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Natalia Allen
Design Futurist
“Sustainability demands innovation and is at the core of the design of our new products and services,” remarks Natalia Allen. An avid surfer and artist, Natalia Allen combined her Parsons fashion education with an intense social science program at The New School and industry work on eco-friendly technology and textiles with companies such as Dupont.
Her quest for knowledge took her straight to the fashion industry's fast lane. In 2004 Natalia was a recipient of the highly coveted Parsons Designer of the Year Award, a title she shares with designers such as Marc Jacobs. Soon after, she founded Design Futurist, a boutique design firm that creates technological and sustainable products for modern companies such as Calvin Klein, Quiksilver and Donna Karan.
Design Futurist, has demonstrated a unique ability to partner the right technology with the right product to create popular designs for global brands. Its talent for creating truly original and environmentally friendly products using advanced technologies has met a need within the market and fueled the company's rapid ascent.
For example, Design Futurist created innovative products using conductive fibers that helped launch a 20M wearable technology business. The company also invented a successful new range of denim jeans using a proprietary dye and eco-finish it developed, and designed a better performing line of high-tech sustainable men’s apparel and accessories for a multi-national brand.
At an early age Natalia's work was featured in WWD, New York Magazine and the BBC to name a few. In 2009 Natalia was honored by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader; a distinction given to a remarkable group of entrepreneurs, academics and politicians under 40 who strive to find innovative solutions for current and future global challenges.
From inventor to entrepreneur, Natalia continues to receive recognition for her visionary work. This year Fast Company magazine named her one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business, an accolade she shares with luxury designer Tom Ford.
Natalia frequently lectures around the globe sharing her expertise on sustainable design and production with audiences at Davos, Wearable Futures and Textiles the Next Horizon. "As a thought leader and designer I must materialize my big concepts into competitive products and services that benefit society,” says Natalia.
Founded in New York City in 2005, Design Futurist is currently an Ambassador for the World Economic Forum–Industry Agenda Council on Consumer Products and member of Social Venture Network a longstanding community of business and social leaders.
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