Fashion Footprints: Sustainable Approaches

The most refreshing sustainable fashion exhibition of 2010 just might be Fashion Footprints: Sustainable Approaches, which opens to the public this weekend at The Centre for Contemporary Art and The Natural World. Unlike other curations of this variety, Fashion Footprints takes place in Haldon Forest Park (Exeter, Devon, UK), beyond the gaze of trendy fashionistas and urban dwellers.

"This pioneering exhibition explores the idea of fashion and textiles acting as an interface between humankind and the environment. It combines accessible illustrated display panels and representative garments and aims to highlight the key problems and major environmental and social impacts that result from the fashion and textile industries. The project considers realistic solutions embedded in existing practice, and seeks to dispel the ambivalence that is so often associated with fashion and sustainability." 

Fashion Footprints: Sustainable Approaches is a collaboration between CCANW and graduates from the MA Fashion and the Environment Program at London College of Fashion. The goal of addressing 'ambivalence' and 'transparency' in (eco) fashion seems critical as we aim to (re)define our connection to fiber/textiles/clothing, the massive consumption of resources required for their production, and our relationship to the natural world.

Supported by a number of UK leaders in eco-fashion such as From Somewhere’s Orsola de Castro, curator of London Fashion Week’s Estethica show, Fashion Footprints unravels the highly complex world of fashion and its ecological and social impact - from the cotton field to your wardrobe – as well as a slow fashion festival, an experimental ‘eco-fashion show in the forest’, featuring some of the UK’s brightest young sustainable fashion designers, and hands on sustainable fashion and textiles workshops. 

Moss Collar by Tara Baoth Mooney

Visit the CCANW website for more information on programming and events in conjunction with this exhibit.

A special thanks to Tara Baoth Mooney for sharing this information and congratulations to the exhibit's curatorial team: Sharn Sandor, Emma Rigby, Felicia Felton, Tara Baoth Mooney, and Johanna Korndorfer, CCANW's Learning Programmes Manager. Images courtesy of the curators.

Christopher Raeburn in VOGUE's Style Ethics

Congratulations to Christopher Raeburn for the feature story in Vogue's August 2010 Style Ethics column. Even Christopher's autumnal parkas recycled from cast-off military garb look totally cool in the depths of summer. Ethical fashion just keeps on trucking. Bravo!

*Christoper Raeburn

Lucy Orta Exhibit Opens at CCANW Today

Lucy Orta in the studio (image via Lemodalogue)

The Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World kicks off its 2010 ‘Fashion, Textiles and the Environment’ programming series with an exhibition of works by Lucy Orta, opening 29 May and remaining on view through 25 July, 2010. Orta draws inspiration from a variety of disciplines including fashion, architecture, design philosophy, social activism, and traditional art practice.

Lucy Orta, 'Refuge Wear - Habitent', 1992-1993. Aluminium coated polyamide, polar fleece, telescopic aluminium poles, whistle, lantern, transport bag, silkscreen print. 150x150x150cm. Photograph: Galerie Anne de Villepoix. Collection FDAC Seine Saint Denis. Copyright Lucy Orta, artist. Lucy Orta holds the first Rootstein Hopkins Chair at London College of Fashion, University of the Arts, London (image via The University of Sheffield's website)

Visit The Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World website for information on their upcoming 'Fashion Footprints' exhibit as well.