Tag Archives: fashion designers

Zandra Rhodes for Adele Marie Launch at Pure London

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Upon arrival at the Pure London in London on Monday 8th August I was greeted by hundreds of stands adorned with the latest trends, fashions, and couture. I walked passed stall after stall, all luring me in with their brightly coloured luxury garments and champagne, and approached the catwalk where Zandra Rhodes was due to be interviewed by fashion journalist extraordinaire Eric Musgrave. The lights came on and out came the international fashion icon herself, Zandra Rhodes, wearing some of her signature pieces from her new collection; the forever black wiggle earrings and heritage lady necklace and matching bracelet. Whilst introducing her coveted new designs, which have been made in collaboration with jewellery designer Adele Marie, Zandra came across as bubbly and chirpy.

Model in Zandra Rhodes Couture and Zandra Rhodes for Adele Marie jewellery

Model in Zandra Rhodes Couture and Zandra Rhodes for Adele Marie jewellery

The first pieces to be showcased were the swirling heart designs from the iconic collection, which all feature a metal finish. Appearing on the catwalk stage was a model wearing a Zandra Rhodes couture pink and black flowing dress, bright pink heels, and the swirling, rhinestone clad heart necklace and earrings. These gorgeous pieces feature swirly heart shaped charms which have been designed by Zandra, made with a smooth, silver tone finish. The hearts are finished with a Zandra Rhodes signature, and the earrings feature a little initial ‘Z’ on the fastening. Zandra mentioned that all the designs from this collection were part of her own repertoire, which Adele Marie researched and adapted to make into these gorgeous jewellery pieces.

Next up was the forever wiggle design from the resin collection. The stunning model was dressed in a high neck, long sleeved purple dress finished with a cute frill along the hem; the perfect colour and style to showcase Ms Rhodes statement pieces. The model wore the large pink forever wiggle beaded necklace and twisted bangle bracelet. Zandra named these pieces as ‘happy jewels’, and I can definitely see why!

The third model was adorned with more pieces from the forever wiggle design. Paired with black trousers and a fabulous draped top was a simpler forever wiggle beaded necklace, and matching black forever wiggle earrings and bangle. Zandra also explained how she and Adele Marie delved into her old collection of designs from the 1980s and re-worked them to make more modern and contemporary pieces.

Next up a beautiful model dressed in a stunning ruffled maxi dress. The dress was accessorized with Zandra Rhodes forever wiggle black beaded chunky necklace and bracelet. Zandra said she would never design jewellery that she wouldn’t wear herself, and these pieces are definitely ones to get you noticed!

Fifth was a model wearing a long pink floaty number, paired with the single swirling heart necklace, matching bracelet, and large heart earrings from the iconic collection. The necklace shimmered with rhinestones whilst the earrings were a simpler take on the design, featuring the hearts made with a smooth silver tone finish.

Selection of 'Forever Wiggle' jewellery by Zandra Rhodes for Adele Marie

Selection of 'Forever Wiggle' jewellery by Zandra Rhodes for Adele Marie

Also in the Zandra Rhodes for Adele Marie jewellery collection you’ll find gold and silver tone necklaces made with the ‘puzzle’ design which secure with a woven chain, and an extravagant multi chain necklace adorned with beads and ‘ZR’ charms which would be perfect to re-invent your outfits.

The collection launches online first at www.make-me-beautiful.co.uk and www.make-me-sexy.co.uk

Next I explored the designer stalls; gawping at fabulous crystal clad prom dresses and cooing over cute animal charm necklace and bracelets. Eventually I arrived at the Adele Marie stand in the accessories section so I could take a closer look at Zandra’s designs in the flesh. I was not disappointed; the forever wiggle bracelets had a gorgeous smooth finish and quality chunky feel to them, the layered cascade necklace looked so luxurious with its adornment of charms and beads, and the swirling heart designs immediately stole my heart!

I enjoyed pink champagne flutes and delicious pink iced designer cupcakes as I sat for afternoon tea with Zandra Rhodes and Adele Vanderkar, founder of Adele Marie jewellery designs. In case you didn’t know, Adele Vanderkar used to be the accessories buyer for Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge before she started designing her own beautiful jewellery pieces. This latest collaboration with Zandra Rhodes appears to be a match made in heaven! After discussing designs, jewellery and everything in between, I got to meet Ms Rhodes herself and can confirm she is incredibly lovely and down to earth! In fact she was absolutely fabulous!

Witten by Brigitte Swimer

The Young Designer Awards Autumn Applications now open

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Fashion Designers and Craft makers Network has now opened applications for designers to participate in the Autumn Young Designer Awards Ceremony 2011 which takes place in London. The Young Designer Awards is a non-profit event and is a unique project that continues to grow in popularity amongst young students. In addition to the YDA we have added a number of new categories that enable more established fashion designers, accessory, jewellery and milliners to participle in the young designer awards.

The Radical Designer Awards is targeted at fashion designers who are any age over 21 years. This age category must have design experience, a fashion label or a fashion house. This award gives each designer an opportunity to demonstrate their technical design skill and to express their creativity. The brief is to showcase a current Radical collection at the young designer awards. A very special showcase at Seattle Fashion Week USA will be offered by Seattle Fashion Week’s directors to one of our Radical Designer award winners.

Nichole Sams Seattle Fashion Week Director of Marketing says “Seattle Fashion Week is excited to extend one fashion showcase during an upcoming Fashion Week to the lucky winner of the Radical Designer Awards. The most important aspect of being a young designer is showing your art to the world. This helps gain fans, buyers and eventually gets designs in boutiques and retailers. Seattle is a great place for new designers to showcase their work. Seattle is a city enjoys unique works of art.”

Jewellery designers and Accessory designers including milliners can now enter to be up for the opportunity to participate in New Jersey Fashion Week. NJFW provides a platform for exceptional emerging fashion talent to present their seasonal collections on a global scale to the industry, media and consumers.

This year’s young award winners have also been offered fantastic opportunities to debut a collection in New Jersey Fashion Week and The Fashion Designers Expo Week based in Florida.

“Fashion Designer Expo Florida” is an exciting Fashion Week designed to show the world new fashion superstars, showcasing the best emerging talent from all over the world, FDE Florida offers the excitement and exposure that emerging fashion talent need, from extravagant runway shows to lavish parties.

Joanna Marcella the founder of the FDC Young Designer Awards says “Our unique selling point is that our event recognises young multicultural design talent and catapults young fashion designers right on to the international fashion stage.”

This year in our young designers category they are being asked to pay homage to the brilliant fashion designer Alexander McQueen by researching his work and take inspiration from deigns that are considered works of art. The young designer awards aims to provide a platform for creative geniuses who are edgy and original and are not afraid to take risks. The event seeks to find future trailblazers who think outside of the box.

Joanna continues “The FDC Young Designer Awards has been growing from strength to strength and our reputation has reached all corners of the globe, any young designer who would to be part of the great project can now apply to come on board.

Designers who have drive, ambition are talented and very committed, who want to take part in the awards can contact Joanna Marcella email: youngdesignerawards@hotmail.com Mobile: 07940 647 102 / Tel: 0208 986 8411. Website: http://www.youngdesignerawards.weebly.com

 

Source Expo 2011

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SOURCE EXPO 2011 will take place this year at the stunning Sadlers Wells triple height mezzanine space, a modern venue flooded with natural light, minutes from Angel tube station, London.

SOURCE EXPO is the only annual fashion industry tradeshow dedicated to ethical sourcing. Now in its third season, this year the EXPO will bring together more international manufacturers, suppliers and cooperatives working to high ethical standards than ever before. The event includes a programme of seminars, introducing new products and exemplary supply and production systems, a DESIGNER PAVILION showcasing some of the most inspirational design led fashion from around the world and a trends area.

Full details will be available online shortly at Ethical Fashion Forum’s Source Expo’s website. There are also a number of exhibitor and sponsor slots currently available. Contact the Ethical Fashion Forum to get involved.

The 2011 Young Designer Show

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The Fashion Designers and Craft makers (also known as the FDC) Young Designer Show takes place on Saturday 26th March at the Nobel Suite of the Novotel London Hotel St Pancras at 100 -110 Euston Road London NW1 2AJ the event starts at 4pm – 9pm. The gala evening will be hosted by Annaliese Dayes (from Britain’s Next Top Model) and Chyna Desveaux. Selected young designers from all over the UK who have excelled creatively and have the potential to be the next big stars of the international fashion stage will be competing for the coveted Young Designer Award ages 9-25 year and the Radical Collections Award any age over 21 years. A very special showcase at Seattle Fashion Week USA is being offered to one of our 2011 winners.

This year the young designer show participants have also been offered the fantastic opportunity to debut a collection in The Fashion Designers Expo Week based in Florida.

Fashion Designer Expo Florida is an exciting Fashion Week designed to show the world new fashion superstars, showcasing the best emerging talent from all over the world, FDE Florida offers the excitement and exposure that the emerging fashion talent need from extravagant runway shows to lavish parties.

Joanna Marcella the founder of the show and awards says “Our unique selling point is that our events recognises young multicultural design talent and catapults young fashion designers right on to the international fashion stage.”

At the young designer show on the 26 of March a special announcement will be made about fantastic opportunity for a group of designers to take in part in a all denim fashion show in Monte Carlo Monaco. Some on the designer names participating are: Leeanne Ripley-Garrett, Hannah Bloxham, Gbemisola Okunlola, Teresita Auguste, Gabriele Bernotaite, Keni Magma Puplampu, Kanyinsola Onalaja, Temila Jones, Jessy Sakala and Antoinette Oshodi.

Joanna continues “The FDC Young Designer Show and Awards has been growing from strength to strength and our reputation has reached all corners of the globe, any young designer who would to be part of the great project can still apply to come on board providing they have a collection ready to show and they meet all of the other criteria.”

Joanna and her team are looking for designers who have the potential to be future icons like John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood or Alexander McQueen. For entry details, to models sponsor or attend the show contact Joanna Marcella on email: joanna_marcella@hotmail.com or call: +44 (0) 7940 647 102 / +44 (0) 20 8986 8411.

Zandra Rhodes to Collaborate with Adele Marie London

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One of the big announcements made at the Pure London Fashion Show was that British fashion icon Zandra Rhodes would launch a new jewellery collection made in conjuction with ex-Harvey Nichols buyer and founder of British luxury costume jewellery line, Adele Marie, Adele Vanderkar.

The Zandra Rhodes by Adele Marie collection will feature top quality British made clip earrings bearing Zandra’s logo together with sweeping statement jewellery pieces drawn from inspirations of Zandra’s early years in textiles. Boxed and packaged for the collector of fashion, expected outlets include Harrods, Harvey Nicols and online retailer Make Me Beautiful. Price point is anticipated to be at Adele Marie’s typical “Queen of costume jewellery” range making the collection accessible to serious fashion and art buyers without the excess of fine jewellery pricing.

The Zandra Rhodes by Adele Marie collection is due to launch August 2011.

CraftNation.com Launch Public Beta Website

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Described by “hot or not for handmade artisan crafts…” Craftnation.com are on a mission to change the way handmade artisan goods get sold.
How?

CraftNation.com is a small start up with a big goal: to reduce the amount of goods whose manufacture relies on fossil fuels that end up in landfill and the marine environment every year.

By transforming the way products get made CraftNation.com will deliver a one stop online boutique for designers to gain valuable feedback on their designs before they get made.

Describing themselves as the “un-marketplace” targeting desirable designers goods to local buyers and taking advantage of mobile social shopping and location features. It promises to change the way we sell everything.

“Making products that are un-desired and do not sell is un-sustainable from a financial as well as an ecological point of view, they become instant waste.”
Louise Campbell founder of CraftNation.com

Who?

The brain child behind CraftNation.com is ex-Liberty of London employee and graphic designer Louise Campbell. Based in Hertfordshire with her co-founder team: Lead Developer Alice Still, experienced online Marketing Strategist Ameer Sameer Khan, and advisor Katarina Skoberene (founder and ex CEO of the OpenAd Network, the worlds 1st crowd sourced advertising platform) Louise hopes to shake up the current commercial designer accessories industry whom she describes as wasteful and complacent.

“CraftNation.com  is an online platform which allows designers to gain valuable feedback on their creations before they get made.”

Alice Still – Lead Developer

Louise spent years looking at way products were manufactured, and was shocked at the amount of accessories that get produced which do not necessarily have a buyer. Undesired products end up in landfill.

“CraftNation.com have capitalised on a valuable trend, we are first to market to combine handmade designs, feedback, group buying and geolocation features.”

Ameer Khan, Chief Marketing Officer

What?

CraftNation.com is a showcase for artisan craft designers to show and feedback their designs to a worldwide audience. The CraftNation.com community choose which designs get produced. The most desirable based on votes are sold daily through its online boutique.

The vision behind CraftNation.com is to challenge traditional supply chain methodology. Products which have the potential to be future-vintage artisan crafts, can be pre-ordered. CraftNation.com drastically reduce manufacturing waste and enhance an ethically supported supply chain, by producing desired artisan crafts.

“CraftNation.com’s vision is to use crowdsourcing and purchasing power to challenge traditional supply chain methodology, that shake up manufacturing industries.”

CraftNation.com are currently inviting designers to list a product in their showcase for an account, it’s free!

Contact: Louise@CraftNation.com | T: +44 7985606047 |  Twitter: @Craft_Nation | Blog: CraftNationsUnite | Facebook: CraftNationsUnite

Where?

London based start-up.

Homepage screengrab:
Vote for the hottest designers on the planet who have joined the CraftNation.com inaugural showcase so far!


Additional information :
Due to enormous demand for precious, high-quality, handmade, artisan craft gifts, which slash production manufacturing waste and reduce product miles, we have built an amazing new online platform to challenge traditional supply chain methodology especially for you. CraftNation combines and ecommerce platform with location based features to help you find designers near you.
Different than Etsy, we’ll pioneer new supply chain ideals. We want you to help us spread the word. CraftNation.com will breakthrough the traditional supply chain business model. There is nothing else like it.
How do we do it?
1. We drastically cut product manufacturing waste by stocking desirable goods.

2. We refuse to stock poor quality goods and accessories.

3. We keep sourcing local, minimising excessive product miles
How you can help us change the world:
As one of our chosen suppliers we want you to have a bright future with us, we want to boost your income, help you continue to be captain of your own ship, and continue to be very successful, practically without lifting a finger.
Benefits for Designers:
You’ll have access to targeted buyers who spoil themselves frequently

You receive payment for multiple orders in bulk upfront via Paypal

With a pre-paid postage and collection option you won’t ever have to go to the post office again (your choice).

You’ll deliver repeat customer satisfaction through status stories and superior quality goods.
We have been very busy behind the scenes and are very nearly at the stage where we can invite you to upload your bestselling handmade artisan product.
We only release 25 product listings per week. We really care who we invite and you have been hand selected to list as one of the first 25.
It’s a tough market right now, but we know you are poised for greatness. Please keep a look out for your invite to upload on November 1st.

About Us:
CraftNation.com is a showcase for artisan craft designers to gain valuable feedback for their designs from a worldwide audience.
Our Commitment to our Designers
At CraNation.com we are dedicated to providing you with a successful, globally respected platform to showcase the fruits of your labour. You focus on doing what you do best, designing and creating exquisite artisan gifts while we work on customer acquisition and order management. This is our strength. A long term “win-win” relationship is what we aspire to maintain.
Our Commitment to our Customers
At CraftNation.com we are dedicated to bringing you only the best designers. Only the top-quality designs will be chosen by the community to feature in our web boutique. Just choose from your favorite designs and place an order. All products are made to order and you are rewarded for with the best designs and quality craftsmanship.
Our Commitment to the Environment
Future-vintage, artisan crafts can be customised and pre-ordered. This drastically reduces manufacturing waste and creates an ethical and sustainable supply chain. We are the supply chain pioneers who challenge traditional supply chain methodology.
CraftNation.com, where gifts get personal.

Katie Eary launches new collection funded by Catwalk Genius

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Catwalk Genius is a new way of helping fashion designers get started. Fans are invited to buy shares in new collections and when sufficient funds are gathered, the fashion designer goes ahead and makes the new collection.

First off is Katie Eary, a London based blonde bombshell who’s fans include Kate Moss, Lady Gaga and Sienna Miller.

The official Press Release from Catwalk Genius is at http://blog.catwalkgenius.com/2010/07/08/first-collection-funded. You’ll also see my review of Katie Eary’s launch party on thenextwomen.com shortly. May it be the first of many launch parties!