Designer DETAIL - elsom
If you're a fashion-smart boy or girl and you're in the know, you may have been searching for the elsom Autumn Winter 08 collections in the shops of late...
View more from the collection here >>
But you wouldn't have found them. So strong is Sam Elsom's commitment to the environment, he took a year (and a season) off to research organic textile development for his much anticipated Summer 08/09 collection.
With all of the hype surrounding our 'ecological footprint', neautralising carbon emissions and green thinking in general, it's easy to focus on the extreme lengths Elsom goes to in his successful efforts to create an environmentally aware label. The refreshing thing about this is when you take the green element away - you're left with an achingly modern, simple, elegant romantic, contemporary, casual and clean collection of garments made in luxe fabrications that stands firmly on its own two feet - the eco-factor is a just bonus.
"I guess fashion is seen to be very superficial. It's nice that we can support the environment and the people working for us right along the production chain".
Elsom founded his first label Funkulo in 2004 from the garage of him Tamarama home. Focused on traditional tailoring and luxurious organic textiles, elsom. was born in 2006 in Sam's Redfern home-come-studio in Sydney and was inspired by a personal ambition to make a high quality product with great attention to old school detail and traditional tailoring.
The collections are simple yet diverse. Elsom designs both a men's and a women's collection that go right through from suiting made with techniques that date back 60 years, to basic tees and a handcrafted premium denim line.
Elsom must sleep well at night knowing he sources organic cotton crops from developing nations including India and Pakistan and is developing exclusive organic cotton textiles with a mill in Lake Como, Italy. He is creating sustainable synthetic textiles with recycled plastics and using them in sequins and waterproof materials, his denim uses pre-reduced indigo dyestuffs that are plant-based to reduce the amount of sulphate released into the water supply and his silks are sourced in provincial China from the last natural silkworm habitat in the world.
But what to expect from the elsom. Summer 08/09 collection? The casual side of the women's range is sexy and androgynous. Unisex-style directional basics of soft silk-cotton knitwear in muted tones and polished cotton jersey (all organic) and super lo-rise taper leg jean fits in a faded blue make up the base of the collection. For evening slim, mini, sequined and sexy classic shapes include slouch silk trousers and washed silk dresses.
For boys, men's tailoring is a predominant element in this new collection offering contemporary slim suiting in a wide range of designs with built-in optional braces. Shirting remains key with the introduction of the elsom. signature origami-collar shirt in soft, timeless high-yarn count cottons.
Along with international stockists in London and LA, the Elsom Summer 08/09 collections will be available in August from David Jones and selected boutiques nationally.
View the complete look book online at www.elsom.com.au
