EXCLUSIVE Interview with Lally’s Closet owner
December 21, 2009 by Maria Kaski · 1 Comment
We love vintage at Greenmystyle.com. It’s an eco, stylish and often wallet-friendly way to add new gems to your wardrobe. So with the launch of Lally’s closet, an online vintage retail space, scheduled for November 23rd, we talk to its owner Topsy about stocking Tom Ford and enthralling vintage neophytes. Lucie Goulet writes.
The idea for Lally’s Closet, the new vintage shop on the web, sprang from a thrill familiar to all vintage lovers: “the feeling of discovering something that is exclusively yours, knowing that not a single soul will have the same”. Not your average vintage shop, Lally’s Closet also stores new designs from emerging createurs, including remade pieces.
Hi Topsy, thank you for taking the time to chat to Greenmystyle.com. Firstly, Why did you decide to open a vintage shop?
I have loved fashion since I was very young, and I have a passion for vintage and all things unique, so the shop has been in my head for a number of years it’s only just now that I have been able to bring it to life. I have always wanted to create a platform for emerging designers, as I studied fashion design myself and I understand how difficult it is to break through in this very tough industry.
How do you choose the designers you sell?
The designers are chosen for their design skills and uniqueness, and above all else their passion for their work.
How do you source the vintage garments?
We source the vintage garments from various places worldwide, we try to have a varied collection of vintage items.
What makes Lally’s Closet stand out from the other vintage shops in London?
We are very lucky in London to have so many wonderful vintage stores, however Lally’s Closet is different because we are online therefore accessible to everyone in the UK and beyond. We also stock new collections by emerging fashion designers.
We understand that not everyone enjoys rummaging through vintage shops. People might live in areas where good vintage shops just don’t exist so we aim to bring the best vintage pieces to the comfort of your own home. We wash all of our garments where possible, and many pieces are re-worked with a modern twist so we like to think that as well as appealing to avid vintage fans we might also convert those new to vintage shopping! Our vintage garments have been pre-loved, cared for by us and then hopefully cherished by our customers.
Most of the designer collections we stock are either one-off pieces or uniquely available from Lally’s closet.
We will also be stocking Lally’s Closet own branded new items, such as gorgeous iPods and travel card holders, useful and lovely things!
Who is your target customer?
We hope that we have something that appeals to everyone! Whether that is a brand new one-off dress by one of emerging designers or perhaps it’s a re-worked dress that you couldn’t imagine life without, we aim to have wide appeal.
Did environmental concerns play any roles in your decision? Do you have any green rules?
I do believe that each and every one of us should be more concerned about the environment and our impact upon it. The fashion industry alone is quite a big culprit, from the chemicals used in production to landfill waste, but people are now becoming more aware and I think that projects such as Make Your mark in fashion and LCF’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion are having such a positive affect on the industry.
We are concerned about environmental issues at Lally’s closet, and as such we aim to use recycled paper and biodegradable packaging where possible, and obviously vintage clothing in our opinion is the most wonderful way to recycle! But being green or ethical is not what we aim our USP to be. It’s not something we shout about because we believe that these things should be an intrinsic part of any responsible brand. So we aim to sell beautiful things, that just happen to be ethical.
What are your plans for the future of Lally’s Closet?
We’d love for Lally’s Closet to be recognised as a brand in it’s own right, to be the place to get your vintage clothes. We are planning to launch our own collection very soon, so watch this space!
It would also be amazing to help launch the career of the next Tom Ford though our Designers Closet section.
We love vintage at Greenmystyle.com. It’s an eco, stylish and often wallet-friendly way to add new gems to your wardrobe. So to celebrate last month’s launch of Lally’s closet, an online vintage retail space, we’ve been talking to its owner Topsy about stocking Tom Ford and enthralling vintage neophytes. Lucie Goulet writes.
Eco elite present Fashioning the Future awards
November 27, 2009 by Maria Kaski · Leave a Comment
Jo Wood (c) John Alex Maguire
The ethical fashion elite were out in full force last night as Jo Wood, model and Centre for Sustainable Fashion ambassador, joined BBC presenter Lucy Siegle and Duncan Goose, CEO of charity ONE Water, in presenting the prestigious Fashioning the Future awards to a host of international designers. Maria Kaski writes.
Top 10 – Ethical websites
October 15, 2009 by Maria Kaski · 1 Comment
Wardrobe refashion
The website: Wardrobe re-fashion was created by Australian blogger, Nikki Shell, to encourage people to rediscover their clothes and share DIY and remade tips. Everyone can pledge not to buy any new garment for a length of time of their choice and to share their DIY odyssey on the communal blog. .
How to get involved: The next round starts in early November. You can already sign up. You’ll get an email when the challenge begins.
We like: The community feel of the website, the variety of tips, from creating baby leggings from a scarf to updating flip flops.
HYPERLINK “http://nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/” http://nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/
Make Do & Mend
The website: A very militant website, Make Do & Mend, funded by MA Ethical Fashion Graduate and former Greenmystyle.com contributor Nathalie Gottschalk, contains both explanations on the environmental and economical risks of fashion over consumption and tips on how to circumvent it.
We like: The DIY suppliers listing. The possibility for all readers to leave tips.
HYPERLINK “http://www.make-do-and-mend.org/” http://www.make-do-and-mend.org/
Swishing
The website: Created by Futerra, a communication agency specialised in sustainable marketing, the site’s main aim is to explain the concept of swishing, “To rustle clothes from friends”.
The buzz: Swishing has recently become quite a fashion phenomena. Hailed by Jess Cartner-Morley in Marie Claire as “the future of fashion”, swishing parties have taken place all over the country, from the Victoria & Albert Museum to a very popular BBC show.
We like: The list of swishing events; the advice on how to organise your own party.
HYPERLINK “http://www.swishing.org/” http://www.swishing.org/
Fashion-Conscience
The website: An ideal mix of green clothing brand, be they trendy or classical, mainstream or emerging.
We like: The possibility to search by type of clothes, from organic cotton to vegan shoes and accessories. The variety of brands and the price range, from about £36 to £668 for dresses for instance. The trends section which shows you how to bring catwalk style to your closet.
Regularly check… The “news” section. In addition to regular updates about the newest creations by eco labels, it includes the latest offers and discounts on Fashion-Conscience.
HYPERLINK “http://www.fashion-conscience.com/” http://www.fashion-conscience.com/
Ascension
The website: Formerly known as Adili, Ascension stores ethical fashion, beauty and home brands: everything you need to lead a greener life. The selection on offer is both chic and impressive, emphasised by the site’s sleek design. A green Net-A-Porter!
We like: The ethical living guide and its tips.
The Plus: During the Royal Mail strikes, Ascension uses couriers for deliveries.
The buzz: Instyle and The Times are fans.
HYPERLINK “http://www.ascensiononline.com/Default.aspx?awuid=78888″ http://www.ascensiononline.com/Default.aspx?awuid=78888
Heidi & Seek
The website: Created by an Australian designer “passionate about sustainable living and buying ethically”, Heidi & Seek mixes personal style pictures with green life posts and updates about the author’s fashion business. Light and easy to read, it’s a good addition to any green RSS feed.
We also like: The tips on non-fashion topics, such as how to source organic coffee.
HYPERLINK “http://heidiandseek.blogspot.com/” http://heidiandseek.blogspot.com/
Covert Candy
The website: In black and teal and very easy to use, Covert Candy is a clothes swap website. You upload pictures and details of your unwanted garments, estimate their value and wait for someone to express interest. Once the transaction is completed, you can spend the credits earned on other items on the website.
The buzz: Hailed by walletpop.co.uk as “a fashionable Ebay alternative”.
We like: The fashionably economical possibility to find a vintage gem.
HYPERLINK “http://www.covertcandy.co.uk/” http://www.covertcandy.co.uk/
What’s Mine is Yours
The Website: A girly-looking clothes-swapping website, Whatsmineisyours allows users to exchange garments and daily life items. You upload pictures and details of what you want to exchange and browse other’s offers to find out what you’d like to swap it with.
Tried and tested: Easy to use, with well-defined categories, the website can easily become addictive. Tip: Don’t hesitate to offer more than one item if you want to swap against a rather pricey one. Try to always upload accessories or objects: your swaps will not be limited by size issues.
HYPERLINK “http://www.whatsmineisyours.com/” http://www.whatsmineisyours.com/
Oxfam DIY
The website: Emphasising fashion rather than charity, the Oxfam DIY project is full of remade ideas doable with a basic DIY kit and second-hand clothes. It upped its fashion credentials thanks to the endorsement of celebrity stylist and designer Mrs Jones. Second-hand clothes can be bought directly from the online Oxfam store
We like: How the project is reinventing the image we had of Oxfam and Charity shops in general.
DIY suggestions: Turn your jeans into a skirt, make hammer pants, customise shoes, make a scarf halter top.
HYPERLINK “http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/content/diy/oxfamdiy.html?ito=3213&itc=0″ http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/content/diy/oxfamdiy.html?ito=3213&itc=0
Centre for Sustainable Fashion
Who: Part of the London College of Fashion, the Centre for Sustainable Fashion is an Internet and London hotspot for green fashion.
The website: From details on business to applications for the “Fashioning the Future”, it is your one-stop-site for everything green fashion. You can also download the Centre’s “reports into sustainability awareness, engagement and innovation across the fashion industry”. A goldmine of research and information if you are interested into the issues behind fashion.
We like: The Green Collar Graduates for the Fashion Industry Guide.
HYPERLINK “http://www.sustainable-fashion.com/” http://www.sustainable-fashion.com/
The world wide web can be somewhat of a maze at the best of times, so here is our pick of the Top 10 ethical fashion websites. Lucie Goulet picks out the very best online stores, communities and tips to fulfil your every eco fashion dream.
Click for our Top 10 sites.
