GAELYN AND CIANFARANI

                                             

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Gaelyn and Cianfarani introduced re-use and sustainability into fashion by developing their own wearable signature material made from recycling bike innertubes. They also were diligent in sourcing organics and renuable textiles (eco-textiles) long before the industry realized they had a market for these products. 

Their materials were an integral part of the design vision.  

Atom and Genevieve decided to start experimenting with latex sheeting in the early part of their collaboration. They both fell in love with the drape, look, and unique properties of latex textile. Creating runway gowns and freeing latex from world of fetish they utilized latex in way like no one else before them. The two became know for alternative textiles, and this allowd them to expand their arsonal of material understanding which assisted them to create a new way working with even all traditional fabrics. A new type of wearable fashion emerged which became distinctively Gaelyn and Cianfarani.


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RECYCLED BIKE INNER TUBES

Gaelyn and Cianfarani's signature material, often mistaken for leather, was made by hand from recycled bike inner tubes. Creating a durable, sexy and Animal/Earth positive textile is their most outstanding contribution to our increasingly disposable society. All of the recycled bike rubber was rescued from the waste stream of Bike Shop Waste or by customer donation.

This process of creating fabric from what most would consider garbage, speaks of Gaelyn and Cianfarani's commitment to preserve while creating. Even though the process of transforming bicycle rubber into a usable fabric was arduous, it was the mission of the company to create a business that "gave back" to the planet. 

Gaelyn and Cianfarani saved 2-3 tons of rubber from the landfills every year. 


"G&C's alliance with PETA may seem strange, as their designs appear to be fashioned from leather. The material, however, is in fact made by hand from recycled bicycle inner tubes. The duo works closely with New York City nonprofit Recycle-a-Bicycle, which gives them the old tires from the bikes that it works with underprivileged New York youth to refurbish. The designers then process it in their East Village studio to create wearable fabric," - Fashion Wire Daily

RUBBER SOURCE

G&C favorite material was the recycled bike rubber. It is free and abundant in most urban environments. 

Gaelyn and Cianfarani collect most of their rubber from Recycle-A-Bicycle (RAB) is a non-profit organization dedicated to youth job training and environmental education in New York City . RAB teaches young people the benefits of cycling and recycling, how to maintain and repair a bike, and how to ride safely in an urban environment. We practice the reduce, reuse, and recycle motto. The majority of bikes are refurbished and then earned by kids, sold, or donated to a good cause. About 20% of the collected bikes are de-manufactured for parts. Steel is taken to the scrap metal dealer, and inner tubes are delivered to Gaelyn & Cianfarani. visit www.recycleabicycle.org.

"With the sponsorship of PETA, East Village designers Gaelyn and Atom Cianfarani showed their fall collection, "Couture with a Cause," on Tuesday. Their approach was innovative, splicing gauzy cotton strips of black rubber that came via New York 's Recycle-a-Bicycle, a nonprofit organization that teaches teens how to repair bicycles. Strips of tire rubber made up spliced pants or detailed a romantic ruffled dress, which also featured a simple rubber rosette," - Women's Wear Daily, February 12, 2003

ANIMAL FRIENDLY FABRICS

Everything G&C produced for collections were animal friendly fabrics. They developed thier signature material as a solution to leather. This pair loved the drape of silk and especially in combination with their signature fabric. The silks they sourced are called “peace silks” and cause no harm to the silk worm in production. Peace silks are worn by Tibetan monks and are stronger than regular silks. It is the only silk that is endorsed by People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (more info at www.aurorasilk.com). 
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LATEX

latex fabric was another pallet for this imaginative design team's creations. Using this typically fetishized textile the design team forced you to look at the textile in a new light. “This textile has a drape like nothing else” and when patterned properly it can do almost anything. During the Sprint 2004 show Gaelyn and Cianfarani purchased the thinest grade latex then inverted this textile and powdered it, this made the fabric look like a fine silk with much denser drape. The duo also experimented with latex for every show, they dyed, sun bleached, weaved, and painted latex to create new forms.

Spectacular latex wedding gowns always closed the duo’s runway shows. Further, when G&C latex appeared in Italian Vogue it was apparent that Gaelyn and Cianfarani pushed this modern textile to a new level of design.