Debra Franses Bean’s Wearable Art

Debra Franses Bean is queen of tranforming ‘trash’ into ART!

Her recurring theme is the handbag, which she presents as brilliantly lit ‘psychological’ pieces. Like contemporary Cabinet of Curiosities, Bean delivers a voyeur’s view into the contents of a secretive female world. Sentimental objects are preserved in crystal clear resin handbags, elevated on brick-shaped plinths and under-lit with LEDs. In this show, two Artbags set with found objects or ‘objet trouvé’ will reflect Walter Raes’ surrealist theme.

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Sustainable Fashion Book

Founder of People Tree to publish new book on sustainable fashion

 

Naked Fashion is a new book by Safia Minney MBE, founder of fair trade and sustainable fashion label People Tree, that offers advice and tips on how to make a difference for those who have an active interest in where clothes come from or want a career in fashion and the media. Fashion designers and creatives including photographers, illustrators and film makers, talk about changes they are making to change the fashion and media industry. Over 40 contributors guide the reader through the Fair Trade environment, styling and modelling, up-cycling and ‘slow fashion’, and there is also an ethical brand directory. Naked Fashion will be published in paperback on 5 September, priced at £14.99.

Highlights include: Emma Watson discussing her role as a young person and influential actress; Vivienne Westwood talking about high fashion without the high stakes; Caryn Franklin addressing body facism; and Jane Shepherdson challenging high-street retailers and consumers to take their responsibilities seriously.

Innovation Award Winners 2001

Ethical Fashion Forum Announce the Winners of the INNOVATION Awards 2011

The Winners……

EKO

Winner of Pure Award

Benefiting from the opportunity to showcase at PURE London, the UK’s largest womenswear trade show, August 7th-9th 2011.

EKO incorporates the latest eco fabrics and organically produced fibres to produce clothing that’s both kind to skin and the environment. Production is carried out in Turkey and Portugal by teams with strong ethical policy, which concentrate on sustainable fibres. Local artists are also used to produce prints.

www.earthkindoriginals.co.uk

Chichia for Made by Africa

Winner of Pure Award

Benefiting from the opportunity to showcase at PURE London, the UK’s largest womenswear trade show, August 7th-9th 2011.

In collaboration with concept jersey label Made by Africa, Chichia refreshes everyday basics with a Tanzanian twist, incorporating East-African organic cottons into the collections. Made by Africa collections are manufactured in a Fair-trade certified factory in Tanzania. It is the first factory to be awarded with the SA8000 certification in East Africa.

www.chichialondon.com

Caipora

Winner of Accessories Award

Benefiting from the opportunity to showcase at PURE London, the UK’s largest womenswear trade show, August 7th-9th 2011.

Caipora is a British company that celebrates fashion, uniqueness, natural resources’ sustainability and skilled artisans. Through their creative process and ethical production, they ensure each jewellery item to be a true representation of the melting pot of culture that is Brazil.

Having specially selected designers to work meticulously with professional artisans, they ensure every piece is created to enhance the balance and the feeling of engagement with nature.
Seeds and golden grass are collected during periods of harvest and off- cut materials from other industries are recycled. The extraction activities are monitored by local environmental agencies and suppliers are known as “eco-friendly” merchants.

www.caipora.co.uk

A.L.A.S

Winner of PURE Spirit Award

Benefiting from the opportunity to showcase at PURE SPIRIT London, promoting trend led young fashion brands, August 7th-9th 2011

A.L.A.S are a sleepwear and loungewear brand who produce in India where the cotton is grown, spun, woven and dyed. Their garments are constructed with 100% certified organic cotton. The fabrics are dyed and printed using methods that avoid harmful AZOs and formaldehyde.

www.alasthelabel.com

Genuine Article

Winner of One to Watch Award

Benefiting from Ethical Fashion Forum promotion and support package.

Genuine Article produce garments made from UK sourced post-consumer leather. Their garments juxtapose conceptual, deconstructionist design with traditional craft techniques creating a unique design aesthetic. They use a variation of different hides in one jacket and work with a socially and environmental responsible CMT unit.

www.genuinearticle.co

And our favourite new brand……

ULTRA

Winner of Innovation in Design and Sourcing Award

Benefiting from the opportunity to showcase at Designers Pavilion at Ethical Fashion Forums SOURCE Expo, 17th-18th October 2011.

ULTRA think about application as well as material awareness. Rather than staying with the ‘two seasons a year format’ they explore innovations such as ‘ULTRA 10’ a ten piece modular-interchangeable wardrobe designed to dress a woman for a year. They produce on a made-to-order basis, producing less waste, and are currently working with UNHCR to give refugees production opportunities.

www.theultraultra.com

 

WELL DONE to everyone who won!

Central Saint Martins help Save the China Tiger

July 15th 2011 – By Flux Magazine www.fluxmagazine.com

Tigers are the most enigmatic of creatures. Existing in most people’s perception in an Indian subcontinent jungle book, there was a documentary on tv recently that found tigers living at high altitudes in the Himalayas. This may be just me, but I was equally surprised to find out that tigers also inhabit parts of Southern China. In fact the South China Tiger is considered to be the most ancient of the tiger species, and critically estimates say there are maybe only 20 of these tigers remaining in the wild.

So that just goes to show that the new campaign organised by Central Saint Martins and the international charity, ‘Save China’s Tigers’ has worked on one person at least.

With the aim of raising awareness of the plight of the ancient South China Tiger, through protection, preservation and public education, the implementation of advanced conservation models in China, and fundraising, ‘Save China’s Tigers’ has worked with Laohu Valley Reserve, in South Africa. There are now six second generation South China Tigers born in Laohu Valley, who have gained hunting and survival abilities, waiting for their return to China’s wild.

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