HSC&A / IG Live with Oscar Ruiz-Schmidt
Virtual Talk / Friday, March 21 at 11:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM CT
Mark your calendars for Friday, March 21st, at 11:00 AM PST, as we welcome the talented artist, designer, and scholar Oscar Ruiz-Schmidt for an engaging live session from Playball Studio in San José, Costa Rica. A true multifaceted creator, Ruiz-Schmidt’s work encompasses sustainable furniture, lighting, ceramics, installations, and eco-conscious fashion.
As the Creative Director of Obras-Gris, a Costa Rican fashion brand, Ruiz-Schmidt is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of fashion. His approach focuses on creating high-quality, made-to-order garments that are seasonless, zero waste, multi-purpose, and unisex. The brand’s philosophy centers on the evolving relationship between body, garment, and place, with Zero Waste Design at the heart of their practice from the very beginning.
This virtual tour will provide a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into Óscar’s creative process, his influences, and the vital intersection of art, design, and sustainability in his work. We’ll explore how he utilizes his versatile studio space and get an exclusive first look at works in progress.As the Creative Director of Obras-Gris, a Costa Rican fashion brand, Ruiz-Schmidt is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of fashion. His approach focuses on creating high-quality, made-to-order garments that are seasonless, zero waste, multi-purpose, and unisex. The brand’s philosophy centers on the evolving relationship between body, garment, and place, with Zero Waste Design at the heart of their practice from the very beginning.
/ About
Oscar Ruiz-Schmidt is an artist, designer, researcher, and professor from Liberia, Costa Rica. He holds a Master’s in Fashion Design from Kunsthochschule Weißensee in Berlin and a BA in Visual Arts from the University of Costa Rica in San José. His time in Europe profoundly influenced his vision and aesthetic, blending the rich landscapes and vibrant colors of Costa Rica with architectural forms and a geometric approach to cutting and draping. His work seamlessly merges wearability with innovation, transforming design into a tool for social impact through collaboration and creative problem-solving.
“It is absolutely saddening to watch the overflow of clothing consumption and the use of synthetics in the industry... I know it might be impossible to defeat, but Im here to create a value proposition against all that and to propose conscious consumption. Vivienne Westwood said it best, buy less, choose well, demand more.”