OPTICS and distressed silver leather from Christopher Raeburn

Christopher Raeburn
Animal mascot bags - AW13 womenswear collection.
www.christopherraeburn.co.uk

These fabulous animal mascot bags, made from distressed silver leather,  are part of Christopher Raeburn's AW13 womenswear collection, OPTICS.

Back in February, I mentioned Raeburn's AW13 collection being one of my London Fashion Week highlights.  The collection has now launched online www.christopherraeburn.co.uk

Christopher Raeburn - AW13
Lace Wool Bomber

Christopher Raeburn - AW13
Funnel Neck Dress

Christopher Raeburn - AW13
Wool T.Shirt Dress

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

  

Army surplus gets a sophisticated edge . Christopher Raeburn - SS13

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013

Photo by Fillipo Flor - Go Runway.com

Readers of this blog will know that I have been a fan of Christopher Raeburn's work since seeing his collection of outwear and parkas in 2008, which was created from up-cycled army parachutes and military jackets.  I have always admired his thoughtful creativity and meticulous attention to detail.

But!  Wow!  His SS13 catwalk show - at London Fashion Week today - marks a transition for his work.  Raeburn has created a sleek collection of wearable pieces with a sophisticated urban edge.  He has managed to do this without losing his signature utilitarian style.

Stand out pieces in the collection were iridescent nylon shirt dresses, lace patterned parkas and hooded bomber jackets, grosgrain taped seams and camouflage inspired prints.

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013

Photo by Fillipo Flor - Go Runway.com

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013

Photo by Fillipo Flor - Go Runway.com

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013

Photo by Fillipo Flor - Go Runway.com

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013

Photo by Fillipo Flor - Go Runway.com

From Somewhere for Spring 2012

From Somewhere
Spring Summer 2012

www.fromsomewhere.co.uk

Oooh! I'm loving the new Spring Summer '12 collection by From Somewhere.  A creative sustainable label producing collections from luxury designer fabric off-cuts.  Their SS12 collection also includes some of the season's key trends.

There are sportswear influences, including satin trimmed shorts reminiscent of Balenciaga's Resort '12 collection.  A hint of contemporary tribal - a key fashion statement for Summer.  Bright colours - yellow, orange, pink set back against black.  Luscious deep toffee brown.  Tones of petrol blue. Colour blocking mixed with stripes and prints.

From Somewhere
Spring Summer 2012

www.fromsomewhere.co.uk

Of course, no Summer '12 collection would be complete without a nod towards to the Sixties, which continues to be a major influence.  A simple shift dress has been created with panels of mixed textures, including a sky blue jacquard giving this 1960's classic a 2012 spin.  

The full collection can be seen at: www.fromsomewhere.co.uk

From Somewhere
Spring Summer 2012

www.fromsomewhere.co.uk

From Somewhere was established in 1997 by Orsola De Castro and Filippo Ricci.  All womenswear collections are made by up-cycling high-end fashion and surplus textiles - fabric swatches, production off-cuts and end of rolls.  The aim is to produce beautiful clothes that take into account the balance between consumpation and disposal.

Orsola De Castro is the founder of the Estethica.

Green Carpet Challenge 2012

The Green Carpet Challenge
www.eco-age.com

 Happy 2012 everyone!

So! How are your new year’s resolutions coming along?  Set yourself any major challenges for the year?

I have to applaud Livia Firth for championing The Green Carpet Challenge 2012, which will feature some of the fashion world’s biggest names.  Livia Firth founded the Green Carpet Challenge in December 2009 when she attended the Golden Globes with her husband, Colin Firth.  The challenge was for Livia to attend all red carpet events dressed only in sustainable fashion with the aim to raise awareness of environmental and social justice in the fashion industry.

The Green Carpet Challenge 2012 brings together fashion luminaries Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Alberta Ferretti, Tom Ford, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, Paul Smith, Valentino, Roger Vivier and Ermenegildo Zegna.  Each designer will create an original outfit that defines sustainable style to be worn on the world’s red carpet events during 2012.  The first of which will be The Golden Globes being held tomorrow evening.  

It's a very exciting and glamorous time for sustainable fashion.  Thank you Livia Firth!

Livia Firth wearing Prophetik
at the Golden Globes

Livia Firth wearing Henrietta Ludgate
at the London Film Critics' Circle Awards

Livia Firth wearing Junky Styling
at The Kings Speech Paris Premiere

Livia Firth wearing Gary Harvey
at the Oscars

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.

Partimi - Open Studio

Partimi
Spring Summer 2012
Boat print silk jersey shift

I couldn't resist the invitation to visit Partimi's studio last week.  I was welcomed at the studio's gloss black victorian door by Eleanor Dorrien-Smith, the label's designer/founder.  Eleanor led me into Partimi's high ceilinged, light-filled studio where I was offered coconut macaroon biscuits and tea, served on vintage china. 

 

Tea and macaroons
at Partimi studio
Image by Re-Design for Life

I took the opportunity to pre-view the label's SS12 collection ... dreaming of summer, sandy toes and wild weather...  As with Partimi's previous collections, Eleanor has been inspired by the childhood memories of her family - sandy beaches, fishing, collecting shells and long walks.  One of my favourite pieces is a silk jersey shift dress printed with a scene of stranded fishing boats at low tide.  Stunning!

The collection retains the Partimi design aesthetic of understated silhouettes, striking prints, organic fabrics created with an environmental edge.

Partimi
Spring Summer 2012
Image by Re-Design for Life

Hats and head pieces by Lizzie McQuade
for Partimi - Spring Summer 2012
Image by Re-Design for Life

Partimi studio
Design development for Autumn Winter 2012
Image by Re-Design for Life

Partimi studio
Design development, toiles and sampling.
Image by Re-Design for Life

It was lovely to visit Partimi's creative hub and to meet the team behind one of my favourite ethical fashion labels.