RE:Fashion Awards 2008

RE:Fashion is a brand new fashion phenomenon, set to transform social and environmental standards in the fashion industry within a decade.

The RE:Fashion Awards will take place on 13th November 2008 in London, celebrating people and organisations who have taken great strides in tackling poverty, healing the environment, and changing consumer attitudes towards ethical fashion.

High profile partners include Hilary Alexander, Fashion Editor of The Telegraph, Jane Shepherdson, Anna Orsini of British Fashion Council and designer Katharine Hamnett. A selection of the world’s most innovative and highly respected designers will showcase one-off pieces made from sustainable materials in a 27-piece catwalk finale. A few of the designers involved include Preen, Marios Schwab, Ann-Sofie Back and Todd Lynn.

CIWEM is sponsoring the RE:PEOPLE AWARD 2008 which is open to any fashion, textiles or accessories designer or business. This award focuses upon businesses and initiatives which have changed the lives of the people and the communities involved in their supply chain and which have the potential to achieve even more progressive social change. Judges will be looking for innovation around raising social standards in the fashion industry, while still making a high quality products. This could include fair trade practices, improved wages, working conditions, workers’ empowerment, and programs to build sustainable livelihoods.

For more information, go to www.refashionawards.org. 

GRACEFUL WITHDRAWAL?

CIWEM is supporting Greenhouse Britain, a major exhibition of new work by the eminent artists Helen Mayer Harrison, Newton Harrison and their British associates. Greenhouse Britain brings together art and ecology to address the effects of global warming on mainland Britain.

Centred on a large-scale sculptural model with audio-visual animation, the exhibition turns the island of Britain into an icon that questions rising sea levels – ‘…as the waters rise with grace, how may we withdraw with equal grace?’ A series of artworks propose new future for the Pennines, the River Avon and the Lee Valley.

The exhibition has been touring England, and will now be at the Greater London Authority’s City Hall as a key element of a month long focus on climate change. This ‘radical artwork’ expressing ‘controversial views of climate change’ will be presented in the central foyer space at the heart of City Hall from 16th May to 10th June.

CIWEM has supported Greenhouse Britain as part of the Institution’s Arts and Environment initiative, which is putting creativity at the heart of environmental policy and action.

Greater London Authority City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA
 www.london.gov.uk

For more information, go to http://greenhousebritain.greenmuseum.org/