We are part of the earth. We are also fashion consumers. Therefore everyone of us is responsible for the pollution caused by the fashion industry.

Hong Kong-based NGO, Redress have set themselves the task of promoting environmental sustainability in Asia’s fashion industry by reducing textile waste, pollution and water and energy consumption. They launched the EcoChic Design Award, which is currently in it’s second year. It provides an opportunity for the public to learn more about sustainable fashion.

Textile waste, water pollution and excessive carbon, energy use and their impact on society are currently at odds with the positive cultural and social aspects of the Fashion industry. In Hong Kong alone 234 tonnes of textiles are sent to landfill every day.

The competition was organised specifically to educate, raise awareness, inspire and change the design ethic of emerging designers. Entrants are encouraged to use sustainable design techniques in their collections to aid the future of sustainable fashion.

Although not as easy or straightforward as mainstream fashion, sustainable fashion is becoming more and more popular within the industry. With major brands like H&M, Stella McCartney and American Apparel using ethical and sustainable practices within their production processes, there is a definite shift in the market. Eco-friendly fashion is becoming less of a specialist niche market for the few that are interested and is infiltrating the mainstream and in turn the high street.

The exhibition took place over 2 weeks in April and showcased innovative textile waste minimising garments. Hong Kong-based designers up-cycle garments and materials from the Esprit surplus factory textiles, while established British Designers Ada Zanditon and Junky Styling (both exhibited at Estethica in February’s London Fashion Week) exhibited alongside Orsola De Castro – Founder of London’s Estethica Exhibition.

The Grand Finale takes place during Hong Kong Fashion Week in July, where each finalist will present a six-piece sustainable collection.

The winner of the Award wins:

1. The EcoChic Design Award, in partnership with Esprit and The British Council, will design a sustainable collection for Esprit using recycled textiles.
2. The EcoChic Design People’s Award, in partnership with the British Council, which includes a Tour of London and a visit to London Fashion Week’s Estethica.
3. The EcoChic Most Promising Student Award, which includes a Trip to Shanghai Fashion Week.

Handwritten by Turlington and Marley’s daughter Cedella, the lyrics from the Reggae singer’s famous song “Get Up, Stand Up” is strategically printed on the inside of the tee near the heart and all over the scarf, which are both priced at $45.

Part of the proceeds will be donated to Turlington’s charity ‘Every Mother Counts’, which aims to educate and support women in order to reduce worldwide maternal mortality rates.

The collaboration isn’t the first for Lyric Culture, which was founded in 2005 by singer-songwriter Hanna Rochelle, who wanted to merge the fashion business with her passion for music.

Partnering with 1Love was also fitting not just because of Bob Marley’s lyrics, but their missions which is to inspire Marley fans everywhere to carry out one small act of love and kindness every day.

The website says: “Though a single deed may seem small, together our efforts will add up to something very big. Something that will change the world.”

In this case, contributing to women who face risks that can be life threatening could be that one good deed.

The OCF is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those affected by the disease. Douglas has agreed to appear in the PSA which will be aired in June in the US.

“The Foundation is indebted to Michael Douglas for partnering with us in the battle against oral cancer,” Brian Hill, OCF”s Founder and Executive Director, said. “Michael is a highly visible, well known actor, and a consummate professional.

“Those qualities, when coupled with his personal cancer experience, yield a respected voice to this fight. His willingness right from the beginning of his journey, to openly talk about his difficult personal experience with oral cancer on TV and in print, has certainly created awareness in the public of a cancer too few have even heard of.”

Oral cancer can be treatable when caught early, but there is little awareness and many people only discover they have the disease when it is already too late.

The newest campaign aims to raise that awareness. Research shows that in the US alone, 40,000 people will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer in 2012.

Latest statistics say that oral cancer kills one person every hour of every day, but if caught in the early stages of development, there is a 80 to 90 percent survival rate.

The two-time Oscar winner fought throat cancer for six months with chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and was given the all clear in early 2011.

Photo sourced from The Epoch Times (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images).

We think that old clothes shouldn’t just be thrown out, they should have a future…

Marks and Spencer, Oxfam and Joanna Lumley of Absolutely Fabulous (i’m pretty sure “Patsy” wouldn’t approve of this scheme) have joined forces and launched a revolutionary new scheme titled “Shwopping”.

To be a Shwopper you need to bring your old item(s) of clothing (they don’t need to be from M&S) to one of the M&S Shwop Drops. All clothing will then go to Oxfam who will either resell it, recycle it to make new material or send it to those in need in a Third World country. The main aim is for M&S to collect as many clothes as are sold and change the way we all shop to reduce the amount of clothing sent to landfill.

Approximately 500,000 tonnes, equivalent to 1 billion items of clothing are sent to landfill each year. The capacity of the planet’s landfill sites are limited, so throwing unwanted clothing items away when they could be recycled or re-used is hardly sustainable. Marks and Spencer and Oxfam hope this project will help see a move away from ‘disposable’ fashion into a society that instead adopts a ‘buy one, give one’ culture, where reusing, recycling and reselling old clothing becomes the norm.

You can Shwop at all M&S stores, except the Simply Food outlets. You aren’t required to buy from M&S when making a Shwop deposit, you can just donate your unwanted items as you would in a Charity shop.

Which poses the question: How is this different to taking your clothing to an Oxfam store yourself?

M&S are trying to raise awareness of the landfill issue whilst encouraging donations to Charity shops and increasing the recycling of textiles. As further incentive to Shwop, all customers who donate through an M&S store are entered into a weekly prize draw to win a £100 gift card. Those who donate directly to an Oxfam store will be offered an M&S voucher, but only if their item is from M&S.

I guess I’ve always been a Shwopper of sorts. At least once a year I wake at dawn, fill my boot till it barely closes and head to the nearest boot sale. I find it very satisfying to re-home my previously loved items whilst making enough money to buy new items to love. Win-win situation! Or am I being selfish, when really I should be donating to Charity shops and helping to support those in need?

The issue for me is this, I feel that Charity shops sell their goods far too expensively. I understand they have costs to cover and are selling the goods in order to cover these as well as to fund/support research/educate into their chosen cause.

But they seem to have stepped away from the original purpose of Charity and second-hand shops, which to my knowledge is to cater to those who are less fortunate and therefore cannot afford to buy from the likes of Marks and Spencer. If these items are in fact for those in poverty how do they afford them? I understand that the money raised through Charity shops goes to help support those less fortunate, but I can’t see how the less fortunate living here in the UK, can afford to buy from them.

Charity shops tend to sell their stock of mostly second-hand items at almost original prices. I can’t see how this encourages either those who can’t afford to buy outright, those buying just to support the Charity or even those buying in order to re-use goods.

Browsing the Oxfam website, I came across a pair of boots listed for £800, ok so they were worn by Beverley Knight when she won 2 MOBO awards in 1998 and this is obviously not an everyday sales item, but would something like this not be more suited to a fundraising auction rather then a Charity website?

Personal feelings aside this is a great campaign. Awareness of depleting landfill sites and the need to move away from being a ‘disposable’ society are issues that need to be brought to the mainstream and with Marks and Spencer working alongside Joanna Lumley and Oxfam, mainstream is definitely where it’s at.

What are your views on Charity shops? Will you be joining the Shwopping Revolution?

Safe sex is a message that each new generation needs to hear, which is why H&M is launching its fifth Fashion Against AIDS (FAA) collection, to raise funds and create awareness about HIV/AIDS among the young.

The 26th of April saw H&M launch its fifth worldwide Fashion Against Aids campaign, which aims to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among young people. 25 Percent of all proceeds from the collection are divided between four organisations that aid in the prevention of the disease through education and information.

Since the launch of the campaign in 2008, H&M has raised over $6.5 million for its chosen organisations:

H&M Campaign Collection Summer/Spring 2012 – Photo courtesy of H&M

Designers Against Aids (DAA) is an organisation, which trains and educates the younger generation in HIV/AIDS awareness, so they can spread the message within their own communities.

MTV Staying Alive Foundation is MTV’s global campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. Their Staying Alive Award offers grants to young people focused on preventing the spread of HIV.

The task of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is to support each individual’s right to good health and equal rights.

YouthAIDS is an HIV/AIDS prevention initiative of Population Services International (PSI), which reaches more than 600 million young people in more than 60 countries.

H&M Accessories for Fashion Against Aids 2012 – Photo courtesy of H&M

Past collaborators on the FAA campaign have included Rihanna, Timbaland and Katherine Hamnett. This year’s collection brings together ethnic influences from artists and illustrators on different continents. From Tribal African trim on blouses, to Maori prints from New Zealand on leggings, and Inuit designs on t-shirts all the way from Greenland, the collection brings tribal artwork into the 21st century.

Accessories such as hats, iPhone cases and jewellery are also adorned with the fabulous traditional prints.

The collection is bold, wearable and very on trend for the upcoming festival season. With items starting from just £2.99 there is no reason not to support this cause. Look good, feel great!

Another aspect of this great campaign is the KIss for a Cause. Take a photo of yourself puckering up and post it to the H&M campaign page. For every photo uploaded H&M will donate $1 to Aids prevention.

As well as supporting the worldwide HIV/Aids campaign, H&M is also the number one user of organic cotton in the retail industry. They save 300 million litres of water in denim production, donate 2.3 million garments to various charities and complete 500,000 quality tests each year to ensure their company remains economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

A crowd of prowling fans came to see the new Disney nature film, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, that follows the trials and tribulations of two big cat families, which is reflective of real drama s found in the wild.

As well as lions that protect their land, cheetahs coexist amongst them raising their cubs. As the world’s fastest land animal, they live in Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve where this film was shot.

At the premiere, Prince William issued a passionate speech in his fight to raise awareness to stop poaching of Africa’s wildlife. Speaking for more protection and measures, the Prince emphasised the work of Tusk, a charity organisation that works to protect wildlife as well as educate and support the local community.

“Films like African Cats remind us of the dramatic beauty, and the harshness, of the natural world,” said Prince William.

Capturing the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna, the story is out in cinemas on April 27.

This is only one of Disney’s approaches to educating viewers about wildlife. Since being introduced in 1995, Worldwide Conservation Fund has awarded nearly $18 million towards conservation projects in 112 countries, ensuring the future of animals are well-protected in their habitat, and so they don’t teeter on the brink of extinction.

See the trailer below:

The helmet is basically a collar worn by cyclists. The collar contains a folded-up airbag, which inflates upon impact. This ingenious protective headgear is shaped like a hood, that surrounds and protects the cyclist’s head. The trigger mechanism is controlled by sensors, which pick up the abnormal movement of the cyclist in an accident.

“We are extremely excited about the nomination,” said founder Terese Alstin of Hövding. “The inspiration for making the bicycle helmet into a fashion item came from early market research and discussions with cyclists about why they wouldn’t want to wear the traditional helmets. It was clear that people really do want to protect themselves in traffic, ut without sacrificing their personal style (or hairdo) in the process. They wanted something discrete with possibility to change the look from one day to the next, that would match their different outfits – just like a fashion accessory.”

Model wearing the Hövding Creator's Cut.

The Design Museum’ Design of the Year Awards is “the Oscars” of the design world. Hosted in the UK, the awards showcase the most innovative and progressive designs from around the world, spanning seven categories. Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics, Product and Transport. With their keen eye to detail and their commitment to go against the critics, they have created a product with an innovative design interest from around the world.

Talking about their ambition, Terese explains more about the concept: “Our aim was to design a bicycle helmet so attractive that people would voluntarily want to start protecting their heads on the roads. We knew that, in order to change the negative attitude and associations that people have towards helmets, we needed to turn the whole idea of a tradition bicycle helmet upside-down and give it a radical makeover.”

It may look daunting with fears like risking your head from getting injured, but the cushioning helmet has proven to save people in collisions. The airbag solution offers a far better shock absorbance capacity, covering a large area of the head and is able to handle multiple impacts. Terese continues saying that it can also prevent potential whiplash injuries, which she knows about, previously being in a couple of accidents herself.

The Hövding helmet will be released in the UK next spring, while in Europe it is already being sold online where there is already a selection to choose from to suit your fashion needs.

Back in January VV and Lola re-launched VV’s vintage website VV Vintage as a platform for upcycling, reinvention and the celebration of emerging designers within the fashion industry. Working closely with Oxfam and with 10% of the profits from all the upcycled and vintage clothing going to charity, you’re getting an amazing one-off piece, whilst giving to charity and supporting the issue of ethics and sustainability within the fashion industry.

Founders of VV Vintage: Lola Peach (left) and VV Brown (right)

I had a quick Q&A with the delightful Miss Brown and talked fashion, books and Spitalfields.

The website re-launched with its new identity in January. How have the past 3 months been? Is it as you’d expected?

It has been amazing watching the business grow. We are excited about the opportunities that organically come our way and the passion and hard work is paying of. We really believe in the idea of the grass roots approach. Being involved in music and taking on this new project has liberated my thirst for entrepreneurial activities even more and it’s a great way to express myself.

We have met so many talented designers and the idea of sustainability and charity within business is appealing. This is just all coming from a small office and us emailing with the hope that people will believe in the vision and enjoy the clothes. We are learning so much and education in any form is liberating.

After watching an episode of Global Cool where their task was to find an outfit to keep warm in the house so you’d turn your heating down and save energy. How environmental are you?

I try and be environmental. I recycle and I only buy sustainable clothes, especially after reading “To Die For” by Lucy Siegle. I try my best to contribute in whatever way I can. There’s always room to improve and learn and be better in regards to the environment.

You were at Spitalfields this Easter weekend trading at the Affordable Vintage Fair, how did you find that?

It was cool. We are an online store firstly so we have never done a market like that before, but it was new and refreshing and a nice way to meet our customers. We also got interviewed for the national news, which was exciting!

You’ve previously been a model at London Fashion Week, what was it like being on the other side of it all and representing VV Vintage at London Fashion Weekend?

It’s absolutely wonderful to be on the other side of fashion where you can concentrate on the clothes rather than wearing them or being in the public eye. It’s nice to be hiding behind the business plans and meetings without worrying about cameras etc. I love the fact that this new fresh approach to the industry gives you a sense of privacy through expression.

Would you be interested in creating your own ethically sustainable brand? Whether it be using ethically sourced materials or up-cycling would it be something you’d consider?

I would love to continue to build our program where we support designers who are interested in up-cycling and perhaps do a high end collection that is conceptual and abstract that can be seen at Somerset House Fashion week, one day. What a day that would be for us.

The idea is to use fashion to support and contribute towards the community and somehow make people happy through expression. There is so much talent out there.

"Bringing to life the old, making it new and exciting" – VV Brown

VV was also kind enough to give us a review of  “To Die For” by Lucy Siegle, which partly inspired her decision and is an expose on the fashion industry written by the Observer’s ‘Ethical Living’ columnist.

“This is a fresh inspiring take on the sustainable world and an education on the truth of the mass market. As I was reading it, it became a fun journey and an effortless read, diving into the truths and statistics of ethics in fashion. Not only is it wrapped in great metaphors and glorious shocking details about waste, it opens your eyes to believe in the ethics of fashion so much so that you feel you have to change your ways.

“It’s a book I would recommend to anyone and it does the opposite of alienating a community into a subculture that defines itself as “special” or on a pretentious high horse, which some socio-economical books can have. Instead it makes you want to be in a club that is about the goodness, fair trade and the treatment of the human being whilst evaluating the perception of greed and the quick fix mentality through the influence of the monopolisation of capitalistic endeavours that we somehow get caught up in.

“Whilst being so detailed, it’s wrapped in a language that reminds you of a great Sex and the City episode.”

It’s brilliant basically and it was the fundamental catalyst that made me passionate about my business www.vvvintage.com even more.

If you haven’t already you should definitely check out VV Vintage an exciting new business that is ethically conscious as well as fashionable and fun.

Designer Ehlen Johansson, who is well-known for her mystical designs for IKEA has designed a lamp that reduces energy usage by 85 percent compared to a traditional light bulb.

“I worked with a technique of stretching holes in sheet material,” Johansson explained. “I hope people will like the lamp for the character it adds to their homes, as well as for the waste-efficient production and energy-saving LED.”

The lamp ressembles a frilly Victorian hooped underskirt that delivers an element of ‘chic’-ness to the interior, while the wavy pattern brings out texture in your wallpaper.

LED lights are real energy savers that last 25 times longer than regular light bulbs. According to SmartPlanet, if Japan were to replace all its 1.6 billion light bulbs with LED alternatives, the country would save the annual electricity output of 13 nuclear reactors.

Not only will the Solkullen eleviate our environmental impact and save you quite a bit of money, it will also make your house look great while doing so.

The Hollywood heartthrob and his foundation are launching the “Let’s Get Dirty” campaign this month, mobilizing tens of thousands to the cleanup of California.

Let's Get Dirty on 21 April 2012 – The Ian Somerhalder Foundation

On 21 April 2012, 80,000 people and more than 2,000 schools are expected to be participating in the campaign. Somerhalder took inspiration from the “Let’s Do it” campaign in Estonia back in 2007, that saw the cleanup of 10,000 tons of trash in a single day by the community. It was estimated that the one-day event would have otherwise cost the government €22mln (US$28.8mln) and 3 years to finish.

But the upcoming initiative does not stop with just cleaning up the streets, “an intimate evening event aimed at connecting like-minded and passionate leaders to network and brainstorm” is also on the cards.

We caught up with Ian Somerhalder to find out more about the Let’s Get Dirty campaign and what we can do to help the environment.

Q: What is the Ian Somerhalder Foundation and how did it start?

Ian: I started the Ian Somerhalder Foundation after the oil spill in the Gulf. I saw the outpouring support by liked-minded passionate people and their desire to get involved. I knew I wanted to create a place for people to be able to do that. The foundation is a way for people young and old, from all across the globe, to unite together on projects that positively impact our planet and its creatures.

Q: Have you always been passionate about the environment?

Ian: I have! Growing up in Louisiana along the Gulf Coast, I saw how delicate the world’s ecosystems can be. The planet, humans and animals are all connected. So if we pollute the ecosystem in one area, it can affect people and animals across the globe. Education and passion are key to creating a positive change and even the smallest amounts of effort can make a real change.

Q: You were inspired by the 2007 “Let’s Do It” initiative in Estonia, what was the driving force for you to do a similar project, “Let’s Get Dirty”, in California?

Ian: If you look at the basic facts of “Let’s Do It” in Estonia, you can’t help but get inspired. Having volunteers come in for one day and clean up the amount of trash it would take the government years to clean up, at a small fraction of the cost is just amazing.  When you look at California, a place where I spend a good portion of time, it is hard to ignore that which is right in front of you. Countless articles tell the tale of a state who has increasing pollution, especially air and water. If we can do it in California, there is no reason other states won’t be able to follow suit.

Q: It is expected that your “Let’s Get Dirty” campaign will attract 80,000 volunteers and 2,100 schools to participate. Have you ever imagined it would receive such a great number of participants? And what do these numbers tell you?

Ian: The response for this clean up campaign, and the foundation in general, is just mind blowing. Sometimes I just have to sit back and take it all in because it is just the most inspiring thing. These numbers are proof that there are people out there who care and want to get involved. It means that we are taking a step, a leap in the right direction for creating positive change in our world.

Q: Can you run us through how the cleanup is organised? And will you be there in person?

Ian: Of course I will be there “getting dirty” right alongside everyone else. Every helping hand matters! The clean up allows children as young as five, with parental permission, to participate. Essentially, people, groups, schools and businesses can and have been registering on the website. They can choose their own location or we can place them as part of another group. They are given tools such as gloves and garbage bags and will spend a couple hours picking up trash in their designated areas. It is a really great initiative that we have been working on for several months to make it as simple as possible for those who want to participate. Volunteers will have everything they need at their fingertips.

Q: What else can we look forward to in the future from the ISF? Any other projects in the making?

Ian: ISF always has amazing things up its sleeves. We are continuously looking at new partnerships and engaging new volunteers who either contribute to new articles every month or designs for our shop on Café Press. We recently launched our hug-o-matic app through Apple and are working on a round of updates for that as well.

Q: Any message you want to share with your fans?

Ian: Wow! I think the thing I always want to say is a huge thank you, because it can’t be said enough. The outpouring of love and support that I and the foundation have seen is just unbelievable. I also want to remind people of how the little things like turning off lights and faucets make a huge difference and to keep those in mind when going about your lives day to day. It all adds up and there are things that everyone, no matter whom they are, can do.

Want to know how you can help? Visit the ISF website to find out more.

Pitt gave Degeneres a tour in the Lower 9th Ward of Louisiana where he and his team committed themselves to help build sustainable housing.

75 homes have so far been reconstructed and with their acquired expertise they now can finish a home in three months time.

During the tour he told Ellen: “I’m getting far too much credit for this. This took a lot of very smart people coming in and attacking the situation. It took the families determination to come back and their resilience, and they are defining what this thing was going to be. I get far too much credit for bringing some really smart people together.”

The homes are designed to withstand another natural disaster with the same destructive force like Hurricane Katrina. The houses have been elevated several feet above ground in case of future flooding.

Eco-friendly materials are used for all the reconstructed homes.

It took about two and a half hours to descend and seven miles down to reach the Trench’s deepest spot, the Challenger Deep.

“The whole sub actually squeezes down almost three inches in length when it gets to the bottom of the ocean just because of the pressure. The sphere that I’m in actually shrank. The window that I looked out at pushed in towards me under 16,000 pounds per square inch of pressure,” James Cameron told The Telegraph.

Cameron spent a total of three three hours exploring the Challenger Deep. “I didn’t see anything bigger than about an inch long,” he said. “I didn’t see fish. The only free swimmers I saw were these amphipods, which are shrimp-like.”

His ascent, you could say, was somewhat different. The green submersible, the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER, took only 70 minute to break the surface. The filmmaker described the dive and ascent as a “heckuva ride”.

His description of the ocean’s abyss could be likened to an alien world, a lunar landscape that has not been visited since 1960.

“It was very lunar, a very desolate place, very isolated,” the filmmaker said. “My feeling was one of complete isolation from all of humanity.

“It was absolutely the most remote, isolated place on the planet. I really feel like in one day I’ve been to another planet and come back.”

Larger than the Grand Canyon, the Mariana Trench is as deep as Mount Everest is high.

“When I came down and landed, it was a very, very soft – almost gelatinous – flat plane, an almost featureless plane that went out of sight as far as I could see,” Cameron recounted during a press meeting on board of the Octopus. “Once I got my bearings and started moving around, I drove across it for quite a distance and I finally started to come to the slope that went up to the [Mariana Trench] wall and I started working up that wall.”

But his trip was cut short because of a hydraulic failure, meaning he couldn’t operate the manipulator arm to collect samples, while leaked hydraulic fluid coated the sub’s window rendering his view to a minimum.

“It’s a prototype vehicle, so it’s gonna take time to iron out the bugs,” Cameron said. “The important thing is that we have a vehicle that’s a robust platform – it gets us there safely, the lights work, the cameras work, and hopefully next time the hydraulics will work.”

Though he did not get the chance to collect samples, it was hardly the one and only opportunity for Cameron and his team. Together with co-designer Ron Allum, who is the managing director of the Acheron Project and design firm in Australia, they have already planned a few more dives in the coming weeks.

But movies are still at the forefront of Cameron’s attention. “I’m going to be turning my attention to Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 as soon as I finish up with this expedition,” he told the BBC.

Anote Tong, President of Kiribati, is in talks to buy approximately 6,000 acres of land in Fiji. The submerging archipelago nation is looking at both Fiji’s main island Viti Levu and the northern Vanua Levu island, 2,000km (1,300 miles) away from Kiribati.

He told the Associated Press on Friday that Vanua Levu island will be able to house the entire population of 103,000, but hopes it wouldn’t come to that.

“We would hope not to put everyone on one piece of land, but if it became absolutely necessary, yes, we could do it,” the President said. “It wouldn’t be for me, personally, but would apply more to a younger generation. For them, moving won’t be a matter of choice. It’s basically going to be a matter of survival.”

The plan is to move people gradually, with the more skilled going first to establish roots. “They need to find employment, not as refugees but as immigrant people with skills to offer,” Tong told TV Channel Fiji One.

Last year, a state of emergency was declared when rising sea levels contaminated Kiribati’s underground fresh water that sustains the population and plant life.

A few of the 32 atolls, strewn over the equator, have already lost land mass, displacing residents and destroying their crops.

The fertile plains of Vanua Levu island are perfect for farming, which will allow the Kiribati people to cultivate and send produces back home.

Fiji is just one of many countries considered for relocation.

The submersible DEEPSEA CHALLENGER will be solo handled by Cameron while filming the ocean’s trench in 3D. The film director will spend six hours alone in the green submarine.

Entering an alien world, Cameron will see some extreme natural habitats with up to 4,000 species living under the pressure of 50 jumbo jets piled right on top.

In the six hours timespan, the sub will be travelling down 6.8 miles (11 km) deep. The dive is part of Cameron’s Deepsea Challenge project, co-sponsored by National Geographic, which will take him and a crew of engineers, scientists and filmmakers to explore the ocean trenches. Along with recording them in 3D, the submarine is designed to collect soil samples as well as pick up tiny species that live in the darkness of the ocean.

The vessel is vertically designed to carry one passenger and has an 8-foot (2.4 meter) tall LED spotlight feature. He hopes to inspire people in exploration and scientific study for future deep sea discoveries.

His diving experience saw him completing 72 dives to date. “I’ve always dreamed of diving to the deepest place in the oceans,” said Cameron. “For me it went from a boyhood fantasy to a real quest, like climbing Everest.”

Victim Fashion Street is founded by Taiwanese designer Mei Hui Liu whose designs are an amalgamation of antique fabrics and vintage lace.

As the Founding Chair of R20 - Regions for Climate Action, a non-profit environmental group based in the Swiss canton, Arnold will be welcomed by Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, to talk about and promote future environmental projects.

“R20 is not just another NGO or network of regions, it is much more than that,” Arnold told The Global Journal, a Geneva-based publication, last year. “It is a real coalition of forces which believe that climate change and green economic development can be tackled at the sub-national level.”

It seems that “Schwarzie” is not quitting his green pledge after his governorship. Even though his power as California’s governor had been described by Time magazine as an “illustrative failure” as he was too “flexible [while] nothing worked”.

His most memorable action as political figure was his commitment towards green policies, one of those was converting the gas-guzzling Hummer into a greener vehicle and has since increased interest of low-emission vehicles at the Geneva Motor Show year by year.

The climate and economic conference is set on March 7th, commencing at 6:30pm, at the Uni Dufour building, 24 Rue du General-Dufour.

The actress is a long-time favourite amongst Hollywood stars, having worked together with acclaimed film directors such as Rob Marshall, Pedro Almodovar and Woody Allen.

The film industry however is not her only success. Together with sister Monica, the Cruz’s have designed collections for Spanish retailer Mango. The element of fur though has never made it into their designs.

Penelope Cruz for PETA

“Penelope Cruz has appeared on every Best Dressed list in the world, and the one thing you’ll never see her wearing is fur,” said Yvonne Taylor, PETA Senior Programme Manager. “One couldn’t ask for a more fitting emblem of the modern, glamorous woman who knows that there’s nothing more beautiful than a woman who has a look that kills without anyone having to die for it.”

Cruz has the habit of rescuing cats and dogs, especially in the early days of her being in LA to keep the actress company. Her affection for animals compels her to never agree with furry fashion.

“Penelope will always take a pass on fur because of the extreme cruelty that fur production causes millions of animals around the world,” PETA said.

Penelope Cruz is the latest to join PETA anti-fur celebrities of the likes of Charlize Theron, Eva Mendes and Elisabetta Canalis.

Al Gore was confronted last week about his own global warming policies, which they believe he advocated, to benefit his own businesses.

Labelled as “Proposal No.4″, a group email to shareholders said: “We are concerned that Apple’s policy on greenhouse gas regulations was developed to personally benefit a board member in violation of the Company’s Business Conduct Policy.”

The allegation failed to hold any weight when it was outvoted by shareholders. Tom Borelli, Director at the National Center for Public Policy Research, responded and stood his ground: “We got 1.6 percent of the vote, which is a very low number,” Borelli admitted. “But it doesn’t mean we aren’t right. We are. When a company makes money, no one cares about conflicts of interest.”

Reports from 2011 revealed a $26 billion profit in annual figures compared to $8 billion in 2009 when Apple resigned from the Chambers.

However, in an email addressed to shareholders, Apple said: “The decision to quit the Chamber was not driven by any conflict of interest or undue influence by any member of the Board. The Company resigned its membership because the Chamber’s position on climate change differed so sharply with the company’s.”

Pushing for greener initiatives, Al Gore was hired for the purpose of dealing with the economic climate change and green issues.

“Al brings an incredible wealth of knowledge and wisdom to Apple from having helped run the largest organization in the world – the United States Government – as a Congressman, Senator and our 45th Vice President,” said the late Steve Jobs in 2003.

Greenstream TV’s Leah Samuel is at the Estethica show talking to Pachacuti founder Carry Somers on her newest collection of felt hats during London Fashion Week 2012.

They will be joined by Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services; NGOs, policy makers and Askwith Forum student members of Harvard Graduate School of Education.

The BTWF was founded in 2011 by Lady Gaga together with her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, and will address issues such as self-confidence, anti-bullying, self-acceptance and career development.

You can follow the launch streamed live on the BTWF website on February 29th from 4:00pm till 5:30pm EST.

The idea came after a failed attempt in visiting Legoland at Windsor, when the family of eight had to cut their visit short due to security concerns and overcrowding issues.

“Brad and Ange felt really bad having to drag the kids home early when they were at Legoland last year. But if their bodyguards said there were too many people then they had no choice,” a source said in The Sun.

“Their eldest son Maddox asked if they could build something similar at the house in France. They were already getting a new pool so they decided it was a great idea.”

There has been talk about incorporating a pirate island with a castle, a go-kart track and even a carousel. The pool that was in the making will take a more sizable proportion, and let’s not forget about slides, tunnels and boat rides that will complete the whole look.

Brad Pitt has had an active role in building sustainable, eco-friendly housing in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina devastated the whole region, and has now put his design skills to the test – again – by including a mini train on the compound travelling around the grounds.

The good part is – if the pirate island hasn’t done it for you yet – the construction will be powered by solar energy that is going to be harvested by using rooftop solar panels, and water will be constantly recycled.

Who said that being eco-conscious isn’t be fun?

Developed by the Parker Brothers, they initially developed the first prototype and batch running on fuel, which has since been modified to an all electronic model.

The vehicle is powered by a 96-volt electric motor and lithium ion batteries. It can speed up to 100mph and it has a range of around 100 miles with a mere 35-minute recharge.

With further modification surely the Parker Brothers will make changes that share the same type of technology now used on London buses and including Honda cars’ rechargeable brake system that generates the battery during deceleration and braking to recharge the vehicle’s batteries.

The bike, however, isn’t made for heavy duty crossing. The Hammacher Schlemmer website describes it as “designed for casual cruising and slow ride-bys at shows”.

But it doesn’t take away the fact that the Light Cycle demands attention and will have heads turning faster than you can say “Tron”. Great way to make an entrance, it will be hard not to be impressed. So, if you have a spare $55,000 in your account feel free to experience a radical 21st Century ride you will never forget.

Fans will be happy to hear that the bike is now available online and made to order on the Hammacher Schlemmer website.

Source: Megzus

Colin and Livia Firth – Mrs Firth wearing Valentino eco gown for the Green Carpet Challenge at the Oscars 2012 – Photo: Vogue.co.uk

Every year crowds of people, media and celebrities descend on the Oscars to join in with the glitz andglamour Hollywood has to offer. This year, the red carpet is once again filled with the world’s most recognizable celebrities, and all eyes are fixed on the newest fashion statements making home on the infamous carpet.

Style and fashion are scrutinized on the carpet as intensely as the desire of seeing superstars in the flesh.

But this year’s Oscars come with a small – eco-conscious – twist.

Livia Firth – wife of Oscar winner Colin Firth has launched the Green Carpet Challenge with co-founder British journalist Lucy Siegle, to challenge world-leading designers to don their celebrities with pieces that are a winning combination of glamour and environmentalism.

Missi Pyle has gotten plenty of attention with her ethically produced Peace Silk Chiffon gown, which won its designer, Venezuelan-born Valentina Delfino, the “Red Carpet Green Dress” contest that was set up by James Cameron’s wife, Suzy Amis Cameron.

Firth has long been a champion for sustainable fashion, all the way back to 2009. This year she has the support of top designers Chanel, Valentino, Tom Ford, Paul Smith, Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, and Armani – whose sustainable tuxedo designs were worn by her husband Colin Firth.

Missi Pyle in light turquoise wearing Valentina Delfino – Photo: Dailymail.co.uk

Her long dress has gone through the most eco-conscious process to come to be. Using only recycled zippers, natural mineral dye and recycled polyester, the gown was completely pleated by hand, all hundred of the pleats – and according to the actress, it is a venture that took over 12 hours to complete.

Another Hollywood heavy-weight who joined the Green Carpet Challenge was Meryl Streep who wore a golden ensemble custom-made by Lanvin and is the label’s ever first eco gown.

Ermenegildo Zegna has also made a statement with actors Kenneth Branagh (Supporting Actor nominee for My Week with Marilyn) and Demian Bichir (Academy Awards Leading Actor nominee for A Better Life) both wearing Made-to-Measure tuxedos.

And Mrs. Firth herself? Justice was done with her clad in an elegant red, corseted Valentino creation made from recycled PET fabric and the designer’s signature silk.

“The GCC team and Valentino met in Paris to talk fabric and worked hard to find the right balance of materials that would deliver the full Valentino effect and conform to the GCC criteria,” Mrs. Firth wrote on her blog. “The result is a real hybrid dress, the combination of an amazing recycled PET fabric along with the Valentino’s house silk for the beautiful sheer sleeves of the gown.”

“The gown is the picture of elegance that I’ve always dreamed of since I was about ten.  It’s the biggest I’ve worn to date, the ultimate Cinderella dress and I think a triumph of ethics and Valentino’sshowstopping aesthetics - I hope you love it too!”

A gorgeous Victim Fashion Street creation – LFW A/W 2012

Greenstream TV has met up again with Vintage eco-queen, Mei Hui Liu from Victim Fashion Street, at the London Fashion Week. How is she faring in her first ever exhibition at Estethica?

GSTV: Did you have any particular inspiration for the garments you have on display?

MHL: I don’t because I don’t work with changing seasons and new colours of fabrics. It mainly depends on what fabric I find next month or next year and then I make my garments. So there is no particular inspiration. I don’t do trends, maybe different shapes but I always use different fabrics.

GSTV: As you don’t do collections everything is pretty much a one-off piece. 

MHL: Yes, that’s why I think my clients still come back to me even after 10 years because they always feel like they can wear something different to other people and it also lasts longer and doesn’t go out of fashion.

GSTV: Do you think people like that feeling of having an exclusive garment?

MHL: Yes, definitely especially right now in fashion people go to the high street or spend thousands of pounds to buy something from a designer. You still have the same thing as other people and you wear them for one season then you don’t wear them anymore because of new seasonal trends emerging and I think for what I do the big advantage is these clothes are never out of season, never out of fashion. They are very collectable pieces and you value them for longer. It’s almost like a nice investment.

GSTV: What is the price range for your clothes?

MHL: It depends on the materials used, so prices average between £55 to £800 pounds which are for more special pieces. Also my clients range from really little girls, to teenagers and even older ladies, there’s something for everyone.

Freya from Victim Fashion Street

GSTV: Why do you prefer sustainable fashion rather than mainstream fashion?

MHL: In the very beginning when I made clothes for myself to wear, I wanted to look different and not the same as others. I never really thought I would become a designer but when I started making clothes I thought that I wanted to make something different from others or else there would be no point in becoming a fashion designer. Individual and originality is what I believe in rather than making clothes that were the same for everyone.

MHL: Absolutely and you get to give old fabrics and old materials a new life. They’re actually more original with their methods for cotton and silk, the tweed, everything is more beautiful and nowadays you cannot create the same thing again so that’s why I like the old stuff and making them look new.

GSTV: Where do you see eco-fashion going in the next five years?

MHL: Well I know that the high street are targeting a big market but at the same time I hope that people don’t buy clothes that they’re only going to throw away. Try and reuse and find a new life for them. In terms of clothes I hope that more sustainable practices will be used within the industry.

GSTV: Can you talk us through your collection?

AZ: The collection for Ada Zanditon autumn/winter 12 is called Simia Mineralis which means ‘Ape of the mineral’. It’s an analogy for the human race, our kind of bloodthirsty desire for technology, the way we mine the metals we use in technology, and how that has a really negative impact on the habitat of many species. But I’m particularly looking at the situation of mountain gorillas in the Congo and Rwanda.

There are many big issues around that and I kind of want to be the voice for the things that don’t have a voice of their own, especially for the mountain gorillas. I also think they are interesting because their DNA is 95 to 99 percent similar to ours, so they are like our cousins and I feel like we need to have more recognition of the fact that we’re related to nature, and nature is where we came from and we need to have more respect for it.

So that was my inspiration behind the collection and what I wanted to bring to people, but in a practical sense that’s been through choosing a really diverse, abundant range of sustainable textiles so the people we were working with use fair trade organic cotton, and also fair trade velvet. We’ve been working with silk and upcycled Chanel tweed and eel skin, which is a new one for us. It’s a by-product from the food industry. It’s a really strong skin and has the most incredible finish and I think it’s a really high end, beautiful fabric.

In terms of the shape and silhouette, and the collection, we’ve got a lot of really strong tailored jackets with geometric shoulders and there is also a much more romantic feel to the collection. We have dresses with ruffles as well as really structured evening wear. In separates this season, we have our first ever pair of jeans which is kind of cool. I always wear skinny black jeans so I thought there needs to be an eco skinny black version. We’ve used the velvet in the detailing as well as leather panelling in the leg.

GSTV: Do you think more designers are trying to adapt to eco-fashion?

AZ: I think there is a huge amount of interest in it and I was in Kiev just last year doing a fashion show and someone from St Martin’s was also there speaking about fashion and they were asked the question: “What are you most asked about by your students?” She actually said it was eco-fashion, and that all of her students were constantly asking about that and how it could be more part of the course. So I think that a lot of the new generation of designers coming up have an increasing interest in it. Not in a way that they’re pursuing a particular aesthetic, they’re pursuing their own aesthetic designing whatever they want to design. But the sustainable factor is coming into people’s work in the material sense, and the innovative ways they manufacture them.

GSTV: You say your collection is inspired by the mountain gorilla. Has that had any effect on causes related to them?

AZ: That’s something that takes a while to do so with my last collection we were particularly looking at seahorses and at the moment, I think it’s in April, I’ll be swimming for seahorses along with some other people.

GSTV: So do you base your collections around different animals?

AZ: Yes. My inspiration comes very much from conservation, which I’ve always been passionate about as well as fashion. For me, the key is to try and make high end luxury fashion, which gives a voice to different issues and conservation work. My first collection was looking at bees and colony collapse, my second collection was about bats because one kind of pollinator led me to another, and then I was really interested in the ocean. So I’ve done collections where I’ve looked more into the ocean and at the issue around seahorses, ocean acidification and coral reefs, and then I’ve kind of gone back on to land. So that’s where my inspiration comes from.

GSTV: It’s definitely different given that some designers focus on particular eras for their collections.

AZ: I’m really “science-y” and I love drawing inspiration for fashion from a wide source – I look at silhouettes from different eras but I take my main source of inspiration from evolution and biometry, and seeing how different species have evolved. I think that the future should be about being one global community and understanding how the diversity of life on earth has made us successful.

GSTV: How has the reaction been to the collection?

AZ: It was amazing. Colin McDowell came to the presentation on Friday, which was wonderful, and he very kindly said that he thought it was very unique and effective. He really liked the film and the collection, and he could tell that every single part was “thought through, very much stemming from the concept, and it has the right type of velocity” – which was what we were trying to do. We had a great response from press and buyers so it’s been really exciting and a lot of fun.

GSTV: Where do you see eco-fashion going in the next five years?

AZ: What I would really love to see is the boundary between fashion and eco-fashion to start melt away and for people to think that sourcing sustainably and manufacturing responsibly is just part of the process. Maybe eventually we’ll stop using this term, because that is what fashion should be about – it should be done responsibly. I don’t know if that could happen in five years. It’s a big amount of change. I think in higher fashion it can happen quicker because it has smaller amounts of production. I think when it’s smaller it’s not just easier to manage but I think rather than demonize people we need to help them and be positive and encouraging. A lot of people want to change things but we have got to a point where we are working with complex systems. If everyone has a really positive attitude and everyone is thinking about more transparency and be more communal in their way of thinking then we’d have a real chance of changing things.

Free wireless access will be granted to visitors and residents, and is set to be up and running in time for the Olympic games of 2012 this summer.

“Next summer’s Olympic Games mean that London will be putting on the biggest show on earth and as Westminster has a starring role, visitors to London will easily be able to share their pictures and updates of the Olympic events across social networking sites,” said Philippa Roe of Westminster City Council.

“This ground-breaking deal – the first of its kind in the UK – will see us deliver high quality connectivity across London in time for London 2012,” said O2 COO Derek McManus in a statement. “Our longer-term aim is to expand our footprint of O2 Wifi, which is open to everyone, and also intelligently enhance our services at street level, where people need the network the most.

“Our £500m annual network investment programme is focused on integrating new layers of technology into the existing network to enable a seamless and sustained customer experience. We are driven entirely by our customers’ needs and believe that services should be delivered in the best possible way, across multiple networks and supported by different technologies.”

O2 reports that the service will “run at no cost to the councils or the taxpayer”, and is offered in lieu of the 2012 Olympics and also the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The installation of the Metro wireless network commences in January 2012 and will be available in selected areas. Eventually, the service will roll out and cover the entire boroughs.

Most of their cotton is certified organic and fair trade, all their clothes are dyed using safe and natural dyes, their products are sourced locally and they choose natural and recycled products over toxic, synthetic and non-biodegradable materials.

It started in Tokyo 20 years ago by Safia Minney, when she realised there was a market in Japan for eco-friendly goods. Her company ethos, vision and bullish determination have kept them up and running where other ethical fashion brands have crashed and burned. Granted, the worldwide financial downturn and natural disasters have consistently conspired against them and company profits for the past years have been below standard for a fashion brand, but they refuse to throw in the towel.

“…in a world where quick production turnarounds, constant innovation and thin margins are key elements of the business model, handmade clothes from rural Africa or India, which typically cost 30 percent more to make than high street clothing, are a tough sell…” - Safia Minney

In 2009 the UK branch of People Tree made a record loss of £375,000, 2011 is the first year that they expect to make a profit. This is after being in the UK for 10 years. People Tree Japan first broke even and made profit in 2001, which was also its 10th year. So maybe year 10 will be profitable for the UK division too.

People Tree are not quitters and in their quest to remain as the ethically minded company they set out to be, to conquer the market and become a household brand, they have worked tirelessly through floods, earthquakes and financial crises to keep their brand going. They stick to their ethos of promoting natural and organic farming, avoiding polluting substances, protecting water supplies, using biodegradable  substances where possible and to recycle where possible. Easier said than done in our current economy, but thanks to Minney’s hardwork it is paying off and recent years have seen the company’s profile grow. They have formed partnerships with top designers such as Richard Nicholl, Bora Aksu and Thakoon, which have resulted in them subsequently being sold through Topshop, ASOS, Selfridges and John Lewis.

For SS11, they had elfin star of Harry Potter, Emma Watson, cast a spell and help produce a youth inspired collection. Emma took a very hands on approach with the whole design process and even took time out to visit the slums of Bangladesh where the fair trade community that are benefitting from her collection are building sustainable livelihoods. These people who buy few consumer goods, eat locally produced food and use hand production methods to earn their living, have some of the smallest carbon footprints in the world.

Watson’s aim when agreeing to participate and collaborate with People Tree was to show that you can be ethical as well as fashionable, which some people still do not realise. Gone are the days of scratchy hessian kaftans being the only option.  Watson is one of many celebrities lending her status to the ever growing ethical fashion movement and helping to bring it to the mainstream.

The most recent People Tree collaboration has been with fashion designer Orla Kiely. The SS12 collection, which Orla brings her signature prints and style to, is the second collaboration between the two. The collection has a distinct 1950’s retro style to it, with stylish knits, prom dresses, trench coats and bags all reminiscent of the era. Fairly produced, in India and Nepal it features everything you would expect from Orla Kiely with no negotiation on style, feel or design. The only difference between this collection and any of Orla’s other collections is the environmental aspect of it, the feeling of doing a good deed you’ll get from buying and wearing it. Pieces from the collection are currently on the website, the full collection will be launched in February 2012.

“Within the fashion industry it is important to know our products come from a sustainable and socially responsible source. What People Tree are doing has clearly highlighted this issue and are leading the way for all designers to be responsible for where and how their products are made.” - Orla Kiely

Described as a luxury ‘upcycled’ collection Elisalex De Castro Peake launched her shoe collection in 2008 after graduating from Cordwainers.

The shoes were designed with line and form in mind to create daring, architectural pieces, using perfect lines formed by nature.

With the amount of waste in the fashion industry becoming more of a concern, one would have thought that Nina Dolcetti shoes would have been accepted whole-heartedly, unfortunately not.

The shoes were designed with the offcuts and unwanted pre-consumer waste from fashion labels and manufacturers. Ethically sourced vegetable tanned leathers were used in place of the environmentally unfriendly chrome tanning usually in production.  Heels were formed from sustainably sourced cork and wood and recycled leather completed the sole.

At the time of this article being written the Nina Dolcetti press office stated: “…there’s no point in writing about us… we’re currently under the radar…”

Translated as “we are no longer producing collections…”

This is a shame, especially at a time where it seems the fashion industry is noticeably increasing its creation and development of ethical, sustainable products.

Nina Dolcetti shoes were a great representation of the growing market for conscious design and the designers that are striving forward to make it attainable, without negotiating on style, comfort or pleasure. So why didn’t it work?

Was the sourcing of materials for a collection predominantly made of offcuts too difficult, in terms of creating a whole collection and making it consistent?

Did the price point – £252 for a pair of ballet pumps, £298 for a pair of wedges – prove to be too high?

Were consumers not willing to spend a little extra to help the environment?

These are the issues that have been brought to the forefront based on the information received whilst researching this.

Would you be willing to go a bit further for ethical fashion?

Global Green enjoys the support of many Hollywood A-listers such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Edward Norton on their Board of Directors. With headquarters operating in L.A., it is almost unsurprising that they have a few (okay, maybe a bit more than a few) committed celebrity figures to join the fight against climate change, deforestation or species extinction.

Truthfully, I am a bit sceptical about these famous, busy, glamourised people of the stage and music. I keep thinking they are only doing it to increase their popularity. Aren’t they getting paid for voicing these clever environmental statements conveniently scheduled and scripted by their cleverer agents? Can you say, “Hidden agenda”?

But one needs to look beyond the obvious. People, especially those who rely on popularity as their livelihood take immense risks when supporting a cause, simply because their interest may not align with that of their entire fan base or with the companies that hire them to endorse their products. But then again, what die-hard fan would stop supporting their idol because the artist decided to speak green?

Though sceptical, I am aware that there are many who go above and beyond the standard special guest appearance of smile-and-wave, who tell you with their polished acting skills to “respect nature”. And because of that, my scepticism is reigned in by the benefit of the doubt.

In the end, it may very well be a publicity stunt, but it does not come without risk for the celebrities themselves.

Being ‘green’ does not carry the same associations as it did three or four decades ago. Back then being green meant you were either a hippy,  a radical conservationist, or just inexperienced in the ways of the world. Nowadays, it simply means you care and put in that extra effort. You are aware of what’s happening to your surroundings and empathise with those that suffer in whatever their circumstances are, be it the people next door or strangers thousands of miles away.

Undertaking conservation - serious conservation – is exhausting. It is an incessant activity where you need to be focused and passionate about the very things you try to preserve or save. And even though I quirk a proverbial eyebrow when watching some big-shot tell me how their campaign will make a world of difference at some red carpet event, my faith is restored by seeing the likes of Kristen Bell making her way to Northern Ethiopia to touch base with the people she is crusading for.

While trying to get my head around the whole celebrity-turned-activist thing, I realise that celebrities have vast networks and resources and are mighty players in the realm of environmentalism - roll eyes to the obvious. They are perceived as role models to the impressionable youngsters of today. And if Hollywood heavyweight Leo proudly drives around in a Prius, then it is cool enough for the rest of us to drive one too. Logic would suggest this much.

However, Leo seems to fit in an entirely new league when it comes to campaigning for the environment. His own foundation has committed to raising millions of dollars to preserve wildlife. His Save Tigers Now campaign that kicked off in May 2010 is one of particularly high interest. And with the Ohio incident freshly imprinted in our minds, it has once again shown that current regulations are inadequate to offer protection to these exotic - endangered - animals.

It’s not rocket science as to why celebrities are such big successes in speaking for the environment. They have a huge number of fans and with Facebook and Twitter in the mix it just opens up a whole new realm of interactivity. There are nearly 1,645,000 direct DiCaprio followers on Twitter. His messages reach out to more than one and a half million people in just one Tweet.

And that is the power of a celebrity, I suppose. People care about things they say. And ultimately, this is exactly what the environment needs, for people to care enough to act.

Celebrities are tools in the battle to preserve our natural heritages. Willing and eager tools, fortunately. It

doesn’t take away from the fact that I will regard the majority to use environmentalism as a tool in return. However, some part of me does acknowledge that regardless of their intentions, ethical movements are put into action and we are a step closer to a sustainable world. Perhaps some gratitude is in order after all.

How sceptical are you about celebrity environmentalists?

“Raw stitching, haphazard hems, and a cut and paste philosophy, her reconstructed pieces are an ode to romance and a nod to the street,” she explained on her website.

Her shop, Victim, opened in September 2001 in the highly desired Fashion Street, Brick Lane, and has become a hub for eccentric artists, DJs and a string of Fashion-enthusiast onlookers.

Leading up to London Fashion Week A/W 2012,Greenstream TV spoke with Mei Hui on her growth and her visions.

GSTV: Having lived in East London since 1998, how has fashion developed from then to now?

MHL: I think the fashion at that time was quite boring because it was the beginning of what is now known as “East London” and everyone would wear grey, but now there’s a new vibe amongst young people who have started to dress up and wear and mix vintage, and then started remaking vintage dresses and recycle so I think it was a very interesting area ever since I moved here and now I think it’s become the place if you want to see fashionable people you come to East London but back in the day you would to places like Portobello.

GSTV: Do you think people are more daring with their choices now?

MHL: Yes, if you want to dress up differently or look unique then you come to East London, you don’t see that in West London or even South London.

An example of Mei Hiu Liu's creation

GSTV: On you collaboration with Min Tzu Chao, how did you hear about her and what did she offer that was different from other illustrators?

MHL: We didn’t know each other’s work at all and I normally collaborate with make-up artists, hairdressers, photographers but not someone who was a fashion illustrator. A mutual friend introduced us and it was a big challenge for me because I usually like to work with people whose work I already know of. I didn’t know anything about her and she didn’t know any of my work either. Somehow we found a way to work together because I had the idea and needed the structure to find three powerful women and to make a dress that has ‘life’. We called it ‘interlaced’ because the collaboration was like a relationship between us. She came into my world from the outside and discovered three strong people in my life and researched them. I gave her information on all of them. For an outsider to find all these interesting people and their stories and then illustrate them on fabrics and on prints, and then mixed them with my signature vintage and victoria fabric has been stimulating to say the least.

GSTV: What was the inspiration behind using all these different fabrics in your designs?

MHL: I think the inspiration came from me always being addicted to and inspired by vintage and antique fabrics, which I’ve been collecting for many, many years and I think it’s a sort of an addition, I just love it. For me, I don’t care about which period it’s from, I just mix things from different periods together for my collection. I think you can see from my designs, you can’t tell what era and it looks like everything is mixed from different eras and all come together and creates something modern.

GSTV: Do you always reuse fabrics in all of your designs?

MHL: Yes. I started using reuse fabrics because I loved the old Victorian lace, I found them unique and beautiful. I didn’t think about the environmental or recyclable factor at first – I just made clothes to wear. But then I started thinking about it more and more, the whole eco-fashion thing didn’t exist at that time. Afterwards, I began making clothes with what’s left from my studio. I prefer not to throw them away so I recycle instead and use every little piece and put them together.

GSTV: Who is your favourite designer?

MHL: I love people who have a really strong and original identity and style like Vivienne Westwood. Issey Miyake, I think he kept his own style and didn’t follow trends and fashion but create your own identity. For me, fashion in that way is more important.

GSTV: How influenced will your art work be from your work in fashion?

MHL: I think it’s a really big influence because I’ve always been doing things like this but I never thought I could turn it into a piece of art. In the past, people have always said “your work is like a piece of art”. When they wear my dresses they feel unique. It’s almost like one side reflects to the other side, and I think the connection made is just the beginning of the project but it certainly hasn’t reached its end yet, because I think the project will keep on growing and travelling to different cities.

GSTV: Do you have a favourite artist?

MHL: Work-wise, I like Steve McQueen. I like his work, I think it’s very strong and powerful and original. I appreciate many different artists and some elements of their work.

Liu will be showcasing her collection at the London Fashion Week A/W 2012′s Esthetica Show.