Reporter World Forum

« Meet Lidewij Edelkoort : towards a more responsible design »

Lidewij Edelkoort is an exhibitor, educator and one of the world’s most famous trend forecasters. 

Named as one of the most influential people by Time magazine she inspires the creative community in different fields such as beauty, well-being, architecture and lifestyle. She travels around the world to study socio-cultural trends before sharing them with her clients coming from various domains in the fashion industry.

Since today, all the sectors are trying to reinvent themselves. However, Lidewij Edelkoort uses awareness on textile to show us that the materials we use can have consequences both on the environment and on ourselves. Actually, most processes do not feel concern with it. On the contrary, Lidewij Edelkoort focuses on how to include people in the creation of design. The aim is to bring together a new generation of designers that are involved on the reduction process in a move to develop a more virtuous economy.  

Lidewij Edelkoort points out that promoting economic and development through design and manufacture is possible. She published an anti-fashion manifesto in 2015 to prove that the current fashion system is coming to an end. It is truly an opening towards all possible fields of reinvention. This is the point of a meeting opened to all of those who are reinventing the system to make it more sustainable, responsible, positive and caring. She has created a real platform of expression to support initiatives as well as designers committed to the renewal of fashion. 

She is returning today for a powerful exhibition in Gare Saint Sauveur in November about the manufacture labour of love. In any case, it pushes us on how we can reinvent our lives through fabrication processes. Design turns towards people’s hands to give life to a deep dismay. Even after a long period of crafts, the hand wants to use the machine and the computer again. Then, if we match both the hand and the machine together, it gives an incredible outcome: astonishing objects and materials are created, preparing us a safe future. Eventually, this exhibition predicts the beginnings of what can save humanity.

« We need to adapt to the future » says Lidewij Edelkoort. This can be possible through local production of manufacturing. Design helps to boost social resilience in a sense that it allows societies to have smaller productions units, recreating local arts and objects. On top of that, design can be a tool to rethink our relationship with the factory. 

Ultimately the goal is to use a philosophical concept as new materialism from which each material can be considering alive, releasing energy. She pushes her commitment as far as possible to create strategic tools that will be, then, used by international designers and marketers. In this regard, Lidewij Edelkoort is inspiring and the outcomes of her commitment leave us fascinated.   

 

Hannah Nasseri