Eco Labelling

At a workshop today it was interesting to find these labels on garments. In order to communicate the origin of materials, processes of manufacture and history of a garment, alongside it's 'eco' qualitites, labelling will play a key role in providing this information. Companies such as Made-by (Track and Trace) and Patagonia (Footprint Chronicles) provide their customer with the opportunity to trace the journey of garments, and find out where our clothing comes from.

Rapanui is an eco fashion label passionate about eco labelling of clothing. You can read more information on their website.

Does your clothing label provide any interesting eco information?

Wash at 30 degrees

Fairtrade certified cotton

Recycled Polyester

UAL Green Week 2011

Green Week 2011 at University of the Arts London incorporated more events and involved more students than any previous Green Week. Events organised by the Students' Union and all colleges brought together many students and staff to raise awareness of campaigns and move forward ideas on all things 'Green' at UAL.

Including a CSM Pants to Poverty walk, the first Students' Union Create Late, Pecha Kucha presentations, sustainable sourcing by Chelsea canteen, the Launch of the new Sustainable Arts website plus an Estates Roadshow, green week was a great success.

The photographs below are taken from the first SU Create Late event  'Smells Like Green Spirit' at the UAL High Holborn Hub. With collaborators from Lush, Wholefoods, Rainforest Alliance, Environmental Justice Foundation and Urban Greenline, the Thursday night event was the highlight of the Green Week calendar.

UAL Green Week 2011

Plant Potting

Urban Green Line

Making facemasks with Lush

EJF Designer T-shirts

Rollapoluzo

Ethical Fashion in the Age of Austerity

Keep your FIRST THURSDAY evening in MARCH free!

For the first time ever, all three years of MA Fashion and the Environment students and graduates will join forces to exhibit work and promote the diversity of ideas and outcomes relating to sustainable fashion at this fantastic event to be held at the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green.

The event on the evening (6pm-9pm) of Thursday 3rd March is free and brings many Ethical Fashion industry professionals together to communicate the importance of this growing area of fashion. Through workshops and talks, stalls and exhibits, come along to learn more, gain practical advice and develop hands-on skills with a group of lovely people who work hard to change current unethical practices and who really do make a difference.

Official Website HERE

Check Me Out

My very good friend, enthusiastic traveller and and talented designer-weaver Holly Pressdee is offering a new free design service through her blog Check Me Out

Simply email a favourite photograph of yourself  either in a memorable place, wearing a most loved outfit, or both to Holly and she'll create your own personalised check-design based on the colours and proportions in the photograph!

Holly has travelled to India with the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at the London College of Fashion as a designer for the Shared Talent India project.

Combining her love of weaving and sustainable fashion, Holly's work provides unique and personal connections between the wearer and woven cloth. For her final degree collection, Holly created four different woven tartan check designs that responded to four individuals, representing unique information such as birth dates, and using favourite colours and places to inspire the design. You can read more about Holly's final collection through her Chelsea College of Art and Design Showtime Profile - Check Holly Out!

Sustainable Arts at UAL

I have spent the last three weeks working hard on my first freelance project - the new University of the Arts London Sustainability website.

There are lots of great projects taking place throughout the university that focus on many elements relating to sustainability. From carbon emission reduction targets in estates, to research and curriculum development projects, serving local and organic food in the canteens to bee keeping on the balcony of the London College of Fashion, the new website is the first step in providing information about all these great projects to the wider body of staff, students and interested visitors!

The website represents the diversity of interpretations relating to sustainability around the university and highlights the work of staff members working hard to increase the sustainability reputation at UAL. The idea behind the site aims to encourage students and staff to get involved with current projects or set up their own. All projects, events and news will be updated via the site and it is a great first step for UAL to set a new standard in sustainable development within higher education.

All UAL need now is a newly appointed, dedicated member of staff to assume a full time position of Sustainability Project Officer...!