New products from http://catherinesotherndesigns.com pop over to website to view the full range in stock, perhaps there is something original for that christmas present for a loved one 

Great Article from Eco Friendly Fashion Blog

‘Portable Pelt’ 2009 by Tara Baoth Mooney

- The fashion industry is the second largest user of water in the world. Pretty scary when there are almost 1 billion people in the world with no safe drinking water source.

- Over 90 million items (or 2 million tonnes) of clothing end up in land fill sites globally each year. (BBC – 2009)

- 150 grams of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals are used to produce the cotton for just one t-shirt.

-Sheep, alpaca, llamas and other wool-bearing animals contribute to the production of methane gas, a major greenhouse gas.

-The growing and harvesting of natural fibers such as cotton and hemp generally use farm tractors and truckswhich run on non-renewable fossil fuels of diesel and gasoline that pour black smoke and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Pop over to their blog to read more, it just might change the way you use natures resources and they way you buy.

Milan Fashion Week Sustainable Fashion

One artisan in the show, Tatiana Stoppa of the Artedi label, expresses the beauty of working ecologically: “I love to give a new life to objects that would usually get thrown away, because I see in every piece the potential of a new beginning. It’s a very spontaneous process.”

Amano ceramic pendant

At ‘So Critical So Fashion’ you may share Stoppa’s creative thrills through different activities: you could participate in a professional photo shoot, complete with a personalised organic make-up session, accompanied by live performances by visual and musical artists, or make your own accessories or outfit in workshops and classes that teach you how to sew recycled materials into clothing, or how to create jewellery from recycled brass and copper.

Indeed, the eco-credentials and savoir-faire of all the brands here are impressive, and they have much to share. Cinzia Mauri of the Amano label explained to me how she makes her line sustainable: “The choice of the materials I pick is in full respect of the environment: the wood I select has a low environmental impact and is recycled, the prints use nontoxic dyes, just at the resins used for buttons and jewels have a zero emission. Besides the dyes I use also focus on diminishing the waste of water, which is usually a delicate issue during this process. Every step is monitored in accordance to eco-standards,” she says.

Amano bag

Surveying the myriad other eco-brands on display at the show, Mauri didn’t feel ‘threatened’ by the ‘competition’ the way that mainstream brands are when they discover which designs and materials their contemporaries are using. What’s more, she didn’t feel that the recently-implemented sustainability policies of better known brands, such as Gucci, would diminish niche brands like hers. On the contrary, she stated: “I’m glad to see that in the past few years also mainstream brands have discovered the importance of sustainability.”

All the textiles in the show are completely natural or recycled

Mauri’s attitude sums up the generally supportive, positive feeling in the eco-fashion world; a sharp contrast to

- See more at: http://eluxemagazine.com/fashion/milan-fashion-weeks-greener-side/#sthash.XEMVaTEu.dpuf

Milan on sustainable fashion during fashion week

MILAN FASHION WEEK’S GREENER SIDE

Sep 21, 2013 Fashion, Fashion week

By Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi

Milan Fashion Week is notoriously unsustainable. Fendi, Prada, Versace, Miu Miu and other top Italian brands consistently rank an E grade for transparency and eco-friendliness, with the only exception of Gucci, thanks to the Kering Group’s (formerly PPR) strong sustainability policies.

There is one other happy exception to this rule, however: So Critical So Fashion is a parallel fashion event during Milan’s Fashion Week that showcases brands that have come to the ‘Green Side’ of fashion. These labels incorporate natural materials into their products and natural innovation, along with reestablishment of traditional techniques, such as upcycling and creative recycling. This year’s edition will focus on the Made in Italy concept, emphasising the traditional creativity and craftsmanship of this designing nation.

Italian brands like Alberta Ferretti are generally beautiful, but not at all eco-friendly

This year the event will host 60 brands and will be located in the prestigious location of ‘Frigoriferi Milanesi.’ While ‘So Critical So Fashion’ was once a small event, it has currently become a very important appointment to fix on the calendar, especially for eco-chic addicts: a three-day full-immersion on current ethical standards, through a series of events, lectures, workshops and planet-friendly products.

- See more at: http://eluxemagazine.com/fashion/milan-fashion-weeks-greener-side/#sthash.XEMVaTEu.dpuf

New Products Fashion Accessories

Some new products from http://catherinesotherndesigns.com

Some of my recent paintings

When I am not designing my pieces I love to paint. It is my way of relaxing and have been painting for many years. Below are my recent oil paintings on my vision of Mars they are abstract oils on Canvas and very colourful, hope you enjoy viewing them.  All my paintings are for sale, so pop me a text if interested.

Finding Amazing Women of Eco Friendly Sustainable Fashion Worldwide

I am having a good look around tonight on Eco Friendly Fashion and great to see more and more sites available on the web, take a look at this one from Sweeden, amazing colours and all sustainable clothing, another company doing their thing to keep the planet alive. Also have a trip over to my own website http:// for my range of sustainable pieces and couture neck collars.



http://www.gudrunsjoden.com/uk/2013-autumn/inspiration/autumn-2013/roslagen

Eco Friendly Fashion at NY Fashion week

Sustainable Fabrics Spotlighted In John Patrick's 'L’Avventura' Collection At New York Fashion Week

by Beth Buczynski, 09/15/13

Read more: Sustainable Fabrics Spotlighted In John Patrick's 'L’Avventura' Collection At New York Fashion Week 





Great to See Eco Friendly Fashion at NY for Fashion week with this beautiful collection by John Patrick's 'L'Avventura' stunning pieces for next spring.

Been back to Dublin looking for accommodation for my daughter and what do you know we have finally gotten a place near her college, thank heavens as the taught of heading out flat hunting again was not a happy one. Headed out to Japanese Restaurant to celebrate in Rathmines and then home.

As I was doing nothing else this evening I put on the Dye pot and Naturally Dyed a few more pieces, have just taken them out of pot, looking forward to seeing results, will leave until tomorrow though.

Off on 50k cycle for charity tomorrow and listening to weather forecast it ain't looking good on the weather front, lots of layers called for I would reckon.

I have been viewing some of the list for London Fashion Week and so far have not come across any sustainable designer, will have to do some more research as there has to be at least one, will get onto this before bed beckons and will review when I get a chance.

Anywho night all have a good one.....

New Style for the Coming Season from http://catherinesotherndesigns.com

Some of the new products available on http://catherinesotherndesigns.com

New Look Website http://catherinesotherndesigns.com

Hi all been busy with my website for the past few day's still lots to do with it, have a look and let me know what you think.  I have had my daughter Laura do the modelling of my products for me, sooooo many pictures to upload onto site I have to leave it for the moment before I crack.  I am pleased with results so far and Laura has really brought the pieces to life for me. Go on have a check http://catherinesotherndesigns.com would love to hear comments.  Night all...

Leaves are turning

Morning all from a wet and cool day here in Russellstown. Off to Dublin later to collect some fabric for my designs and watch my daughter play her first hockey match with new club. Got a few silk scarf's  Dyed yesterday and will post results later. Some Cushions to be made over weekend but first Tomato Soup as I have an abundance of Tomatoes in the green house and got to freeze it for the winter.

Selection of some of my products 

Some more Naturally Dyed Pieces

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ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGN, ECOFASHION MAY 1, 2013

ECO FIND: NECK TORCS BY IRISH DESIGNER CATHERINE SOTHERN

OK, I’ll admit it. Before I found Ms. Catherine Sothern’s site I don’t think I had ever heard of the term “neck torc” much less known what they are. But now that I have, I can say with great certainty that they are an essential addition to every chic and fun wardrobe.

Catherine is an eco-fashion designer who believes that, “discarded and often beautiful off-cut fabric samples deserve another life.” And from that, her gorgeous neck torcs and bibs are born.

She hails from the land of Ireland and brings a contemporary look with a vintage feel to her pieces. Her neck torcs and bibs are handmade originals and she uses incredible accents such as vintage beads, buttons, vintage lace, fresh water pearls, fox fur and handmade rosettes.

Below are a few of her stunning neck torc designs. They truly are beautiful, and those bibs are an extremely popular style right now. Be sure to mosey on over to her site and check out the rest of her original designs.

“The pleasure of seeing the finished piece inspires me to create the next.” — Catherine Sothern

I really love supporting smaller designers who hand make all their pieces. There’s a very personal realness about something made from the hands of a recognizable face. It gives pieces more of a story.

Imagine opening up an entire closet filled with hand-made originals every morning. Your clothes would be 100 percent unique and 100 percent alive with their character and history. That’s how clothing should be!

Some of my recent work with Natural Dyeing and Print

I have been very busy on the dye and print front for the past couple of weeks, it has become addictive and another string in my sustainable ethos. I love the colour and patterns you can achieve from plants. More pots on the boil am off to create .