Tagged: Ethical Fashion

The Wear-Anywhere-Coat x

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Taste is shaped by an assortment of interconnected influences one of which has to be nostalgia and that warm, inner glow of special memories. Which was the burning catalyst that drove Alexander Stutterheim  to design his first rain coat: He wanted to capture the essence of his Grandfather, an incredible man who not only managed a big theatre in Stockholm and wrote poetry in his spare time, but who would go to sea, defying the worst weather conditions mother nature could throw at him to catch fish (or life, as he said).  When Alexander found one of his Grandfather’s old fishing coats in a out-building he was compelled to resurrect it as a personal homage to his memory.

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Rainwear as an individual concept has long been swallowed up by giants of sportswear with most of the production now based at big factories far away.  But that’s not what Alexander wanted, instead he took his prototype to the last standing textile factory in Sweden in the small town of Boras to Johan Kall, the manager and his seamstresses for their skill, craftsmanship and individual attention to detail.

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The coats are a fabulous design – discreet, classic timeless cuts, the seams are all taped and sealed and each coat is signed and numbered by the seamstress who made it as a mark of honour and integrity.

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They are coats to wear in the country, in stormy weather, at sea..or even in the City.  And still be well dressed. Coats that are made to live and last a lifetime.

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The hardest decision is choosing what colour..

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It’s the husbands birthday coming up and I think it could be the perfect present: Made to stand both the test of time and weather all storms with passion, authenticity and love.  Sometimes it’s not just about what you want to wear but also who you want to be.

And sometimes something comes along that ticks all the boxes. Just like him really.

Laters, Kate x


Edun Mark 2 x

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The most attractive thing is always talent.

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Danielle Sherman Creative Director of Edun is, season by season creating and expanding the visual language of this ethical label.

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Building it block by block – the inspiration Africa, the journey a clear path: Her palette is clean, simple and continuous which means that like the materials she uses, pieces can be woven together.

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Take her SS14 Collection..everything can be seamlessly added as an extra, rich layer – more shapes to play with.  More weather changes to adapt to. It’s clever, it’s thoughtful. It’s sustainable in your wardrobe.

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She answers ‘Who am I?’ before ‘What shall I buy?

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And 85% of the this Season was made in Africa.

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Unlike Karl, Danielle gets the sneaker aesthetic to perfection.

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Simple but with intelligent, creative twists – a juxtaposition here, the unexpected there.  She’s not trendy..she’s effortless.

Laters, Kate x

Another Walker..

1557624_10152167286564183_1252627068_nKoppola – Maasai beader.

This season Karen Walker, Goddess of eyewear, is using her product advertising platform  to highlight her work with the United Nations’ International Trade Centres Ethical Fashion Initiative whose task it is to promote sustainable business over aid dependency.

1625546_10152167286819183_1055085827_n Velma – Assistant.

Each pair of her new sunglasses will come with a screen-printed pouch made by Kenyan Artisans, with a further option of buying more embellished, more expensive pouches as well.

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Winnifred – Supervisor.

In a clever, human move that perfectly illustrates the interwoven connections within the project and Karen Walker’s thinking, the workers and makers have also become the models and the faces of the glasses.

1545817_10152167286959183_630046041_n Beatrice – Craftsperson.

She says:  ‘The Campaign captures our innate optimism, our love of maximum-impact in the images themselves and also directs attention to Kenya in a positive way.  The images help to bring visibility to how fashion can be a vital vehicle out of poverty.’

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Rason – Maasai Beader.

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Florence – Artist.

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Anton – Metal Caster.

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All photos by Derek Henderson

The workers are no longer the forgotten force but have personally created the Work of Art this Campaign is by owning the visual story and underlining the simple fact that beauty is around all of us in our every day.

Effective, clever..and stunning.

Laters, Kate x