Scarves are among the most versatile gifts, suitable for anyone from a hard-working assistant to a hard-to-please mother-in-law. And what could be better than a scarf in which every stitch has a positive story to tell? Recently I have come across three brands, all founded by women with a connection to Switzerland, which offer chic … Continue reading
Category Archives: Fashion
UAE Art & Fashion: A Cosmopolitan Mix
Last weekend I was among the lucky visitors to the brand-new Louvre Abu Dhabi — a futuristic museum designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and the hottest new arrival on the global art scene. The museum’s concept is to show humanity in a new light, highlighting the commonalities across civilizations, cultures and religions. The crowd shuffling … Continue reading
A Red Centenary
As the last fiery autumn leaves give way to the first snowflakes, my mind is drawn to the events that took place 100 years ago this week: the Russian Revolution, which shaped much of the history of the 20th century, not least in fashion – back home and abroad. It might be a surprise for … Continue reading
SDressed for Success
When I first got into slow fashion six years ago, I noticed a huge gap in the market for sustainable and stylish business wear. There was a dearth of great looking, ethical clothes that fit into our increasingly busy lifestyles: ones that require no ironing, are machine washable and easily transportable in one’s hand luggage. … Continue reading
Plastic Oceans
From microfibres in your fleece jacket to the ubiquitous plastic straws, our oceans are choking with plastics. Each year, some eight tonnes of plastic are dumped into our seas. A portion of mussels could contain 7 micrograms of microplastics. And after years of scientists’ warnings, it seems that the dangers plastics pose to the marine … Continue reading
A Lacy Number
Horses for courses, as the saying goes, and lace rhymes with race. And not just any old horse racing event, but the race: Royal Ascot. Earlier this week, the Duchess of Cambridge caused a stir in her white Alexander McQueen lace dress on the opening day of this must-see event for both racegoers and fashionistas. … Continue reading
Mover and Shaker: Nicolas Rochat
With the ski season fast approaching, it is time to choose one’s green-and-glam outfit. While Patagonia has become synonymous with environmentally conscious activewear, a Swiss entrepreneur at the helm of the high-end skiwear brand Mover has found his own — somewhat unusual — path to sustainability. On a rainy morning, I am sitting in a brightly lit … Continue reading
How Much Difference Can a Dress Make?
I pondered this question when I recently attended a one-night celebration of fashion and cinema called ‘A Night To Remember’, jointly organised by the Green Carpet Challenge, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the British Fashion Council in London. A dress can make a world of difference on the red carpet. It has … Continue reading
Tying The Knot
A few years ago, in the dog days of summer, I attended a friends’ wedding on the beautiful Croatian coast. The bride was gorgeous and blushing, and the groom was dapper in his dark suit paired with a lilac tie. Quite venue-appropriate, I thought, given that Croatia is the birthplace of this ubiquitous male accessory. … Continue reading
The Best of American Ethical Fashion
In honour of Independence Day, we look at US ethical fashion brands you can proudly wear to Fourth of July parties and sing The Star Spangled Banner in. Today, 97% of garments sold in the US are made elsewhere, mainly in China, India and Mexico. But even clothing that displays the ‘Made in USA’ label … Continue reading