Entwined at Camber Sands

Entwined at Camber Sands

Image by Re-Design for Life

Walking along the glorious stretch of beach at Camber Sands in East Sussex at the weekend I came across this curious - at first sight - 'Blair Witch' installation. Had it been built as part of some East Sussex folklore ritual? Perhaps the crashing waves had brought it here after gathering it in their tide? Or, had someone created it as a piece of sea-side art?

Entwined at Camber Sands

Image by Re-Design for Life

I love the combination of colours and textures: vivid fishing nets against natural rope both entwined within bleached wood and knarled branches.

Entwined at Camber Sands

Image by Re-Design for Life

Centre of Sustainable Fashion - Business Support Programme

Centre for Sustainable Fashion

at London Fashion Week - AW10

Image by permission of CSF

One of the things I have most enjoyed about writing this blog is meeting emerging designers whose infectious enthusiasm for sustainable fashion has been inspiring and uplifting. During London Fashion Week I met Pamela Atekepe and Michelle Lowe-Holder who took great pleasure in explaining to me the concepts behind their designs - more on each designer's work in a separate post.

Their work was being showcased at LFW after completing a Business Support Programme at the Centre for Sustainable Fashion. The programme consists of small group seminars and one to one advice sessions offering tailored support and guidance. All areas of sustainable fashion are covered including business development, range planning, production and communications. On completing the programme, participants will be eligible for a variety of showcasing and press opportunies. Including the CSF stand at London Fashion Week.

The CSF is currently offering places on the programme - the next introductory seminar will take place on 30th March 2010. The programme is fully subsidised for small to medium sized fashion businesses based in the greater London area.

For more information contact Hatty Whitworth at: h.whitworth@fashion.arts.ac.uk

Louise Gray: Quilt Me, Change Me.

Louise Gray

Quilt Me, Change Me

Autumn Winter 2010

It's two weeks since I wobbled across the cobbled court yard of Somerset House in seriously uncomfortable boots. Grimacing as I entered the LFW New Generation exhibition, I found my pain relief in Louise Gray's Autumn Winter 2010 collection. Her exuberant range was presented on hand-drawn drawn figures with sea-side style cut-out holes for faces. The overall mood was definitely for a sense of fun. And it certainly made me smile.

The Quilt Me, Change Me collection is a collage of delicious colour and intriguing textures. Louise Gray is an innovative textile designer. By using traditional methods of devore, quilting and patchwork, Louise transforms fabrics into something completely different.

I was captivated by the contrasting colours, prints and textures used in off-kilter panel dresses and skirts.

A stunning red kimono coat was one of my favourite pieces. The incredible 3D texture was created by applying devore - where fabric is burned away - onto layers of quilted fabrics. The top layer of fabric had almost disappeared to leave a hounds-tooth effect of threads caught in place by the quilting.

By pushing the boundaries of textile design, Louise has created a collection of refreshingly modern pieces to be worn with a smile.

Louise Gray

Autumn Winter 2010

Image by Re-Design for Life

Louise Gray

Autumn Winter 2010

Image by Re-Design for Life

Louise Gray

Autumn Winter 2010

Image by Re-Design for Life

Ada Zanditon - Echolocation

Ada Zanditon - Echolocation - AW10

Image by permission of Ada Zanditon

Opposite the house where I grew up stood a row of very tall trees. At dusk, when the sky turned carbon bluish grey, the trees’ blackened silhouettes came alive with dark flecks that darted amongst the high branches. Our neighbouring bats had awoken. Although I often wondered whether they were related to Dracula – who had visited my local seaside town – I was always more mesmerised than frightened by the nocturnal activities of these little winged creatures that had spent all day hanging upside down.

Ada Zanditon’s fascination for bats and their conservation inspired her Autumn Winter 2010 collection Echolocation. Whilst looking across a low set winter sky from her studio window, Zanditon imagined bats ”mysterious and eerie…with their fine structured wings” navigating and communicating their way in a nocturnal world. A world in which, sadly, their numbers are plummeting.

From this initial concept Zanditon has created a stunning collection combining digital prints - inspired by bare branches and beating wings - with structured silhouettes, geometric pleated panels, body-con styling and elegant full length dresses. All pieces are produced in East London using organic cottons, Shetland wool, high quality silk taffeta and organza - all eco-dyed or digitally printed in the bruised colours of a winter sky: purples, indigo, grey and black with flashes of bright fuchsia, jade and teal.

When I asked Ada how she became interested in ethical and sustainable fashion she explained to me that she had always been interested in the environment. Whilst studying fashion she attended a presentation by Katherine Hamnett, which inspired her to combine her two passions of fashion and conservation.

With this innovative collection of wearable, eye-catching pieces, Ada Zanditon has successfully communicated her design talents as well as her passion for conservation. Especially for the bat population.

Ada Zanditon - Echolocation - AW10

All images by permission of Ada Zanditon

Ada Zanditon - Echolocation - AW10

All images by permission of Ada Zanditon