Australia’s Vegan Markets Need You. Here’s Why…

Vegan markets are sprouting up all over Australia and there are a plethora of vegan businesses vying for stall-space. Currently, people choosing a vegan lifestyle is accelerating at an unprecedented rate and you’d think that there are many who would be flocking to vegan markets regularly.

Community is at the forefront of the vegan lifestyle.  As much as the animals need us to pursue a vegan lifestyle, vegan markets equally need us, too.  There has never been a better time to start or attend a vegan market and what better way to incorporate an incredible vegan experience into your vegan travels than by attending one.

Discover and support local vegan businesses

Vegan markets are a sure-fire way for local vegan businesses to share their creations with an intimate audience. Here’s where you can discover local vegan businesses in the area you’re travelling through. You can also meet the makers, ask them about their creations and learn about their underlying vegan mission. Your patronage then helps these vegan businesses push their mission forward so they can then set and achieve bigger goals for their businesses.

Vegan markets are a delicious testing ground for new vegan products

Not only can you discover new businesses and products, you can also be a taste-tester or a sampler of new products. Many of these products have not yet been released, so how exciting it can be to discover upcoming products. You can help be a taste-tester, or try new products on offer. The intimacy of a vegan market is the perfect environment to give makers your feedback. You’re at the forefront of a new product and giving the maker valuable insights into their creations. This can assist vegan businesses to be successful.

Sample the region’s produce from vegan growers

Sometimes, vegan markets stock fresh fruit and vegetables from local vegan growers. Save your local produce shop to your weekly vegan market and buy your produce at the market. Eliminate wastage and plastics by buying local and vegan. Just remember to take your reusable bags.

Support local vegan not-for-profits and animal rescue groups

If you’ve gone vegan, chances are you’re doing so because you want to eliminate animal suffering and abuse. Vegan markets also provide vendor space for NFPs and animal rescue groups, more often than not at a reduced stall price. This is one way that vegan markets show these groups their support, and we as market goers can continue the support. Visit these stalls, talk to the volunteers who are at the forefront of these groups, learn about the current issues these NFPS are facing and discover how you can help. The easiest way to show your support is join mailing lists and give a donation or buy merchandise. If you want to show a deeper support, talk to the volunteers who can advise you how you can help further – donations of supplies, volunteering at events and more.

So, do you visit vegan markets regularly? How do you incorporate a visit to a vegan market in your travels? How do you support the vegan vendors? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

All the Vegan Gluten-Free Yums at the Free From and Allergy Shows, Melbourne

Spending the day at the Free From and Allergy Shows last weekend was an eye-opener. Allergies and life-threatening illnesses relating to diet are still on the increase in Australia. The number of people who then attend shows like the Free From and Allergy Shows brings this point home.

Many Melburnians braved the wintery wet weather outside to travel to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre to experience the show. There were talks from leading health and media experts and vendors spruiking new products and information. There was also the overhanging vibe that allergies and illnesses can be remedied or managed with the help of a specific diet.

A Plant-Based Diet can transform your health

Dr Malcolm Mackay of Plant Based Health Australia started the day with his talk. He delivered one simple message which has always made sense to me. We choose what we put in our mouths, and what we choose can either be a benefit or a detriment to our overall health. Optimise your health with a wholefood plant-based diet and you can reap the benefits. Overall health begins in the gut where around 60 to 70% of our immune cells are found. Unhealthy microbiome can then lead to allergies and auto-immune issues.  So, a wholefood plant-based diet is the most effective treatment for many of the illnesses we’re seeing in our current world. The key is to promote good microbiome in the gut and reduce inflammation in the body with two key actions:

• Avoid highly-processed foods
• Minimise, even eliminate, the oils your diet
• Cut dairy and meat out of your diet

To maintain microbiome diversity, you should observe a diet that’s made up of half non-starch foods and half starchy grains.

Businesses are acknowledging the rise and power of the vegan diet

It’s common knowledge that Australia is one of the world’s fastest growing markets for vegan products; currently third in the world. Food businesses have been quick to take note: developing vegan products for their existing product lines. There hasn’t been a time in history when consumers have been more informed about their food, the benefits, the cruelty suffered by animals, and the effects of production on our environment. But there’s still a long way to go if businesses want to move towards all-vegan ranges.

From the vendors on show at the Free From and Allergy Shows, there is hope. From sauces and condiments, to breads, plant milks and snacks, the possibilities are endless. Even the coffee stand at the shows offered plant-based milks for coffee and sold vegan gluten-free slices. Whether businesses decide to heed the current trends of people shifting to a plant-based diet will be interesting to observe in years to come. The current state of our world is making it clear that businesses need to prepare for the reality of shifting to fully plant-based, vegan, business models. They need to start preparing now!

Just don’t forget the ‘yum’ factor

I was keen to sit in on Olivia Jackson’s presentation about the steps to take when you’re diagnosed with Coeliac Disease. As you know, I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease a couple of years ago so Olivia’s talk naturally piqued my interest. Olivia is the owner and publisher of yum. Gluten Free, an Australian resource for all things gluten-free. Foremost, I need to mention that yum. Gluten Free does not have a vegan focus, but there are some points from Olivia’s talk that can translate to vegans with Coeliac Disease.

It can be hard to travel with Coeliac Disease, but that’s not to say it’s impossible. It’s just a matter of being informed about Coeliac Disease, what kitchens need to be aware of, and what travellers need to do in order to have an amazing experience without being ‘glutened’. Olivia revealed that 50% of people don’t dine out after being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease, but luckily Australia has some of the toughest food labelling standards in the world.

To give people with Coeliac Disease the confidence to dine out again, she believes communication is the most important element:

• Do your research and talk in groups specific to gluten-free social groups or follow hashtags
• Gluten-free is the most important label so avoid ‘may contain’ foods
• Incorporate a gluten supplement in your travels to break down gluten in the body
• Communicate to restaurants effectively e.g. ‘airbourne flour is like glitter’
• Talk to a restaurant on the phone in the days leading up to your visit; can they cater for you?
• Re-confirm your order once it’s delivered to the table
• Educate and change the way we talk about Coeliac Disease with concise messaging

As a vegan who is Coeliac Disease, I have discovered food businesses need to be educated about the vegan diet; it’s not the same as gluten-free. I will echo Olivia’s thoughts that you need to disclose your condition as concisely as possible. However, your vegan requirements need to be communicated just as thoroughly and effectively.  If I can quote Olivia: “knowledge is power”.

Disclaimer: Justine de Jonge of Fire & Tea was a guest of the Free From Show and Allergy Show, and received a complimentary double pass. All views and reporting expressed above are that of her own. Justine did not receive any payments from any companies mentioned or photographed for this blog post.

London Fashion Week SS20 - What Not To Miss

On September 13, press, buyers and influencers will descend on London for the bi-annual five-day jam-packed London Fashion Week featuring 66 brands, 74 stores and 170 events as part of the official British Fashion Council schedule that has turned into a city-wide celebration, including public catwalk shows, emerging designer presentations, store launches, and exhibitions.

London Fashion Week will feature fashion editor favourites Molly Goddard, Christopher Kane and JW Anderson presenting their latest collections, as well as Riccardo Tisci’s third season for Burberry, alongside Victoria Beckham, Ashish, Temperley London, and Rixo. There are also a number of brands making their LFW on-schedule debut including Korean brand YCH, tailoring brand Eftychia, Jeremy Scott-alumni Bobby Abley is making the move from London Fashion Week: Men’s and Julien Macdonald will be presenting his new brand Julien x Gabriela.

There are however some notable absences this season, Peter Pilotto has moved his show to Milan, Mary Katrantzou is heading to Athens in October, while Ashley Williams is skipping this season, and Grace Wales Bonner is opting for private appointments, and Bethany Williams decided to show during menswear week in June.

London Fashion Week opens its doors to the public

For the first time, London Fashion Week will be hosting public-facing catwalk shows from AlexaChung, House of Holland and Self-Portrait, on September 14 and 15, where fashion fans can purchase tickets to the “immersive” experience that includes creative installations, industry-led talk panels, and the newly relaunched Designer Exhibition. Standard tickets are priced at 135 pounds and Front Row tickets at 245 pounds.

Other consumer-focused events include Anya Hindmarch’s immersive postbox maze inside Brewer Street Car Park, inspired by the patterns within M. C. Escher’s Metamorphosis III mural, designed fifty years ago for The Hague Post Office, while Browns will celebrate the launch of Peggy Gou’s new brand Kirin with an in-store appearance from the designer, and Burberry’s Thomas’s Cafe will launch a special London Fashion Week breakfast comprising of a selection of tapas-style dishes including French toast with orange compote, cardamom and bay curd as well as secret Smokehouse salmon, scrambled eggs and buckwheat blinis.

Huntsman will celebrate their centenary on Savile Row with the largest and most comprehensive tie collection, featuring over 185 exclusive designs sourced from seven separate suppliers, while John Lewis will host a series of catwalk shows, AW19 style trend talks and pop-up beauty partnerships in its White City Westfield shop, and MatchesFashion will host a series of events at their Mayfair Townhouse, 5 Carlos Place, including an installation to celebrate Richard Quinn’s debut collection for Moncler.

Mulberry will launch its new Iris bag family with a series of free workshops led by craftspeople from Mulberry’s Somerset factory. Guests will be able to create and take home a bespoke leather bracelet made with offcuts from the Iris bag.

Julien x Gabriela

Julien Macdonald is teaming up with “dear friend and muse” Gabriela Gonzalez for the debut of their Julien x Gabriela couture brand. No details have been shared about the new collection, just that it will be high-end glamour, as the brand made its debut on the red carpet during Cannes in May.

In an Instagram post, Gonzalez said: “The very first Julien x Gabriela runway it’s about to be presented in a few days during the London Fashion Week. It’s a privilege and honour to be presenting this new brand by the hand of my mentor Julien Macdonald and to be able to share it with all of you who have continuously shared this journey with us and given so much love.”

Julien Macdonald presents Julien x Gabriela will hit the catwalk on September 16

Focus on sustainability

For the very first time, the United Nations will bring the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, also known as The Global Goals to London Fashion Week. The Goals are a universal route map and call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that every global citizen enjoys peace and prosperity by 2030. The #TogetherBand tapestry installation will be part of the Positive Fashion Exhibition, to introduce the London Fashion Week audience to the goals.

The British Fashion Council is also calling on the industry to embrace ‘positive fashion’ with its new curated designer exhibition designed for spring/summer 2020 to celebrate industry best practice and encourage future business decisions to create positive change. Positive Fashion is led by three key pillars: Sustainability, Equality and Diversity, Craftsmanship and Community, and each brand showcasing in the Designer Exhibition answers to one or more of those pillars, added the BFC.

Brands taking part includes upcycling brand Ancuta Sarca, Azura Lovisa, which champions sustainable fabrics and slow fashion, designer Duran Lantink, who approaches fashion with a DIY attitude, upcycling discarded luxury garments and deadstock to produce his collections, and Felder Felder will showcase a selection of their ‘Ecouture’ designs made from natural fabrics, such as pineapples, wild rubber from the Amazonian Rain Forest and vegan silk.

Other highlights will include swimwear brand Stay Wild Swim made from regenerated ocean plastic in body-positive styles, using sustainable materials created from a smart techno-fabric, Econyl, while Paolo Carzana, previous British Fashion Council scholar will present his latest work 'The Another World Project,’ working with the leftover materials from his BA collection to create a series of healing dolls made up of sustainable materials including pineapple leather, bamboo silk and second-hand bed sheets, which have been over-dyed in natural homemade pigments.

In addition, Pause Conscious, the global movement that showcases sustainable fashion around the world, is coming to London for its ninth edition during London Fashion Week. The pop-up featuring 80 sustainable designers, will combine shopping with art, live performances, music, and educational experiences. The event will take place at Freemasons’ Hall in Covent Garden for 10-days, from September 13 to 22..

Victoria Beckham launches beauty brand

Victoria Beckham returns to the London Fashion Week schedule for her third consecutive season, but the fashion designer is also launching her new beauty brand, Victoria Beckham Beauty, which she is calling a “unique synergy between the worlds of beauty and fashion” on September 14.

Announced in February, the beauty brand is launching for autumn/winter 2019 and Beckham has dropped hints that the affordable “clean beauty” collection will be cruelty-free and inclusive for all skin tones, as well as offering make-up, skincare and a fragrance.

London Fashion Week Festival: What To Expect For 2018

LONDON FASHION WEEK FESTIVAL 

WHAT IS IT?

London Fashion Week Festival is the public’s opportunity to get in on all the fashion week action, no invitation required. Staged in The Store Studios, the same venue as London Fashion Week itself, the event will be the ultimate extravaganza for fashion-lovers wanting to enjoy everything the industry has to offer.

Running from 22nd – 25th February, the event has packed schedule of designer and trend catwalks shows, exclusive industry talks, pampering pop-ups and, of course, plenty of shopping opportunities.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2018

Foodies shouldn’t miss Thursday’s chat with healthy eating entrepreneur Deliciously Ella. From bestselling cookbooks to running two delis, come and discover how she does it. Onto Friday, and you can get an exclusive insight into fashion forecasting, blogging and styling with a panel of industry experts – including Elle’s Harriet Stewart, content strategist Alicia Waite and blogger Lucy Williams. A must-see for anyone interested in the future of fashion. Saturday evening, meanwhile, sees Orla Kiely taking the stage to look back at her journey through fashion and design with Dennis Nothdruft, curator of the designer’s exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum.

Sunday is also set to be a winner, with former head of menswear at Harvey Nichols, Darren Skey, sharing his thoughts on the changing men’s fashion landscape: from department stores to boutiques to internet shopping. Then at 3.45, creative collective Gal-Dem will be sharing their wisdom on how to set up an independent magazine – a must for budding journalists.

HOW TO GET TICKETS

Tickets start from just £20 for basic festival entry, which includes event access, shopping access to more than 150 brands and industry talks, and go up to £200 for the Luxe Premium pass. This packs in priority event access, access to the LUXE Lounge, Prosecco reception with Caroline Rush, CEO British Fashion Council, front row seats at a Designer Catwalk, intimate Q&A with the designer and designer tote bag and private till point with shopping concierge service. What more could you possibly want?

London Fashion Week SS20: Designers including Simone Rocha and Preen deliver pagan princesses and punk attitude

The third day of London Fashion Week shows has come to an end and the five-day event is nearing its sartorial climax.

But, while show-goers might be exhibiting signs of slowing down – writer’s cramp, exhaustion and, of course, hangovers are rife – designers continued to flood the runways with garb that fired up the fashion crowd’s imagination.

While Margaret Howell comforted show attendees with more of what they know and love, Preen took inspiration from Japanese culture and Victoria Beckham put forward a divisive collection steeped in references to decades gone by.

Elsewhere, Simone Rocha concluded the day’s proceedings with a showstopping collection at Alexandra Palace which cast a spell on show-goers with a myriad of conflicting aesthetics.Kickstarting the morning of day three, designer duo Thea Bregazzi and Justin Thornton – who are partners in real life as well as business – built on the brand’s dark romanticism.

In the two decades since they first launched Preen, the couple have built on an aesthetic of arts and crafts-inspired florals and modern prints.

This season though, the label honed in on its punkish sensibilities, taking inspiration from a country renowned for its alternative style: Japan.

Citing books like Manga series The Promised Neverland and Japonisme – a guide to living a happier, more fulfilled life – as well as cult films including Martin Scorsese’s Kill Bill and Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, Preen presented a series of looks that quickly escalated from voluminous dresses which wouldn’t look out of place in Harajuku to padded trench coats and grungy T-shirts decorated with subversive motifs.

The brand’s signature ruffled skirts and sequin-covered gowns were also present, only this time they were tempered by the addition of loose-fitted hoodies, buckled leather boots and illustrations of badass Manga girls.What really stole the show here though were the series of spliced frocks that looked as though they had been cut cleanly with a samurai sword. There was one in white that came with a cut-out midriff, asymmetric ruffled hem and balloon sleeves, and another in black that suspended superfluous satin from the bust.

The clothes on the catwalk today were very much indicative of designers who, while at ease with sticking to what they do best, aren’t afraid to push the sartorial envelope. Alas, being a Preen girl never seemed more appealing.Roland Mouret quickly forged a signature for himself when he launched his brand in 1998, translating his reverence for the female form into garments that oozed sex appeal and sensuality.

Case in point: in 2005, Mouret unveiled the Galaxy dress that would ultimately make his name. Using the curving female figure as the starting point, the souped-up and cinched in gown became near ubiquitous among A-listers with everyone from Cameron Diaz to Scarlett Johansson and Dita Von Teese all wearing it well within a six-month period.

However, this season there was far less sex appeal and a renewed focus on simplicity.

“A designer should define silhouettes not just clothes: this season’s silhouette is the evolution and continuation of my work over the years,” Mouret said.

In contrast to the scooped in draping and shaping the designer has become best known for, this season Mouret adopted a more laissez faire attitude that emanated from wide-leg trousers, boxy blazers, breezy shirt dresses and slack knitwear.

By incorporating more tailoring into his collection, the designer said he was inviting consumers to “play with the silhouette as a way to convey personal style”.

Sure, he knows a woman’s body well but it seems as though he has also sensed a shift in how they’re minds and approach to dressing have changed.

Perhaps the global call for action through movements such as #metoo and #timesup has prompted him to redefine his portrayal of female sexuality?

How can YOU get tickets to London Fashion Week? The ultimate guide for the fashion savvy

LONDON Fashion Week is one of the most glamorous events in the fashion calendar and is normally reserved for insiders only.Celebrities, buyers and press are the only people usually lucky enough to get a place inches away from the gorgeous models strutting down the runway.

But there can be ways for the average woman to get in on the action - in September 2015, Givenchy offered 820 free tickets to the public to watch its 2016 show in New York.

Young French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus followed suit and offered 40 members of the public the chance to attend his Paris Fashion Week show via an email prize draw on his website.
Last season, spectators were able to watch the catwalk action from London live on 60 screens across the UK thanks to the BFC’s collaboration with Ocean Outdoor.

The screens were in cities such as Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.

In London there were screens in Canary Wharf, Holland Park, Two Towers West and Westfield.

If you want the experience of sitting at a catwalk show, four top designers will stage their SS17 shows for the ticket buying public at London Fashion Weekend.

Preen, Edeline Lee, Sibling and J.JS Lee will re-stage their shows the week after London Fashion Week.Tickets for London Fashion Weekend start at £20 for the basic experience package, to £200 for a ‘premium’ package.

It runs from Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th September 2016 and is held at the Saatchi Gallery.

London Fashion Week is nearly upon us - and a British supermodel recently scooped a top spot in the Forbes Rich List.The Plymouth-born beauty, 29, has ranked in a tie fifth position with American model Gigi Hadid on the Top 20 list compiled by Forbes.

Her estimated earnings are believed to be nine million dollars (around £6.8 million).

Forbes base their figures for those featured on the Top 20 list on income generated from cosmetic and fragrance businesses, as well as other contracts.

Rosie launched her Autograph lingerie range with high street giants M&S in 2012, and the range has since expanded to include a fragrance, sports wear and make-up.

London Fashion Week 2019: Here’s everything you need to know Read more at https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/london-fashion-week-472090#mqAmWszcqkPHPftW.99

From the designers to how to get tickets, we've got you covered

One of the UK’s most coveted events of the year, London Fashion Week 2019, showing AW19, is fast approaching. Organised by the British Fashion Council, bloggers, press and fashion influencers alike will flock to the centre of the capital city to get the scoop on what everyone will be wearing next season.

From the week’s schedule to who will be in attendance and London Fashion Week’s best moments, this is everything you need to know about this season’s happenings…

London Fashion Week 2019 dates

This season, LFW will take place from Friday 15th to Tuesday 19th February – just after New York Fashion Week.

London Fashion Week 2019 tickets

Unfortunately, unless you’re a fashion buyer, blogger or press, it’s very unlikely you’ll be sitting on the FROW any time soon. However, if you are a fashion blogger, you can complete an online registration form to be in with the chance of cinching an exclusive spot on the guest list. You do have to be organised and register a few weeks’ in advance, so it’s unlikely you’ll make it this time around. Something to remember for next time, eh?

It’s not all doom and gloom if you don’t get tickets, though. Formerly known as London Fashion Weekend, London Fashion Week Festival is the chance for those downtrodden fashion lovers (who aren’t quite high profile enough to attend the main event) to join in on the fun. Featuring catwalk shows, industry trends and the chance to shop from a range of designer pieces, it’s every fashion enthusiasts must-attend

After a few seasons of change, we’re getting excited for our regular designer shows this season. Victoria Beckham is showing again after the 10-year-anniversary show in September, and so are Alexa Chung, Rejina Pyo, ERDEM and Simone Rocha to name just a few.

The full schedule is available at londonfashionweek.co.uk, and you can keep up-to-date with the events as they happen through the official live stream.