///NEW PAGE

At the new FACE SPACE @ WALL OF FAITH page (check at the right) on Hiphonest.com we will create the ‘WALL OF FAITH’ by showing faces behind this group of Hiphonest inspirators and smart entrepreneurs. At the moment Hiphonest is inviting and selecting faces to start the WALL OF FAITH! First FACES posted soon! Interested in being part if this? Send an email to annouk.post@gmail.com.

///JOIN FACE SPACE on FACEBOOK

Aim of FACE SPACE on FACEBOOK is to show the world that the group of people who are part of the Hiphonest shift is growing and spread over the globe. We are on our way to a world in which sustainable thinking, design, fashion and business will make the difference. Core idea is that this shift takes place in the being and hearts of optimistic but critical creative’s. In fact we as human beings are in a Hiphonest global transition.

FACE SPACE follows the (YOI) philosophy that cultural shifts (and trends) are mostly made and spread by creative inventors with a feeler for change.

(watch the ‘old’  story of YOI: here)

By adopting this positive approach on the environment in their lifestyle, these trendsetters will set the tune for the bigger mass. By contributing their skills in design, writing, business, organizing etc to a better and more beautiful world, they are a big inspiration for the world. Check last posts Be part of the SHIFT 1. - SHIFT 2. SHIFT 3.

Join us today at Facebook : Hiphonest Face Space.

///INSPIRATION

Short film by children and Dónal Ó’Céilleachair. Ireland 2008. Official selection Internation Film Festival Rotterdam 2009.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcQGFCT4RGM

‘Inspired by Mothlight by Stan Brakhage, children made this unusual poetic short. Flower petals and plants, butterflies and 35mm film, that’s all they needed. About how beautiful film is, and of course nature. A film by Students of the Muskerry Gaeltacht, Co. Cork working with filmmaker Dónal Ó’Céilleachair.’ Via

///FASHION EVENTS

Sometimes I wish I were born with wings. If so I would be flying around the globe to be part of the fun-filled honest party’s and events.  Gladly we have the web to browse around blogs and sites (Ecofashionworld.com) for updates and reports.  Just a quick scan on upcoming Fashion Weeks, results in a nice list of Hiphonest things to do.

Pictures by Nixxi

A little gloss on this: Besides the fact that I encourage these green, eco and conscious fashion events, my strive/dream is that sustainability will be integrated in the fashion business as a natural thing. …Shamefully we still need to create more awareness amongst consumers, media, retailers and other bigger players in the fashion industry.

The website Rank a Brand researched the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies demonstrated on the websites of 200 fashion brands. And many corporate fashion brands and houses still have A LOT of work to do.

The events mentioned below are examples of worldwide platforms presenting relatively small and niche fashion labels with an eco conscious angle. Events and shows like these have the function of the pioneer. Hopefully more and more stores (both big departments and the smaller boutiques) will purchase these winning alluring collections and other not ‘responsible’ labels will get inspired and ACTIVATED.

Picures by noir

So let’s start this event-journey in my home village Amsterdam. During Amsterdam Fashion Week (27-31 January), the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute for Fashion and Fabrics (ASIFF), will organize an event with an interesting speakers program and workshops. This event is called MIND.  At 28^th of January professionals in the fashion will fresh up their MINDS.

At this moment in Berlin, THEKEY (20-23 January) is taking place. Follow the tweets on this at their colorful blocky blog. In Swiss, the ECOCHIC Geneva (20-21 January) already ‘took a flight’ at the 20 and 21 of January. Check a radiant report by Abigail Doan on Eccoeco.

Pictures by Nixxi

In Paris GREENshowroom (23-26 January) visits Prêt-à-Porter at in the department Atmosphère. Concept of this showroom is to present at locations noted for ambiance, like Hotels. Honestly, in my unpretentious opinion this step to a bigger trade fair, like Prêt-à-Porter, is a good one. More chance for visiting retailers here, than in an upper-class hotel.

During Londen Fashion Week, end of February, you can visit the show estethica, which is the BFC’s (British Fashion Council) eco sustainable initiative sponsored by Monsoon. Now in its seventh season, it has evolved to become the epicentre for London’s ethical fashion industry. The designers selected include Ada Zanditon, Christopher Raeburn, Goodone, Minna, Nina Dolcetti and The North Circular.

picture by Laura Pannack, Esthetica 2009

With New York Fashion Week only in a few weeks (11-18 February) Greenshows (14-17 February) presents runway shows featuring amongst others Gary Harvey and EKOVARUHUSET.  After Fashion Week we have NOW Showcase (February 20-22) an emerging show with honest labels including SDN, Naturevsfuture, Jai Active Wear, Turk + Taylor and Sust. NOW Showcase teams up with mediapartner Ecouterre, the stylisch online (eco)magazine.

Picture Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

With all eyes on Vancouver during the Olympics, Eco Fashion Forward Fundraising Night (February 19)  is the perfect way to showcase Vancouver’s long established commitment to sustainable style. An evening filled with eco fashion, music and art! Check these participarting labels Ashley Watson and Nixxi.

Talking about this shift I think the main point in this is that the shift takes place in the being and harts of young creative’s around our world. We as human beings are in an transition.

///FASHION/ART

In 2003 I visited New York City for the first time. Being overwhelmed by the magnificent energy of this city I started a street research for honest fashion. A handful of underground organic T-shirts labels and some re-vintage designers were the results. Not really a store for eco fashion yet.

Six years later (December 11-13 2009), two of my favorite Hiphonest creative’s, Meiling Chen and Abigail Doan, managed to organize a tempting art fashion performance, named -A weekend of ‘Fearless Dreaming’-.  This alluring event took place in the pearl of ecofashion stores, the beautiful House of  Organic/Ekovaruhuset.

This art fashion performance showcased artists & designers including Meiling Chen, Abigail Doan, Sara Hubbs, and Rob Strati. Artists presented their work and besides they offered on-site activities and dialogues about the notion of ‘fearless dreaming’ and its role in art, fashion, memory, and placemaking.

Weekend visitors to the House of Organic/Ekovaruhuset had the possibility to contribute to the collaborative experience by writing down ideas related to their own notions of ‘fearless dreaming. The documented text and portraits were displayed on the store’s walls as part of the ‘fearless dreaming’ showcase/installation exhibition.

(All pictures made by Abigail Doan check more here)

Meiling Chen created interpretive, hand-drawn portraits of the weekend’s visitors, while also encouraged guests to draw, map, and diagram their own dreams, memories, and visions of the future, etc.

Eco-fiber artist Abigail Doan created recycled fiber forms and textile maps as a means to stimulate dialogue about her own memories of a homespun upbringing on a small family farm and life today navigating the urban landscape.

As an extension of Meiling Chen’s design label, ‘Fearless Dreaming’, it is the collectives wish that visitors to House of Organic/Ekovaruhset will be encouraged to share and talk about their desires/dreams and create new possibilities for ‘dreaming fearlessly’.

///BREAKING NEWS

Personally, the good news is, that Hiphonest.com is mentioned on 3 different long-lists for the subcategories TrendWatcher of The Year 2010. I feel already very honored.. Since this writing is my dedicated passion! These different categories: UPCOMING TALENT / FASHION & DESIGN /DUURZAAMHEID (=SUSTAINABILITY)

So if you feel like promoting me or Hiphonest please send an email before 2 February to: ikstemop@secondsight.nl

THANKS Annouk

///FASHION REPORT

Last weekend me and my friend Edwin Oudshoorn (..this sounds like name-dropping..), Dutch precious fashion designer, visited the ‘Elle Style Award’ 2010. I have to admit the pre-party was as exciting as the real sparkling event, longing for the goody bag and being styled by Ed. Theme of the night was Folklore and Elle choose for the perfect location,  the Hermitage in Amsterdam.

Congrats to stylist Lisa Anne Stuyfzand for the Elle H&M STYLIST OF THE YEAR AWARD. Job was to create a mind blowing, high fashion folklore show based on ten H&M items mixed with designers labels and vintage specials.  Lisa created a strong and balanced image of old fashion Dutch folklore with Brazilian carnaval.

(pictures by Lize Spoelstra via)

Beatrice Jolly, one the other nominated stylists, took another, more global citizen approach on the theme. Every woman represented another culture translated in a refined streetwise and gorgeous outfit. Bravo!

(pictures by Lize Spoelstra via, first picture is a visitor)

Some ideas for Elle Style Award 2011: Why not integrating more honesty in the theme and let the stylist be creative on that. Let H&M provides their newest items from flourishing fibres like milk, bamboo or skin fish. Or even cradle to cradle materials. Enrich the goody bag with Tony Chocolony or Verkade chocolate, some Shizo samples, mr Jones tea and serve organic proseco.  So thanks Elle, for the profesional organized party and this exclusive cheerful night!

In this outfit: skirt, hair and eco necklace made from Brazilian nuts by Edwin and my vintage -way to hot- vest and pumps, I felt like a Russian Folkore princess. Surprisingly the goody bag dazzled me with an organic bag from H&M. But hey H&M why is your eco-collection so extremely SMALL?

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