Banstead fashion student Tara O’Donovan’s 1970s
A Banstead fashion student has said she is in shock after her design for retro lingerie was picked for an exclusive catwalk show.
Tara O’Donovan will have her work showcased at an event to celebrate the 70th anniversary of De Montfort University’s (DMU) Contour Fashion course.
Miss O’Donovan, who studied at UCA in Epsom before heading to DMU, has been working on her lingerie design since January as part of a final year project.
The designs created will be worn by professional models at the show which takes place in Grand Temple in Freemasons’ Hall in Covent Garden.
The student presented her work to a panel of judges on May 16.
Her idea was inspired by “unconventional beauty of construction with a 1970s /Studio 54 style”.
She said: “The biggest challenge I faced with the design was creating the shapes with the different wooden accessories to match.”
Miss O’Donovan, who is “very excited” about the show, described the moment she heard the good news.
“I was screaming,” she began.
“We just went to the pub and had a good time and had a party. Some of the teachers we worked with on projects came down and bought us Prosecco.
“We were all really shocked that we got through.”
Hours of work went into producing the designs.
She explained: “Even though we started in January it still wasn’t that much time because we are only used to making one outfit for a project but for this one we had to make six.”
All six of her designs will be worn by the models on Thursday night.
Underwear designing has been a passion of O’Donovan’s ever since she went to her first fashion school at the University for the Creative Arts in Epsom.
Past students who have graduated from the course have gone on to work in Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger with Beyoncé, Rita Ora and Paloma Faith having worn their designs.
“I would love to stay in London and be at like Topshop,” O’Donovan stated when asked about her plans for after college.Read more at:queenieau.com
The Innovative Cruelty-Free Materials That Will Replace Leather
“Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable, we must alter it every six months”, said Oscar Wilde. And change has become synonymous with the fashion industry: nowhere do things change as swiftly as they do in the world of fashion. What’s trendy today is old news tomorrow, and if it’s not innovative, then fashion doesn’t want it.
With that in mind, it is peculiar that we still wear animal skins. Nothing is less innovative, less new or exciting, than the skins of a dead animal. That’s why the new generation of up-and-coming designers like Vika Gazinskaya, Felder Felder and Ann-Sofie Back are refusing to use fur and leather in their collections. There is little creativity involved in draping yourself in the skin that once belonged to a living being - the caveman approach to fashion is slowly but surely being phased out in favour of new and cool fabrics that, in a few years’ time, may end up taking over our wardrobes.
And we’re not just talking synthetic materials, either. In a time when more and more people are concerned with the origins of what they wear, innovation is taking centre stage in the vegan fashion arena - to ensure that the new substitutes for leather are as kind to the planet as they can be, which often means working creatively with natural fibres instead of petroleum-based synthetics. Here are a few up-and-comers that might outshine leather in the years to come.
Cork
This completely natural, easily recycled material might not be your first choice when you think “fashion” - but recently, vegan brands have interpreted cork in entirely new and very visually interesting ways. Examples include Jentil, a French brand that creates men’s and women’s accessories in a variety of colours; Australian newcomer brand Nina Bernice with an essential range of cork accessories; and Canadian label Rokcork, offering sustainable accessories produced ethically in Portugal.
Mushroom leather
One of the newest innovations in the game is MuSkin, a biodegradable vegan “leather” extracted from mushroom caps. Only chemical-free tanning is used in the production of this material, making it an eco-friendly choice (the tanning process is one of the factors - but not the only factor - that makes animal-derived leather an environmental hazard). MuSkin is produced entirely without the use of toxic substances and is worked to obtain a suede- or leather-like finish.
Kombucha leather
If trendy, healthy and somewhat obscure food ingredients are your thing, you may have heard of kombucha, a fermented tea originally from China that has taken the healthy food scene by storm in the latest few years due to its probiotic and antioxidant content. However, this magical ingredient has another potential use: it can be used to create a leather-like fabric. The cellulose fibres that are a byproduct of the tea can be dried and made into fashion accessories. It is still in the works, and not ready for purchase just yet - but watch this space.
Lab-grown leather
Another one in the works - and this is a truly exciting one. Pioneer company Modern Meadow use cultured animal cells that are then genetically modified to create a durable, resistant and high-quality biomaterial to rival leather. To be clear, this is still an animal-derived product, using cells that come from animals - but substituting leather with its lab-cultivated counterpart would save millions of animals each year from a horrific life and an even worse death. It’s debatable whether this material can be considered vegan - but it’s significantly more animal-friendly than traditional leather.
Pineapple leather
One of the most talked-about vegan materials of recent time. Pinatex was created by Dr Carmen Hijosa of Ananas Anam. This vegan-friendly material is made from waste pineapple leaf fibres which are a by-product of pineapple harvest - meaning that no extra resources such as land, water, fertilisers or pesticides are used in the production of these fibres. Already on the market and used by brands such as Bourgeois Boheme and Alexandra K, Pinatex is a true game-changer, paving the way for more innovation to come.
Wine leather
Winner of H&M Foundation’s Global Change Award of 2017, wine leather is a vegan material made from leftover grape skins, stalks and seeds from the wine industry. This material is produced by Italian company Vegea - not surprising, as Italy is the largest wine producer in the world - and is set to become the next cruelty-free textile. The company and its leader, Rossella Longobardo, noted that each year, 13 million tonnes of waste are generated from the wine industry, so they set out to recycle this waste into an exciting new material that might just save the lives of many animals.
Many of these innovations are still works in progress, and for now, vegans have to make do with polyurethane (the least environmentally damaging alternative to PVC, the other kind of vegan leather) but the future looks promising for those who want to dress with compassion for animals and the planet - and judging from the recent spikes in vegan living, it’s more than just a few of us.Read more at:formal wear sydney
Kauai Fashion Weekend ends on high note
Jeanne Russell was more than thrilled Saturday night during the 5th annual Kauai Fashion Weekend red carpet signature event at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club.
“She bought an Ahmadcourture!” gushed Leonora Orr.
For Russell, it was not about getting something designed by international designer Sha Ali Ahmad, a co-founder of KFW with Marynel Valenzuela of Inkspot Printing, who appeared in an Ahmadcourture.
“This is very functional,” Russell said. “I tried it on, and I liked it. My daughter is one of the models tonight, and we came to watch her.”
But the purchase during the show preceding the catwalk fashion presentation gave Russell some notoriety as she was allowed a walk on the catwalk with Jennifer Davis’s Pineapple Pilates group, prompted by Dickie Chang — who was fashionably garbed in bright yellow pants and a gaudy aloha shirt.
More than 400 people took advantage of the event to dress up, shop, enjoy dinner in the company of special guest Meghan King Edmonds — an actress with “Real Housewives of Orange County” — and enjoy the creations of local and international designers like Edgar Madamba of the Philippines.
Kauai Fashion Weekend capped a flurry of activity, where professionals like Ahmad and other off-island design professionals like Florida-based photographer Natasha Kertes were able to share their knowledge with Kauai residents. Kertes worked her magic aboard a yacht for a Na Pali series.
“We heard about this, and thought we would come to check out what this is about,” said Sara Miura and Eric Miura of Deja Vu Surf, a fourth-generation retail operation. “This is our first time at the Kauai Marriott event.”
Local designer Kristyl Apeles of Puka Surf not only presented her items, but accessorized the presentations with items from other designers including “wearable art designed, stitched and dyed by Christiane Love.”
Susan Tai Kaneko of the Kauai Economic Development Board, Sue Kanoho of the Kauai Visitors Bureau, Edie Ignacio Neumiller, and other familiar Kauai faces had an opportunity to grace the catwalk in fashion created by Kona designer Nita Pilago of Wahine Toa who incorporates the elements of culture into high-demand fashion.Read more at:formal dresses
A stylish uprising
If one traces the life and journey of khadi — the crown jewel of Indian traditional fabrics — the one sentiment it triumphantly conjures up for every Indian is that of freedom. Political freedom then and freedom of spirit now, through every phase of its growth, khadi has been more than just a piece of fabric.
Under the veil of simplicity, the versatile fabric has for long carried the weight of balancing traditions and style. And as traditions go, the time has come for khadi to reinvent. The government’s initiative to promote khadi, along with Indian fashion houses’ interest to take the agenda forward with their prowess of design and scale, has set a grand stage for the resurgence of brand Khadi.
Talking to DH about the government’s approach, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Chairman V K Saxena said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to popularise khadi has come a long way in supporting the industry. The khadi industry generated employment for about 2,025 artisans in FY2016-17, while the village industry generated 4.08 lakh jobs,” adding, “We are very keen on generating employment, and hence we are distributing charkhas and looms, and also replacing old charkhas.”
Last year, khadi and village industries’ turnover was Rs 52,000 crore, of which khadi contributed Rs 2,007 crore. This year, khadi revenues are expected to grow by 35% to touch Rs 2,700 crore.
Beyond ethnicity
Over the last one month, KVIC has announced association with textile giants Raymond and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail that will see the launch of khadi products under their respective brand names.
Lalbhai Group’s flagship Arvind, which is due to sign an agreement with KVIC within a week or so, has been working closely with the khadi sector for several years. An MoU between Arvind Mills and Rajkot-based Saurashtra Rachnatmak Samiti (SRS), enabled the former to produce ‘denim khadi’ at a global level, wherein the latter, a voluntary organisation, provided raw khadi materials to the company.
“Public-private partnership impact on khadi sales may be difficult to quantify at this stage, as we are still experimenting. But the impact will definitely be significant,” says Saxena.
Over the past 7-8 years, Arvind has spun out hand-woven jeans for various brands, including its own Creyate, and Levi’s. This year, the company is working on a collection of hand-woven jeans for some Japanese brands. Moreover, this season, Arvind is working on hand-spun fabric in the shirting space as well. With these plans underway, the number of khadi artisans that Arvind works with, is set to run into the thousands from the 750 artisans it had worked with during the last season.
“Today, the segment claims a small part of Arvind’s total production because of capacity and price constraints, and we are trying to break through these constraints,” says Arvind Limited Executive Director Punit Lalbhai.
Raymond Vice President and Head (Sales and Distribution) Ram Bhatnagar says, “The whole idea behind launching khadi is to make it more relevant in today’s day and age. At this stage, it is all about achieving volumes and getting the supply chain and distribution right.” The company is aiming at an initial revenue of Rs 20-30 crore from the khadi collection this year. Raymond’s design team is working with 30 khadi clusters, each complementing the other to achieve innovative design and perfect finish to appeal to the youth. Come August, and it will launch its khadi portfolio consisting of shirting and suiting fabrics, and suits and jackets for men.
“Authentic Indian products resonate strongly with the Indian consumers and there is an increasing demand for hand-made fabric, that stays true to its roots and exudes simplicity and vogue at the same time,” says Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Business Head Ashish Dikshit. Peter England, an Aditya Birla brand, will launch its khadi collection across the country through its 700 retail ponts, KVIC outlets and leading ecommerce portals.
Alongside these fashion giants, khadi is also getting a good deal of its design bravado from designer Ritu Beri, who has been appointed as adviser to KVIC.
Knots along the way
Although it has written itself a rich heritage of quality and design, the industry faces its own set of challenges today. Entry barriers, market restrictions and compliance issues — the khadi industry is battling it all, in its own capacity. On entry barriers, Saxena says, “Earlier people lost interest in the industry as the procedure to get authorisation to undertake khadi activities was very tedious. Now, we have made the process simple, and it can be completed online.” Getting the Khadi Mark registration is a matter of 45 days now, he adds.
For an industry that is dealing with accessibility and affordability issues, market challenges for khadi also enlists lack of awareness. Over the years, khadi has gained itself a reputation of being an ordinary fabric suitable for politicians. However, as things are changing, now more rapidly than ever, sustainability in production and adaptability in design, have made the fabric aspirational among the youth.
“Now it is all about making it accessible and affordable, and while the domestic market continues to grow, the focus is on opening up to international markets. We want to take Indian expertise to the world,” says Lalbhai. He believes that as of now, the metrics to measure growth in the segment should be employment creation, ability to create an international market in the segment and improving affordability. “Affordability is another key area. While currently the price of hand-woven fabric is more than double machine-made fabric, the idea is to bring it to 30-40% with economies of scale in play,” Lalbhai adds.
In this context, it also becomes pertinent to create the right kind of employment, which supports social upliftment of artisans. KVIC is currently working with 2,372 khadi clusters, employing more than 4.1 lakh artisans. While Raymond is set to generate 2.5 lakh man hours of employment for khadi artisans, and has already purchased 1.27 lakh metres of fabric, Peter England has agreed for a minimum procurement of khadi and khadi products for five years, with primary purchases of muslin cotton and silk.
KVIC is already selling its products online through Paytm. Soon it will be made available on mygov.in also. “While retail partners play a huge role in the growth of the industry, the opportunity is not limited to that. The railways, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Air India and other such entities, are all purchasing khadi products,” says Saxena. “We have approached various embassies to adopt khadi. Circulars have already been dispatched and we are expecting orders soon,” he adds.
With sufficient push from the government and encouraging response from the industry, khadi is set to make a glorious comeback. Keen on crossing borders this time, the fabric is sure to enwrap more enthusiasts in its simplistic elegance. Authenticity, sustainability and style — as the three converge, Indian consumers may just find their sense of progressiveness in their roots.Read more at:princess formal dresses
Fashion designer shifts into gear for car-themed runway
What could clothing and cars possibly have in common?
Just ask fashion designer Kari Bare who will return to her Southwest Virginia home to showcase her antique automobile-inspired apparel in the sixth annual Wheels in Historic Abingdon car show.
The car show, a main fundraiser for the Cruisin’ Classics Car Club, will stretch from the intersection of Cummings and Main streets to Russell Road from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 3.
Main Street runway
At 6 p.m., local models will take to the highway to present Bare’s fashion line, Buckle and Shift, a name used in both the fashion and car industries. Her retro line was inspired by watching her parents, Bo and Libby Bare, restore vintage cars.
Fascinated by the designs of the 1960s and 1970s, Bare recently found a way to incorporate her family’s passion into her own fashion designs.
“I’ve always wanted to have a fashion show in Abingdon and let people back home see what I do. I think the car show will be a great way to tie it all together,” said the designer.
Her clothing line is made from salvaged antique car upholstery fabrics and other accessories. Bare said members of the car club donated fabrics once they learned of her unique style of clothing. Some fabrics were made from fabrics that were manufactured for vintage cars, but never used. A few fabrics were removed from old cars the father and daughter found at salvage yards.
“Some of the fabric is reused, so I’m taking something totally different and turning it into something else which is a really popular concept right now,” she said.
“It’s going to be a cool show with 20 different looks,” said Bare, who will feature her original designs of dresses, vests, and tops, all made from the vintage fabrics.
Spectators can purchase the clothing at the show or place custom orders.
Bare has an eye for using the fabrics in a creative way.
“One of my dresses was designed to look like a fender of a 1953 Chevy.”
Bare used a seat belt from a 1957 Chevy to make straps and a belt for a dress, and closures for a vest. She also used fabric they found on a 1969 Volkswagen, a 1973 Camaro, and a 1971 Mercury Capri.
“One of my dresses was designed to look like a fender of a 1953 Chevy,” she said.
The designer used a seat belt from a 1957 Chevy to make straps and a belt for a dress, and closures for a vest. She also used fabric they found on a 1969 Volkswagen, a 1973 Camaro, and a 1971 Mercury Capri.
“I didn’t think other people would enjoy my clothing line as much as I do, but they loved it. I’ve gotten amazing feedback. It blew me away,” said the 24-year-old, who resides in Fairfax, Virginia, and works as a personal stylist for Trunk Club at Chinatown in Washington, D.C.
Bare’s unique clothing line was featured at the 2016 D.C. Fashion Week. She’s also received invitations to participate in a show with the Auto Recycling Association in Dallas, Texas, in November.
Fashion magazines, DEUX Magazine of Paris, and The Tab of England, a global news outlet based in London, featured Bare Couture in their coverage of D.C. Fashion Week.
A fundraising car show
Chip McCall, president of the car club, said there is no charge for spectators but a $10 fee is required for each car entry. Participants must register their vehicles beginning at 2 p.m. on Remsburg Drive at the Abingdon Farmers Market.
The car club is a non-profit organization that focuses on helping children. “We are a Christian-believing club and we are thankful we’re able to help other people,” McCall said.
Proceeds from the show are used to help fund St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and a back pack program which provides weekend meals to Washington County children in need.
“On a bad day, we’ll have 200 vehicles and a good day we’ll have 400 or more,” said McCall, who has organized the show since 2012.
The show attracts participants from the Tri-Cities region in addition to Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
More than 50 trophies will be awarded to a variety of makes and models of cars, trucks, rat rods, imports, motorcycles, and tractors.
“If they’re proud of it, so are we,” said McCall.
“We don’t care if it’s brand new or old as the hills.”
Visitors can participate in a 50/50 cash drawing that allows the winner to take half of the proceeds from the show. Door prizes also will be offered.
Dash plaques will be given to the first 200 entrants.Read more at:bridesmaid dresses
Weddings of Downton Abbey
Love is in the air as PBS gathers a bridal bouquet of the greatest weddings from six seasons of “Downton Abbey.” The romantic relationships at Downton riveted viewers as they followed the twists and turns of some of the most beloved — and dramatic — courtships in television history.
Hosted by Hugh Bonneville, who portrayed Robert, frequent father of the bride and Earl of Grantham, this celebration features the most romantic and moving wedding scenes from the series as well as exclusive interviews with Julian Fellowes, Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge, the creative team that brought these relationships to life, and in-depth interviews with cast members who portrayed the romantic partners.
Spanning the idyllic pre-war era through the storms of The Great War into the roaring 1920s, Downton Abbey has been the site of many unforgettable love affairs, both upstairs and down. As the world around them underwent extraordinary change, romance within the sumptuous house continued to be marked by passion, ambition and heartbreak.
The central marriage of “Downton Abbey” is that of Robert and Cora, played by Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern. Despite challenges and obstacles, their union is based on a deep understanding and affection for one another, which grows over the course of six seasons. “I like the idea that Robert had married Cora for her millions in order to save Downton and keep the show on the road, and subsequently fell in love with her,” said Fellowes. “It puts a slight guilt almost into the relationship on his part.”
The dubious honor of the most scandalous marriage at Downton was that of Lady Sybil to Irish chauffeur and self-proclaimed socialist Tom Branson. Their slow-burning courtship crossed class boundaries and shattered social taboos. Much of the first two seasons were taken up with the courtship of Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley. Although Matthew is instantly smitten, the icy Mary takes a while to succumb to his charms until, having endured separation, war, and the death of Matthew’s fiancé, they are finally united after a winter wonderland proposal.
Weddings of Downton Abbey also features romance below stairs. The long-suffering Anna and Mr. Bates are given enormous obstacles to overcome as bad luck, misunderstandings, miscarriages of justice, a vengeful first wife and a murderous prison mate threaten to destroy their happiness.
Another long-simmering romance that finally resulted in matrimony was that of Carson and Mrs. Hughes, played by Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan. “It was the longest burning, slowest romance in the history of television,” said Carter. The creators admit that there was no plan at the beginning of the series to bring the couple together, but Carter and Logan created such a wonderful duo that marriage became inevitable. The pairing of the circumspect Carson with the wise Mrs. Hughes created warmth and humor as the two personalities balanced each other.
One of the most shocking weddings on “Downton Abbey” left poor Edith stranded at the altar, jilted in humiliating fashion by Sir Anthony Strallan. But far from crushing her, the event became a turning point in her life. And eventually Edith finds Bertie, whose love for her is so great that he accepts both her and her illegitimate daughter. Their glorious Christmas wedding gave Edith the fairy-tale ending that she — and her fans — deserved.Read more at:QueenieAu | cheap formal dresses
Girls State columnist notes fashion trends
Hundreds of girls started packing for ALA South Dakota Girls State a few weeks ago, and others started the day before arriving. One thing they may all have in common is the thought, ‘What clothes should I bring/wear?’
This question may have gone through every girl’s mind as they packed, and they probably asked their mom as well as other friends who have attended or are attending this year for their fashion opinions and advice.
All the delegates are dressed to the nines, but these outfits don’t come together as easily as they are portrayed. There are multiple trips to the store and maybe a few nervous breakdowns on the way; but in the end, everything works out.
Some girls will pick out their outfits based on trend. From Detroit, Alice Sheehan wore a beautiful red dress and dark nude sandals Tuesday. To pull the look together she carried a nude colored bag. Her look is classy yet unique and fashionable at the same time.
“The trends at girls state are definitely Birkenstocks and loose, flowy dresses,” Sheehan said.
All the delegates have their own sense of style: bohemian, classy, modern, elegant, preppy, and many more. Nobody is ever categorized in one style — most girls have a mixed style showing her distinctive clothing choices. Sometimes a certain part of an outfit stands out among the crowd, be it the bracelet on the wrist and how it compliments the outfit or how their hair is styled. Every little detail makes an outfit look unique.
One thing some girls cannot live without are stylish shoes. From Minneapolis, Kailey Feiner’s shoes stole the show. Trendy is one way to describe Feiner’s style. Tuesday she modeled a gorgeous flowy green dress. Her wedge heels complimented her outfit by adding a pop of color. The simple yet elegant style turned heads and was alluring.
“Jewelry, I think, pulls the outfit together,” Feiner said.
Some girls went for a cute and fun look, while others went for a strict business style. Sydney Stofferahn, St. Paul, sported a black knee-length skirt and a black jacket to match with a complimenting red undershirt. The look was elegant, serious and it meant business.
“It shows how serious I am about being here,” said Stofferahn about her style choices. “When I change into other clothes it shows the girls in my city the other side of me.”
Clothes have the ability to make people feel better about themselves, and during Girls State, clothes often portray how people feel in the environment.
“In order to feel good about what you are doing, you must feel good about yourself, because the way you feel about yourself reflects on the way you act and carry yourself,” Stofferahn said.
Outfits play a big role in everyday life, but in professional environments such as Girls State, it is important to try and present yourself with confidence and poise. What another person wears to feel confident is not what you have to wear to feel confident. Empower yourself by being yourself.Read more at:QueenieAu | celebrity dresses
