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” Entitled HEIRLOOM, and in shops over the coming months, the Winter ‘09 collection is inspired by Rita Angus Life & Vision exhibition currently touring the country. Channelling the 50’s silhouette, Foon has placed the focus firmly on the waist. This is balanced out by masculine style jackets, voluminous batwings and high-waisted pants created in the softest wools, merinos and, a particular Foon favourite, a lustrous blend of hemp, silk and organic cotton.

All Starfish garments are made in New Zealand, even though Foon could no doubt fatten her margins if she moved production offshore. She uses organic cotton, recycled rubber and buttons, vegetable based dye, reuses all plastic garment bags and coat hangers and carry bags are made from recycled chlorine-free paper.

‘See, you can be fashionable and still save the planet,’ Foon says with a smile.”

Your Weekend, January 2009.

” Clean, green and Kiwi. New Zealand is fortunate to have a bountiful crop of true eco-heroes – men and women making a difference both economically and ecologically. They inspire through their ability to prove that being green does not mean you have to run your company in the red … far from it. A passion for their exceptional, successful businesses is matched only by a desire to educate others about taking care of the planet.

Starfish designer – Laurie Foon.
Wellington designer Laurie Foon has always wanted women to be eco-savvy style queens, without looking like paper-bag princesses. Read the rest of this entry »

Fashion is frivolous? Hardly. Textiles are a multibillion-dollar industry that employs one-sixth of the world’s population. And what we wear matters. Our clothes communicate how we feel, how we see ourselves, and how we want to be seen. So what are you wearing? Who made it? And what is it made from?

Try the truly wonderful fibre – HEMP. With half the ecological footprint of cotton, hemp could be grown in NZ – and with barely any irrigation or pesticide. Hemp fibre is naturally rough, but new processes and fibre blends have created soft, strong fabrics that look … smokin.

Image features Starfish NEW DYNASTY DRESS – Hemp / Silk / Organic Cotton blend. Designed and made in NZ.

The Dominion Post – Carolyn Enting

Wellington labels STARFISH and LAURIE FOON returned to the catwalk at Fashion Week with a strong statement on style and sustainability. It has been four years since Laurie Foon and co-designer Carleen Schollum last showed at Fashion Week. Their winter 09 collection – HEIRLOOM – was partly inspired by the Rita Angus: Life and Vision exhibition at Te Papa and Angus’ desire to create something unique and lasting.

 The pair doubled their workload sourcing fabrics from New Zealand suppliers. 65% of the garments in the show were made from locally produced and sustainable fabrics, including fine gauge merino grown and milled in the South Island and woven in Timaru; merino silk possum scarves knitted in the Manawatu; and knits from the Bay of Plenty.

But now it is all over, Foon and Schollum are understandably a little anxious. They needn’t be. The collection is effortlessly wearable and fashionable. My picks are the superbly cut, killer LAURIE FOON ‘Socialite’ pants and the STARFISH organic denim ‘Dowry’ coat and high waist skirt.

Sustainable and gorgeous.

Runway Reporter – Chloe de Ridder

For her return to Air New Zealand Fashion Week for the first time in years, Laurie Foon sent models down a bronze metallic runway, with eyeshadow to match. Starfish’s sporty luxe look was particularly successful – the casual look matched the casual vibe of the show.

Titled HEIRLOOM, the range is inspired by all things precious and unthinkable to lose. This means lots of pieces made from natural fabrics which are designed to last. The influence of Rita Angus shows through the vibrant colours – amber, lots of grey and a seasonal print which resembles brush strokes on a canvas.

The collection is sure to become precious to New Zealanders, with stand-out pieces including a pink puffer jacket, the hoodies and anything plaid.