Natalia martinez sagan - fashion creative reuse

Sustainable creative consultant, art director and designer

Production Design + Costume + Styling + MakeUp & Hair Natalia Martinez Sagan

Ph Nacho Lunadei

Model Clara Bergamo

Materials : Textile waste, discarded flowers, vintage clothes, discarded skewers, broken jewelry

Natalia is an artist and activist, an interdisciplinary and multifaceted creative from Buenos Aires, Argentina, living in New York.

She has had 'reduce, reuse & recycle' engraved in her mind (and in her heart) since she was a kid. She began engaging in environmental activism in early childhood through volunteering after school with local groups to sort out recyclables, and organize second hand toy drives. By the time she was 12 years old she had been distinguished as 'Young Parliamentarian', due to a project she wrote addressing the lack of waste management in her district.

Natalia's profound passion for the arts and environmental advocacy led her to merge both worlds, and for over a decade now she has been working as a producer, designer + maker, art director, stylist and creative consultant specialized in creative reuse and sustainable practices, with vast experience in the theater, photography, film, and event industries.

Devoted to promote environmental awareness through materials reuse, Natalia has been an advisor to the NYC Department of Sanitation, Donate NYC, the award winning charity Fashion Revolution, and many small and big companies, as well as independent creatives, in the US, Spain, and Latin America.

As a speaker, she has been invited to join panels at the United Nations, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Universidad de Palermo, among many others.

Her work has been part of exhibitions and installations at the Southern Vermont Arts Center, NYCxReuse, Urban Zen Foundation, Brooklyn Art House, Trash Art Center, among others.
As an educator on the subjects of sustainable living, art, and applied creativity she has planned, organized and conducted lessons for both children and adults at the Neue Galerie, The Social Sewing Club, social and corporate events, having taught in both English and Spanish. Natalia frequently collaborates with her mentor, artist Debra Rapoport.

Natalia is a Climate Reality Leader trained by former US Vice President and Nobel Prize Laureate, Al Gore.

Why do you think upcycling is important?

Upcycling is important - and necessary - because there is just so much stuff out there already, waiting for second, third opportunities. It is a creative design solution that allows you to explore materials' potential to be re-used and recreated. And it's also a great way to expand your creativity; whether you identify as an artist or not, I believe we are all inherently creative and (co)creators.

How do you create your designs? Which upcycling technique are you familiar with?

I am a very intuitive designer and maker, and always have been. I need to have the materials in my hands, touch them, play with them, and also let them sit in the corner until they 'speak' to me. Once an idea flows, I start working.

From sewing to painting, natural dyeing, embellishing, using my - at the moment! - basic carpentry and welding skills, to embroidery on paper or fabric, I'm very curious and like to try every technique out there and adapt it to my vision.

Being conscious about all the materials I use throughout my creative process has been at the core of my work from the begging. To think not only about the object that is being transformed, but also about all of the materials involved is key to me: from the paints to the glues and threads - to everything in between - keeping in mind that after I finish I will have to, for example, clean the brushes in the sink, and all that will go into the water stream. So can I find a better alternative? I like to do a lot of research on what environmentally friendly options are available out there, and I also love experimenting to see which products I can make. Sometimes the alternatives aren't the best either but still, I like to constantly challenge myself to do better.

How can quarantine be a good moment for becoming more conscious and sustainable?

We have been clearly forced to slow down, and we are all as individuals (and, therefore, as a collective) dealing with this with the tools we had/have available.

I can only speak then for what is and has been good for me during this time. I believe that living a more conscious and mindful life starts with being more compassionate towards myself, others and, therefore, to our home planet. It is a time to reflect, to go inwards and dive not only into my personal goals and objectives, but above all, my values. And by values I mean: What is it that I value? What matters to me? What connections? What bonds? What products,services and companies do I support? What am I offering that is of service to others and to the planet?

I must add that being able to pause and meditate on these matters is a privilege, it means that I have the time and space to sit down and reflect. And this is something that I believe we need to keep in mind, and talk about with others.

https://www.martinezsagan.com