Suno continue to captivate

Since starting this blog back in 2008, around the same time that the label Suno was launched, I have been captivated by the brand's creativity.  Now a regular at New York Fashion Week, Suno continues to produce directional collections with an innovative use of print, colour and fabrics.  

Suno have also continued to be true to the brands initial ethics of supporting communities and economies in countries including Kenya, India and Peru.

Below are a few of my favourites from Suno's latest Resort collection.

www.sunony.com

Suno
Resort Collection
Image by Suno via style.com

Suno
Resort Collection
Image by Suno via style.com

Suno
Resort Collection
Image by Suno via style.com

Suno
Resort Collection
Image by Suno via style.com

The only way is Up for Goodone

Goodone - Spring Summer 2011
Oversized panelled T-shirt
worn with contrast jersey leggings.

Goodone  the award-winning fashion label continues to go from strength to strength with each season.  I have been so impressed with the last two collections - Spring Summer 2011 and Autumn Winter 2011 - previewed at London Fashion Week.

Following on from the mentorship with Yasmin Sewell as part of a British Fashion Council scheme, Goodone's Designer and Co-Founder Nin Castle has pushed up-cycling to a "a new level of luxury".  For Spring Summer, Goodone combines re-claimed garments and surplus fabrics with new British produced fabrics to create fashion-forward styles with an Active Sportswear influence, a key look for Summer 2011:  body-con shapes, contrast panels, mesh fabrics and recycled festival tents!

Goodone - Spring Summer 2011
Panelled body-con dress with waffle knit detail
and key hole back

The Spring Summer collection is available online at www.goodone.co.uk

I'll give you a taster of the Autumn Winter collection in a later post.  Be patient.  It's a Goodone.  (Sorry!  Such a terrible pun...I couldn't resist it.)

Goodone - Spring Summer 2011
Linen and jersey jumpsuit

Goodone - Spring Summer 2011
Oversized knitted jumper with woven shoulders
worn with two-tone jersey leggings.

Partimi - Autumn Winter Collection at London Fashion Week

Partimi
Autumn Winter 2011 Collection at Estethica
Image by Re-Design for Life

Partimi
Autumn Winter 2011 Collection at Estethica
Image by Re-Design for Life

I first met Eleanor Dorrien-Smith, the designer behind Partimi,  this time last year when she was showing her work at London Fashion Week as part of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion.  It was lovely to catch up with her again to view her Autumn Winter 2011 collection 'Garden', which draws it's inspiration from lush winter gardens, childhood memories and momentum.

Eleanor explained to me how the striking prints in her collection were inspired by photographs of her father playing as a child in the family garden: an overwhelmingly beautiful place.  Another print was inspired by moss and lichen covered benches in the family garden.  The textural 'Lichen' design is digitally printed onto an organic silk satin dress to stunning effect.  One of my favourite pieces in the collection.

Other styles include a photographic palm print dress in organic silk jersey that  tucks and drapes gently around the body.  A luxuriously soft tapered leg trouser and a collar-less jacket

 with a clean silhouette - both in organic wool.  

Eleanor has created a beautiful contemporary collection that is simple yet stunning.  Oh yes!  It's also ethically produced using sustainably sourced fabrics.  The only down-side is that we have to wait until Autumn Winter before we can wear it.  

In the meantime, her SS11 collection 'Dieu Bleu' can be viewed on the Partimi website.

LOVE Monsoon for Spring Summer 2011

LOVE Monsoon Spring Summer 2011
Image by Re-Design for Life

Monsoon - the global fashion retailer and sponsor of Estethica at London Fashion Week - launches it's LOVE range this month.

The range of feminine pieces has been developed to create a fusion of clean, modern design with Indian crafts, recycled materials and organic fabrics.   The designs make use of Monsoon off-cuts, recycled glass and pearl trims and beautiful button detailing.

LOVE Monsoon - Elements
Spring Summer 2011
Image by Re-Design for Life

 LOVE Monsoon Elements evokes the rich craft tradition of Monsoon, using hand block printed organic cottons, vegetable dyed silks, organic jersey and crushed Mother of Pearl embellishments.

LOVE Monsoon - Ethereal
Spring Summer 2011
Image by Re-Design for Life

LOVE Monsoon Ethereal has an entirely Ivory colour palette of modern, feminine pieces including delicately embroidered organic cotton tops, organic lace scarves and an organic cheesecloth maxi dress embellished with crushed beads.

I hope other fashion retailers will be inspired by Monsoon's LOVE range.  Inspired to create sustainable collections using their own off-cuts.  Inspired to use organic fabrics and dyeing methods.  Inspired to incorporate traditional methods of printing and embellishment into their ranges.

One thing's for sure, it will certainly make the UK high street a more interesting and creative place to shop.

Estethica at London Fashion Week

What a day!  My head is buzzing. I am so excited after visiting Estethica today.  Nothing to do with the champagne brunch (well maybe a little).  No, it's all down to the creativity, passion and enthusiasm from everyone at the exhibition.  More to come on each designer and their new collections in a later post.  In the meantime here's a taster:

Ada Zanditon
Spring Summer 2011 collection
High-end luxury women's ready-to-wear.
Ethically produced, organic, recycled.

Makepiece
Spring Summer 2011 collection
Desirable design knitwear - from sheep to chic!
Local community production, organic & natural fibres.

Lost Property of London
Spring Summer 2011
Fair-trade certified products, ethically produced, recycled.

Issi
Spring Summer 2011
Art-Eco fashion brand.  Local community produced, up-cycled

Maxjenny
Spring Summer 2011
Wearable art - jackets produced from re-cycled plastic bottles
Ethically produced, organic, recycled, up-cycled

Nina Dolcetti
Spring Summer 2011
Designer shoes created to the highest standards of production and ethics
Ethically produced, local community production, recycled, vegetable tanned leather

Awamaki Lab - Fashion Mentorship opportunity

Image with permission from Awamaki Lab

There are many designers – myself included – who have taken inspiration from the traditional textiles of Peru. For me, it’s the vibrant hues woven together to create stunning colour combinations and patterns that I have been drawn to, which in turn has created a fascination for me with Peru itself. The indigenous people, their culture and the country’s landscape.

So imagine my excitement when I came across Awamaki Lab, a fashion mentorship program that works in conjunction with Awamaki, a Peruvian NGO that runs a textile revitalization project to help impoverished Quechua women weavers improve their skills, gain financial independence and secure a reliable source of income.

Image with permission from Awamaki Lab

Awamaki Lab explores sustainability, ethical sourcing and product innovation. The program – lasting three months - fosters the cross-cultural partnership between the designers and Awamaki’s indigenous weavers.

Image with permission from Awamaki Lab

The designers also receive mentorship from leaders in the ethical design sector. Tara St. James, owner and creative director of New York label Study is Awamaki Lab’s first Design Mentor. Tara is a talented pioneer of ethical fashion – I’ve previously written about her design collective on this blog.

Image with permission from Awamaki Lab

Awamaki Lab offers an unparalleled opportunity for selected designer participants to develop a capsule collection in the serene environment of Ollantaytambo, Peru. Through the process, designers hone their artistic skills and lend a modern perspective to Awamaki’s range of products. This will improve the organization’s marketability and help to stimulate economic growth in the isolated, rural communities where Awamaki works.

Program dates for Awamaki Lab design mentorship program begin August 2010. Full details can be found at www.awamaki.org/awamaki-lab/

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

Little Green Story at London Fashion Week

I came across Little Green Story at London Fashion Week. This Swedish brand creates organic t-shirts with illustrations inspired by emotions and moments in life. Helena Akesson the designer behind the label told me that she wants to work towards eco-friendly and ethical fashion that is both simplistic and trendy. As she explained: comfortable with a rock and roll edge. Minimal yet directional.

Helena designs Little Green Story for independent, trend aware urban women with an environmentally conscious mind. Her aim is to expand the collection for next season to offer a complete concept. I will keeping an eye out for future stories.

Little Green Story

Waiting for Henrietta Ludgate

Henrietta Ludgate - SS2010 Collection

I've been a little quiet for the last couple of days so sorry for that. No reason in particular. But hey! London Fashion Week starts on Friday so I'll have plenty of posts to come. I'll be checking out the Estethica exhibition, New Generation Designers and Vauxhall Fashion Scout including the Prophetik show and - fingers crossed - the Ada Zanditon show.

I'm also really looking forward to seeing the AW10 collection from Henrietta Ludgate, who won the Ethical Fashion Forum's Innovation Award for her SS10 collection. Henrietta - a champion of slow fashion - designs from her studio in the remote Scottish Highlands with an ethos of preserving traditional British craftsmanship being central to her work. All fabrics are sourced from within the British Isles and all pieces produced locally to create luxurious, cutting-edge and ethically sourced pieces.

Fashion for squares - Study NY

The Square Project by Study NY.

SS10 Collection

All images by permission of Tara St James

I know of Tara St James, the New York-based fashion designer and head of creative collective Study NY, through the Ethical Fashion Network. As part of the Study NY collective, Tara has designed a collection of sustainable clothing - The Square Project - which was launched at The Green Shows during New York Fashion Week last September.

It was this SS10 collection, with it's modern aesthetic, clean lines and cool colours that first grabbed my attention. The collection consists of 14 pieces across 9 different styles and 2 separate colours. Each of the styles is made of a different number of squares of fabric. Tara's aim was to create a sustainably developed collection that can be worn in several different ways, using the most basic shape - the square.

The Study NY collective also produce jewellery, graphic design, photography, music and fine art with an aim to use recycled and organic materials as much as possible in their work. It's a positive study for fashion and design.

The Square Project SS10 collection can be viewed on www.4equalsides.com

Be adorned by the Kalahari

All Images by Boo George

A collaboration between two London based jewelers and The Bushmen of the Kalahari has resulted in a unique collection of directional jewelry.

Anna Haber and Sabine Roemer worked closely with Bushmen tribes women to create jewelry inspired by the Bushmen of the Kalahari's culture for adornment. The collection is a fusion of traditional skills and natural materials - Ostrich eggshells, seeds, bone and wood - with modern materials including satin and velvet.

The aim is to build a sustainable business for the tribe and generate an important source of income, especially for the women.

HandEye Magazine has a full article - handeyemagazine. Anna Haber's blog onefinetread has more information with stunning images by fashion photographer Boo George.

Fashion & the Environment at SHIFT Festival

Fashioning The Future

Centre for Sustainable Fashion

This weekend graduates from London College of Fashion's MA Fashion & the Environment will be showcasing their 2010 work as part of the SHIFT Festival on London's South Bank. The graduate exhibition - organised by the Centre for Sustainable Fashion - is available for public view from Friday 29 to Sunday 31st January. Also included in the exhibition will be highlights from Fashioning the Future 2009, the international student awards for sustainability in fashion as well as workshops and discussions.

Full details can be found on the CSF website.

Erin O'Connor promotes fair trade fashion

The Observer Magazine

24 January 2010

Thank you to The Observer Magazine for yesterday's cover story 'Model Behaviour - Catwalk queen Erin O'Connor on bringing fair trade fashion to the high steet'. The article gives much needed publicity to the work of SEWA (Self Employed Women's Asociation), an ethical fashion project set up to stop the exploitation of female home-workers in India. The project is partly funded by Traid (UK Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) whose spokesperson is the model Erin O'Connor.

Female home-workers carry out highly skilled beading and embroidery embellishments for clothes destined for high-street retailers. The women can be paid as little as 54p for a 12 hour day. SEWA has increased the wages of their homeworkers as well as given them the opportunity to improve their lives and those of their families.

SEWA has contracts with Monsoon, Next and Gap and although these are only for small quantities it is a step in the right direction for high-street fashion.

For the full story click on this link: Observer - Traid - Fashion

Eco Couture

Swedish eco couture brand Camilla Wellton create elegant, discreetly luxurious clothes for those who desire beautiful, unique pieces with an eco conscience. 10% of their profit is given to the Swedish NGO Vi skogen to help promote the planting of new trees in Africa.

Their SS10 collection will be available from 25th February. You can see a preview on their website.

I Love Lowie

Last night after a few festive drinks at my local pub I walked home surrounded by a flurry of dancing snowflakes. How exciting. How magical. How uncomfortable it became as the freezing wind bit into my cheeks, nipped my ears and pinched it's frosty grasp around my thumbs, which were peeping out through holes in my gloves. The snowflakes' dance had lost it's magic.

As I am writing this I am watching another snowflake dance outside my window. It's cold out there. It's time to invest in some winter warmers to cocoon myself. I need look no further than Lowie who produce hand knitted and hand crocheted clothing and accessories using traditional hand crafted techniques. The result is a colourful, modern and ethically produced range, which is perfect for snuggling into on cold winter days. Ideal for Christmas gifts too.

If you're around London's Covent Garden, check out their Pop-Up shop on Neal Street. For those who are not in London, or if you can't face going out into the cold, you can see the collection on I Love Lowie website.

Images by I Love Lowie

Ethical fashion with X-Factor

Is that a leather jacket, Leona?

image via Google

As another series of the phenomena that is 'X-Factor' came to last night's not-soon-enough final, I was surprised by two things. The first that yesterday's Observer gave front page column space to the two finalists: Olly Murs and Joe McElderry. (If you're interested, it was Joe the 18 year old with a dazzling smile who won and who is now reportedly being whisked off to Hollywood by Simon Cowell to become South Shields answer to Zac Efron).

The second, is that Stella McCartney is rumoured to be linking-up with Leona Lewis - 2007's X-Factor winner and fellow vegetarian - to create a clothing range for 2010. The results of which I am interested in seeing.

The Cycle of Fashion

Image via Flickr.com

Image copyright of heleninpraha

The fashion date of 2010 is July 14th when two iconic style capitals - London and Paris - are involved in an exciting, not-to-missed fashion experience. Don't worry! There is no VIP guest list for this event ... the invitation is open to everyone.

The event is being organised by EJF - the Environmental Justice Foundation - who are calling all adventure seeking style-savvy volunteers to embark on "The Great Fashion Cycle" from London to Paris in aid of their work addressing human rights and environmental abuses in the fashion industry.

You don't need to be a "pro cyclist" or a trend driven fashionista to take part. All you need is passion and pedal power to help change the face of fashion for the better.

Miksani - One to Watch.

I've mentioned Miksani before. I'm very excited about this label, which was launched at Pure back in August. So why the excitement? Miksani is everything that ethical fashion should be. Firstly, it's well designed: modern with an edgy sophistication. It's the clothes that grab your attention before the ethics behind the label. Then you realise that the collection is produced to fair trade standards using organic fabrics

Katie Weightman, the designer and founder of Miksani has a real talent. Her SS2010 collection is beautifully designed, ethical and commercial. That's quite an accomplishment.

Keep an eye out for Miksani's SS2010 collection. I have a feeling it's going to be a label to watch.

Miksani SS2010

Miksani SS2010

Miksani SS2010

All images by permission of Miksani

All images copyright of Miksani

The LBD Lives On For Another Day

The "Little Black Dress". Stylish. Versatile. Timeless. Coco Chanel said that every woman should have one in her wardrobe. It can be dressed up for evening. Dressed down for day. Dressed to minimal perfection. Dressed to maximum dramatic effect. Sustainable, stylish dressing.

Sheena Matheiken and Eliza Starbuck designed their own LBD to begin the Uniform Project earlier this year. Inspired by her school days in India, where kids would personalise their uniforms with individual flair, Sheena decided to use the LBD as her uniform for a year. Each day, Sheena reinvents the dress by layering and accessorizing with vintage finds, hand-me-downs and hand-made items.

As well as being an amazing exercise in sustainable fashion and creativity, the Uniform Project also raises funds for the Akanksha Foundation. Akanksha is a non-profit organisation founded in Mumbai in 1990 to bring education to children living in slums.

The Uniform Project is perfect proof that fashion can be stylish, sustainable and socially conscious.

Embracing Ethical Fashion at Pure London.

Earlier this week I visited Pure London, the bi-annual fashion exhibition at London's Olympia. In February 2009, Pure London launched an area dedicated to ethical fashion to increase the awareness of ethical brands. At August's event, the ethical brands were intermixed with the other exhibitors to display how ethical fashion can sit seamlessly alongside 'non-ethical' fashion.

Katie Weightman founder and designer of Miksani told me she had benefited from not being in a separate area. A journalist from a weekly fashion magazine told Katie that her Editor didn't think ethical fashion was 'glamorous' enough for their readers. Upon seeing the Miksani collection the journalist took some images to show to her Editor. Hopefully the Editor's view of ethical fashion will be changed and Miksani will receive some well deserved publicity.

Unfortunately, the Editor's comment sums up many people's perceptions of Ethical Fashion. It's not glamorous. It's not directional. It's not 'fashionable'. The days of itchy fabrics, crude embroidery and unflattering designs are a thing of the past. Don't believe me? Take a look at some my favourite brands at Ethical Pure:

Miksani SS10 at Pure. Image from mygreenstyle.com

Miksani: Katie Weightman launched her new label Miksani at Pure. Katie uses organic silks, cottons and banana fibre to create a feminine, wearable collection. The use of whisper light fabrics and muted colours ensure a modern look.

Definitely one to watch.

Lalesso SS10 collection. Images courtesy of Lalesso.

Lalesso: You may recognise this name from a previous post. I really like what Lalesso are doing - their ethics and their designs so I think they are worthy of another mention.

Inspired by the silhouettes of the 1950's, Lalesso's new collection has a touch of feminine sophistication - with a flirtatious feel! Lalesso have maintained their signature energy and playful attitude with the use of vibrant colours and traditional 'lesso' prints. Perfect for holiday and daywear.

Lalesso SS10 collection. Images courtesy of Lalesso.

This tiered dress would also look fabulous with black opaque tights, killer heels and a black tux jacket to infuse some sunshine into a winter wardrobe.

Reem Alasadi SS/AW09

Reem: Reem Alasadi is a true innovator. Her eclectic collection of high-end ethical fashion is testement to her design skills. All materials are organic, each piece is hand-crafted and cleverly constructed to produce breath-taking garments.

Reem's small stand was a hive of activity with gasps of delight from buyers as they held her dyed and beaded chamoix leather jacket. Another seemed intent on leaving the exhibition wearing Reem's sequin embellished parka.