Los Angeles native Carol Young has turned her passions for architecture and fashion design into the successful, sustainable clothing line called Undesigned. Created for “urban nomads” that spend their lives taking subways, biking and walking around town, Undesigned adds a sleek yet comfortable element to modern style. Along with donating part of her profits to non-profits, Carol uses cutting edge eco-fabrics like bamboo denim, linen, Tencel, and others.

Victoria Everman: I’ve read that you had been interested in fashion since you were a kid – how did you get “sidetracked” and go to college to study architecture and design?

Carol Young: As a HS student, I didn’t realize “fashion” was an option.  I attended UC Berkeley as an “undecided” and fell into/fell in love with architecture/studio.  It as happened that that was my older sister’s major.

When were you first introduced to sustainable fabrics, such as the bamboo, soy, and recycled fibers you use in your Undesigned line?

From the start, I was looking for sustainable fabrics. My first “mini-collection” after grad school used hemp/cotton knits and hemp denim.  This was back in 2001 when I was making everything out of my dining room in Oakland.  And my grad school collection centered around PCR–post consumer recycled clothing mixed with new active wear fabrics in designs for the “urban nomad”.  This is where Undesigned came from.

Your 2007 Spring collection was said to be inspired by the Dahon folding bicycle – a dream come true for any urban commuter. Your latest collection is titled “Looking Glass”; what is the inspiration behind these designs?

For Spring 07, I was really interested in the idea of happiness and how the simple action/freedom of a bike ride embodies this.  I also wanted to do a video that encouraged bike riding/public transit.  This is another recurring theme from my grad school thesis.  On top of that, I love the juxtaposition of the “wilderness” that grows in the LA river, and the jungly/gritty/organic nature of how downtown LA is developing.  These were the backdrop for that collection.

Looking Glass in not a real collection.  It is a temporary collage of images I took on Layla, my former assistant.  These are pieces from the Fall 07/Spring 08 line, but they don’t have an underlying theme.  The “official” pictures [which accompany this interview] feature themes of downtown living/urban domesticity & stages of motherhood mixed in…

Do you see your architectural education as an undeniably useful tool when it comes to designing functional and fashionable apparel?

Sure-I think it was a great stepping stone in my development.  I wish I could spend more time designing as well, rather than working on figuring out the business!

Are there any eco-fabrics out there that you have been salivating to get the chance to work with? Any that you avoid at all costs?

Hmmm, there’s a cool fish leather made in Canada that I’d like to work with.  I need to think about this one….

Established in 2003, Undesigned has grown to have quite a following among educated professionals and celebrities in just the past 5 years. Was there any one particular event that made you feel like you had really “arrived”?

I don’t feel that I’ve “arrived”…I’m not sure I’ll ever feel that.  I do feel happy to finally have my “boutique with a studio in back”–something I’ve always wanted to do.

You recently welcomed a baby boy, Hugo, into the world on September 1st, 2007. Do you think motherhood is going to give you yet another unique educational experience when it comes to designing for the “urban nomad”?

DEFINITELY! Nursing on the run, for one.  We’re headed off to Spain for 2 weeks and will test out “motherhood” “traveling” “baby” and “public transit” during this time.

With your line handmade in Los Angeles, your website says you also donate all scrap fabrics to local children’s arts programs and have been fund raising for non-profits and schools. What are some of the organizations that you have been recently involved in?

Habitat for Humanity LA, Global Green, Room to Read, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Steven K. Pak Memorial Fund, TreePeople, APEN….the schools/scrap recipients I’ll have to look up. These are always changing….

What do you say to the folks that still believe global warming is just a myth?

Honestly, I’d like to say “Are you serious?  Wake up people!”

Everything is interconnected.  Look at the rise in cancer/disease rates, rise in tsunamis/hurricanes, melting ice caps, altered oceans, dying wildlife, political unrest, suicides and school shootings.  I’m not saying polluted air is “causing school shooting and suicide bombers” directly but I do believe there is a modern mental disconnect between how our actions affect situations several times removed (does this make any sense? take it out if it’s not).  What I ultimately feel is that we need to rethink modern life and priorities for our future generations.  It’s a scary thought what life will be like in 50 years.  But also hopeful that things will change, people wake up and realize that everything they do has a collective effect.

Do you have any other nifty, secret projects in the works that you could hint at?

Two words: motherhood and trapeze.

[Images courtesy of Undesigned]