Hello Dear Reader! I am excited to share the work of Kelli Donovan, an Australia based designer, showing her latest collection at NYFW! There is still time to grab a ticket to attend! Visit here to learn more about this great show Block the Noise
Kelli- Tell us about your latest collection you are showing at NYFW: The collection is inspired by the majestic giant manta rays and protecting the ocean which is their natural habitat from textile, pollution and plastic waste. Manta Rays have the largest brains of all fish species, they are gentle giants of the oceans and live on plankton. Their wing span can be up to 8 meters long. They do not harm any other species and are not dangerous to people. They filter the plankton through their huge mouths and their gills. Any plastic waste, textile waste or other chemical pollution in the ocean can be dangerous and extremely harmful to these gentle giants. The fashion industry is the second highest polluting industry in the world and it creates huge amounts of water pollution and toxic chemicals which are often just discarded into any water stream or the oceans without any filtering from industry.
How do you incorporate sustainability into your work? I made the Manta Ray Collection - by Keli Studio - and accessories with reclaimed garments and accessories sourcing from products and textiles that are already here and not newly made - from my studio, our local op shop Vinnies, the Greenshed, reclaimed textiles from other designers studios, recycled sequins that are compostable, recycled discarded jewellery and bags and reclaimed Japanese obi textiles! Nothing is new and it’s all reclaimed, reused, recycled and remade using circular design concepts and techniques.
Tell us about your collaborations: We are collaborating with lots of local small ethical and sustainable businesses including:
Citizen Wolf - reclaimed dead stock organic tshirts - Sydney
GoodCitizen - sunnies - each paid is made from one recycled plastic bottle - Sydney
Circular Sourcing - reclaimed textiles from industry and designers - Melbourne
Rojo Collective - printer and embroidery - Canberra
St Mary Mackillop - a handful of excited textile students and their teacher - we have been getting together every week talking about sustainability and making pieces together from discarded denim jeans from the Greenshed for this collection to show in NY and at ECO Fashion Week Australia.
James Lavercombe - mathematician and artist - Canberra
Bianca Pritchard - textile helper with reassembling the cut denim - Canberra - Braidwood
Tracy Lee Photography - Canberra
Devjoka Models - Canberra
Jade Camelleri - Model - Canberra
The Natural Sequins company - Recycled sequins - UK
Where can readers learn more? My new website - for sustainable consulting and public workshops https://www.kellidonovan.com.au
Get your ticket! Sept 10th 2024 NYFW: https://blockthenoise.org/nyfw-2024
ECO Fashion Week Australia: https://www.ecofashionweekaustralia.com
Learn from Kelli! I will also be teaching at ifd's Conscious Fashion Design Academy Masterclass:
The new course starts on the October 1st - anyone can do the course anywhere in the world who would love to learn about the global fashion industry and sustainable design.
Learn more and check out the line up of international fashion industry experts coaches here: https://www.insidefashiondesign.com/meet-your-coaches
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