BALL STYLE
winter 2009/10

• fashion by Michel Klein for La Redoute, Sonia Rykiel pour H&M, Buffalo at Salamander
• beauty by Aveda

Thinking other people and in generations

Since the 70ies, the democratisation of fashion and the environmental friendly production of beauty products are a theme in the glam world which is mostly adopted by women; this makes not wonder: women are characterized by holistic thinking and the products are designed for the wants of the clients.

The superficiality of fashion and beauty lies often in the eyes of the viewer. By getting behind the scenes of the glamorous fashion and beauty world it becomes obvious that many 'big players' have already started programs which are developed from a holistic view on human beings and the environment.

fig.: from above

Black tuxedo and red dress designed by Michel Klein for La Redoute FW2009/10. Tuxedo with jeans, red bag, and boots in black; red princess dress; all pieces are designed by Michel Klein for La Redoute. Photo: Gilles-Marie Zimmermann.

The French designer Michel Klein has already worked for the homeshopper La Redoute in 1993. Around 50 designers elaborate each season new collections for the French headquartered online shop La Redoute which has distribution channels in 24 countries. Alongside to the own collections by the 50 designer creative team, La Redoute invites each season since 1969 prominent designers like Christian Lacroix, Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent, Courrèges etc. with the aim to democratise fashion and the ready-to-wear products of the French Haute Couturiers.

Since 2003, La Redoute offers bio-collections, since 2005 Fairtrade-products. On occasion of the World Environment Day on 5th June 2009, the homeshop La Redoute presented t-shirts for women and men, created by the La Redoute employees themselves. On the same day, the PPR Group (which owns La Redoute) released the movie 'Home' with the aim to provoke that we are thinking about a change of our patterns of consumption. fashionoffice.org/collections/2009/laredoute6-2009.htm

Aveda Green Science Replenishing Toner, launched in fall/winter 2009, comes in January 2010 into the spa's and shops. The toner prepares the face skin for the following treatment with the daily care product like a moisturizing day cream. The bottle is made of 90% post-consumer recycled polyethylene.

Aveda is a pioneer of 'green' beauty products. The label was founded in 1978 by the Austrian born, now in US living Horst Rechelbacher. His goal was to provide beauty industry professionals with botanically based products that would be safer for professionals, their guests, as well as for the planet.

Aveda's 'Earth Month' campaigns are legendary. In April 2007, Aveda fought with a charity-campaign for access to clean water. In corrupted governments poverty grows and limited options drive a downward spiral that threatens the world's environmental and economic security. Aveda collected on this occasion in its worldwide spas, salons and stores together with the organisation Global Greengrants Funds money for a better access to clean water. "Our mission at Aveda is to care for the world we live in, from the products we make to the ways in which we give back to society. At Aveda, we strive to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty but around the world." said Horst Rechelbacher in 2007.

Lingerie by Sonia Rykiel pour H&M, FW2009/10. In December 2009, the Swedish shop chain H&M released the first of two collections designed by the French couturier Sonia Rykiel who has written in her book 'Celebration' in 1988: "Woman must define her style and undefine her roles". In 1968, Sonia Rykiel has founded her label and was soon known as the "Queen of Knits". She brought the sweater into Couture and impressed as cult designer soon artists like Malcolm McLaren for the song "Who the Hell is Sonia Rykiel?" on McLaren's album Paris (1995, last.fm/music/Malcolm+McLaren/Paris).

For winter 2009 and spring 2010, H&M collaborates with the label Sonia Rykiel, now directed by the daugther Nathalie Rykiel. The first designer lingerie and accessories collection for women was launched on 5 December 2009 in 1,500 H&M stores worldwide. At the same time, Sonia Rykiel made this lingerie collection available in Sonia Rykiel’s major boutiques around the world; this crossover of distribution is a premier for H&M. In February 2010, H&M features the second Sonia Rykiel knitwear collection for women and girls accompanied by accessories.

"It is a hallmark of Sonia Rykiel to think of all women because fashion is about a certain spirit more than a question of means. This collaboration fits perfectly with our philosophy. The Sonia Rykiel pour H&M lingerie collection is the ideal way to offer the essence of Rykiel to a great number of women around the world," says Nathalie Rykiel, president and artistic director of Sonia Rykiel.

Clutch and boots by Buffalo London, seen at the European shoe store network (manufacturing, retail, service) Salamander, FW2009/10; (C) Salamander, photo: Juergen Hammerschmid.


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