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Earlier this year as we all began to grapple with a global pandemic, college students around the world continued working on final creative projects for their spring semester. In this post, we catch up with four students who were awarded the Spoonflower Student Project Grant to learn about their makes. Using Spoonflower, these creatives were able to create immersive art installations, historical garments for theatre productions—one was even inspired to launch a textile business after graduation. Along the way, they learned a great deal about working on large-scale projects. We asked each to share some words of wisdom for students...

The fashion industry is having a major identity crisis, and the Covid-19 pandemic has amplified and accelerated the need for a radical reset in how fashion works, from curbing the excesses of planet-destroying fast fashion to recognising the need for greater inclusivity and access to this rarified world. The way fashion is presented is also problematic: the relentless pace and vast expense of industry showcasing had many insiders heralding the end of the traditional fashion show long before the pandemic. It was the physical impossibility of travelling and staging shows the past several months that forced more immediate change. This...

This Queenstown-based designer has charted a course to success by creating a lifestyle brand straight from her heart.  Words: Leanne Moore  Photos: Helen Bankers Who: Francesca King, founder and director of Smith & Western, a clothing and lifestyle brand Where: Smith & Western stores in Arrowtown and Ponsonby, and online at smithandwestern.co.nz Q: Why and when did you launch Smith & Western? I was always interested in working creatively for myself and generating my income. I grew up with super-creative parents. My mum is artist Virginia King and my dad, Mike, is an architect, builder and creative. Growing up in...

Vendor: Bargain Bin Type: Onesie Price: 15.00 Charity collab fully fashioned baby playsuit with a ‘LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED’ intarsia. Knitted from our softest cashmere blend, this super durable knitwear is completely machine washable. By fully fashioning our knitwear it takes a little longer to knit but we don’t waste any yarns by cutting and throwing away the leftover. This is an age old knitting technique which ensures quality and is crafted by our wonderful factory in Hong Kong who we have worked with since we started in 2004. £10 from each sweater goes directly to our friends, Refugee...

Vendor: Bargain Bin Type: Bodysuit Price: 15.00 Off-white wrap body styled from GOTS certified organic cotton jersey with a naturally stretchy quality. Patterned with red flying birds printed all-over. The wrap body is Mini Rodini’s newborn model, designed to make dressing sessions easier. The snap buttons at the front and crotch make it easy to wrap the garment around the child, instead of pulling the garment over the head.• Mini Rodini’s logo and information about size are printed on the inside of the fabric to avoid any annoyance that might arise from a sewn-on label• 100 % organic cotton• GOTS...