Japanese Vogue Designer Collection
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International fashion designers, Thakoon, Richard Nicoll, Bora Aksu and Foundation Addict have all collaborated with People Tree to create these exclusive Fair Trade outfits. The collection appears in the June 2007 issue of Japanese Vogue, modelled by supermodels, Helena Christensen, Lily Cole, Shalom Harlow and Anne Watanabe. People Tree's founder Safia Minney says: Profits from the range will support and give additional technical assistance to producer groups to enable them to compete and promote livelihoods in rural areas and promote Fair Trade Fashion. They are in a limited edition of 100 pieces per style, so buy while you can! |  View Collection |
 Bora Aksu |
 Richard Nicoll |
 Thakoon |
 Foundation Addict |
Bora Aksu
Originally from Turkey, Bora Aksu completed a BA Honours Degree in fashion at Central Saint Martins and followed this with an MA, graduating in 2002 with distinction. The CSM MA Fashion show marked a major turning point for Bora, with his stand out collection receiving a huge response from the press. He was named "the star of the show" and pieces from his collection were bought by Dolce and Gabbana.
His collection also provided him with a sponsorship award to start his own label collection. Aksu's debut off-schedule A/W03 show took place during London Fashion week in February 2003. CNN introduced him as the rising new name in fashion and the Guardian rated his show as "one of the top five shows in London". His native roots blend with his personal design approach, which regularly combines clever construction with layers of texture and colour. After his first show Aksu won the Topshop New Generation award that enabled him to have an on-schedule show at London Fashion Week. He was awarded the Topshop New Generation award for his A/W04 show at London Fashion Week, and took the prize again for his recent S/S05 collection.
Aksu has chosen an organic cotton jersey fabric in summery colours for his layered dress for the People Tree for Vogue Nippon project, teaming it with a simple belt made from vintage sari fabric. As the fabric is vintage, no two belts are exactly the same - lending a touch of history and exclusivity to the project.
Richard Nicoll
The fashion world was quick to spot new talent Richard Nicoll after his graduation from Central Saint Martin's MA in 2002. Since then, this British born, Australia raised designer has gone from strength to strength, acting as a freelance designer for Louis Vuitton, showing three times at Fashion East in London and building up a celebrity client list which includes Sophia Coppola, Tracy Emin, Bjork and Kylie Minogue.
Combining menswear fabrics with corsetry and couture detailing to create strong, sculpted garments his collections celebrate idiosyncratic personal style over status and overt sexuality. He has been chosen for the New Generation Award for the past three seasons, and his designs have featured in magazines such as i-D, British Vogue, Self Service, W and Dazed. His white shirts are rapidly becoming known as his signature pieces, and for this project Richard Nicoll lengthened the hem of a ruffled-front white shirt to make it into a minidress - perfect on its own and great worn over jeans or leggings too.
Thakoon
The Thakoon label is a true reflection of the diverse mix of its designer, Thakoon Panichgul. Born in Northern Thailand, Thakoon moved to the United States with his family when he was 11 years old, and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from Boston University with a business degree and moved to New York, where he worked as a fashion writer, but went on to study fashion design at Parsons School of Design. In September 2004, Panichgul produced his first ready to wear collection, and quickly became a favorite with the fashion press, top editors and stylists, and celebrities. He has become known for timelessly feminine designs which are as romantic and sensual as they are modern and innovative.
Panichgul is fascinated by decorative ideas that spin out of constructing clothes. Where classic patterns have existed for decades, the nuances for finishing the garments are reexamined. His appreciation for the luxury of the past is a recurring theme in his work, which has been described as both delicate and modern. The inspiration from his SS07 collection was taken from flowers such as peonies and hydrangeas, and this is reflected in the petal-like ruffles and layers as well as the gentle pink tones of the dresses. For the People Tree for Vogue Nippon project, Thakoon chose a sweet pink minidress with voluminous sleeves, which People Tree manufacturers replicated in white with a black band around the hem for a casual yet chic feel.
Foundation Addict
A combined effort by Japanese designers Miyuki Omichi and Ayumi Kita, the Foundation Addict brand made its debut in November 2004 when they showed their SS05 collection. Their shop, Hollywood Wife, opened in Nakameguro, Tokyo, in January 2005, and the label is also stocked in select boutiques such as Colour By Numbers in Daikanyama and the Isetan department store.
The Foundation Addict aesthetic is feminine but casual, with attention to detail in terms of materials used and techniques employed that reveals the two designers' passion for creating wearable yet beautiful clothes. Beads, sequins and other embellishments are a mainstay of the brand, as is tailoring and materials which draw their inspiration from menswear. This results in such staples as fitted cotton shirts and houndstooth check or pinstripe pants and jackets juxtaposing with jewel-encrusted denim jackets, metallic lame knit sweaters, floaty silk chiffon blouses and other desirable pieces which have attracted a cult-like following among fashion editors in Japan.
Foundation Addict's contribution to the People Tree project consists of a black shirt with a multi-layered collar and beading on the front panel, a tailored waistcoat and high waist shorts, all of which can be incorporated into both workwear and weekend wardrobes.
