LFW ESTETHICA RECAP: JEWELLERY AND ACCESSORIES

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Written by Ishwari Thopte - Friday, 08 October 2010

LITTLE GLASS CLEMENTINE

The British Fashion Council founded ESTETHICA, sponsored by Monsoon, over four years ago to showcase the growing movement of cutting edge designers committed to working sustainably. ESTETHICA, now in its ninth season has evolved to become the hub of London's ethical fashion industry. The success of this initiative, the internationally strongest of its kind, is evident in its rapid growth from its first season of 13 designers to 37 designers in this season’s ESTETHICA collective.

All ESTETHICA designers adhere to at least one of the ESTETHICA principles of fair-trade and ethical practices, organic materials, and recycled materials, and they are selected for both their ethical credentials and design excellence.

LEBLAS

Fifteen designers are new to ESTETHICA this season, the majority of which are accessory labels. These include ‘rescue and recycle’ luxury eco-bag brand ‘Lost Property of London’, founded by Katy Bell. She takes abandoned everyday fabrics and transforms them into fashionable yet practical accessories. The label works to improve the lives of impoverished communities in developing countries whilst recycling all waste and vetting suppliers for ethical integrity. Their current collection is made from recycled coffee sacks and lined with iconic Liberty Art Fabric.

Also new this season is The Centre for Sustainable Fashion which is an initiative showcasing four designer collections. They are currently mentoring Romina Karamanea, Josie Beckett, Martina Spetlova , and Borders and Frontiers.

Sonya Kashmiri’s beautifully made leather bags were quite eye catching. Her SS2010/11 collection was inspired by nature, organic shapes and detailing and showcased some wonderful hues of red and blue vegetable tanned leather. Complimenting her excellently crafted bags would be Nina Dolcetti’s elegant range of shoes that bring platforms stylishly back. I absolutely adore the Cannolo’s from her latest AW 2010 collection.

LOST PROPERTY OF LONDON

A jewellery brand well worth mentioning is ‘MADE’ , an Italian brand founded in 2005 by Cristina Cisilina. They create stunning designer accessories that are 100% fair-trade. They also have influential designers and hot guest celebrities like Alexa Chung, Livia Firth, and Laura Bailey designing some gorgeous products every season. The materials are then sourced and the items handcrafted within disadvantaged communities across East Africa. Their stockists include Whistles, Jigsaw, Topshop, John Lewis, EDUN and ASOS among others.

Another award winning jewellery brand is LEBLAS which is a fine jewellery boutique that fuses together traditional techniques with modern design and sustainable practices. Leblas was founded by Clare Winfield and jewellery designer Arabel Lebrusan in 2008 and has won the Coutts New Jeweller 2009 award in addition to being short listed for both New Designer of the Year and Italian Jewellery Designer of the Year at the UK Jewellery Awards 2010. They have collaborated with the eco-luxe lifestyle brand, URTH, to design a collection of fine silver and gold jewellery available this Spring.

JOANNA CAVE

The Grecian inspired designer JOANNA CAVE gives ethical jewellery a historic and uber chic twist. Her jewellery is made with much love and care using minimum 90% recycled sterling silver by people who enjoy their job and are paid fairly. Her clean and simple cuts are definitely a must have to prop up your everyday casual look with a little bit of sustainable glam.

An absolute eye catcher, look to LITTLE GLASS CLEMENTINE for sculptural necklaces made from discarded objects, delicately woven together to create some one-of-a-kind antique and bohemian neckpieces. If unique, bespoke statement pieces are your style, Clementine is your designer!

Other jewellery designers’ included the ‘Ribbon Reclaimer’ MICHELLE LOWE-HOLDER whose laser-cut and hand crochet foundations combined with historical recreated “ribbon art” give her collection an edgy three dimensional look and the delicate and feminine ORIA Jewellery whose contemporary twist on traditional designs in sterling silver is inspired by natures flora and fauna.