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Feed 100

Rebecca Mueller '06

I was fortunate to attend two very different colleges and receive degrees in two very different fields – painting and fashion design, from Bethel College and the Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, respectively. Though these two trades might seem like they have nothing in common, I have found many similarities that have helped me appreciate fashion and fashion design as a true art form.

Much like painting, fashion design begins with an initial sketch or idea. Designers find inspiration everywhere – anything from a certain time period, literature and movies to the shapes and curves of an interesting object can serve as an idea for a garment. Color and fabric are also very important parts of the design process. Much like in painting, color sets the mood for the message the designer is trying to convey – a yellow tartan wool coat might send a comforting vibe, while a shocking pink dress commands the attention of the whole room. And fabric is almost an entirely different ballgame in itself, for it is the material that gives texture, dimension and function to a garment. While I might have mixed swirls of paint to create a palette for a painting, I now mix swatches of fabric and trims to determine what combinations would look best for my garment.

Whole Foods’ “Feed 100” design challenge presented me with a chance to combine the fashion design process with sending an important message about recycling and Whole Foods’ mission to feed hungry children in Rwanda. Whole Foods grocery stores have eliminated plastic grocery bags in favor of reusable shopping bags, and have cut a significant amount of waste from what would otherwise have been sent to the landfill. The bag itself is made out of organic materials. For every bag purchased, part of the proceeds go toward feeding Rwandan schoolchildren.

The challenge was to design an ensemble that would promote Whole Foods’ mission by using materials from these bags. My process began with a sketchbook journal and images of food. I sketched and traced various shapes and textures of fruits, meats and vegetables and then developed ways to transfer them into a garment. Ultimately, I was drawn most to the bright colors of citrus fruits and incorporated lemon-colored accents and a full, pleated “fruit segment” collar into a trench coat and pants ensemble. It was important to keep the Feed 100 logo visible and also use the bag’s binding, zipper and handle straps as trim. As a finishing touch, I created my own scarf by designing a pop-citrus print, using Adobe® Illustrator®, that I printed onto a silk twill using a special fabric printer at school.

My ensemble, along with five other designs by students at my school, remained on display at Macy’s on State Street through October 14 and then traveled to the Lincoln Park Whole Foods to be showcased.

Photos on left: Rebecca Mueller's initial sketchbook ideas; professional modeling picture by Maurice Anthony of Chicago.