Make a Unique Fashion Statement with Ethical Label - Make Amend

Cassandra Pons, Founder of Make Amend,  graduated high school in 2011 and since then she has worked hard to create an amazing ecochic label that blends vintage aesthetic with a femininity and boldness that caught my eye. Come and let me introduce you to this amazingly vivid and inspiring designer who is committed to making gorgeous one-of-a-kind pieces that are kind to the planet!

Q. What drove you to branch out and create your own fashion label at such a young age?  

For as long as I can remember I have been a very creative person and always very ‘artsy’. When I started high school I was encouraged to pursue my creativity more through my studies of Home Economics and Art, and this really got me going. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I finished school, but I knew it had to be something that fed my creative spirit. I didn’t want to fit into the mould of what everyone else was trying to make me. 

Being the typical girl that I am, fashion was always something that I loved but I never knew I had a talent for sewing. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school where I went through a somewhat obsessive stage of op-shopping that I discovered my love for redesigned and handmade fashion. Once I started I couldn’t stop! It all happened so naturally and it brought me so much happiness that I knew that this was what I am meant to do. I’m a very determined person so once I set my mind to having my own fashion label, I just worked and worked and worked to make it happen. 

Q. How would you describe the design aesthetic of Make Amend in 10 words or less?   

Quirky and cute inspired by the 50’s and fashion 60’s with a focus on sustainability.  

  

Q. Can you tell us a little about what makes your label both ethical and eco-friendly?  

Make Amend is a fashion label that encourages young ladies to adorn their bodies with unique designs that embrace femininity, support independent designers, and help our environment. My garments are hand crafted by me, and I think that this not only gives them a special personal touch, but also makes them ethical because they are not being manufactured by under-paid and probably under-age staff overseas! 

They are eco-friendly in the sense that I work with recycled materials to ensure that Make Amend represents sustainable fashion. I have a selection of redesigned retro garments and handmade garments made from recycled materials. This is my small way of making a difference in the world, minimising waste and helping the environment.

Q. Which ethical designers are inspiring you right now?  

Not really a designer but more an event for designers! A friend just recently introduced me to Undress Brisbane. It’s a festival for ethical designers held in Brisbane and I am totally in love with the concept, and the fact that ethical designers are being recognised and celebrated!

Q. I see that your designs are now available in Hiroshima – what makes Japanese fashionistas a great fit for your label?  

Japanese fashion is crazy – they use it to express themselves and tell a story. They live and breathe fashion and elaborate fesitvals such as Harajuku show that fashion is something very special to them. Japanese girls are also very cute, and I think this is the design aspect they love about my label. I’ve never been into being ‘sexy’ or ‘hot’ but rather my emphasis is on cute. I want to create something that when a girl looks at it, it makes their heart smile. 

  

Q. In your opinion what is the major challenge facing designers who want to be more sustainable?  

The time, effort and resources that it takes to do so! It takes more effort to source sustainable materials, more financial resources to make them and lots and lots of time to ensure that they are produced using sustainable methods. I think it is important to make this effort though, and like they say ‘Anything worth having never comes easy’ so it’s just a matter of being determined to make it happen.

Q. Do you have a favourite item that you’ve created?  

One of the first dresses I made was for a local fashion show and it was entered in the Apex Australian Teenage Fashion Awards. It was the first dress I sold on Etsy and while I was so happy to make my first sale, it was so sad too – the dress was like my baby! That dress would have to be my favourite, not only because the design was great but also because it symbolised the beginning of Make Amend.

Q. What does the future hold for Make Amend?  

Big things. First I want to have my own retail store, a retro emporium where it feels like you are being taken back to the 1960’s. I then want to grow this to several stores nationally and internationally, showing that you can look cute and help the environment too. The sky’s the limit I guess! 

You can follow Make Amend's journey via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and their Blog! Also stay tuned for an *exclusive* Kindness by Design + Make Amend photo shoot!

Discover the Universal Language of Colour

Hello there ecofashionistas - I'm back in Australia and incredibly excited to share some of the amazing ethical fashion and design I came across during my travels through the Americas over the next month!

My partner captured the vibrancy of colourful Cartagena in Columbia during our recent visit (Photo: Ryan Collins)

One aspect of South America in particular that really resonated with me, was the abundant use of vibrant colour. This fearless approach to bold pigments is the inspiration for this ecochic round-up :)

Orange sentanite by Lollywatch - I can't get enough of this juicy shade of orange! This watch has been made from a sustainable material called sentanite, and a tree is planted for every watch sold

Yellow Shine Bracelet by Tangelo Tree - How could you not feel energised by the electric use of colour in this limited edition handmade accessory? :D

Azure Cuff Collar Tee by WildTrim - Something about this unique upcycled tee makes me feel like holidays!

Red Piper Loafers by Neu Aura - These luscious vegan shoes will put the twinkle back into your toes! Not only are they oh so pretty - they were also made in a factory which complies to eco standards in recycling and non-use of toxic chemicals

Fair Trade Kidogo Shorts by Lalesso - These shorts are the fashion equivalent of drinking a girly cocktail with an umbrella in while lounging on a tropical island! Lovingly made in Kenya under fair trade conditions benefiting the local communities

1970s Take Me to the Open Air Cinema Dress from Hills Hoisted - This vintage dress simply oozes delightfulness! Making the sustainable choice never looked prettier

Furoshiki Wrap Bag by AnnySchoo - This Japanese-inspired design has been handmade from vegan and 100% biodegradable eco-linen

Hibiscus Sleeveless Elsa Dress by Elsa & Me - This meticulously constructed shift dress has been created using 100% organic cotton twill. A fabulous feature are the side pockets :)

Moroccan Boucherouite Rug from State of Green - Designed and crafted by artisans in Morocco, this visually appealing rug is made from sustainable materials such as recycled cotton and other fabric offcuts

Marlene Dress by MuMu Organic - This stunning organic cotton dress in the guise of wearable sunshine was designed and crafted in Greece

Butter Bar Stool from Design by Them - This super stylish sustainable stool has been made entirely out of post-consumer materials derived from recycled milk containers...how cool is that?!

Skateboard Bracelets by Red Seed Studio - These rainbowlicious bracelets were once components of broken skateboards on their way to the tip! Happily instead of languishing on the rubbish heap, they've been given a new life as pretty arm candy

Antique Doily Peter Pan Collar Dress by Where Clothes - This fun-loving upcycled outfit has a vibrancy and playfulness that goes hand in hand with its one of a kind status

Brigid Bumblebee Sandals by Colourful Grass - Not only are these sandals eye-poppingly funky, they're also made from sustainable recycled and vegan materials...WIN!

Toza Tote Bag from Intrinsic Styles - This is such a smiley stylin' bag! Made from traditional Kenyan cloth by members of the Mathare Women’s Rehabilitation Center, which provides support to young women and single mothers

Mariama Festival Tulip Skirt from House of Beth - This effervescent skirt is constructed of material from Sierra Leone by children from the EducAid charity. House of Beth will give 70% of the profits from the sale of this skirt to EducAid to support their work educating underprivileged children from war-torn areas

Go Green Vintage Sunglasses from Hearts - It's astounding how many fabulous items are unnecessarily sent to landfill each year! Thank goodness the clevers at Hearts saved these super trendy vintage specs for your luminous fashion pleasure

Recycled Sari Scarf from Live Worldly - Whether you need a radiant covering on a day at the beach or a splash of colour to brighten your winter outfit, this ecochic accessory has got you covered! The icing on the top is that some of the proceeds from your purchase will  help Water for People bring clean, sanitized water to communities across India

Shake the Dust Epitomises the Ideals of Fair Trade & Creative Design

Ahoy there ecofashionistas! I'm writing from the astounding and sweltering Panama Canal on my way from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. My next stop will be the tiny San Blas Islands, where communities rely on the trade of their unique molas textiles. 

Director of Shake the Dust, Kathy Shenoy, lives and breathes creativity, fairness and collaboration. The name was gleaned from one of Kathy's favourite poems by Anis Mojgani. It was my absolute pleasure to chat to her about gorgeous ethical design and the knock-on effects of trading fairly!

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about how Shake the Dust first came about?

I’ve been living and working in a remote valley in Swaziland, (Southern Africa) for the last few years, initially as a product designer for Fair Trade craft and design business and then coordinating an international Arts festival. I met so many people, from rural artisans to top international designers and felt that there is a real need to connect all these talented people in some way. It took me a long time to figure out how that would manifest, and how I would fund it (!) but eventually Shake the Dust was born at the end of 2012. 

The business is a platform for showcasing creative talent and products both in the UK and in developing countries, but with an ethical and developmental edge that forges partnerships. 

Q. What impact did your time living in Southern Africa’s Kingdom of Swaziland have on the way you live and work today? 

It’s been life changing in many ways. I was supposed to be there for 6 months but stayed for nearly 3 years! Living in a place with a relatively small creative industry gave me an opportunity to explore my creative direction to a degree that would be much harder to accomplish in the competitive UK scene. But what I achieved and the inspiring people I met gave me a lot of confidence to branch out on my own over here. 

Q. How would you describe Shake the Dust’s design aesthetic in 10 words or less?

Eclectic, colourful, contemporary, global designs with soul.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about what makes your label both socially ethical and eco-friendly?

The primary focus of Shake the Dust is to work with partners who share my philosophy for socially responsible business. I want to prove that investing in and developing creative economies can really impact on the lives of those living in poverty. This is particularly true in parts of the world where creativity has always been in abundance but which needs to move with the times to be sustainable. 

We have so much talent in the UK, but in an over-saturated creative industry, emerging designers struggle to find work and bridge the gap to producing product. 

Shake the Dust creates opportunities for collaboration between designers and producers. Designers get to work with new and unique materials and processes; producers get new fresh and contemporary designs to grow a UK market.

The term ‘ethical’, to me, means transparency through the supply chain and clear communication about producer’s good working practices and fair prices. Many of the producers we work with are Fair Trade certified, some are just starting this process or may be more informal artisan-based projects. 

In my experience Fair Trade has different connotations and guidelines in different places, so in all cases, it’s mainly important that I build a very close relationship with them before we introduce their products. 

I worked with many of our current partners for nearly 3 years in Southern Africa. Part of the business is about helping smaller producers to develop ethical guidelines and monitoring systems into their businesses. Our partner Gone Rural employs over 700 rural women, paying fair trade wages for them to work from home and supporting them with clean water supplies, paying school fees and offering mobile health clinics and personal development. Their hand-woven products are sourced from renewable materials such as recycled textile factory waste and native mountain grasses.

In this respect, we also strive to encourage eco-conscious methods and materials - Rosecraft buy their cotton, mohair and merino raw from local organic farms, and all of our Swaziland partners use GOTS certified dyes.

Q. If you could change just one thing about the fashion industry today, what would that be and why?

It's quite a general and large wish(!) but I’d want to see better global ethical standards in the textile and fashion industry- that way there would be no mutual exclusivity between convenience, affordability, fashion and ethics. In my mind there’s no excuse for ethical products to be either naff or too expensive.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about the designers and producers you’re currently working with?

At the moment we are launching some more ‘capsule collections’ with a couple more designers and producers. These are collections I select with each partner from their existing product lines or we rework them for our market. The next stage will be to launch collaborative products, which are commissioned and facilitated by Shake the Dust. 

Protea Cushion by Baobab Batik

Currently we have a number of Southern African producers including handwoven luxury knits and weaves by Rosecraft, bold contemporary textiles by Baobab Batik, hand-screen printed bags and home textiles by Mongoose and delicately woven sisal and silver jewellery by Tintsaba. 

Handmade Heart Pendant by Tintsaba

We’ve also launched a signature collection with Gone Rural - it’s a brave move to more high-end home décor. 

In addition, I’m championing some incredible emerging illustrators at the moment - Alice Pattullo, Josie Shenoy and I'm currently working with the very talented textile designer Kangan Arora to launch a currently top-secret collaboration later this year…

I’m always on the look out for more emerging design talent and will be open to submissions for our ‘emerging designers programme’ very soon - keep an eye on the website and twitter for more info.

Q. Which ethical designers are inspiring you right now?

I can’t wait to see the Made by Node rug collection at the Design Museum. Linking illustrators and designers to fair trade rug-weaver artisans - it’s the kind of idea I wish I’d had first! 

A Bit Lost by Chris Haughton from Made by Node

Other People's Rubbish Collection by Heath Nash

Also, anyone who hasn’t checked out South African lighting/product designer Heath Nash needs to! I had the pleasure of working with him on a community-based workshop a couple of years ago and I love that he embraces education about materials and our ideas about waste as much as he enjoys exhibiting at top design fairs.
 

Q. Do you have a favourite item in-store right now?

The new Gone Rural collection is simply stunning - I will be making a special place in my flat for my own Fluoro zig zag vase. 

I also love the Wonderland lime satchel by Mongoose - it has a colourful surprise inside with a lining made from off-cut bright African print fabric. It’s the perfect size for running around London on the tube.

Q. What does the future hold for Shake the Dust?

We’ll also be exhibiting at Clerkenwell Design Week in May with some exciting new projects to be unveiled. 

You can also connect with Shake the Dust via Facebook and Twitter!