ALOUD WELCOME FOR CHERYL COLE CHARITY DRESS AUCTION

Singer Cheryl Cole has donated 11 dresses to auction to raise funds for The Cheryl Cole Foundation. Money raised will go to support youth charity The Princes Trust, and will be targeted at vulnerable 16-30 year olds in the North East, such as those who are leaving care, are long term unemployed or are educational underachievers. Through her Foundation, Cheryl hopes to show disadvantaged young people that someone believes in them. The ‘Lowest Unique Bid’ Auction, hosted by ASOS, means that the lowest monetary amount not bid by anyone else will win the auction, so potentially an outfit worn by Cheryl on the X-Factor, or with band-mates in Girls Aloud, could be snapped up for as little as 1p!

ALL FOR CHILDREN

New children’s clothing collection for H&M and UNICEF’s All For Children  

This October,H&M will launch a new range of fashionable children’s clothing to show its support for the UNICEF‘All For Children’ initiative. This scheme aims to generate lasting change for generations of children in some of the most deprived parts of the world, where many of H&M’s clothes are made. 25% of all sales from the All For Children collection will go directly to support UNICEF in their promotion of children’s rights to education and protection among vulnerable communities. The collection updates many classic favourite pieces and is designed to be versatile, so that pieces can be worn throughout the season and beyond.The range will be available in 160 stores worldwide and also online.

GOLD THAT SHINES BRIGHTER...

On Friday night we attended a special evening hosted by the Fairtrade Foundation to celebrate the launch of Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold in conjunction with London Jewellery Week. From traditional fine jewellery to contemporary sculptural pieces, the event showcased a range of ethical designers including CRED, Linnie McLarty, Ute Decker and Ingle & Rhode.

We were lucky enough to speak to one of the miners who at the forefront of the Fairtrade Gold revolution has inspired many a designer to take part in the movement by sourcing their metal and stones in an ethical and fair way without sacrificing innovative design and creativity.

Read up more about Fairtrade mining and see the latest pieces from our favourite ethical jewellery designers in Recognise, issue 9.

Fairtrade gold Arm Sculpture by Ute Decker

Ethically sourced ruby and fairtrade gold ring by Linnie McLarty

FASHION FOR ALL WALKS...

Yesterday we caught up with previous BBC’s The Clothes Show presenter and fashion expert Caryn Franklin at Graduate Fashion Week. Together with Erin O’Connor and Debra Bourne she’s been campaigning to stop the fashion industry’s obsession with 'size zero' and youthful perfection. Their campaign All Walks Beyond the Catwalk aims to encourage the industry to showcase models of all different ages, shapes, size and race. And where better to encourage this by starting with the designers of the future!

We took a leaf out of Caryn’s book this month with our own high fashion editorial shoot featuring a gorgeous and curvaceous 'plus size' model proving you don’t have to be super skinny to pull off wearing amazing clothes and look fabulous.

Check out the shoot and our interview with Caryn in our next issue! 

TOPMAN LAUNCHES NEW PERSONAL SHOPPING SERVICE

Last night the RECOGNISE team made their way down to men’s fashion brand, Topman, for the launch of their new personal shopping service in Oxford Circus.

Topman have appointed critically acclaimed interior and product designer Lee Broom to create a fresh and exciting shopping suite that resembles a modern gentlemen’s club. Men visiting this section of the store will be able to choose from three consultation areas, as well as take advantage of a Microsoft Innovation & Xbox gaming area and an Asahi ‘Honesty Bar’ - best of all the service is completely free of charge!

Customers will be able to book either a 30-minute, one-hour or two-hour session to discuss the latest trends and their own personal style with one of ten industry experts who Topman have scouted from all over the sartorial sphere. Stylists previously from Vivienne Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent and Matches, to name a few, will be on hand to provide practical fashion advice to savvy city slickers with the added option of a beer and a game on the Xbox.

Giles Farnham, Personal Shopping Assistant Manager at Topman Oxford Circus, said that changes to shopping patterns over recent years means there is now a demand for this consultative process on the high street - not just in designer boutique stores.  We couldn’t agree more, so get down there and check it out!

Images courtesy of Topman

by Jacob Kamara

NEW SUSTAINABLE CAPSULE COLLECTION BY ULTRA!

This week sustainable fashion label, ULTRA, launched a new capsule collection entitled ULTRA 10: Consisting of ten staple pieces including a 2-in-1 jacket which also doubles as a vest as well as other wearable basics the range aims to serve as the core of your wardrobe for an entire year. Ethically produced and manufactured using sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, recycled jersey and biodegradable tencel, ULTRA 10 possesses the same quality and innovative design as the ULTRA mainline collections.

The ULTRA 10 collection is available to purchase now from:  www.theultraultra.com.

(Check out The latest issue of RECOGNISE [ISSUE 8 - 'SEX'] which features the very sexy Jessica Lowndes dressed in ULTRA.)

FAIRER FASHION FOOTPRINT!

Last Friday evening the RECOGNISE team attended Fairer Fashion Footprint; an event hosted by The LSE fashion Society and the Soho based vintage boutique, Beyond Retro to discuss matters of ethical and sustainable fashion. After indulging ourselves with the copious amounts of wine and sweet snacks that were on offer we were introduced to industry experts and the evening’s special guest speakers; Livia Firth and Lucy Siegle. All of us listened on attentively as both women talked passionately about subjects including ethical production, fair trade mining, their ‘Green Carpet Challenge’ and other important topics (all of which are discussed in depth in Lucy’s book ‘To Die For.’) However the focal point of the evening was the message stating that it’s us, the fashion consumer, who needs to act now to make a change for the better: “No one is 100% perfect “ said Livia, “but we should all do what we can.” We couldn’t agree more!

It was great to see that both Livia and Lucy put into practice what they preach: Livia wore clogs by eco friendly footwear brand, Swedish Hasbeens, a recycled vintage dress and her own design necklace by Made. Whilst Lucy wore a necklace by Joanna Cave, which was made using recycled silver. (Pictured above)

GOOD ONE GOODONE!

One of our fav upcycling fashion brands, Goodone, has recently launched a ‘Basics Collection’ offering sustainable fashion at affordable prices! The summer collection consists of bodycon dresses, skirts, cropped tops and trousers all skilfully created out of reclaimed jersey and lightweight knitted fabrics in pale hues of pinks, blues, teals and oranges.

The Basics Collection is available to purchase now from the Goodone website as well as ASOS Marketplace.  

Slouch Jumper Dress: £79

Crop Top: £35

Crop Cardi: £48

Playsuit: £69

FASHION TARGETS BREAST CANCER!

Originally founded by Ralph Lauren, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer  (FTBC) was set up in 1994 and has since raised over 11.5 million to support breast cancer sufferers.

This year is no different with a whole host of high street stores once again getting involved in the worthwhile cause. The high street stores are generously donating a percentage of sales to FTBC from a range of their products be it handbags to tees and maxi dresses to swimming costumes.  Check it out for yourselves at stores including Topshop, M&S, River Island, Coast and My-Wardrobe; it’s a perfect excuse to go shopping and do your bit for breast cancer, but remember to keep an eye out for the FTBC logo on the clothing tag!

RECOGNISE'S PICK OF THE BEST:

AAMAYA BY PRIYANKA @ MY-WARDROBE.COM

TOPAZ TRIPLE STONE SIGNATURE RING

£157.00

 RIVER SIAND

PINK SATCHEL BAG

£29.99

TOPSHOP

WHITE SLOGAN TEE

£18.00

Click here to buy products or donate now via the FTBC website.

Words: Jenny Reeder

NO MORE FISH IN THE SEA?

Can you imagine a world without any fish in the oceans? Well, neither can Selfridges as they launch their sustainability initiative, 'Project Ocean'. Selfridges' creative director, Alannah Weston, is partnering up with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and collaborating with the best campaigners and creative minds alike to raise awareness about the issues surrounding overfishing and marine protection.

Selfridges Project Ocean has it all; guides on what fish to eat, interactive exhibitions, films about the issues and debates on the topics. If that still isn’t enough you can also get your hands on some Katharine Hamnett goodies including T- shirts, tote bags and beach towels flaunting slogans such as ‘No More Fish In The Sea’ and 'Stop And Think'.  They kick it all off with a star studded launch party on Wednesday 11th May… See you there!

Project Ocean runs from the 11^th May to 12^th June.  Visit www.selfridges.com for more info.

Pictured: 'SAVE THE SEA' slogan beach towel by Katharine Hamnett for Selfridges' Project Ocean; £33, as featured in RECOGNISE Issue 8 (OUT SOON!)

Words: Jenny Reeder

H&M: FASHION AGAINST AIDS!

Not long after the release of their SS’11 ‘Conscious Collection’, H&M have launched yet another morally-minded range: this time in collaboration with the charity, Designers Against Aids (DAA) to help spread awareness of safe sex and HIV/AIDS prevention across the globe. The high street retailer has also roped in an array of A-list celebrities including Keri Hilson, Akon, Selma Blair and The Scissor Sisters to front and support the new ‘Fashion Against Aids’ campaign.

The unisex collection consisting of slogan tees, cool-casual jumpsuits, waterproof parkers and utility accessories is available in stores now with 25% of sales going straight to the DAA as well as other HIV/AIDS prevention projects.

Visit www.hm.com/gb for more information or to shop now!

JESSICA OGDEN FOR ASOS

Jessica Ogden is creating an eleven-piece collection for ASOS, Made in Africa. 

The collections are produced in Kenya to support the work of SOKO (a workshop that is dedicated to developing a sustainable and long term solution to the economic problems in the Kenyan community). 

ASOS will be donating £5 from every item sold from both the ASOS Africa and Jessica Ogden for ASOS collections to enable SOKO to build a new workshop; ASOS will match fund each purchase with an additional £5! So get buying!

Jessica Ogden For ASOS

URBAN JUNGLE

Jaeger London launches an exciting collection of easy urban pieces for the weekend. The collection‘s show-stopping punched leather parka, suede pants, suede dresses and gauzy mesh military dresses feature alongside Jaeger London‘s ready-to-wear wardrobe staples including rolled-up chinos, silk military shirts, military vests and mesh knits – making dressing down effortless and chic.

Nutrition Definitely Rocks !

While surfing through the web one of the Recognise staff stumbled on Nutrition Rocks and felt compelled to share it with everyone. Once actually going through the site myself, I understood why, this is a place where people who really want to live a healthier lifestyle and believe in the notion 'If you look good, you feel good' would really appreciate.

Vivienne Westwood For Xmas Anyone ?

Vivienne Westwood recently uncovered a new stationery line including notebooks and diaries presented with her iconic prints such as the squiggle pattern from the 1981 Pirates collection, the Anglomania Union Jack flag print and the yellow Tartan print.

The line is made entirely from recycled paper and costs are mere £25, grab it on-line now and add it to your xmas presents for that special someone !

Sainsbury's Fashion ?

Sorry to burst your bubble but no.. Sainsbury's will not be launching high street fashion stores next to H&M while that may be a weird move from the grocery giant, a flamenco-style dress inspired by the popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing has been created with only reused Sainsbury's carrier bags.

Ralph Lauren Pushes The Envelope Further

This week Ralph Lauren showcased a special 4D Live Fashion show to commemorate 10 years of their US e-commerce website and the recent launch of the UK site, which we've all been waiting for so long down here. The show lasted approximately ten minutes with a rather large visual projected onto the Ralph Lauren flagship store in both New York and London, with the scent of their recent fragrance around the area.

Watch the shows in both New York and London after the cut.

Eco Fashion Week Makes It's Debut

Green was the new black when Vancouver hit the runway at the first ever Eco Fashion Week presented by Aveda. This week showcased a new generation of designers that are trying to change the way we think about clothing by reinventing eco-friendly fashion.

Watch the video after the jump

N*E*R*D's eh ? What Would We Do Without Them ?

"Timberland has been a part of my life since I was a kid" words from Arts extraordinaire Pharrell Williams, who has teamed up with footwear brand Timberland for their Earthkeeper's Initiative to create over 90 different shoes and boots with his Bionic Yarn canvas. If you're not too clued up on Pharell's co-owned Bionic Yarn company, they create fabrics made from 50% organic cotton and 38% recycled plastic bottles. The same material that was used on Williams' recent Moncler collaboration. The collection will be available from early 2011.

My Wardrobe And Katia Lombardo Is All I Need

Katia Lombardo and My-wardrobe.com paired up to show their support of Breakthrough Breast Cancer to design limited edtion stilletos in which 20% of the proceeds will go to the charity .