Ethical Fashion Blog | Designers, Eco Fashion News

Nancy Dee goes online!

2010-03-14T17:06:23Z

Brilliant news... Nancy Dee and their fun, flirty styles can now be bought at the click of a mouse with their brand new online store! And you'll want to, as this 'style with conscience' label is accessibly priced, super sustainable with its cool soy bean jersey fabric and their pieces are spot on for casual pretty day wear or transitional day to night party dresses!

Nancy Dee designs really know how to show off our feminine bodies as they figure hug in a soft curvy fashion. Their range of dresses also extends to cute playsuits and easy to wear Tshirt dresses, all inspired by a mixture of "Fifties rockabilly chic and quaint beach holidays of bygone eras." It's the fun splash of colours and striking patterns that really set this sustainable label apart, and with good prices, holds the potential to attract a large fanbase.

You may think soy is only for eating, but this sustainable bean has so much more to offer than food staples like yoghurt and millk. Nancy Dee's super-soft fabrics use an innovative blend of soy bean and organic cotton. The result? Ultra soft, beautiful drapes and is super easy to care for - what's not to love?!

Visit Nancy Dee today - their outfits rock!

Christina Curry, the face of Fashion Fusion Expo

2010-03-05T12:28:00Z

Fashion Fusion Expo is a fantastic opportunity coming up on 12th/13th March to meet eco fashion designers from around the world and buy from them directly. The event, to be held at Old Truman Brewery on London's Brick Lane, also boasts 4 theatrical catwalk shows a day and expert seminars on a whole range of fashionable topics, including one from Sustain Your Style! Christina Curry, the model and presenter, is The Face of Fashion Fusion Expo so we caught up with her recently to find out about this up and coming personality.

Well known in her Dutch homeland, Christina is a model and presenter, having modelled and appeared on the front cover of FHM magazine in the Netherlands and presented at The Clothes Show in the UK. Christina is the daughter of two famous characters.

Think Act Vote Design Competition

2010-03-05T12:26:02Z

Think. Act. Vote. is the brainchild of Amisha Ghadiali, the ethical jewellery designer, and it's a brilliant idea that fuses fashion design with activism to get us all to well... Think. Act. Vote! Amisha says "If politics were a fashion label, you wouldn’t wear it. We want to use creativity to create a community around the choices we make for our future." So many of us have become disillusioned with politics in general, and have disengaged from the political process. Yet our vote is precious and designed to help us think about the world we live in... and change it. Katherine Hamnett said, "Thousands of people have died and are dying all over the world for the right to vote. It is one of our most precious possessions. Use it before we lose it."

Bibico, Fashionably Fair for Everyone

2010-03-01T13:15:00Z

Nieves Ruiz Ramos wearing her bibico clothingIt takes a strong passionate woman to bring Fair Trade clothing to the masses - brave too. Such a task doesn't daunt Spanish designer Nieves Ruiz Ramos who directs her fashionably fair label, bibico, with much flair and market understanding. With Fairtrade Fortnight in full swing in the UK where bibico is based, it is timely to pose some fair questions to this Fair Trade stylish trailblazer.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR CLOTHING TO BE FASHIONABLY FAIR?

Nieves: As a designer myself I understand the importance of being able to make clothes that people love to wear and look good in. That’s why producing good quality, stylish garments is always at the heart of bibico. In any fashion company, product has to always come first and the fact that our label is Fair Trade is an extra bonus. It's an amazing achievement from lots of hard work that we are able to help underprivileged communities enjoy a greater future.

IF BIBICO CAN DO IT, WHY NOT THE RETAIL GIANTS?

Ada Zanditon down the Bat Walk

2010-02-24T13:49:29Z

Ada Zanditon's seasonal collections reflect this outrageously clever designer's inner beauty too. Without a doubt, Zanditon cares just as deeply about our fellow creatures as much as the consistent delivery of innovative fashion design. Last season, Ada Zanditon's collection was inspired by the Bee Colony Collapse Disorder, a conservation stance echoed in her Fall's collection 'Echolocation' to communicate the plight of bats. None the wiser, we didn't realise these flying mammals are in trouble too. Ada exclaimed passionately "Bat numbers have plummeted, there are so many problems."

To work out these bat problems, Ada has been working closely with the Bat Conservation Trust and explained "I became fascinated by a bat’s ability to navigate the night sky through echolocation. We have these remarkable animals on our doorstep that desperately need our help; I want this collection to celebrate the amazing abilities of these unique mammals." Ada continues "Bringing bats and fashion together changes the way people think about bats and the fashion industry."

MaxJenny, the Street Sculpture Label

2010-02-24T11:10:12Z

At Estethica's seventh season, the label we came away most excited about was Copenhagen-based MAXJENNY. Design led, Max Forslund works with draping a square or circle of fabrics as her starting point for her sculptural creations. Forslund is no stranger to innovative design; This acclaimed new designer used to work in furniture and product design, and this design led approach is equally evident in MaxJenny's fashion label. Today we take you on a dazzling tour of MAXJENNY's upcoming collection and its design story.

MAXJENNY doesn't do things in halves. Scandinavia's favourite upcoming innovative fashion designer has three new collections on the horizon: Street Sculptures, The New Black and MAXJENNY for minis, the latter an exciting new range for children.

Electic, Original Accessories at Estethica

2010-02-23T17:28:41Z

Estethica, London Fashion Week's eco fashion exhibition sponsored by Monsoon is also home to several talented accessory designers. This season witnesses a bold mix, ranging from the highly wearable to the eccentric. We pick our 7 favourite pieces with plenty of 'wow' factor.

Makepiece, the chic to sheep label definitely comes under the banner of 'highly wearable', and while we've long coveted their dress and shrug designs, we were instantly drawn to their cosy gauntlets. Hands up all of you who have struggled to type as your fingers have frozen solid these past winter months?! We've tried, but typing in gloves is a feat we've yet to pull off. How we wish we'd been able to get our mitts into these stylish gauntlets, whose extended cuff rises up over the forearm (perfect to fend off the wind chill while out and about) and rises up over your palm, but leaving your finger tips free to do all those things gloves simply don't permit.

With Makepiece extending its design talents to accessories, it looks like we're in for a treat as the colder months approach again later in the year (yes, something we'd like to forget too!), but at least we'll be able to wear something stylish with these gauntlets boasting a cute original ruffle, and are also oh so warm with its British farmed wool.

Eye Catching AW10 Designs from Estethica

2010-02-22T13:31:46Z

Estethica, sponsored by Monsoon, continues to make impressive strides forward in promoting ethical fashion to the media and retailers, both in London and abroad. With London Fashion Week still in full swing, the excitement isn't about to end either, with both new and more established labels introducing ever more eye catching and innovative collections. Today SustainyourStyle.com curates their top seven outfits from this season's exhibition to give you a diverse feel for what's to arrive in Autumn/Winter 2010.

In sharp contrast to her light and fine Spring Summer collection, Henrietta Ludgate has explored her darker side for the coming fall season. From her Scottish studio, Ludgate introduced her 'Enchanted Highlands' collection and captures her region's dense dark forests in her signature minimalist cuts and prints. As demonstrated in her silhouettes (an example pictured left), Ludgate has retained her sculptural flair, a design stance adored by fashion forward consumers, but printed with warmer hues. This artistic designer's palette draws on dusty camel, midnight blue, smoky grey and moonlight black, with the occasional shock of burning pink. We favour her signature sculptural look, as pictured left and below, but equally found ourselves appreciating the new shapes introduced to the collection - think drapes, layering, textile prints. As ever though, Henrietta Ludgate uses exceptional British craftsmanship and luxurious fabrics such as English woven cashmere with mink, Scottish wools and superfine Yorkshire wool jersey, all produced locally and made in Scottish mills.

Prophetik Success at Vauxhall Fashion Scout

2010-02-21T12:30:44Z

A blood red distressed velvet gown closed the show..Prophetik, the sustainable fashion label hailing from Franklin, Tennessee kicked off London's Vauxhall Fashion Scout catwalk shows with its American Civil War inspired collection to much acclaim. Eco fashion followers heralded the show a success, while critics were openly surprised, claiming Prophetik's upcoming Autumn/Winter 2010 collection for women and men as highly wearable and 'one to watch'.

Prophetik is equally known for its innovative use of sustainable fabrics, as it is for its colourful owner's love of horses. So not surprisingly, Jeff Garner, the label's creative force, arranged for his catwalk guests to be greeted by Zack, a 15-hand bay horse, at the Freemason's Hall in Covent Garden. Jeff, well loved in the eco fashion industry is also well regarded in the music industry as this is where his career first flourished. We expected good music and we weren't disappointed. To open, violinist, Anna Cwad and ex-Paramore guitarist Jason Bynum played, projecting a haunting, ghost-like ambience as a lone model took to the catwalk in a dramatic long, high neck black gown made from antique recycled silk. The chilling mood quickly gave way when the bright lights came on, with an ex-Def Leppard guitarist and Sex Pistols drummer, rocking out their music. The catwalk suddenly came to life with models sporting great looks that successfully moved the American Civil War into the modern era.

What's inside Pamela Daniels' Wardrobe?

2010-02-14T19:04:00Z

Pamela Daniels In France wearing a 1950's vintage dress.Everyone working in the ethical fashion industry in London is bound to know and love Pamela Daniels. Her extraordinary strength of character, commitment to change and design talents are legendary. Pamela has long worked tirelessly for the Ethical Fashion Forum as their Creative Director, but in 2009 she also exploded onto the eco fashion design scene with her own upcycled designer label - My Only One. Her vibrant designs strutting down the catwalk literally took our breath away, and with the sportswear look getting the big nod as one of THE trends for Spring, My Only One's online store is bound to be busy when it shortly opens. We take a peek into Pamela's wardrobe and discover which labels are exciting her the most.

Hello Pamela. So what do you typically wear?

Pamela: I wear a variety of items with a focus on vintage, ethically produced brands and bits and pieces from my Mum's closet which has been collecting dust from the 80's. I alter and reinvent them for today.