Feb 8, 2010
Two magnifeco events are happening - on the same weekend! In New York - the NOW Showcase - a forum of the newest in progressive, conscious-minded, independent, locally produced fashion, accessory and lifestyle product design.
SPRING ‘10 DESIGNERS
SDN
naturevsfuture
Jai
Feral Childe
Ryann
Creem
AngelRox
Turk + Taylor
Snoflake
Rebe
She-Bible
Sust
Chulette
EcoSkin
Kelly Lane
c. marchuska
Linda Loudermilk
ECOWRIST
And across the pond, in London - on the same weekend - Esthethica - in its seventh season, it has evolved to become the epicentre for London’s ethical fashion industry. Estethica is co-curated by Orsola de Castro, founder of green label From Somewhere, Filippo Ricci and The British Fashion Council.
estethica labels selected for London Fashion Week 2010:
What’s an eco-fashion blogger to do?? Book the ticket and hit both, of course! So for the next little while expect coverage on what I’m expecting to see! Starting with SDN at the Now Showcase.
Feb 8, 2010
Participating in the Now Showcase in NYC is SDN (stands for Sarah Dixons Nova), a Brooklyn-based clothing company with an emphasis on quality, innovation and social responsibility. Designer/Owner Marcus Hicks since 1995, has worked as a freelance tailor for clients such as Beyonce Knowles, Calvin Klein and Perry Ellis. Created in 2003, SDN started with recycling used T-shirts, hand dying them and screen-printing collages on them. After much success, and recognizing the need and desire for clothing made from sustainable fabrics, SDN launched a full line of men’s and women’s clothing, made entirely of recycled, organic and other sustainable fabrics for Fall 2008.
This Cape is made from 45% Hemp, 40% Wool and 15% Tencel. Lining is 100% organic Cotton. Has openings for arms and a small collar and a snap to close at the top. $150 USD.
This Men’s overcoat is made of and lined in organic cotton. Cut Broad in the shoulder, perfect for layering. $200 USD. Although care for the environment is very important, SDN also believes people matter. All SDN products are created without the use of sweatshop labor. SDN also supports progressive political causes. Ships everywhere.
Feb 7, 2010
It’s been a while since the sales piled up and needed a full pot of coffee to get through! But today there are heaps! Enjoy!
Firstly, there are some great deals at Mountains of the Moon. Clearance stock is limited and discounted prices are available for a limited time only. And coupon LOVE2010 gives an additional 15% off some great prices. Expires on 02/09/10.
Kate Quinn Organics is having a $10 Sale! Selected items are marked down to $10! New items added all month. Plus a special $10 Short-sleeved Lap Neck Tee with proceeds donated in full to aid efforts in the Haiti crisis. Sale prices as marked. Ends February 28, 2010.
Two of Stewart+Brown’s best selling styles are on sale. The Hemp-Jersey Claribel Drape Dress was $182.00 now $98.00. And the Faye Silky Merino Vest was $164.00 now $78.00. Pssst, this is the vest that was snapped on Gossip Girl Leighton Meester in People Magazine.
In celebration of love + the speesees, everything tomato (heart) red is on sale, now through Valentine’s Day weekend. savings up to 40% off!♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Lastly, Branch - the San Fransisco-based sustainability store who exists to advance the sustainability movement, and to encourage sustainable thinking by everyday people in everyday ways - is offering 10% off orders over $100. The perfect place to find something for the person who has everything - from fair trade toys to reusable produce bags, Branch has sustainable products for every room (and every person) in your house. This one ends today!
Feb 6, 2010
Taxi CDC (Corrugated Design Collective) is the conceptualization of multi-faceted, Los Angeles based designer Deborah Brosenne. Having always been attracted to all forms of design, Deborah began her career as a founding member of the urban clothing brand Triple Five Soul. In 1994, she branched out by opening her own store, Corrugated, located on the Lower East Side of New York City. Always wanting to work with vintage, she uprooted to Los Angeles and began Taxi CDC. Focusing on merging the past and the present, Taxi CDC’s sole aim is to redesign and reconstruct vintage materials, transforming them into fashion forward, eco-friendly and fun to wear pieces. I love this Tailored Suit Vest, tailored from an original men’s vintage vest for a shorter and tighter fit. Choose from a variety of colors/patterns. $38 USD.
This Lacoste Tunic is rebuilt from a vintage 80’s men’s Lacoste sweaters. Choose from V-neck or cardigan (shown) fitted with cap sleeves. Great with jeans or leggings. Choose from various colors. $115. Ships everywhere.
Feb 5, 2010
I mentioned before that Valentine’s Day isn’t really Valentine’s day in my family, but renamed ‘hearts day’ - so at this time of year, anything in that shape catches my eye. Since this week we are loosely themed around upcycled and recycled finds - Kate Hamilton-Hunter fits right in! Kate Hamilton-Hunter is a jewellery designer specialising in recycling vintage biscuit tins and transforming them into hand-made jewellery which is original, unique and eco-friendly. Kate and her two talented jewellery makers, Bryony Carrington and Cariad Loughlin make these unique jewellery designs from modern biscuit tins, old tea caddies, antique toffee tins, and vintage sweetie tins. They can turn an family heirloom (grandmas’s button tin) into a truly unique piece of jewellery so you can wear your family memories, instead of leaving them on a shelf to gather dust!
The hearts collection comes in many colours and it particularly popular with bridal parties! Earrings start at £9.99 and necklaces, like this one are £19.99. Ships everywhere.
Feb 4, 2010
She’s been covered everywhere over the last two weeks but her styling is so magnifeco we have to share her here as well. Melissa Ferreira is the Vancouver designer behind Adhesif Clothing Co. Working as a vintage clothing buyer for many years inspired Melissa to create garments with older fabrics because of the amazing quality and special characteristics of a lot of those materials. This Tawleed Bubble dress, made of reclaimed vintage tweed and tartan suiting, is completely hand cut and handmade from every nip and tuck of the pleating to the tailoring of the princess bodice. And the dress is completely lined from top to bottom so you won’t feel the tweed. Regular $310, now $248 (20% off!) Buy from her Etsy-shop, which ships everywhere.
Feb 3, 2010
Annika Sanders and Kerry Seager started buying secondhand men’s suits in the early 1990s after they had observed the prevalence of recycling in other cities (such as San Francisco and Tokyo) along their travels. Taking old men’s suits (bought from second hand shops) and turning them into experimental pinstripe and tweed creations to wear to London Clubs in the early 90’s – they were quickly commissioned to make outfits for friends which lead to a market stall in Kensington Market. Junky Styling very quickly outgrew the market stall and acquired a boutique just off East London’s Brick Lane. You can buy their creations online, like this hooded vest available in black, grey or blue with either plain, pinstripe or tweed fabric. £145.00.
Want to upcycle your own wardrobe? If you live near London you can visit their shop which houses their industrial design studio, where customers are invited to bring their old worn out clothes for ‘Wardrobe Surgery’ – this involves the customers in the redesigning/recycling process. Or purchase their book (published this past summer). £19.99 from their online shop or $32.31 USD from Amazon.
Here is an excerpt of the book taken from an article written in the guardian.co.uk (Tuesday 4 August 2009).
Junky Styling’s fly top
With these step-by-step instructions you can turn any pair of trousers into a fitted top with a wide structured neckline and a zip detail.
A model wearing the fly top on the catwalk. Photograph: Ness Sherry/Junky Styling: Wardrobe Surgery
The waistband wraps around the back and shoulders so that the fly sits on the centre of the collar running down the chest. Armholes are created where the pockets would previously have been. The tube section is drawn into a stretchy tube that starts just under the bust and runs down to the waist or hips.
The fitted waist accentuates the shape of the top section and flatters the figure.
What you need
Pair of trousers
Stretchy T-shirt or vest
Scissors
Pins
A sewing machine or needle and thread
What to do
1. Hold the waistband of the trousers against your shoulders to check for size. Fold the trousers in half so that the back pockets are flat against each other and the fly is on the edge of the fold.
2. Cut across from the crotch point (just below the fly) straight out to the side. Cut through all layers and make sure the pockets are clear of the cut lines. You may want to straighten out the curve of the crotch seam under the fly by sewing straight down.
3. Still folded in half, cut armholes at the side where the pockets are. Cut through any pockets.
4. Cut your vest or T-shirt straight across the back and chest under the armholes. Cut through front and back simultaneously.
5. Attach the stretchy section to the bottom of your trouser section, with the raw edges on the inside. Sew this together with the stretchy side on top as you sew, stretching the top to fit.
6. For the trim on the armholes, cut two strips of the remaining off-cuts of the T-shirt or vest. Make these strips a bit longer than half the length of the armhole (when laid out flat) and 5cm wide. Sew together the 5cm widths on each strip, creating two circles. Fold these halfway in all the way round, creating two complete circles with a folded edge (this is a raw edge). Attach these to the armholes, raw edges to the inside of the garment and folded edges to the outside. Keep the pockets flat and in place as you stitch on the armhole trim.
source: Guardian.co.uk
Feb 2, 2010
Keeping in the upcycled vein - as there are enough discarded textiles to go around and some really magnifeco designers who make magic with them, like Canadian-based Preloved. Creating one of a kind clothing from reclaimed vintage fabrics, founder Julia Grieve and creative director Peter Friesen have made their mark with fans such as Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson and Daria Werbowy. Their passion is design and their philosophy is sustainability. This Augie Vest is a sleeveless wrap style vest made from two pairs of trousers complete with a two-button double-breasted closure at waist. $119.00 CAD.
This Autumn Jacket is constructed from four pairs of vintage wool trousers, has an asymmetrical two button closure, and can be worn a couple of different ways and lined with reclaimed fabric. $169.00 CAD. Ships to Canada and the U.S.
Feb 1, 2010
Wow - what a week it’s been. Maybe it’s the weather? The time of year? But it seems like a fashion-funk is in the air. First there was the Guardian essay about “why I hate fashion.” (for a really great response you should read Dream Sequins - the organizer of the fantastic Tribeca Hotel Sample Sale on Friday) and then today, fellow eco-blogger Green Grechen posted “I don’t think any eco-brand exists” and other thoughts… (not her quote.) I agree with Grechen on some points, especially that consuming is counter-intuitive to eco. We can’t buy our way out of the problems we are in.
Or can we? This is not just a fashion problem, this is also a consumer problem. We all have to clothe ourselves - it’s one of our basic needs, and that’s not going to change. How we clothe ourselves is the discussion. I think both Deanne (Dream Sequins) and Grechen (Green Grechen) articulate the dilemmas well - what we, the consumer, thinks about fashion (love/hate, eco/not) is important. Can we have it all? Not yet. We still have to choose between sustainable fabrics / local manufacturing / fair trade / development and support of local economies / vintage or reclaimed and upcycled - but the fact that we have to choose, doesn’t mean that it’s all moot. It’s the first step toward change. To that end… we’ll celebrate the baby steps to change by continuing to highlight the small designers who are putting their heart and soul into the change.
Like milch (milk in English). Also an Austrian brand, milch believes that there are already enough clothes in the world, and “how can we think that current fashion is somehow better than previous year models?” - that the ideology of originality is both arrogant and wasteful. To this end, they are magnifeco upcyclers, like this Men’s shirt blouse with ruffles, made from a worn man’s shirt and therefore soft and with no chemical residues. Each piece is one of a kind. Available in many colours: blues, browns, pinstripes, etc. €44.
Or our favourite, the trouser-dress, handmade from a retired man’s suit trousers. With a squared neckline, the former waistband is now at the knees. Each piece is one of a kind. €99. Available from StyleAut, who ships to most European countries as well as Isreal and the U.S.
I hope your week begins with style and light, and renewed belief in the sustainability of fashion. The change won’t happen overnight, but it’s in the air and it’s going to be magnifeco!
Jan 31, 2010
Hanging around Brooklyn this afternoon? Charlie-n-diamond are having their very first Trunk show featuring fashions by Ryann, a locally made, sustainable clothing line for all the ladies. Plus they will be raffling off some great prizes including a haircut at Boy Luv Girl Salon and offering a 20% off discount on accessories. 14:00 to 17:00. 105 Atlantic Avenue (between Henry & Hicks), Brooklyn, NY, 11201 (p.s. - don’t use that highlighted URL…. you can find them on Facebook)
