Vivienne Westwood x Marie Claire [Save The Rainforest]

The legendary Vivienne Westwood wants you to pay attention to the rainforest.

The veteran designer has recently teamed up with Marie Claire Magazine and the fair-trade company People Tree to design the t-shirt dress. The June 2011 issue of all 24 editions of Marie Claire magazine coincided with the product being put on the market, as Dame Vivienne Westwood was guest-editing the magazine’s editorial.

Also a coincidence, the United Nations declared 2011 “Year of the Forest.”

The t-shirt dress retails for £28, of which £7 goes to the Society for Environment and Human Development, a non-profit organization.

Get Acquainted:

HERE
HERE
HERE 

PUMA’s Got A Clever Secret

When I learned of PUMA’s step into the eco-friendly pool, I was overjoyed. As someone who has followed PUMA’s collaborations (most notably, with the late Alexander McQueen) with the fervor most women put into following single men, I immediately headed over to HighSnobiety to get the latest:

World renowned designer Yves Behar teamed with PUMA to create a new system of packaging that seriously limits the need for plastic (and disposable) shoe carrier bags, which has been noted as a waste and damaging to the environment.

The “Clever Bag” concept will not just be for shoes (which will be packaged with a reusable shoe bag instead plastic), but also for apparel. One can only hope that the resources PUMA saves (by reducing paper used in packaging by 65%, PUMA is reported to be able to reduce water, diesel, and energy consumption by 60% per year) and the appreciation of it’s customers will stir other giant sportswear companies to action.

GET ACQUAINTED:

HERE

Christopher Raeburn

Call me traditional, but I’m a gal who loves to see a man rework a piece of clothing to make a genuine piece of fashion….

 

I’m all for the deconstruction/reconstruction of clothes, especially military ones. 

I’ve been known to tear apart my father’s old uniforms to make cute shirts and jackets. (But shhh, he thinks the dog did it!)

 

But Christopher Raeburn, the brilliant mastermind behind these beauties, takes it to a whole new level. The 2006 Royal Academy of Arts graduate is known for his ethical designs, and this year is no different – his work has been featured with prominent Tim Soar at the A/W 2009 Paris Men’s Fashion Week, and his womenswear collection debuted at A/W 2009 London Fashion Week.

What sets Raeburn apart is the intelligent design that comes forth from decommissioned British military uniforms. Very few, if any, European designers can boast going from concept to design to manufacturing in the same country, as Raeburn has done.

The work you see above is Raeburn’s reconstruction of water-proof jackets, trenches, bomber jackets, etc etc, all made from recently decommissioned military uniforms. The tailoring alone is enough to carry people’s amazement, and everyone is in agreement, from Blackbook Magazine to The Guardian and back again, this man’ s work is our treasure.

Keep your eyes on Raeburn, for as the new British eco-star, he may surpass every expectation.

Get Acquainted:

HERE

British Taxpayers Buy Land Rover LRX

The British government is finally thinking of their citizens – it has been reported that the government will give Land Rover $38 million to minimize the cost of an environmentally friendly compact SUV based on their LRX concept.

Land Rover is calling the new SUV “the lightest, and most efficient, vehicle” they’ve ever produced. And with a production date as close as early 2011, it’s not a leap to think that this “cross coupe’” (Land Rover’s words) could very well make it’s way to the US as soon as late 2011. 

The concept includes a biodiesel-hybrid drivetrain with lithium-ion batteries that could possibly get up to 50 mpg, but most likely, the car will show up at dealerships with the LR2′s 3.2 liter 16 under the hood. Even with the original engine, the compactness of the SUV would allow for a higher mpg.

Some aspects of the SUV, which will most likely be marketed as a Range Rover, most likely not be seen into production – such as the removable carbon-fiber roof and the rolling Iphone sync.

However, Urban Landfill hopes that the Range Rover will keep the modern rework of the leather and wood interior.

The Biofuel Bentley Set To Make An Appearance

Bentley has released a press statement (albeit quite a short one), announcing the unveiling of the newest, most powerful, and cleanest Bentley automobile at the Geneva Auto Show on March 3rd of this year.

Little is known about the vehicle, as most of the specifications are still under wraps.

But let it be known:

This car will be the talk of the Geneva Auto Show.

Stay tuned: