in Designers + Brands, Reviews, Sustainable Fashion

Eco-centric Luxury Fashion

by Delia Montgomery October 17, 2008, 8:54 pm 38 Views

November 2008 dates the launch of the Moksa Surya brand and collection in London. Uganda born designer Farah Damji of Moksa handmade in London offers us a sneak preview of her Spring/Summer 2009 ready-to-wear assemblage of fourteen pieces.

Pictured is a Freedom Tee fondly titled Tree of Life. The black applique flowers are from a roll of vintage silk found in a charity shop in Cape Town. The beads, sequins and crystals are a combo of new and recycled.

Each garment will only be produced in limited editions of one hundred, following strict fair trade standards of ethical fashion. Material details include organic denim, Peace silk and Tussah silk. Also find recycled antique and vintage materials. An example is an old saris for the lining of a Dragon Coat and vintage borders for embellishment.

The new label is inspired by the existing body of Moksa pieces, which draws upon the old to create something new. The company represents fashion consciousness as a socially responsible business model by using only materials which have been sourced through ethical and fair trade suppliers.

I’m so impressed with the Freedom Tees part of the collection. Each shirt is embellished by prison inmates through the charity Fine Cell Work. The tee’s are made from organic cotton sourced in Turkey and are created by a cooperative in Gaza and the West Bank.

There is a story behind the making of Farah’s designs. Like many humans, she got a good but stressful job that lead to mind-altering substances, bad relationships, — and then prison for twenty one months. Obviously she turned a bad experience into a positive life journey. Hence, Farah’s fashion skills were self-discovered in prison.

Through Fine Cell Work, Farah’s garments are embellished by inmates in the UK prison system today and she’s an ongoing inspiration to those who have lost their way. Farah proves to others that we all have the potential to put our pasts behind us and empower our creativity.

In everything made for the Moksa Surya brand, there is a fingerprint of sustainability. And in all that Moksa team workers do, respect for Earth is honored.

Written by Delia Montgomery

I am Delia, d/b/a Chic Eco on www.ChicEco.com, and established myself as an eco fashion guru by learning "who makes what in the world of environmental fashion and design."

Enjoy reading some of my freelance writing about environmental design, fashion and art -- from both consumer and supplier perspectives. You may notice I focus most on individual eco designers, movers and shakers.

From sustainable fashion apparel to paint and flooring, discoveries are a rush. I get my kicks this way. I also offer sales representation of earth-friendly designed products for wholesale buyers. Retailers may take advantage of my services with factory-direct pricing. Spend less time sourcing and prevent green-washed purchases!

My other forte is connecting suppliers with business-to-business tools. Aspects of my business vary with consulting services while I'm proud to be the aide that embraces unique and innovative gigs.

I'm originally a Kentucky Blue Grass gal who relocated to Maui early 2006 and the tropical Puna District of Big Island, Hawaii late 2007. Walk the talk is my motto here.

Early 2009 I constructed a yurt home office in a semi-urban setting on a tiny lot. My water comes from the sky, contained in a catchment that's not likely to dry in this rain forest. The electric is designed for solar conversion. I grow about 30% of my food organically, compost, and recycle to the hilt. Permaculture with a full eco system is my gardening style.

In fact, gardening is my ultimate joy. I seek gigs like design, weeding and planting between other jobs. My love is Hawai'i which has more climate zones than any state. There are frequent earthquakes here, typically under a 3.0 magnitude, and I happen to dig the vibrations. It's a wonderful simple life in paradise. As I grow older and wiser, I become more and more grateful.