Max Jenny - Creating colour for a rainy day.

Max Jenny
Autumn Winter 2014
"we love colours and we just love what we do"

I love Winter!  Crisp cold days.  Snow.  Clear skies.  Rosy cheeks.  Layers of cosy clothes.

However, I am not loving this Winter.  Damp days. Rain. Rain. More rain. Grey mornings.  Grey afternoons.  Grey skies.  Grey faces hidden below dark umbrellas.

I'm sure you'll agree, what we need in the UK right now is an injection of colour to help us through this unusually wet and colourless season.  -and here it is.  Courtesy of Max Jenny.

Swedish/Danish designer Maxjenny Forslund, creates large scale, boldly coloured patterns to produce one-off pieces using rainproof and protective recycled fabric.  Max Jenny collections include clothes, functional outerwear, hats, bags and umbrellas.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Maxjenny, whose colourful, positive and exuberant personality is infectious.  Her designs are a true reflection of her.  Maxjenny! pushes fashion for rainy days just a little bit further.

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

  

Sofia Retro Bazaar

Sofia Renewall

Spring Summer 2012

Image courtesy of Sofia Retro Bazaar

United by their passion for fashion and a relentless curiosity for everything that is arts and crafts, designers - and best friends - Llaria Tranfa and Rita Molina have created, Sofia Retro Bazaar.  A brand to represent responsible fashion.

The designers have created two collections incorporating re-used materials and hand-crafted techniques.  All pieces are made in Italy with controlled production.

Their jewellery collection - Plexy Couture - is a collection of limited edition modern pieces created from re-cycled plexiglass.

Sofia Renewall is a distinctive collection of clothes, bags, lingerie and beachwear combining romance with a strong edge.  Each unique piece is hand-made using carefully selected vintage scarves and precious fabrics including silk and organza.

Clothing - Sofia Renewall

Jewellery - Plexy Couture

Image courtesy of Sofia Retro Bazaar

Clothing - Sofia Renewall

Jewellery - Plexy Couture

Image courtesy of Sofia Retro Bazaar

 Sofia Renewall
Image courtesy of Sofia Retro Bazaar

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

Chichia London receives EFF Innovation Award

Chichia London.  'Made in Dar' collection
3-print tiered khanga dress

Chichia London was set up in 2007 by London based designer, Christine Mhando.  Influenced by her Tanzanian culture,  the designer re-creates the traditional East African cotton "Khanga" into quirky yet wearable styles.  Christine Mhando's aim is to create pieces that are timeless rather than driven by seasonal trends.

Stunning colour combinations, eye-catching prints and intricate embellishments play a significant part in the collections.  The result is an eclectic collection of modern dresses and separates.

My favourite is  the "Made in Dar" collection.

Chichia London.  'Made in Dar' collection
Palm print khanga tunic dress

Chichia London.  'Made in Dar' collection
Khanga print shirt dress with studded shoulder.

Chichia London.  'Made in Dar' collection.
Butterfly and maxi leaf print kitenge tunic dress

Chichia London.  'Made in Dar' collection.
Print kitenge one sleeve embellised shift dress.

Chichia London.  'Made in Dar' collection.
Yellow palm print khanga and turquoise fringe top
worn with flame animal print wrap skirt.

Chichia London recently received an EFF Innovation Award.

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.

Dressing-up for summer in David Longshaw

David Longshaw - Spring Summer 2011
www.davidlongshaw.co.uk

I recently heard a story about a gang of 'Chavs' who - accompanied by their heavily chained, muscular dogs - broke into a stately home with the intention of stealing valuables of any kind.  Once inside the house, rather ransacking and stealing, the gang entertained themselves by dressing-up in the owner's stunning clothes and jewelry.

The designer David Longshaw told me that story.  It's the story behind his Spring Summer 2011 collection. A collection of innovative styles printed with David Longshaw's humorous illustrations in a palette of mid-tone summer pastels.  The combination creates a feminine collection with a quirky urban edge.

I'm longing to dress-up in David Longshaw this summer.

David Longshaw - Spring Summer 2011

Precious pleating by Felicity Brown

 Can't believe I haven't yet mentioned Felicity Brown.

I was wandering around Liberty's yesterday when I noticed a rail of stunning dresses, created in ruffled layers of hand-dyed, pleated silk. I instantly recognised the dresses from Felicity Brown's debut collection.  I'd seen pieces from this collection at London Fashion Week back in September, where I was captivated by the breath-taking beauty of each piece within this small couture collection.  All of the dresses are hand-made, hand-dyed and hand-printed using precious silks.

I am totally in awe of Felicity Brown's creative talent.  So sorry it's taken me so long to share this with you.

Felicity Brown
Autumn Winter 2010

Felicity Brown
Autumn Winter 2010

Felicity Brown
Autumn Winter 2010

Felicity Brown
Spring Summer 2011

Felicity Brown
Spring Summer 2011

He is superman - Yang Du

Yang Du
Spring Summer 2011
NEWGEN at London Fashion Week
Image by Re-Design for Life

Yang Du's spring summer 2011 collection - He is superman - is inspired by the toys and games of her childhood.  The expressive emotions of Superman, Batman and Astroboy play leading roles in the stories Du creates through each design within the collection.  Inspiration is also drawn from the Korean Toy Museum and it's collection of retro and stuck-together 'mutant' toys.

The collection is a riot of bold colour, surreal images and over-sized shapes constructed in panelled jersey, patchwork and digital prints.  All is brought together to create humorous yet sexy designs.  It's no wonder fans of her designs include Marina (and the Diamonds), Paloma Faith and Daisy Lowe.

There is a real sense of fun about Yang's work that I love.  I was also bowled over by her creative exuberance and serious professionalism.  A real inspiration.  I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of Yang Du and her surreal take on fashion.

Image by permission of Yang Du

Image by permission of Yang Du

Image by permission of Yang Du

British Fashion Council - Emerging Talent Award

In a season of camel coats, camel trousers and general minimal beige-ness, it's a welcome relief to read that the British Fashion Council has nominated the following designers for it's 2010 Emerging Talent Award.

Michael van der Ham
Autumn Winter 2010
Image byMorgan O'Donovan

Michael van der Ham - a favourite of mine - who has a talent for combining mismatched textures, prints and colours to create beautiful silhouettes.

Mary Katrantzou
Autumn Winter 2010
Image by Billa Baldwin

Mary Katrantzou, who has made an incredible impact with her bold graphics and industrial jewellery.

Meadham Kirchhoff
Autumn Winter 2010
Image by Morgan O'Donovan

Meadham Kirchoff, who created a flurry of excitment amongst fashion media with their AW10 collection designed for uncompromising, aware and individual women.


I look forward to seeing their new collections at London Fashion Week ... I'll keep you posted.