North London based Fashion Designer nominated for the Radical Designer Awards 2011

Oct. 25, 2011 - PRLog -- The designer, who has only launched her own label in February 2011, was also shortlisted in the  ‘female designer of the year’ category of the BEFFTA Awards. Since her launch she has presented to the Queen in her home country Uganda, shown her collection at EcoLuxe London and during London Fashion Week with raving reviews. She is known for her prolific and cutting edge barkcloth collection “Resonance”.

José Hendo promotes the use of organic, untreated raw and recycled materials to support ethical trading, fair working conditions and raising awareness about the environmental issues affected by the fashion industry.

Through sustainable fashion José Hendo wants to make a positive contribution to society. This is clearly demonstrated via José Hendos apprenticeships, work experience and free workshops as a way of giving back to the community, and also creating awareness of sustainable fashion. Furthermore each sale made also sees a percentage given to charity.

Josephine says, "I graduated from the London College of Fashion (University of the Arts). The reason why I went back to university was to justify being in the fashion industry, redirect my career, and revive the artist within me. In my final two years, through my research, I learnt what happens through the life-cycle of a garment: From the growing the crop, making the cloth, garment production to customer then to landfill and recycling.
Designing clothes now requires an awareness of the environmental impact of the fashion industry. That’s why I have made the choices I have, aiming to combine good design with sustainability. My dream is to make bark cloth work alongside mainstream fabrics. Bark Cloth is a centuries old technique, one that is recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity. It is considered the oldest man made fabric and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Material in 2005. Furthermore it is produced in my country Uganda so has a personal as well as cultural reverence to me and my ancestry which I am honouring in my work.”



For more info on the awards: http://youngdesignerawards.weebly.com/
Tickets sold on: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2289191032