People Tree Prints For Autumn Winter 2011

If you read this blog regularly, you will probably know that I love prints! Bold prints, bright prints and unusual prints. I also love People Tree. As I wrote in a previous blog post If you want bold, bright and beautiful prints, shop Fairtrade, I think ethical fashion labels definitely do some amazing prints and with prints and patterns being so on trend at the moment, perhaps this is a way that ethical fashion can really shine (apart from the obvious ethical credentials).

I was really excited to see that People Tree Autumn Winter collection has some amazing prints which I absolutely love. I especially love the blouse. I know it is a bit early to start thinking about autumn yet, but when it does arrive perhaps I will be treat myself (if of course there is a gap in my wardrobe that needs filling).

There are also plenty of great bargains in the People Tree sale. If you love floral prints, there are even some of the vintage prints from the People Tree Laura Ashley collaboration.

With warmest wishes

PS. This post contains affiliate links but I am only posting it because I genuinly love the collection and also People Tree.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

Celebrating the World Cup with African fashion

I am not usually a follower of football but with an event as big as the World Cup, it is very difficult not to get drawn in. I will definitely be watching England play tomorrow night armed with the obligatory glass of lager and England flag. This years venue for the world cup has reminded me not only about the amazing colours and vibrant prints that come from Africa but also the daily difficulties that many people in Africa face and the great fashion initiatives that have been set up in Africa. But the fashion is not just about bold prints, there is quite a lot more.

Whilst researching a post about ethical swim wear (coming very soon), I stumbled across some Afrochic which sells a range of luxury African designer fashion and supports local traders and designers. Suzaan Heynes is just one of the designers featured on the site. She is a Johannesburg based graduate of the London International School of Fashion and is known for her edgy Avant Garde designs.The piece from her most recent collection that really jumped out at me is the cowl necked batwing jumpsuit (and the belt).
Thula Sindi is another of the designers making a name for himself in Africa following an education at the National School of Arts in Johannesburg and a degree fashion design at London International School of Fashion. His designs are elegant and innovative.His latest collection features plenty of contrast including this cute floral dress combined with leopard print gloves.

Nassir Mohammed is quite an established Cape Town based designer whose clothes are worn by many of the South Africa TV presenters. His clothes are known for being feminine, flattering and very wearable (pictured below).

Lalesso was the label that I came across when looking for ethical swim wear. With some great designs in some of the bold bright prints that you would expect to see from African designers, this label is about so much more than it's attention to ethical manufacture and sourcing in Kenya. The Cape Town based brand which was formed by Olivia Kennaway and Alice Heusser has an idealogy centred on transforming East African heritage into stylish and current contemporary designs. This label caused me to take a big gasp of air before saying 'I love it' out loud, not only are the dresses gorgeous but they are within my price range.

Images from http://www.africhic.com/

Consoling myself with Chichia London

After yesterdays post about ASOS Africa which got me quite excited, I was a bit disappointed to find that the very gorgeous blazers that were causing a considerable wobble on my shopping ban, were completely sold out (or at least not available on the site at the moment). I really loved the bold bright African inspired prints but in the absence have been driven on to exploring other possibilities. Perhaps a blessing in disguise as I came across another very desireable source of African inspired prints, at Chichia London.

The label which was founded by Christine Mhando has some really original pieces in the most amazing colourful prints. I love her idea of keeping things fresh without being too trend driven, this just about sums up what I want from my clothes (along with lots of busy colours and patterns). Christine was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and raised in London, so the collections take inspiration from both continents and she transforms them into very beautiful and wearable clothes.

Chichia London is available online at The Look Boutique but please don't buy it all up before I finish my shopping ban.