Images courtesy of SCE Photography

Nestled in a cosy little news stand on the corner of Swanston and Little Collins Streets in the Melbourne CBD, Eco Innovators Showcase is a gold mine of ethical and environmentally sustainable jewellery, homeware, gifts, clothing and more, all made by local designers.

I have never seen anything like this little gem. Owner Leyla Acaroglu has sourced a fantastic selection of goodies from the best artisans that Melbourne has to offer. Some of my favourites include the gorgeous vintage fabric purses by Lydra, the awesome vegetarian cookbook, Martha Goes Green, and dresses made from recycled vintage men’s shirts by MuCKE. This tiny store stocks products by over 30 different designers!

If you haven’t been down to see this unique shop, be sure to have a look this weekend on your way to the Slow Fashion Show. It’s just down the road (opposite the Melbourne Town Hall), and it’s open extended hours this Saturday and Sunday for the Sustainable Living Festival (11am-5pm). Normal opening hours are 11am-3pm, Monday to Saturday, until the end of April 2010.

You can see a selection of dresses by MuCKE, supplied by Eco Innovators Showcase, at the Slow Fashion Show

.

What: Eco Innovators Showcase

Where: News stand on corner of Swanston and Little Collins Streets, Melbourne

Eco Innovators Showcase’s Online Store

How much: from $5

Contact: leyla.acaroglu@yahoo.com

Do you want the clothing that you buy to not only be stylish and practical, but also have a positive impact on the people who are producing it? Then you might want to check out One Colour.

One Colour was started in 2006 by Di and Jeff Stitt. Their aim was to help Australians to focus not only on what they are wearing, but who makes that clothing. They want the buyers of the garments to be able to make a connection with the people who produce them.

The ethically-sourced clothing, accessories and gifts are produced on the African continent, mainly in the East African region. Every purchase that is made from One Colour has a direct impact on the women who make the products, allowing them to feed, clothe and educate their children in a sustainable manner.

You can see a selection of One Colour’s pieces at the Slow Fashion Show.

What: One Colour.

Where: One Colour’s online store.

QLD: Bliss Ecowear (Paddington), Good Concepts (west End), World Vision of Australia (Townsville), Ambience (Cooktown)

NSW: Scooters Flowers (Wagga Wagga), Zuri Homewares (Katoomba).
 

How much: $20 to $100

Contact: via One Colour’s website.

Images courtesy of One Colour.

Want to get 'slow' but don't know where to start? This quick guide to slow fashion will help you to get started!

Look out for these four icons in the Slow Fashion Show at 6:30pm this Saturday 20 February in the BMW Edge at Federation Square.

Sustainable new materials reduce the impact that fashion has on farmers, garment workers, animals and the environment. Sustainable new materials include organic cotton (free from chemical pesticides/fertilisers), alternative fibres such as hemp and bamboo, and those made of by-products including cupro. The production of sustainable new materials never harms animals. Ideally, the materials are free of animal products.

Designers: Sosume, Ettitude, 3 Fish, Moral Fibre.
 

Vintage and second hand clothing keep clothes out of landfill and cut fabric waste in factories. Recycled/vintage clothing includes classic vintage items, pieces reconstructed from recycled garments, factory off-cuts and remnants and recycled materials that were once a totally different product.

Designers: Vintage & Me, The Social Studio, Body Parts,  Eco Innovators Showcase, Ron D Swan.

 Locally hand made clothing and accessories are unique, reduce energy used in transport and are made with care. Pieces are designed and made by local artisans.

Designers: Body Parts, Natalie Low, Lyptis, Eco Innovators Showcase, Ron D Swan.

 

Fair trade clothing and accessories are those where the suppliers of raw materials receive a fair price and the people who make the garments get a fair wage and with guaranteed rights. Ideally, the trade brings new benefits to communities.

Designers: The Social Studio, Moral Fibre, 3  Fish, Bhalo, One Colour, Beej, Etiko.

 

Beautiful, unique, bespoke, handmade dresses for under $80. Sound too good to be true? Melbourne designer Natalie Low offers all of this (and skirts and shirts, too!), and she will send her pieces anywhere in the world.

Natalie started designing and making clothing while in her first year of business studies at university, when she discovered that she could sell her pieces on consignment in a local boutique. She then discovered Etsy.com as a way of offering her clothing to a worldwide market.

You can see a selection of Natalie Low’s dresses at the Slow Fashion Show

What: Natalie Low

Where: Natalie’s Etsy store

Harlem Clothing
Camberwell, VIC

How much: $36 to $80

Contact: natalie.cyl@live.com.au or via her Etsy store

Images courtesy of Natalie Low.

Last week, on a balmy summer night, around 60 of Melbourne’s most stylish guys and girls gathered at Bella Union. Arms full of unwanted clothing, they were all there for one reason - to see if they could snaffle up that once-in-a-lifetime piece from someone else’s wardrobe.

Trading their stash for a handful of buttons, they headed to the bar for a glass of bubbly to quell their nerves.

Behind closed doors, pieces were shuffled and sorted. Eager eyes awaited the reveal of the collection. As it was finally wheeled out, the excitement was building.

The seasoned swappers knew the game already, quickly scanning the racks for potential treasures and positioning themselves appropriately. Newcomers picked up on this quickly, and followed.

The host gave the word, and the real fun began. If you have never been to a clothes swap, you are missing out on quite an experience. Clothes fly, squeals of delight are entwined with sighs of disappointment. Designer and vintage, classic and high fashion, all are welcomed and desired alike.

As the frenzy died down, there were smiles all around. Sixty girls and two guys left just as they came in, arms full of clothing. Now, however, the clothes were ‘new’. It seems that that one’s person’s trash really is another’s treasure.

Image courtesy of That's Melbourne.

If you are looking for a stylish way to get around Melbourne in your organic threads, then you might want to check out The Humble Vintage.

Owner Matt Hurst started The Humble Vintage in mid-2009 after travelling overseas. He found that the easiest way to get around as a visitor to a city was to cycle. When he returned to Melbourne, he found that our city was lacking a stylish, affordable bicycle hire system.

So, The Humble Vintage was born. Matt has a beautiful collection of vintage bikes, all with gears, so you aren’t huffing and puffing in your fabulous vintage dress as you pedal up Swanston St. One look at his blog shows how proud he is of his them, too.

If you want to discover Melbourne and are looking to avoid the lycra scene, I recommend that you give Matt a call.

What: The Humble Vintage

Where: Bikes currently available for pick up in Melbourne CBD, St Kilda and Fitzroy.

How much: $30 a day, $80 a week, $190 a month (includes bike, helmet, light,  lock, map and riding guide).

Contact: Call Matt on 0432 032 450 or email him at hire@thehumblevintage.com

Photo courtesy of SCE Photography & The Humble Vintage.

When: 6:30pm, Saturday 20 February 2010

Where: BMW Edge at Federation Square

Cnr Swanston and Flinders Streets, Melbourne (opposite Flinders Street train station)

Cost: FREE!

The Slow Fashion Show, a celebration of style with a lighter footprint, will be held as part of the Sustainable Living Festival in the BMW Edge at Federation Square at 6:30pm on Saturday 20 February 2010.

The event will showcase fair trade, vintage, handmade and environmentally sustainable new fashion and include individuals who demonstrate their unique style without costing the earth.

This is not going to be your normal eco fashion show - the line-up includes activists, cyclists, gogo dancers and, of course, designers all making a song and dance about changing our fashion habits– Slow Fashion is going to show Melbourne how to do sustainable with style!

Designers include The Social Studio, Sosume, Lyptis, Bhalo, Natalie Low, Etiko and more!

Hosted by Winnie & Nai, Melbourne’s very own Singing Style Gurus and ‘Life Change’ Specialists, the show is designed to teach you how to freshen your look and deal with your (and the planet’s) issues! Sometimes harsh critics, they never miss a public opportunity to let the world know that it’s getting SO HOT RIGHT NOW!

Come find some style solutions at the Sustainable Living Festival while celebrating with us!

If you have any further questions please email us at slowfashionshow@gmail.com

When: Wednesday 03 February, 2010

When: Bella Union Bar

Level 1, Trades Hall

Corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets

Carlton South

Tickets: $15 online or $20 on the door, includes free glass of bubbly or wine on arrival

Book here!

Registration and pre-drinks from 7:45pm, swapping will begin at 8:15pm

How the clothes swap works...........

Bring up to 6 items to swap.

The number of items you bring determines the number of items you can take home.

All items must be in good quality condition, clean and neatly folded. (No holes, rips, or worn out - items that have minor faults like a missing button will be accepted)

There are no rules as to how much the item is worth, items are valued and seen differently by all individuals. It may be something that does not fit you anymore, something you have grown apart with and you are happy for it to go to a good home! As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and an individual eye for style is the key!

Items can include clothing & accessories (hats, bags, shoes, scarves etc) of all shapes and sizes – please do not bring underwear/swimwear or gym wear.

Clothing will be screened at registration to maintain quality standards.

Check in of clothes will begin at 7:45pm – you will be given a drink voucher on arrival and tokens in place of each of the checked in items

Swapping will begin at 8:15pm; racks will be displayed & the room will be transformed into a giant clothing store.

As a courtesy to fellow swappers please take only 3 items at a time to try on. If the item does not fit/suit please hang back on the rack for someone else to take.

Once you are happy with your items, proceed to the registration tables to “check out” and pay using your tokens.

At the end of the evening any left over items will be taken to both a chosen charity and to The Social Studio in Collingwood.

It is unlikely to walk away empty handed from the event, however we cannot guarantee this - being a one off event no refunds will be given.

Thank you for supporting this fundraiser for the Sustainable Living Festival Slow Fashion team, we hope you enjoy the night!

If you have any further questions please email us at slowfashionshow@gmail.com

Proudly supported by Green Hanger.