Proyecto greenBE

Recicloteira II
Interview with Consuello Matroni

I had the opportunity to interview this wonderful woman. Now let me share what I talked to her:

• Consuello, thank you very much for accepting the interview. How do family  influenced your work?

Yes, my father was a retired professor of art education in public school, my grandfather lived with us and the back of my house was a workshop to make and repair furniture. My father also used the workshop. My mother taught me when I was 5 years to knit and crochet, my aunt taught me to sew. After 15 years I went to a tailoring course.

• So you loved clothes for a long time. How was your approach to ecological design?

By a need to innovate with different materials and seeing that everything was going to selective harvesting this has driven me to reuse the materials.

• Why recycled materials, which ones you use in your creations?

Clothing made with motor oil containers

Because on the quantity and pollute the environment.  I use CD’s, VHS, cassette tape, X-ray plates, plastic containers of shampoo, PET bottles, fabric softener, bleach, bleach bottles, food wrappers for dogs, cats and more.

• Do you use organic fabrics?

I try to wear more clothes as mesh, 50% organic cotton and 50 pet fiber, but not enough to use only those.

• Consuello, could you talk a little bit more about your construction techniques?

First I collect  a quantity of material, then I start to create without a sketch, only formed a pattern of intuition to design a garment.

• How much time do you invest in completing a project?

I spend four hours per day. Depending on the piece, can be four days to a month and a half.

• I understood that you created Ecocert, what led you to create it?

It was the need to cut each piece faster and with more quality, as is always the same materials as used scissors to break it is often not support the force.

Workshop at EcoCerto

• What impression do you think your work leave society?

The time came when we no longer have an exit. Litter is part of our life and we can not sit back. Therefore, we must reduce landfill, landfills for recycling decreases to 5% of its total.

Top made from beer cans

• Have you ever thought of designing for men or only women?

Ten years ago I tried to do a course but didn’t have much of an audience and that was all. However, now I think it would be a very interesting challenge.

• What are the environmental benefits of your creations in comparison with traditional materials?

Plastic clothes will last until about 500 years, their colors will not wash off and the humidity doesn’t affect it. Nor is it necessary to wash them.

• What is your opinion on the use of polyester for clothing in general?

It must be mixed with organic cotton preferably 50%, I think that is ideal.

• Is it profitable to devote to this branch of ecological design?

Not in my case, but I think that in a sustainable commercial fashion itself could be. I’m trying to adapt my work with business but have not yet found something successful.

• What is green living for you?

To act. There are many people who only talks and does nothing about. I have a 1000 car flex, try to save water, electricity … I have recycled bags in my car for not paying green plastic  when shopping, from things I don’t use anymore I make selective recycling.

• Finally, how do you visualize the future of ecological fashion in the world?

Crawling, but with great perspectives to evolve.

Consuello supports the establishment of a new perception of waste, where recycling is a prime goal.

In addition to her designs, she gives workshops on awareness and retraining for people to learn the importance of separating waste and reuse materials that felt useless.

What do you think about Consuello’s designs? Leave a comment!