Fashioning the Future Awards 2011 (written for SIX Magazine)

Images courtesy of Alex Maguire and LCF

Last Thursday SIX Magazine were invited to the annual Fashioning the Future Awards pioneered by London College of Fashion’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion. Held in the heart of the financial district in Canary Wharf’s domed East Wintergarden, aspiring designers and S+E fashion experts gathered to find out which graduates were to be crowned cream of the crop for 2011.

Founded just three years ago, the awards have gone from strength to strength encouraging a new generation of fashion innovators to pursue design-led solutions and sustainable practice in business. In a short space of time, the Fashioning the Future Awards has become the leading international student competition for design and innovation in sustainable fashion, attracting thousands of entries from around the world.

Up first was the award for Unique Balance which went to the deserving Sara Emilie Terp Hansen from Denmark. Using cork, a material usually associated with the wine industry, and giving it a new lease of life with a fashion forward application, Hansen was a clear winner highlighting the neglect of a valuable natural resource. The cork industry is currently threatened by the growth in plastic alternatives to classic bottle stoppers. This threatens the continued existence of cork forests worldwide; an important natural habitat and source of livelihood for many communities.

To read the full article visit SIX Magazine.

Garment of the Week: Partimi

As the old adage ‘third time lucky’ rings true, this week I’ve successfully narrowed down my selection to just one solitary garment, the mesmerising Dieu Bleu T-dress*. Created by Eleanor Dorrien-Smith in 2009, the Partimi label got me rather excited at LFW back in September, with its eye-catching prints, luxe fabrics and cold, sleek colour palette.

Image courtesy of Partimi shot by Nicole Maria Winkler

A woman after my own heart, Dorrien-Smith’s approach to fashion is one of sustainability. Having recently launched Partimi’s first full ready-to-wear collection (back in September), Dorrien-Smith is a fantastic advocate for ethical and responsible fashion, which saw her awarded runner-up in the ‘Design for a Thriving Fashion Industry Award’ category at the Fashioning the Future Awards back in 2009 – a ceremony I was privileged to attend and review.

Inspired by and designed in homage to costumes her grandmother collected from a sale of Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes costumes at Sotheby’s in the late 60s, the SS11 collection entitled Dieu Bleu utilises organic fabrics and yarns to great effect, creating a fresh and contemporary collection of elegant dresses and separates. With simple silhouettes and stunning digital prints at the fore, I’m tipping great success for both Dorrien-Smith and the Partimi label in 2011. *The Dieu Bleu T-dress is soon to be available at YBDfashion.