Tango & James: Reloved Revamped

Images just in, of my debut Tango & James fashion collection... and a twist... every piece is conceived from re-claimed materials and are one-of-a-kind items.
Shown as part of the collective of designers at Reloved: Revamped at Craft ACT at the end of September, here is my "Goodnight Moon" collection...

Quite a few pieces sold on the evening, and others are still available for sale, please contact me if you are interested or inspired!

Hope to see you here...

ReLOVED: ReVAMPED

I've been busily designing, thrifting, collating and stitching up a gorgeous little fashion collection of one-off pieces for the catwalk fashion event coming up at the end of this month, Re-Loved Re-Vamped, formed by dynamic fashionista duo Hanny and Lee Dewar.

I just can't wait to show you what I've been up to, here's just a sneaky peek at something from some of the 5 local designers in the show...

Above: Tango & James


HannyD Creations


Chris Murray


Tamara Russell

Zoe Turketo

This event, hosted at Craft ACT, showcases sustainable and recycled fashion to the people of Canberra. Each designer has been given a brief to deconstruct, re-work and re-imagine existing clothing and materials into new creations, promoting a sustainable fashion culture.

"Re-Loved:Re-Vamped" will be held on Thursday 30 September in the gallery space of Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre in Canberra city. Doors open 6pm for pre-show drinks and nibbles. Admission is FREE! Come and join our fabulous designers who have worked so hard to create their fab collections.

Be there! Love Nina x

Recycle in style: A re-vamped preview

So inspired was I after last years eco fashion show Re-loved, as promised, I have been quietly working away on a delicious collection of fashion looks to present in this years show to be held at the end of September. The challenge: using only the most heinous pre-loved clothing and re-claimed materials, create a collection of 5 gorgeous, wearable looks.

Works in progress are looking good, but if you want to see the whole collection you'll have to wait until September 30. Until then, check out the Re-Loved blog for the latest info and designers. It's going to be gorgeous so don't miss it!

Love Nina x

Re Loved 2: Fashion re-cap

What happens when the task to create a Spring/Summer collection using only deconstructed pre-loved garments or factory off-cuts is given to six of Canberra's most talented emerging designers? A standing ovation for ReLoved2, showcased in the gallery space at Craft ACT , proving that we can reduce re-use and recycle in great style...

Above Left: The Renlee Label, by Karen Lee
Above Right: Polbymade, by Polly Stokes

Above: George, by Georgina Edwards

Collections from Canberran indie labels Craftilee, George, Handmade By Hanny, The Renlee Label, Hayley Caroline and Polbymade all made use of recycled materials.


Above Left: "Retro with a Twist" Handmade By Hanny, by Hanny Dewar
Above Right: "Misch & Me" Hayley Caroline, by Hayley Wandett-Smith


Above: "Misch & Me" Hayley Caroline, by Hayley Wandett-Smith

Above: "Sweetness & Bight" Craftilee, by Lee Dewar (in her own divine hot pink creation).

SO INSPIRED!
Thank you designers!!!

Stay tuned for Nina's collection at the next Re-Loved event! xxx

Frugal Fashionistas

Check it out at Benedict House, Queanbeyan. Pre purchase your tickets.

Re-loved: re-fashion

Designers and avid recyclers Hanny Dewar and daughter Lee have once again joined forces under the project name Re-Loved Creations to host Re-Loved 2.

Highlighting the innovative concepts of recycling fabrics for fashion, Re-Loved 2 will showcase Spring/Summer 2009 collections from Hayley Wandelt-Smith (Hayley Caroline), Polly Stokes (Polbymade), Karen Lee (The Renlee Label), Georgina Edwards (George), Hanny Dewar (handmade by hanny), Lee Dewar (Craftilee).

Re-Loved Creations was formed after an overwhelming amount of positive feedback following the first Re-Loved parade held at designspace@CIT in March 2009 (images above). Hanny and Lee decided this was something that should be done more regularly, and started work for the next showing in time for Spring/Summer 2009. All designers involved in this current Re-Loved venture were given a brief to deconstruct, re work or re-imagine existing clothing and materials into new creations to promote a sustainable fashion culture.

Re-Loved 2 is on Thursday 22 October 2009 at 6.30 pm at Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre, London Cct, Civic.

I can't wait! Love Nina x

Re:loved recycling in style

Have you ever wondered what has become of the clothes you discard? With the current availability of disposable fashion, what are we doing to our environment? What if our cast-offs could become something new, something extraordinary - reborn, reloved?

Former CIT Fashion grad and emerging Canberran designer Lee Dewar, and her handbag designing mum Hanny, decided to take a closer look at ways we can reduce, re-use and recycle in style by challenging themselves and a handful of talented designers to create new garments and accessories from recycled materials and deconstructed garments.

Above: Event organiser and designer Lee Dewar (Third from left) with some of her amazing collection for her Craftilee label, all created using recycled garments and materials.

Supported by the Salvation Army's Fashion with a Conscience campaign and Green Threads, an ACT initiative "based on a commitment to sustainability and reducing the impact of discarded clothing in a way that is exciting, fun and doesn’t sacrifice style in the process."

Above Left: Handmade by Hanny handbag, designed by Hanny Dewar
Above right: and recycled couture by Zoe Denise.

And this t-shirt shall become my new motto!

Above Right: Michele Grimston of Green Threads rocks her amazing recycled Tupperware jewellery!

"We are about recycling, rescuing, recirculating and refashioning old garments, fabrics and accessories, saving clothing from landfill and wardrobe purgatory." - Green Threads.

Above: Designs by Grazed Youth's Amelia Thompson, all created from recycled materials from Salvo's op-shops. Amelia also produces jewellery using recycled clock parts and tiny barbie shoes!

Wow, well done to all of the designers, I feel completely inspired!

Love Nina x

Giveaways and a Green Christmas: In style

I'm so in love with these beautiful Earth-friendly gift cards and tags by Earth Greetings from Canberra's Brindabella Baby online store...

Brindabella Baby also stock organic, sustainable and ethical products for mums and babies...

"The range at Brindabella Baby is focused on environmentally sustainable alternatives to the products in most department stores. With a preference for WAHMs (work-at-home-mums - or aunts, or dads...), or sweatshop free commercial manufacturers when a WAHM product isn't available, you can be sure that you are supporting ethical means of production.

And just for the lucky readers of Canberra's Got Style, a giveaway just in time for Christmas...

From the divine Emma of Brindabella Baby, a pair of fabulous organic cotton Babylegs (leg warmers - can also be used as arm warmers if mum wants to pinch them!) and the completely useful and good Charlie and Lola tome "Look After Your Planet" by the ever styling Lauren Childs (sigh, love her work!)

And to add to the prize, I'm going to include a mobile, inspired by the stylings of Charlie and Lola and these gorgeous birds by Spool (spotted here), made by moi using completely extraneous but gorgeous fabric scraps from my collection.

So, Canberrans, to be in the running for this giveaway, just leave a comment below and tell me about the little person you would be giving them to. And if Brindabella Baby were to open a physical shop, where is your favoured location?

The winner will be chosen on Tuesday morning 23rd December and I will deliver the prize (to a location in Canberra!) myself, now go for it, love Nina x

Water saving lawn: installed

Something to improve the environs at Casa Ribena arrived last week, and I'm please to say it's completely water saving and eco friendly.
I have mentioned my gardening 'black thumb of death' before (my garden exists by the graces of mother nature - bless), and though I'd like to say I'm seriously on the improve, I need to admit that a patch of immaculate grass is way beyond my commitment level in the garden. And with two little boys who adore the outdoors and have waited patiently for a soccer pitch - what's a girl to do?

Enter Eco-Lush and a patch of premium synthetic turf which will not EVER require watering, mowing, edging, fertilizing or weeding! Incredibly it's look and feel is quite convincing, if only being given away by it's perfection amongst the rubble!

the boys from Eco-Lush...

turned this... into this

The base is compacted crushed dust and the recycled rubber-backed turf is topped with fine sand and "tyre crumb" (from recycled tyres!) for cushioning. It has so far passed the "rolly-polly kids" test and the "husband lying in the shade" test, but thankfully not the "doggy ablutions" test - yet!
Anyone who wants to try out the soccer pitch is very welcome, I'll be under the pagoda with a cocktail ;-) Lovely!