People & Planet: Interview with Zandra Rhodes

It’s not everyday that you are invited to interview style queen and fashion legend Zandra Rhodes! La Luminata jumped at the chance to talk to her about camping at Glastonbury, her views on sustainability and how everyone can embrace a unique style…

After fifty years in fashion, Zandra still has an abundance of passion for design. Zandra’s latest venture sees a somewhat unlikely collaboration with Millets and the launch of a bright and funky camping range. Zandra’s signature graphic prints and bold use of colour feature throughout the range, from a teepee tent, a lightweight rain jacket to funky wellies.

La Luminata: We love your new range for Millets. How did this collaboration come about?

Zandra: Oh I know, haven’t they done a good job with it! They saw an embroidered beach tent on my website which I designed years ago. Then they contacted me and I just jumped at the idea because I just think that in the world we’re living in today one should get back more to reality and not all that travel.

La Luminata: Do you see yourself using the range?

Zandra: Well I intend to try and go to the one where it always rains… (La Luminata: Glastonbury?) Yes Glastonbury!  And then I can wear the wellies, and the turquoise rain jacket and be dry in my tent. I think the range could look summery or cheer the winter up!

Zandra started her career as a printed textile designer; creating the bold graphic prints that have become her signature. Zandra soon turned her hand to fashion design and became the forefront of the international fashion scene in the 1970’s, designing dresses for Kate Moss, Princess Diana and outfits for Freddie Mercury.

La Luminata: How did you have to adapt your design approach from designing dresses for the likes of Kate Moss to designing Teepee Tents? 

Zandra: Well the Millets team were fantastic they had already seen my work and they were quite clear they liked the idea of using bright prints. So then together with my design team we worked on making it happen.

La Luminata: How do you think the traditional Millets customer will view your bright and funky designs?

Zandra: Well I hope they will love it! I’m hoping that it will bring another angle to Millets and not just your brown camping gear. You know they’ve been going for enough years put it that way!

Zandra has supported the Environmental Justice Foundation’s (EJF) Pick Your Cotton Carefully campaign by designing a T-shirt to raise awareness of the use of forced child labour and the ecological devastation associated with cotton production. We were keen to find out if Zandra adopts a sustainable and ethical approach to her work…

La Luminata: How important is it for you as a designer to support sustainability and ethical campaigns such as the EJF Pick Your Cotton Carefully campaign?

Zandra: Well I think this is how the whole thing works out with Millets; it puts you much more in touch with reality and life. Wherever we can we do our best to try not to do landfill and we try to live in a sustainable way and make sure that life continues as it were.

We were very eco with the marketing of the Millets range. Instead of flying to South Africa to photograph the tent in the sunshine, we went to Sunningdale in the snow. We had to roll back giant snow balls and melt the snow in order to even do the photograph!

Zandra is known for her distinct image; with bright pink hair, electric blue eye shadow and boldly coloured outfits. We asked her if she had any tips for the La Luminata readers of how to be individual and unique…

La Luminata: Here at La Luminata we believe in creating your own unique style. You have such a distinctive image; can you give any tips to our readers of how to be individual?

Zandra: I think everyone stands a chance of being individual. I’m quite sure when we all get to wear my turquoise wellies there are going to be people that wear them very straight with a pair of black jeans or there’s going to be people that wear a floaty dress and have the wellies at the bottom hippy style. I think that everyone has their own unique way of looking at things and really you shouldn’t be nervous to have that unique way to do things.

La Luminata: Just embrace it!?

Zandra:  Yeah I think embrace it and see what happens!

La Luminata: We love the idea of your turquoise wellies and rain jacket teamed with a bohemian summer dress!

Zandra: Don’t you think!? You could tuck it up and particularly if you’re a long legged girl it would look great. These days you know I wouldn’t be seen dead in shorts but I bet you there will also be people looking glamorous in shorts with their legs on show teamed with the range.

I’m going to have to plan some special outfits one assuming it is going to be wet and cold, what will be alright wet and cold tucked into my wellies? Or how will I look slightly chic if I’m walking around in mud! (Laughs)

We’re sure Zandra will look uniquely chic whatever the outfit! The team at La Luminata can’t wait to try out the range at this year's festivals. Bring on the summer…

Carly Gordon

People & Planet: WWOOFing around the world

Whilst flicking through a Lonely Planet guide over summer I came across something that I'd never heard of before: WWOOFing.

This odd sounding acronym stands for ‘World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms’. This is a programme which spans every continent of the globe and celebrates not only Organic Farming but also preserving traditional farming and production methods. Fancy the opportunity to learn how to make cheese and cider whilst meeting new people and experiencing new culture?

Strangely, within an hour of reading this I met an actual ‘WWOOFer’, as they are humorously called, who had just been working on an organic rice farm in Northern Japan. She said the experience was absolutely amazing and would recommend it to everyone.

Ever eager to travel and do a little learning and good work along the way I’ve signed up. France will be my first stop!

Poppy Sakulku

People & Planet: Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth representatives have been barred from the UN climate talks in the Bella Centre in Copenhagen this morning.

Every delegate from the international environmental campaign group arrived at the centre this morning to find their badges were no longer valid.

Friends of the Earth representatives from countries ranging from Nigeria to Japan and Denmark have been taking part in the negotiations over the past two weeks calling for a strong and fair agreement, with rich countries leading the way with emissions cuts of at least 40 per cent by 2020.

Friends of the Earth is petitioning UN climate secretary Yvo De Boer to protest against the ban and calling for members of the public to add their name at www.foe.co.uk.

Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

“It is a crisis of democracy when campaigning charities like Friends of the Earth are prevented from speaking up on behalf of communities around the globe within the talks themselves.

“We were stunned to discover that every Friends of the Earth delegate has been banned from attending these crucial talks – if this is a consequence of our role as one of the most prominent groups calling for a strong and fair agreement, this is even more disturbing.

“This draconian measure is completely unjustified – the Copenhagen conference is fast becoming an international shambles.”

Via Daisy Green

People & Planet: The Good Thing About The Recession

Ok this year has been tough due to the recession and some people have had their circumstances changed more unfairly than others. However I wanted to write something positive to highlight the golden moments that I've gleamed from this last year and what I personally have received from having to be more resourceful with a lot less.

I would also like to ask you to use this as an opportunity to dig within and to look at what treasure you yourself have dug up within seemingly difficult times. I would love it if you posted your comments below about what you've found out this year and we can all learn from each other. Although on La Luminata we write a lot about cool eco things to buy, it's also about being smart, intelligent and savvy with what you already have.

Number One on my list is friendship. I have really found out who is a good friend to me, whether I've needed a pep talk, a hug, a cup of tea, some advice or even a night out, I would have been lost without my friends both old and new who have supported me throughout this year. It's also made me realise how important these friendships are to me and that nothing makes you feel quite as great as people who love you for who you are.

Number Two I would say...is that I've realised just what you can achieve with very little resourses...just a good idea, a lot of energy and the courage of your convictions. I'll say no more.

Number Three is that I've made friends with the kitchen recently, which I've always found an intimidating place until now. But my new gung-ho attitude seems to be paying off. I have been making gorgeous soups which are quick and easy to make from the BBC website and experimenting more with in-season local vegetables to boost our immune systems through winter. I've also been learning more about raw food which is so good for the body and I've become quite addicted to raw chocolate truffles which are actually healthy! I've also been getting friendly with various ingredients in my kitchen as beauty products. For example, using virgin organic coconut oil to restore my very damaged hair, which has worked a treat and left me with healthy shiny locks.

Number Four is doing less. Yes really. I always used to feel like I needed to go/see/do absolutely everything and in the meantime completely tire myself out with exhaustion. Now I'm a lot more selective and often prize spending an evening in watching a moving film than spending money in bars and clubs for the sake of it. When I go out now it feels like a real occasion and something that I look forward to.

Number Five is crafts. Thanks to a number of customizing websites, blogs and magazines I have rediscovered my own inner fashion designer and have been sewing buttons and fringing onto clothing, not to mention the amazing vintage and charity shop finds which I have come across. I recently purchased a floor length turquoise dress for £12 from Traid and with a bit of alteration I know that I will be the envy of Christmas parties everywhere! Best of all, no one else will have the same dress.

Number Six is using organic products. Where I've saved money on clothing, customizing and by walking everywhere, I have spent money on organic and ethical skincare because what you put onto your skin is absorbed by the body and this can have a knock-on effect years later. So I put total importance on buying the best products that I can possibly afford for my skin, hair and body. Not forgetting mineral cosmetics because with products this good, there's really no reason to be using anything that contains chemical ingredients.

Number Seven is shunning the high street completely during this unsteady time and instead investing my money in small businesses with strong ethics. This year I will be buying all of my Christmas presents from local crafts people in Sussex and not only do I help them to grow their business, but I get to give ethical, handmade, thoughtful and original gifts to the people I love. Beat that 2 for 1 gifts at Boots!

Number Eight is to recycle. Now I've been doing this for a long time anyway but what I really mean is to not throw things into the recycling bin automatically and instead look at the whole way in which you consume and re-use your items. For example, envelopes and jiffy bags get reused instead of being thrown away, glass jars and bottles can be reused for storing food/products/pens, etc. Vegetables are never taken to the checkout in individual plastic bags and I always try to buy things with as little packaging as possible (seriously, what's our obsession!) It's all about being resourceful and creative in every area of your life. For some inspiration look here.

Number Nine is to Look within. Now I don't mean this in a kind of misguided hippy sentimental way, but seriously we are constantly made to feel by the media that we don't have enough and aren't good enough unless we buy this or that or do this or that. That we can never be thin enough, rich enough, sexy enough, cool enough to be happy and this is such a silly fabricated lie. So this year I have become totally connected with myself through writing, exercise, eating well and meditation. And you know what, I've decided that I'm absolutely fine as I am. It's about listening to your inner thought patterns, turning off the negative critics in your mind and learning to love the person that you are today, flaws and all. It's amazing how much more successful, sexier and vibrant you become (and seem to others) when your at peace within your mind and heart. Life is beautiful.

Number Ten is Kindness and compassion. It's free, it makes you feel amazing and it brings so many wonderful experiences to you. So many people seem to have forgotten the simple act that a few kind words or a smile to a stranger can make. If there's one thing that you change about yourself, this is the best one. Kindness and giving to another human being, an animal or even a plant will make your heart expand enormously, there really is nothing better.

People & Planet: Greenpeace Take Over Parliament

Tomorrow MP's  will  return to Parliament after recess and may well be surprised to see the brave Greenpeace volunteers who right now are occupying the roof of the Houses of Parliament.

The protesters may stay up there all night. Their message is clear. Lets hope the people in power listen. For more info and to support the campaign check www.greenpeace.org.uk

People & Planet: One to Watch, Luxirare

If you haven't heard of this girl, then you should have...

Part artist, part mad scientist, part fashion designer, part muse and in my view a total genius.

Check out Luxirare to have your mind seriously blown away with perfection, ingenuity, beauty and creativity.

People & Planet: My Top 5 Style Blogs

Now, let it be known that I much prefer reading fashion blogs these days to magazines and that the majority of my style ideas come from wierd and wonderful things found in real life, nature and all across the web.

That's not to say that magazines still don't have their place in the world, as excellent journals on all things fashion. But blogs, are free, accessible, regularly updated, express real character, set their own trends and are not edited by a team...which can sometimes be a good or a bad thing.

Here's the pick of my favourite blogs, not to say that they are the best ones out there or necessarily eco in any way...I just like them personally, in their own unique and eclectic way and find myself inspired by the writers.

So this is my gift from me to you, enjoy!

1. Outtsapop

2. Luxe Noir

3. Fashion Wrap

4. Life In Lomo

5. Facehunter