1×1’s founder and designer, Ashley Denisov, took a moment to chat with us about her company’s philosophy, its staunch sustainability practices, the importance of slow fashion, and to share a few fashion forward tips on styling and accessorizing 1×1’s pieces for work.
With the belief that “Seasons are out. Collections are in,” 1×1 has made it the company mission to “create modern pieces with a unique yet timeless style.” The result is a staple assemblage of slow-fashion pieces that epitomize the modern, working woman’s must-have wardrobe, with the marked difference being a conscious, sustainable approach that is taken with each of 1×1’s releases. With local manufacturing and eco-friendly materials at the heart of everything it does, these fashion forward, made-in-the-USA pieces are some you can be proud to purchase and wear for years to come.
Inspired by the desire to “remedy the wasteful practices of fast fashion,” and “a desire to be completely transparent,” Denisov developed 1×1 based on the “principle of slowing production and thinking about why we make the clothing we do.”
“With a business operating on the idea of putting out low quality clothing at high volume, the goal of fast fashion is for consumers to buy as many garments as possible, as quickly as possible. And with designers creating new looks on a weekly basis, the fashion calendar for these companies is set up to deliberately make the customer feel off-trend after the first wear,” Denisov warned. This, she points out, results in landfills being flooded with fashion’s discarded trends and fads.
When asked why she chose to take and eco-friendly route to production and manufacturing, Denisov said, “I think now more than ever it is vital to rethink how we produce Fashion, which is the second most wasteful industry in the world surpassed only by oil. We simply do not have the resources to keep producing at the pace we do now. We owe it to ourselves to keep innovating and exploring new sustainable materials and manufacturing standards.”
With transparency a top priority, a quick glance at the 1×1 website reveals that production is done in Los Angeles, and that the two main materials used to create the clothing are tencel and wool. Tencel is, as Denisov describes, “a biodegradable fabric made from Eucalyptus tree pulp and has been patented for sustainability. Tencel is breathable, strong, drapes beautifully, and is wrinkle-resistant–the perfect fabric for our essential shirts collection.”
When it comes to the wool, however, Denisov notes that the environmental impact may vary “depending on the farms where the sheep reside, the treatment of the animals, and the processing of the wool once it is sheared.” In response to how 1×1 is able to ensure the sheep are treated humanely, she says the company sought out Imperial Stock Ranch, who works with eco pioneers, Patagiona, as its wool supplier, “because it is an industry leader in these standards.” Patagonia worked with Imperial Stock Ranch to define a new wool standard “that reflects high, verifiable standards for both animal welfare and land management.”
As far as new releases go, and why other designers should consider jumping on board the slow fashion bandwagon, Denisov says the capsule collection model “has more to do with the conversation we want to have with our customers. We want our line to be the go-to pieces you reach for again and again, so I feel they each deserve a story. When we release a collection one by one it lets us take the time to be completely transparent about how those products came to be.”
Ideal for the office (and also for play), 1×1 has an excellent selection for the working professional. With a spring/summer shirt collection that features modern, beautifully draped tanks, button up tops, and hidden button shirtdresses, there are a handful of fashion forward separates to choose from that will coordinate well with many of the trousers, skirts, and blazers you already own for work.
The chunky wool collection is stunning. Between the sleeveless knits and dramatic necklines, you’ll be garnering compliment after compliment in these looks.
And when it comes to taking these pieces from the boardroom to the bar for a happy hour toast with your colleagues, Denisov suggests accessorizing to achieve this transition with ease. She recommends a statement necklace on the hidden button pieces, and even suggests unbuttoning a few from the top and layering these over other garments. The hidden button tank, in particular, she says, would look great over a tank dress, and the high side slit tank can show a little skin if you pair them with low-rise pants.
Thanks to Denisov’s diligent forethought, attention to detail, and attractive aesthetic, collecting timeless pieces like those from 1×1 means you’ll always be on trend.
Related on EcoSalon
Meet Cladwell: The Clutter-Cutting Capsule Wardrobe App
Remake: Advocating for Slow Fashion and the Women Who Make It
12 Ways to Disrupt the Fast Fashion Industry By Repurposing Old Textiles