Although for SS19 , inspiration comes from 70s glamour with sequins, silk, embroidery, hand woven wool....
the main focus is the future of our planet
and its ecology.
For this reason the brand has concentrated on zero waste
patterns, recycled sequins and up cycled clothing
Each piece has been handmade in the Czech Republic without the use of any fur or leather, by a team of seamstresses.
Combining new technological and sustainable materials such as muskin (mushroom leather) with hand-embroidery ensures that you can wear luxury, animal cruelty free, zero waste, fashion.
Because the real luxury nowadays is consciousness.
For the first time JIRI KALFAR will introduce a new line of eco-friendly and sustainable (made of corn and wood), leather-free shoes. In collaboration with Czech designer Oldrich Voyta the shoes have been produced using 3D printers and a combination of semi-couture top layers
Selected from a long list of emerging fashion designers, Maddie Williams, graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, was chosen to feature in Fashion Scout's Ones to Watch show.
For AW18, Williams is inspired by ancient fertility figurines like the Venus of Willendorf/
Bum bags and appliques are in the shape of a fang representing female power and strategically placed at the front as Williams quotes Meander, the ancient Greek play writer who said ''To give a woman an education is to give a serpent fangs”,''
Williams creates soft feminine slanted shoulders rather than the usual big masculine style. The necklines are high slanting down to give the effect of a narrow shoulder.
Hips and belly are exaggerated to emphasise fertility.
Williams plays with silhouette and texture crossing the boundaries between fashion, costume design and fine art.
Her collection is eco friendly and avant garde proving that eco fashion does not have to be minimistic.
Video of Maddie Williams taking a bow after the show
On the relative serenity of the opening night of London Fashion Week, London Ethnic hosted an intimate reception for press and buyers, showcasing some of London’s emerging designers at the Terrace Pavilion of the Houses of Parliament.
Karen Gold collection
The event was created to allow the fashion crowd to enjoy a night before the busy week ahead with a glass of wine, canapes and to see designers who embody London Ethnic’s ethical values at one of the most iconic buildings in London, Terrace Pavilion inside Westminster Palace.
All showcased labels ‘Polosophia’, ‘Karen Gold’ and ‘Diaso London’ are ethical & sustainable brands based in London who produce in the UK. The catwalk showcased bright African patterns, lace silhouettes & story-telling garments in a natural & floral makeup moodboard, all put together in ethical fabrics. Diaso London is known for combining West African culture with European fabrics. All the designs are created to make a powerful statement using bold detail with daring sheer elements.
Karen Gold is a contemporary British brand - the collections is Made in Britain using hand loomed heritage fabrics from Sub Saharan Africa. For AW17, Karen gold explores the merging of sustainable fashion with classic styles bringing newness and innovation to silk hand embroidered fabrics of textural intensity explored through rich, heavy textures, contrasting elements of weightlessness and transparency.
Polosophia garments are made of natural and organic materials in London. Each garment comes with a collectable book chapter
Attendees, including well-known ethical fashion advocates like Baroness Lola Young, learnt more about the designers inspirations & background work through interviews with them before their catwalk shows. “Congrats to all @LondonEthnic promoting diversity & sustainability in LFW. Lovely show in Houses of Parliament.” (Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey)"
And yours truly attended:
frumpy to funky
London Ethnic is a fashion house celebrating the best of London Fashion. The company supports emerging designers and established labels and is driven by ethical and sustainable principles in fashion. London Ethnic helps brands from the initial stages of design, pattern cutting and sample making through production to promoting designs using a personal PR approach and ultimately having them showcased and sold.
Designer Jeff Garner's AW16 collection 'Ruins & Renaissance' is inspired by novelists Proust and Romantic Platonism.
Colour palette of navy, smoke grey,teal indigo, sea foam, Kelly green and black.
Gradient colouring features throughout the collection with all natural plant and earth based dyes hailing from indigo, dried indigo leaves, madder toot, iron, marigold, osage orange, black walnut, logwood and cochineal.
Fabrics include hemp silk, linen, ramie, organic cottons, peace silk, hemp denims, vintage French lace and reclaimed leather.
Garner has dedicated his collection to his daughter Veda who passed away this year.
SS16 is inspired by the jungle territory of Borneo and female explorers both real and imagined.
Utilitarian silhouettes, fabrics and elemental colour palette of the traditional adventurer is adapted through remade and reworked garments.
Bold emphasis on dresses and skirts uncovers and undone unconstrained look.
This season Raeburn re-imagines the black and white airbrake parachutes.
Classic parachute appears in olive and sky blue - reworked with mesh inserts into lightweight dresses and separates.
A fil-coupe jacquard inspired by the pattern of the airbrake has been developed exclusively with Vanners, one of the few remaining silk mills in the UK.
Naturally dyed Habitoi silk is mixed with crinkle crepe de chine to create featherlight dresses, skirts and tops
Graphic flock heat transfer embellishment on cotton drill and jersey has been developed in collaboration with Avery Dennison RBIS
Lightweight knitwear, developed as part of an upcoming bespoke knitwear collaboration with Knyttan, echose both the mottled pattern of the natural dye and the collection's signature graphics.
Accessoris include hand tied jacquard bumbags
Raeburn teams with footwear experts Clark for a unique collaboration that compliments this season's concept.
