Tuesday 26 April 2016

KuKu Big Bag to teach “Make your own leather clutch” @ The Ace Hotel, London

Leather designer and craftswoman Candice Lau, founder of Kuku Big Bag, will teach a class on how to make your own leather clutch on May 14th at the Ace Hotel in London.
Designed for beginners to intermediate makers alike, students signed up for the class will learn some hammering, sewing and dyeing. 
Photo: Kuku Big Bag
Promising a hands-on approach, the designer said, “On the day, we will select and dye the edges of the leather in a contrasting colour,  hammer the holes with a prickling iron in preparation for stitching, choose from a selection of colour threads for the saddle stitching, finish off by personalising the clutch with your name/initials.”  
Candice Lau of Kuku Big Bag showcasing her leather-craftmaking skills
at the Design Junction 2015 fair in London.

Photo: Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect Global
Candice Lau, who studied the skill of pattern making and traditional saddlery work at the Alri Workshop in Hong Kong and at the London School of Fashion, added that all materials and use of tools are included in the course.  
What a great way to learn a new skill, make and share a personal gift for yourself or friends and loved ones.
Date: Saturday 14the May 2016Time: 10am - approx. 5pmLocation: Ace Hotel, 100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ

For more information, click HERE.

Thursday 21 April 2016

CABANA - unique magazine for those who love beautiful things

While there is so much information out there constantly available to entice us on the internet, or on the streets of great cities, in retail shops and book stores everywhere, I was pleasantly surprised to be drawn to a unique magazine that has given me much food for thought; so much pleasure by simply touching it and flipping through its pages.
After strolling through the aisles of the London Print Design Fair looking for print trends and inspiration, I came upon one unique magazine under the title Cabana displayed by Chelsea-based exhibitor Potterton Books London.
One of the four limited edition covers designed by Gucci for the Spring-Summer 2016 issue of Cabana magazine.
Beautifully printed in Milan, the current Spring-Summer 2016 edition features four different limited edition fabric covers which were designed by the luxury fashion house Gucci.
"It's like being part of a tribe.  A tribe of those who love beautiful things."
As editor-in-chief and founder Martina Mondadori Sartogo explained in her foreword, the ethos of Gucci is reflected through the pages of Cabana.

She quoted Gucci's creative director Alessandro Michele's thoughts on the very new and very striking brand identity he is moulding: "It's like being part of a tribe.  A tribe of those who love beautiful things."
Alessandro Michele of Gucci had not only done the covers of this Spring-Summer 2016 edition of Cabana, but also helped to shape and conceive one of the portfolios on Roman architectural history.
Potterton Books explained that Cabana was a rare find for them: they had got word of it through an interior designer in New York.  Like a coveted commodity, Cabana is stylishly elegant, and my personal copy (shown in picture above) shall be treated as a coffee-table objet d'art rather than just a magazine.  The pages are like art galleries showcasing the homes and work places of art collectors themselves, or historial architecture that have provided inspiration for contemporary styles.
The photographs don't just show interior designs but present details of houses and buildings in artistic intimacy.

But don't expect to find exhaustive information on every detail as one would in conventional magazines.  The editors want readers "to be inspired, to start travelling with your mind to that place, like visual storytelling."

Cabana is published twice a year in English.

Photos: Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect Global.

There's still time to visit the London Print Design Fair

If you are working in the fashion and textile trade, and are looking for fabric print design trends and inspirations, the Premiere Vision Paris fair in Paris, where in the Designs section (formerly Mod'Amont) would be your ideal port of call.  But if you did miss it, then the London Print Design Fair  (April 20 -21) held in the Lindley Hall at the Royal Horticultural Hall in Westminster is your fall-back.
Photo: Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect Global
There some 45 design studios showcase their unique print designs, embroidery inspirations, knit and vintage designs.
Photo: London Print Design Fair
The elegant hall and natural lighting give this venue the perfect setting for showing off the wide collection of designs from the various exhibitors, print studios and vintage garment companies.

Monday 18 April 2016

Fashion Revolution urges global brands to do more on transparency in new research

Levi Strauss & Co, H&M, Inditex (the mother company of Zara, Pull & Bear, Bershka, etc.), Adidas and Primark are the most transparent global fashion companies, according to a survey that produces an index on the level of transparency practised by fashion companies.

At the other end of the spectrum, Chanel, followed by Forever 21, Claire’s Accessories, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Prada are among the least transparent.  

The UK-based Fashion Revolution, a charity committed to raising awareness of the true cost of fashion, launched its first edition of the Fashion Transparency Index today to mark the start of Fashion Revolution Week (18 April – 24 April), and global fashion brands are urged to do more on transparency, meaning they have to reveal who makes their clothes – from who stitches them right through to who dyed the fabric and who farmed the cotton.

Three years ago on 24th April, 1,134 people were killed in the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Bangladesh. The factories operating in that building made clothes for over a dozen well-known international fashion brands. It took weeks for some companies to determine whether they had relationships with those factories, despite their clothing labels being found in the rubble.

More transparency equals greater consumer and regulatory accountability in the supply chain. As a result, to track the fashion industry’s problem in this area and progress over time, Fashion Revolution and Ethical Consumer have partnered to publish the first edition of their Fashion Transparency Index which includes 40 of the biggest global fashion brands and ranks companies according to the level of transparency in their supply chain.

The average score for the 40 brands surveyed is 42% out of 100, with Levi Strauss & Co coming top of the class with 77%. Chanel meanwhile came bottom with just 10%, closely followed by Forever 21, Claire’s Accessories, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Prada, sending a strong signal that luxury brands in particular have much more work to do.

Carry Somers, Co-Founder of Fashion Revolution said: “Lack of transparency costs lives. It is impossible for companies to make sure human rights are respected and that environmental practices are sound without knowing where their products are made, who is making them and under what conditions. When companies are working in a transparent way, this also implies openness, communication and accountability across the supply chain and with the public”.
The research reveals that: ·         Most companies have publicly available policies on environmental and labour standards but there is a notable absence of long-term thinking in their sustainability strategies, or at least that they are sharing publicly;·         40% of companies do not appear to have a system in place to monitor compliance with labour standards, and to continually improve standards, with responsibility at the executive board level;·         Only 5 of the companies (Adidas, H&M, Levi Strauss & Co and Nike, which includes Converse) publish a list of all or the vast majority of their Cut-Make-Trim suppliers;·         60% of companies surveyed appear to be tracking their first-tier CMT suppliers but are not publishing this information publicly;·         Only two companies (Adidas and H&M) publish details of their second-tier suppliers (fabric and yarn mills and/or subcontractors);·         28% of companies do not communicate about monitoring difficult issues in the supply chain (eg. improving conditions for homeworkers, eliminating forced labour, or eradicating Sumangali practices, a form of child labour)·         Only 11 companies show evidence of working with trade unions, civil society or NGOs on the ground in supplier countries to improve working conditions, and H&M, Inditex, Levi Strauss & Co, Primark and PVH appear to be involved in the most multi-stakeholder initiatives;·         Half of the companies surveyed appear to have nothing in place to monitor where raw materials come from, or at least do no share this information publicly;·         20% of companies do not disclose how they work with non-compliant factories in order to improve conditions – Levi Strauss publishes the most information about their corrective action plans.
A team of researchers selected the fashion brands based on annual turnover.  Brands were assessed both via a questionnaire and by information they made publicly available.

Bryony Moore, lead researcher and Ethical Consumer Research Associate said: “The results show that while some companies are making reasonable efforts to make their supply chains more transparent, there are a large number of companies who fall far short and are still seemingly operating with little knowledge and control of their supply chain. Some companies have nothing more than a Code of Conduct.”

While the first edition of the Fashion Transparency Index only contains 40 companies, Fashion Revolution will be asking that members of the public contact their favourite brands to encourage them to opt in to the Index. They aim to include 100 brands in 2017. This invitation is open to all fashion brands and retailers worldwide with at least £36 million annual turnover, who will be encouraged to publish more about their policies, practices, products and the people making their clothes – answering the question #whomademyclothes.


Friday 15 April 2016

People Tree founder launches new book called Slow Fashion

Caring for the environment and knowing where our clothes are made are important issues that affect how consumers shop and what we wear.
Safia Minney, founder of sustainable fashion label People Tree and a leader in the Fair Trade movement, has launched a new book called Slow Fashion which gives readers profiles of the designers, the labels and eco-concept stores around the world "that are taking the lead in providing consumers with a more sustainable alternative to fast fashion."   Celebrities who believe in the same eco-ethos including Livia Firth, Zandra Rhodes, Lucy Siegle and Lily Cole have all contributed to the book.
The book can be purchased from People Tree and everyone who makes a purchase from People Tree will receive a free copy of the new book, while stock lasts and until Sunday 24th April.
To learn more about Slow Fashion and the sustainable fashion movement, click HERE.

Tuesday 12 April 2016

Vivienne Westwood Milan host Stories of Italy, for Milan Design Week

Milan Design Week is held 12-17 April 2016, and for the forth year running, Vivienne Westwood, the fashion designer and iconic British brand host an exclusive design collaboration as part of Milan Design Week 2016.



The British fashion brand has partnered with design company ‘Stories of Italy’ for the international debut of its unique Italian home décor collections. 

This special installation is in the Vivienne Westwood Milan flagship store in Corso Venezia 25, and in the newly launched Vivienne Westwood accessories focused boutique in Porta Nuova , from 12 – 17 April 2016.
Stories of Italy
The inspiration at the core of Stories of Italy’s aesthetics comes from the great historical and cultural heritage of Italy; fittingly, their new collections explore the potential hidden behind marble and glass, two classic Italian materials that achieve pure, clean aesthetics but require rigourous craftsmanship and scrupulous know-how.


Stories of Italy was born with the aim of sharing the excellent craftmanship that distinguishes Italy as one of the leading countries for design and manufacturing in the world. The vases and tableware collections feature exquisite hand-made pieces in Carrara marble and Murano hand-blown glass, blending art, craft and design to capture the essence of these iconic Italian traditions.




Stories of Italy exhibit their glass and marble pieces alongside an ancient Murano working bench and original working tools, highlighting the heritage of the traditional manufacturing techniques.

Exhibition running: 12-17 April 2016
Addresses: 
Vivienne Westwood flagship store, Corso Venezia, 25 -
Vivienne Westwood boutique, Porta Nuova Via Vincenzo Capelli, 4


The Classic Car Boot Sale in London King's Cross this weekend. Best of Britannia to join the event.

Wayne Hemmingway’s Classic Car Boot Sale returns to London King's Cross 16 & 17 April with an expanded offering of classic cars, shopping, music, dance, walkabout entertainment and street food.

The Classic Car Boot Sale will showcase "the traders and vehicles that will take us on a journey that celebrate timeless design and future classics", flowing up from the Kings Cross St Pancras Square, along Kings Boulevard, through Granary Square and onto the recently opened new public space, Lewis Cubitt Square.

Also joining the event will be Best of Britannia (BOB) which will be showcasing "the best in contemporary British design and manufacturing" featuring a host of inspiring brands of high quality, including  menswear label Ross Barr, tailor Susannah Hall, Trove, Dhu Performance Cashmere, fine fragrances from Gruhme, homewares brand StolenForm, craft beer from Crate Brewery, Lesser Spotted Britain.

There’s jewellery from Miranda Swift and Anna Faine, Mr Maseys Emporium of Beards, textile designer Abigail Bury, intimates and underwear from Parasol Rose, Chelache knitwear, Lolly 5000, ISAAC AVA, ZaraMia Ava mens and womenswear, Claire Paver Couture, Loula's Boutique, Fruitbats & Screwballs makers of historical clothing Ages of Elegance.

Let's hope the weather will be nice (that means no rain) this weekend, at least in that part of London.

Thursday 7 April 2016

London's Hand & Lock embroidery atelier to host Tambour Beading course in Chicago, USA in May

London-based Hand & Lock -  embroidery atelier to top European designers - will be presenting their most popular embroidery class, Haute Couture: Intensive for one week this coming May, at the Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy's on State Street in Chicago, USA.



The intensive five-day class focuses on the French art of embroidery technique known as Tambour Beading or Crochet de Lunéville, a special technique used in high fashion where beads or sequins can be attached to a fabric. accomplished with a special hook working through a fabric stretched tight as a drum. The technique is popular on international haute couture catwalk shows.  

Students enrolled on this special class will learn how to create a design, set up a full size frame and how to work the hook through the fabric without catching. Once they are practiced enough they will learn how to place beads, sequin, bugles using the technique.
An example of a finished work displayed by Hand & Lock at the
Textile Forum event in London March, 2016.
Photo: Lucia Carpio

The Haute Couture: Intensive 5-day course (for level 1 and 2) will take place from Monday 9th May to Friday the 13th May 2016 at the Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy's, 111 North State, Chicago, IL 60602, USA. 
More information is available on the Hanf & Lock website.  Click HERE.

Hand & Lock also runs weekend Tambour beading courses in its London atelier.  One coming up will take place Saturday 4th to Sunday 5th June 2016.  Click HERE for details.
The origins of the tambour embroidery skill are unclear.  According to Hand & Lock, the technique appeared in Europe in the 18th century and quickly became a popular pastime for ladies. It was fairly exotic compared to other technique of that time a that no doubt contributed to its popularity.

Tuesday 5 April 2016

Artist-designer UNA BURKE teaches leatherworking in her South London atelier

We’ve seen her avant-garde designs on celebrities from Rihanna to Lady Gaga, Madonna and fashion icon Daphne Guinness to name a few, now Úna Burke – multi-award winning designer of leather accessories – has set up workshop in her South London atelier to teach leatherworking skills.  

Úna Burke pictured with her designs at the Scoop International fair at the Saatchi Gallery, London.
All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect Global.
This is a great opportunity to train with the designer directly, a unique experience that “will stay with you for a lifetime,” said the designer. 
"Two Days a month we will open our South London Atelier to people wishing to learn how to work with leather.  We will teach traditional techniques using hand tools and a selection of vegetable tanned leathers. "
Upcoming workshop dates are 16-17 April and 21-22 May.  In addition to the two-day weekend classes for up to ten people per session, Úna Burke is also offering one-to-one training.  To find out more, click HERE.


Úna has acquired a wealth of industry experience not just across the UK but also in projects around the world.  Úna’s leather designs are sculptural in approach demonstrating complex constructions, thus they can be looked upon as art. The accessories collections are concept based and there are often human stories behind the designs since influence is taken from psychological, military and medical sources. 


Úna’s leather work are crafted entirely by hand using traditional techniques, made using only the quality Vegetable Tanned leathers and solid brass fittings from the UK and Italy, earning the brand the 'Positive Luxury Butterfly Trust Mark'. 


While her collections are sold on her website, they regularly appear in publications such as Vogue, i-D, Collezioni and Numero and are stocked in stores worldwide, often through collaborations with other designers and brands including unisex brand Unconditional, Hong Kong high fashion boutique Joyce, lingerie label Lascivious, glassware company The Irish Handmade Glass Company, Illustrator Spiros Halaris, and she has produced costumes for high profile film and stage performances as well as worked on commissioned projects for big name brands such a L’Oreal and Fox Network.

Originally from North County Roscommon, in the west of Ireland, Úna now works from her studio in Earlsfield, South London, gives talks and works as a visiting lecturer across the UK, Ireland and beyond, including  the Royal College of Art, London College of Fashion, University of Northampton, DeMontfort Uni, NCAD, SoFA Design Institue in Manila, Limerick School of Art and Design, Sheffield Hallam University, University of the Arts Bournemouth, Norwich University of the Arts, University of Brighton, Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and Bilgi University in Istanbul.
All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect Global.

Friday 1 April 2016

Paris to be a favourite luxury shopping destination for Chinese consumers

According to a report from the Boston Consulting Group, Paris is set to overtake Hong Kong and Tokyo as the favourite destination for Chinese consumers looking for monogrammed luxury goods, as reported in FashionMag.com.
 
Based on a survey of 1,000 Chinese affluent consumers, Paris was named as the city they expected to make a luxury purchase in the next 12 months,
followed by Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Traditionally due to its proximity, Hong Kong was the first choice, but with the weakening Euro and increased ease of travel, more Chinese consumers are aiming to travel to Europe with the French capital being their first choice. 
Louis Vuitton monogrammed luxury goods showcased at the
brand's Series 3 exhibition in London in 2015.
Photos: Lucia Carpio

According to the report, nearly one in four Chinese respondents said they buy luxury goods abroad because they can find better selections.


One in three said they believe it's important to buy goods in the country where they're made. The same ratio of respondents said the shopping experience abroad is superior to the experience at home.

According to the report, consumer spending among the Chinese rose from €70 billion in 2012 to €100 billion in 2015, while only €23 billion was spent domestically in boutiques in China last year.  Outside of China, the most money was spent at luxury boutiques in Europe (€35 billion) followed by the US (€14 billion).

The following list shows where wealthy Chinese consumers bought their luxury goods in 2015:

Europe: €35 billion
US: €14 billion
Hong Kong: €13 billion
Russia and the Middle East: €13 billion
Macau: 2 billion