DESIGNER ON THE RISE
Michelle Lowe-Holder
London based (and Canadian born) designer Michelle Lowe-Holder has been receiving a lot of attention as of late for her sustainable and eco-friendly designs, which all began when she designed her Fall 2010 collection using “cabbage” (scraps from previous collections). Transitioning into an accessories-only line from her full womenswear collections allowed Lowe-Holder, who has collaborated with TopShop in the UK and has been featured recently on Vogue.it, the opportunity to showcase her meticulous and intricate handwork, as well as have more access to ‘green’ materials.
These first two sustainable collections (Fall 2010 and Spring 2011) explored the idea of “ribbon art,” the folding technique “interlaced with crochet and hand-cut bases.” Subsequently, the Fall 2011 collection made use of similar techniques, but also added end-of-line beading, giving her wares a more relaxed and whimsical feel. Lowe-Holder gave us a sneak preview for what to expect for the Spring 2012 collection, noting “we are thinking translucent/light ends of fabric and we will be also incorporating a new fabric from Italy which is made from tree pulp—fully bio-degradable and organic in its making.”
The current Spring 2011 collection is available online at EcoBTQ and prices hover well below the 100£ mark.
