#OMY Issue 6

#OMY

ISSUE 6 FEBRUARY ‘14

#OMY A Fashion & Arts Magazine

www.ourmyyour.com

#OMY TEAM

Editor -In-Chief & Creative Director Layla Robinson

Illustrators Sian Davila Linda Rieder

Writers Caroline Paris Faye Hudson Holly Sherlock Edna Francis Paula Leite

Photographers Robin Pope Lydia Landefjord

Featured Photographers Stuart “WALNUTWAX” Mitchell Kurt Paris

Director of Communications Renée - Louise Robinson

Social Content & Website Manager Kim Falcone

Social Media Manager Katy Phillips

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Editor’s Letter This quarter’s offering of #OMY may be slightly different than a lot of you are used to. Of course if you are new to us then welcome, but for those seasoned readers out there, this somewhat condensed version could appear lacking - to put it simply, it is short.

There is a perfectly good explanation for this inexplicably short edition of #OMY and that is: because it is.

In order to do that we spent more time fine-tuning and less time “bumping it up.”

We are not a publication that panders to the pressure of “more is more” and I personally wanted to offer an issue of #OMY that reflects the hard work and dedication that goes into producing it.

That being said, Issue 6 is all about ringing in the New Year. Join us as we consider style, ethics and music alongside our creative consciences, whilst endeavouring to engage yours too.

I do not doubt that you will likely enjoy some, if not all of the features following this letter and I truly urge you to let us know your thoughts; as we are here to listen (and ignore any comments that make us want to eat our feelings).

layla xo

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Over the last year the name Caroline Hili has garnered a lot of attention.

Fashion Stylist Caroline Paris catches up with the talented Ms Hili to talk Malta, Milan & Marangoni Institute...

A

I had this growing feeling that I needed to do this with my clothes - I needed to start signing my work.

Of course it’s a very scary project to embark on, there’s the financial aspect for starters and then there’s also the fact that you’re no longer part of a team but the leader of this project, the one calling all the shots. My first collection received an astounding response and since then I have found a lot of support and encouragement in Malta which has helped to motivate me.

How did you feel when you left Malta?

I was a determined, ambitious 18 year old on her way to Marangoni Institute in Milan who refused to be scared. I didn’t stop and worry about whether or not I would make friends, about whether or not I would succeed - I simply went for it.

What was it actually like?

Fashion Design school is an extremely tough, competitive place; there are many students but far fewer jobs. There’s also an extremely high workload - the course prepares you to work in one of the toughest industries in the world.

In my final year for instance, I literally had no After a number of years living abroad, life outside the schoolroom - work, work work studying and working for high profile - many sleepless nights and days when there designers, how does it feel to return wasn’t even time to eat. home and start your own brand?

view with Caroline Hili

Does this mean that few succeed?

At one point it hit me that however much I What do you need to succeed? loved my job, for me to truly feel fulfilled, I needed to do this for myself. As an artist, In my course there were many students who you sign your work and there’s something either couldn’t handle the pace or simply incredibly fulfilling about that final signature. didn’t find a job within the industry. At the end of the day, it’s a mix of pure talent and As a child I loved to paint, my presents were determination. Talent alone won’t get you analways artistic - crayons & drawing tools were ywhere but talent and hard determination, what I asked Father Christmas for - the best mixed with energy and an ability to challenge part was always acknowledging my work. research into new innovative ideas will.

Photography Kurt Paris

Your first Job was with Valentino which was followed by a top position at Giambattista Vialli..how did that come about?

The start is quite a funny story...all through my final year I kept looking forward to the day when it’d be over and I would catch a flight to Malta for a well deserved holiday. I bought the flight tickets early on so they were already in hand when the job offer from Valentino arrived.

I wanted this holiday so much that I actually asked to delay the starting date - needless to say this was not an option - thankfully, I still had enough presence of mind to realise this was a once in a life opportunity and I threw away my flight tickets and started the job. I worked at Valentino for a year and a half, mainly worked within a team.

After Valentino, I moved to Giambattista Vialli for the next three years. Things were a bit different here. I started working within a team in a more junior role but quickly moved up the ladder, earning a coveted position as his right hand person.

As expected this didn’t earn me many friends.

What does it mean to be a leading designer’s right hand person?

It means being with the designer 24/7; finishing up bits & bobs and ensuring that everything is passed on to the style office - all the information, appointments for shoes. prints etc. I had six assistants and I had to ensure everyone did their jobs and followed instructions. I also had the opportunity to create my own designs for the fashion house.

The week before Fashion Week is like a week of fire with long, endless hours of fittings, model castings, choosing makeup looks, choosing hair looks and just making it all come together.

What would you say has been the most memorable moment of your career so far?

When you’re working for a leading fashion house it’s quite commonplace for celebrities to walk in and out; one day Bruce Willis and Emma walked in

and Bruce looks every inch as divine off screen as he does on. To this day, he’s the only celebrity that has made me blush.

Who is the woman that wears a Caroline Hili piece and how do you come up with new designs?

I picture a woman that is strong, with a beautiful mind and character. I imagine a sexual woman but not in a overt manner; someone who never flaunts her sexiness but is secure enough to simply own it.

I actually dream my dresses.

I can be completely stuck for weeks, then one fine day I go to sleep and in one hour I will have conceptualised the entire collection.

Let’s talk about these photos...your first introduction to the fashion industry was actually as a model right; how does it feel to be in front of a camera nowadays?

I did start out as a model but quickly realised it wasn’t for me. Nnowadays.,..the first two to three minutes are difficult and I get a bit uncomfortable, but then I usually manage to relax and feel more at ease. This photoshoot was very easy, Kurt Paris is one of the funniest people I have ever met.

Your plans for the coming years?

Well the brand Caroline Hili is now fully set up and 2015 is looking to be a great year. I will of course be presenting new collections but I will also be launching my own showroom in Malta.

My plans and ambitions are all about growth both in Malta and internationally. With my client base largely abroad rather than at home, I will be dedicating some more time and energy into growing my brand within Malta, hence the launch of the showroom.

CarolineHili.com

GIRLS Photographed by WALNUTWAX

Gemma

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MAISIE Gemma Janes -profile models Emily Bador-nevs models Nina Sever Nadia Lee Louise Follain Anais Enry Sita Abellan Maisie Daniels - profile models

February Feb 1- 3 Fashion

LONDONEDGE

Nov 7 - Feb 8 2015 Art

Transmitting Andy Warhol

Jan 13 - Feb 7 Entertainment

Frantic Assembly’s Othello Nov 7 - Feb 8 2015 Art

Gretchen Bender

Feb 8 - 10 Fashion

PURE LONDON Feb 13 - 15 Entertainment

Move It

Feb 13 - 15 Entertainment

Perform

A Year with

#OMY

Quarter 1

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Words by Renee - Louise Robinson

It is 20 are wel

Before it com store for us. vals, premier with you all Every 3 mont piqued our in art, music an others but b check back n

Jan 13 - Mar 1 Literature

ON READING AND WALKING AND THINKING Feb 20 - 24 Fashion

London Fashion Week Feb 26 - Mar 1 Fashion

Vodafone London Fashion Weekend

Feb 27 - 28 Entertainment

A Night with Boy Blue

March Mar 5 - 8 Fashion

THE SPRING KNITTING AND STITCHING SHOW Mar 9 Literature

CREATIVE WRITING COURSE 2015

015, the year has just begun and we ll and truly underway.

mes and goes just as quickly as 2014 did, let’s see what it has in . #OMY’s calendar is always jam packed with fashion shows, festires and previews, so we’ve decided to share our insider events list l - you lucky souls. ths we will share what we are up to, where we will be and what has nterest; so come and take a peek at all things fashion, literature, nd entertainment related. Some months may be little quieter than be sure to follow us on Twitter & Instagram - not forgetting to next quarter for the new additions to the #OMY calendar.!

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Mar 10 - 17 Fashion

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Nov 27 - Mar 15 Fashion

Guy Bourdin: Image Maker

APRIL Apr 14 - 16 Literature

THE LONDON BOOK FAIR Feb 6 - May 3 Fashion

THEA PORTER 70s Bohemian Chic Apr 29 Literature

NOVEL WRITING COURSE 2015 Apr 14 & 28 Music

Ruby Sings

MAY May 3 Entertainment

StreetFest

#OMY ISSUE 7 APRIL ‘15

#OMY #OMYLFW SPECIAL FEBRUARY ‘15

Draughts Words by Layla Robinson

OK so 2014 was a pretty good year for #OMY. We brought on 3 excellent new writers, attended London Collections: Men AND London Fashion Week TWICE; bagged hella swag from a ton of pre-show, post-show and after-show parties; all whilst managing to somehow publish 4 jam-packed editions of the magazine!

Now the defining moment of 2014 had to be celebrating our 1 year anniversary: #OMY turned 1 Year old people!

And what better way to celebrate our birthday than with a no-holds barred, bare-toothed battle to the death by way of Draughts?

I am of course talking about Draughts, East London’s newest board game cafe.

Currently 2 month ing, Draughts Lon for all things fu

The #OMY team de full force last D rate the occasion licious sarnies, s and impeccable ga spoilt for choice‌

First up was R old-fashioned to steady hands & re Selected by our Rebecca (#WLY), w to get a feel for up with 3 more kim_omy & @ren one each respecti

hs old and still growndon is the destination un, board and gamey.

escended on the cafe in December to commemon and between the desalted caramel popcorn ame selection, we were ‌

Riff Raff,

a good game of

opsy-turvy eflexes. very own Game Guru, we played a test round r it and then followed rounds - myself, @_ neelouiseomy winning ively.

N

ext up was

Boom Boom Balloon!

The very definition of “stupid fun,” this game was loud, surprisingly tense and reduced us to giggling-chuckling messes. Definitely one to play with kids...big and small alike.

After a brief interlude, a few more members of the #OMY team arrived and we took it back to basics with

Frustration! Only this game edi-

tion had a magical touch...introducing the all new SLAM-O-MATIC complete with a genie - YES A GENIE. Needless to say the game got heated; “You can’t steal my genie!?” “It’s mine now!” and “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO” were all frequently exchanged throughout the duration of this game.

O

ver the course of o including: Cluedo, The G family classic Taboo.

We honestly could have The Draughts team were celebrations. A huge tha tire Draughts team for eats and just generally

We will most definitely

our 11 hour gaming session at Draughts, we played 9 games Game of Life, the initially perplexing Top Secret Spies and

browsed from Draughts’ 500+ games library all night. warm, friendly and excellent hosts for our belated birthday ank you to Toby for giving us the cake hook-up and the enputting up with our raucous laughter, serving us delicious being awesome.

y be back again and you should too!

www.draugh

htslondon.com

JANINE’S DARK MIND Words by Faye Hudson

Resisting current themes of anacondas, “skinny bitches” and countless seemingly identical boy bands, Janine and the Mixtape takes it back to early noughties R&B. Her new EP Dark Mind features soulful and simplistic verse, effortlessly feminine vocals and easy-going, lax backbeats.

She is a breath of fresh air on the female music scene and I’ll tell you why.

Vibes of a female ‘The Weeknd’ float amongst the slow beat and spacey vocal layering of Let It Run. Her silky smooth, soft and barely-there mysterious lyrics lead to a trance-like state for us, the listener, as we try to unpick messages, clever pitch editing and electronic backbeats and percussion.

Things really start to set in motion with “Little Bit”. An upbeat R&B keyboard-esque backdrop accompanies the infamous slow beat that features so prominently on the EP. Despite the rosy sound of the track, the lyrics are almost paradoxical as Janine sings about the emotional bruises that come with romantic ties.

The chorus is unavoidably addictive and is ultimately memorable after just one listen.

The middle 8 brings with it the diversity of Janine’s melodic abilities; her previously hushed head voice in Let It Run, is transformed into an energetic crescendo of ballad refrain.

The title track ‘Dark Mind’ runs true to its name; with an immensely haunting choir-like sound

serving as the basic chord progression, then paired with a marching band beat.

Taking her R&B-esque vocal and classic gospel influenced sound, Janine combines the two generes perfectly to create this mesmerizing track.

Pursuing the vocal toughness found in Let it Run we hear Janine glide flawlessly from impressively deep tones to an angelically soft head voice. Dark Mind illustrates the grand diversification of her sound.

Shattering through this kind of spine-chilling lullaby is an unanticipated break of deep dubstep bass; an exotic tribal drum solo with glimpses of 90’s R&B male backing vocals.

Power chords from a mystical electric piano guide us through the track, as miscellaneous and distinguishably creative drumbeats become intertwined with echoing, distorted background vocals. Again, this clever use of harmonies ‘Hold Me’, perhaps her most allows the song to reach a thicker and busier popular track, throws in timbre to become a match for the honest and harmonies, simplistic, raw true verse sung by the magnificent lady, Janine. & romantic lyrics, with a stripped back sound ; Have a listen to Dark Mind and experience which allows Janine’s Janine and the Mixtape’s extant sound for vocals to take yourself. centre-stage.

An interview with...

Words by Layla Robinson

Initially, what made you want to become Julia: They a musicians? both amazing than hearing Kris: My dad has always been in bands and the studio and therefore I grew up in a music filled house- to it being pla hold. So I have wanted to be a musician from the moment I picked up a guitar which Do you have a was aged 6. I used to dress up as Michael before you pe Jackson a lot!

Will: We a What was your first experience in a backstage tog recording studio like? each other up some group st Julia: Haha It was interesting! My first experience was when we all bundled into Which artists’ c the university recording studio to put down a few demo tracks. Nobody really knew Julia: I grew what they were doing but it didn’t matter - range of artist Morissette, Gre it was super fun. aspire to artist What is your favourite aspect of developing in music, part to reinvent the a track? songs!

Will: I love it when it all comes together live for the first time. All our writing begins in the Which contem studio and it’s not until we get it going in to collaborate rehearsals that the songs really come alive.

Julia: There a What were the main difficulties you faced with! Bruno M when trying to book gigs and get in front of so that would industry contacts?

Mayer, Ed She with MNEK be Kris: You know we never actively seeked gigs to get in front of industry. We always Who are you booked gigs where we knew we would present? gain new fans. That’s the most important thing for us and when we started gaining Kris: Hozier, Ta new fans the industry followed.

Given the op What are the main differences between dream album performing live and recording in a studio? want to work w

are completely different but g! There is no better feeling your track come together in d then seeing a crowd react ayed live.

Julia: That’s a tricky one! I mean we’d obviously want Michael Jackson since we’ve already mentioned him in this interview! He can be there to help us with some amazing hooks, maybe a dance move or two… John Lennon could make sure our any habits/rituals that you do lyrics and performances were heartfelt and erform? on point.

always make sure we’re Kris: Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodggether before we go on; hype ers would be there to co-produce! p, warm up and there’s usually What a dream team! tretching involved too...haha.

careers do you aspire to?

up listening to a really wide ts from The Beatles, to Alanis een Day, Eminem…I definitely ts who have a lifetime career ticularly those who continue emselves and write amazing

mporary artists would you like e with?

are so many I’d love to work Mars is an amazing songwriter be awesome, as well as John eeran...I’d love to collaborate efore he gets huge!

ur top 3 musicians/artists at

aylor Swift, Sia.

pportunity to produce your m, outline the team you would with.

SYKES will be supporting Andrew McMahon on the UK leg of his tour: 22nd Feb - 28th Feb Brighton | Birmingham | Manchester | Glasgow | Leeds | London If you cannot wait to see them live, check out Sykes online.

WORD Emergence OF THE MONTH

“the process of b after being conc

SYNON DISCLOSURE, BECOMING K EXPOSURE, UNFOLDI

January is such an interestin world wake up to a fresh new w er, £1000 richer and generall and happy. Now I don’t know a consisted mainly of a hangover The angel on my shoulder did for a run, eating salad, bein with a triple chocolate chip c

Words by Katy Phillips

I have to say that I admire media chums; the ones that hea month of mince pies and mulle a sweat - but is it just me t alistic this year?

So far I’m attempting to avo instead of 2015, and to stick Ms Editor in Chief!)

So, my dear reader, why not j bottom of your resolutions li forward to. Perhaps you’ll ta book that trip to Prague. What happen, and that 2015 sees the

becoming visible cealed.”

NYMS: KNOWN, COMING TO LIGHT, ING, PUBLICATION,

ng month; people all over the world ready to be 14lbs lightly more motivated, successful about you, but my January 1st r. attempt to whine about going ng good etc but I shut her up cookie.

the optimism of those social aded out for a 5K run after a ed wine expecting to not break that’s resolved to be more re-

oid accidentally writing 2014 k to deadlines (you’re welcome

join me? Add something to the ist that you’ll actually look ake an art class, or finally tever it is I hope you make it e emergence of fabulousness!

“A new year itself will not result in the

emergence

of a new you; like the proverbial butterfly, change takes time, effort and probably a bit of pain.”

THE FABLEISTS INTERVIEWED BY LAYLA ROBINSON

T

he more I write for #OMY is the more I begin to fully appreciate that it’s not what you know, it’s WHO. I was orginally turned on to

The

Fableists

resident superstar Robin Pope and taken with them.

by our photographer was instantly

Never before has #OMY featured a childrenswear brand; but when they’re rocking ethical, sustainable & stylish credentials, could you blame us for stepping outside of the box?

The

Fableists’

very own Sarah Cooper gave up her Tuesday afternoon to talk to us about fashion, quality, comfort and perpetual style...I think she’ll make a “Fableist” of you yet.

The Fableists (fay-buh-list) noun, pl.

Origin: 2012-13; [ fable + activitist ]

A group of people making the coolest clothing for little punks!

Garments that are not only beautifully designed but made well and completely sustainable.

Who are The Fableists & who wears The Fableists clothing?

We really believe that at their hearts; kids are kids. While we want our kids to look cool and stylish, we don’t want our own children to be dressed like teenagers.

Kids are growing up too quickly as it is, these days. We think that kids should be dressed so that they are ready for action at all times. Clothes that are too fitted, or delicate just can’t keep up with kids; and we don’t want to slow them down!

Our clothes are for everyone. We made sure that although our clothes are beautifully made out of the top quality fabrics, we didn’t price them as ‘luxury’ items. We wanted to make a point – that ethically made clothes can also be affordable.

What can customers expect from TF products?

People are always amazed at the quality of the clothes. The fabrics that we use are made for us, so the colours and weights are made to our precise specifications.

It takes up to three months to make the cloth and then the clothes, so we don’t rush anything.

The craftsmanship is outstanding and that is not something you find in children’s clothing. We wanted to make clothes that will last.

Part of our mandate is to keep clothes out of landfill. To that end, our clothes are mostly unisex, durable and classic so that they can be worn and worn and then passed on to another child.

Our clothes are also original and limited edition. You won’t see every child in the park in a t-shirt identical to your child’s – unless you live in our village!

In an industry saturated with fast fashion and cheap threads, why isn’t sustainability as prevalent an issue?

If I’m completely honest: I don’t know.

I do not understand why anyone would buy clothes that are poorly made and of questionable origin. We ask for a full service history when we buy a car, provenance is everything in art and antiques, we are more and more concerned with where and how our food was produced, yet we rush out to buy the latest trendy item without a thought.

I think we buy clothes with our hearts, whereas we use our heads for most purchases.

If possible, how can consumers provoke a change that could revolutionise the industry, or at the very least galvanise a topical discussion?

Ask questions. If all consumers started to ask where, how, by whom and out of what the clothes they are buying are made, then someone will have to start answering them.

But consumers can’t wait for the fashion brands to change. They are fuelled by our passion for buying. The change really needs to start with our own shopping habits.

If everyone took 5 minutes to think about every impulse clothing item they are about to buy, we’d cut our shopping in half (at least!) and that is the best way to send a very clear message to the clothing companies.

When I shop online, I can quickly build up a massive shopping basket but then I normally remove the items one by one as I realise that I don’t need them, that they won’t look nice on me, or that I simply don’t like them enough to buy them!

What particularly made you take up the noble cause of producing organic clothing for children?

We had absolutely no background in fashion or clothing production, so we came to it quite by accident.

The first part of the journey was purely practical. Like so many people nowadays who grew up in the 70s, or earlier, and now have kids of their own, we were nostalgic for our own childhoods when kids roamed freely and could while away an afternoon playing games outside.

Back then everyone wore hand me down clothes but they were well made and could last through cousins, siblings and friends. When we looked at the clothes that were available to our children, they just seemed so… limiting – especially for girls.

Why would a girl want to sit on the side-lines and watch the boys play and climb trees?

As the mother of two daughters, there was no way I wanted to teach my daughters that they couldn’t keep up with the boys. The coolest and most capable women that I know today are the ones who played with the boys.

Little girls who are not dressed to play miss out on so much discovery. So we wanted to make clothes that could keep up with kids.

Secondly, we had made loads of changes in our own lives in order to try to live more sustainably. We eat mostly organic, local food. We aim to become more and more energy efficient, to not waste water and support our local community, etc.

Nothing we were doing was rocket science, it just made sense for us and it also is more in line with the way we had all been living for generations. We were buying less for ourselves but obviously, children outgrow things at an alarming pace, so we started to look for clothes

They were a huge hit and the children’s clothing became a massive part of their business. We liked the idea of making practical, tough clothes for kids that were inspired by vintage workwear but also echoed the clothes that mum and dad wore. In the advertising industry, which is our background, the way that people dress is very much the look of The Fableists.

How has working with a larger scale team benefited the TF brand?

Our collaboration with artists and designers to produce our t-shirts has been amazing. These artists are well known in the creative world but aren’t household names. This is a great way of promoting their work. At the same time, only 500 of each design is printed, so the t-shirts are limited edition, numbered prints.

The Fableists are [essentially] investing in a piece of art – that looks great! We have also collaborated with film-makers to produce two award-winning brand films: ‘Finn: Kids Don’t Belong in Factories’ and ‘The Epic Thread’.

Besides your decidedly genius products, how would you like TF to positively impact the fashion & trading industries? that would last through our two girls and then could be passed on to other people.

We wanted to reduce the toxins in our clothes and buy organic cotton and more sustainable fabrics. We just couldn’t find any clothes for kids that we liked.

Everything was a bit ‘twee’, which is great for younger kids but ours were old enough that they didn’t want to wear those clothes.

A third inspiration was Osh Kosh – the American brand known for their dungarees for kids. Osh Kosh originally made workwear and uniforms for labourers. One year, they decided to make the engineer dungarees in kids sizes so that kids could ‘dress like dad’.

I think the more that sustainable brands tell their story and explain why they are doing what they do, the more people will start to listen.

I know that there are friends of ours and devotees of our clothes who have made massive changes in the way they live just from hearing our experiences.

We are not perfect. We make lots of mistakes. This has been a journey that has had a massive positive effect on our own lives and, we hope, the lives of others and the planet.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

The best fashion advice I’ve been given is to simplify and always dress like yourself. The best business advice I’ve ever been given is to listen to the advice of others. It doesn’t matter that the advice doesn’t relate entirely to your business, somewhere, sometime, that advice will come in handy.

I’m not sure if it’s the best advice I’ve ever received, but these words from my father still ring in my ears with everything I do: ‘Good, better, best. Never let it rest, until the good is better and the better is best’.

Patagonia. They are trailblazers.

Their company has always been different from others but they are head and shoulders above everyone now, in terms of their sustainability programmes that they make public. Obviously their clothes aren’t ‘fashion’ per se but for many people, choosing Patagonia is as much about choosing the planet as it is great quality outdoor gear.

In terms of high fashion, Vivienne Westwood is a pioneer. We have an original Sex Pistols t-shirt from Westwood’s Sex shop. They were made out of upcyWhich adult fashion brands have earned cled prison sheets. She’s been thinking your respect, in terms of sustainability, sustainably since long before it was a style and organic credentials?

catchphrase. Stella McCartney is also a What exciting developments are in store powerful voice that is getting lots of for the TF brand in 2015? attention for how the fashion industry has We have a new collection – including 12 to change. new t-shirt designs. We will be adding some There are a loads of small, developing totally new items but are also thinking, due brands like ours out there that are rooted to customer demand, of re-visiting some in sustainability and ethical practices but of our existing items in other colours. We we don’t have the same power as these are always being asked for adult versions of our clothes…you never know! global brands to get people to listen.

People Tree have done amazing work to promote ethics in fashion and are at the heart of the UK’s sustainable fashion clique. Levi’s have had some scandalous press over the years for their environmental oversights but now they are working hard to make changes to their brand and to make it more sustainable.

thefableists.com

OK, first thing’s first: who is Flossy, and who is Boo? Well Hello! I’m Flossy (Anja Conti) the one with the pink hair and yes, you’ve guessed it Boo is the one with Blue!

(Laura Jeffs) How did you two meet, and when did you decide to work together?

We met each other a few years ago on the acting circuit in Cardiff. Often bumping into each other in auditions/meetings. We knew we needed to work together at some point we just didn’t know when or on what project.

Who came up with the How did the character We both came up with the and development on a ne er company. They were lo serious and sadly both our things funny! It almost felt loopholes and different wa After every session we wou for Laura!) and chat about soon realised it was immine So we started looking aroun

Flossy and Boo

have decided to run away from the circus to set up their own travelling curiosity shop; traversing the globe and collecting stories, songs & trinkets for their little cart.

Let’s meet the girls then shall we...

idea of Flossy and Boo? rs come to life? e idea whilst doing research ew theatre piece for anothooking for something really r creative minds kept finding t naughty in a way, finding ays of approaching the work. uld have a cup of tea (juice our thoughts and ideas. We ent that we worked together. nd for opportunities.

Interviewed by

Katy Phillips We originally thought of applying to Boom town Festival, but after noticing our very own Blysh Festival at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff were looking for submissions we instantly applied.

We were chosen as one of the 5 commissioned acts and started rehearsals straight away.

We use a lot of live original music in the piece so often we would start from there and add story as we went along. The show has a lot of traditional comedy and a vaudeville/variety feel to it. We love it and are so excited about the year ahead.

Describe your act in one sentence.

Flossy and Boo’s curiosity shop is a theatre piece with Live Original music and storytelling suitable for all ages.

What’s been the biggest rush so far?

Actually gaining funding and backing from a venue such as the Wales Millennium Centre.

We were able to create the work we wanted to and start changing our creative lives.

People have really started to back the show and us as creative practitioners. One lovely moment was the night we found out we had been chosen as one of the main acts - we sent each other photos of our ecstatic faces!

I still look back at them when I doubt anything!

I remember how much we have done in a short space of time and smile! .

What are the main difficulties you’ve faced so far?

The main difficulty was not over writing the piece, we had wanted to work together for so long that it felt like we had to throw everything at it! We had to keep really disciplined at making time for us to spend time together as friends, as well as working on the show; as every time we meet up we seem to talk about it. We schedule in girly nights to watch films now! Progress indeed!

What made you first want to go into acting and entertainment?

That is such a hard question; I think we always knew, as we were both performers from a young age.

I was always encouraged to play music and sing.

Laura has been dancing for years; it’s just in our bones.

I think it’s really good for you too! Keeps me sane (ish!) for sure!

Do you have any quirky pre-performance rituals?

Oh my goodness we couldn’t possibly tell you! Oh well ok then! You twisted my arm. We tend to have a drink, check that everything is on the set and have a cwtch (Cuddle for the non-Welsh readers!) then jump about and go for it.

We have a pre-show that we are we ready, then at the to in and off we go. Oh and as on I say: “See you on the oth could be called quirky!

Who inspires you?

Our Family, Friends, Victoria Carmen Miranda and childre (They are so honest! Sometim little too much!)

Are there any exciting on the horizon at the m We are hoping to secure fun take the show to the Edinbu Festival this year. We have b approached by a very excitin agent so hopefully the show can go international. We wo to take the show to lots of d places this year and keep the momentum up! With lots of coverage and a huge follow Facebook and Twitter, we h expand and develop as quic and beautifully as we can!

Where can we see you p Take a look at our website fo the info on upcoming show

www.

e like to do and I always say op of the show, we breathe Laura helps me put my wig her side!� So yes, I guess they

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-“someone told -me there's a -girl out there -with love in -her eyes and -flowers in -her hair“

far from the acoustic desolate shrubbery of a “budding singer-songwriter.

Emerging grand in scope, lush in whimsy and attesting an artist well beyond her years, Flower Fellow’s forthcoming

And here, in 2015, we find ‘The Rabbit EP’ is se Led Zeppelin’s proverbial flo- for release in May 2015. ra flame alight in 17-year-old Borne of a dull, sleepy town on the outskirts of London, the songstress Flower Fellow. young artist always ran a She’s a child of the 70’s, albe- little left of field. it born a few decades late, with Her fascination with Buckley flowers in her hair.

Hendrix and The Doors had Though a hippie at heart, peers bemused, so take a listen Flower Fellow’s debut offering and see what you make of the ‘White & Blue’ strays young starlet.

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Words by Caroline Paris

efashi

Often enough, these impuls against the does this work we Or will I wear this after ton the other problem of peop changing room, in favour of Of course the resultant outc an ill-fitting item that you ultimately hang onto for goo

As someone who loves fashio accessories go to waste so to totally innocent either. My things with the intention of never finding the time to do crime is holding on to cloth lthough the industry views and prepares fashion wear again, simply because I a season in advance, there is a reason that it is sold to that it may come back into f customers within the seasonal context: most people perform what we call impulse buys. Few shoppers make Revamping and customizin lists and walk out the door armed with a “purpose;” even extra mileage out of thing those that do, rarely stick to it. The truth is, a lot of never wear again, that don shopping happens after we have thoughts like, “I need currently on trend. Upcyc something wear tonight,” or “Oh my God, this is so popularity, with magazines s brilliant - I’ll wear it so much!” entire monthly spreads to D There’s nothing at all wrong with this seasonal system, except for the fact that a large percentage of these I have personally attemp in the past. A couple of ye purchases end up being rather illogical.

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Traid Ispydiy Pinterest Refashionista -

ion, Repurpose, Reuse

se buys haven’t been tested ell with my existing wardrobe? night theories. Then there’s ple completely skipping the f ordering online. come is more often than not, have no time to return and odness knows how long.

denim jacket; I distressed some torn patches and added a few sizeable studs. It actually came pretty well and loads of people commented on it which is always nice.

Unfortunately I can never find, or rather make the time to complete similar projects, although lately I have been feeling inspired - I even bought a couple of iron on patches and badges. I intend on applying these to a pair of jeans *fingers crossed* I’ll get round to doing it whilst the trend is still in.

Worth a mention is this idea I spotted on the blog I SPY DIY - she cut up squares of checked monochrome fabric and using fabric glue, she stuck them onto a distressed pair of jeans - great right?

on, I hate seeing clothing and o speak, but can’t claim to be crime is mainly that I buy f having them altered, then just that. My other heinous hing that I’ll probably never In other recent activity, I finally got around to taking I just want it, or in the hope 5 different items to get modified, so that’s a good start to my 2015 resolution to not waste clothes. Finding a fashion...one day. reliable tailor who’s available at odd hours is one way ng is a great way to get to make this job a lot easier; that’s not to say I found gs you thought you’d either such a person (I haven’t), I just had to work my schedule n’t quite fit right, or aren’t around it. cling is really growing in such as Company dedicating In an age where we focus more and more on recycling and eliminating waste, it is wise to start injecting a bit DIY fashion features. more thought and planning into our shopping. pted denim customisations After all, there’s no sense in wasting our hard earned years back, I altered an old money. A guilt free conscience is a little bonus too.

Words by Kim Falcone

S

ometimes it can be very difficult to keep up with seasonal fashion trends.

Every year there is a new style, new colour, fabric or print and whilst they can be the hottest trend one season, they’re totally out by the next. You see, staying on trend is definitely not an easy task, but one many of us endeavour to undertake.

The motto for this long and enduring winter is: WRAP UP WARM I bet you all have that one friend (if you don’t, then it’s most likely to be YOU) who would rather look gorgeous and be cold, than look somewhat compromising in a worn duffle that’s seen a few winters. Well have no fear style hunters, this season’s trends have opened up the prospect of looking just as chic, with the added bonus of warmth. RESULT! Go grab your trusty knits - lambswool or cashmere will most definitely do the trick as a base layer - and then all you need on top is a poncho, cape or blanket.

There is a wide variety of blanket-inspired coats this season and guess what, they are all IN. For those of you who may be tripped up by determining the difference between these outerwrappings, here is a little hinty hint: PONCHO: Made from a thick piece of woolen cloth, it has a slit in the centre for your head and comes in a rectangular or square shape.

CAPE: There are 2 types of capes.

1. Basically a poncho, except with 2 extra holes for your arms 2. Sleeveless wonders, fastened at the throat and worn hanging over the shoulder BLANKET: Umm...blanket...duh?

These garments are effortlessly chic and are the perfect alternative to a coat.

You can throw them over pretty much anything and still look super trendy.

Whether you’re into plain or printed patterns there is one out there for you, so grab your winter must-have for your perfect fashion moment.

From left to right (Fall 2014 RTW): Burberry Porsum, Dolce & Gabbana, Etro, Valentino, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Etro

Col

All Photogrsphy Copyright British Fashion Council

London llections: Men Words by HollySherlock

O

ne of the best things about 2015 so far is the latest offering of menswear.

January launched the official start of the fashion season with the infamous London Collections: Men and it has presented us with a plethora of wonderful designs.

Everything from outstanding outerwear to extravagant Lego masks could be seen, so let us go and explore my favourite collections of AW15.

A

gi & Sam

A duo recognised for their conceptual & colourful designs are back with a playful, primary school inspired menswear collection.

Upon a trip back home to Yorkshire Agi’s mum presented him with, ‘The Coolman Collection,’ a collection he had designed aged just four. Here lies the nostalgic inspiration for their crazy new designs...

Cue primary colours, exposed velcro and Lego masks. The first look of the show displays a deconstructed, dropped shoulder coat with expressions of vibrant colours. While a statement, the technicolour trousers and coat were paired with a plain black turtle neck and simple white trainers, leaving the bold colours to remain centre stage.

The only accessories to make an appearance throughout the show were the bespoke Lego masks, a focal point spanning the collection, made by Isamaya French, a London based makeup artist/ illustrator.

In a stroke of technical genius the boys have grasped the essence of childhood imagination, in a ‘no boundaries,’ ‘why not?’ approach to their designs. A truly dare devil concept.

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her looks from the collection ere less complicated; pairing a ose turtleneck sweater with ggy white trousers, offered uch more manageable everyday ear. The sweater embraces blocked lours to create a sort of ondrian’ colour blocking effect.

n contrast to the other looks, he blue water-resistant coat is tted. Suiting the Autumn/Winter iteria perfectly, it gives this xtravagant collection a branch to the more practical. ‘Utility ic’? Matching the coat is a simar style of baggy/loose fitting rouser (as seen previously) made rom a yellow and blue flecked aterial.

ith the bottoms cutting off st above the ankle this time, he plain white trainers make a ynamic statement. Removing the ask altogether presented an overl more casual and welcome feel.

London Collections: Men was in full swing at The Old Sorting Office, where the team at Topman Design presented a show entitled ‘Bombay City Rollers;’ a fusion of 60’s and 70’s inspired designs.

East meets 70’s Scottish pop band.

The kaleidoscopic projections set the scene for a psychedelic extravaganza, accompanied by a brightly lit catwalk.

The show depicted a practical and more obtainable way of rocking the bell bottom. It seems they’ve also updated it to more of a straight leg, by downsizing it and creating a manageable modern day look.

Personally, I love the Del boy-esque shearling coat. I would call it a Marmite of coats as you’ll either love it or hate it. Either way I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of these in the months to come.

Now you can just about see the double breasted, tunic length blazer behind the aura of the stand out print.

A rather flamboyant tribute that echoes an avant-garde era; tartan has stood the test of time, popping its head up on numerous catwalks over the years.

Can we see a touch of Westwood here?

Look 20 of the Topman show was a salute to Northern Soul consisting of straight legged, high waisted jeans and a blouson, wet look jacket.

The striped bowling shoe was a cohesive item within the collection, adding to the retro vibe.

Another look from the Topman collective displayed a tailored two piece, demonstrating their ability to show technical skill by modernising a somewhat dated look.

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opman Des

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J.W.

Anderson

For AW15 the J ‘A free spirited thin pataphysics.’ A deep exploring beyond t imagination, Anders intellectualism with

The scene is crea model walking dow recycled car tyre mesmerizing soundtr Gaubert is playing atmosphere.

Anderson is clearly sophisticated, androg mix. He continues to the high waisted, slit was clearly at the fo designing the technic Another consistent el wet look hair create L’Oreal Professionne

J.W. Anderson man is nker with an interest in p, conceptual collection the realms of surface son successfully blends h fashion.

Brave enough to present a velvet, camel two -piece, with large jewelled buttons (also featured in his pre-fall women’s collection) Anderson is willing to reflect the strong presence of androgyny within his designs.

The outfit is somewhat oversized on the model but he is not lost inside it - the cut and atively set with each colour compliment his minimalistic wn a bed of purple appearance faultlessly. chips; all whilst a rack created by Michel The calf length, coffee-toned coat provides g, evoking a dystopian a polished finish to the black belted stain flares. The horizontal blocking accentuates a broad, masculine silhouette, even on the y unafraid of throwing a slightest of frames and overall this is a very gynous style top into the wearable look. o use a running theme of With the open option of toning this look up or tted flares; an idea which down this lively trench coat alternative will orefront of his mind when compliment any style. calities of this collection. lement was the futuristic, Which style suits you? ed by Anthony Turner for el.

#OMY ISSUE 7 APRIL ‘15