To Have And To Ware

London-based designer Emma Ware has intrigued us. As a Wimbledon School of Arts graduate, with a background in fine art, film, and TV, Emma utilizes reclaimed materials by creating them into intricate pieces of artwork. Combining textures for an elegant contrast, she uses hand-sculpted recycled rubber and chains in her accessories.

Emma emphasizes sustainability in all of her works- like her edgy accessories line, the re:cycle collection. And not to worry, although the necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and chains may look harmful, they contain malleable rubber that moves to the warmth of your body- not sharp in texture, but sharp in style! Go intimidate someone.

Here are some of her latest that are being showcased in the UK this month...

www.emmaware.co.uk

Freedom & Fashion

Article by Andrea Krystine

Ecologique Fashion attended the second annual Freedom and Fashion event in Irvine earlier this month. It was a not-for-profit fashion show that advocated fair trade and ethical employment practices. The event was primarily concerned with sex trafficking and spread awareness about the subject throughout the evening. Several partners of Freedom and Fashion were in attendance, during both the trade show and runway portions of the event, sharing their goods.

Tag Bag

Urdenet

The runway show began with an appearance by the bubbly Jeannie Mai of The Style Network wearing a gorgeous aqua-colored gown. Following Jeannie were appearances by musical artists Esna Yoon and Dr. E-- who herself was a survivor of sex trafficking. Allison Trowbridge of Not For Sale then spoke about modern slavery and shocked many with her valid statistics on human slave trade practices.

Among the designers that were featured in the runway show, ALL were partnering businesses that helped support Freedom and Fashion's goal of raising money to prevent sex trafficking. Kristinit, Anita Arze, and Falling Whistles (whistle necklaces designed to build awareness about the children subject to the war in Congo), and Tag Bag (hand bags made from recycled South African license plates) were a few of my personal favorites.

NAEM Denim

Miss Kim, Founder of Freedom and Fashion

The finale of the show presented the Freedom and Fashion 2011 collection, which consisted of dark and sultry pieces and lots and lots of RED- inspired by the freedom gained from those who were once victims of sex trafficking. Bonnie Kim, founder of Fashion and Freedom brought the evening to a close with her condolences and a speech encouraging others to support her cause in the effort to demolish the human slave trade phenomenon.

and here it is...

REFIX Magazine's first:  some footage from the 2011 Freedom and Fashion Show!

enjoy.

Refix TV: Freedom and Fashion Show 11-6-10 from andrea krystine on Vimeo.

The *Greener* Side of LA Fashion Weekend

Article by Andrea Krystine

Emily Factor SS11

This fall, the Green Youth Movement took the green-repping reigns by producing LA Fashion Weekend's "The Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show" held at The Gallery Los Angeles. The event with filled with an eclectic and anxious crowd of bloggers, designers, scenesters, and fashionistas who all happily embraced the collections of ethical designers Jonano, Keokojay, Kristinit, and Emily Factor.

The runway show commenced with a friendly welcome by The Gallery's own Mikey Koffman, followed an inspiring speech highlighting the importance of sustainability for future generations by 16-year old GYM president, Chloe Mills.

Chloe Mills, President of the Green Youth Movement

Neiman Tate, Raggedy Couture

Mikey Koffman, The Gallery LA

Jonano represented a softer side of organics with their simple, yet elegantly romantic pieces.

Keokojay romped the runway with a more fun and funky boheme feel - comfortably light and beautiful.

Kristinit's collection consisted of beautifully feminine cuts and fabrics, breezy pastels, intricate pattern meshing and sex-kitten sophisticated lace.   

Emily Factor's Collection was like taking a trip into a technicolor, flowery, flowing wonderland. One could say they felt like Alice lying in the daisies as the collection exuded a very youthful and free feeling.

A Beautiful Soul is Timeless

Article by Andrea Krystine


Harper's Bazaar may have warned us about staying away from kimono cuts and embracing “ravish ruffles" in their September issue, yet Beautiful Soul proves that this timeless classic is well.. timeless!

Beautiful Soul, known for their upcycled vintage kimono line, just released their latest --which we hope to view up close and personal at London Fashion Week Spring 2011! This ethically and environmentally aware luxury label, based in London’s Notting Hill, sources and recycles exquisite fabrics from around the globe.

Trained at London College of Fashion, founder Nicola Woods claims she's not "an eco warrior"- she "just cares".  Beautiful Soul was derived from the inspirational experiences Nicola attained while exercising her design talents for the South African charity, Tabeisa.

“Beautiful Soul is created through intricate and skillful pattern cutting, an intuitive use of colour and texture and a real desire to create pieces that capture beauty to the eye, to the mind and to the soul.” - Dilys Williams, Director for Sustainable Fashion, London College of Fashion

Here's a sneak peak of Beautiful Soul's latest SS:11 collection, called "Believe"- just released! Inspired by the Grace Kelly exhibition and the wardrobe of Naomi Thompson, the new collection focuses on the 1950's feminine silhouette with a twist of the orient. 

Seems to me very un-kimono-like with a slight ode to Alice?

I simply adore it.

Beautiful Soul SS:11 Believe. from oliver Prout on Vimeo.

Katcha's Transformations

Article by Andrea Krystine

Katcha Bilek has always had a passion for transforming things rather than throwing them away. In her 20's she travelled all over Europe and learned several languages, giving a multi-cultural outlook to her art. In 1999 while living and traveling in a converted fire truck, she began making bags that utilized the leather techniques she had learned during travels to Spain, out of used and readily available inner tubes. 

Katcha's current collection, Re-Collect, consists of a series of bags and purses made from used truck inner tubes and old car seatbelts. Each one is handmade and unique- cut and sewn in Katcha's Bristol workshop. In addition to being recycled and collected locally, the materials used act as a wonderful alternative to animal products. 

Her creative talent doesn't just end there, Katcha is also quite popular for her recycled art and installations. Here is one of her most recent projects- bike wheel chandeliers: 

You can catch a glimpse of one any time at the Hamilton House on Stokes Croft, alongside many beautiful designs by other talented artists. 

For more info on Katcha Bilek and her Re-Collect projects, visit re-collect.net

Raeburn Re-Appropriating

Article by Camilla Doig Lorentzen

Christopher Raeburn, a graduate from London's Royal College of Arts, is fast becoming known for his pioneering work towards the future of ethical design. Christopher utilises re-appropriated military fabrics to create garments that are functional, intelligent and meticulously crafted.

The fabrics come from the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic, and also from the former East Germany. The clothes are all made in Britain.

Christoper graduated in 2006, and won the Ethical Fashion Forum's Innovation competition in 2008. His collection was a set of eight parachute pieces, and was shown at London Fashion Week the same year. Since 2008, Christopher has won many competitions and done a collaboration with established menswear designer Tim Soar. His great sense for detail, fabric and design is making him one of the most innovative designers of our age.

Read Christopher's blog here: http://remadeinengland.blogspot.com/  

The Green is Grasser

Article by Andrea Krystine

It's a Green Day Festival, "a multi-city campaign dedicated to connecting people to resources and information for a greener planet.." held their latest at Liberty Station Park in San Diego, CA. I went by to scope out the scene and take a gander at the grassy runway and Eco Fashion Show featuring local San Diegans.

Of the designer's showing, two were students from Fashion Careers College-- Jessica Serafin and Oseas Villatoro-- who utilized recycled materials and odd goods [like shower curtains!]
in their works.

For more info see www.thegreenexpo.net

Bedouin Treasures

Article by Andrea Krystine

News that a Vintage Collective/Art Gallery had opened up in San Diego gave me hope, inspiration and above all appreciation to those artists and vintage lovers who came together to fill a huge space with colorful modern art, eclectic retro furniture and nostalgic pieces from our past lives.

Owners Jan Welch and Jon Elliot invested their time and creative energies into designing Bedouin Vintage Collective, which offers home to artisans around San Diego who specialize in things like jewelry, home accessories and fun crafts. 

In addition to the wonderful treasures that are abundant within this boutique, The Collective seconds as an art gallery displaying unique pieces from artists all around the world.   

During my visit, I was lucky enough to snag a cut-off vintage Padres t-shirt and 1970's striped maxi halter dress... !

Be sure to visit the Bedouin Vintage Collective at 

2621 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, CA 92104

Veja - Is Another World Possible?

Article by Camilla Doig Lorentzen

Veja is "just a drop in the ocean", they state on their website. Luckily for us, this drop exists and there are becoming more and more of them.

With organic cotton from the Northeast of Brazil, wild Amazonian rubber and ecological leather; Veja is working under three main principles:

1. Using ecological inputs

2. Using fair-trade cotton and latex

3. Respecting workers' dignity

In order to reduce CO2 emissions, all trainers and accessories are transported by boat from Porto Alegre, Brazil to Le Havre, France. From there they travel in barges along the canals to the Parisian suburbs.

They use recycled paper and cardboard for their packaging, and finally Veja uses ENERCOOP (a cooperative of green electricity) in their headquarters instead of EDF (the French national nuclear energy supplier).

"Let's try to offer a different vision which combines fair-trade and ecology and links together economy, social initiatives and the environment. A vision that proposes cultural change."

More in-depth information can be found on the Vela website.

Also...Check out this short film about the making-process of Veja-sneakers:

Veja Tauá Making Of from Veja on Vimeo.

Images from www.veja.fr.com  

A Purrrfect Sunday

Article by Andrea Krystine


While in the City of Angels, my friend and I decided to stretch our legs from all the wine and girl talk and go out into the hot, hot sun for an adventure in rummage shopping. Our journey took us to the marvelously never-ending and glorious Fairfax and Melrose flea market!

Oh what a treat to see so much random 'stuff' being reused and reconstructed into furniture, jewelry, clothing... they even had old vinyl (which actually made me nervous because the cement was super hot) and yummy snow cones!

Walking around and enjoying the ice cool cherry/lemon treat, my lovely friend and I ran into a tent full of amazing handmade and one-of-a-kind works by Purrr Remake - "Tokyo inspired remake clothing for LA hipstars". I took a peek at the designer's site when I got back into town and realized that her pieces sell in boutiques around Japan for about 3-times the price... So check out her etsy if your not near LA!

The rack was full of super cute rompers in all kinds of fun patterns; nauticals, plaids, stripes, and even funky prints. Each romper was also conveniently constructed with an adjustable drawstring that was designed to fit most.




A print dawned with black spotted kitties ended up being a fun retro-chic addition to my animal-loving friend Blair's wardrobe.




The Melrose Trading Post flea market is held every Sunday- totally worth checking out!

Fashion Spreads: Eco Romance

Photography: Julie Brothers
Art Direction and Producer: Rose Cefalu
Stylist: Miriam Sternoff
Bride & Bloom Magazine

Hopping on the "Zero-Waste" Train

Article by Andrea Krystine



Although many are adopting new means of fashionable consumption through wearing organic or buying second-hand, these acts alone are simply not going to cut it when it comes to making a dent of true sustainability in the fashion industry as we know it.

Reality Check: Because it is cheaper to dump fabric scraps than recycle them, 15-20% of apparel production fabric ends up as waste! (per NY Times)

A more efficient and thoroughly sustainable concept that will allow style to save us is Zero-Waste, a production process that has already been utilized in other countries, by designers like Zandra Rhodes and Mark Liu. Zero-Waste gives designers the challenge of using the entirety of their fabrics without any -or very little- waste. Involving much conception and intricate patterns, zero-waste planning must be carefully calculated in order to achieve ultimate utilization.

In September of this year, Parson New School for Design is offering the first U.S. fashion course in zero-waste. In addition to the publication of two new books on the subject, zero-waste has also inspired the A + D Gallery of Chicago that is planning for an exhibition dedicated to zero-waste fashions due March of 2011.

And so we are catching on. May I add a big F I N A L L Y ! ! ?

Images from Mark Liu Collections