Ajaiy Vir Singh, the brain child behind Conscience, StringHopper and The Colombo Fashion Week

Meet Ajaiy Vir Singh, SriLankan Fashion designer and social entrepreneur.

Who is Ajaiy and what makes him awesome?

He is the brain child behind: Conscience 

After working in ethical/green fashion and apparel manufacturing for a few years, Ajaiy decided to take the plunge in an attempt to create a 'supply chain of happiness', by impacting the cotton growers, weavers and ethical apparel manufacturers to create a product with the conscience intact.  Hence the birth of a brand not very far from the core - Conscience!

At the core of Conscience is what they call a supply chain of happiness.  Conscience's key fabric is cotton, grown by farmers who are empowered to use environment friendly practices.  The cotton is completely organic, called eco-logic cotton.  The next step of weaving is carried out by equally responsible handloom practices in the South of India.  The fabrics are then manufactured into fashion items at Sri Lanka Apparel's Garments Without Guilt certified factories.

and Stringhopper 

Ethical Fashion practices and unwavering commitment to natural materials with sustainable production practices in place makes them the eco-warriors we find totally AWESOME.

AND 

What makes me introduce you to Ajaiy? 

Besides his fabulous eco-brands, Ajaiy runs an initiative The Colombo Fashion week. Let us not mistake it as just another fashion week like all others popping up in every state of the Asian continent. This event is a serious attempt to uplift a dying industry and as the founder puts it "We want to get there where it makes sense. Fashion weeks need to include commerce, training, guidance, interaction, exchange of ideas, all these are aspects that we are adding and making better every year". Therefore, an initiative is what I call it :)

As I spoke to him this morning, we both agreed that the terms "Fashion week" and "Ethical" are the most abused ones in the fashion scene today. He realises that in order to let the world know that this event is not another publicity gimmick and that they stand for a mission that spells "Fashion for good", he will soon roll out his PR exercise sharing with all of us the plan he has in mind for this social event.

An excerpt from my chat with Ajaiy:

Bhakti: When did you start the Colombo fashion week and why? 

Ajaiy: CFW was started in 2003, with the sole objective of uplifting the fashion industry of Sri Lanka, through guidance, interaction and creating market opportunities for the SriLankan designers. A vertically integrated showpiece unlike many other fashion week events which are run by event companies. Our process starts at the beginning of year where we identify young designers with potential, guide them help them stand on their feet, encourage them to use local fabrics. They are in kind of an incubation.

We have unstinted support from Bibi Russell and Rizwan Beyg of Pakistan who help in motivating designers in South Asia. CFW also worked with retail houses in Sri lanka to create a buying infrastructure for local fashion. 

B: Tell me more...

A:Cfw operates on few fronts, local designers, local fashion crafts like batik, beeralu lace etc which we support and the local fashion infrastructure. We also help designers local or international to find relevant manufacturing units for them.

B: Why a full day dedicated to Ethical Fashion?

Personally I was connected closely to the Sri lankan apparel industry and was instrumental in finding them their current position 'garments without guilt' but most of the industry people are not united on this cause. Hence, I initiated CFW as an ethical platform. We had this in mind a few years ago but only took the plunge once we were ready. This will finally take shape in February 2011. Like in many countries where apparel industry is influential the fashion design gets run over, Sri lanka too is suffering from the same. CFW is playing the role of giving boost and raising a local fashion industry in the country.

Since 2009 CFW also took another step of creating a South Asian Spring Summer/resortwear hub where designers showcase their Spring/Summer ranges. The buyers and media have taken it positively and look forward to it every season.

B: Do you charge the designers for the stalls and show...why? or why not? 

A: There are no stalls, but closely controlled meeting rooms. We follow a format for designer buyer interaction. We dont charge Sri lankan designers as they are part and parcel of this project. So far, we dont charge international guest designers anything too as we look forward to their interaction with our local designers and create a knowledge sharing base. 

We have managed to create the CFW into a seat of interaction for fashion in South Asia and (we think) no other South East Asian country has been able to do that yet.

B: Do you have buyers coming in for the event? 

A: Yes, we have buyers from India, middle east, Malaysia so far and for the next season we are expecting a few more countries to get added on the list.

--end of excerpt--

Sri Lanka's premier Fashion Week started in 2003, with a single-minded objective of uplifting the local fashion design industry through interaction, exposure and guidance. Expect great minds to meet, awesome ideas shared and most importantly, meaningful fashion finds its market at this event. To send your entries to participate at the event, get in touch with Ajaiy on ajaiy@colombofashionweek.com

Ajaiy is in Delhi, India at the moment and while he spends his time at my favourite places like Khan Chaacha (drool) and TLR (Alas!) besides working on Colombo Fashion week, Conscience, StringHopper and spending some quality time with his family there. I wish him very good luck with all his future endeavours. 

A.D.O made in U.S.A and India coming soon to your very own So Ethic, Melbourne

 a.d.o (anjelika dreams organic) is a clothing line designed for the active woman: Comfortable and breathable!


The fabrics are dyed using the age-old, Indian tradition of natural herb dye. Each strand of yarn is dyed with hand-picked natural ingredients such as pomegranate seeds, turmeric, lemon, indigo, Fera, sandalwood, basil, Eucalyptus etc., to gives it's unique color and natural goodness.


While colored dyes are still a problem to organic clothing, a.d.o stands out because A.D.O uses all natural herb dye, leaving the environment clean, happy and safe for our future generations.

The Company takes pride in making clothes that are free of synthetic chemicals, toxic irritants, and 100% organic and sustainable.

All a.d.o clothing is made in a factory in India and U.S.A, that takes a holistic approach to their employees and economic sustainability. In addition to healthy working conditions, food and housing are a standard followed here.


"The 'a.d.o' woman is one with her community, active, and wants the very best for her family, her surroundings, the body and the soul. We hope you enjoy wearing our clothes as much as we have enjoyed creating them" says Anjelika of A.D.O


A.D.O has won many accolades and is recognised internationally for their sustainable and ethical practices.


Click here to read more about them: A.D.O website

Clothes with a CONSCIENCE by Stringhopper, Srilanka

CONSCIENCE by Stringhopper, Sri Lanka's first Ethical fashion label.

These shirts are made from handpicked cotton which stems out of an inclusive growth project which envisages to strike a fine balance between the existing eco-system and the human populace, and a promise that conscience runs in every square inch of this fabric to the tag that brings you this message.

Available at So Ethic Melbourne and its online shop!

Amazing Textures by Designer Samant Chauhan

Watch on YouTube - samant chauhan

The light fabric from a small village in India all set to dress up into a lovely evening gown for a runway show in Paris. The textures are to die for! Samant Chauhan proves it yet again, he has no parallel in India for chic Ethical Fashion.

Minimum fuss, Maximum style by Anuj Sharma, India

Anuj Sharma got his post graduate degree in Apparel Design from the prestigious NID, India. He was awarded the 'Charles Wallice India trust scholarship' in 2002 to study Masters in High performance Sportswear Design from the University of Derby, UK. 


Recently selected as one of the four finalists for the'International Young Fashion Entrepreneur' of the Year award by British council, India, Sharma works with areas of craft development and performance wear. His other interests have included teaching fashion and understanding human behavior with the help of fashion. 


He was also awarded the Marie Claire Most Innovative Designer of the Year award in 2009.


He has previously shown his collection in Japan and at the Lakme fashion week in Mumbai. This revolutionary designer has developed a new concepts (patents applied for) to make garments that have minimal or no stitches on them! His missionary motives, revolutionary ideas and commitment to design have won him many accolades. 


Anuj’s philosophy is about sustainability and longevity instead of fashionable fickleness. He teaches crafts persons and weavers to become independent and make “designer” garments and would rather mobilize action and money for them than for a show at Paris Fashion Week. He makes his clothes with minimum fuss, minimum manpower, without any machines.

Both Knot For You, his 2007 collection, and Button Masala of 2009 were big hits. His latest New Improved, Button masala is a collection of garments that can be worn, then opened up, and refashioned into something else depending on your mood and ability. New, Improved worked with rubber bands just as Button Masala worked with buttons.

This is the Anuj Sharma genius. His easy, fluid, anti-fit dresses aren’t just dresses. They can be turned into a cushion cover, a bag, a shirt, a kurti or anything else by re-knotting or re-buttoning the fabric. He can teach you how in less than five minutes and make ten garments in half an hour. Take a worn, boring shirt from your man’s wardrobe to Anuj and he will turn it into an exciting bag or knot your stole into a tube top while you sip your coffee.

The garments are immensely wearable, modern and have a point of view. Audiences clapped loudly, industry bigwigs hugged him and fashion critics hailed him as Indian fashion’s wacky and ingenious beta. 

Melbourne awaits to unknot these beautiful creations at the humble Ethical fashion hub SO ETHIC.

mail@soethic.net

With inputs from Shefalee Vasudev  who was the editor of Maire Claire. She is working on a book on Indian fashion to be published by Random House India in 2011.

Bamboo Sunglasses- The fastest growing Ethical style statement soon to arrive in Melbourne

Watch the Promotional Video on Youtube

Bamboo is the planets fastest growing wood resource and can grow up to 60cm in one day, to celebrate this UnitDot Eyewear which bases all its sunglasses and optical lenses around a bamboo foundation launched in the UK on May 6^th 2010.

UnitDot bamboo sunglasses the brain child of Hong Kong based designer Cyrus Wong are to be released by the UK based licensee Mr. Colin Ball from Chelmsford in Essex. 

When asked “Why should people buy UnitDot Sunglasses over any other brand?” Colin Ball responded, For years the bigger and well known brands have dominated the sunglasses market but they still choose to only deal with regular high street fashions and not address the important global issues that we face everyday. By choosing Unitdot over other brands customers still receive the ultimate in up to the minute fashion styling, while also showing awareness of eco fashion and the issues that surround the problems with our planet. Buying one pair of bamboo glasses is the first step toward small lifestyle changes, at a very small cost.

There will be three styles available within the range; a classic aviator, a perspex aviator and a tortoise shell affect wayfarer design.

Along with being able to plant a tree for each pair bought, £2 will also be donated to the UNICEF Children’s appeal worldwide. SO ETHIC is Australia's first retailer of these ethical sunglasses. Grab one at an Introductory price of AUD140

mail@soethic.net
Tel: 03-98276062

Source: Your story

Flora and Fauna from Canada now at So Ethic, Melbourne

About the designer:

Pauline started working in the fashion industry in Toronto after studying Fashion Design at Ryerson University. Drawn by BC's beautiful surroundings and the abundance of wildlife, Pauline moved to Vancouver where flora&fauna, the eco-fashion label flora&fauna was born.

Drawing inspiration from beauty in nature, the irresistible cuteness of animals, and the intricacy of the planet's delicate eco-system, all of flora&fauna's pieces reflect Pauline's deep love for the natural beauty in our world. With a blend of clean lines, rich colours, and lasting style, flora&fauna incorporates nature and animal themes into each design, and is proud to support local animal welfare and nature conservation organizations.

All of flora&fauna's pieces are locally, ethically, and sustainably made.

Flora and Fauna range will be available at So Ethic in Melbourne soon! 

mail@soethic.net

Bangladesh's Pride- Bibi Russell comes together with So Ethic, Melbourne

Born into a prominent Bangladeshi family, Bibi spent time in outlying villages in the rural areas of her country, soaking up the strong colours and distinctive patterns that marked out the fabrics made by local craftspeople. This childhood experience sparked an interest in hand-woven textiles that led her to Britain and become the first woman from her country to study at the London College of Fabric in 1972. In 1975 she modeled her own collection at the graduation show, which launched her modeling career. For nearly 20 years her beauty and grace populated the world's fashion magazines and catwalks.

By the early 1990s, Bibi decided that it was time to return home, relocating to the city of Dhaka to establish what she calls her dream and build a worldwide reputation for the hand-woven textiles she remembered from her childhood. A tru humanitarian at heart, Bibi Russell also strives to alleviate the suffering of street children. "Our world, our future lies in the hands of the next generation," says the designer, "Be they poor or well fed, they are tomorrow's leaders. I have taken it upon myself to teach them to be self-sufficient young people and to encourage self-employment."

In 1996 Bibi presented her first ready-to-wear collection at a fashion show entitled Weavers of Bangladesh, held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris . UNESCO has supported all three of Bibi Russell's major shows in Europe . The second show in August 1997, Colours of Bangladesh, at the Castell de elliver in Palma de Mallorca was launched and supported by HRH The Queen of Spain.

Owing to Bibi's growing popularity, she was made a guest at the cultural event Knitting Together Nations - Fashion and Crafts from Women of Bosnia an Herzegovina , jointly sponsored by UNESCO and UNHCR, held in December 1997. She was also voted Woman of the Year by Elle in 1997. In September 1998, with the support of UNESCO and the British Fashion Council, Bibi staged her third show in London, Stars of Bangladesh, where HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and Ms. Clare Short, a Member of the British Parliament, were guests of honour.

The following year on 13 May 1999 the Fashion Space Gallery in London exhibited Bibi's work, coinciding with her receiving an Honorary Fellowship of the London Institute in recognition of her outstanding contribution ot the field of fabric and design. UNESCO recognised her unfailing attempt to support human dignity, development and the eradication of poverty with the honorary title of Designer for Development, UNESCO Special Envoy on 4 October 1999 and the title of Artist for Peace on 27 November 2001.

The year of 2003 proved to be another year of success for Bibi in promoting her cause. She was awarded You Can Change the World by the Club of Budapest and played an important role in presenting the Images of Asia fashion show in Denmark, dedicated to the weavers of Bangladesh. The United Nations Association of Spain awarded Bibi the prestigious Peace Prize 2004 for her efforts to fight poverty in Bangladesh and for her dedication in building a bridge between cultures, between modernity and tradition. Bibi Russell held her first show in Germany in 2005, presenting her spring/summer collection at IGEDO.

To this day Bibi Russell continues to pursue her commitment to fighting poverty and improving the social and economic development of weavers in Bangladesh . Fashion for Development seeks to blend the creativity of the local artisans with that of Bibi's professional design and fashion background to secure market outlets for the artisans and thereby preserve and revive the weaving heritage of Bangladesh .

SO Ethic is honored to be associated with a name like Bibi. We welcome her on board.

mail@soethic.net

Como No? The artistic bags and boots from France

Take some core characters of a clear conscience and add an identical course of ethics. Throw-in some common aspirations and dreams and mix them by hand. Powder this with some touches of madness. Here comes alive the project Como No.

After their degrees in international business, Manue and Candou meet in Master de Com' in Nantes. Soon they both had advertising jobs in Paris. The experiment in agency of Com’ was brilliant, informative and funny, but the obscurity was that it was not for them. They felt the inner need to feel more useful, to be expressed and act in a field which they like by combining their tastes for the fashion, their experiences and their need to be close to people. Here then, they carried rucksack on their backs to traverse the world with the objective to think of which they really are, to create a life which was different from the rest.

With the sight of each colour, with discovery of each odour and all the marvellous places and especially through all the people they met, of these exchanges and human generosity, they raised a simple question “Como No?” (Why not?) The answer seems obvious.

Como No?... is the simple question that triggered it all…

They launched out the challenge to create an original mark of fashion accessories which resembles them. Without any hesitation, everything would be done in the country of their heart, Argentina. And of course, because they put all their heart and soul into this project, it is with these cordial volunteers that they chose to advance towards a respectful world of the individual and planet. They called upon Arno, painter and friend, who worked on the collection and the graphic identity of the mark. They share with him the same values and aspirations and are secretly jealous of his creative talents!

COMO NO it is a mark of ethical fashion accessories manufactured in Argentina. It is also a mark which engages in a step that is responsible for sustainable development. The duo Emmanuelle Boschat and Candice Augereau chose to work hand in the hand with Argentina’s co-operatives of the province of Buenos Aires. With an ecological concern in mind, COMO NO uses mainly cotton cultivated in the north of Argentina without chemicals (cotton in conversion) uses dyes without heavy metals in an endeavour to find solutions that are more ethical each time. It’s interesting to see the re-use of the fabric falls from the clothing industry used in their chic boots and accessories that are manufactured using artisanal processes making each creation a single object a visual treat!

Watch out for their limited edition bags, boots and pouches at SO ETHIC, Melbourne. Their full range can be checked here.

mail@soethic.net

Facebook group: So Ethic