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We’re really excited about showing at New Zealand Fashion Week this year and to get the show on the road we’ve been collaborating with like-minded organizations. The collection is called Lunatopia, and it’s all about daring to dream big.

When choosing potential partners to collaborate with we always talk with organisations who share the dream of sustainable business practices. We’re strong believers that two voices speak louder than one and have learned that the more we share our experiences, the stronger we contribute to raising awareness and action. Together, we believe we can co-create conscious consumer choices in the daily lives of our customers.

The partners we seek are innovative thinkers that have similar ethical values to ourselves. Our partners celebrate with us and contribute their own way. We all understand that being sustainable, or producing with an ethical focus, is fundamental to doing business in the future. And, this year we’re proud to announce that The Body Shop, Electrolux, Powershop and Project Crimson will be joining us at the event.

The Body Shop will be using its brand new line, Extra Virgin Minerals make-up, made with 100 per cent mineral pigments and 100 per cent Community Fair Trade cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, to create a fresh and flawless complexion on the Starfish models.
 Laurie, who as a young woman was profoundly influenced by the Body Shop founder Dame Anita Roddick, says, ‘I’m still in complete awe that Starfish and the Body Shop are working together to build a strong partnership. It is really befitting that the Body Shop will be providing our make-up look at New Zealand Fashion Week, and that together we can show people that you can still have great style while making ethical choices.’

Electrolux, a company that raises public awareness about the plastic waste that fills our oceans by gathering plastic debris from vulnerable marine habitats and produces limited edition vacuums out of it, has engaged with Starfish with its colourful and compelling Vac from the Sea campaign. Our talented ‘Woman Friday’ – Jen – has created a Vac from the Sea cover, as well as distinctive pieces of jewellery using recycled plastic and Electrolux technologies.

Powershop, a company which allows consumers a choice in which brand of power they use, is actively tracking the power usage of the Starfish show at New Zealand Fashion Week and will then offset the carbon consumed. We’ll also be collaborating with Powershop in order to encourage people to manage and reduce their electricity usage

Project Crimson, a trust that aims to protect and restore pohutukawa and rata trees in New Zealand, is teaming up with Starfish for the third time to create a limited-edition fundraising T-shirt for the summer. All profits earned from the sales will go towards protecting the trees. This year we’ve added a special touch by inviting New Zealand renowned artist Shona Moller to join the partnership. Titled Pride, these distinctive New Zealand made T-shirts will be launched immediately following the Starfish show.

Lunatopia will be presented at New Zealand Fashion Week on Tuesday, August 30 at
5 p.m. in Shed 2 of Auckland’s new Viaduct Events Centre. Starfish will also participate in the Merino Show on Friday, September 2 at 1 p.m. in the Westpac Shed.

Living Legends is a community conservation project that is coordinating 17 native tree planting projects throughout New Zealand during Rugby World Cup 2011. Each planting is being run in conjunction with provincial rugby unions and is dedicated to a regional ‘Rugby Legend’ who has been selected by the union. These Rugby Legends are people who have made a significant contribution to rugby in New Zealand.

Overall, Living Legends will plant 85,000 trees nationwide in 2011. The plantings all take place on public conservation land, and will encourage New Zealanders and overseas visitors to participate in the events. Plantings will be held in Northland, North Harbour, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taupo,Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wellington, Tasman, Buller/West Coast, Mid Canterbury, Christchurch, Otago and Southland.

The planting sites are diverse, ranging from farmland, reserves, lakes, to coastal walkways and wetlands. The Department of Conservation will be at each event, showing volunteers how to plant the native trees, and explaining why the site and plants were selected. Each event is free, and it will be a fun day, a variety of work digging holes, planting and fertilizing the trees, and on some sites mulching and setting up tree shelters. You may even get to meet a Rugby Legend.

Join Living Legends and ‘muck-in’ with us, register your interest at www.livinglegends.co.nz

Thursday July 7 – Sunday July 17

When I’m designing a collection I’m always thinking of ways in which I can create a garment that will be loved for years to come – not thrown out next season. However, when chatting about this we realised that sometimes our tastes and body change, and sometimes you just need a bit of a refresh.

This got us thinking – how can we increase the life of Starfish garments beyond their design – and we came up with The Starfish Big Exchange, which works like this.

If you have a past season Starfish or Laurie Foon garment hanging in your wardrobe that you haven’t worn for a while  – but think that someone else might love, bring it in to any of our three stores (Newmarket, Ponsonby and Wellington) to receive a 50% DISCOUNT on the original retail price of our current Winter ‘11 collection – Seven Sisters.

We’re hoping that The Big Starfish Exchange will be a great way to give your old Starfish or Laurie Foon garments a new life, and at the same time give your own wardrobe a re-fresh. We’ll be cherry picking key pieces that you bring in and adding them to our in-store Vintage Rack. The remainder will be donated to Eva’s Attic, a Wellington based initiative where gifted premium pre-loved clothing and other treasures are sold with all profits going to charity.

I look forward to seeing you with some blasts from the past – soon to be someone else’s new best friend.

Laurie

• Conditions – The exchange is limited to Starfish and Laurie Foon labels only. Clothing must be in good wearing condition, and be freshly cleaned or laundered.
• Charities supported by Eva’s Attc include: Youth Line, New Horizons for Women, Huha Helping you Help Animals, Wellington Rape Crisis and Cambodia Charitable Trust

Starfish Ponsonby - 186 Ponsonby Rd.
09 376 0572
ponsonby@starfish.co.nz

After opening our store in Newmarket earlier this year, Starfish have been quietly establishing ourselves here in Auckland. With a lovely new store and great staff, things were looking good. Then Christchurch happened and things in the Starfish universe were looking not so great.

However, the fashion gods decided to smile sweetly upon us, and give us a site in Ponsonby. Though it was always on the cards (Ponsonby and Starfish are a great fit) – it probably wouldn’t have happened for a while. So with the Christchurch store not longer workable, all the stock has been moved up to our new Auckland store in Ponsonby.

As well as bringing up the clothes from Christchurch we’ve also bought up our store manager Anita. She is a bundle of vivacious fun and is already making herself very at home with the locals. She loves it in Ponsonby with its village vibe.

In celebration of Fair Trade Fortnight (May 7th – May 22nd) we are excited to be displaying a photography exhibition with a selection of images from Fairtrade ANZ’s collection.

The small collection of photos taken in Papa New Guinea amongst Fairtrade Certified Farmers and applicants, aims to expose the populations diversity and portray communities that are working hard to improve their social and economic position, plus encouraging consumers in NZ to support their efforts and make better choices.

These will be on display in our Wellington store from Friday onwards. We look forward to seeing you in-store.