NEUES IM OKTOBER

- Fisherman Knit Jumper, Antiform 

- Mini Wool Skirt, ROHstoff
- Gold Bangles, Vintage

- background 'Neues im Oktober, Paul Klee
photo Renata, edit Annett

October represents the month when leaves are falling and temperatures are dropping.  It used to be that my mood dropped right with it and I felt drained of energy and enthusiasm... My outlook on the chillier months completely changed when I came across a painting with a beautiful meaning by modernist painter & Bauhaus teacher Paul Klee called ‘Neues im Oktober’(Fresh Beginnings in October)

Its message is very motivating: Old things starting to fall off to make way for a new beginning. Turning falling leaves into a symbol of hope and new perspective puts a super positive spin on the coming months!!  So let’s embrace the colder season and pack away floaty dresses & flip flops to shine some warm light on crisp tailoring and chunky knits!

For Autumn I like to pick transitional pieces that work well across the season like tailored skirts and shirts. They can be worn as layers even when it gets really cold.  I mix them with wooly knits like this gorgeous hand-knitted jumper from the new Antiform collection made with reclaimed yarns.

Antiform is a unique fashion label with a completely new business model that pushes the boundaries of how to design and produce fashion, working exclusively with waste fabrics sourced from heritage fabric mills & factories in the UK!  

For their new fisherman knit jumpers & dresses, Antiform collaborated with Krenow Knitwear who knit sweaters for the fishing community in Devon and Cornwall. When the owner David decided to retire he approached the Upcycle Label to develop knitwear with all his remaining yarns.
The Antiform knitwear pieces come in different shades but I love this tan colour with a hint of soft tangerine as it adds a new shade to the usual black and grey.  Made me want to get out my vintage bangles and feel all golden & glorious!

A SEASON FOR CHANGE

- boxy jumper, Antiform

- necklace,  vintage

image, Renata, edit Annett

This week has been very exciting.  Not only did I move house but we also moved into a new studio!!
Atelier Kreuzberg is an eclectic mix of artists, designers & software innovators for the creative industries.  With so many productive juices flowing this makes for a great start of my new venture which will soon be revealed right here!
To top it all off I've received a parcel from upcycle label Antiform with two gorgeous jumpers - just in time for the cold season and for my first autumn style post!!  Watch this space :-)

TRANSPARENT LUREX MESH MAXI SKIRT

- Jungle Fever print swimsuit, We Are Handsome

- up-cycled mesh maxi skirt

- Jungle Fever print artwork, We Are Handsome

- silver espadrilles, TOMS

Following the tropical temperatures we had in Berlin the past few weeks all I wanted to do was to cool off. We decided to try some of the nearby lakes (Groß Glienicker See & Schlachtensee) and were pleasantly surprised.  The water was amazingly clear and the kiddos absolutely loved exploring the 'wild jungle' forests ;) 

Since I like to carry as little as possible I decided to quickly upcycle myself a new maxi skirt to go with my jungle-fever swimsuit. The lush silver lurex mesh was an obvious choice of fabric since I love all things sparkly. I decided to contrast it with a waistband made from sporty cycling jersey which I had left over from the bomber jacket. The skirt has become a new favourite and creates an array of possible outfit mix-ups such as printed beach top combos for various occasions - everything from a lakeside or forest-midnight outing to just hanging with friends on a warm Summer evening.

Making the mesh maxi skirt requires a little time, some transparent sparkly mesh (or any jersey you have hanging around the house, maybe an old tube dress, etc.), some more jersey for the waistband, some elastic and a sewing machine.

I don’t even remember where I got this fabric from since people donate their preluved things to me all the time ;) 

It’s been in my to-upcycle pile for quite some time and already came as a long tube. Since the fabric is very transparent I folded excess fabric to the inside of the tube to create an under-layer and then added an elasticated waistband to the fold-over edge at the top.

1|| To prepare the skirt body you can also use a large jersey rectangle, fold in half & join at side seam.

2|| Prepare your elasticated waistband as per instructions, seal elastic at ends with overlocker and close waistband by stitching opposite ends together.

3|| Attach waistband to skirt by threading top of skirt through closed waistband - so the skirt lays inside the waistband - and stitch into place.

UPCYCLED DENIM SKIRT TUTORIAL

As promised I will show you how to make your own denim pencil from an old pair of jeans to complete your summer wardrobe. You will need a pair of old jeans, a sewing machine, tape measure, chalk, thread & pins and a craft knife for distressing - I chose a pair of stretchy denims since it gives a little more around the hip area but non-stretch jeans will be fine too.

1|| find a suitable pair of jeans (my sample is a size 8)
2|| on my sample I measured ca.27cm from top of waistband at side seam to determine cut off line
3|| mark with chalk and repeat on opposite side seam (includes 1cm seam allowance)
4|| cut off denim legs in straight (this is important) line and prepare bottom half
5|| prepare top half of skirt
6|| join top & bottom halves of skirt by pinning in place first before you sew them together
7|| add distress by scratching & slicing denim in desired places, finish off with a wash and fray extra if you wish!

Please let me know how you get on & show me a snapshot of your version on instagram :))

SUSTAINABLE SUMMER OUTFIT

- easy fit kimono top from re-used pillow cases, ROHstoff

- up-cycled denim pencil skirt

- up-cycled transparent clutch

- silver espadrilles, TOMS

.

Just in time for my holidays I fixed myself my first entirely sustainable outfit which ticks a whole spectrum of ethical fashion boxes ;)
The easy fit kimono top is one of my favourite shapes and an essential piece in my wardrobe because it looks great paired with all sorts of bottoms such as pencils, maxi skirts or jeans. Its light weight cotton quality from reclaimed pillow cases makes it perfect for summer.
I've always wanted a denim pencil skirt because they are so easy to wear - I up-cycled an old pair of stretch denim jeans and added some wear & tear for a distressed finish.  This is moderately easy to make yourself and I will explain more in one of the upcoming tutorials!!
The transparent clutch is nothing more than two sheets of bubble wrap with two brass press buttons attached to it. I love the sheer look and it's pretty convenient for protecting your mobile, sunnies & lippy at the beach!
I absolutely adore my new silver mesh espadrilles - they put a completely new spin on many of my existing outfits. Now I can easily re-mix a new holiday look without having to buy heaps of new clothes! On top of that they feel extremely comfortable and make for a conscious buy with their One for One^® business model that will match every pair of shoes purchased with a new pair of shoes for a child in need :))

FIXING FASHION

War on Want is a UK based charity that fights poverty in developing countries together with grassroots organisations and people affected by globalisation.  Especially since the Rana Plaza factory collapse the fashion world woke up to the ugly truth of globalisation, I remember I did! Instead of fostering growth through innovation and passing on knowledge to the people & communities in the countries that are manufacturing our cheap clothing, globalisation shifted the power to huge transnational companies who started operating free of any social, economic or environmental concern.

Fast fashion is one big problem of our commercial clothing industry. It exists because of the huge consumer demand for incredibly low priced fashion, which creates a vicious cycle where one feeds the other...  I decided I no longer want to be part of it because at the end of the day we as consumers have the power to choose (wisely;)

To reduce my fashion consumption I set myself a wardrobe challenge to not buy any new clothes and instead either swap, buy vintage or refurbish!  I have to be honest, I do fancy something new to wear every so often and it is only natural that you go off certain shapes after a while!
This summer I started to scan my wardrobe for things that I still like but which I am not wearing for one reason or another.  First thing I chose was this leopard-print top.  I absolutely love animal prints but found the shape slightly unflattering.  To introduce a little fabric interest and translate it into a more drapey silhouette I inserted some metallic black jesrey left overs and fixed my need for new ;)

STEP BY STEP

If you have similar tops or tees you want to fix-up for a new summer look you can follow the step by step upcycle-tutorial.

FEATHERED CHIC

Feathers seem to be an obvious choice given the season - so I thought it the perfect time to introduce the new feather-printed PreSpoked Bomber Jacket which we made entirely from silk left overs and preloved cycling jerseys.  This is the first prototype and we're so proud of how it turned out!!  Soon the jacket will be available to order, so stay tuned and Happy Easter everyone:))

BERLIN | AW15.16

DARK CRUSADER
1 AutumnWinter15.16 Odeur, photo Posh
2 Wool Cape Elsien Gringhuis
3 Suit of Armour Leather Jacket & Leather Shorts Phoebe Heess
edited by me

COOL AS ICE
1 Kimono Cardi Komana
2 Staciatella Jumper Here Today Here Tomorrow
3 Sorbet Cardigan Studio Jux
4 Felt Like Heaven Jessie English
edited by me

Dark Crusader
Protective textile innovations and crusader-worthy capes were a prominent message from many Berlin collections this season.  Bavaria-based designer Phoebe Heess was exploring suits of armour and reflective lights as protection for her everyday super heroine.  Her square-shoulder leather jacket exhibited at SEEK's FashionTech Lab is made with Kevlar inserts - a light weight fibre originating from combat clothing with safe-keeping and cut resistant qualities.

Dutch design house Elsien Gringhuis presented chapter two of their collection of stories.  The beautifully draped cape made from 100% wool offers protection and comfort at the same time, regardless if you are on the road or relaxing on your couch.

Disguising her vulnerability the Odeur woman sported a courageous look in preparation for the darker season.  The oversized bomber jacket with emphasised shoulders, featured on the Swedish label's AW15 catwalk, conveyed a need for protection in modern society and is perfectly suited to keep you wrapped up next season.

Cool as Ice
Mmm.  Scrumptious looking ice cream colours emerged as inspiration for the latest collection of socially committed and environmental conscious knitwear label Here There Here Tomorrow. Flavours like stracciatella and peppermint translated into chocolate sprinkled jumpers and cozy hats topped with pale green pom poms made from 100% biodegradable fibres.  Showing for the first time in Berlin at the Ethical Fashion Show the British brand is just going to melt your heart with their playful approach to current, high quality designs combined with fair-trade craftsmanship.

Award winning dutch design Studio Jux whipped up a delightful mix of berry sorbets with this lovely long and chunky cardigan.  Blended with the luxurious blouse in soft pistachio which features closed-loop eco fibre Tencel this look also captures Autumn's fascination with contrasting textures.
Adding to the heavenly mix of Vanilla & Co. is London label Komana's cream Kimono cardigan with hand-painted dots on organic cotton jersey as well as Jessie English's knitted felt slippers - they're just the coolest accessory to brighten up a gloomy winter's day:))

FISHERMAN'S FRIEND

1 Knitted Swatch Studio Jux
2 AutumnWinter15.16 Esther Perbandt, photo Posh

3 Homeland Collection Inspiration & Knitted Outfit Doppelganger

3 Fisherman Hat MeinFrollein

4 AutumnWinter 15.16 Rebekka Ruétz, photo Posh
edited by me

Causing a storm this Berlin Fashion Week was a strong sentiment for fine quality knitwear influenced by traditional garment detailing of hard working fishermen translated into big flowing silhouettes on skirts & coats and paired with modern, constructed patterns.

The designer of Icelandic newcomer label Doppelganger took inspiration from 17th century heritage fishermen textiles and re-worked traditional patterns into symmetrical composed knits. Delicate leggings and second-skin-like tops made from sustainable wool and mulberry silk blended yarns delivered a compelling aesthetic of balance and wellbeing, leaving you with nothing but a clear conscience.

Transparency on and off the catwalk was a popular source of inspiration at Esther Perbandt.  The designer made waves earlier last year when she went on a trip to research local textile production conditions in Bangladesh.  Her new Autumn Winter collection featured lovely light woven knits with a sheer quality to it reminding me of the structure of fishing nets.  They made for a bold statement when placed against the clean cut woollen coats featured on the catwalk, promoting a confident and modern look with a soft feminine angle.

Comfort and purity were buzzwords at knitted accessories brand MeinFrollein.  Absolute highlight were the soft merino fishermen beanies which can be worn #InsideOut without revealing any conflicting labels.  The production is fair and Germany based - there's nothing fishy about that ;)

UPCYCLED DENIM

When The Upcycling Fashion Store put on an #InsideOut Photo Shoot for Fashion Revolution Germany last month I took the opportunity to upcycle an old pair of jeans and a leopard print cardi for ROHstoff.

Although the actual Fashion Revolution Day (24/04) just passed I believe the campaigns central question 'WHO MADE YOUR CLOTHES?' is valid all year round! Especially if you're upcycling your own unwanted or damaged textiles/ clothes to contribute to a more conscious way of consuming fashion! So here you go, have a look at the tutorial and get inventive! This also works really well if you want to repair any jeans with holes around the knee area, especially if you have little monsters like I do who just love sliding on their knees!

SKIM YOUR TEXTILE BIN

Search your cupboards for some old pair(s) of jeans and any other top with sleeves that you want to mix with your jeans!  I chose my fav pair of skinny jeans which had a hole and an old cardigan I once bought in a second hand shop but hardly ever wore.

STEP BY STEP

You will also need scissors, thread, pins and a sewing machine

Check here for the step by step tutorial.

Fashion Revolution Day - WHO MADE YOUR CLOTHES?

It's the time of year for Fashion Revolution Day where designers, shops, manufacturers, press from around the world and anyone who cares about what they wear come together and ask WHO MADE YOUR CLOTHES?  On 24/04/2014 it will have been exactly one year since the factory collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh. Fashion Revolution Day Germany joined the campaign by organising photo shoots over the last few weeks, asking everyone's support by wearing an item #insideout, photographing it and then sharing it with the hashtag #insideout.  This way Fashion Revolution Day raises awareness for transparent production chains and fair working conditions within the fashion industry.  It's a very exciting campaign with an important message and I feel privileged to be part of it! Here I am pushing the message in my 'Fashion Revolution Day' Tshirt and #InsideOut vintage denim shirt.  I also refurbished a pair of old jeans for another #InsideOut photo shoot--------See the upcycled denims tutorial in my next post!-------- >> Get Involved - Wear It InsideOut!

ON WITH THE OLD...

Since downsizing my wardrobe I find that whatever the occasion I can put together an outfit in under 15 minutes and without being totally distraught after not being able to decide what to wear.  For last night's New Year's Eve celebration I flicked through my rail to re-discover this gorgeous Armani all-sequins split pencil which I bought in a small second hand boutique in the back streets of Covent Garden way back when still living in London. 

I love a bit of sparkle especially at this dreary time of year - the granddad cardigan takes off the OTT edge and paired with the chunky ankle boots I felt comfortable and chic, ready to welcoming the new year with a smile.

And as the first day of the new year gently draws to its end I've decided to plan for less, minimize my stuff and remember that whatever happens, whether I feel love, frustration or excitement...longing or sadness, whatever I'll do or wont do...for better or worse, the curtains will come up on a fabulous new show tomorrow - may the good times continue in 2014 

❤

NECK & HEART WARMING ❤

Ahh, Christmas - wrap up & feel the LOVE ❤ Just in time for the festive season my friend and designer Martina Lewe launched the A/W 2014 collection for her label Mein Frollein featuring gorgeous scarves and hats spun from super soft Merino wool and with thoughts of charity.  Every season she picks a different project to support children in need with 3-5 € from each sale of her colourful cozyness.  This year she's helping to fund a traineeship program for young adults in Timisoara, Romania.  To add to the label's meaningful approach, she produces all her accessories locally right here in Germany. The only thing missing now is snow!

GREEN PASSION

Just your usual Friday night hang out I found myself sitting at the house of Representatives in Berlin next to an impressive set of stairs forming the centre piece of a lush catwalk.  As a finale to GREEN PASSION DAY the hosts, members of Germany's Green Party teamed up with Lette - Verein's fashion design class and staged a dazzling runway show featuring key aspects of low-impact fashion.
Designers sensationally mastered their different objectives ranging from using GOTS certified fabrics via upcycling preluved men's coats/ jackets to questioning the demand for fast fashion and creating timeless & effortlessly chic pieces. Follow their tracks & feel the passion ❤

Also massive congratulations to upcyclists Carina Bischoff and Arianna Nicoletti from UFS Berlin for their involvement at Green passion day discussion panels and for being a driving force for sustainable fashion in Berlin!

UPCYCLED T-SHIRT

The upcycled Tee is my latest ROHstoff project. I went to London for fashion week and stopped by at Eden studios where I was lucky to pick up a bag of beautiful silk scraps. The colours and inky prints instantly got my imagination running.  

I cut front panels & sleeves out of the back of preluved mens Tshirts.

V for Volta T-shirts are available at Water To Wine

Auguststr. 82, Berlin

WATER TO WINE BERLIN

Forget Zara&Co and open your mind/heart for a new fashion aesthetic.  Step inside 'Water To Wine' and be amazed by the imagination & mindful approach of the designer labels sold here.  As promised in my previous post about the new upcycling fashion boutique on Auguststrasse 82 in Berlin-Mitte the shop opened for the first time last week. 

At the opening party last Thursday Sarah, the manager gave me a little tour navigating through white painted retro shelves & chairs hanging on the wall stocked with cool customized denim jackets by Wilfried Pletzinger, bottle top bags from Portuguese label Há de Haver, gorgeous sturdy totes made from old tents by Margarete Häusler and some beautiful one off vintage skirts.  I've put out a couple of upcycled panelled Tshirts for ROHstoff as well as the pieces I made for Berlin Stadtmission fashion show two months ago - yeyh! 

To shop here is rewarding for your conscience too as some of the money from the purchases goes back to Berliner Stadtmission and will be used for their charity projects. The accessories label Beliya is topping that by offering children in developing countries school education for a year if you buy one of their creations made from upcycled sofa leathers!
 This is what I love about low-impact fashion, it's set out to ponder where a product comes from, how it is made and what will happen to it once it's served its purpose.
Check it out!

INSIDE 'WATER TO WINE'

Upcycling designers Luise Barsch & Sarah Schwesig take the lead in breaking 'fast fashion' barriers with Berliner Stadtmission's latest project - the new Upcycling Boutique & Label 'Water to Wine'

The first of its kind and located in Mitte's happening Auguststraße 'Water to Wine' is planned to open its doors for the first time on 14/10/2013!

 So I popped by on Monday to take a few teaser snaps of the prep works for the shop's cool interior.

The boutique's stock will include selected vintage garments from the charity initiative... The girls also invited other upcycling designers to collaborate with the label to produce some high quality & extremely wearable accessories and one-off garments.

I don't think the concept of upcycled fashion has been pushed to this level of accessibility before!

Watch this space!!!

❤

'Water to Wine'
Auguststraße 82,
Berlin 10117

ACNE ARCHIVE JEANS

 

 

 

 

It's not that often I buy new clothes. I tend to wear them to death...literally!

Even when they break I try to fix / upcycle them as every piece that made it in into my wardrobe has been given a considerable amount of thought upon purchase...

Please don't get me wrong - I am no saint & compulsive shopping is my second nature.  It took a lot of refunds, returns & ebay sells to sort through my closet.

One of my greatest pleasures is to combine the small collection that I have in new ways! 

When I saw this beauty at the Acne Archive store on my recent trip to Copenhagen I knew it would complete a lot of my outfits ;)

The store's superfriendly sales advisor Cecilie dug out this amazing pair of super soft denims which fit like a glove.

The best thing about them tho is that they have a fault in the material.

As an upcyclist I embrace the beauty in what's natural, flaws and all.  These jeans are desirable because of (not in spite of) their imperfection plus they’re half the price – bonus! 

IN WITH THE 'OLD'

 

 

When flicking through my rails this morning trying to find some inspiration for something to wear that I can feel excited about I rediscovered this in the corner of my wardrobe: a sheer & flowing Egyptian printed 70's blouse. 

I bought it last Summer, on one of my first shopping trips in B...when I first discovered a fabulous store called 'Das Neue Schwarz' on Berlin-Mitte's uebercool Mulackstrasse filled with preluved designer treasures.

I loved the whimsical print and the movement of the bell sleeves but it was only when I tucked the blouse in a waist-ed pair of trousers held by a wide belt & paired it with some supersized Edie-earrings that I felt ready to take on a new day ❤

ROHstoff AT BERLINER STADTMISSION SOMMERFEST

graphics @ Maria Bahlmann

Sunday is my new favourite day ❤

 ROHstoff designs will be featured at a fashion show held as part of the Berliner Stadtmission Sommerfest

Come for some runway fun! ;)))

when: Sunday, 25th August 2013, 2.30pm, BIG stage

where: Berliner Stadtmission headquarters, Lehrter Str. 68, 10557 Berlin