Creating Pandamonium with Annie Morris

Clothespins dress by Annie Morris for Burberry

Contemporary artist Annie Morris is creating a sculptural dress for 2012’s World Wildlife Fund Pandamonium 2.   The artist is offering an amazing opportunity to any students with sewing or embroidery skills, to assist her in this exciting project.

The finished dress will be shown as part of a unique catwalk show of wearable sculpture, to raise funds and awareness for the World Wildlife Fund’s 50^th anniversary.   The event, being held on March 31, will show work by 25 leading artists, architects and fashion designers including Grayson Perry, Zaha Hadid, Richard Wilson, Idris Khan, Hussein Chalayan and Annie Morris.  Following the event, there will be a public exhibition of all pieces from the catwalk show.

If you would like to be involved in this exciting and worthwhile project, please contact Dea Vanegan deana@artwisecurators.com 

Source:  Centre for Sustainable Fashion

Future Classics

I recently read an article - in one of those free daily papers available at train stations - about the length of time it takes for a Fashion Editor - of one of those glossy, international, monthly fashion tomes - to be seen wearing outfits from designer catwalk collections.  One Editor, was seen in an outfit from Prada's SS12 collection in a matter of days (it may have been less) after it was shown on the catwalk.

Here starts the dizzying whirl of the fashion wheel for another season.  It's a frantic fashionista race to claim the title for being one of the first to be seen wearing the latest collections.  Here, too, is where I have a confession to make.  On Friday, I found myself caught up in this race.  

Future Classics brocade fabric
at Save the Children, Westbourne Grove

Image by Re-Design for Life

I'd popped into the Save the Children shop on Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill.  As I was taking a leisurely flick through the rails,  I noticed something shimmering in the light.  I hastily pushed back a selection of clothes to reveal a brocade skirt, which instantly reminded me of the plethora of brocade skirts shown on the Spring Summer '12 catwalks.  Without hesitation, I whipped it from the rail. Tried it on.  Loved it.  Bought it.  A key fashion piece for my wardrobe. 

Brocade skirt by Future Classics
at Save the Children, Westbourne Grove.

Image by Re-Design for Life

This brocade skirt was donated to Save the Children by fashion label Future Classics, who donate many samples to the Westbourne Grove store.  

Thank you to Future Classics for helping me in my moment of being a Frantic Fashionista.  More importantly, thank you for your fashion donations towards helping Save the Children.

Vote To Put Junky Styling On The Run-Way

There are only 9 days remaining to cast your votes in British Airways 'Great Britons' competition. Annika Sanders and Kerry Seager the founders and creative force behind Junky Styling have been shortlisted for the award.

Designing and producing their collections in London's East End since the late Nineties, they have become the doyennes of what is now known as 'upcycling'. With their creativity and eye for detail, Junky Styling transform charity shop finds and surplus stock into stylish contemporary outfits.

They also hold a Wardrobe Surgery at their Brick Lane shop for anyone who has an old, much loved item of clothing that they would like to have de-constructed, re-styled and up-dated.

Take a look at their work and check out their website. If you think they are worthy of the award go to the below link to vote for Junky Styling.

To see what the award is all about click here: About

To vote for them now click here: Vote

Bags of Inspiration

Paul Smith's printed canvas bags decorate the stair well at the Design Museum.

His signature quirky prints and clever colour combinations created an inspiring visual feast. It was the seemingly hap-hazard display of prints and colours that I found inspiring. I've always been drawn to unexpected combinations of prints and textures. After seeing this display I couldn't wait to get home to rummage through my boxes of vintage and not-so-old charity shop finds to pull out interesting prints to chop up and re-design.

I'll keep you posted with the results.