LFW Diaries: Inside the VIN + OMI Opening S/S19 Sustainable Collections Showcases a new wave of “eco-religion”

I was thrilled to be invited front row to VIN + OMI Present Spring-Summer 2019 Collection. This designer takes sustainability and becoming socially responsible to new heights.

Thursday’s event, featuring only clothes crafted from eco-sustainable textiles and processes, was their largest. Held on the Grand Terrace of St Pancras International to mark the re-opening of its public water fountain, aimed at cutting the use of plastic bottles, the designers arrived on a Routemaster party bus with their models – including Jo Wood – wearing ruffled and embellished neon babydoll dresses, multi-layered latex jackets, overalls and wide-legged trousers and sack-like sustainable creations. Messages appeared on T-shirts saying “Everything is everyone”, “Queen Biodegrade”

VIN+OMI_SS19_300dpii_012

VIN + OMI includes new plant based fabrics. These are grown in the fields surrounding our Cotswolds studio. We are initially developing ways of using plants that grow wild and are readily available and can be grown anywhere. For our SS19 collection we are introducing a nettle fabric that has a raw unfinished feel and a more woven hybrid fabric of nettle, cow parsley, rosebay wil-low herb and flax. You’ll also see our established 4GANIC – a nettle based fabric and Flaxley – a hybrid flax and cow parsley textile.

VIN+OMI_SS19_300dpii_025

SS19 collection we are introducing a nettle fabric that has a raw unfinished feel and a more woven hybrid fabric of nettle, cow parsley, rosebay wil-low herb and flax. 4GANIC – a nettle based fabric and Flaxley – a hybrid flax and cow parsley textile.

VIN+OMI_SS19_300dpii_057

Organic latex is from our plantation in Malaysia where we carefully look after the workers and their families and ensure the plantation has minimum negative impact on the environment and a positive effect on the villagers. Our shoes this season are a mash up of previous seasons and shoes destined for landfill. We be-lieve with a bit of a twist, recycling can become fresh.

VIN+OMI_SS19_300dpii_053 VIN+OMI_SS19_300dpii_032