Emily Factor - Creating Original Hand-Drawn Fractal Prints Combining Colors and Movement

Emily Factor debuted her line only months after graduating from London's Central St. Martin's College in Fashion Design and Textile Print. Factor also holds a degree from FIDM and has spent a lot of time working in the fashion industry. Having apprenticed with Zandra Rhodes, as well as making it her standard to utilize local production and non-industrial techniques, Factor recognizes the need for this type of environmentally-conscious ideology, especially during the production of making clothes. The fabrics she uses have organic fibers, reclaimed materials, and absolutely no animal products.

It's been a long process. It's my first collection, but I've done a lot of training. I just finished St. Martin's in London. I went to FIDM as well, and I work professionally. So this has been a long time coming, really. —Emily Factor— 

As part of a collaborative fashion show by The Green Initiative Humanitarian Show for LA Fashion Week back in October 2008, the pieces Factor showed were distinctly feminine. They encompassed unique aquatic colors with a definitive water theme. The outfits were accessorized with hand-covered shoes, of which all proceeds go to the Big Sir Land Trust. Factor attributes her sense of style to her connection to nature. She lived in both Coastal California and Santa Fe, and feels that environment played a big role in her design process of which she creates original hand-drawn fractal prints with a combination of colors, movement, and intricate embellishments adding texture and shimmer. These wearable, unique, lavish pieces are the culmination of earth and body.

What made you decide to design eco-friendly clothing?

I just feel as a human, it's so important. I don't want to add to the industry in the way that's going to continue taking away from our planet. It's so important to give back as much as you're taking. I don't understand how somebody could just go in and start producing tons of stuff without it having some effect on the planet.

The "green" has really grown up. Is there anything you can say that would help people to understand and buy green?

It's just about changing your mindset, and about how you shop. You have to think about things when you're buying them. Where is it coming from? What's it made out of? Buy things that are locally made. Buy things that will last—as long as you're not buying disposable fashion. This is a change. It's not just a trend. There's so much more development. They're making fabric out of eucalyptus bark and it's something that's continuing. I'm excited to see what else we can use.

Emily Factor continues to cultivate her creative vision with ethical methods, thus doing her part to help preserve our environment. To learn more about Emily Factor's designs, go to www.emilyfactor.com.

Written by Kaylene Peoples

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