challenge, we were quite keen to get involved - it's South African design, it's encouraging sustainability, it sounds good - but as we've begun to really understand Live Eco's aim in growing this project we are happily stunned. The competition centres around making sustainable design pieces - both objects and fashion - using recycled / sustainable methods and materials. The umbrella goal of the project is to educate and raise real, usable awareness of what and how we design, make and manufacture.

Complimentary coffee from the Vida Van - good start to the day!

What does sustainability really mean?

In the wise words of Wikipedia : "sustainability is the endurance of systems and processes. The organizing principle for sustainability is sustainable development, which includes the four interconnected domains: ecology, economics, politics and culture."

Getting passionate, fresh design students to compete in the Remake Challenge, Live Eco is sowing the seeds for a sustainable future right where they will make the most difference - in the minds of our next generation of dynamic trend-influencers. In showing how versatile, valuable and attractive sustainable materials are, the project is instilling a tangible sense of responsibility in how designers present their work to the to the world.

The first step in changing what and how we buy is to offer options. If sustainable products are readily available, if they are beautiful, high quality and backed by enticing design - and if one understands what the consequence of their damaging alternatives are - consumers will show support. Every sustainable item that is bought boosts the industry of, and demand for, sustainable products and actively contributes to turning the world in a better direction.

Nikki from Live Eco & Tony Budden from Hemporium

For the Workshop, Live Eco invited Tony Budden from Hemporium, Victoria Romburgh from Photoganic and Stephanie Benthum from Krafthaus, to showcase some of the most versatile sustainable materials available in the country today. Hearing the history, passion and personal involvement behind these companies was completely inspiring. Each is working hard to steer public taste toward natural, sustainable materials and manufacturing.

It was exciting to meet the Remake Challenge finalists, hear about their designs and see the workshop's immediate effects as they begun to reconsider their chosen materials.

Victoria Romburgh from Photoganic

As consumers we are only marginally aware of the true costs of the items that we buy - attending a workshop such as this, and processing all the fantastic information that was available, has blown our minds a bit. We have always been passionate about local design, and to see a project encouraging our country's designers to be conscious of what they use, and what they leave behind, puts them ahead of the game by far - what amazing work!