Fisk - Copenhagen

Fisk - Copenhagen
Image by Re-Design for Life

I came across this wonderful shop whilst wandering around the narrow streets of Copenhagen.  It's a combination of a cafe, fair trade shop and vintage boutique all brought together in a relaxed, stylish environment that is synonymous with Copenhagan.

Upstairs, classic Danish chairs and coffee tables sit amongst sustainable and fair trade products including toys, home-wares, food and eco balloons!  Downstairs there is a collection of re-designed vintage clothing - SKIFt - for men and women, together with vintage shoes, bags and jewellery. 

All proceeds from the shop help fund the work of DanChurchAid in an effort to overcome poverty and suffering in developing countries.

Fisk can be found at Sankt Peders Straede 1, Kobenhavn.

Fisk - Copenhagen
Image by Re-Design for Life

Fisk - Copenhagen
Image by Re-Design for Life

Fisk - Copenhagen
Image by Re-Design for Life

(It's opposite the university).

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.

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

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

Suno - SS11 at New York Fashion Week

I've just spent an hour or so outfit building for Autumn Winter - can't wait to start layering all those lovely textures together - long floor sweeping silk skirts with chunky knits, metallic jacquards with - I'm not sure what yet.  Delicate vintage lace with my 1980's shearling flying jacket.

Then I see Suno's Spring Summer '11 collection, which makes me yearn to wear light fabrics, fresh colours, bare legs with those amazing printed wedge sandals.

Suno - Spring Summer 2011 Collection
All collection images via Style.com

Suno garments are artisanally produced in small workshops in Kenya.

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.