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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.

Being a Top 12 supporter of the radio station RDU-98.5FM in Christchurch, November was our Month of Glory where we got to run a competition of our choice and give away prizes. We thought that this sounded like a good opportunity to get some tips on how to lesson our impact on the planet, so we asked listeners to ring in with their most innovative, interesting or extreme eco-solution. Thanks to all who participated – the response was great!

Below are the solutions from our winners – Celeste, Miles, Bee and Toby. Congratulations and keep on pushing the agenda.

Recycling/Sustainability Solution – “Rather than constantly buying new stuff, I organise book and clothing swap parties with my friends. It’s free and social” (Celeste).

Fair-trade Solution – “Buy fair-trade underpants and keep the sweat out of your knickers” (Miles).

Alternative Energy Sources Solution – “I put my hand into the compost bin – it was hot! I used this ‘heat energy’ to create a smell-proof compost mattress base that heats up my mattress during frosty winter nights” (Bee).

Pollution Solution – “Carboys that leave McDs and KFC rubbish on the side of the road should be summarily executed at 12 noon every Sunday in the Square. One in the temple!” (Toby).

…yep, well I guess sometimes extreme measures are necessary.

Industry stalwart Laurie Foon returns to Fashion Week with a recharged passion for all things green and sustainable. The Wellington-based designer, who has been in the industry for more yhan 20 years, will present a collection called Heirloom on Tuesday afternoon – inspired by pieces to be treasured and passed on. Foon’s Starfish store has had a green makeover and stocks the best of sustainable fashion including the worlds first fair-trade sneaker, organic cotton t-shirts from Kowtow and shoes from ecologically friendly Terra Plana.

NZ Herald VIVA, The ABC of Fashion Week