'Fashion with a Conscious'

Levant  boutique,  located in Goodwood,  has built a reputation on the emphasis  it places on ethics in all its ranges of clothing, accessories and giftware. In their own words, it's "fashion for the green at heart, socially conscious and environmentally aware consumer".  Everything sold in the store is carefully selected by owner Corrine Ormsby based on a strict criteria of environment, humanity and community.  This was the main motivation in starting up the business. Thus, expanding to carry Fairtrade certified clothing seemed the natural progression. 

The Fairtrade certification ensures that key requirements in wages, labour conditions, traded prices and sustainability are met. The certification aims to readjust the traditional discrimination towards poorer producers of goods when trading on the global market.

On the 17th of May, as part of Fair Trade Fortnight, Levant held  a Fairtrade fashion parade called 'Fashion with a Conscious'. It featured pieces from label Keokjay and One Colour.  Unlike most generic, sweat-shop made clothing,  Corrine notes that all the pieces come with 'individual stories'.

 Red dress - One Colour

Black trench coat - One Colour

The One Colour labels intention since its inception was to focus primarily on the people who make their line.  Their 'Peripheral Vision' collection mixes East African grown cotton jersey with Organic jersey elements and hand-beaded details  and all the while, ensures a 'Living Wage' is paid to the tailors in Kenya.

 Dress - Keokjay

KeoK’jay, means bright green or fresh in Khmer, and is a social enterprise that employs HIV positive women in Cambodia to produce eco-friendly fashion clothing and accessories. Their  designs utilize environmentally friendly processes and materials, and have a unique hand touch. Through their production they give their producers a livelihood that has great impact for themselves and their families .

 Black flared skirt -One Colour

White T-shirt -One Colour 

As the Fair Trade movement grows exponentially, Corrine notes how  "We love the social change that is happening with consumers becoming much more aware of the power of their consumer dollar.  We love that people are spreading the message of how easy it is to be gorgeously responsible. "  A visit to the store proves Corrines point, that being fashionable and conscionable are not  mutually exclusive.

Find out more at:

http://levantnaturesfashion.com.au/home/

or find them on facebook.

Find out more about Fair Trade at:

http://www.fta.org.au/


By Hiranya Ekanayake

competition time!

We're so close to launching our new website! Check out this little competition we're having on our Facebook page to win big!

thailand part 2.

here are a few more photos from my travel diary: red, gold and white temples, elephants dressed in colourful Buddhism adornments, beautiful bright pink and red embroidery, and my burgandy felt hat which went perfectly with my red floral shorts and black c&p top!

thailand part 1.

i just spent the last 10 days in Thailand with one of my best friends, Deanna, (also a c&p girl for some of the goldcoast markets) and it was beyond amazing. everyday we enjoyed the very different culture, food, weather and views and it was just breathtaking. I, being obsessed with finding inspiration and beauty wherever I go, found so much of it to inspire me for upcoming collections. The purple hued skies and mountains were I sight I loved in particular. Aswell as taking batik painting classes and emmersing myself in all of the intricate and colourful embroidery and hand made jewellery we found at the markets. Now to get out the sketch pad and put all of my new knowledge and inspiration into notion!

Meet Dulce Candy - HaulerDeals Fashion Guru

Inspiring online fashion guru! :)

YUP

 

Vintage Target shirt | Kookai skirt | Erin McNaught for Zu shoes | Sportsgirl ring, nail polish and necklace

THESE SHOES ARE STILL $30 ONLINE SOMEBODY BUY THEM LET'S BE TWINSIES NOT REALLY BUT REALLY ALSO THEY'RE STILL AT THE WESTFIELD MARION ZU STORE AND THEY COME IN ORANGE TOO WHICH I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IF THEY WERE IN MY SIZE

THIS KODAK INSTAMATIC CAMERA WAS $1 AT A GARAGE SALE TODAY, STOKED

CHANELLE

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Westfield Marion VIP shopping night

Sportsgirl tights and jewellery | Erin McNaught for Zu shoes | Cotton On belt and jumper | Rubi shoes

The challenge was to find an outfit for less than $100 at Westfield Marion's VIP shopping night on Thursday, and it turned out to be more than enough with all the incredible discounts on offer. From free champagne, chocolate and cupcakes to croquet games, beauty consultations and Masterchef appearances, there was literally something to do in every corner of the centre. And that was without the 30 per cent off in most of the stores. They're planning to have another shopping night again soon, so keep your eyes peeled and you'll hear the next date from me.

It doesn't seem like all that long ago I was in Isabel Marant's Soho store trying on the ubiquitous luxe sneakers with Jess, who ended up buying a gorgeous pair. Gosh, they're so comfortable. I do feel a little guilty for buying a copy, but at $17.50 they were pretty hard to resist. Not the most comfortable sneaks I've ever worn, but they are pretty darn swagalicious. Ew, I just said swagalicious. Ew.

Chanelle
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it rained a lot in queensland.

Vintage blazer and watch | Finders Keepers dress

I skipped fashion week to visit my Grandma on the Sunshine Coast. She has cancer. Her 83-year-old torso is caught in the crossfire between evil cells and sympathetic doctors.

***

Perhaps the older you get, the more apparent it is that everybody's dying. We're all on our way to death. We think we're living, but we're breathing to death.

***

Grandma remembers everything, I realise as we go through her photo albums. She points at a group photo of her 21st birthday party. 

"He's dead, she's dead, she's dead, he has Alzheimer's now. He was a brilliant pianist."

Three people are still alive. I'm standing next to one of them.

***

I had my 21st last month. I wonder who will die first. I wonder what it will be like when my granddaughter points at photos with relentless curiosity. 

***

Grandma was a professional singer when she was in her twenties. Her house was always filled with flowers that men would give her after the shows. She was beautiful in her theatre costumes. I don't know whether to say it because I don't want to imply that she isn't beautiful any more. I settle with the term graceful, because you don't lose that with age.

***

And that is why I don't have any fashion week posts.

Chanelle

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Branding shoot | The Bowerbird Room

A rare rainy day in Adelaide didn't stop young entrepreneur Kirstin Cooper from setting up a fun picnic for her first branding shoot. She's in the process of launching her event styling business The Bowerbird Room - sounds pretty cute if you ask me! More photos on my facebook album.

Chanelle

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words to live by.

To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.
- Joseph Chilton Pearce

join the casper&pearl team!

sofia coppola.

Sometimes I wish I was a little girl living in a Sofia Coppola film, there is almost nothing more inspiring and intriguing to me than the characters she depicts and creates in each movie. We always love a good combo of Kirsten Dunst, 90's films, pale skin and troubled spirits. While flicking through the new Vogue we found an amazing write up on the director/producer/actress with a list of all of her favourite things. There is something so fascinating about reading what inspirers those who inspire. We hope one day we can do the same!

Little bird | Blogger/photographer collab shoot

1, 2, 3. Millie wears dress by Celia Fraser

4, 5, 6. Olivia wears dress by Emma Tapp

7. Millie wears dress by Victoria Scarce

8. Millie wears vintage dress, stylist's own; Olivia wears dress by Jennifer Charles

9. Millie wears vintage dress, stylist's own
10-14. Dresses by Emma Tapp

Hair and makeup by Jessica Anne

Photography by Chanelle Leslie and Claire Alice Young

It was January this year when Claire and I decided to collaborate for a final shoot before she moved to Melbourne, and we made it the biggest either of us had ever done to that point. We kept it raw and local: young designers fresh out of TAFE, and unsigned models scouted off the street. But what I loved most about it was the way it brought out our different styles: the contrast of the darkness and the light. 

Our concept for the shoot was for the styling to be inspired by the elegance and strength of birds, but looking back I see a split personality reflected in the shoot, the simultaneous darkness and light that we each have inside us. Go to Claire's facebook page to see even more beautiful images.

Chanelle

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