#vashtimagazine

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Karen Walker’s Worldly Vision

    Her eyewear campaigns have featured children, advanced style stars, albinos and now Karen Walker is using the advertising platform to highlight the plight of poverty-stricken African regions, working with the United Nations’ International Trade Centre’s Ethical Fashion Initiative.

The New Zealand-based designer just released her Spring 2014 campaign in which she gives a face to the Kenyan artisans who worked on her range. Karen Walker is known for her provocative, out of the ordinary visuals. The latest campaign however, called ‘Karen Walker Visible’, might be the most innovative one yet.

For the range, the designer worked with a group of Kenyan artists who created the pouches sold with each pair of sunglasses purchased. Made using local materials, machinists, tailors, metal workers and Maasai beaders, the result is an exquisitely crafted collection of embellished and screen-sprinted sunglass slips.

It’s these craftsmen and women who are cast in the campaign, shot by Derek Henderson, created a visually arresting tribute to the artists’ culture and creative talent.

The Ethical Fashion Initiative aims to promote fair and sustainable business rather than a reliance on aid in disadvantaged African and Haitian communities, bringing together craftspeople and international brands to produce products and hope to change the future with these initiatives.

Karen was thrilled to be able to work with the Ethical Fashion Initiative on this project and explained that she “wanted to expand on that by presenting not only the pouches they’re creating for us, but also something more intimate – a glimpse into the world that the work is coming from.”

“This campaign captures both this innate optimism and love of maximum impact in the images themselves and also the way in which they direct our attention to this part of the world and the work being done there. In short, the images help bring visibility to this place, these people and the work of the Ethical Fashion Initiative.”

The new collection of sunglasses includes oversized black frames with colour-tinted translucent lenses and gold trims, gold glitter and filigree styles, and reflective gold lenses.

For further information on the Ethical Fashion Initiative, visit www.ethical-fashion.org

  Website

Karen Walker Visible Eyewear

http://www.karenwalkereyewear.com/#visible2014/page1

By: Revathie Dhanabalan

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Reclaiming Summer

Just in time to top up your summer wardrobe comes Topshop’s third capsule collection and collaboration with Reclaim To Wear, the spin-off label from ecological fashion brand From Somewhere.

The Topshop Reclaim To Wear collection transforms Topshop’s surplus stock of jersey, denim and cotton into new designs. The collection of eight pieces launched exclusively online on Topshop.com with prices staring at £32.

"We have been really proud to work with the Topshop team on these collections. This is a really important step: one dress at a time, starting small, we are the beginning to see that design can influence not just our style but the way we think about clothes," says From Somewhere's Orsola de Castro.

From Somewhere aims to reduce unnecessary fabric production by repurposing what has already been made. It offers clothes made from discarded fabrics and materials that might otherwise be thrown away.

Pretty smock dresses in flirty florals sit alongside rough and ripped denim (very now) pieces, printed shorts and delicate camisoles - and all have been created using Topshop offcuts and end-of-roll fabric to ensure sustainability.

"The inspiration behind the collection was to turn away from disposable fashion, giving a new lease of life to disregarded prints from previous seasons," says Stephen Mongan, head of sourcing and technical services at Topshop. "We are testing the blueprint across our product range with each launch in the hope that we will learn lessons on how eventually we can bring more product areas into the portfolio."

The collection is available now. Visit www.topshop.com for further information.

  Website

Reclaim To Wear

http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/category/clothing-427/reclaim-to-wear-2046093

By: Revathie Dhanabalan

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Esprit Authenticity

International fashion brand Esprit has joined forces with People for Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) in a powerful collaboration that is set to change the face or foot! – of fashion.

The new items are currently available at retail stores throughout Europe and can also be purchased from their online store. Esprit is the first major international retailer to market vegan products or to team up with an animal rights organization.

"Esprit sets a wonderful and ethical example of sustainability for retailers around the world to follow. Made from eco-friendly faux leather and top quality canvas, the collection is testament to how easy it is to get a stylish look that doesn't harm any animals," says Mimi Bekhechi, PETA UK associate director.

The shoes come with a special hang tag to prove their sustainable credentials, reading: "This product has been designed to be kind to animals. It is vegan-approved by PETA, meaning that no animal has been involved in the production of this product."

The PETA-approved logo was created to enable designers and retailers to easily identify and showcase their support of ethical fashion.

“We are happy about the opportunity to work with PETA on more transparency in textile labeling and thus better inform our conscious consumers,” said Martin Krist, Global Business Manager for Esprit. “It is a great accomplishment for Esprit to be able to transfer the philosophy of appealing vegan fashion to a commercial lifestyle product and we thank PETA for their support.”

The collaboration between Esprit and PETA could have a significant influence on the global fashion market. Just as organic and cruelty-free foods began to filter into consumer buying practices once larger chains made them available and were no longer a specialty item, so too could cruelty-free and eco-friendly apparel become mainstream options.

Visit www.esprit.co.uk for further information.

By:   Revathie Dhanabalan

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Kooky Couture Sneakers of Dior

Have you heard of Dior’s latest couture venture? They’re called Fusion Sneakers. Made of mesh, sequins and rubber, these kicks aren’t your average Dior Couture offering. After all, this is the label which created the New Look in 1947, composed of elements from whittled-waist jackets to elegant, flared skirts and stereotypically feminine silhouettes, design features which showed up again on Dior’s Fall 2012 Paris runway.

But thanks to the creative prowess of designer Raf Simons, the fashion house has entered the 21st century with a bang! These kicks debuted on the spring 2014 couture runway in January and have since become a coveted accessory, showing on the Last Look page of US Vogue’s July issue and getting a major shout-out and styling session on stylebubble.co.uk.

Ever since hipsters started to build up the 'street cred' of New Balance trainers, the popularity of the humble sneaker has definitel sky rocketed. When Victoria Beckham unveiled her own pair of brilliant green Nikes in May 2013, even the most prim and proper ladies amongst the fashion set had to sit up and listen.

Dior might have billed the sneakers as the perfect balance between couture and urban-living, with the petals a mod to the late Monsieur Dior’s penchant for blooms, but for us, they just look oodles of fun! And with a rubber sole, they would be ever so practical.

The slip on-sneakers are Dior’s latest uber modern it-product, though for US$1,100 a pop, they aren’t for consumers who want to simply try out the trend. However, on the right person, we may be looking at the next great shoe trend of 2014!

  Website

Discover Dior Fusion Trainers

http://www.dior.com/couture/en_int/womens-fashion/shoes/sneakers/discover-dior-fusion-trainers

By: Revathie Dhanabalan

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PERF Opening

Melody Smith Gallery is proud to announce ‘PERF’ an exhibition of new artworks by Perth based artist Alex Maciver. This was the artist’s first solo presentation of artworks since he claimed the Film Freo 24 Award, part of 2014 Fringe Festival, and the prestigious 2013 Fremantle Print Award.

The opening night showcased a collaborative performance with Citizens of Arcane, presented by Coveted Events.

Melody Smith Gallery showcased this new series of artworks that emphasizes quite definite sculptural notions of character and attitude. Each work was unique in character and in some way impersonate portrait paintings, but with a volume and density that was destined for a sculptural installation. The emotional pitch of these works was both sporadic and spontaneous, with a mood that finds expression in what Maciver described as “the kind of restless studio activity that transforms our interpretation of familiar décor”.

Since arriving in Western Australia in 2011, Maciver’s oeuvre has encompassed an incredible diversity of styles and media. Often blurring the line between comedy and tragedy, the grotesque and the beautiful, the critical and the empathetic, Maciver has developed a provocative and adventurously imaginative series of artworks following a recent residency at Fremantle Arts Centre.

“My intention whilst based as Fremantle Arts was on developing new works that extend beyond my painting practice but not to immerse myself entirely in abstraction. The works focus more in trying to control social and sexual identities, and the way that these kinds of structures affect and manipulate the interactions of people, the way we reveal ourselves to the world, and the assertion of the things that surround us.” Maciver.

Alex Maciver (b. 1985) lives and works in Perth WA. Since graduating with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Duncan of Jordanstone, Dundee University UK in 2007, he has been actively involved in many artist-run initiatives from Generator Projects (UK), Crate 59 (QLD), and recently Paper Mountain (WA) with his first solo exhibition, “I May Live on as a Ghost”, as pat of 2013 Fringe Festival. His works features in public and private collections, including City of Fremantle Collection.

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PERF'S MEDIA RELEASE

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Design Your Own Custom Made Prada Heels

If you’re among the legions of ladies who have ever dreamed of owning a pair of custom Prada heels, then you are truly in luck!  

The Italian luxury house just launched an amazing customizable program where you can design your own pair from the ground up – including all kinds of details from the height of the stiletto to the finish on the leather.

With the new program, shoppers can create their own Décolleté peep toe heel or pumps that are one of Prada’s most classic designs. There are a vast array of shoe silhouettes available, including an extra-pointy toes, a more classic pointed toe, peep toes, round tow, platform and single-sole options, as well as a pointed toe shape that also has a metallic heel.

Once you’ve picked your shape, you can choose your heel height, from kitten to high. Then on to the finish: from satin to patent leather, and then to colour – a whopping 27 shades. You can then choose the colour sole you want from Prada’s signature pastel blue to lily of the valley or black. For the final touch, you can add your own initial in amber metal to make it truly one-of-a-kind. What’s more, it will be packaged to match the shoe shade!

Starting from a minimum of £500, Prada invites fashionistas to create their dream shoe for a limited time only. But considering that these bad boys are built to last, those are some pretty good cost-per-wear odds.

It’s the perfect service for a shoe-lover as you’ll be the owner of a totally unique pair of heels that nobody else has. Up till now, the service has been offered for 48-hour period at select boutiques. But soon, it’s going to available in all Prada boutiques. So bookmark these dates, Sydney and Melbourne!

Our heads are already spinning with choices! A classic pump – to your exact specifications – really will never go out of style.

  Dates

Prada Westfield Sydney – 21 to 23 August

(02 9223 8322 – make an appointment in-store)

Prada Chadstone – 28 to 30 August

(03 9568 1599 – make an appointment in-store) 

  By: Revathie Dhanabalan

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Wearable Tech Meets High Fashion Bling

  If you’re worried about missing notifications from your phone while walking around town, you can now link them to a ring on your finger!

Ringly is the latest fashion gadget that links important notifications from an iPhone via Bluetooth to a ring worn on the finger. At first glance, the Ringly appears to be an ordinary piece of jewellery. Slip it on your finger and it looks and feels like a typical fashion ring. However, that will all change when your iPhone receives a notification and the ring begins to vibrate and light up.

There are four rings different rings, each with different gemstones along with four different vibration patterns and accompanying five colour shades as a light indicator.

As well as recognising texts, calls and emails, it also picks up notifications from apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and Tinder. The gadget, which retails for around $150USD, is plated with 18-carat gold and each comes in three sizes: 6,7 or 8.

The idea for the ring came to co-founder Christina Mercando after she kept missing calls from her family because she had her phone tucked away in her purse. “One day I was just looking down at my jewellery, and thought, hmmm I wonder if I can put something in my ring that would solve this problem?” she says. Mercado started sketching prototypes and Ringly was born.

Using the low energy Bluetooth standard, Ringly connects to your phone and sends you customized notifications through vibration and light. It’s discreet enough for a meeting, but conspicuous enough that you’ll never miss an important call or message!

Ringly is available for pre-order right now, and starts shipping in the fall. And even better news; pre-ordered units will be cheaper than retail, and the first 1,000 will have a real diamond.

This little guy has our attention because its something we’d actually be caught dead wearing! Every girl could always use that extra bling bling!  

For Pre-Orders

https://ringly.com

By: Revathie Dhanabalan

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Lily Cole’s Trainers Collaboration With Veja

Lily Cole takes having a portfolio career to a whole new level. As a model, actress, Cambridge graduate and documentary maker, she is truly a woman of many talents.

Now the skilled 25-year-old is adding another one to her already impressive cap by collaborating with French ecological shoe and accessories label Veja to create a limited-edition range of trainers, showcasing the use of wild rubber in new products.

Lily Cole recently collaborated with Sky Rainforest Rescue to design a limited edition jewellery collection made of rubber and metal to help save the Amazonian rainforest.

Now, this wonderful model with a conscience has taken the next step of her journey with Sky and WWF by using rubber tapped from trees in Acre, northwest Brazil, to design an Amazon inspired shoe collection.

Acre state was once a global centre of rubber production but having been out-competed by cheaper, unsustainable synthetic and plantation rubber, many of the area’s rubber tapping communities have started to cut down trees in order to grow crops and raise livestock.

The Amazon rainforest is also the only place where rubber trees grow in the wild and their sap can be extracted without damaging the trees. Veja works with local rubber tapping communities, buying the rubber at a price that guarantees a better income for tappers and offering them a steady employment.

Speaking at a launch of her footwear, Lily said that she has great hopes that the project “will highlight the potential of wild rubber to replace farmed rubber – and to save the rainforest”.

Starting from £55, the new stylish range includes one print in three playful colour ways, with the design championing the smaller species of the rainforest – from the hummingbird to the mushroom.

The limited edition collection will be available to buy online and through Offspring concessions stores in Topshop in Oxford Street and Selfridges in London and Manchester. For every pair of trainers sold, Sky will donate £10 to Sky Rainforest Rescue and WWF’s work to help support the livelihood of rubber tappers, equip them to tap more trees and helping to protect the rainforest.

Very few people, let alone models, have thought as carefully or can express themselves as fluently about the issues of the day as Lily Cole. So take some time out of your day to take a look at these amazing trainers and give a little back!

Website

www.skyrainforest.com

  By: Revathie Dhanabalan