People Tree's 2nd Designer Collaboration
Thakoon
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| Thakoon | Blockprinting baby doll dress | Thakoon bubble sleeve dress | Thakoon baby doll dress |
New York based Thakoon has collaborated with People Tree to design these gorgeous pieces in 100% organic and Fairtrade jersey cotton, handwoven cotton and silks. Thakoon is one of the hottest designers in the world, famous for mixing ethereal looks with urban to create pieces worn by Sarah Jessica Parker and Demi Moore.
These beautiful handwoven silk pieces were block printed by Aditya Apparels, a family run business. They were tailored at Shroff Self Help Centre, who provide Fair Trade support to artisans throughout Gujerat.
The Thakoon bubble sleeve blouse was handwoven and tailored with the Artisan Hut in Bangladesh, a dynamic Fair Trade Group that has supported handweavers and helped bring organic cotton to Bangladesh.
The Thakoon bubble sleeve dress in 100% organic Fairtrade jersey was made at Assisi garments in Southern India, People Tree's pioneering Fair Trade partner.
Richard Nicoll
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| Richard Nicoll | Weaving the Richard Nicoll fabric | Richard Nicoll ruffle shirt | Richard Nicoll ruffle shirt |
People Tree first worked with Richard Nicoll last summer on a collaboration with Vogue Japan to show that Fair Trade fashion can also be high fashion.
Richard has been showing at London Fashion week since 2006. He is renound for his beautiful yet incredibly wearable clothes, particularly shirts. Richard designed this flamboyantly ruffled collar shirt for People Tree using hand woven fabrics made by Folk Bangladesh. Folk work with ethnic minority hand weavers and embroiderers around Bangladesh.
Bora Aksu
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| Bora Aksu | Bora Aksu layered tunic | Bora Aksu two-way dress | Bora Aksu two-way dress |
Bora Aksu debuted at London Fashion Week in 2003 after graduating from the fashion MA at Central Saint Martins with a distinction. He has won the Topshop New Generation award three times. People Tree first worked with Bora last summer in a collaboration with Vogue Japan.
The layered dress and tunic are characteristics of Bora’s signature with feminine, floaty and sexy shapes. They have been produced by People Tree’s partner, Folk Bangladesh, a group that employs 550 artisans from marginalised communities. These are complicated patterns so they were a challenge, but all of us are thrilled with the results.
Matthew Langille
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| Matthew Langille | Matthew Langille honey tee | Matthew Langille you and me tee | Matthew Langille back detail of you and me tee |
Safia Minney speaks to New York based graphic artist/designer Matthew Langille, the creative force behind these tees you and me tee, about what eco-fashion means to him.
Matthew has designed artwork for over 30 fashion houses around the world, including Marc by Marc Jacobs, Victoria's secret and Norma Kamali, and his images have been featured in over 25 global publications. Matthew's work ranges from brightly coloured, witty images to more sophisticated and elegant design work.
Safia Minney: What attracted you to a collaboration with People Tree?
Matthew Langille: I was attracted to the Fair Trade industry but at the same time I was interested in how I could incorporate my designs onto People Tree's clothing.
SM: Why are Fair Trade and organic cotton important to you?
ML: Why wouldn't promoting things on this agenda be good? I'm all for organic; it's just sad to me to know that it's 'hip to be green' and people are starting to use this as an angle to make money. I really hope more people invest time and energy into these industries for reasons that are selfless rather than just to make a buck.
SM: Tell me how "green" your lifestyle is in New York?
ML: It's as green as it can be 'I live in New York city' ha ha! I buy organic and Fair Trade products as much as I can and cycle around New York. I am designing prints for a company based in Australia called 'Envirosax', who make shopping bags that are hip as well as environmentally friendly.
SM: What challenges do creators face, in expressing their values through fashion, these days?
ML: It's less about challenges and more about standing up for what you believe in, and not breaching your own standards. I try to be honest in my approach towards designing images and I believe my work exudes my personality, personal tastes and opinions.
SM: How would you spend your ideal day off?
ML: I don't have many days off; I love what I do and all work is good work in my opinion, but I do enjoy going to art openings, studying the masters and spending time with my beautiful and talented fiancée.