My tailor is a rockstar

Studio Jux
My Nepali Tailor is a Rockstar

Studio Jux is an eco friendly design led fashion brand with a philosophy for fair trade and fun.  Jux is a German word for fun.  Studio Jux believe that fashion should be fun.  Fun for the customer.  Fun for the designer. - and, more importantly, fun for the tailors who produce their collections.

Studio Jux believe their tailors are rockstars.

To promote the tailor's who work in the brand's Nepalese factory, Studio Jux has produced a printed 100% organic cotton T.Shirt:  My Nepali Tailor is a Rockstar.

The brand have also designed labels to promote the tailors who work in their own factory in Nepal as well as factories used in Portugal and China.

Studio Jux = Design + Eco + Fair

Customers can also shake hands with their tailor by checking a numbered label in their Studio Jux clothing.  The number corresponds to a specific tailor.  By going to the Studio Jux website, clicking handshake, customers can meet their Rockstar Tailor.

http://www.studiojux.com/handshake

H&M Conscious Exclusive Collection

Embroidered and lace applique dress.
Organic cotton, re-cycled polyamide, polyamide.
Conscious Exclusive Collection.

As part of fashion retailer H&M's work towards a more sustainable fashion future, the company launched a capsule collection, Conscious Exclusive on April 4th.  Inspired by Hollywood glamour, the evening wear collection features clothing and accessories created from materials including organic cotton, recycled polyester, recycled polyamide and Tencel.

The Conscious Exclusive collection has been a resounding success with many items already being sold out.  Do not despair!  Items from the collection are already being sold on Ebay.

Conscious sustainable fashion with a fast fashion attitude.

Long draped dress.
Re-cycled polyester.
Conscious Exclusive Collection.

Printed tulip dress with stone embroidery.
Organic cotton and silk.
Conscious Exclusive Collection.

Grosgrain jacket and trouser.
Organic cotton and Viscose.
Conscious Exclusive Collection.

Structured dress with bead and gem embellishment.
Organic cotton and silk.
Conscious Exclusive Collection.

Ada Zanditon presents Tigress Reign for SS13

Ada Zanditon
Spring Summer 2013
Tigress Reign

Ada Zanditon's Spring Summer collection is inspired by the beauty, strength, elegance and sensual allure of the Tigress, an increasingly endangered animal.

Whilst researching Tigers, Zanditon drew comparisons with the Tigress' behaviour - a deadly combination of intense allure, ferocity and confidence -  to that of female characters in films such as Kill Bill, Thelma and Louise, Deathproof & Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

Taking this inspiration, Zandition has created a collection of elegant sculptural pieces to be worn with confidence and a touch of glamour.  Signature looks include regal dresses, billowing separates and sharply tailored jackets.

Tigress Reign
Ada Zanditon - Spring Summer 2013 Collection

A film to promote the collection, Tigress Reign was shot in Cyprus where the team flew courtesy of Easyjet, one of Zanditon's sponsors.

Click on the link to watch the film:  Tigress Reign

Things to look back upon and love about 2012.

Honest by  Bruno Pieters

Honest by Bruno Pieters
Marl sweater made from recycled wool
Creased cotton wrap skirt

Honest by

The launch in January, 2012 of Honest by.

Honest by, is the creation of the highly regarded Belgian designer, Bruno Pieters.  Pieters has created the first company in the world to have 100% transparency for it's supply chain, allowing Honest by customers to shop for innovative fashion in a completely conscious way.

Honest by

Honest by Bruno Pieters
Organic silk chiffon dress

Honest by

Honest by Bruno Pieters
Recycled wool caban coat
organic cotton facings, bindings and thread.

Honest by

Partimi 2012 collections

Partimi
Spring Summer 2012

One of my favourite sustainable fashion brands.  I love the simple silhouettes,  easy style and captivating prints depicting photographic images from designer, Eleanor Dorrien-Smith's childhood.   I loved both of Partimi's 2012 collections.  Looking forward to 2013.

Partimi

Partimi
Spring Summer 2012

Partimi
Autumn Winter 2012
Photograph by:  Nicole Maria Winkler

Partimi
Autumn Winter 2012
Photograph by:  Nicole Maria Winkler

NEWGEN sponsorship winners

A special mention to three of the designers who have been awarded sponsorship to present their collections at London Fashion Week in February, 2013.   J JS Lee, Lucas Nascimento and Christopher Raeburn.

J JS LEE
Spring Summer 2013 collection

J JS LEE
Spring Summer 2013 collection

J JS LEE
Spring Summer 2013 collection

Lucas Nascimento
Spring Summer 2013 collection

Lucas Nascimento
Spring Summer 2013 collection

Lucas Nascimento
Spring Summer 2013 collection

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013 collection

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013 collection

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013 collection

Rutzou award for sustainable fashion

Rutzou
Sustainable design challenge, 2012

Danish fashion designer Susanne Rutzou, won the sustainable design challenge in May this year.  The competition - part of the Copenhagen Fashion Summit - was set to raise awareness of sustainable textiles.

Rutzou

Rutzou
Sustainable design challenge, 2012

  

NORRBACK - maintaining style & integrity

NORRBACK
Autumn Winter 2012

Its at this time of year - when I've often over eaten, over socialised and over dressed, over a number of weeks - that I feel the need to wrap and cocoon myself in gentle layers. To venture on long walks.  To enjoy nature's winter silence.

All images from Norrback's Autumn Winter collection.
Consciousness.  Integrity.  Quality.  Style.  NORRBACK

NORRBACK
Autumn Winter 2012

NORRBACK
Autumn Winter 2012

Mady Dooijes

Mady Dooijes
Textile Designer

Mady Dooijes creates small collections - including one off pieces - using organic, natural and reclaimed fabrics.  All pieces are dyed by hand to create a subtle, ethereal style to her collections.

Inspired by poetry, art, imperfections, travels and antiques.

Mady also has a beautiful blog abundance.

Emesha launches an androgynous edge for Autumn Winter 2011/12

Emesha
Autumn Winter 2011/12

I love Emesha's AW12 collection!

Taking it's initial inspiration from the shirt, the collection reworks this classic shape into other garments to create a relaxed, contemporary look.  These pieces are juxtaposed with razor sharp tailoring for a clean silhouette resulting in a collection of unique pieces with an androgynous edge.  

When I viewed the collection at London Fashion Week's Estethica, what also struck me was the premium quality of it's finish and fabrics - all of which are 100% natural and/or organic.  The label is fully committed to environmental and social responsibilities:  always sourcing new eco-friendly fabrics, using sustainable materials and recycling as much as possible.

In addition to this, Emesha practices fair wage policy and production is organized to help the depriving fashion industry in Hungary.

What is there not to love about Emesha.

Emesha
Autumn Winter 2011/12

Emesha
Autumn Winter 2011/12

Emesha
Autumn Winter 2011/12

Emesha
Autumn Winter 2011/12

Emesha
Autumn Winter 2011/12

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

Dark, sensual and sustainable - Minna AW10

Minna AW10 Collection

Image by permission of Minna Hepburn

Inspired by the classic 1950's film noir period, designer Minna Hepburn has moved away from her usual soft colours and vintage cream lace to create a sophisticated collection in a palette of black and hand-dyed shades of grey. The collection still maintains Minna's signature quirky details and plenty of lace, only much darker.

Minna has used luxurious fabrics such as Scottish lace, Hemp/silk, organic wool, vintage textiles and leather off-cuts to create sensual dresses with an urban edge. Hand embellishment adds exquisite and unexpected detailing to the collection.

With this new design direction, Minna is one of my favourite 'Eco' fashion collections for AW10.

Minna AW10 Collection

Image by permission of Minna Hepburn

Minna AW10 Collection

Image by permission of Minna Hepburn

Minna AW10 Collection

Image by permission of Minna Hepburn