London lives and breathes fashion.  It is a trendsetting city and the eyes of the world turn to it each February as noted designers preview their hottest new designs.  Fashion writers come here to get a glimpse at the newest, chic trends in the industry, bringing the news to the awaiting public of fashionable women and men who take pride in being abreast of the latest fashions.  Accessory designers set up at the exhibition with high end and fashion jewelry, shoes and bags, allowing those who attend to have a full fashion experience during the week-long event.

In total, London’s Fashion Week 2011 will feature over 300 designers of clothing, jewelry, accessories, knitwear, scarves and handbags, and will be one of the most highly anticipated and publicised fashion events in the entire world when it is in full swing this month.  For those who cannot attend the event themselves, the London Fashion Week website offers information on all of the collections, designers, the schedules for the catwalk and the highly praised LFW TV where all of the catwalk shows can be watched.

A T-shirt can be printed with any design.  There are many companies who offer T-shirt printing services that have a portfolio of designs for you to look at, but if you need something personal this can also be accommodated.

T-shirts can also be printed and used as fun gifts for birthdays or anniversaries.  They are unique and personal to the individual and can even include photographs if required.  T-shirt printing does not take long to do, but if bulk orders are required the company you are ordering from may ask for plenty of notice regarding when you need them.

Personalised T-shirts can make great presents for children.  They can have literally any image you want on them, from their favourite cartoon character to the hottest pop star of the moment.  Personalised T-shirts are one of the most versatile gifts anyone could give.

There are many companies offering t shirt printing services, and usually the more you order the more money you save.  For companies with many employees to provide uniforms for this can be a really cost effective way of doing so.  Stag and hen parties who might just want 10 or 15 T-shirts may also be able to find good discounts.

Online printing retailers such as Splash Logo will be able to add a poppy to your kit, whether transfer or appliqué, they also offer a quick turnaround time so you will be able to receive your amended kit in good time. Adding a poppy to your sports kit is a great way to show you are remembering the fallen and many spectators will be grateful of the respect you show by having a poppy on your kit.

Remembrance Poppy

Picture courtesy of paul-simpson.org

De Castro already uses scraps to make her clothes, believing that nothing should be wasted.  For this particular contest she will be taking the leftovers from Vivienne Westwood, as well as Stella McCartney and Paul Smith.  She has been upcycling for years, creating clothes from waste. Twenty per cent of the materials used in the fashion industry go to waste, and de Castro is not happy about the ecological footprint this leaves.  Her label, the aptly named From Somewhere, only uses materials sourced in this manner.  De Castro’s label is gaining momentum, as celebrity followers are starting to back her eco voyage.  Miriam Clegg, wife of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, was wearing an outfit by de Castro when she cast her vote on Election Day.

It will be a battle of the scraps to see who will win over Sinetta in the completion.  Emma Watson will also be at this event, offering an organic collection for People Tree.

The event is co-hosted by the Prince of Wales, at Clarence House.  Other attractions include comedy from Ben Elton and music from Jools Holland.

Eco-friendly clothing is garments and accessories that do no harm to the world we live in.  Organic fabrics and vintage styles are ways to combat the harmful effects of textile milling and clothing production.

First, let’s look at fabrics.  Probably the three best-known organic fibres are silk, linen and cotton. However, hemp, jute and bamboo are cropping up with consistent frequency for their versatility and comfort as a fabric.  Other common elements are being processed as eco-friendly fabrics such as Ingeo (made from corn), organic wool, ramie (a natural fibre), and fabrics made from spider webs, flax, milk and soybeans.

What makes these fabrics eco-friendly is the minimal use of pesticides and chemicals in their production.  They also encourage better land management practices, the sustainability of farming practices, have no animal testing and there is a decrease in the exploitation of cheap outsourced labour.

Keeping it green also includes using reusable shopping bags, wearing handcrafted natural jewellery, raiding Grandmother’s jewellery box and shopping at vintage clothing stores. 

Therefore, the next time you go shopping, look at the labels, and see where the garment was made and what the construction material is. Look for EU-Eco label certification and snap these garments up for your wardrobe.  Not only will you look smashing, you’ll be taking on an active role in eco-friendly sustainability.

The fashion industry is a competitive market, and retailers are only too aware that if they are able to produce a t-shirt that is cheaper than a similar one being sold next door, then they will sell more items. The problem is that the more cheaply an item is produced, the more likely that it is that it has been produced in a sweatshop in a developing country.

There are several campaigns underway to end exploitation and ensure that everyone involved in the production process is treated fairly and receives a living wage for the work that they do. However, there are some consumers who are still unaware of some of the issues.

There are some places that use child labour to produce clothes. They work in poor conditions and receive very little money. Some textiles are treated with chemicals, particularly during the dyeing process, and these are not good for the environment. There is also an increasing use of pesticides among cotton growers, who wish to ensure a good crop to earn the maximum amount of money.

There are some retailers who include ethical clothing amongst their collections, and consumers should look out for information on the labels that tells them that the item has been produced under a fair trade scheme, or that the dyes used are natural.

Using customised t-shirts for sports events or charity fundraisers is a great way to raise awareness and many online retailers offer discounts for buying in bulk, such as Splash Logo, who offer not only clothing that can be printed on but a wide range of other products. Customised clothing is also ideal if you’re looking for company work wear, it means you can also advertise your business on the clothing your staff wear, as well as having a regimented uniform that everyone adheres to.