Designer Spotlight: YB Green

WHY BE GREEN?  Yasmin Bowers of New Orleans helps us answer this question and provides the means in which we can follow the path to sustainable fashion.  Yasmin created YB Green® in 2009 to highlight the beauty and resilience of glass as a recyclable material and New Orleans as a city.  Collecting glass from the lower 9^th ward, Yasmin handcrafts jewelry with a story that speaks to the wearer while remaining stylish.  Read on to learn so much more about Yasmin’s meaningful mission, commitment to the environment and wishes for the future of sustainable fashion:

How did fashion play a role in your life growing up?

I grew up in Decatur, GA and went to a high school that was dominated by sports, band, and dance.  I always related more to Daria than let’s say a cheerleader so my style was very quirky– chunky boots, tie-dye, black lipstick.  I went through a goth stage, then a hippie-fairy stage…just trying to figure out how to fit in without fitting in.  I was never afraid to be myself but I think it’s a lot easier for kids to express themselves now as opposed to when I was growing up.  I wish there were a Rihanna and a Lady Gaga to get inspiration from. To sum it up, I never considered myself fashionable because I went against the grain so much.  Now I know that there is fashion in going against the grain.

When/how did you decide to start designing jewelry?

In 2009, I started YB Green® with a local jeweler in New Orleans as a project for a business class that I was taking. My background is Environmental Health Science so I wanted to create something that would be meaningful and contribute towards making New Orleans a better place to live.  At the time (and currently) there was no glass recycling in New Orleans.  Glass, as a material, is unique in that it can be recycled indefinitely and therefore shouldn’t be trashed. I wanted to find a way to recycle glass and raise awareness about the recycling challenges in New Orleans.  After some research, I realized that glass can be melted down into pieces that can be designed into jewelry.  I collected glass at a local farmer’s market in the lower 9th Ward and word spread with an overwhelming response. Then I teamed up with a classmate and she taught me how to make jewelry. I needed to make sure the glass is the star of the jewelry, while also creating trendy, urban-inspired designs.  Next, I partnered with Xavier University’s Art Department and was trained on how to make clay molds and use the kiln.  All the pieces were in place and with the help of the Louisiana Cultural Economic Fund, YB Green® officially launched at the 2009 Essence Festival.

What is your personal style aesthetic?

The current inspiration behind YB Green® is simplicity yet interesting, which reflects my current personal style.  I like to wear clothes and accessories that have a story—whether it’s related to the environment, how the product was made, who made the product or if it has religious or cultural significance.  I shop at a lot of second-hand stores like Good-will and Funky Monkey.  I also like eco-friendly, socially and culturally conscious brands.  YB Green® is a perfect fit within my personal style and I love that the fashion industry is evolving and expanding to express these themes as mainstream.

What is your design process?

The jewelry is completely handmade.  The glass bottles are soaked and washed, and then I pound it with hammers and a crowbar.  The glass is crushed into tiny pieces via mortar and pestle, and I sprinkle the different colors into clay molds.  Once the molds are filled, they go into a kiln.  After 12 hours, the glass is melted and I can start making earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc.  I’ve experimented with various designs and inspiration has included fine jewelry, and western and costume designs.  With customer feedback, I’ve decided to keep the designs as simple as possible so that the glass is the star, and the prices can remain affordable.  It’s important to keep the jewelry affordable to dispel the myth that “green” is not accessible.  You can see pictures here!

Are you sold exclusively at CARBON? 

CARBON (2643 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington DC, 20008) is the only boutique in Washington, DC that sells YB Green®.  In New Orleans, Branch Out Vintage and Sustainable Goods carries YB Green®, and in Memphis the line is sold at the Center for Southern Folklore.

Why did you decide to design eco-chic accessories?

I think fashion is a wonderful opportunity to wear a story.  It gives so much more meaning to a piece of jewelry, a blouse, or shoes when you are connected to it by knowing who made it and with what materials, and knowing how your support impacts the environment.  I love to see people wearing the jewelry and hearing them say that it’s glass from the lower 9th ward.  It raises more awareness on post-Katrina New Orleans, and gives consumers a sense of pride that they are doing something good.

At CARBON you currently have amazing earrings.  Do you have any other jewelry items? 

When the line was first launched, there were earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings.  Earrings were most received so I will continue with earrings for a while.  In 2012, I will play around with some necklace designs.

Would you ever expand your designs to accessories/clothing using other recycled material?

I would love to do clutches and t-shirts.  I am also researching other media to make jewelry that’s more malleable.  Once I figure out the best metals and fibers to use, I just need to find a source that goes along with the theme of recycling.

Thanks to Yasmin for sharing her story and style with ECC and the fashion community!  Remember to shop YB Green® at CARBON in the District for gorgeous glass accessories that you will reuse for always.  Below see just some of the pieces you will find at CARBON:

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