Waste into Wearables: Studio Howard X OurCarbon
Studio Howard creates limited edition upcycled shirts printed with OurCarbon tinted bio-based ink.
OurCarbon®, a sustainable, fixed-carbon material made from organic waste that would otherwise contribute to environmental harm, is featured in Studio Howard’s latest collection of re-worked garments. Each piece was printed using bio-based ink tinted with OurCarbon’s black pigment.
Studio Howard, a regenerative design consultancy, took five lyric excerpts—from artists spanning from Joni Mitchell to Metallica—to serve as the voice of the planet, prompting reflection on the urgent need for sustainable solutions.
Among them, a snippet from “The Garden” aims to reminder of an undeniable truth: we are all carbon-based.
“Part art project, part experiment, we recontextualized folk/punk/rock lyrics as if they were journal entries from Mother Earth’s innermost thoughts about her shifting climate, the degrading of her bounty and the pillage of her resources,” said Studio Howard “The wearer is a walking billboard of sorts, blasting the short phrases, springboarding conversations about the world’s 2nd most polluting industry, or circular fashion, or regenerative biomaterials in the 21st century, or whatever is sparked!”
"We're proud that OurCarbon can produce such a strong, high-quality black pigment in the place of fossil derived ‘business as usual’ materials. Seeing our carbon-based pigment come to life in Studio Howard's collection is an exciting reminder of how design and sustainability can go hand in hand. We love working with brands that share our vision for a more regenerative planet, and this collaboration is a perfect example of innovation meeting impact,” said Garrett Benisch, Director of Design Development at Bioforcetech Corporation.
The Garment Printing Process
The collection was printed by Oregon Screen Impressions, a print house known for its sustainable practices and custom projects. It used Virus Ink’s RethINK Black, a 100% water-based and 80% Bio-Based ink exclusively tinted with OurCarbon.
Sarah Koski, a project manager at Oregon Screen Impressions, noted the ease of using the ink: “ReThink Black was integrated into our production extremely easily. The formulation runs and cures well, with a good hand feel and a great deep color from the OurCarbon black pigment. From a production standpoint, we were not encumbered at all in using RethINK Black.”
About Studio Howard
STUDIO HOWARD is a regenerative design consultancy that brings BIG IDEA ENERGY to creative projects, from interior design to brand experiences. To us, a big idea does more than solve a design problem. It has a net positive impact on the community and environment around it. We help our clients transform their creative process, shifting the focus from the "final product" to the complete life cycle of a project - from sourcing materials, to end-of-life repurposing. With 16 years of experience in sustainable manufacturing, Studio Howard, combines the creative power of big ideas with the guts and expertise to make them happen.