8. elokuuta 2008

ReadyMade magazine Re-fashion issue



ReadyMade magazine Re-fashion issue feature this trashion decor project, using belt buckles as crafty storege solutions. ReadyMade also features other cool DIY projects, "MacGyver" challenges, gallery for your DIY project pictures, discussion forum and designer features. Plus of course they blog.


7. elokuuta 2008

Ecological home cleaning range - Ecover



First of all I rarely write about stuff that´s not related to DIY or recycling, but this time I´ll make an exeption... A lot of us buy organic food, secondhand clothes and other sustainable products. But what about the chemichals you use to clean your home and doing your laundry? I´ve discovered a new ecological product range this week - Ecover. This company is not exactly news, because they have been up since 1980. Ecover has been a trendsetter from the very start: as a pioneering company, it marketed a phosphate-free washing powder even before phosphates were branded as a problem. It´s environmental policy extends to all departments of the company, from production to marketing.

Ecover offers a full range of home cleaners from dish washing tablets to household cleaners and laundry washing products. Even non-chlorine bleach and shower gel! Their website lists all ingredients used in the products and packing materials. I have now changed all possible home cleaners in my house to Ecover and wll continue doing so as soon as my local supermarket widens their selection (in Finland Ecover is available from Stockmann and Prisma). They clean as good as any other brand + I have a clear concience. I highly recommend them.

Here are some reasons to use Ecover instead of conventional cleaners:
- quick and complete biodegradability
- minimum impact on aquatic life
- against animal testing
- detergent agents are vegetable based, no petrochemical based ingredients
- fresh perfume from plant based ingredients
- no residue of unnecessary chemicals
- some products also available as refill
- packages are 100% recycable

“Environmentally friendly“ detergents do not exist. Detergents are always a burden on the environment in one way or another. Ecover strives to keep this burden as low as possible. Production is aimed at minimising the noxiousness of the products for water life and guaranteeing rapid and complete biological degradability. Ecover primarily uses plant raw materials and commonly occurring minerals. Petrochemical raw materials are as good as completely excluded as they are mostly poorly degradable and often poisonous for water life.

Ecover has been awarded recognition and prizes on many occasions for its special contributions and achievements in the field of environmentally sound, sustainable development. Perhaps the most prestigious recognition was being named to the Global 500 Roll of Honour of the United Nations Environment Program, which was awarded to Ecover as early as 1993. Outstanding!


Rolling socks with Sabrina Melis



Sabrina Melis of Alghero Sardegna Italy sews jewels from old socks and other materials. Her soft jewelry is 100% recycled and gorgeous! Like candy. Her rolling-technique is very god to use when doing crafts from woolsweater scrap pieces or other thick fabrics for clothing details, home decor (like pillowcases, floormats) and soft toys.


Via HauteNature blog.

6. elokuuta 2008

Attention Trashion bag ladies!


(bag made by Post Scriptum)

Are you an upcycler? As in, are you into making stuff from things that others cast away? Now is your chance to show the world your trashy treasures. The Compai ladies — Justina and Faythe Blakeney (authors of 99 Ways To Cut, Sew, Trim And Tie Your T-Shirt Into Something Special) — are working on a new book about bags made from recycled materials.

Submit a hi-res image of an original bag (or bags) that you have made from old tires, nuts and bolts, candy wrappers, seatbelts, old clothes, plastic bags, vinyl records, etc. to justina@venuszine.com. Bags can be any shape, size or style so long as they are made from recycled materials. Along with the images, send us your name, occupation, age, URL (if you have one), location and a short paragraph explaining what the bag is made of and your design philosophy.

You could be chosen to be a featured designer in Compai’s upcoming publication (to be published by Potter Craft, a division of Random House), plus win two free copies of the upcoming title. The winner also will be featured on Venuszine.com.

Deadline: August 20, 2008, at 5 p.m.
Submit to: justina@venuszine.com with "Bag Book" in the subject line.


(Lace glove bag made by Flymissy)


(sweater bag by Brenda's bag)

4. elokuuta 2008

Trashionista group in Flickr



As you know I´m admin of a group called TRASHIONISTA - Sustainable style and recycled fashion in Flickr. We have over 1000 members so far! I created this group to support sustainable fashion thinking and all you crafty trashionistas out there. If you have made, sewn, knitted, reconstructed fashion pieces, clothes or accessories from recycled materials or eco-friendly materials, this group is for you. Come and show us your talent! Thank you for all who have contributed so far. Below some of my favorites. Reduce Repair Reuse Recycle - TRASHION!

Dress and hat by Sunshine Loves You



Recycled fabric bunny called Betty by JunkerJane.


Patchwork dress by eviegreenpixie.


Reconstructed dress and zipper corset by LoriMarsha.



Knit reconstruction by -astronette-


String scarf by psarokokalo.



Converse belt by rachelyra.

Trashion inspiration to recycle, create and.. write.

When I started sharing my inspiration books and trashion projects on the web, I thought they could be used only on crafts. But inspiration is so much more and I should know that! It can be the driving force to any kind of creating and creative thingking, in this case writing. "Trashion passion", is a short story written by Merc aka Sylvia Petter. She is an "Australian in Austria" who writes fiction, essays and poems. Finding her short story today really made my day because I think it captured so well the feeling I have when making my trashion projects and the trashion ideology. I felt like reading my diary. Thank you Sylvia for this story!! I love it. My favorite part is: “Why?” they asked. “She needs them,” he said. They shook their heads.". You know exactly what my husband has to endure daily... :)

TRASHION PASSION by Sylvia Petter

She recycled him. Right from the first question: “Got any old jumpers?”
“They´re for the needy,” he said.
She looked out at him from under her fringe. “They´re fashion conscious, too. Give me what they wouldn´t want.”
“Anything?”

He gave her his teabags and ties, old jeans, zippers and ski gloves.
“More,” she said, and so he set off to ask all his friends.
“Why?” they asked.
“She needs them,” he said.
They shook their heads.

“All this enough now?” he asked with arms laden.
She nodded and arranged piles on the floor.
“Why?” he said softly.
She winked, shook her head, just said: “Wait and see.”

She worked for hours on end, days and weeks, and all the while he sat cross-legged and watched her.

She frilled all his ties and sewed them together and made them into a long shiny skirt.
“You´ll need a bodice,” he said, his eyes caressing her breasts. “Better still. We could stay here forever.”
She blew him a kiss and arranged all the tea bags, strings hanging down like Swarovski pendants.
“A necklace perhaps?”
She blew him a prfft! And proceeded to triangulate all her zippers until she had a collar like Comme des Garcons.
“What if I take you walking in the snow?”
“Can’t catch me,” she said and slipped her legs into faded legwarmers that covered her Moon Boots and were made from his jeans.
“But your shoulders. It´s cold outside.”
She gestured to him that he remain seated while she arranged hundreds of ski gloves in a pattern over old jumpers. She sewed and she stitched hands, wrists and fingers until a cuddle-warm cape was completed.
He clapped his hands. “My princess,” he said.
“Trash is my passion,” she said proudly.
He held out his arms. “My trashion is you.”

Inspired by Outsapop

3. elokuuta 2008

Shopping indie fashions online at Smashing Darling

Etsy is a great site for handmade goods, but I unfortunately it does not offer a quality range of goods in clothes. Smashing Darling is the perfect site when shopping for a unique dress or other DIY/indie fashions online. All of the goods fetured on the site are for sale. It´s like "net-a-porter" of indie labels! Here are some of my favorites.

The 615 Project Fiona dress.


Laura Dawson Gallerist jacket.


Ena Daro Couture plaid couture dress.


Kahri Sweetheart Belted Circle Dress.


Angela Johnson T-shirt Ballgown

FadMashion emerging designer network



FadMashion is a new site for designers who want their works and brand noticed. “At FadMashion we make it easier for retailers to find fresh, quality talent in a marketplace overrun by outdated, scattered resources and we make it easier for designers to present their wares through our streamlined profile management interface. It has never been easier.“ I found loads of inspirational new talents with just an hour surfing. The site is still in Beta - that promises to solve the problem that designers and retailers face. The site rquires "fashion enthusiasts" to sign in to view designer details and collection images.

Dimitri Scheblanov fashions. Great look to re-fashion old tees and other clothes with a textile pen for a graphic and childlike artsy (unisex) look. I hope my local craft shops carry textile pens also in different colors so I can do this kind of work in the full rainbow spectrum! This kind of refashioning can be done quickly and in one evening. Definately something I plan to get done this fall when it rains outside :)





Octopi NYC. I love the cuts and material combinations in their FW08 collection.




Found via DIY City Mag blog.