April 20, 2011 by Hatty
The Environmental Justice Foundation are looking for enthusiastic, happy spirited and friendly volunteers with an passion for ethical fashion to help at the charity’s pop-up shop in Covent Garden.
Do you love talking about ethical fashion? Dream of changing the world one organic t-shirt at a time?
The EJF is a human rights and environmental charity making a direct link between environmental security, social justice and basic human rights. Top names in the fashion industry are gathering their might to support our cause, including Alice Temperley, Richard Nicoll, Jenny Packam, Ciel, Giles Deacon, Allegra Hicks, John Rocha, Zhandra Rhodes, Luella, Betty Jackson, Christian Lacroix and Katherine Hamnett.
This will be the fifth retail space the charity has taken over in the past 2 years bringing the issues to some of London’s most prestigious High Streets about ethical consumption, fair trade and solutions to environmental and human rights abuses from fisheries to fashion. Our t-shirts are designed on the theme of childhood, lost innocence and hope and represent more than a million children forced to work in cotton fields around the world.
As a volunteer you will be helping the general running of the shop to promote designer organic cotton t-shirts and other ethical fashion brands, talking to customers about ethical fashion, learning about EJF campaigns, flyer-ing for the shop around Covent Garden and helping to organise upcoming events for the shop.
Basic lunch costs will be reimbursed.
Can you help? Retail experience preferable but not essential. If you are interested in joining the team just email you CV and availability to: popupshop@ejfoundation.org
Shop opening hours are 10am – 7pm Monday – Saturday and 11am – 6pm on Sunday.
We are looking for people immediately and for the next 6 weeks.
April 1, 2011 by Hatty
SIX Magazine is a digital, high-end ethical fashion publication aimed to stimulate the industry and excite the consumer about ethical and sustainable practices in fashion. The magazine offers a unique perspective on sustainable living, representing a marriage between ethics and fashion.
The fantastic launch last Thursday, at The Conservatory, Barbican Centre, provided a tropical oasis and striking backdrop for the showcasing of Henrietta Ludgate’s AW11 collection. Henrietta centres her design ethos on championing traditional Scottish craftsmanship. She creates distinctive heritage pieces whilst supporting her community – sourcing and producing all garments locally – distinguishing her from her “faster” fashion contemporaries.
The founder and editor-in-chief of SIX, Alina Raetsep, hopes the magazine will inspire slow fashion, encourage a greater respect for our clothes and for those who create them, and mark a return to individuality. First inspired to take her interest in ethical and sustainable fashion further after attending Ada Zanditon’s show at London Fashion Week, Alina’s ultimate aim is to celebrate the designers, individuals, independent brands and companies who are creating a more ethical and sustainable future for the fashion industry.
Publishing 4 digital editions a year, SIX will also print a bi-annual special fashion edition during London Fashion Week in February and September. The SIX premier issue is focused on the global scene of ethical designer fashion, showcasing a selection of top six ethical brands from the biggest markets such as USA, Canada, Australia, Scandinavia, Europe and the UK. The first issue also serves as an introduction to the series of in-depth discoveries from particular countries or trades.
SIX is planning engagement events and a social media campaign across the year to deliver up to date information when you need it so watch this space… and if you haven’t checked out the feature on our amazing MA Fashion and the Environment students, take a look now at: http://six-magazine.co.uk/2011/03/15/fashions-next-generation/
We’re really excited about what we’ve seen so far and the CSF are looking forward to working with the SIX team again in the future. Congratulations Alina!
March 14, 2011 by Hatty
Dilys Williams, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, was interviewed on the BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour programme today and shares her views on the synthetic fibre polyester. Marking 70 years since British chemists patented “polyethylene terephthalate”, the basis of the fibre, the programme examines how polyester has been used in the past and the ways in which it will be used in years to come. Check out the interview on BBC iPlayer
March 3, 2011 by Hatty
A DINNER TO DYE FOR
At HERE TODAY HERE TOMORROW
30A BALLS POND ROAD, DALSTON, LONDON N1 4AU
RSVP BY 19 MARCH: hello@heretoday-heretomorrow.com
Here today Here Tomorrow is a collective of four creative practitioners– Anna-Maria Hesse, Emma Rigby, Inês Vicente and Julia Crew- who met as students on the inaugural year of the London College of Fashion’s groundbreaking MA Fashion and the Environment. Following their graduation in 2010 the group set up a studio space where they could not only continue their own work, but explore their ideas and inspirations collaboratively.
permacouture.org
by Hatty
Find Your Feet (FYF) is a well-established international development charity, working to end rural poverty in South Asia and Southern Africa.
To celebrate their 50th anniversary, and as a tribute to the people they work with, FYF will be hosting a fantastic ethical and sustainable fashion show WE ARE WHAT WE WEAR on Sunday 13th March 2011 at Mint Leaf Restaurant in central London.
FYF will be showcasing the work of a range of inspirational designers who feel passionately about creating fashion which follows environmental and sustainable approaches without compromising stylish, innovative and beautiful designs.
For Further information or to reserve a table please email: Jessica@fyf.org.uk
To buy tickets please visit: www.fyf.org.uk
by Hatty
SPRING 2011: THE PAPERED PARLOUR GOES EAST!
TimeOut First Thursdays at the V&A Museum of Childhood
Ethical Fashion in the Age of Austerity
Thursday 03 March 2011, 6.00 – 9.00pm
Calling all fair trade fashionistas! Head down to the V&A Museum of Childhood for the first Thursday of March and join The Papered Parlour for an ethical fashion mini-festival. Uncover hidden workshops, live music, performance, panel discussion and craft stalls set amongst the museum’s exquisite collections. Celebrate the rise of ‘slow fashion’ as London’s leading eco-journalists, green stylists and ethical campaigners come together to discuss the key issues surrounding this growing social movement. In an age of austerity, can we justify the added expense of buying ethically? Or is Make-Do and Mend set to be the next big trend?
The line up reads like a who’s who of ethical fashion: Fashion designer and V&A Trustee Betty Jackson will be in attendance alongside the Guardian’s ‘Ethical Living’ columnist Lucy Siegle, who will be speaking about her forthcoming book ‘To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing out the World?’. London’s ultra-cool stylist Jocelyn Whipple will be running a unique workshop on green styling, plus eco-campaigners ‘Labour Behind the Label’ and ‘Love Fashion Hate Sweat Shops’ will be offering top tips on how to be stylishly sustainable. The event is hosted by celebrated craft venue The Papered Parlour, who will be holding a series of ‘make do and mend’ workshops with Piney Gir, Cecille Grey and Hannah Peel and Laura Groves providing a fabulous soundtrack along the way. So get your ethical act together and get into fair trade fashion at the V&A Museum of Childhood this spring!
For further information, interviews or image request please contact Event Coordinator: Jessica Templeton Smith: Jessicaftsmith@gmail.com, 07988941230
February 4, 2011 by caralee
FEI CONFERENCE // AN EVENT FOR FASHION & TEXTILE TUTORS AND STUDENTS
Where: OUT OF THE BLUE // 36 DALMENY STREET // EDINBURGH // EH6 8RG
When: 23RD MARCH 2011 // 10.00 – 17.00
The production, consumption and marketing of fashion in the future will look very different. Can we transform the way we design, make and relate to fashion so that the industry is ethical and sustainable? Introducing exciting new approaches, this event will equip Scotland’s fashion & textile tutors and students with ideas for engaging in this emerging area.
A day of presentations, workshops and discussions with contributions from:
High Street Retailer // New Look
Victoria McQuillan // Online Ethical Store – Think Boutique
Kate Fletcher // Slow Fashion Pioneer
Kate and Fi Mackay // Edinburgh-based Design Duo
Tania Pramschufer // PR Company – Handupmedia
Nuran Gulenc // Garment Worker Advocate
TO BOOK YOUR PLACE: please email info@fashioninganethicalindustry.org with your full contact details. For group bookings contact us at the same email. Places are free for fashion & textile tutors and students and £25 for other interested parties.
Fashioning an Ethical Industry works with HE and FE fashion courses to support the integration of sustainability and ethics into teaching and learning. DFID are currently supporting FEI to share their expertise and experience with universities and colleges in Scotland and develop a self-sustaining Network. With the support from FEI the Network hosts events, develops resources and shares best practice related to corporate social responsibility in the fashion industry www.fashioninganethicalindustry.org and http://ethicalfashionforum.ning.com/group/scottishnetwork
December 7, 2010 by Cath
Almost live from the Centre, here’s a couple of pictures taken earlier during interviews with Dilys Williams and Alex McIntosh for a H&M film about their new spring collection.
December 3, 2010 by Cath
by Cath Carver
Recently I’ve been to a couple of events with buyers. Here’s a few tips for fashion businesses when developing relationships with retail fashion buyers, and some general advice from the pros:
Joan Burstein ‘Mrs B’, Browns
London College of Fashion Tribute to the 40th anniversary of Browns
Everyone makes mistakes, learn from them.
Working in retail is a great training ground.
Know your customer very well.
You can’t build a business without a team.
Mrs B likes to buy from designers who are inspired and feel what they are doing. Do what you feel.
The basis of her buying choices are how she likes to see people look.
Half the battle of looking good is feeling good within yourself. Know yourself.
If someone doesn’t look good in something, offer something else. There is no point in trying to force a sale.
Browns are looking to find more sustainable designers with wearable and stylish product.
After hearing Mrs B in conversation, and watching the film tribute to her, I got the impression her respect for others, eloquence and elegance has counted for a lot and helped to inspire the loyalty and dedication of her team and customers.
Anna Baxter, ASOS Womenswear Buyer
Fashion and Textile Museum Hub event, which our Business Suport Programme businesses are eligible to attend
Keep inital emails short and sweet, include any press coverage (can form the crux of a buy) and current stockists (shows you have retail experience).
Buyers are busy! Introduce yourself and build relationships with assistant buyers.
Know your brand and customer inside out.
Be confident when talking about your product, production, lead times and pricing.
Do your research, get the product right and match it to the right retailer.
October 20, 2010 by Cath
Annegret Affolderbach, designer and founder of Choolips, a label from our Business Support Program has brought to life her views & visions on Sustainable Fashion in her own column on Tribaspace.
{sustain} will look at the journey of Eco/Sustainable Fashion, the exciting & innovative businesses it unfolds and the potent future it presents for our global fashion industry.
