To India and Back for Fair Fashion: An Interview with Beachwear Designer Rachel Kelly!
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The sunshine has returned and it's time to think about our summer wardrobes! However when it comes to our clothes, truthfully how socially responsible are we?
Irish designer, Rachel Kelly, is one person who isn’t ignoring the increasingly topical issue of the need for ethically produced clothing and has gone to great lengths to ensure her new clothing range is just that! In fact, Rachel’s plight took her on a long journey from her home in County Down to India and back where she undertook extensive research and learned about hand-made techniques in order to lay the foundations of her new beachwear clothing range, La Mandarine.
It seems all her hard work has paid off as the collection of kaftans, cover-ups and dresses - all of which have been hand-made in India using traditional Indian techniques of block printing, hand embroidery and beading on cotton voile - is taking beach resorts by storm as it has recently been snapped up by high end outlets in St Tropez and Ibiza.
Rachel said: “I wanted to create beautiful, unique and ‘one off’ pieces that you struggle to find on the high street but long to wear on holiday, but it was really important that they were ethically produced too.
“It amazes me that in this day and age there is such a lack of concern over the origin of the products that we buy. Going to India, enabled me to witness the entire production process first hand - fabrics being dyed, air-dried, hand printed, cut and finally hand-stitched, it was fascinating!”
Rachel's designs have that perfect mix of boho chic, casual glam which I love and so it was with great excitement that I was given the opportunity to interview Rachel on her designs, what inspires her and her passion for ethically produced clothing! Sharing some of her amazing photographs from her travels to India, and her inspirations behind the collection!
So Rachel, how important is it to you that all your raw materials come from sound, ethically produced sources?
It’s very important, India has a long tradition of hand printed fabrics and embroidery which has not yet been taken over by machines. I loved meeting the people producing my garments as well as seeing the traditional hand block printing happening. Many small scale producers make up a huge part of the industry in Jaipur and I felt in a small way my business was helping sustain employment.
What was it like travelling to India and seeing all the traditional processes at first hand? What do you think will be your most enduring memory from your trip?
A: India was an incredible experience. Mumbai was overwhelming at first with the general chaos but once this subsided I appreciated the finer details. I was blown away by the vibrant colours and friendly people. I preferred Jaipur to Mumbai, it was more manageable size and I got to know it in just a few days. I saw hand printing in action and it made me realise that my ideas for kaftans and sarongs could actually happen.
A: India was an incredible experience. Mumbai was overwhelming at first with the general chaos but once this subsided I appreciated the finer details. I was blown away by the vibrant colours and friendly people. I preferred Jaipur to Mumbai, it was more manageable size and I got to know it in just a few days. I saw hand printing in action and it made me realise that my ideas for kaftans and sarongs could actually happen.
It must be a great feeling to see the positive response to your collection and to find that many consumers are equally as concerned that garments are ethically produced. Do you think the fashion industry as a whole is doing enough to ensure the ethical origins of their products?
A: That’s a tough one, on one hand I appreciate that people want affordable clothes and on the other large companies in the fashion industry have responsibilities to shareholders to make a profit. These profits cannot be at the expense of people's health though. Consumers can always vote with their feet and boycott the £2 tee shirts but unfortunately I don't think that's going to happen. Changes and tough decisions need to be made further back in the supply chain. There needs to be more regulation at government level in countries such as Bangladesh to protect worker’s rights and health whilst recognising that jobs and foreign investment in the garment industry are vital to their people. It’s a sad fact that if labour costs rise significantly then companies look to find another cheaper country to manufacture. There must be a way of improving conditions and wages whilst offering 'affordable' clothing. Hopefully recent tragedies will start to produce real change.
A: That’s really kind of you to say that. Travel inspires me first and foremost. Visiting Marrakech, the Far East and of course India really fired my imagination. The vibrant colours of India and the local markets and bazaars are great for ideas. I buy endless fashion and interiors magazines too and end up tearing pages out for my 'mood boards'.
How does it feel to have your designs stocked in places like St Tropez, essentially the playground of the rich and famous? Is there any celebrity you would love to spot wearing one of your pieces?
A: By being accepted into my favourite boutiques for me meant I was hitting the right 'look'. There is a big boho vibe in St Tropez which doesn't get nearly as much coverage as the over the top 'bling' style (which I am not a fan of) often associated with St Tropez. My celebrity style swoon for summer would be Elle Macpherson who does the laid back beach look so well or Kate Moss who puts her own stamp on anything she wears and always looks individual.
For anyone planning their summer holiday wardrobe, what would you say are the "must have" trends for this season?
A: Prints are still a huge trend so luckily we tick that box with our hand printed kaftans and sarongs which feature geometric prints as well as Provencal and Indian style motifs. Colour is big for summer and everything from pretty pastels to juicy brights are popping up. Colour really gets you noticed in the sun. No one wants to have to suffer to look good in the sun so our cotton voile kaftans and sarongs fit the bill. Any girl interested in fashion likes to have something new tucked into their suitcase, something a little bit different, to make an impression when first hitting the pool or the beach.
A: Prints are still a huge trend so luckily we tick that box with our hand printed kaftans and sarongs which feature geometric prints as well as Provencal and Indian style motifs. Colour is big for summer and everything from pretty pastels to juicy brights are popping up. Colour really gets you noticed in the sun. No one wants to have to suffer to look good in the sun so our cotton voile kaftans and sarongs fit the bill. Any girl interested in fashion likes to have something new tucked into their suitcase, something a little bit different, to make an impression when first hitting the pool or the beach.
For anyone in Northern Ireland interested in purchasing one of your garments, where can they go to get their hands on your stunning designs?
A: They can visit the La Mandarine beachwear website on www.lamandarine.co.uk
A: They can visit the La Mandarine beachwear website on www.lamandarine.co.uk
Producing clothing of the highest quality which is both timelessly chic and unique is evidently important to Rachel, who hopes that the range’s individuality and ethical production will make it a popular brand with socially conscious shoppers in Ireland and beyond. I for one am extremely impressed with her collection of ethically stylish beachwear and can't wait to have the chance to wear some of her stunning designs in the summer sun!
Massive thanks to Suzie McDonald PR & Events Assistant at CMPR for organising the interview & for providing the press release & all relevant imagery.
