Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.
Dawn: The whole process of creating begins with an impression–from the weather, a moving picture, a book, a feeling, an experience. The materials–a vintage button from a flea-market in Berlin, Dutch wax cotton, the finest Italian linen or raw canvas or combed cotton–each element could well stand alone. Taken together, they create an irresistible whole. These are my paints.
Luva Huva (pronounced Lover Huva) produces beautiful, handmade clothing using ethically sourced and sustainable fabrics wherever possible, which celebrate elegant feminine style whilst also providing a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to the often wasteful fashion industry. All products are hand made in the UK.
The fabrics used in the range include 100% organic cotton, bamboo, and soy fabrics, along with end of line remnants, and vintage lace. The results are miles away from the dreary, uncomfortable clothing that has unfortunately become associated with natural fabrics.
The Fall 2013 collection celebrates the changing season through a blend of warm layers and feminine silhouettes.
Previously featured in 2008, I recently caught up with Liza Rietz again, and wow!
Liza Rietz began designing and sewing custom and retail pieces in 2001. She has been a part of Portland’s artistic clothing community from the beginning of her career, participating in multiple group and independent fashion shows. Her designs have been available nationally in high-end boutiques in Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.
Rietz’s modern designs are structured yet feminine, detailed yet wearable, and are created individually, not mass-produced. Rietz designs two small lines annually, producing small batches of each design. Though her collections adhere to the seasons, her lines are not season-specific. Instead, Rietz focuses on designing clothes that are versatile and that easily translate to any time of year. Rietz’s designs are made out of all natural fabrics including cottons, linens, silks, and bamboos. With a small production run of each line, the individuality of each piece exemplifies how clothing can be artisitc and expressionistic.
I have loved all the Pirates of the Caribbean films and I think even Disney were surprised at how popular they were. The absolute gorgeousness of Johnny Depp in them probably has something to do with it in my opinion. Then there is the romantic freedom of the open seas, the girls in the revealing corsets and big skirts, the fit and tanned deckhands, the exotic sunny climes, the swashbuckling sword fights and stretches of sandy beaches…actually it was all round a winning formula! The films, to some extent, have kept alive the popularity of the pirate theme for parties, carnivals and festivals all round the world and of course the opportunities to dress up in such fabulous outfits have increased. I don’t need a fancy dress party – I’d be too tempted by such gorgeous clothes and want to wear them as often as possible. I’m sure it’s fine to do the weekly supermarket shop in a Victorian-esque outfit with frills and ruffles everywhere; English folk would be too polite to ask, and I could fill up my trolley, confident in my pretence that I am on my way home from a pirate party!
I absolutely love the dress above by RomanticThreads. Do you see what I mean? It is far too nice to only bring out from the wardrobe on special occasions once or twice a year if you’re lucky. I have decided to make it my mission to get everyone wearing clothes like these to Tescos (or Walmart if you’re American)! It would make the whole experience much more enjoyable.
This dress by GoGothic genuinely could be worn on a daily basis – it’s simple enough to get away with wearing it to work (depending on what work you do, of course), but it has those extra touches – the gathers at the neckline and the full, but tied in sleeves, that gives it the piratical look.
I’ve actually included a dress I made myself this week. Earlier in the year I made a whole collection based on pirate wear, and this is one of my favourites, kindly modelled by my daughter. I called it the Mary Read Dress, after the famous pirate who I imagined wearing clothes like this when she was on holiday from plundering the high seas!
Beautiful dresses by wearydrearies.