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 2015

How can we resist being a part of this fantastic competition for 2015!

What is the Remake Challenge?
Many people have a preconceived idea of what sustainable looks and feels like, and The Remake Challenge has set about breaking down that paradigm by illustrating just how beautiful, glamorous and exciting "green" options can be. Powered by Live Eco, this competition encourages conscious choice and asks each finalist to use sustainable materials and production methods, and present objects and garments which showcase the desirability of these materials.

How is KIN showing our support?
Just like The Remake Challenge 2014 we are joining up 5 of our highly talented KIN jewellery designers with the 5 Fashion Finalists to add beautiful jewellery pieces to their outfits. For 2015, in the true Live Eco spirit, we have also challenged our designers to make one piece using sustainable materials (and have fun exploring the possibilities that these materials offer :) "Sustainable" here can be materials that are found and reworked or recycled, materials which are grown / made responsibly (in a way which does not pollute or deplete the earth), materials which are gathered from the waste of other existing industries (for example, off-cuts of fabric, leather, perspex, etc).

Our 2015 KIN designers
We are so excited to watch all the finalists' progress through the competition, and to see the final outfits complete with KIN jewels! Here are our 5 jewellery designers paired up with the Fashion Finalist we think their work will best complement. Each outfit will be professionally photographed in the beginning of August so that the judges can make their decision in time for the Awards Evening on Thursday 13 August - so keep your eyes and ears open for all the excitement that is to come!

Aviv of Forever Love with Fashion Finalist Hannah-Rose Smith

Caryn of A Bird Named Frank with Fashion Finalist Roxanne Louw  

Claire of Reverie Designs with Fashion Finalist Werner Boshoff

Helen of White Rabbit Days with Fashion Finalist Justine Pulford

Tessa of Tessa J Kelly Jewellery with Fashion Finalist Jean Baard

True Cost : SA Premiere

As you may know from previous blog posts and from our teaming up with Live Eco, we love sustainable, locally-made fashion. We feel so lucky to live in a city where great local brands like Hello Again, Babette and Take Care are so accessible and in such beautiful locations. Most of all we love hearing new voices speak passionately about better ways to live, create and shop. While You Were Sleeping recently shared the trailer for True Cost, an exciting new documentary film that delves into the shadows behind the bright lights of our time's fast fashion industry.

"Growing up in America, I never gave much thought to where my clothes came from. But as I began learning more about the people and places behind the labels in my closet, I was shocked by what I found. Clothing is the most labor-dependent industry in the world, employing millions of the world’s poorest workers, many of which are women. Many of these women are paid less than a living wage, work in unsafe conditions, and are deprived of basic human rights. In addition to the human impact, fashion is now the number two most polluting industry on earth – second only to oil."

– Andrew Morgan, Director of True Cost

Watch the trailer here:

When While You Were Sleeping offered us the opportunity to help bring this great project to viewers right here in Cape Town - how could we resist? Join us in watching and celebrating the film at the Labia Theatre and if you're not in Cape Town; why not visit the film's site and read up more info including how to pre-order a copy of your own to watch wherever you are.

"True Cost is a story about clothing. It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the clothing industry is having on our world. The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically. The True Cost is a ground breaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider, who really pays the price for our clothing?"
  

 

Filmed in countries all over the world, from the brightest runways to the darkest slums, and featuring interviews with the world’s leading influencers including Stella McCartney, Livia Firth and Vandana Shiva, The True Cost is an unprecedented project that invites us on an eye opening journey around the world and into the lives of the many people and places behind our clothes. "

- While You Were Sleeping

the #RemakeChallenge : Fashion Photoshoot : Liam Power with Gillian Fuller

These are the stunning images from the official Remake Challenge photoshoot held at the Cape Town Fashion Council with SDR Photo / Simon Deiner. All jewellery by Gillian Fuller and all outfits by Liam Power who won First Place in this year's Remake Challenge.

Liam Power and his model at the Remake Challenge Fashion Shoot

For more images of Gillian's designs click here 

For more info on the Remake Challenge click here

the #RemakeChallenge : Fashion Photoshoot : Anke Nel with Karen Emma Schwarz

These are the stunning images from the official Remake Challenge photoshoot held at the Cape Town Fashion Council with SDR Photo / Simon Deiner. All jewellery by Karen Emma Schwarz and all outfits by Anke Nel.

Karen and Anke at the Remake Challenge Awards Evening, image by Marguerite du Plooy

 For more images of Karen's designs click here 

For more info on the Remake Challenge click here

the #RemakeChallenge : Fashion Photoshoot : Nicole Smith with Inge Marais

These are the stunning images from the official Remake Challenge photoshoot held at the Cape Town Fashion Council with SDR Photo / Simon Deiner. All jewellery by Inge Marais Jewellery and all outfits by Nicole Smith who won Third Place in this year's Remake Challenge.

Nicole (right) with her model (left) at the Remake Challenge Fashion Shoot

For more images of Inge's designs click here 

For more info on the Remake Challenge click here 

Browse Inge Marais online at kinshop.co.za

the #RemakeChallenge : Fashion Photoshoot : Kelly Ricardo with Eon Hoon Jewellery

These are the stunning images from the official Remake Challenge photoshoot held at the Cape Town Fashion Council with SDR Photo / Simon Deiner. All jewellery by Eon Hoon Jewellery and all outfits by Kelly Ricardo.

Kelly (right) with her model (left) at the Remake Challenge Fashion Shoot

For more images of Eon's designs click here 

For more info on the Remake Challenge click here

Browse Eon Hoon at kinshop.co.za

the #RemakeChallenge : Fashion Photoshoot : Leandra du Bruyn with Smith Jewellery

These are the stunning images from the official Remake Challenge photoshoot held at the Cape Town Fashion Council with SDR Photo / Simon Deiner. All jewellery by Anna Raimondo of Smith Jewellery and all outfits by Leandra du Bruyn who won second place in this year's Remake Challenge.

Anna & Leandra at The Remake Challenge Awards Evening, image by Marguerite du Plooy

For more images of Anna's designs click here 

For more info on the Remake Challenge click here

The #RemakeChallenge : And the winner is...

Nikki from Live Eco opens the evening

After months of watching the fashion designers transform their initial ideas into real, wearable garments and our KIN jewellery designers work to complement their ideas, the winners were announced last Thursday night at an elegant awards evening held at Selections Warehouse in Wembley Square.

Tas, Chantal and Karen looking oh-so glamourous

And the winners for the fashion section are (...drumroll...)

Liam Power - First Prize (centre right)

Leandra du Bruyn - Second Prize (second from the right)

Nicole Smith - Third Prize (third from the right

Nikki Stear of Live Eco with Liam Power

Gillian Fuller moments before her fashion designer, Liam, is announced as the First Prize Winner

 

Chantal Louw (centre) with Gillian Fuller, Eon Hoon, Anna Raimondo, and Karen Schwarz  : 4 of the +-120 reasons why we love what we do so much <3

What a wonderful collaboration it has been! Not only did we grin uncontrollabley with pride as our own KIN jewellery designers did what they do best and presented really gorgeous collections for the competition's budding designers, but we also learned so much about sustainability and buying consciously from Nikki of Live Eco and many of the Remake Challenge's inspiring sponsors and affiliates. We can't wait for next year!

All photographs in this post by Marguerite du Plooy