National Swap Day’s golden ticket

National Swap Day in Melbourne

“I imagine it will be exactly like that moment in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory… the first one (aka Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory).  You know when Veruca gets her dad to stop the factory and everyone has to look for the golden ticket?  Well this swap, I so hope it’s just like that.”

The world according to my friend Emma is an interesting place to be, but in fact when I attended National Swap Day it was sort of reminiscent of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  I wouldn’t say Emma drew parallels on particularly the right scene, however when we started swapping I did feel I was in the middle of a stampede of women trying to find the golden ticket.

Amazing pieces were hidden amongst the racks; it was our job to find them.  The problem was; were you going to find it first?  And then if you did, was it in your size?  Unfortunately for me I found loads I wanted, it’s just someone else had found it first.  Luck was not on my side but this didn’t put a damper on my evening.  I was able to pick up a few pieces in need of a tweak here and there, but will be very valued within my wardrobe.

Some found their golden ticket, some not so much, but as far as I could tell everyone was having a good time.  In the end, isn’t that the most important thing?  It may have been a little over crowded and it was hard to move, but you can’t fault the atmosphere within the room and National Swap Day’s ethos.  I would definitely go back again.  Next time I’ll sit further up the front so when the swap begins I’ll be the first person on the floor, not the 100th.  Move aside bitch’s that golden ticket will be mine!

For more info on National Swap Day and The Clothing Exchange events head to their website.

 

Nilla Nilla

I’m branching out today and making a quick dabble into the beauty world.  Across my travels I stumbled across a lip balm made from Fair Trade and organic products; Nilla Nilla is doing the seemingly impossible and making sure every time we pucker up we do it guilt free.

The lip balm is made from Fair Trade Cocoa Butter, Jojoba Oil, Honey and Triple Folded Nilla Nilla Vanilla Essence.  The product itself is even made in a solar powered workshop!  Now you can wear environmentally friendly products head to toe as you work eco-friendly beauty products into your regime.

Love From Emma

Emma Watson wearing Love From Emma

Emma Watson has just designed a new range for People Tree called Love From Emma. Not only does 80% of the collection use 100% organic and Fairtrade certified cotton, but it is also made entirely by Fair Trade groups by hand. The use of hand weaving, hand knitting, and hand embroidery creates livelihoods for some of the most disadvantaged people in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.

Safia Minney, the founder of the sustainable fashion brand People Tree, met Watson only 18 months ago and very quickly began talking about Watson creating a collection. Love From Emma is for men and women and prices range from £12 to £115. Watson has incorporated many quirky touches to the collection such as a “School of Fair Trade” badge on a brushed fleece blazer, a “daisy-chain necklace” motif that Watson painted and had printed on a T-shirt, and a hand-drawn Union Jack for tops and bags.

For more information on Love From Emma check out www.peopletree.co.uk/

To market, to market

Sometimes it’s terribly difficult to find designers who make fashion and accessories from re-used materials.  Once you find one of these artists it’s even harder to land a piece that is reasonably priced.  High prices are what we’ve had to become accustomed to, it’s sad but true.  Lucky for you I have landed on the holy grail, The Rose St. Artists’ Market.

Take a slight detour off Brunswick street, Fitzroy and stroll through the laneways until you come across this sweet market.  It might be small but everything there is worth a look and affordable.  Buy earrings and necklaces made from old pencils, pick up old post-stamp accessories, or indulge in the your childhood by coordinating lego with your outfit.

I was sweaty, red and bloody puffed after just having finished a very hard workout when I was dragged along.  Meaning?  I certainly did not want to be in public, but seconds later I threw away my vanity and focused on the hundreds of items I wanted to buy.

This unique market is a place for emerging arts and designers.  They get to showcase their work and lucky for us, we get to discover them.  The Rose St. Artists’ Market is roughly based on similar projects in London, Berlin and in particular the DUMBO Collective; a market set up by artists under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.

It may be situated in a former junkyard but this market will have you going home again, home again, dancing a jig.

Pencil earrings

Swap with thy neighbour: The Clothing Exchange

How would you feel if you took a pile of clothes out of your wardrobe and swapped them for a new pile?  Now, how would you feel swapping your beloved clothes with a complete stranger?  Director of The Clothing Exchange Juliette Anich, explains why so many people are leaving the malls behind and opting to swap their clothes with total strangers.

For many people shopping is a social event; meeting up with your friends, grabbing 10 cups of coffee and a nice long lunch, all while browsing racks and racks of clothing.  Anich believes this social aspect of shopping is the reason why people love their events.  It’s not lost when you decide to become a “swapper”, but what is gained is the “opportunity to be involved in a gentler form of capitalism, reminiscent from times gone past – swapping is not a new concept, we have just forgotten to do it”.

“It is exciting to be part of something that is going against the current tide of consumption… People are really excited about the prospect of hunting down a new piece of clothing that would essentially cost nothing, but also about being able to give new life to their old clothing.”

This concept relies very strongly on us as consumers wanting to be ethically conscious with our fashion, but is this whole idea just a trend?

“I don’t believe it’s just a trend.  There is definitely a rising interest in this area due to some fairly significant factors, such as the extreme consumerist culture that we live in, the polarisation between the haves and the have nots, and the lack of accountability surrounding all this.  I think this desire around being ethically and environmentally aware is not a trend but a cultural shift.  It’s here to stay.”

The Clothing Exchange events are continually growing; in the beginning there were seven swappers and now each event gains around 40.  In 2004 they teamed up with the Loreal Fashion Festival and held an event with over 170 people participating.  “To this day we have never had to cancel an event.”  So maybe Anich has a point, maybe this isn’t just a trend.

What can you expect to find if you go to one of their events?  “Lovely, fashion loving, environmentally aware, intelligent women.”

And some might say more importantly, what can you expect from the clothes?

“Absolutely everything from formal dresses, corporate suits, beautiful casual jumpers, high-end branded goods, homemade amazing pieces and very much sort after vintages pieces. The scope is incredible diverse – you never know what you’re going to see!”

Anich believes it is important to practice what you preach and so she too tries to be more eco-conscious.  “I try to make sure the designer is environmentally aware.  I try to buy directly from the designer so that the money I spend goes directly to the person who put the effort into the piece. I also spend a lot of time ensuring I limit my ‘house fill’ so that my wardrobe doesn’t just fill up with clothing I don’t wear. I keep a fairly small wardrobe and I wear almost every piece a lot. I do this to ensure that my impact on the planet is minimal and I’m only taking what I will use.”

So if you’re after a fun and social way to be ethically conscience with your clothing then perhaps its time you head to a Clothing Exchange event.  Their National Swap Day – October 25 – might just be the perfect way to try out this very cool concept.

A Clothing Exchange Event

A Clothing Exchange Event

A Clothing Exchange Event

A Clothing Exchange Event

Is eco-fashion just a trend?

Architects have proved they can build environmentally friendly houses.   Gardeners have moved away from spraying environmentally dangerous poisons.  Even car manufactures are trying to find a way to reduce their carbon footprint.  Now the fashion industry is going green and aiming for both ethically and environmentally friendly products.

The industry is playing catch-up, but is this just a trend like plus-size models, Capri pants, side-shoulders, low-crotch pants, and slogan tops?

Retail expert and founder of Country Road, Steve Bennett believes this isn’t the case.  In an interview with The Age he says, “Green is not a trend… Over the next 10 years the focus will be even more on sustainability and the planet.”

Fashion festivals around the world have started to produce entire runway shows devoted to designers creating eco-fashion.  At the 2010 L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival there was an entire runway show devoted to “slow” fashion.  New York, London and Paris Fashion Weeks also have a show for designers who blend ethical production with high craftsmanship.

Lesser known designers such as Elsom, Good Society, Cylk and Minna are heading up the eco-fashion world, but it’s not just for the smaller companies.  Nike completed a line of sportswear made from 100% recycled polyester.  They also created shoes from environmentally friendly materials that eliminate toxins.  New Zealand fashion designer Kate Sylvester has used organic cotton and eco-Marino fabrics in her collection.  In Australia Elle Macpherson Intimates and Gorman are also doing it for the team and using eco-friendly materials.  Elle Macpherson’s collection Procession makes use of bamboo cotton and sea cell, while Gorman uses organic-certified yarns and recycled fibres.

With so many designers and shows backing-up eco fashion perhaps the ‘green’ trend will be more than a fleeting presence within the industry.

Vintage without the mysterious stains

Have you ever wanted a vintage outfit but you’re scared of where it’s been?  For all you know that perfect dress could have been hiked up during some ‘happy couple fun’, or that cute little tee may have been a temporary mop, even the grandpa hat could have landed on a nit-ridden head.

The good news is if you want fashion without the possibly unknown icky past then vintage bespoke could be your savour.  Melissa Kramer from Thread Den says they only stock Australian-made, independent vintage designers.  They also sell vintage patterns and materials.  This manages to give you the vintage look without the unknown stains.

Of course part of the reason everyone loves vintage clothes is because it’s embedded with history and character, don’t worry vintage bespoke still allows for this.

“All fashion contains a glimpse of the past and I’m not sure it’s possible to create something completely new without a hint of nostalgia.”  The bonus with vintage bespoke is you know exactly where it’s been and whose hands have touched it.

What’s the best thing about vintage bespoke?

“It is the thrill of the chase and the satisfaction of knowing that when you find the perfect piece no-one else will have it, and it will express exactly who you are.”

Thread Den finds it’s products from all over the place.  “We find them everywhere and they find us. Friends of our grandmothers, daughters of ladies who love what we’re doing, and lovely locals often drop by with vintage goodies for us.”

Melbourne is full of truly individual and unique people who like to express themselves through their clothes.  It doesn’t matter whether you are looking for a one-off limited edition piece, a supporter of Australian-made clothes, avid supporter of small businesses, or just very fashion conscious, the vintage threads at Thread Den will get you giddy with excitement.

But what keeps us coming back for more?

“I often hear people are distressed at the disposable nature of clothes… [people have] a desire to reuse and recycle and appreciate where things come from,” says Kramer.

‘[It also helps that] vintage patterns are so often cut well.  The lines are feminine and flattering, yet simple. Vintage materials also give the piece a feeling of authenticity that you wouldn’t otherwise get.’

If you’re unsure of what era to bounce into then perhaps it’s time to just relax and consider one of Kramer’s favourites.

‘I would say the 1950s inspired clothing suits the female form perfectly. I would be almost convinced this is the best era, but have become somewhat enamored with the deco-era after researching the ’20s and ’30s for our Fitzroy store fit-out. There’s something nonchalant about the flapper dresses and boyish silhouettes that I find quite appealing.’

Vintage darling, is there any other way to go? Especially when you can breathe easy knowing that your outfit has only seen you naked.

Thread Den Store

Thread Den Store

Trash to Fashion Part Two

Trash.  Garbage.  Two seemingly harmless words allowing the reader to conjure up a particular image and feeling based on their previous knowledge.  The words trash and garbage seem self-explanatory.  What else is there to say?  Society uses a product and then once they’re finished with it, they throw it into a bin.  It then gets taken to a large piece of ground – also known as the tip – where it is left there until most of it decomposes.

If you are a designer there is more to the story.  Sonja Cook is a Tasmanian designer who creates handbags from reused materials.  She turns our trash into pieces of art; she gives inanimate objects a new life.  “They are like living organisms if you wish,” says Cook.

Through the use of trash our clothes and accessories are imbedded with the past: “Old things have a history and a soul, they’re nice to work with.  After the era of making ‘disposables’, we are slowly coming back to using resources sensibly… I hope.”

About 80% of Cook’s materials come from tip-shops and op-shops.  She hunts for different fabrics, but most often than not she creates her bags from old pieces of clothing, men’s suits and old leather jackets.  For stiffening Cook uses second-hand lino samples and placemats.  For the decorative features she finds inspiration from picking “bits and pieces up from the ground.  It’s fun to see what one can find on a simple walk up-and-down the road”.

But how do you take these products and make a bag?

“First I think of the size and the shape of the bag I want to make.  Secondly, I roughly put together materials I think I might use. I make the shape of the bag in the background fabric and then design the bits to make it interesting. I do this very quickly and spontaneously.  Once this is ready I make the lining and put everything together.”

Seems simple.  Some might go as far as say it’s cost effective, but in-fact it’s quite the opposite.  “The whole process takes longer and the logistics of ‘how-to’ are more challenging.  This means fun in my language and makes my bags unique.”

Designers who use re-used products are passing on an important message, which hopefully will be acknowledged on a bigger scale.  Many poorer societies have already worked out the benefits of reusing and recycling; perhaps we should follow Cook and admire this instead of seeing trash as useless and disposable.

So what do you think of Cook’s bags? And have you ever created something from trash?

Sonja Cook Bag

Sonja Cook Bag

Sonja Cook Bag

Trash to Fashion Part One

Contestant Jay's garbage bag pants

Look in your rubbish bins, what do you see?  Bottle-top lids, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, cans, plastic bags, pieces of paper, and a clump of unidentified objects.  To most of us this is trash, we can’t see it as anything else.  There certainly is no way we’d sort through it and risk getting some of the gooey unidentified substances on our hands.  Fashion designers see the world differently to most people; in an attempt to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, and put in their small contribution to help save the world, designers have turned to trash to make our beloved garments.

This trend has slowly but surely been making waves in the fashion scene.  Project Runway’s last season challenged designers to create a look using materials from a hardware store.  Contestant Jay saw beyond the shinny metallic sheeting and silver chains and opted for the modest garbage bag.  The result was a stunning pair of leather lookalike pants.  Who’d have thought this was even possible?

Better-known designers are also moving to garbage for their accessory collections.  Christian Louboutin designed a pair of sling backs called ‘Cate Trash’, which are made from a collage of bits of paper, doilies and other pieces of trash.  These reused products are then covered in plastic to create the shoe.  Nicholas Kirkwood designed a pair of trash bag platforms.  He transformed garbage bags into flowers and placed them on a sexy black platform shoe.  Maserati saw beauty in brochures and recycled them into a handbag.

None of these products look like they were made from trash.  They’re all eco-friendly and contribute in helping to save the planet.  This is why it’s so important that designers are embracing the trend.  They need to leave their studios and safe materials behind, so they can play and manipulate our trash into new and gorgeous pieces.

Exhibitions and awards have sprung up all over the world to encourage and promote fashion made from trash.  Just a hop, skip and a short flight away are the Trash to Fashion Awards in New Zealand.  It all began as a small community project but has since developed and is now based on the ethos of responsible fashion design.  It rewards those who recycle, reuse, and reduce.  In Tasmania there is the annual exhibition Art from Trash.  This is another commemoration of designers creating beauty through reused products.

All we need now are the chain stores to source their materials in eco-friendly ways and hopefully keep our cities green.

Do you think this trend is a good idea?  Should more designers be doing it? And what do you think of the clip from the Trash to Fashion Awards?