Nicholas and Christopher Kunz, the designers behind Nicholas K, have years of experience incorporating sustainable practices into their business model as graduates of the CFDA + Lexus Fashion* Initiative. Their label is an example of how a new generation of designers is considering sustainability into the design process. Here, the designers, who are part of our newest CFDA Loves Sustainability shop at Fred Segal on Sunset Boulevard, jointly tell us about designing with an eye to the environment, and why this is so key today.

What inspired you to embrace sustainability in the first place?

It was a confluence of events and a desire to create the way we live

How do you incorporate sustainable practices into your design process, and the way you run your company?

We believe in unconscious sustainability, creating products that possesses inherent longevity; emotional, visual and functional. We want our products to be lifetime products in which our consumers find comfort. The ultimate expression of sustainability is creating a product that doesn’t need replacement. We try to source materials which have a low environmental impact while also designing products that are beautiful but also versatile and comfortable.

Is the design approach for sustainable product different? How so?

Absolutely. Most products today are made to be disposable. Sustainability requires long-term sensitivity and accounting of all costs –environmental, social and economic. These are often at odds with short term profitability.

What’s your advice for designers looking to become more sustainable?

Challenge yourself to excel in your art in a non-destructive way.

Why is sustainability so important now, more than ever?

The world has a growing population but a shrinking community.  The transparency of our actions is obvious and increasingly detrimental. Pollution, destruction, and depletion of resources ultimately are borderless.