Beljacobs Former Metro Editor & Freelance Sustainability Journalist writes about Quillattire

Ex Metro Editor & Sustainability Journalist Beljacobs Talks about Quillattire

Before i was chosen to take part in Sustainable Fashion Futures Runway Show during London Fashion Week, former Metro Editor Beljacobs who is now a Sustainable Journalist did an intro write up to each designer who was participating. Press the link to read the full write up. She talks about our collections being sustainable and our journeys of becoming sustainable designers. A teaser below, tap the link for more.

On Sunday September 15th, Fashion Futures - a bi-annual catwalk show for emerging design - will showcase the SS20 collections of four talented designers at Devonshire Square. This year’s line up says volumes about the priorities for young designers; sustainability, the future of the planet and fashion’s role within that, lies at the core of inspiring collection.

Freestyle - A Fully Sustainable Collection Made in 2 Weeks For LFW

A piece i made which is hand sewn and made from 2nd Hand Tshirts from Charity Shops

For this collection i decided to call it ‘Freestyle’ as i had only two weeks to put it together and i was literally making decisions as i went along rather than having a plan! I knew the collection was going to be 100% Sustainable and a way to get across the message that reusing old clothes can be cool and you will have a product that no one else has as its unique.

I wanted to make an impact with the collection and make it as colourful, positive and create a happy reaction so i used different colours - more so blues, reds, fuchsia pinks and yellow! I sewed for two weeks not knowing what the final product as a whole would look like - i up-cycle jackets but never a whole collection of products stemming from tops, bottoms to dresses and all sewed by hand!

I was nervous on the day of the show because at this stage it was what it was but the reaction i got down the runway was amazing - i was in total shock! Everyone loved the colours, the hand painting, the different cultures, embellishment and the mixing of different colours! Everyone had their phones out taking pictures and the amount of reposts received on my social media was out of this world for me anyway.

I talked the looks through with the hair and makeup and i told them i wanted to get across the message of unity and everyday colour, i wanted to mix different cultures together so demonstrate we are all equal and together we can make a change in the world. I loved the ‘Love’ sign on the forehead inspired by FK Twigs we added a heart to make it a little different and individual - it worked a treat! The show was such a success and i am so grateful to be part of such an amazing cause which is The Princes Trust and organised by Fashion Futures :)

Come & See Our Sustainable Streetwear Fashion Show

How exciting as started my ‘Quillattire’ through The Princes Trust i was chosen to manage behind the scenes of the Fashion Show this Sunday 15th September during London Fashion Week, i then got offered to be part of the show!!! Sounds super exciting as the show is going to held in Devonshire Square and sponsored by We Work, Revolt Models, Planet Organic, and many more!

Literally being told 13 days before show day, we are working maniacally to get our SS20 Collection done! Do come and support us and Sustainable Fashion by clicking the link to get some Free Tickets - the after party is looking to be pretty hot too! Get involved and support The Princes Trust such a worthy cause as the show is also a fund raiser for the trust! Hopefully see you guys at the show!

Show 1

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fashion-futures-catwalk-show-1-in-support-of-the-princes-trust-tickets-69766662967?aff=erellivmlt

Show 2

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fashion-futures-catwalk-show-2-in-support-of-the-princes-trust-tickets-69767816417?aff=ebapi

After Party

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fashion-futures-x-bootleg-booch-london-fashion-week-show-after-party-tickets-69841745541?aff=erellivmlt

The Journey as a small business becoming Ethical

Sitting in my full time job churning out designs for someone to profit from and knowing the fabrics i was dealing with were Polyester as it is the cheapest high street fabric out there. I wanted out to give myself time to come up with my own brand which would have a positive impact both mentally and physically.

Quillattire has always been a brand that has been produced in small units, most are made by myself the owner by hand once an order is received. The expectation for a small brand to run in the same speed as the high end brands is i think quite ridiculous. All these questions flash through my mind - where are you going to store all the stock, if you keep layering mounts of collections onto the next you will be left with so much stock with no where to store it - this is not a sustainable practice and you just become one of the predators that are causing such grief to our planet. Making smaller collections once or twice a year is so much more sustainable.

My most recent collection is genderless so only has S,M,L,XL which means i can sell the product so much quicker and less likelihood of sitting on dead stock. When i started because i was new i made quite a bit of stock which i regret but i was naive and new to creating my own brand, however what i do now with this stock is up cycle it - i find artistic ways to create newness which appeals to the customer and it sells. I have given that stock a second life. I would never get rid of any stock, just be creative to find another way to reform it - which is the reason to why you are a designer right? Its a good challenge!

Growing up i always taught to give unwanted clothes to people who were less fortunate. When i was younger i would use unworn t-shirts and paint and embellish them and then sell them, so i suppose i have grown up up cycling. This has bought me to up cycling denim jackets, it gives me a chance to express myself and put all the unique inspiration i find on my travels round the world onto a garment that someone will one appreciate its art and secondly the fact that this garment has a story. It is in its second, third or fourth life, it has been given a new identity from just being a plain jacket. Its fascinating. I know not everyone in society has quite grasped vintage and up-cycling but these things take time and i know it will catch on. So support small brands that are trying their best with the little that they have to support our world! :)

Find Our Customised Denim Page Here, Get in contact for your own!

Ethical Fashion Talk With Asos

So i was invited to attend a talk about Ethical Fashion at the ASOS Headquarters which was a great experience. I have been there many times before as part of my side hustle designing for the industry.

The talk was for all ASOS Marketplace Boutiques, to have a day to learn about the Ethical Fashion. Most things Quillattire is adhering to because after working full time in the fashion industry i could see the implications of the fashion world - which is why Quillattire was set up, to make a difference. But back to the Asos talk, what they discussed with us in the form of power points and interactive group discussions with other Market Place owners is listed below:

• How to be Sustainable

  - Fabrics/Trims being used - the composition is it circular?

  - Will it pollute or can it be recycled?

  - Quality

  - How can you help the environment with your product

• How to be Ethical

  - Who is making the clothes

  - How many processes does the make need?

  - How many extra people are needed, and are these children?

  - Working conditions of staff and hours worked.

  - Are the repercussions of all these processes - does it harm anyone?

• Circular Design

  - This meant for us to question if the design we are putting out into the world was able to be used again and not just thrown away.

• Is the product we are producing recyclable?

The talk was really interesting, i particularly was intrigued to ask all my future suppliers what processes were involved in making their product. For Quillattire we re-use vintage product so we are circular as we give product a 2nd,3rd,4th 5th and so on life :)

The bamboo product we sell - i was then working as a contractor for the factory in Sri Lanka and i could see the product being made in the factory, everything looked legit. I was fortunate to be present, for most small business this is not possible so going by what they are told is normal, but we must remember we are allowed to question processes to have a clearer idea of what is happening behind the scenes.

The process of Quillattire becoming Ethical and Sustainable is an on-going journey, i am learning along the way and educating myself for new practices to adopt. One step forward to Ethical and Sustainable Fashion is more than what other brands are doing, its a journey in which you learn and make it work for your brand. I am grateful i can put product made from Organic Bamboo and Up-Cycled Jackets into the world instead of bad product that are harmful for our wild life and us humans! Quillattire supports Slow Fashion and Quality Product that you go to time and time again.

Ethical Talk at ASOS Headquarters

Sustainability in the Fashion Industry - Monday 24th June 19 Talk at Arboretum

Today we will be speaking at the Arboretum in Charring Cross from 1830 - 2200, we will be discussing the future of fashion and how as a fashion brand we stay sustainable. Come join us!

Producing 20% of wastewater, the fashion industry is the second-biggest consumer of water while also generating more greenhouse gas emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Every day, more and more Fashion brands are refusing this reality and are building the path to a better future, with better practices and better ethics. From cradle to cradle, they are rethinking every stage of the clothing lifecycle to propose an alternative vision where Fashion can help and support the fight against global warming.

We are thrilled to introduce a new edition of our SSSHAKE Talks. For this 5th edition, we are inviting inspiring founders of sustainable fashion brands to discuss the future of the fashion industry as well as the challenges and complexity of building a sustainable brand.

RSVP to roots@arbor-etum.com

Fashion Killa - A chat with BBC Asian Network about Ethical Fashion!

So yesterday i was invited into the BBC studios to take part in the Mobeen show on BBC Asian network, what an experience!

Fashion Killa - A chat about Ethical Fashion on BBC Asian Network

We spoke about how fast fashion is affecting the world and how society needs to be taught more about the unfortunate repercussions. I was faced with members of the public who live by fast fashion, i am not going to lie i did not agree with their views of this being a lively hood to get their greatest shot of themselves on the IG and showing off a closet full of garms just for the gram, but i reminded myself i was once that person. I would impulse buy, be brainwashed by social media and the needs and wants to look great but this is all temporary just not on the environment. Its not the consumers fault as we are not shown the down side of this impulse buying, we do not know what to look for, i will give you a hint - polyester is bad bad bad for the world but its cheap so used so widely. I get it you want that piece for that night out on a quick turn around but how about if it was made from a sustainable fabric, and totally cool with the planet and looked just as amazing but it would live laster in your closet, unfortunately the prices for sustainable product are high but thats because its not being invested in as much. These decisions need to be taken by the top dogs as they unfortunately have the power to make this change.

I realised how people are really ignorant to the implications of encouraging the high street, rather then challenging them to support the world and change their ethos of speed, invest in safer fabrics, invest in packaging that is biodegradable, educate the designers, the buyers, the people at the top as everyone in the process needs to be taught about the disadvantages. This is not just a trend its the way forward, its the future, we need to do something about global warming.

I am a designer, i work for the industry but i am one person trying to get my voice heard though my brand 'Quillattire', support us - we are hear to make a change. The fashion industry is beautiful it gives creative individuals the platform to design amazing things for the world to wear, for the people to express themselves and be confident. We all know the feeling of buying something new and wearing it out for the first time and getting all those nice comments, this can still be the case just by making wise choices in what we buy. Fashion is such a mix match now, its mixing sports and classy together, its layering pieces from nightwear slips to baggy jumpers on top - we have this in our closets - recycle, re-use be your own stylist. Once the top big boys of fashion start changing the system will change and fashion will be beautiful again, but we can all start think consciously about what we are investing our money in - do we pay to destroy our planet or do we pay to save it?

Being introduced to the making of Organic Hemp on my travels in Vietnam

The Amazing Sapa, Vietnam

So i have been a little quiet and thats because i went travelling around Vietnam to research how the locals live and create their fabrics from scratch with their hands as i had heard so much about this! The experience was one never to forget, such simple ways of living and ones that cause minimal impact on the environment. The Hmong people, as well as many other ethic Vietnamese groups, live self sustainably. Growing their own foods, raising their own animals and fetching their own water. It is a life that resembles centuries ago for us who live modern western civilisation. It’s a life of simplicity.

The inspirational ladies of Sapa, Vietnam

Meet the lovely ladies of Sapa, how inspirational - they are proud of their routes and wear what they create, they live and breath their heritage. H’mong women are respected in their community as being equal with H’mong men. Husbands and wives are very affectionate and do many of their tasks together like going to the market, working on the field and visiting relatives. In this way, they help each other to develop a strong community life.

Can you believe they made their outfits (not the polar necks though..) the overalls, the patterns, the bag, the scarfs and hat - all hand made! So these ladies accompanied us during our hike around Sapa. I remember one ladies name ‘Susu’ she helped me up when i kept falling on the slippery slopes and bamboo bridge - just one log of bamboo to get over the water underneath - it was scary well for a Londoner anyway who is protected by barriers on a straight road…

The process of creating Organic Hemp

The organic hemp is locally grown in Vietnam and woven into fabric which a hand controlled device, no electricity included just a pedal and some hand action. Hemp is a very tough fibre, traditionally used to make ropes for ships but adapted to make clothes is another process but sustainable process.

Softening by hand alone will not be enough to make comfortable clothes which one would wear everyday. The yarn needs to be flattened further under the weight of a seesaw style millstone. The technique consists of a woman (with excellent core strength) surfing a stone tablet back and forth over the yarn. Once this process is complete and the yarn is smooth and shiny it can woven into fabric on hand looms..

The next stage is dying, i have never come across this technique probably because i have only seen the large scale factories show casing their ways of dying - not sustainable may i add! Indigofera tinctoria, also called true indigo, is a species of plant from the bean family that was one of the original sources of indigo dye. The fabric is placed into buckets of indigo dye and left for 6 days. The fabric is dried and again this process repeated 3 times. Then comes the amazing aztec embroideries onto the fabric by hand to create really cool pieces, i remember designing aztec patterns when designing for various fashion houses and sending them to the factories to create in bulk, its disheartening how an innocent tradition that makes money for this community is mass made by the rich and flogged on the high street for so much more money. I bought home some of their fabric which i will be using in my up cycling - so excited!

A lady creating patterns from scratch which are hand embroidered onto the hemp to create amazing clothes, scarves and bags (Photo Credit https://hauteculturefashion.com ) as i did not see this part of the process but had to give this a post as its a beautiful picture

After all the above procedures, you are left with these amazing pieces. You have scarves, clothes, bags, pillow cases and more.

These are all organic, hand made, not fast fashion and totally great for the world. Our world has become so focussed on mass and money and now we have all woken up to the affect it has had on our planet. We need to educate ourselves and the future to make changes. Fashion is a way of expression, its personal, but our greed has lead this beautiful industry to help destroy our world. There are better ways of fashion, every part of the fashion designing process and making in mass need to be taught the better way. Money needs to be invested in this, slow fashion and being unique is so much cooler. Why do we need to make 50,000 pieces of one piece. We need to slow down and live simple again.

Students Round the World, Strike School For Climate Change Protests

I think its so dope that the youth are standing up for climate change and protesting!!

Last August, a Swedish 15-year-old decided to skip school one Friday and hold a one-woman climate change demonstration outside Sweden's parliament - she is an inspiration! She did the same thing the following Friday. And the one after that, and every single Friday since, because Greta Thunberg – who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize – believed that young people should not be the ones to suffer from the negligence of previous generations. Her activism has spread and inspired the international movement Fridays for Future. Students around Europe have been skipping school on Friday’s to protest by putting pressure on their country’s governments to do something about the state of the planet.

In London in February we saw #YouthStrike4Climate protest outside parliament, with thousands of kids skipping school and all round the world like India, Australia, the whole of Europe and more. 

Image taken from Vice

An interview with Yuwei Lim

Yuwei Lim an up and coming journalist studying at City University reached out to me to learn about the ‘Quillattire’ and how we are supporting sustainability. She was keen to learn about the story behind the brand, the story before and how we got involved in backing sustainability. Click the Link to Yuwei’s blog which features the interview :)

Our Leopard printed Shirt Dress in Boyfriend Magazine!

Our Leopard Print Shirt dress featured in the Boyfriend Magazine - Issue No. 3. Our eye popping bespoke Retro Leopard Print Shirt Dress that can be dress up or down! its perfect for parties, work or festivals, the fabric is a cotton twill which is really soft on the skin. Click the image below to look up the dress!

Quillattire's interview with Vice Magazine!

So we only went a did an interview with Vice Magazine!

Click the image below to have a read and please share!

We discussed the hard grind on growing up with insecurities, bullying and friends, family or associates telling you your dreams are unachievable. We discussed the harsh realities of working in the Fashion industry and how you some what become a robot churning designs for a customer sometimes you do not relate with. The birth of the brand and how it came about, o and don’t forget sustainability and that the collection is made from bamboo. A little teaser below but please have a read.

“Priya describes herself as “a brown girl with a dream”. That dream is to bring streetwear into a genderless, sustainable future. Her brand, which features loud and retro fits with references to 80s gaming and the proud Quillattire label emblazoned on each garment in Japanese, English and Hindi, has already shown during London Fashion Week, and recently won ASOS’s Homepage Competition.”

https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/qvqqq7/quillattire-is-the-london-based-label-making-sustainable-streetwear-from-bamboo

Click the image for our exclusive interview with Vice Magazine and please share!

30% OFF Christmas Party Vibes

Style up any of our pieces for Christmas! Below our model K is wearing our up cycled denim jacket which we have customised by hand sewing neon stripes onto the bleached vintage denim - a great shape for the Christmas party season. Styled with this denim jacket is our Pink Blush Tiger Embroidered Crop sweatshirt which is made from bamboo! This means the fabric is sustainable and causes no harm to the environment just keeps you warm!

Our male model Bof is wearing shiny aqua green bomber jacket with customised tiger print lining in side and printed piping round the back yoke that reads ‘I am who i am. Your approval is not needed.’ This jacket has an amazing sheen to it, when ever i wear i always get great comments about how slick it looks - and get this its unisex! We have styled this jacket with our Pink Blush Error sweatshirt that again is made from bamboo!! With its unique embroideries and graphics we have put together single handedly by being inspired by Japan and inspiring the youth.

If you’re in the UK use code ‘CHRISTMAS’ for a 30% discount of any piece, and if you order by tomorrow 21st December you will receive your order before Christmas via next day delivery just click standard delivery at check out and we will take it from there, so get involved.

Offer ends 21st December 2018 for next day delivery.

30% offer ends 5th January 2019 - do not forget to type ‘CHRISTMAS’ at the check out!

Have a great Christmas! :)

Thanks to the Princes Trust for a shout out!

We launched our fashion brand ‘Quillattire’ through The Prince’s Trust which has been such an amazing journey! Starting up your own business is tough and as a creative you have to learn everything from Business , Accounts to Marketing which is always a challenge but with The Princes Trust this journey has been so much easier to learn all this information!

Thanks to The Princes Trust for sharing our Asos Homepage Competition Win :)

Blue Teal Windbreaker Christmas 2018 Wish List Mention

Our Blue Teal Wind Breaker mentioned in the Fashions Finest Christmas Wish List - click the title above of paste the link below! Also as its CYBER MONDAY we are giving 30% off this week if you type ‘BAMBOO’ at the check out! 👆🏼

https://www.fashionsfinest.com/blogs/item/5332-christmas-wish- list-2018

We Won the Asos Marketplace Competition - woooooooop!!!

So we have been selling on Asos Marketplace and decided to apply for their Asos Homepage Competition this consisted of shooting our ‘Retrograde’ sustainable streetwear collection all made from Bamboo. We needed an awesome photographer and some incredible models! We had met a photographer out on a social in Dinerama in Shoreditch - hit her up on www.kimberleyarcher.co.uk , we kept in contact and decided to work together for the Asos Competition! Working with Fashions Finest on the fashion shows i have been showcasing my Retrograde collection, i hit up two amazing models i worked with Aramatou and BOF! The dream team was set!

After planing looks and searching for locations to shoot we decided to shoot in Notting hill. We all met on a Sunday, the team was a dream to work with - the models had great chemistry and the photographer an awesome creative eye. We all let our creativity loose - it was super great vibes!

After Kimberley edited the images which were so sick she was had great clarity in creating strong commercial and editorial imagery which told our story and helped connect to our customers, we submitted the photos. At work i thought i should check my junk mail as i had not checked it for a while and there was an email from https://marketplace.asos.com/boutique/quillattire i thought i doubt we have won but lets check. I skimmed the email and though i was right but i scrolled back up and OMGGGGGG quillattire had won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I literally fell off my seat in disbelief, but hey ‘Hard work pays off!’.

Our prize will be to have our images featured on the Asos Homepage until the new year! Keep your eyes open for it :)

Never give up on your dreams, good things will happen!

'Retrograde' Fashion Show - September 2018

We showcased our ‘Retrograde’ collection down the runway on September 2018 and the Connaught Rooms in Holborn. Retrograde was inspired by a trip to Japan, the bright lights, arcades, the hustle & bustle and then the tranquility of Mount Fuji! The bespoke embroideries & artworks all created in house and inspired by the pretty gardens, bright arcades and vibrant streets at night - an amalgamation of fun and all text in Japanese, Chinese and hindi embracing the beauty of different cultures! The majority of the collection is made from sustainable fabrics. Vintage denim is another of our specialities custom made with bespoke hand painted artworks and embroideries. Stay tuned for more :)

A snippet of our most recent streetwear shoot

Model wearing our blue windbreaker - stay tuned for some more exciting bits from this shoot shot in Notting Hill. We styled this blue windbreaker with a grey roll neck for those winter days where you want to wrap up warm and some black and white check trousers. Not a bad look for winter - get involved and shop this piece by clicking the image below.

Limited Edition Waterproof Teal Wind Breaker. Model wearing M. Pouch pocket front with invisible zip compartment and a button front pocket perfect to put your valuables in, you even get another invisible side zip for your wallet and phone. It gets better the inside is lined with a mesh that is printed with our signature bespoke retro leopard print. Text on the sleeves are printed to read 'I am who i am. Your approval is not needed. Cord is in black and a half zip at the front. A cool statement piece that can be dressed up or down and its unisex.

Click the image to view more about this blue windbreaker.