Looking forward to the Undress Brisbane Sustainable Fashion Runway show in the valley. I will have a few items in there.. and I am over due for a night out in Brisvegas! See you there Brisbanites xxxx
Showing posts with label low impact design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label low impact design. Show all posts
Packaging... to pack or not to pack
Who doesn't love a pretty packet? A beautifully designed product is just made even more beautiful with the way it is presented. Sometimes I just buy products because the box or packaging is so gorgeous, and then I never want to throw them away..
So my mission for this week is packaging ideas for my lingerie range. When I was planing my business and deciding on how I would merchandise and package my designs, being sustainable and environmentally friendly were the up most priority and if possible I wanted it to be able to be re-used... to have a 2nd life after my pieces were out of the box, and not become more landfill.
Ideas I had were...
Lingerie bags made from PET (fabric made from recycled plastic bottles). You can get a net like fabric that would be perfect to protect and wash my lovely items in... Firstly I thought the lingerie wash bags seemed like a ingenious idea, but I couldn't yet source the Pet fabric, and not in the small quantities I would order at this stage of my business. All the eco synthetic fabric bags/packaging on the market was ugly, ya know... the 'Green Bag' fabric. It just doesn't say gorgeous luxurious lingerie.
Next I thought of a drawstring fabric bag made from the left over scraps from manufacturing ... made of the same fabric the garment is made from and that can be reused to protect your lingerie when traveling, or just in your drawer. I asked my garment manufacture to use any fabric off-cuts from my designs to make the bags. But the cutters are so good at using all the fabric, especially because the knickers patterns are so small and you can lay the cutting so close, and therefore... pretty much nil wastage. I am using this idea, but I am not getting the amount of bags that I need for each garment.
I have always been hesitant about boxes, unless I can source them made from recycled cardboard, and be printed with soya inks. I would love to have some gift boxes for the customers that might want to give eco intimates as a gift... to themselves, or a special loved one. They can be re-used later keep your keepsakes in.
Then there is the most environmentally one of all...no packaging at all...
But you have to sent the item off in something right? and isn't there nothing more exciting then the surprise of opening a parcel and finding your purchase.. or gift, encased, hidden and ready for only you to open. It is the packaging makes a simple purchase feel like a gift.
So I am researching... high and low.. and it is easy to find inspiration. Here are some gorgeous products with as gorgeous packaging that I am getting inspired by...
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Retail packaging from SPI made from molded pulp
http://www.s-packaging.com/products/specialty.php
Pandanas Palm
http://www.s-packaging.com/products/specialty.php
DIY eco packaging - Customized printable box templates
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mqstudio
Jurlique uses 100% post-consumer recycled paper
thanks igreenspot
Gisele Bundchen Sejaa Pure Skin Care is manufactured using post-consumer waste paper, 100% recyclable Forest Stewardship Council certified fibers, rain-forest Alliance certified manufacturing processes, Manufactured carbon neutral... Chlorine-free processing and Manufactured with Green-e Certified Renewable Electricity (windpower).
Absolution Organic Cosemtics- Eco-conceived, recycled and/or recyclable, plant inks, carefully selected providers engaged in a sustainable development process, working everyday to reduce its production impact and sharing its benefits by reversing 2% to the non-profit Care International organization.
link thanks to Ambalaj
Kooky Creatures
BEEJ
The latest collection Kooky Creatures from Beej is beautiful and feminine, and fun! Hand embroidered in Rajasthan India, Beej is a fair trade business with designs a goddess would be honored to wear. Check the collection here . To find out where you can purchase the range check out the their website or facebook page.
Award winning Dress :)
Gorgeous singer Dallas Frasca asked me to design and make her a frock for the 2010 MusicOz Awards last Friday. She was nominated and won 2010 Artist of the Year and 2010 Blues and Roots Artist of the Year!! I am so in awe and proud of her, she is a amazing and inspiring woman. I feel honered that i got to make the frock she won the awards in.
The dress was made from a vintage 50's dress I had found and kept the full circle dress becasue of the mass of gorgeous bright blue fabric in it. The dress was tiny and needed to be tranformed. I designed a flattering halter style dress with full skirt for Dallas, added 3 layers of tule tutu skirts in purple and black and hey presto! a superstar!
Eco Intimates in Peppermint Magazine
The Vintage Allure range is featured in the Sweet Nothings lingerie shoot in Peppermint Mag this month. I love this publication. and not just cause i am in there ;) but also because it is jam full of the most gorgeous and fabulous eco designers and products and heaps tips and tricks on how to be a green fashionista.Get out and grab your copy, put the kettle on, find a comfy spot and enjoy :)
Byron Bay Designers Part 7.. Eco Intimates
I hope it isn't too forward of me to do the last Byron Bay Designers on myself. I am just so excited about my new range coming out I thought I would give you a sneak little preview of whats about to come. I have finally finished designing the organic cotton jersey 15 piece range and now preparing for the photo shoot with my gorgeous muse/model Brook Chamberlain. The snaps above are from a fitting we had yesterday in my freezing work room, poor Brook was shivering in my little cotton numbers.
Before I jump into my first production run I want to get some production advice to not only make sure they are sewn perfect as possible, but can to be sewn easily and efficiently. So I have arranged to meet with a designer friend to pick her brain about the best way of sewing each piece.
My delightful new range Eco intimates will be coming very soon to my Etsy store xxx
PS... new organic cotton jersey and hemp silk/satin in colours has finally arrived!
Byron Bay Designers Part 5
Next on Byron Bay front is the talented Miss Haidee. She has the cutest designs with recycled vintage fabrics for babes, girls and woman. Below are some on the pretty yet funky pieces in her range.
I choose 2 styles from each of her baby, girls and woman's ranges to put up, but there are other styles available on her website, or at local Northern Coast NSW market stall.
Byron Bay Designers Part 2 - Boste
My 2nd talented designer from my home town is Boste.
boste is high quality "couture" fashion aimed at unique, discerning, wonderful, leading-edge, quirky, good-humoured, dynamic, fabulous women.
boste is an evolving eco-sustainable company with a policy of employing local highly-skilled artisans in all facets of the manufacturing process. Our products are in-house or home-base manufactured in Byron Bay, Australia.
Your feet can go eco too!
Head to toe eco? why not! I came across these stunning heels and had to share. Charmone is a New York eco- luxury shoe company. These two ladies have their heads and heart in the right place... their mission? "to create beautiful, luxurious, sexy shoes that are also sustainable and cruelty-free" and the designs are lovely, stylish and fabulous with eastern flair. My favs? Clockwise from top left Cezanne peep toe in black, Thistle sandal in cherry print and Darjeeling boot in moss and Joni slide in black. Now... which ones for what out fit...
dECOrating with style
Lately I’ve been on the lookout for furnishings to add to my home. 6 months ago I moved to a lovely big Queenslander with dark wood panelling, original floral detailing on the ceilings and a funky old fire place. I have taken my time in deciding how to decorate. Being a rental I’m limited to the furnishings but besides the old carpet (probably was once a light beige) it’s in fairly good spape.
So I have set myself a eco challenge of decorating with low impact, recycled or preloved furnishings. Besides the pieces I have already purchased ( :0 I went recently to ikea) I will continue decorating with eco style. So I will post updates to my challenge as it unfolds.
I love 2nd hand furniture which suits the style of this century old house. Not only because its recycling, but because there is so many treasures out there with so much more pleasure to give. I have collected various pieces now, but I need to bring it all together with the decoration of pictures, lamps cushions ect.. Those little extras that make the place look homely.
I just found the perfect cushions for my futon lounge/day bed. Marina Cavalieri has some beautiful prints on 100% organic cotton/linen blend fabric. Marina's work is intricate and organic with an art deco flavour. My first purchase will be her namesake cushions in red. I can see them scattered on my choc brown covered daybed complementing some huge raspberry red cushions.
Eco on xxx
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