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Wednesday 31 October 2012

LAST FEW SPACES!


LAST TWO SPACES
Two days to go until...

"Key Skills For Informed Design
"

This Friday 2nd November!

 
 
Lecturer Profiles
Offset Warehouse Samples
Offset Warehouse Fair Trade
Charlie & Zandra Rhodes

Using the experience she has gained from the challenges she has faced sourcing ethical products and responsible production worldwide,Charlie offers an invaluable understanding of business, the fashion markets, technical design and manufacturing, and an in-depth knowledge of materials and production sourcing.

What gave you the idea for Offset Warehouse?
“Being a part of the fashion industry, and seeing how it works and how exploitative it can be, I just felt there had to be a better way: one which was fairer on both the producers and the environment. But there wasn’t anywhere to go to find what I was looking for. So I decided to create it! I firmly believe that being ethical should be easy – and Offset Warehouse makes it easy!
Charlie RossCharlie Ross 
Charlie Ross is the founder and Director of Offset Warehouse, an online resource that brings together every element required to create beautiful, ethical fashion and interiors. It includes production information, market research, designers, manufacturers, fabrics and raw materials.

Offset Warehouse also provides support for businesses of all sizes through a comprehensive Ethical Directory, a resources area and a consultancy service.
Charlie has a Master’s degree in Menswear Design from the Royal College of Art (RCA), and she has presented her designs and concepts to some of the biggest names in the fashion industry, including Umbro, Albini, Thierry Mugler and Brioni. She has shown her award-winning menswear collection in Italy and New Zealand.


What are you most excited to showcase at the Key Skills for Informed Design seminar?
"I'm bringing a huge selection of swatches with me and I just can't wait for everyone to get their hands on them and see the amazing different qualities being produced at the moment.  I'm particularly excited about some new 100% organic silks, and a fabric made from recycled petroleum that's waterproof - it's perfect for patio furniture and comes in amazing. bright colourways!  It's going to be brilliant!"


Zoe Fletcher Knitwear


Zoe Fletcher Shearing Sheep


What’s in store for the future?
“I have a new collection for Chantico. Also, four collections for People Tree. And I have just joined an amazing new collective called DUST – watch out for more developments very soon!”

 What will you be bringing to the Key Skills for Informed Design seminar?
The structure of the talk organised by Offset is fantastic - I wish there were more things like this around when I was researching!  As the set up is more of an interactive discussion, I have tonnes of naturally dyed samples, fibres and yarns and a presentation filled with media clips and visuals to showcase - it's going to be a great day!

Zoe Fletcher KnitwearZoe Fletcher
With her astounding technical knowledge and passion for knitwear, self-confessed perfectionist Zoe enjoys the total control that the medium allows – not just creating the design, but the fabric as well. A freelance consultant with her own label, Zoe’s work revolves around the idea of slowing down the fashion cycle, and exploring the possibilities of creating local fashions for local people using local resources, thus inspiring a new generation to connect with, and value, their clothing.

With experience including People Tree, TRAID and Chantico Alpaca Knitwear, Zoe is passionate about using inspirational knitwear to push the boundaries of British wool within the fashion sector. And by looking at traditional knitting techniques from a modern perspective, she hopes to forge links between different design sectors and communities, thereby creating a sustainable business model for the future.

What are you up to at the moment?
“I’m developing my new Zoe Grace Fletcher 2013 Collection using 100% British wool."

What has been the best part of it for you?
“Collaborating with lovely talented people, and seeing a final collection of physical objects after months of researching, learning and developing. Creating pieces in bold, bright colours has enabled me to challenge people’s perceptions of natural plant dyes, and has spurred me on to think bigger and bolder in the future.”

Did you learn anything new in the process?
“Well I attempted shearing, which I’ve never done before! I then watched that wool  being processed and spun locally before it was made up into my designs. A fantastic experience!”
Jonna Saarinen and Offset Warehouse


Jonna Saarinen's Work

Jonna Saarinen

What could you not live without?
Life, Art, Marimekko by the Finnish textile designer Maija Isola is a truly inspirational book for anyone who loves any kind of surface design.”


What are you excited to showcase at the Key Skills for Informed Design lecture?
"I have lots of samples, screens and inks for everyone to get stuck into. I'm also bringing along some plain materials and paint brushes, so if anyone is interested in seeing how the inks mix and what they look like, we can do some little experiments! I'm really excited!"

Jonna SaarinenJonna Saarinen 
Heavily influenced by her Finnish roots, nature and Scandinavian folklore, award-winning textile designer Jonna Saarinen marries delicacy, strength and sustainability throughout her work, producing fabrics that are equally at home used in both fashion and interiors. She is committed to minimising the impact of textiles on the environment.

With a BA in Textiles from Central St Martin’s and a Master’s in Printed Textiles from the RCA, Jonna had an impressive track record even before she created her own homewares label and co-founded a new collaboration, JONNAXKANGAN. Her work is sponsored by the makers of Permaset inks – the leading brand of sustainable and chemical-free fabric screen printing inks, and with her background, extensive knowledge and amazing talent, she is an invaluable resource for designers.

What inspires your work?
“I take a lot of inspiration from the natural world around me, but what always brings me back to the drawing board are happy memories from my childhood, summers at the seaside and adventures in my beloved camper van.”

What mediums do you enjoy working with?
“My first love has always been screen printing, but I can’t resist a good-quality fine liner, my good old Pantone pens and the occasional dabble with watercolours and other mixed media.”

So what’s next for you?
“I would love to launch my own print studio.”



fabric button
 
Cartoon Fabric Diamond Silk Remnant Fabric

£9.50 for the whole piece - so sweet!

£3.99 diamond silk lining - take it all away.
 


£6/m - Gorgeous quality chiffon... ridiculous price!

Offset Warehouse Organic Cotton Fringe

Offset Warehouse Organic Cotton Rib - Natural

Offset Warehouse Tonal Crossweave - Dark Brown


Organic Cotton Fringe

£2.80/ metre

Organic Cotton Rib - Natural
£12.25 / yard

Tonal Crossweave - Dark Brown
£10.54 /metre

Email:

info@offsetwarehouse.com

Lots more SALE fabrics to follow - make sure you're in the know by following:

 facebook  twitter  blogger

Tuesday 30 October 2012

TOP UP SAMPLES | Just £3.99 for 12 samples!

Did you buy one of our UK Sample Books before October 2012? Purchase our 'top up' fabric samples to add to your previous sample books:
http://bit.ly/SaLZcR

Monday 29 October 2012

LITTE FABRIC LOVE| Huge thanks for the mention!




"Finally I just discovered Offset Warehouse, while looking for a heavy organic fairtrade cotton. I sent for their sample set and it arrived yesterday. I love the range… They sell reclaimed fabric as well."
The fabrics look amazing there!
http://www.lovefibre.com/

Thursday 25 October 2012

The Royals Make A Stand for Ethical Fashion


Only last week Prince Charles was supporting the Campaign for Wool and it's now Princess Eugenie's time to shine.  The Duke of York's daughter was spotted adorned in ethical fashion label "Beulah", and claims herself to be a big fan: “They are such a great brand, and the fact that they are supporting Anti-Slavery Day is incredible, it’s a cause I truly believe in.”

It just goes to show that the origin of our clothes is important.  Nobody wants to support sweatshops, and labels who are passionate about providing fair wages and offering benefits to the people who create them are first choice to responsible folk like MPs and Royalty.  If the Royals can spare a little time to show support for a fairer and more ethical fashion industry, then we certainly can!

(Princess Eugenie wearing Anti-Slavery brand Beulah) 

For more information and articles on fair-trade fashion check out the resources section on our website http://bit.ly/TzT4cd


Wednesday 24 October 2012

GET THE LOOK | Faux-fur pillarbox hat!


If there's one thing trendsetters aren't going without this chilly season, it's the faux fur hat!



From classic and glamorous styles to traditional Russian Cossack, not only are they awesome (and very warm!) they are really easy to make. Take a look at this step by step guide we found http://bit.ly/UxpMuJ


Faux fur was first introduced in the late 1920's to offer people a fun and animal friendly alternative to the real thing. Why not check out our very own range of faux furs and have a go at customising your very own unique furry accessory!


Imogen just loves this barbie pink colour... Now, to make a hat with it or not? Hmmm.. 


For more fabrics, visit:

www.offsetwarehouse.com/fabrics


Tuesday 23 October 2012

OFFSET COLLECTIVE EVENT

Looking for fresh ideas and more ways to manufacture your designs? Offset are hosting another free collective event in London THIS THURSDAY!



This free event is exclusively for all you designers to get honest opinions from your fashion pee
rs and answers to all those nightmares: from fabric sourcing problems, cheap marketing ideas and precious contacts, it's the perfect opportunity to meet and talk with other designers about the issues you face.

Come and join the discussion at Hamilton House in Vauxhall, London.

RSVP: Essential! To Imogen: info(@)offsetwarehouse.com
DATE: Thursday 25th October 2012
TIME: 6.30pm-9pm
VENUE: The Riverside, Hamilton House, 5 St George’s Wharf, SW8 2LE

For all enquiries please email info(@)offsetwarehouse.com and we’ll be happy to help!

Monday 22 October 2012

WANTED: UNWANTED TEXTILES | Fabrics piling up in your cupboards? About to throw them away?

STOP!

Send them to Offset Warehouse and we’ll find them a wonderful new home!




Every year 1.5 million tons of clothes and textiles go to landfill in Britain. This means 9500 garments are thrown into landfill every five minutes. That is the equivalent of every one in four garments sold.

While every other type of landfill waste is reducing, textiles has risen. Jackie King, executive director of the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association says; “Consumers don’t realize 95 percent of all clothing and textiles is recyclable… As long as items are clean and dry, even those that are stained or torn, they can be processed by textile recyclers extending the end-of-life of the material.”

Don’t let your old textiles contribute to global warming. Send us your old fabrics and we’ll help them find new homes!

Send them to:

The Offset Warehouse Team
Offset Warehouse
1 Walpole Gardens
Strawberry Hill
Middlesex, TW2 5SL

If you have any questions, please call us on +44 (0)7572 720 111 or email: info@offsetwarehouse.com

Thursday 18 October 2012

FREE SCRAP T-SHIRTS

Help save these promotional t-shirts from the garbage!

These red t-shirts were used for a promotional night in Bristol. The promoters just didn't know what to do with all the leftovers, so rather 
than chucking them, we said we'd help give them away for free!

We've packaged them into bags of three for you to do whatever you want with them: chop, sew, turn inside out, applique over, you name it! Just have some fun!

Get your creative juices flowing and save these poor t-shirts here: http://bit.ly/VadHwx



Wednesday 17 October 2012

NEW OFFSET SEMINARS |

Our industry experts are on hand to provide you with the core knowledge and skills you need to design, source and manufacture in a socially and environmentally safe way.



SEMINAR ONE:
KEY SKILLS FOR INFORMED DESIGN
Lea
rn the tools required to design in a more efficient, environmentally safe and socially responsible way.
FRIDAY 2ND NOVEMBER: http://bit.ly/T051kJ
THURSDAY 22ND NOVEMBER: http://bit.ly/REJmmB

SEMINAR TWO:
SOURCING AND MANUFACTURING PRODUCTS GLOBALLY
Aimed to equip ethical fashion designers with the knowledge and contacts required to source and manufacture products abroad.
FRIDAY 9TH NOVEMBER: http://bit.ly/P9lRD5
THURSDAY 29TH NOVEMBER: http://bit.ly/TbaxaI


For more information, more events and to book visit:http://bit.ly/WmgNwX

Tuesday 16 October 2012

OFFSET COLLECTIVE EVENT | Free event for ethical designers next Thursday!

From fibre sourcing problems to customs & duties solutions, great marketing ideas and precious PR & sales contacts, the Offset Warehouse Collective event is the perf
ect opportunity to meet and talk with other ethical designers.






This free event is exclusively for ethical designers to get honest opinions from your ethical fashion peers and answers to all those sourcing nightmares. Come and join the discussion at Hamilton House in Vaxuhall, London about the issues you face desigining ethically.

Date: Thursday 25th October 2012
Time: 6.30pm-9pm
Venue: The Riverside, Hamilton House, 5 St George’s Wharf, SW8 2LE

For all enquiries please email info@offsetwarehouse.com and we’ll be happy to help!

www.offsetwarehouse.com

Monday 15 October 2012

WOOL WEEK | Offset Warehouse joins in on the fun with our Wool Week Special!



British Wool Week Starts Today!


Wool week, running from the 15th - 20th October, is a campaign to support local farmers and small business whose livelihood depends on the wool industry.  Since its launch, the price that farmers now get for their wool has increased.  But the wool war is far from won yet.

 British Wool week

Wool is so eco friendly it's boarding on bonkers: it's natural, biodegradable, renewable and sustainable. It's brilliantly versatile and can be used for textile manufactures, carpeting, interiors and fashion and design.

http://www.offsetwarehouse.com/fabrics/fabric/997/fair-trade-wool-black

To celebrate wool week, we've decided to slash our most popular wool prices - take a look for yourself: www.offsetwarehouse.com/wool. We want as many designers on board, supporting British wool.

http://www.offsetwarehouse.com/fabrics/fabric/996/fair-trade-wool-blue-twill

http://www.offsetwarehouse.com/fabrics/fabric/180/wool-light-grey-cream-houndstooth

http://www.offsetwarehouse.com/fabrics/fabric/995/fair-trade-wool-grey-twill

Wouldn't these gorgeous Herringbones make a lovely, thick winter coat?  How about some authentic cushions for your sofa?


http://www.offsetwarehouse.com/fabrics/fabric/172/wool-mouse-brown-off-white

For more info on wool week check out www.campaignforwool.org and to make the most of our Wool Week Special, visitwww.offsetwarehouse.com/wool





Thursday 11 October 2012

FABRIC LOVE | PEACE SILK

FABRIC LOVE| Don't you love waking up in the morning to a whole new set of sumptuous samples?! Lime green peace silk? Eeee!




PEACE SILK | Luxurious silks free from animal cruelty!
http://bit.ly/rlxefW

What is Peace Silk...?

Silk comes from the cocoons of silk worms. Peace Silk allows the silkworm to complete its lifecycle and only once the moth has emerged fro
m its cocoon it is placed in boiling water. The boiling water dissolves the gummy substance holding the cocoon together, so the strands of silk can be unwound and then turned into thread, yarn or fabric.

So, how is that any different to regular silk?

Regular silk is extracted by placing the cocoon AND the silkworm in boiling water. This means the silk worm is killed in the process!

We have an awesome range of luxurious Peace Silks, free from animal cruelty - Take a look!


 Visit us at www.offsetwarehouse.com to see a full range of the silks we have!  


Tuesday 9 October 2012

GROUP PURCHASING | OFFSET COLLECTIVE EVENT

GROUP PURCHASING | Are you an ethical designer...?

Introducing the perfect way to purchase your favourite ethical materials! No need to worry about high minimum order quantities AND you can keep the costs low low low...
http://linkd.in/SAf



Join our LinkedIn page to meet other ethical designers and show your interest in any fabrics going. Also come along to our event on 25th October (details below) where you can get a first hand look at some of our "Group Purchasing" fabrics on offer!

A simple solution to a pesky little problem.

OFFSET COLLECTIVE EVENT | Calling all ethical designers!

Yes, thats right - Offset are hosting another collective event in London for all ethical designers to come together and discuss issues they overcome to design ethically.

From fibre sourcing problems, customs & duties solutions, great marketing ideas and precious PR & sales contacts, its the perfect opportunity to meet and talk with other ethical designers about the issues you face.

Date: Thursday 25th October 2012
Time: 6.30pm-9pm
Venue: The Riverside, Hamilton House, 5 St George’s Wharf, SW8 2LE

offsetwarehouse.com
info@offsetwarehouse.com


Monday 8 October 2012