IVANA Helsinki – Indian Summer
Ditto in IVANA Helsinki while leaving BBC Radio 1
When we saw the IVANA Helsinki pieces in the Copenhagen Fashion Summit Design Challenge show last week, we recognized them immediately. Clearly seeing style icon Beth Ditto wearing the SS12 Indian Summer print (above) had left an impression on us. The stunning print is available on this oversized handprinted tunic, made of 100% cotton in Ditto’s blue, green or terracotta. 198€
The family-operated IVANA Helsinki atelier is based in downtown Helsinki where unique pieces and small-series production are done. All knits are manufactured in Finland and hand knits come from Lapland. Also, newly launched, the Ivana Helsinki NYC Concept Store now open in NoLita.
________________________________________________________
If you are a plus-sized fashion blogger, with a passion for eco-fashion Magnifeco wants you to join our contributor list. To find out more, drop an email with a few samples of your writing to us at: info at magnifeco dot com.
Eco-fashion: consumers are part of the solution
Image: flickr.com/snaiwedu
I love the fact that eco-fashion is coming back ‘on trend’. Eco-fashion hit it’s first wave in 2007-ish, 2008. Remember – Vanity Fair used to publish a ‘green’ issue? Marie Claire and a few other fashions magazines followed suit? And then they stopped. Along the way, some great eco-fashion brands were launched (remember Rani Jones?) but as many started, just as many folded. And of course, who can forget the influence of great eco-fashion blogs! And still there, many folded – in fact, 8 of the 12 blogs on the ‘competitive analysis’ when we launched Magnifeco are no longer around. And yet, in the past year, the eco-fashion movement seems to have picked up steam again. If this past week’s “Fashion Summit’ in Copenhagen is any indication – we are well on our way for the ‘second wave’ of eco-fashion. And this one is poised to be bigger, with more stakeholders and more change in the industry coming. One of the biggest changes in this ‘second wave’ will be the focus on consumers. It’s all well and good that fast-fashion companies are working towards more transparency and better overall environmental standards, but, as is incumbent in any industry, part of the responsibility lies with the consumer.
But don’t worry – there will be lots of help for you along the way. We started the process last year, when we published ‘21 ways to a conscious wardrobe.’ This coincided with an eight part series on how to create a conscious wardrobe.
This was followed, earlier this year, with 12 Rules to Dress by – a checklist for consumers, published by eco-fashion evangelist Amisha Ghadiali (you might know her from her ethical jewelry line amisha or her role as past Associate Director of the Ethical Fashion Forum).
And most recently, Redress, the Hong Kong consultancy that brought us EcoChic Fashion shows and the new EcoChic Design Awards, have created a sustainable laundry postcard titled Redressing Your Wardrobe, that provides a mantra of how to wash, air, hang and dispose of your garments in more sustainable ways.
It is a very exciting time to be a conscious consumer; your choices are increasing and your prices are decreasing. Celebrities are making a splash (think Livia Firth and her Green Carpet Challenge) and you can too. And if you have any questions – we’re always here to help.
**NYC – Sustainable Fashion Meet up
Calling all sustainable fashionistas – tonight I am getting together with the magnifeco team from the NYC Fair Trade Coalition at Sustainable NYC for a casual meet-up and to chat about eco, sustainable and fair trade fashion. If you are in the city, please join us. Open to all.
Beautiful Soul – pre-order AW12
In what is quickly becoming a funding-trend for small business; crowd sourcing pre-orders to fund development and manufacturing (think last week’s Pebble Smart Watch; which pre-sold 50,000 units and raised $7 million), some eco-fashion designers are using the concept to generate the capital required for a sustainable/ethical collection. British designer Nicola Woods is inviting customers to fund her upcoming AW12 collection ‘Olivia Rose’ for her Beautiful Soul label. Fashionistas who jump on board will not only get a gorgeous piece from the collection, but at a 33% discount off the retail price.
The sale is being held via Facebook – where you can see all the dresses, fabric swatches and prices and then orders are emailed. Orders must be placed by 10th May 2012 to receive 33% discount from the retail price. Orders placed will be produced by 31st July 2012.
Beautiful Soul is committed to a conscious approach to fabric sourcing and environmental impact and is committed to local, UK-based production. Beautiful Soul’s attention to detail and standards of quality are superior with a strong emphasis placed on product longevity. Adhering to these principles, Beautiful Soul employs the most exquisite fabrics and works with an ever-expanding library, incorporating unique signature prints, British wool, British lace and sustainable organic fabric, giving customers an alternative, more ethical choice that does not compromise luxury. Material remnants feature as fastenings and embellishments, adhering to the policy of zero-waste whereby every last thread of fabric is used in the creative process.
