on sustainable fashion

by shiloh sukkau

The issue I have with the notion of sustainability in fashion and what I think is a possible reason people don’t want to really talk about it is because it can get gimmicky rather then simply being a bi product of intelligent/thoughtful design.

When something is quote on quote “sustainable” it feels like a marketing ploy to be a little suspicious of rather then an honest approach that also involves something you actually want to wear for other reasons then its environmental/social impact.

I would argue that sustainability in Fashion should be bi-product of a tasteful consumer and that it is essentially as issue of scale, its antithesis being mass production. Which makes me think that of any industry, the Fashion Industry is one of the most capable of incorporating smaller scale “sustainable” production.

Maybe part of real sustainability is not let things being reduced to superficial marketable terms and tackling the homogenizing effect of mass-produced product by trying to really value the individualizing quality Fashion.

I am finally producing my ss12 orders!
I made these samples months ago, because the timeframes within which fashion works are stretched to fulfil buyers requirements and production turnaround. sometimes i wish I didn't have to stick to such a restrictive schedule as my work is all done by hand, and by the time I get around to make my orders, the feeling of a garment has changed or evolved into something else. . . but I guess that is also the beauty of making things by hand, no two pieces are 100% alike.

sometimes I flirt with the idea of having my prints and hand paints reproduced digitally, as it would give me a lot of freedom in terms of reducing the labour-intensive nature of my work, and also in terms of the complexity of the design (and maybe I will explore that avenue after all at some stage!).
but in the end I remember that i have chosen to promote craft and the physicality of the hands-on process, as I think there is something beautiful and unique in the tradition of making things by hand, a value that we are slowly losing in favour of technology and speed.

styling appreciation: b r i t t a burger

a story styled by britta b on cooler magazine, with photography by ellis scott.

I haven't seen it yet but I have high expectations! my friend cat has some photos in it. can't wait to get hold of a copy!

j o u r n a l

MS skirt in Journal Standard catalog.

by the way, my postcards were printed with risograph here.
I love this technology as although it is a digital process it has a similar visual effect to screen printing.

I'll send you a postcard

I've been having troubles carrying on with this blog. it's not because of lack of things to share but I find it more and more difficult to be open about my life and work in public, although I truly enjoy it when I read the generous posts of some of the bloggers i follow.
shall I switch to tumblr? shall I stop? thoughts please,!
I have some limited edition risograph print postcards, showing a hand painted scarf from ss12, which I will be happy to send you, if you help me figure this one out.

SALE !

there are a few items left in my etsy store, all heavily discounted.
if you already are a customer of mine, email me to redeem an additional 10% discount voucher.
happy new year!