Shopping indie fashions online at Smashing Darling

Etsy is a great site for handmade goods, but I unfortunately it does not offer a quality range of goods in clothes. Smashing Darling is the perfect site when shopping for a unique dress or other DIY/indie fashions online. All of the goods fetured on the site are for sale. It´s like "net-a-porter" of indie labels! Here are some of my favorites.

The 615 Project Fiona dress.


Laura Dawson Gallerist jacket.


Ena Daro Couture plaid couture dress.


Kahri Sweetheart Belted Circle Dress.


Angela Johnson T-shirt Ballgown

FadMashion emerging designer network

FadMashion is a new site for designers who want their works and brand noticed. “At FadMashion we make it easier for retailers to find fresh, quality talent in a marketplace overrun by outdated, scattered resources and we make it easier for designers to present their wares through our streamlined profile management interface. It has never been easier.“ I found loads of inspirational new talents with just an hour surfing. The site is still in Beta - that promises to solve the problem that designers and retailers face. The site rquires "fashion enthusiasts" to sign in to view designer details and collection images.

Dimitri Scheblanov fashions. Great look to re-fashion old tees and other clothes with a textile pen for a graphic and childlike artsy (unisex) look. I hope my local craft shops carry textile pens also in different colors so I can do this kind of work in the full rainbow spectrum! This kind of refashioning can be done quickly and in one evening. Definately something I plan to get done this fall when it rains outside :)





Octopi NYC. I love the cuts and material combinations in their FW08 collection.




Found via DIY City Mag blog.

ITS#SEVEN fashion design competition winners

This years International Talent Support competition ITS#SEVEN winners have been announced. This year Finnish Heikki Salonen grabbed the Diesel Award (50 000€) with his graduate collection. Congratulations! There were many zippers seen in the winning collections and no wonder because YKK was one of the event sponsors. See all the winners and their collection images HERE. I recommend clicking to the high-res images so you can see the details better. All of these collections are filled with stunning details. There´s also plenty of event photos available about the show and all the other desgners and collections in the competition.

FASHION COLLECTION OF THE YEAR - David Steinhorst. Zippers galore. Click to the high-res images for a closer look at the zipperwork.





DIESEL AWARD - Heikki Salonen. I loved the cropped unisex suit jacket, patched pants, blanket jacket and shoulder pearl beading.





MARIA LUISA AWARD - Alithia Spuri Zampetti. Stunning paper sculpture clothing.




Accessories Collection of the Year - Valentim Quaresma Unbeliavable steampunk / cyberpunk inspired metal scrap bodyjewelry collection.




YKK Award - Benjamin Shun Lai Ng. Very clever detailing and design ideas on mens footwear.

Wardrobe metamorphosis by Azumi & David (part 2)

Azumi & David morph different pieces of the wardrobe to create new humorous fashions called "Things to wear". I spent yesterday two hours browsing through all of their collections. There were so many cool and inspirational reconstructions that I have to show them to you in three parts: 1. tops, 2. scarfs belts, 3. bags. Check out also A&D blog.

A&D sees scarfs as much more than a simple piece of cloth. It can also be styled with collars, hoods or cuffs or made from unconventional materials like sportjcket sleeves. I never realized that sleeves can be transformed to so many different garments. A good design also enables the item to be more than one way. I especially love their woollen botton scarfs because they can be worn light or attached together to add more warmth. Also the hoodie scarf is a functional garment with an urban look. These designs will also go on my trashion-to-do list. Perfect for fall.

You can see the A&D collection details better if you open the images by clicking them.

Wardrobe metamorphosis by Azumi & David (part 1)

Azumi & David morph different pieces of the wardrobe to create new humorous fashions called "Things to wear". I spent yesterday two hours browsing through all of their collections. There were so many cool and inspirational reconstructions that I have to show them to you in three parts: 1. tops, 2. scarfs belts, 3. bags. Check out also A&D blog.

Azumi & David has mixed shirts, tees and sweats to create totally new items in the wardrobe. I call them "shirtop" and "shirtees". It also got me thingking on the amount of possibilities when taking a part and putting back together three different garments. T-shirts are made from 4 pieces, hooded sweats from 6 pieces and a shirt from 8 pieces... How many different combos does that amount to??? I´m not clever enought to give you an exact answer but at the moment I´m dying to find out! Splitting some pieces just gives you even more choices.

A&D uses clean and classic patterns in their collection, but my morphed thirtees would be constructed from grungy band-tees and men´s office shirts and flannel shirts. I call it "blue collar grunge". I´m so looking forward to getting my sewingmachine back from repair so I can start working on these!! Guaranteed Etsy stuff. You can see the A&D collection details better if you open the images by clicking them.

Katharina Ludwig contemporary jewellery

Katharina Ludvig is a jewellery artist that I found recently through Bientot Demain blog. Many of her works are about the study of the jewellrys relationship with the body and how the pieces change when introduced to the elements.

The Organ Bottles
"The human body consists to over 70% out of water. The value of water lies in its necessity for the body and all its functions. The body is our most precious tool and we deal and work with it every day. The water bottles in the shape of inner organs, worn as accessory on the body, let you experience the weight and volume of water and remind you of the importance water has for your body." Organ bottles are made of: wool, aluminium dringking cap and silicon drinking pouch. I´d love this project even better if the wool would be organic (or recycled sweaters). But the design is stunning. To me these pieces are a constant reminder on how we should preserve water since our bodies cannot survive with out it. It also proves an another point in crafting, that if you need to make something look comfortable, just cover the whole thing with knit.





Ice jewellery
As a Finn I love ice. It has an organic texture that reclects light beautifully. These pieces made from metal (gold) jewellery chain/ring/earring base and ice. The metal base or chain is submerged in an ice-cude container and frozen. When the piece is worn it melts and therefore changes its shape until it is complitely gone. I concider this as the eco-lovers bling! These pieces are a perfect statement on global warming. The design is genious and simple DIY-project for home crafters (at least the necklace). And the best part is that it can be remade again and again. Always in a different and unique form.





Pigment shirts
Katharina has designed also tees that have small crums of pigment color added to them. Invisible to the eye until you pour water on the garment. A changing fashion art piece that would go perfectly with the ice jewellery!

Re-inventing your craft

Craft artists love their creations but sometimes I think they lose the ability to view their designs and technique objectively and that often results to lack of renovation in their designs or product range. They just keep doing the same stuff year after year... Let me give you an example. I went to a recycle-craft fair today in Helsinki. I saw too many totebags and brooches but not a single laptop case or iPod case!

Laptop carriercase by Janine King Designs at Etsy. Simple but very functional design.


Re-invent your color pallette.

Color is a very important part in design and the overall presentation of the product. We all have our favorite colors and color pallettes. I spoke to one crafter today at the fair about colors and she said the best sellers for her have always been black, white, brown and red (mostly burgundy and blood red). She had some green and orange in her collection but confessed that she keeps them in the collection just because they are her favorite colors even they do not sell that well. She has made a smart move on following up on what sells and developing her collections to match that even though they might not be her favorites.



Neon colors for example are a big trend at the moment but I have seen only a few crafters using them. If you´re lacking ideas on new color combinations, color design books can be found from bookstores or you can use color palette generator sites. They are an exellent tool to finding new color combinations.



Re-invent you technique.

Finland has many artists/designers that use felt as their main material. They know their technique, but the design is often overlooked. If you want to see what I mean just google the words "huovutus kuvat". And then go to the firsts links and click on to "Kuvagalleria". The productpictures are good but unfortunately I cannot imagine anyone from my friends or family ever wearing these sort of items. Wool is a wonderful, classic and very practical material and that´s why I feel so sad for the lack of design potential in this craft-gendre.

If you do make stuff just for yourself and happen to do this kind of felt work, note that I´m not talking about you. I believe you should always be true to your personal style when doing home-crafts for yourself. I´m taking about the professional craft designers that have a brand and sell their craft goods for a living. Be aware that most consumers do not share your exact taste in style.

A good collection and product can be used by different aged and styled people. Even different genders if the design is really thought through. Always have unisex items in your collection so your customers can buy them not only for themselves but also for their friends, children and spouses.

Elegant felted plate-tablets by I Do Studios at Etsy.


Re-invent your best-seller.

When selling items a brand needs to follow fashion- and interior (micro)trends and modify the prodect range and colors accordingly to meet your customers needs. How else will craft business grow and reach new consumers! I recommend reading craft and design blogs and valued magazine publications. Don´t just make basic totebags when you can imitate this seasons designer it-bag and make it from your material of choise with your signature working techniques (leather, wood, knit, reconstructed clothing). I´d love to see someone do a Burberry Prorsum The Mason Warrior bag or Michael Kors Ranger patent bag from army surplus or secondhand leather jackets, buttons and belts.



And don´t just focus on bags. There´s hats, gloves, belts, masks, jewellry, underwear, legwarmers, skirts, tees, capes and all other fashion product categories (not to mention all interior design product categories) to keep your collection versatile! Sites like Trendstop.com or Style.com show inspirational raports on the latest fads like this about Heroes. I´m sure designer inspired pieces pay better anyway especially if they are made as numbered limited edition products or one season collections. Or even more exclusive.. "made by order".

Forget modesty and aim high. If you can´t imagine your product in a Vogue/ID styled fashion editorial or a respected interior publication, maybe the design still needs some work. Be a renessance crafter.

Natalie "Alabama" Chanin interiors

Alabama Chanin is a sustainable label by designer Natalie Chanin. I adore her style in interior design and creating unique decor pieces. Her home textiles have some beautifull embroidery and the lamps are just pure trashion. She also has a sustainable eco-label that produces clothes and jewellry. Her "necktie-chair" is of course my favorite!



Now where could I find those gorgeous cow jaw-bones to make my own bonelamp....

Sohung Designs by Shohung Tong

Chinese Shohung Tong is a NY based designer makes reconstructed dresses from neckties and mens shirts. Love his work. Found him through Sewing with neckties. Thanks Barb!

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac

French fashion designer veteran Jean Charles De Castelbajac ("JC/DC" to friends) is known for his childlike basic-colored creations inspired by sports, pop-art, logos and animation caracters and other cultural icons. He loves wool, felt and sequins and a teddybear apphears in every collection - it´s his trademark. Castelbajac has a way to present humoristic details in his creations. One of his most known pieces is the teddybear-jacket and pants that Red Hot Chilli Peppers member Flea worn on one of their music videos in the mid 90´s.



For a few years he did not show any collections, but I´m happy to see he´s back! His olympic games inspired SS2008 collection had some amazing jewellry made from legos (check also collection details).





His collection images can be found from Elle.com Runway shows (search Castelbajac) and Firstview.com. Perfect inspiration if you´re into fabric printing, appliques, hats or making jewellry from toys. So get your legos and stuffed animals and go create some rad fashion pieces with smilies!!

Eco-fashion fantasies and Earth Pledge FutureFashion Show 2008

I was reading Jill Danyelles´s blog The Laboratory today when I found her post on Earth Pledge FutureFashion Show 2008 held January 31st just before NY Fashion Week started. In this post she makes are very good point in critisizing the shows designerlist and basic purpose. I mean it DOES seem a bit hypocritical that most of the designers on this eco-fashion-show just did this one outfit for FutureFashion (that´s not even going to be manufactured for sales) but have done nothing or hardly anything for changing their selling labels more sustainable or organic. If brands produce eco-frocks like these, they could have at least be auctioned at Ebay for charity... But no. They just ended up on display at Barneys departmentstore window. It´s a shame.

You can have a look at these gorgeous FutureFashion outfits and other show coverage at Style.com, Treehugger, Inhabitat, Fashion Windows blog and Fashionista.



I read all the articles that I could find about this show and I was happy to see that the show (plus the eco-textile industry) got a lot of good press. But I still agree with Jill that this could have been handled sooo much better. I think the show should have been organized complitely with labels that are all ready 100% sustainable fashion design. The consumer masses need to be proven that sustainable can be ultra fenimine and gorgeous as it it when done correctly. Which is why I would have loved to see more color in this FutureFashion show.. Ecru is classic but a bit boring.

Many major fashion labels have occasional launhces of small organic collections, but honestly how long do we have to wait until Dior, Prada or more maintream labels like H&M and Zara go complitely sustainable?? Only a small part of the fashion community has realized the potential, possibilities and responsibility of sustainable fashion. If you want the masses to follow the change has to be made on corporate level since it´s going to take way too long for all the world to edjucate themselves on eco-materials and sustainable fashion consumption.

You would think that fashion CEOs would realize the marketing potential of eco-fashion. The technology of making organic fashion is all ready available and in use. It´s just a matter of will to make the change from conventional production to organic in brand-large-scale. If I would be one of those CEO´s I´d make sure all my designers are trained to know the full production lifeline and eco-materials so they would make the best of them in all our collections. I mean if the designer does not think sustainably, then who does?!

Just imagine if a international brand H&M or Gap would announce they are now 100% sustainable. We could go there to shop fashion with out bugging the floorstaf with stricky questions about the origin of each item and material... And you would find shops in almost every city you could think of shopping in.

Another fashion fantasy I have is to someday shop in a sustainable departmentstore where every item available from clothes to the bagels sold in the cafe would be eco, fairtrade or sustainable. Of course all sales staff would be trained to know what they are selling... But hey, a girl can dream, right?

Discarded to Devine denim wedding dress

I´ve seen a few denim wedding dresses browsing through the net, but they all have looked sort of funny in light blue... Then I stumbled upon this... A natural white dress reconstruckted from old jeans and bleached to natural white.. Stunning.

See Flickr user St Vincent de Paul Society SF (San Francisco) Discarded To Divine 06 Set. This set had some amazing trashion dresses and jackets all made from reconstructing old clothes including ths denim wedding dress.





Discarded to Devine is a recycled clothing design competition hosted annually by this charity organization. Unfortunatly the 2008 entries have closed on January 31st but the designs will be displayed in various locations in the San Francisco area. They will be auctioned at the end of April.

More than 100 one-of-a-kind stunning fashions and accessories created by student and professional designers were auctioned in the Discarded to Divine 2007 event to benefit the Vincentian Help Desk, a place where the poor and homeless can “shop” for a fresh change of clothes in a safe, respectful environment, free of charge. See the event images HERE.

Superuse.org and Haute*Nature

I hate it when people refer to DIY goods and using recycled materials to be less "design" and beautiful than new/factory/massmade goods. I think giving an existing material a new function takes a lot more imagination and product development/design. It is the new challenge in product design!

Superuse.org and Haute*Nature are some of my favorite blogs. They present a lot of superstylish products, art and other creations made from recycled materials and sustainable manufacturing techniques. These sites have lead me to a lot of new designers and brands that are hard to find from the www just by googling. These blogs have really shown that recycled and sustainable can look fabulous.

Using and buying ALWAYS NEW is so last season.

Clothes-hangers collar necklace by Frederike


Hockey stick chair

Noki´s House of Sustainability

Jonathan JJ Hudson, designer of Noki - House of Sustainability (ikoN spelled backwards... I love moddest designers). He’s an underground recycler/refashionista/redesigner or a “ragger”. His brand of customization is a statement against mass produced branded clothing. By re-working a second hand garment, he creates a one-off piece of clothing, a work of art even. As one fashion writer put it: “the message behind the House of Sustainability is corporate rage, urban tribalism and quite a bit of fun camp.”.

At its most obvious, Noki custom mounts a challenge, a symbolic critique or even a form of resistance, against mainstream, mass-market, homogenous and depersonalised commodity fashion. Where sportswear relies on brands and powerful logos to make its selling proposition, Noki abducts these signs, reconfigures them, uses, abuses and reuses them and creates the new and unorthodox. You can find some of Noki pix HERE



Noki’s SS08 runway show provided all kinds of refashion madness and mix´n´match couture gowns. Outfits were made from all kinds of things including materials once discarded by people, reconstructed with embellishments, new cuts, and new details all made by hand; in a statement against the globalisation of fashion. All looks came fully equiped with a Noki mask and during the couture section this mask was cut to reveal glitter lips!

The thing with Noki is, that his garments aren’t for sale. The designer wants us to COPY HIS WORK. This guy is my new DIY-idol. But how does he make the money to pay his rent if these goodies are not for sale..? Let me know so I can do the same... and write a bestseller about it. I would use the profits to start a support group DDA - Dumpster Divers Anonymous for all you struggling trashionistas and DIY injury victims. :)