Christopher Raeburn - Emerging Talent Menswear - British Fashion Awards

Christopher Raeburn
Emerging Talent - Menswear
British Fashion Awards 2011

Congratulations to Christopher Raeburn on winning the Emerging Talent award for Menswear at the British Fashion Awards earlier this week.  I know it sounds like a cliche but it couldn't have gone to a nicer person.  Hugely talented too.  Well deserved!

When I first met Raeburn at London Fashion Week in February 2010, he was showing his collection of jackets, bombers and parkas created from re-appropriated military materials.  I was blown away by the innovation, research and sourcing behind the beautifully crafted collection.  I have followed Raeburn's progress ever since.

Raeburns signature designs are his flyweight wind-cheaters, which are constructed from de-commissioned military parachutes.  Each streamlined style is cleverly pieced together, incorporating taped seams and screen printed panels to create a contemporary collection.

All pieces in his collection are remade in England.

Christopher Raeburn
London Fashion Week
Estethica February 2010

Christopher Raeburn
London Fashion Week
New Generation September 2010

Christopher Raeburn
London Fashion Week
New Generation September 2010

Christopher Raeburn
Estethica September 2011
Women's wear collection

If this isn't enough to impress you,  he was also voted Most Stylish Man at the British Fashion Awards by GQ magazine.

Drawers filled with Style and Salvage - by Rupert Blanchard

Multi Drawer Cabinet Square by Rupert Blanchard.
Created with discarded drawers that were once part of a 40's desk, a fitted wardrobe,
a Victorian chest of drawers, a haberdashery shop cabinet,
a 50's sideboard and a 20's chest of drawers.

Rupert Blanchard is obsessed with drawers.  It began when he was a curious child visiting his Grandma's house, which was furnished with watchmakers cabinets and drawers.  His obsession and curiosity has developed into a creative talent for up-cycling abandoned, unused and unwanted drawers.  Blanchard scours junk shops, car boot sales and market stalls for discarded furniture to re-create into cabinets that will once again be wanted.  Each individual drawer has a story to tell from another era, brought together to create something extremely modern yet timeless.

As Rupert Blanchard says "The main rule I have set myself is to only use objects that no longer fulfill the purpose for which they were originally created, and to make the unwanted wanted again."

Fisk - Copenhagen

Fisk - Copenhagen
Image by Re-Design for Life

I came across this wonderful shop whilst wandering around the narrow streets of Copenhagen.  It's a combination of a cafe, fair trade shop and vintage boutique all brought together in a relaxed, stylish environment that is synonymous with Copenhagan.

Upstairs, classic Danish chairs and coffee tables sit amongst sustainable and fair trade products including toys, home-wares, food and eco balloons!  Downstairs there is a collection of re-designed vintage clothing - SKIFt - for men and women, together with vintage shoes, bags and jewellery. 

All proceeds from the shop help fund the work of DanChurchAid in an effort to overcome poverty and suffering in developing countries.

Fisk can be found at Sankt Peders Straede 1, Kobenhavn.

Fisk - Copenhagen
Image by Re-Design for Life

Fisk - Copenhagen
Image by Re-Design for Life

Fisk - Copenhagen
Image by Re-Design for Life

(It's opposite the university).

Mid Century Design in the Village

Dulwich College, Dulwich, London SE21.

Yesterday I headed off to the Mid Century Modern show being held in one of those London enclaves oddly known as a village. However, this part of London justifies the title. Dulwich Village has all the hallmarks of an English village despite being part of South East London's borough of Southwark. We drove alongside it's white picket fences, quaint shops and cafes, grand Georgian mansions and the Dulwich Picture Gallery before arriving at our destination. The magnificent Dulwich College. An impressive red brick building with large arched windows and statues carved into the stonework. Certainly a far cry from any college or school I have ever studied at. Not a pre-fab in sight!

Once inside, the design style changed to mid 20th Century as three large halls and a mezzanine level were stylishly filled for the day with Scandinavian, American and English retro furniture, 1950's textiles, huge modernist ceiling lights, glassware and glazed pottery signed by well known 20th Century designers with prices to occasionally raise an eyebrow. This was certainly a show for those people not psychologically equipped for flea markets, car-boot sales and junk shops.

Having said that there were many things that caught my eye and tugged at my purse strings:

Retro cushions and furniture at Emma Loves Retro

Emma Glibbery has a passion for retro textiles - she loves the large scale prints and bold colours. Emma re-designs discarded curtains and clothes into bright and beautiful cushions for her label Emma Loves Retro. Mid century furniture is also available, which Emma will source to customers' requests. It was the dining chairs shown in the corner of this photo that I considered buying - very reasonably priced at just over £200 for four.

Retro inspired hand-crafted products were also on show. I particular liked the whimsical designs traditionally screen-printed onto wallpaper by Lizzie Allen. All designs are hand-printed to order by Lizzie at her London studio. The paper is sourced from managed forests and any wastage is recycled at the local mill.

I'm torn between (no pun intended) the London City Gents design and the Jazz in Cental Park design. Two of my favourite cities. It's a difficult choice.

London City Gents wallpaper by Lizzie Allen

Jazz in central park wallpaper by Lizzie Allen

Retropolitan have a wonderful collection of gorgeous glassware, post war kitsch and mid 20th Century style objects. The glassware on display was truely gorgeous: solid jewel colours as well as swirling ombre effects. My only concern was that I might drop something only to be surrounded by shards of beautifully coloured glass.

Glassware and mid 20th Century ceramics from Retropolitan.

I gingerly moved on to admire a 1960's suitcase on the same stand. Perfect for filling with retro bits and pieces that I've accumulated. It would have been a great statement bag for my college books too.

Retro suitcase from retropolitan

Re-Designed by Gary Harvey

The time has come for a ruthless clear-out. It appears that I have applied the same logic to my computer's hard-drive as I have to my loft: cram in as much inspirational material as possible, never throw away / delete anything.

You see, clicking and dragging file after file into the trash icon seems an incredibly dull task to me. I'd much rather be in my loft dodging spiders and wooden beams in the search for forgotten pieces of fabric. Or so I thought until - mid click and drag - I came across these long-ago saved images.

Creative consultant Gary Harvey re-designed these outfits by reconstructing discarded garments. Why I haven't shared these images earlier I have no idea.

Seeing these outfits again has inspired me to make better use of the clothes and fabrics that I am hoarding in my loft. So while you take a look at Gary's creativity I'm off to join the spiders in my loft.

Denim Dress by Gary Harvey

Made from 42 pairs of discarded Levi 501 jeans.

"Jeans are one of the most hardwearing garments... Since the transition from 'work-wear' to fashion, jeans are often discarded for the latest silhouette before the end of their useful life"

Black T.Shirt Dress by Gary Harvey

Made from 37 black logo t.shirts.

"Logo tees... often given away by brands or bought as souvenirs, one of the cheapest garments to make, often made in appalling conditions by workers earning less than the minimum wage."

Baseball Puffball Dress by Gary Harvey

Made from 26 nylon Baseball jackets.

"Sportswear was originally designed as a uniform for athletes..., since entering the mainstream fashion arena in the 1980's, we've seen loads of non-biodegradable garments discarded at the end of the season for new team kit or the latest fashion trend."

Re-Design Knitwear

Paul Smith always inspires me. I love his use of print, colour and quirky detail. His SS2010 catwalk collection at London Fashion Week didn't fail to please me. Take inspiration from his cleverly constructed knits. Re-design your knitwear from last season to make it bang on trend again. A sustainable solution to up-dating your wardrobe.

Paul Smith SS2010. Style.com

Take your "must-have" cardigan from last season.

Remove one front panel. Cut back panel in half to mirror shape of front.

Remove the remaining sleeve - leaving a portion to create an extended shoulder line.

Make a tie fastening from the sleeve.

Thread one tie through front button hole. Attach other tie to back panel.

Fasten at the side.

Paul Smith SS2010. Style.com

Take a looser fitting fine knit jumper or jersey top.

Take a contrast colour, printed or striped strip of fabric or jersey.

(This could be vintage or something cut from a discarded skirt/dress/shirt)

Wrap across the bust - twisting it in the centre. Fasten at the back.

You have now created a bustier effect top - seen on so many of SS2010 catwalks.