Bring Back UK Manufacturing

On the One Show tonight they did a piece about UK manufacturing and how a number of firms were moving production back from overseas. They covered a Yorkshire textile mill and explained how there just isn't the staff to keep up with the production they need. It is certainly true that more mid market brands are choosing to manufacture here, because of issues with quality and time delays. The 'Made in Britain' label also has a lot of weight in our ultra modern era where provenance is key. Yes its still cheaper to produce in the Far East, but the trend for heritage has improved the position of the UK industry greatly. The Made in Britain label is particularly popular in Japan and the US.

Many UK manufacturers have reported around 30% growth in orders over the last year and see that growth continuing through this year. This must be fantastic news for our economy?! Unfortunately it is not the first time that I've heard concern over the state of our workforce. manufacturing skills have died out and people just don't won't to do those jobs. I think this is such a great opportunity for us to help ourselves out of the recession, perhaps the Government can step in to support training and apprenticeships. Watch this space I guess, I certainly plan to do some more investigations.

Charity Shop Drapers Review

A first for fashion trade magazine, Drapers, as they featured a charity shop in their weekly double page shop review. This is a HUGE development. Charity shops have for far too long had a stigma attached to them, especially amongst the youth. There will always be people who won't step foot inside a charity shop perhaps because they think they are for old people, poor people, or they simply don't want to wear second hand clothes. Personally I think charity shops are the ultimate in guilt free shopping - you are recycling and diverting textiles from landfill, giving money to a good cause, and spending out less money than you would for a brand new item.

Charity shops have benefited from the upsurge in demand for vintage pieces no doubt, and as the article in fact says, the best charity shops should feel more like vintage boutiques than dowdy charity shops. Mary Portas tried to change the fortune of charity shops around in her series Mary Queen of Charity Shops, and her influence can now be spotted in shops up and down the country. The shop review in Drapers is a Mary Portas/ Save the Children collaboration. Positioned in Primrose Hill, it should attract donations from the well heeled types living and working in the area. They also rely on donations from the big brands, next month hosting a Rigby and Peller event.

Charity shops cannot meet all needs, they don't suit the time poor or those looking for a particular item, but if you do find a gem in your size it does leave you feeling a bit smug.

Partimi - Dieu Bleu

I came across Partimi at London Fashion Week last September, where the brand was showing in Estethica. Founded by Central St Martins graduate Eleanor Dorrien-Smith, 'Dieu Bleu' is Partimi's first full collection for S/S 11. The designs are striking but simple, and perfectly wearable for modern urban living. US retailer Anthropologie spotted Eleanor at her graduate degree show and immediately commissioned Eleanor to create a six piece capsule collection for their stores.

The new collection has been designed in homage to costumes that the designer’s

Grandmother collected from a sale of Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes costumes at Sotheby’s in the late 60s and 70s. The PARTIMI collection shows digitally printed organic silks and cottons that are inspired by the worn texture of hand painted decoration, simple graphic patterns and the movement of the dancers themselves.

Green Carpet Challenge

Livia Firth, eco-fashion pioneer and wife of Colin Firth, has started the ‘Green Carpet Challenge 2011’. Basically the idea is that whenever Livia has a red carpet event to attend with Colin, she will only wear ethical outfits. It’s a fantastic idea as it proves that ethical fashion can be just as glamorous and special as mainstream fashion. For the premiere of ‘The King’s Speech’ Livia wore a Junky Styling creation, a stylish black tailored dress up-cycled from one of Colin’s old suits! She will be wearing a Tussah silk Prophetik gown to the Golden Globes designed by Jeff Garner, but we will have to wait until Sunday to see what it looks like. It’s well worth following Livia’s vogue blog http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/default.aspx.

Talking of challenges, I have set myself the goal of not buying any brand new clothes this year, unless completely necessary. This will mean making use of what I have, and scouring the charity shops (which is great fun anyway). Time will tell as to how I define ‘necessary’!

If I do need to buy anything, Eco-Age the Chiswick store founded by Livia Firth, Orsola de Castro, Lucy Siegle and Jocelyn Whipple will no doubt relieve any feelings of guilt.

New Year

Firstly, happy new year! I've been busy with work and family etc for the last couple of weeks, but should be getting back into things more now. Sadly, the year hasn't got off to a good start with a death in the family and having a few days of illness, but I'm looking forward to 2011! There are two major goals for this year - one is to get a PhD studentship, two is to start my own small business - a lingerie fashion label (quality, ethical of course). If I have started one by the end of the year I'll be super happy. I hope to continue my research into sustainability and work towards making a real difference to the world in some way. I think one of my key achievements for last year was boosting my confidence when it comes to public speaking, and that's something I want to build on this year too. I will start each day saying 'Today I will be the best I can be!'

Also, I want to share these pictures with you. I'm still cataloging needle work tools at the museum, and I came across these this week. The pictures don't really do them justice, but they are delightful needle work boxes, one full of ivory bits and pieces, the other mother of pearl. They are from the 18th and 19th Century. This would have been a prize possession for the lady of the house and its lovely that they have survived as two sets.