How Big Is Your Eco

Lydra

HowBigIsYourEco — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 01:53:58 +0000

A friend is learning to sew. It’s been some time since I’ve seen a dining room strewn with a sewing machine, fabric and pins. Actually, it’s been some time since I’ve known a household to have a sewing machine.

Back in the day, it was standard fare—growing up the family home even had a ’sewing room’ (also known as the ‘ironing room’). With the aid of a Butterick pattern, my mother would whip me up a supply of shorts. They tended to be in questionably lairy, cartoon prints personally selected by my 9 year-old self from the rolls at the haberdashery store. One-of-a-kinds you might say.

Mum has long since hung up the Janome, as have many women of generations past. Lydra is attempting to harness some of that latent sewing talent for a collection of bags, clutches, satchels and purses.

The range is handmade in Melbourne by senior citizens with the dual purpose of creating chic accessories and giving the elders an income and a creative outlet: a concept that scored Lydra accreditation by Ethical Clothing Australia, the first accessories label to get the ECA’s thumbs up.

The feel-good story continues with products using locally sourced, pre-loved materials. Bamboo ply, vintage fabrics, leather jackets and upholstery remnants are re-purposed. Just like old times, each piece is a one-of-a-kind, although it’s fair to say they exhibit significantly more elegance than cartoon print shorts.

Lydra is available online and from selected boutiques.

All you need is Love

Helveticus

HowBigIsYourEco — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 04:08:48 +0000

Meet the Swiss Army bag. Not so much in the sense that it pops out tools, tweezers and nail files, mind. Rather, the travel bag above is part of a collection created from surplus military blankets—well, why not? It’s not as though the famously neutral nation is planning to head into combat any time soon.

The Helveticus Swiss Army Recycling Collection came about after the discovery of huge stockpiles of the blankets, a result of the army’s switch to sleeping bags and the fact that Switzerland hasn’t got itself tangled up in a war since 1815. The ever-resourceful Swiss, having mastered recycling (they recycle at least three quarters of glass, aluminium and paper consumed), thought they’d try their hand at upcycling with an eight-piece range of bags and accessories.

Each design shares the same basic aesthetic premise: grey wool, Swiss cross feature and tan leather. Only the hardware (zips and bits) is new—like the blankets, the leather detailing has done military service as gun leashes and soldier’s belts.

Every bag ($130-$350), phone case ($45) and slipper ($80) is handmade in the alpine village of Törbel—with a staff of 10, the production line is the largest employer in a tiny community short on jobs. Win win.

Helveticus is available online and at selected boutiques (info@helveticus.com.au for enquiries).

Hey Zara…

admin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 03:58:02 +0000

Unlike seemingly everyone else, Zara’s arrival on Australia’s shores didn’t exactly filled me joy. In April, with my GQ magazine hat on, I was among the media invited to preview the Sydney store prior to the official opening.

In a way, it’s easy to understand the fuss. From a retail perspective, Zara is impressive: the sheer size of the collections and clever merchandising is the very model of 21st century consumer choice. From a fashion perspective, also, it’s hard to argue with the chic, on-trend looks, insanely affordable prices and a quality that has plenty of showroom appeal (though anecdotes of how long that lasts after the first wash tend to vary).

From a sustainability point of view, it’s a different story. A 1,400 square metre space over three floors (the new Melbourne store is even bigger), packed to the gills with product, new collections dropping in store on a fortnightly basis. And there are about 1,700 stores just like them around the world.

Moving through the store, labels were surreptitiously checked: Made in Pakistan, Made in Bangladesh, Made in Tunisia… for a brand churning out millions of units globally, they sounded like just the kind of places with just the kind of labour controls ripe for achieving the kind of price tags I was seeing. Of course, there is no evidence to support this assumption besides a natural inclination to think the worst of mega, mass-market brands.

Hence, a story about the retail behemoth at Telegraph.co.uk this week came as a pleasant surprise. The company’s HQ uses wind and solar power, using recaptured energy to power the steamers used to press garments before they are shipped in run down, reused shipping boxes as employees scoot around the huge complex on company-supplied bicycles. There is a Zara store in Rome which is set to score platinum LEED accreditation, an apparently high standard for sustainability in architecture. And that store design is expected to roll out across other locations.

So it’s not necessarily bad news at Zara. Although the Telegraph story raises similar questions about Zara’s supply chain, it points out that the business has made a squillion dollars by responding to customers and being a leader in the retail world. To its immense credit, The Telegraph goes so far as to advocate a campaign by Zara fans to request traceable, sweat-free fashion.

A mass label with open, ethical production and a growing sustainable sensibility? Sounds good. How about, Zara?

CONTACT ZARA via their UK website (there is no Australian website at this time)

READ THE ENTIRE Telegraph article here

Happy Socks

HowBigIsYourEco — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:23:10 +0000

Few sartorial stones have been left unturned here at HowBigIsYourEco… we’ve featured all manner of apparel, jewellery, shoes, hosiery and even sunglasses—but socks is a first.

Hailing from Sweden, Happy Socks are pretty much what you’d expect—a range of bright, unisex foot coverings that are more fun than your average sock. Of particular note is the hemp and recycled yarn collection seen here.

Hemp, of course, is well known as a quick-generating, non-toxic crop that needs few, if any, pesticides. The fibre itself is particularly strong and applications for the fibre are almost limitless—Happy Socks advises that hemp has been used to build battleships, print bibles and calm hippies.

The eight colourways in the collection are made from Egyptian hemp blended with recycled yarn. They look fantastic elegantly draped over mailboxes, but so much better on feet (fortuitously, hemp absorbs moisture and is anti-bacterial for those prone to sweaty soles).

CLICK HERE to make your feet very happy.

In The Closet: Yak cardi

HowBigIsYourEco — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 14:04:24 +0000

With Antarctica sending its frigid air this way, it seems prudent to take ideas on how to stay warm from those who know a thing or two about being cold—like, say, Mongolians.

Pure speculation, but presumably someone in Mongolia once looked at all the yak running around undeterred by the icy conditions and wanted to get in on the action. As it turns out, yak down is rather luxurious, with a cashmere-like softness, and similarly fine and light. Which, if one prefers to rug up without bulking up like the Michelin Man, is encouraging news.

Enter this navy yak cardigan from Campaign Man (above). The cut is relaxed and raised detailing twists down each sleeve to add a touch of subtle interest. It seems almost fragile, yet the yak facts helpfully included on the swing tag reassuringly describe the fibre as ‘extremely durable’ and warmer than wool.

Given the current weather in Sydney, there will be ample opportunity to test the claim that yak retains warmth even when wet and remains odorless after a soaking. Sensitive skins will be pleased to know the yarn is non-allerganic.

Sales of the Mitch cardigan ($195) and his buttonless brother Gary the sweater ($175) put funds back into the impoverished Mongolian communities who had the smarts shave a yak. And even after the Antarctic air goes back to whence it came, the breathable, featherlight garment will likely remain in rotation through spring and beyond. Be nice if the rain stopped by then.

Campaign Man is available at Becker Minty, David Jones or online via The Grand Social.

Zanita for Funkis

HowBigIsYourEco — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 05:15:34 +0000

Australian model/photographer/fashion blogger Zanita Whittington lends her ever-so stylish eye to Funkis for a limited edition clog.

The closed-toe Zanita clog offers the kind of coverage a gal needs during the winter months, and comes in a natural finish sole, as one would expect (in gold/black or black/black) as well as a more directional black stain, seen above in black patent with suede (also available with a white upper).

Offering a fresh take on the signature Funkis clog, the collaboration retains the Swedish production and sustainably-sourced timber for which the brand is known and loved. All four styles are available now for $189.

CLICK HERE to buy Zanita for Funkis

CLICK HERE to read more about Funkis’ big eco

Marquise designer project 2011

HowBigIsYourEco — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:18:35 +0000

Because they’ve yet to develop communication skills beyond crying and the odd gurgle, babies aren’t able to annunciate their desire to be seen in something a little chicer than a Winnie-the-Pooh nappy and a snap-release onesie. If they could, the poor tikes would point out that being dressed purely for the convenience of others (usually a parent) doesn’t cut it.

“A little designer number,” they’d ask for if they could. But, alas, they can’t.

So, each year, babies everywhere look forward to the Marquise Fashion Designer Project, anxiously hoping that an intuitive mother, aunty, babysitter or philanthropic stranger will procure a garment for them.

They see the customised Marquise singlets by Miranda Kerr, Kirrily Johnston (above), bassike, Fleur Wood, Morrison and a host of other celebs and designers as their ticket out of Disney-branded jumpsuits. At least until they grow out of it in a month’s time.

But they don’t care about that. They end up with a one-of-a-kind keepsake and the Sydney Children’s Hospital gets the money for their Gold Week fundraiser. This year, there’s even a limited edition Marquise singlet range from Mimco, Lee Matthews and Little Joe designer Gail Elliott to sweeten the deal—all profits to the hospital.

Of course, babies can’t really explain all that, so they lay in their bassinets hoping to at least see the garments on display at Westfield Bondi Junction, Sydney, from today until June 12.

Then they fall asleep wishing that someone would CLICK HERE and buy one for them because the only thing they can do with money try and put it in their mouth. Help a kid out.

UPDATE: Fashion Less Waste

HowBigIsYourEco — Tue, 31 May 2011 04:22:38 +0000

Most of the designs on the runway at the Fashion Less Waste design competition were complete rubbish, which actually counted in their favour, because that was kind of the point really.

The Gaga-esque creation on the left (designed and modelled by Tess Tavener winner of the Secondary School category) was, in fact, a collection of synthetic wigs, woven together—complete with matching hair heels. Next to it, the runner up in the Open category and winner of the best use of tarpaulin this side of a campsite.

Along with Akira Isogawa, Robert Carroll from Strand Hatters and Sinaed Kelly from Dinosaur Designs, I joined the ranks of the judges to pick the standouts among the 20 finalists. The OTT colour and texture is no co-incidence: the designs had to reflect the plumage of birds of paradise, reflecting the exhibition at Australian Museum which hosted the competition.

Between the pegs, non-slip mats, laundry baskets (which travelled all the way from Perth) and grain bags, the panel chose their favourites:

Open category winner: Stephanie Powell, Sydney
Runners-up: Katie Coogan-Mason and Maiki-Jane Blakeney (top right), Shoalhaven, NSW
Cody Winward, student from Institute of Design, Ulladulla, NSW
Best hat: Cody Winward

Secondary School category winner: Tess Tavener Hanks (top left), Cheltenham Girls High School, Sydney
Runners-up: Anna Henry, Nowra High School, Nowra, NSW
Mia McNeill and Christine Trinh, Kincoppal, Rose Bay, NSW
Best hat: Tess Tavener Hanks

Congratulations and thanks to all the gals who made the finals. Maybe next year we’ll see more lads get their design on: the budding Lagerfelds, Jacobs and Fords must be late developers.

For more images from FLW, CLICK HERE

Do you ♥ this?

HowBigIsYourEco — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:20:11 +0000

Stumbled across this rather spectacular pendant by Polli design. The little skull man with his sombrero, guitar and marigolds is a, ahem, dead giveaway as to the Mexican inspiration behind the design.

True, the Day of the Dead festival is still many months into the future (November 1-2, trivia fans) but this delightfully etched recycled stainless steel design is up for grabs right now. A veritable bargain at $54.95.

And Polli is certified LoCo2 so it’s a win-win purchase.

CLICK HERE for more information on Polli and to link to the online store

Spotlight on: Kissin Cussin AW11

HowBigIsYourEco — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:05:15 +0000

Whatever the season, Kissin Cussin always evokes images of sun-drenched skies and hazy days… it’s the carefree romanticism of their garments, epitomised by the Beatnik Beauty collection for AW11.

Citing the legendary Stevie Nicks as inspiration, the collection is just the thing for the modern bohemian: dramatic capes, chic leotards and printed leggings.

The label’s normally bright colours take a darker turn for the season—jet black infuses the range, highlighting an autumnal palette of rich, earthy hues: woodland brown, amber, blue and deep purple. The trademark prints included textured butterflies and autumnal florals.

Lace embellishment appears on shifts and shirts, decorative buttons and Peter Pan collars bring interest to dresses in pitch black. Irreverent, yet effortless, Beatnik Beauty is carefree, knowing and ready to play.

CLICK HERE for more on KISSIN CUSSIN, including stockist details

BUY KISSIN CUSSIN online at new e-boutique MilkBar Fashion