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Primark in Panorama investigation

Well the BBC have been busy. Tonight's episode of Panorama will give details of their six-month investigation into working conditions in their factories. As a result, Primark have pulled out of working with a number of suppliers due to allegations of child labour.

The Panorama special will be broadcast tonight on BBC1 at 9pm.

See War on Want's John Hillary's response on BBC News

BBC eco-style comp

BBC Thread is looking to put your style on trial. Can you make ethical fashion eco-fabulous?If so, look out for Style Search on the BBC's ethical fashion website, Thread.

You could win a day with a catwalk stylist, assisting with the styling of the Thread fashion show at London Fashion Week! Style Search launches in July (I'll post when it goes live), and it will work like this:
1. You upload a digital photo of an ethical fashion outfit styled by you to the website.
2. Fashion experts cast their eye on it.
3. If it's eco-fabulous enough, you get to go to London Fashion Week.

So don't forget to go online in July, check out the competition and show off your style!

Topshop goes Swapshop

Topshop is jumping on the swapping craze by hosting its very own swapshop in store for one night only. This is part of the week-long 'Topshop wants your rubbish' campaign promoting reusing, recycling, and restyling. Note they seem to have missed out the 'reducing' option...hmmmm...

The swap will take place on Thurs 26 June and you can find out more at the website.

Edun Live launch new website

In Collaboration with VIRTUE Worldwide, EDUN LIVE creates a new virtual home on the web, expanding its blank B2B tee range to a young, hip audience. EDUN LIVE is the sister brand of EDUN, the socially conscious clothing label founded in 2005 by Ali Hewson and her husband Bono.

EDUN LIVE’s mission is to drive sustainable employment in sub-Saharan Africa through high-volume sales of blank tshirts. From the sourcing of the African cotton to the spinning and knitting process, all the way to the manufacturer, EDUN LIVE t-shirts are 100% African. This means that the economic and social benefits of each step of the value chain remain with, and have a direct impact on those who make EDUN LIVE products.

The tshirts can be bought individually or in bulk for printing. Visit site for more details.

Paxman picks up a treat

Newsnight front man Jeremy Paxman couldn't resist Julia Crew's classic bags at the recent Oxfam boutique launch. As we know from the 'pantsgate' episode, Paxman is a discerning customer with an eye for quality, so he undoubtedly found Cordwainers graduate Julia's collection for Oxfam quite the ticket.

More about London College of Fashion at Oxfam

Primark pulls out of child labour factory

Primark has severed ties with three Indian manufacturers for using child labour. They were alerted to this by BBC journalists from Panorama. It is reported that the suppliers produce 200,000 garments a year for the firm.

Martin Hearson, the campaign director of Labour behind the Label, said: “Cutting and running from suppliers following exposure by campaigners or the media only serves to punish those workers brave enough to speak out about their conditions. It certainly won't do anything to improve their lives. Such actions make Primark's ethical claims ring hollow.”

Impactt blog
The Guardian
Times Online

Calling all swappers!

The TV production company Silver River is making a brand new prime-time fashion series for BBC2.

We are looking for women across the UK to take part in a clothes swapping event. From Primark to Prada - if you have a wardrobe full of clothes you don’t wear and would love a brand new look without spending a penny, then get in touch to shop and swap.

Maybe the best clothes to swap with have been sitting in a wardrobe and never been worn, or are vintage, have been outgrown, or maybe there are just too many gorgeous shoes and handbags in the wardrobe to cope with!

To apply to be a part of this exciting new series
Email: fashion@silverriver.tv
Phone: 020 7307 2746

(Applicants must be must be aged 17+)

No Blood, No Sweat, Great T- Shirts

Goodone, an award winning, sustainable fashion design company collaborates with six of the country’s top charities to produce limited edition garments using their old campaign t-shirts.

Amnesty International, Greenpeace, WWF, Shelter, Liberty and No Sweat, have all contributed and Goodone has designed an outstanding dress and hoody jacket combination for the initial garments. This is in keeping with goodone’s contemporary style of producing recreated fashions from recycled fabric.

The HEBA women’s project in east London manufactures the garments making the link between social enterprise and high fashion.

These limited edition designs will go on sale on goodone’s website on the 19th of June, prices from £50, all profits going to the charities involved.

Hackney Community College win Ethic 2008

Nicole Da Silva and Phong Nguyen AKA ‘The Urbanites’ from Hackney Community College was announced as the winning design team of the Ethic 08 competition sponsored by Brother®The winner was announced last night, Monday 9th June, at a fashion show and reception at the prestigious Fashion and Textile Museum in London. Hosted by eco-entrepreneur and TV presenter Joanna Yarrow, over 200 guests attended the awards from the fashion, media, environmental and ethical industries.

10 finalists had to present their work to a panel of ethical fashion experts including Kate Carter from The Guardian, Jenny White founder of Eco-Boudoir, Sital Punja founder of Sari UK and Creative Director of the Fashion and Textile Museum, David Reeson.

See all finalists

The American Apparel look at fashion

For all you jersey loving kids out there, I've come across two interesting looks at the American Apparel phenomenon. The vertically manufactured basics chain is loved throughout Western metropoles...check out Fashion Toast for a tour of their factory. And Clamour Magazine gets to grips with American Apparel's appeal.

Move over hair shirt and sandals

Tear yourselves away from the idea of eco-fashion being all about cotton basics, casual wear and t-shirts. Eco Design Fair and amoosi have teamed up to create an exciting event to prove that eco-fashion can also be incredibly stylish, glamorous and well-tailored.

This high end, eco fashion event will provide the perfect sustainable design shopping experience: 25 design stalls, selling fashion and fashionaccessories, childrens' clothing, natural bodycare products, home accessories, lighting, cards and gifts. Live acoustic music and DJs.

Date: Thursday 19th June

Time: 5-9pm (fashion parade 8pm)

Venue: Candid Arts, 1st Floor, Torrens Street. Angel tube.

Admission: £2 on door - includes complementary glass of wine and fashion show.

Channel 4 pulls contraversial new documentary

Channel 4 last night pulled their showing of new documentary 'The Devil Wears Primark'. In an official press release, the TV station said, "it is a complicated programme and we took an editorial decision with the production company [Betty TV] that it simply wouldn't be ready in time for yesterday's transmission."

The show, fronted by Alexa Chung, aimed to look at the price to be paid for buying low-cost clothing by simulating a sweat shop experience in London's Covent Garden.

Channel 4 have said it will be shown at a later date. I will post any further news we hear on the matter.

Win People Tree goodies!

Fair Trade pioneers have launched their annual design competition. Win £500 People Tree vouchers and get your design produced!

More info

LCF rip it up at Oxfam

A successful collaboration with Oxfam has lead to original student and graduate work from London College of Fashion being sold in the relaunched Oxfam boutiques. Womenswear designers Gabrielle Miller and Ada Zanditon, and accessories designers Julia Crew and Laura Queening were celebrated at the launch alongside one off pieces from Giles Deacon, Henry Holland, Richard Sorger and Christopher Kane. The three stores- Westbourne Grove, Kings Road and Chiswick - will sell the pieces along with collections from People Tree, Amana, Junky Styling, Kitty Cooper, and Poppy Valentine.

Oxfam
BBC News piece
The Times
The Guardian

Fair trade work opportunities in Mexico

Carla Fernandez, winner of the British Council 2008 International Young Fashion Entrepreneur (IYFE) award, is looking for two fashion designers to work with her in Mexico for five months.
Carla is founder of Taller Flora, a fashion label and mobile laboratory that travels throughout Mexico visiting indigenous communities, including those that specialise in handmade textiles. Taller Flora has developed a unique style and is a leader through its business model of a fair-trade network and environmental policies that encourage responsible practice in the fashion industry.
As part of her IYFE award Carla is recruiting a printed textile designer and a menswear designer to join the Taller Flora team as paid employees in Mexico for five months. Please pass on the attached flyer to anyone who you think might be interested. The deadline for applications is 16 June 2008.
Further information about the programme can be found at here or by contacting Beatrice Pembroke

Dilys Williams, Director for Sustainable Fashion, featured in Times Higher

Dilys Williams, director of the new Centre for Sustainable Fashion, looks to a greener future for the clothes we wear.
Fashion has "almost redefined" itself as something highly disposable, according to Dilys Williams, but it is time to reverse the trend.

Read article