Fashion is going green

ElinJonssonTuesday08.05.1210:53

Sustainable fashion is no longer echo fashion –it is fashion full stop. What used to be a trend for a few has become mainstream and a topic that just can’t be ignored. A sign of the green movement is the Copenhagen fashion summit which was held last week. Over a thousand participants from the international fashion industry gathered at the Opera House in Copenhagen on May 3 to discuss the future of sustainable fashion consumption. Copenhagen Fashion summit is the world’s largest conference on sustainability and CSR within the fashion industry. With internationally renowned keynote speeches on how the fashion industry can change the way they do business for the world, the climate, the future and our coming generations.

As Helene Helmersson from H&M expressed it: “the LOHAS are becoming fashionistas.” –Today, H&M is the largest buyer of organic cotton in the world –a sign which shows that green thinking is no longer a niche. The trendsetter, her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary, is also a fan of organic fashion: she turned up at the Opera House in a dress from H&Ms conscious collection to give her opening speech at the summit. The Crown Princess called upon collective action to make the fashion industry, which today is the world’s most polluted industry, more sustainable and to work together to improve its ethical and environmental impact. But it isn’t just the brands that are the bad guys here: 80% of the environmental impact actually happens during the consumer phase of a product lifecycle. In order to reduce water and energy consumption Levis has launched a campaign with the slogans: “Dirty is the new clean” and “Don’t wash the personality out of your jeans”. We can all change the fashion industry –both as consumer and as brands. There were lots of inspirational examples which were shared at the fashion summit –hopefully they can serve as motivation for us all so that we can ensure a cleaner and better industry in the future –one we all can be proud of. –As Søren Petersen from the UN expressed it –there is no alternative.

Her Royal highness Crown Princess Mary attended Fashion Summit in Copenhagen.

Sustainable fashion show

http://www.honestby.com/

Honest by: Bruno Pieters has worked with top designers such as Martin Margiela and Christian Lacroix but in 2011 he took a sabbatical year to travel in India. After his return he has founded a fashion label which has 100% transparency in its production –including pricing.

http://www.closetswap.co.uk/

Why not hop on the trend of closet swapping –there is even an app for it! http://www.closetswap.co.uk/

http://levi.com.pk/pk/F115522614.pdf

Levis has launched a campaign with the slogan: “Dirty is the new clean” and they encourage the consumers to think about their water consumption. See more here: http://levi.com.pk/pk/F115522614.pdf

H&M consious collection

H&M consious collection -catwalk edition

H&M has launched an exclusive catwalk collection as a part of their H&M conscious concept –with organic materials as a part of the Green Catwalk challenge –and the celebrities are all wearing it. See what we mean here: http://www.fash-eccentric.com/2012/04/hm-conscious-collection-for-spring-2012-hm-exclusive-conscious-collection/

The Green carpet challenge: http://www.eco-age.com/

Livia Firth (married to Collin Firth) is the founder of The Green Carpet challenge which pairs glamour and ethics to raise the awareness of sustainable fashion and the most high profile and red carpet events. Read more about the project at GCC’s own home page:

http://www.eco-age.com/ Read Livias blog at Vogue: http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth

Timberland

Timberland has created a shoe line called Earthkeepers which is designed for disassembly which is 70-90 percent recyclable. http://responsibility.timberland.com/product/

Airpurifying textiles

Airpurifying textiles –cleaning the air we live in as we wear them. http://www.ecouterre.com/meet-herself-the-worlds-first-air-purifying-dress/herself-catalytic-clothing-1/

Gucci -biodegradable shoes

Gucci has created a biodegradable sandal in plastic which is just being launched on the market. http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/237013J87105263#

Novozymes "I do 30" campaign.

The Danish innovator Novozymes created a campaign in 2009 to get us to wash our clothes in a colder temperature with its campaign by influencing friends and family to reduce their energy usage through the campaign: “I do 30”.

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Event at “Kunstforeningen GL STRAND“: Do social media contribute to relationships?

CatharinaMourierThursday03.05.1207:23

In 2012 800 million people worldwide have a profile on Facebook, and the number just keeps growing. In general “social media” have become an important part of business life as well as private life.

A few weeks ago the consultants from House of Communication went to”Kunstforeningen GL STRAND” in Copenhagen to get a greater insight on social media and the possibilities, they involve. The seminar was a panel discussion on our use and misuse of social media like Facebook, Twitter and other online communities designed to create new kinds of relationships. The focus of the discussion was on the way virtual friendships reflect our real relationships and how we deal with these new kinds of communities? The panel was represented by Anne Sophia Hermansen (respected blogger and debater from the Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende), Natasha Friis Saxberg (expert on social media at Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies) and Christian Fonnesbech (online producer and narrator).

If you are a user well acquainted with social media, the discussion did not bring up much new information, however it was interesting to get insight in the way the debaters used social media in different ways and for different private and work related purposes. Social media are brilliant for building relationships: It makes you stay in touch with people and opens up possibilities to group up with people you share common interests with. But – as Anne-Sophia also described it – our use of social media reveals that our manners are only “nail polish on the claws of the beast “. Or in short: When the communication is without real life relations, it can quickly turn cruel, and misunderstandings easily happen because you cannot read other people’s feelings online. According to the debaters the way we get the full potential from social media is by connecting our use of social media to our real lives.

If you visit Copenhagen, do not miss “Kunstforeningen GL STRAND”, which in addition to interesting events, also has very nice exhibitions. From April 28^th Kunstforeningen GL STRAND shows a major retrospective exhibition ‘My Name is JørgenLeth’, which pays homage to Jørgen Leth’s long lasting productivity while celebrating his 75^th birthday by showing the film director, poet and journalist Jørgen Leth’s varied work in a larger scope. I will definitely go for that one!

For more information visit www.glstrand.dk

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Design Heaven in Milan

PernilleEhlert FlorentzFriday27.04.1207:00

Last week we were off to Italy for the premier European home furnishings trade show, Salone Internazionale del Mobile. Here are some of my Milan hot spot picks:

Hot spot #1: Hallingdal 65 Exhibition

Kvadrat invited seven international curators – Tord Boontje, Ilse Crawford, Constance Rubini, Søren Rose, Andre Fu, Hans Maier-Aichen and Jeffrey Bernett – to select design talents to reinterpret the classic textile Hallingdal in a modern context.

Hallingdal 65 is the founding textile of Kvadrat and has become the archetype of woolen fabrics. The durable upholstery fabric was originally designed in 1965 by Nanna Ditzel.

The installation was presented at the beautiful Jill Sander showroom showcasing ways to push the boundaries of textile application.

Kvadrat also presented a new textile collection by Argentine-Swiss designer Alfredo Häberli in their showroom in Corso Monforte. For this occasion he had restyled the showroom which he originally designed in 2007. Creative and colorful!

Hot spot #2: Tadao Ando prototype preview

Danish craftsmanship met Japanese design at the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum where Carl Hansen & Son hosted an event Thursday evening presenting the prototype of a brand new design partnership with world-renowned Tadao Ando.

Known for giving the Japanese design tradition a modern and western expression, the eminent Japanese architect has designed a chair as a tribute to Hans J. Wegner. His minimalist, innovative and functional style is an excellent match for the Scandinavian design philosophy. The outcome of the partnership is expected to be available in shops in 2013.

Hot spot #3: Getting the Boffi experience

In the world of contemporary interiors, Boffi’s name is synonymous with innovation and excellence in kitchens, bathrooms and wardrobes. We had the luxury of visiting the newly renovated Boffi training center in Lentate and the Boffi Solferino showroom located in the historic Brera quarter of Milan’s city center.

The Boffi Solferino showroom is a must see in Milan and the 1300 sq. m. space – designed and created together with Piero Lissioni - is divided into different inspiring settings, presenting the entire collection with a great visual impact. An extra feature is the L’Appartamento: a real domestic environment featuring living space, bedroom, kitchens and bathrooms. Truly a Milan destination for all design aficionados!

One of the news from Boffi is CTline by Victor Vasilev – tall units inspired by urban skylines, born as a bookcase, but then transformed info cabinets for each home environment. Great versatile use!

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A different kind of world travel

ElinJonssonTuesday24.04.1219:52

Jesper Olsen is a man on a mission: he is determined to run around the world –for the second time. Jesper started his project in 2008 and he has been on the run ever since.

Jesper started his run in Nordkapp, Norway and continued through Europe, across sandstorms in the Sahara, he ran with children in Sudan and continued all the way down to South Africa where he finished at the Cape of Good Hope. After this he took a break to recuperate. During his run, Jesper has been covering an average distance of over a marathon per day (in fact approx. 55 km) –a distance most people have to train a year for in order to complete –a distance, most people never do attempt. So the fact that Jesper took a break is quite understandable under the circumstances.

After having heeled his body, the 41 year old Dane started the second part of his world run –from the tip of Cape Horn he headed north towards North America. When I heard that Jesper was taking a break from his world run in New York for 6 days my thoughts were: That is well deserved! – Only to find out that the reason for Jesper’s break was that he is participating in a 6 day long endurance race. –As if running around the world was not enough… After the race Jesper will continue north along the American east coast and he expects to finish in New Foundland, Canada, in July.

Here are some figures: Jesper has passed through 4 continents and 27 countries. He has passed through 20 languages and covered over 32,000 km so far. Jesper has worn down 32 pairs of shoes covering around 1,000 km with each pair!

Jesper will soon finish his world run II -what I’m wondering is: where will he go next?

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Photo: in Shanghai by Annette Spanggaard

The History of the Cake

AnnetteSpanggaardFriday20.04.1211:19

When I saw these cakes in a bakery window I wondered. Where does the idea of a cake come from?

The history of cake dates back to ancient times. The first cakes were very different from what we eat today. They were more bread-like and sweetened with honey. Nuts and dried fruits were often added. According to the food historians, the ancient Egyptians were the first culture to show evidence of advanced baking skills. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the English word cake back to the 13th century. It is a derivation of ‘kaka’, an Old Norse word. Medieval European bakers often made fruitcakes and gingerbread. These foods could last for many months.

According to the food historians, the precursors of modern cakes (round ones with icing) were first baked in Europe sometime in the mid-17th century. This is due primarily to advances in technology (more reliable ovens, manufacture/availability of food molds) and ingredient availability (refined sugar). At that time cake hoops – round molds for shaping cakes that were placed on flat baking trays – were popular. They could be made of metal, wood or paper. Some were adjustable. Cake pans were sometimes used. The first icing was usually a boiled composition of the finest available sugar, egg whites and sometimes flavorings. This icing was poured on the cake. The cake was then returned to the oven for a while. When removed the icing cooled quickly to form a hard, glossy ice-like covering. Many cakes made at this time still contained dried fruits (raisins, currants, lemons).

It was not until the middle of the 19th century that cake as we know it today (made with extra refined white flour and baking powder instead of yeast) arrived on the scene. Butter-cream frostings began replacing traditional boiled icings in the first few decades of the 20th century. In France, Antonin Careme (1784-1833) is considered THE premier historic chef of the modern pastry/cake world.

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The sweet scent of Great Britain

BettinaFærgemanMonday16.04.1209:14

Upon my return from a trip to beautiful Bath in the UK I find myself desperately longing for more English charm, green fields, blooming magnolias and stately manor houses – in short country living de luxe!

Luckily I know just the place to turn as British perfume Queen Jo Malone is by far the epitome of floral fragrances catching the very scent of Britain’s best. Since she opened her first London store Jo Malone has turned cult among fashionistas all over the world, as her fragrances are more than just sweet scent. They are also – and just as importantly – little girly delights wrapped in gorgeous cream boxes with black edging and a paper bag to match.

In case you are not yet familiar with the Jo Malone world of fragrance and indulgence do pay a visit to one of her many shops! Not least the flagship store at Sloane Street, where you might run into sworn Malone fans such as Victoria Beckham or Gwyneth Palthrow. For her SS12 presentation at New York City Library Victoria Beckham even went as far as to choose Jo Malone’s Lime Basil & Mandarin and Grapefruit candles to set the perfect ambiance!

Even though all Jo Malone fragrances are amazing in their own special way my all time favorite is by far the Pomegranate Noir, which has been in my powder room for the past 5 years and instantly sets me in a fresh and all-clean state of mind. Apart from the delicious scent pomegranate is also named a super fruit by health gurus around the globe, so what’s really not to love about it?

In 2006 Jo Malone sold her love brand to Estée Lauder, but of course the entrepreneurial queen of scents had another fragrant initiative up her sleeve…

In November 2011 she launched her new brand “Jo Loves” and with such alluring fragrance names as “Soulful & Sassy”, “Fun & Flirty”, “Clean & Crisp” and “Rich & Regal” this is inevitably the start of a new love affair between Jo and everyone who loves the sweet scent of Great Britain!

For more info visit http://www.jomalone.co.uk/ & http://www.joloves.com/

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http://www.fairmont.com/peacehotel/Photos/

The Peace Hotel

AnnetteSpanggaardThursday12.04.1209:03

Just recently I had a cup of coffee at The Peace Hotel in Shanghai, China, to endulge in the spendour of past times. Ever since the Englishman Victor Sassoon inaugurated the hotel, it has been well-known as the Number one Mansion of the Far East. Proud, legendary and lavish, the luxury Fairmont Peace Hotel has been overlooking the Huangpu River since the 1930s, but was restored in 2007 to be able to continue to boast a history that overshadows that of any other hotel in the Far East. In the 1930s – the grand hotel’s golden decade – diplomats and celebrities from across the globe made its luxurious suites their home, and turned its lore into legend.

The revitalized Fairmont Peace Hotel offers 270 deluxe guest rooms and suites with a selection of six restaurants and lounges. Included among these is the much-loved Jazz Bar, a Shanghai institution since the 1930s. In addition, the Jasmine Lounge on the ground floor, a mezzanine-level wine and cigar bar Cin Cin, as well as a heritage Chinese restaurant Dragon Phoenix on the 8th floor offer a new level of elegance and comfort befitting of today’s discerning travellers.

This 8th floor also hosts the Peace Hall with its famed sprung-timber dance floor, plus several meeting rooms and an expansive outdoor terrace. A low-rise extension added to the rear of the hotel houses some guest rooms plus Fairmont’s award-winning Willow Stream Spa and a private, sky-lit swimming pool. The famous ‘Nine Nations Suites’ remains a feature of the new hotel: Four of these (Indian, English, Chinese and American) are preserved from the old Peace Hotel, while the French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and German suites are redesigned in keeping with their original concepts.

If you cannot afford to stay at the hotel, go visit the esteemed Jazz Bar, 20 Nanjing Road East, Shanghai.

For more info and photos visit http://www.fairmont.com/peacehotel/Photos/

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Photo: http://www.kopenhagenfur.com/da/nyheder/2012/januar-2012/eksklusiv-tiara-til-ms-happiness/

Josephine Bergsøe designs fur crown

AnnetteSpanggaardTuesday03.04.1221:31

In the autumn of 2011 Kopenhagen Fur launched a large scale model competition in China to find Ms. Happiness. The competition was staged in seven of the largest cities in China. The winner Niu Wei Wei was announced during an event on 11 January 2012 in Beijing. The winner will serve as Kopenhagen Fur’s campaign face in China.

For the coronation of the winner Kopenhagen Fur had developed a unique tiara of fur and amber in a collaboration with designer Josephine Bergsøe and House of Amber. Together with House of Amber Josephine had carefully selected various kinds of finely faceted amber and designed a tiara of oxidized silver and amber in combination with diamonds and the finest Jaguar mink.

Also read the latest blogpost at kopenhagenfur.com on how the winner was celebrated in her home city: “Miss Happiness – a dazzling star from Shen Yang”

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Photo: Kate Moss at the Ritz Paris taken by Tim Walker for the April 2012 Issue of Vogue / http://vogue.tumblr.com/

Puttin’ on the Ritz

StineMyrvangMonday02.04.1204:06

Suddenly spring was upon us, and when slightly panicked and palayzed by the realization that my spring wardrobe is not ready yet I read fashion magazines. They are my inspiration and my sanctuary and every now and then you come across images that just blow you away.

This time it was the April issue of Vouge and an editorial shoot featuring Kate Moss in spring couture, shot by Tim Walker at the Ritz hotel i Paris. It’s magnificent and what is more appropriate for spring than Paris?! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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Boffi flagship store in Copenhagen, kitchen designed by Norbert Wangen and the gourmet chef David Fischer (Photo: PR)

Boffi – The Taste of Timeless Design

IdaJonssonThursday29.03.1218:38

Last week Italian cult brand Boffi hosted a press event at their Copenhagen store. And bravissimo I say, since only few equal Boffi in design, when it comes to exclusive kitchens, bathrooms and even wardrobes. At the event Boffi had invited gourmet chef David Oliver Fischer who cooked a selection of dishes from his cook book “Hos Fischer – Italiensk mad i danske gryder”, a cook book about Italian food in a Danish way. What’s not to love about that?

David´s dishes looked fantastic and the taste was – if possible- even better. He also generously shared some of his cooking secrets: For example on how to make the bread puffier just by pouring cold water on a hot pizza stone or the hot plate where the bread is being baked.

The classic Italian dishes draw upon a long history of supreme taste and so does Boffi´s design. Some of Boffi´s designs were created almost 80 years ago but like the Italian kitchen it is now trendier than ever!

So my advice to you is to visit the store on Bredgade 32, Copenhagen K and take in all the timeless design while working up an appetite – for food and all things Italian.

However please be warned: All of a sudden you’ll find yourself in need of a new kitchen, bathroom or wardrobe, even if you are (like me) living at your sister’s house at the moment….