DAILY BLOG

ESTETHICA – LONDON FASHION WEEK SS12/ 18.09.11

For some designers, the only way forward is to ethically and organically make their collections; the overall impression being that we can’t keep producing new clothes, but must utilise what we already have. The British Fashion Council founded Estethica five years ago to showcase work from 19 designers who are committed to working eco-sustainably.

A buzz is already present within the room; beaty music playing from speakers, instilling an urban, youthful vibe. Monsoon sponsor the event with their SS12 L.O.V.E collection, juxtaposing the ‘ethereal’ cream lace cottons with ‘elemental’ tribal tie-dye prints, tassels and weaving, which launches in stores in March 2012.

Many of the designers up-cycle clothing to produce their collections. Wearing a cowboy style bandana round his face, Dr. Noku spoke with me about how he transforms mens rugby jerseys into feminine pieces, many of them crocheted, incorporating stripes and lots of colour. Buying found objects from the 123 Store in Bethnal Green, Dr. Noku adds reflective ribbons and intertwines them with the rolls of jersey.

At Aiste Nesterovaite, mens shirt sleeves hang round necks, whilst at Junky Styling, dead stock menswear is used to produce sky-blue, stripey dresses; you almost feel as if you’re by the seaside. On the contrary, designer Eva Zingoni has a limited edition SS12 collection, hand-made from high couture recycled fabrics in France. Although her sister can’t reveal which names she has worked with, the fabrics have come from previous collections of top designers in the industry.

We move round the room (as best we can with the amount of people that have attended) and spot an exceptionally tall model in a bright pink dress and butterfly false eyelashes. Henrietta Ludgate’s ‘accidental’ dress exemplifies the way she works. All locally produced and sourced within the UK, accidents within the local dye house are given to Ludgate in order for her to transform them into beautiful designs; you would never guess the dress wasn’t supposed to be pink!

With an array of hat wear, lingerie and fisherman-style anoraks, the Estethica collections have something for everybody; Goodone even tailor-fit to the individual. An inspiring platform of new and emerging talent, this is a fundamental step for the fashion industry.

Images by: Aimee Hirst

Posted by: Charlotte Avent

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