We just rounded up the first ever official screening of Miss Representation in Asia. Thank you to all who joined us – you made it a fantastic full house.

We couldn’t have hoped for a better audience – a wide range of students, professionals, activists, artists, educators and entertainers. We are really glad that such diverse minds participated and got to view such a thoughtfully crafted documentary together.

Miss Representation packed in a lot of enlightening facts and perspectives, and however US oriented it is there was still a chord that was easily struck. The cycle of gender misrepresentation in the media and particularly within society itself clearly resonated amongst the audience. The effects of gender ‘norms’ and prejudices is certainly a very global experience. And the fact that American media is so prevalent in our daily existence made the circumstance of the documentary particularly relatable.

If you weren’t there with us, we’d encourage you to find a screening or host one yourself – it’s an empowering documentary!

As the final credits closed on tonight’s screening it was truly encouraging to have been approached by such a mix of contemplative individuals. Discussions over mind-shifting facts, the diversity of those interviewed, the concept of mentorship, and the applicability of the film within our Malaysian context – Miss Representation has certainly stirred a dialogue.

Some mentioned that friends, mostly men, decided not to attend as they were disinterested in attending what they believed to be a feminist movie. But those who did make the effort made a point of mentioning how ‘not one-sided’ Miss Representation is. How it took into consideration multiple perspectives and left them with a positive action-oriented focus rather than an angry rant.

We hope that there will be many more screenings in the region after this. We’d really like to encourage those in Asia to consider hosting a screening at your workplace, school, or in your community. Miss Representation is an insightful and relatable documentary that brings forth questions about one’s own media literacy and perspective that need to be asked, irrespective of culture or gender.

There is also a Miss Representation curriculum available for a range of kindergarten to university level students. Tonight introduced the possibility of it being adopted into a local refugee school and an international leadership convention. How fantastic is that!

We’d love to explore a Malaysian translation of Miss Representation. Malaysian facts, figures, insights and perceived cultural norms. Can you imagine the immense range of perspective we’d need to take into account for this? Perhaps for us this leans more towards how our multiple cultural contexts and religious stakes shape portrayals of gender in the media and society. A task for our friends at Novista? A future project for We Are ULTRA…?

Thank you MissRepresentation.org for welcoming the hosting of our screening, and Palate Palette for being co-hosts of this fantastic event! We hope the dialogue continues in great ways.

Speaking at the accompanying ‘Sustainability in Fashion’ seminar, we told the story behind the ULTRA fashion label and the ULTRA 10.

It was a real delight, particularly as students and attendees were an informed bunch which made the seminar a solid learning experience for us all. I was particularly rewarded by the presentation from Marcus Bergman of Ecocotton – he had some beautiful insights to share from Ecocotton’s 16 year family history in the organic cotton business.

These are the live tweets -

Marcus takes us through the family run history of the Peruvian ecocotton company pic.twitter.com/R5WswiLL

15 out of 100,000 Marcus has spoken to have known where the cotton theyre wearing has come from #ecochic

#cotton is 5% of India’s acreage but take up 50% of the country’s pesticides #ecochic

The way you’re supposed to be dressed when working with #cotton- 20000 deaths related to cotton pesticides a year pic.twitter.com/0sNwFdKj

250 billion garments are produced for 4 billion fashion consumers a year #ecochic A big reason behind #theULTRA10

Marcus Bergman’s father enforcing fair trade practices and supporting local industry and artisan craft since the 80s ‘White Cotton’ #ecochic

#sustainability is not the focus, as it’s an ever changing definition, quality is the focus, Marc’s Bergman #ecochic

Marcus’ company using weevil pheromones instead of pesticides in their #cotton production. Weevils panic and leave or go into shock and die.

Beauty comes from knowledge, there is too much of a gap in this point in the current fashion industry. Marcus Bergman #ecochic

It’s been a good journey, from the commitment and week one tires of cataloguing, to the week two transitions and happy revelations, and a week three sarong lifestyle, til now – I’ve really enjoyed the experience.

And though it isn’t going to quite affect my already fairly minimal wardrobe and clothing lifestyle, it’s been a good reminder as to the discipline that is necessary. Necessary so as not to be sucked into the heavy consumer mindset too often intertwined with fashion.

Thank you for creating Six Items or Less Heidi! I’m going to make this a regular quarterly exercise to keep my clothing habits in shape.

As I’ve started to live out of suitcases and move countries more and more, owning possessions that take up more space than a couple of suitcases makes me go a little crazed. To my mind it causes extra unnecessary baggage, physically and mentally.

So this is a refreshing experiment.

Week One Conclusions :

1. I am accessorising more and diversifying the look of the outfits for the audience more than myself. I have realised that I have come to a very laissez-faire attitude towards my clothing over the years and may not catalogue everything next week to see how it affects my habits/behaviour.

2. I am really enjoying the simplicity of my wardrobe and am starting to consider designing a ‘uniform’ for myself post-6IOL with some really quality pieces (perhaps only on loan?) for particular occasions.

3. This experience is going to change how I travel – hand luggage only!

Day By Day Breakdown :

Day 1 – A little anxious. I think about going out to buy multiples of one item, and then decide that though it complies by the 6IOL rules, it defeats the purpose for me. I set aside my six and take Day 1 in stride.

Day 2 – I’ve begun conscientiously hanging clothes out by the laundry to air as opposed to automatically putting them in the wash. Was a little nervous today looking at my small range of choice – as I had a meeting with a fashion industry punter. But all went well. Must remind myself that I want to dress for myself and not others.

Day 3 – Accessorised more than usual. Am very happy with the nuances emerging.

Day 4 – Spent most of the day working at home in PJs . Headed out only in the evening. All is still well, particularly with the help of my favourite heels. Was complimented on the look and got the opportunity to talk about 6IOL. You can do a lot with a little.

Day 5 – Felt like some colour today. Am living out of a suitcase for the moment with mostly monochrome choices. But I have some colourful bags, shoes and accessories in Malaysia to play with later.  Maybe I’ll put a wig on tomorrow, or get some colour in my socks. Haven’t planned my accessorising like this in years, a strange feeling. Don’t know if I like it.

Day 6 – Headed out of the house (and working in PJs) only for yoga (which turns into severely underdressed drinks). As someone who works from home perhaps the SIOL cycle is a little lighter. I am starting to consider subscribing to a self-imposed uniform after this cycle, with variation only on particular occasions.

Day 7 – I feel inclined to cheat and wear a unitard for a special meeting with a visiting performance artist. I’m going to channel this desire into a wig instead. Week one down!

And now I consciously commit to something of the sort for a month.

Six Items or Less is a sharp initiative that encourages those who take up the challenge to wear six items and only those six items for a month (par undergarments, socks, shoes, swimwear, accessories, workout clothes, work issued uniforms, outerwear and pajamas).

So here it goes! From 15 November till 15 December I will be living in six items. My month’s going to entail time in Shanghai (COLD) and Kuala Lumpur (HOT), in a variety of work and holiday moments, so this is going to take some good planning.

Those six items coming right up!

Six Items from here…

…to here!

It started off with lost luggage, but we got the good opportunity to truly live the ULTRA 10 in one and a half outfits for four days.

At the SOURCE Expo we got the chance to meet some of the true leaders of the ethical fashion industry, Ethical Fashion Consultancy’s Founder Tamsin Lejeune, Benita and Summer Rayne of Source 4 Style, the Offset Warehouse team and so many more. We also got the chance to not only meet these leaders but sit alongside them as part of the seminar series. And just as exciting, there were SO many students there researching the possibilities of sustainable fashion. Really inspiring to see such a legion of students from major fashion institutions really getting into thinking about how to redesign fashion for the future.

But the SOURCE Expo was not all that filled our London time, we were sure to give ourselves a little time to get into the beautiful city itself. Such a surprising city it was a real stroke of luck to be there during the Frieze, Sluice and Moniker art fairs – which we got the time to hit two out of three. There was a particular piece by Richard Paul, who simply displayed vintage style photography on 3D monitors that set a good tone.

Then there was the ‘Power of Making‘ exhibit at the V&A. Right up our alley. All about innovation in the ‘maker’ sphere there was 3D printing, robotics, embroidered QR codes and all sorts of greatness that we’ve only managed to catch on our Google Reader adventures. Check it out online here. At this exhibit the pieces that really stood out were Peter Butcher’s embroidered implants, Oliver Herring’s photo sculptures, Mike Sheldrake’s open source surfboard, the Penki app by BERG, Crochetdermy by Shauna Richardson and Michelle Wibowo’s baby cake.

And then there’s the pig. This lady really made the trip – or maybe the whole experience that surrounded her. Hackney City Farm. Never have I seen such a farm or collection of joyful animals right in the middle of the city. Pigs lazed, chickens scuttled around, donkeys dozed and I walked amongst it all. The rough and wholesome breakfast served at the farm cafe also served to complete the experience. Run as a private, charitable foundation the farm serves as a community eduction project on farming and crafts, and as a space to simply give the community the farming experience.

Thanks for a great time London!

More photos on our Flickr.

See the original post here, or read on below.

Anita Hawkins co-heads the ‘We Are ULTRA’ creative collective, hunts interesting things and writes about them, sometimes dances, and makes art happen in tiny spaces.

She once ran away with the circus, and has worked with everyone from Nike and Nokia to the United Nations. She also really likes it when women eat.

What are you working on right now?

Anita : We are busy at We Are ULTRA pulling a pop up store concept together whilst getting our latest collection out for the Fall/Winter tradeshow madness. I’m also continuing to develop my performance art concept ENTER by making it a more ‘democratic’ and ‘spreadable’ performance experience.

Jamidah : Our spring collections, the ULTRA retail store and more madness.

What does your typical day look like?

Anita : Getting up and hopping immediately onto the laptop to connect with the Malaysian team and plow through all that needs to be done. It consists of a lot of writing, twitter feeds, Google Reader ‘research’, and the many meetings that happen with possible collaborators.

Jamidah : Warm and bright, shades of chaos and satisfaction as soon as I step into the workshop. Mostly done online we try to be paperless and use dropbox, google docs and mindmeister for our internal docs.

3 trends that excite you?

Anita : Collaborative Consumption, big time – I really look forward to a world where sharing is the standard. Online:Offline, Connectivity and multiple levels of understanding and experience excite. And…Cyborgs? Ha, maybe not a trend but a direction of human-technology integration that I am intrigued with.

Jamidah : Green growing everything from rings to signage.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Anita : Come up with them, have the confidence to act fast, and stay on top of it to make it a smart reality.

Jamidah : Cocktails and dancefloor sessions then it’s speed typing on our macbooks, meeting with the people who can execute them, then its all go from there. We dont like to hesitate with our ideas and just go for it if we believe in it.

What inspires you?

Anita: Ingenuity, confidence, strength and thoughtfulness in individuals, experiences or simply things.

Jamidah: Travel, films, art and music.

What is one mistake you’ve made, and what did you learn from it?

Anita : To act out of ignorant confidence. I learnt to remember to judge a little and search the outcomes from a wider perspective.

Jamidah : Keep your creative juices to yourself and the ones you trust only. Its good to be inspired and encouraged but there is someone out there who will jump on the chance to use your ideas as their own.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Anita : Let’s democratise the public space for intimate, unexpected engagement. My current idea for ENTER is to create spaces where anyone can come to engage in performance (or experience) in an intimate environment within the public space. Any readers want to make it happen? Do go ahead!

What do you read every day, and why?

Anita : Email, to engage and get rid of that unread count! Ha. I would love to be able to read everything in my Google Reader every day, but unfortunately that doesn’t quite happen. However, my favourites are Co.Design, Brain Pickings, Mind Hacks, Seth’s Blog and Creative Applications.

Jamidah : Treehugger – green daily dose, psfk – trends, twitter feeds -fun, the local daily – need to know what’s going on in my country.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read, and why?

Anita : The Flounder by Gunter Grass. Because one could only hope to be as eloquent as Grass’ Flounder. Or, because however dry it’s a great meld of a selection of the ages, food and a courthouse-bound flounder. And we all thrive on a good story.

What is your favorite gadget, app or piece of software that helps you every day?

Anita: iEverything. They keep me connected.

Jamidah: Addicted to blackberry messenger. I have some unusual characters on my bbm that are just a PING away. Its for business and casual stalking.

Three people we should follow on Twitter, and why? 

@rachelbotsman, keep on top of that collaborative consumption goodness.

@niubi, a great eye into China.

@weareULTRA, that’s us, we find lots of interesting innovations, and it’d be lovely to see you there.

Who would you love to see interviewed on IdeaMensch?

Anita: Cindy Gallop.

When is the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?

Anita : I don’t keep track. Laughing at myself often happens. So let’s go with that.

Jamidah : We laugh easily. We dont take ourselves too seriously. Just spend 5 minutes with the team and there is sure to be some silliness happening.

Anita: What are you going to be working on in five years.

Something that I’m truly passionate about.

Anita: Are you happy?

Why, yes!

#thinklab Penang Heritage Trust, maintaining living heritage through apprenticeships with traditional craftsmen.

#thinklab“both ends approach” – always keep this in mind, Anwar Fazal.

#thinklab Anwar Fazal’s ‘Crow Watch’ a project that engaged the public to see where trash was building up by the # of crows. Fantastic!

Thinklab conference (@ City Hall w/ @twitanita)http://4sq.com/qsgKCc

Huzir Sulaiman on creative process. Start being selectively lazy. #thinklab

“I got nothing I wanted but received everything I needed”, Anwar Fazal on already having the tools to make things happen #thinklab

#thinklab want to be a transformer?power of one, power of many, power of information, universal values/global norm, success -Anwar Fazal

Hawkers in Penang contribute greater to local economy than MNC’s#thinklab 

#thinklab “time connects us all”.

#thinklab serendipity is all around, you need to make the journey, Anwar Fazal.

A non-engagement is still contributing a vote, Anwar Faizal #thinklab

Anwar Fazal wrapped the town hall in cloth written w reasons to save the building from demolition, today we sit in it #thinklab

Ken Yeang, the stubborn visionary #thinklab

Teaching, research, writing, designing, building, repeat. Ken Yeang’s Cycle. #thinklab 

#thinklab architecture as a chance to invent something.

Vertical gardens or linear parks? Both! #thinklab

Ken Yeang is an organic artist with a purpose. Check him out en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Yeang #thinklab 

Sidenote: Disney designing a Childrens Hospital lobby in London #thinklab 

Downdraft chimneys, wind dynamics, designing for the sun’s path. Dr Ken Yeang @ #thinklab

Dr Ken Yeang now on stage @Think_Lab Confrence about architecture w the environment in mind yfrog.com/h7g2thjj

For a full rundown, check out Thinklab’s post-review.

An annual event and held in conjunction with the Shell Eco Marathon Race, Anugerah Hijau (Green Awards) reward Malaysians through this competition. Providing education and the tools they need in the lead up to it.

This year we were asked to get on board as the competition was to create sustainable fashion pieces. 70% of the piece had to be formed from recycled everyday materials like cans, plastic, toy parts…

In a presentation to the shortlisted constestants, we talked about the benefits of sustainable fashion, screened a few Future of Fashion videos and took them through our designs.

Have a look us talking quite a bit in a video of the day.

The finalists will be selected in October! We’ll keep you posted

Solar powered trash compactor

Stumbling upon an INDEX awards exhibit, napping in gorgeous cemeteries (apparently it’s the norm…), and catching a few last rays of sun at 11PM were big highlights.

INDEX Awards Exhibit

There was also a lovely exhibit on at the Danish Design Centre on human-centred design. Case studies of design work on the ebbs and flows of prisons, hospitals, services and otherwise were illustrated over their floors. Unfortunately it was partially shut due to the massive flood and ensuing damage that Copenhagen incurred a few days before we got in.

Danish Design Centre

The flood made the city fume large warm exhalations of steam from vents across the city. A dreamy testament to the steam pumped throughout the town to keep homes warm in the winter.

We took lots of photos, and do have a look at more on our Flickr.