CAN light chandelier by Willem Heefer

CAN light chandelier by Willem Heefer
for Midhill diner, Helsinki, Finland.

Image via dutch DZINE

 Innovative, effective and sustainable product design by Willem Heefer.  

Catering sized Heinz baked bean cans were saved from the waste bins of restaurants and cafes to be transformed into industrial light fittings at Midhill diner in Helsinki, Finland.

The results are stunning with a touch of fun.

CAN light chandelier by Willem Heefer
for Midhill diner, Helsinki, Finland.

Image via dutch DZINE

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

Something to treasure from Lilygrace Originals

Lilygrace Originals is a new online store selling unique, handcrafted, one of a kind jewellery inspired by the colour, gothic drama and visual imagination of Frida Kahlo; the intricate and unusual jewellery designs of Miriam Haskell and the surrealism and humour of Elsa Schiaparelli.

Frida Blanco
Frida Kahlo black and white cameo earrings
by Lilygrace Originals

Images used are courtesy of Lilygrace Originals

Each piece of jewellery is lovingly hand-made in the UK by Hazel Mathiot, a fine artist based in Wiltshire.  Vintage rhinestones and English cut glass beads are used together with hand modelled polymer clay shapes, antiqued brass chains and up cycled vintage photographs to create one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces.

Blue Rose Geisha
Vintage photo violet, sky and teal cameo earrings
by Lilygrace Originals

Images used are courtesy of Lilygrace Originals

Mirror Mirror
Red and yellow naughty pin-up girl cameo earrings
by Lilygrace Originals

Images used are courtesy of Lilygrace Origianls

 Influenced by the current trend for earrings and cameos, I have chosen to show these stunning cameo earrings.  The complete collection of jewellery is available online www.lilygraceoriginals.com.

Pretty as a Peacock
Blue green iridescent Show Girl cameo earrings
by Lilygrace Originals

Images used are courtesy of Lilygrace Originals

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.

Creating shade at Brixton Village Market

Wonderfully creative use of old lampshades
at Brixton Village Market.
Image by Re-Design for Life.

For over two years now, I have been living with a bare lightbulb in the ceiling light at the top of my stairs.   Having searched high and low considering various options, I am still totally in-the-dark as to how to shade the naked glare.

Perhaps something mid-century modern?  Something reclaimed from a victorian school?  Something Scandinavian?  Something tongue-in-cheek chintz?

This morning my light-bulb of inspiration shone at Brixton Village Market, where one of the 'Avenues' has the most wonderfully adorned lights hanging from it's 1930's ceiling.  Each light has a unique shade created from a combination of chintz damasks, retro wooden and plastic lanterns, English country florals,  1960's patterns, scallop edges and fringing.

So there hangs the answer of how to dress my bare light-bulb.  I'll combine all of my ideas to create one unique piece.  The search for each individual shade begins...

Image by Re-Design for Life

Image by Re-Design for Life

Image by Re-Design for Life

The only way is Up for Goodone

Goodone - Spring Summer 2011
Oversized panelled T-shirt
worn with contrast jersey leggings.

Goodone  the award-winning fashion label continues to go from strength to strength with each season.  I have been so impressed with the last two collections - Spring Summer 2011 and Autumn Winter 2011 - previewed at London Fashion Week.

Following on from the mentorship with Yasmin Sewell as part of a British Fashion Council scheme, Goodone's Designer and Co-Founder Nin Castle has pushed up-cycling to a "a new level of luxury".  For Spring Summer, Goodone combines re-claimed garments and surplus fabrics with new British produced fabrics to create fashion-forward styles with an Active Sportswear influence, a key look for Summer 2011:  body-con shapes, contrast panels, mesh fabrics and recycled festival tents!

Goodone - Spring Summer 2011
Panelled body-con dress with waffle knit detail
and key hole back

The Spring Summer collection is available online at www.goodone.co.uk

I'll give you a taster of the Autumn Winter collection in a later post.  Be patient.  It's a Goodone.  (Sorry!  Such a terrible pun...I couldn't resist it.)

Goodone - Spring Summer 2011
Linen and jersey jumpsuit

Goodone - Spring Summer 2011
Oversized knitted jumper with woven shoulders
worn with two-tone jersey leggings.

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."

Glamourous and ramshackle jewelry by La Tonkinoise a Paris.

La Tonkinoise a Paris

I am delighted to have found La Tonkinoise a Paris:  a brand of delicate up-cycled jewelry.  Created with an arts and crafts approach, it's designer makes use of vintage rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches that she finds in Paris flea markets.  Each piece is hand-made to create unique items that mix together "glamourous and ramshackle, rough and luxurious, rock 'n roll and poetic".

By recycling discarded jewelry, La Tonkinoise's designer has brought to life rejected items to create modern individual pieces with a story to tell.

La Tonkinoise a Paris

La Tonkinoise a Paris

La Tonkinoise a Paris

La Tonkinoise a Paris

The name La Tonkinoise is taken from a Josephine Baker song of the same name.  Follow the link to hear this beautiful song ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlcW28ZUxFg

My favourite this week comes From Somewhere

From Somewhere
AW10/11 Collection

I am loving this top from sustainable fashion label From Somewhere.  The mix of colours and textures shows a clever design eye.  Created by up-cycling surplus fabrics from the high-end fashion and textile industry.  As From Somewhere says "From waste to want".  I want.  I want.  I want.

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

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."

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

Upcycling With My Green Lipstick

The term upcycling is frequently being used in the world of ethical fashion. So what exactly does it mean? Upcycling is re-using materials and items to re-create something that improves the value of the original item. Upcycling retains elements of the original item. For example, transforming an old shirt into a fabulous dress is upcycling. Upcycling itself is not new. Designers including Reet Aus (shown below) have been doing this for years. Perhaps, now that it has been given a label it will create more awareness for consumers.

Reet Aus via flickr.com

My Green Lipstick, the online ethical fashion store, have been busy upcycling to create limited -edition items for their own-label range. Vintage fabrics, buttons and buckles, vintage silk scarves and repurposed garments have been 'Lip-sticked' (received My Green Lipstick's unique re-style) to give them a new lease of life. The range also incorporates organic cotton and silk to create a collection of exclusive "ecologically sensitive" pieces.

The first items from the range will go on-line this week. I am sure all ethical fashionistas out there will be on-line before they can say Upcycle.