The Remake Challenge : Awards Evening

Necklace by Aviv of Forever Love and dress by Hannah Rose Smith

We were so delighted to attend the Awards Evening of this year's Remake Challenge and see all the objects, garments and our KIN jewellery beautifully displayed and looking gorgeous!

Necklaces by A Bird Named Frank and outfit by Roxanne Louw

We were all treated to delicious snacks and a superb glass of wine while we chatted and waited with increasing anticipation for the big moment of the night.

Jewellery by White Rabbit Days and outfits by Justine Pulford

Jewellery by Tessa J Kelly

The winners were announced by Nikki Stear, the founder of Live Eco and The Remake Challenge, and they are:

Fashion
First Place - Werner Boshoff for his “Urban Valkyrie” collection
Second Place - Justine Pulford for her "Autumn Knits" collection
Special Prize - Hannah Rose Smith for her “Urban Transformation” collection

Werner Boshoff with his lovely model in the Avant Garde piece from his “Urban Valkyrie” collection

Jewellery by Reverie Designs and outfits by Werner Boshoff

“This year was by far the hardest year of the competition to judge as the quality of the designs has gone up so much and I loved all of them. The passion of the entrants, and their understanding of the issue of sustainability, and their interpretation of the brief was inspiring to say the least. All the finalists deserve accolades for their hard work, and it was very difficult choosing the top 3, let alone the winner. I am very happy to see such brilliant sustainable designs, and I hope that this experience will influence these talented young designers to pursue a career in sustainable fashion, helping to right some of the wrongs so commonly associated with the industry. Well done to all involved.”

-Tony Budden, judge and CEO of Hemporium

Justine Pulford, winner of Second Place for her "Autumn Knits" collection

Hannah Rose Smith, winner of the Special Prize for her "Urban Transformation" collection

Object
First Place - Drew Wolf, for his upcycled lounge chair, “Belted”
Second Place & Special Prize - Kristina Nielsen for her object, “Glass Gardens”

Drew Wolf and his upcycled lounge chair, “Belted”

It is such a privilege for us to have been involved for the second year with this truly inspiring initiative by Live Eco. Alongside the glamour and fun of the competition, is the real work it's doing to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable fashion and living. We are so proud to have been a part of the Remake Challenge 2015 alongside our 5 talented KIN jewellery designers - Aviv Mirkin, Caryn Fourie, Claire Sandham, Helen Andrews and Tessa J Kelly.

The Remake Challenge : Helen of White Rabbit Days with Finalist Justine Pulford

Helen Andrews began White Rabbit Days as an expression of her love for wandering, discovering and exploring. Helen's intricate designs are captivating and so expressive of her adventurous character. She has allowed her brand to unfold organically – as she discovers new materials, skills and inspiration, and the Remake Challenge has been yet another part of her journey as these are the very first pieces she has had cut from brass.

We paired Helen with Justine Pulford as we thought Helen's bold designs would accentuate the soft textures and tones of Justine's garments. What we didn't count on, is that Justine is vegan and Helen works partly with laser-cut leather to create her intricate but light-weight pieces. Both designers were keen to think of a new approach, however, and we are thoroughly delighted with the results of their collaboration! Helen took Justine's concept of celebrating the inherent beauty of bamboo - one of the key sustainable materials - and created iconic silhouettes of the bamboo plant in brass. The pieces are elegant and confident yet playful, and complement Justine's sense of freedom and personal empowerment.

 
Justine: "I am in love with knitwear and I love autumn as I can finally pull out my jerseys. I wanted my collection to be chic for a city girl yet still look organic and be comfortable for home."

Justine (left) and Helen (right)

All Helen's Remake Challenge jewellery pieces will be for sale at KIN on Kloof until the end of September, and then they will be on show at our KIN stand at the Sanlam Handmade Contempory fair in Joburg. 


Follow White Rabbit Days on Facebook here.
Read Justine's full interview here.