Craft Guerrilla Christmas Craft Emporium returns!

Not to be missed if your are around Walthamstow!

I was doing Bust Craftacular last year and  had to miss Craft Guerrilla's christmas market as it fell on the same day, but I am going to be there this year, on Saturday 4th December! There are different sellers on both days and the gallery itself (housed in William Morris childhood home) is well worth visiting, so please do come along if you can!

Ethical Fashion?

I'm taking part to an ethical fashion night next Thursday at the William Morris Gallery, and whilst I'm looking forward to this event, I've come to realise that I'm not quite sure what "ethical fashion" means... and I have been worrying that my products are not ethical enough. Peeking at the V&A website for information, ethical covers a wide range of  issues such as working conditions, fair trade, sustainable production, environment preservation and animal welfare.
Cotton culture accounts for 22.5% of the use of the world's insecticides and 10% of persticides, as well as consequent environmental damages. For instance the Aral Sea has shrunk to just 15% of its fromer volume, thanks to cotton production and dying (V&A and Ethical Fashion Forum). These figures are really shocking, and I'm glad that I use mostly upcycled vintage fabrics or organic cotton sateen printed to my own design. But with leather, it is more difficult to establish provenance or animal welfare. So I'm working on some new accessories made from all my scrap bits, but is this ethical enough?
It is also shocking that in the UK alone 1 million tonnes of clothing are thrown to landfill sites. On the plus side, my designs are well-made, one-of-a-kind pieces, created as modern heirlooms.

Little birds... made from a souvenir scarf from New Zealand!

Ethical Fashion at the William Morris Gallery!

 

 

The William Morris Gallery, the home of art & craft, is having an ethical fashion night on Thursday 11 March. It is fundraiser to support the gallery which is devoted to the celebrated designer, craftsman, writer, socialist and conservationist,  and displays an important collection illustrating his life, achievements and influence. The Gallery is housed in an 18th house, Morris' family home from 1848 to 1856. I have always meant to visit, so this is the perfect occasion!

In the spirit of Morris’concern for the environment and interest in natural dyes, the gallery has curated an ethical fashion night, with a catwalk show to pove that eco-design can be edgy, fashionable and fun!
The poster reached my in box a couple of days ago. I'm quite excited but have no idea as what to expect. I will be having a stall selling some *new* eco designs, made from vintage fabrics and leather remnants!

Participating designers include: Emmeline 4 Re, Feng Ho, Nancy Dee, Elena Garcia (pictured here), Sew Last Season, Miksani, Beautiful Soul and Tammam.

William Morris Gallery
Lloyd Park, Forest Road, London E17 4PP
Nearest tube: Walthamstow Central/ Blackhorse Road