As if three fashion labels were not enough, Gregory, originally a product designer, recently launched a line of bespoke industrial-style furniture and objects called Rogan Objects which he makes entirely by hand. And surprise, many of the materials, apart from specially blown glass components, are found or recycled. ‘The wood we use is all old salvaged wood from buildings, or from trees that fell down in a storm. We use steel which is mostly all recycled now, and leather from bison, and they’re much more low impact with their grazing and don’t create erosion.’ The resulting imperfections, such as dings and stains, are preserved and even emphasized in each of the architectural pieces.
So how far does Rogan Gregory go with his eco? The designer readily admits that his eco-conscience has limits, ‘I am definitely aesthetic-oriented. If I don’t like the way the way something looks but it’s super-eco, I don’t give a shit. It’s got to look nice.’ He explains, ‘I’m just not so extreme and I don’t expect people to be so extreme. I expect people to buy things for the way they look. I don’t count on people to do it out of the goodness of their heart, I don’t think you can.’
Gregory’s honesty is refreshing. ‘The furniture I make, it’s steel. It could be a bunch more sustainable, but I like the way it looks. Blowing glass – not efficient, but it’s existed for thousands of years. It’s how you define sustainability. I’m not the poster child for it, but I try to be considerate but sustainable and efficient.’
Although he grew up amongst the woods and mountains of Colorado and Canada, in a family that constantly recycled, Gregory fell off the green bandwagon once he got to university because of the continuous battle against the majority. ‘I got really discouraged and decided to become a fashion designer, the antithesis of the environmentalist, but it’s kind of coming together now. This is the way I can do it without totally being discouraged and people are catching on, so it’s not like a totally uphill miserable battle. You’re not all by yourself with a couple of granola bar hippies from San Francisco.’
And he more than welcomes the current climate of social consciousness where more consumers are demanding eco-friendly products. ‘We’re basically prolonging our extinction. There’s a store I won’t mention that said they don’t have an eco customer. The owner told me, “People don’t care about that,” but that’s not the point. As the proprietor of this space, it’s your responsibility, if you have an option, to get something a little more sustainable. It doesn’t have to look eco.’
So out of everything he’s achieved, what can Rogan Gregory be most proud of? ‘I’m most proud of this whole eco-ethical movement that I like to think I had a hand in. My parents were like, “What is fashion going to do for the world?” I think they were really disappointed when I decided that my occupation was going to be in clothing, but now they are “Oh! Maybe that’s not such a bad idea.” So that is satisfying.’
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INFORMATION
Above: Rogan Gregory (left) with his partner Scott.
