item details
Laurie Foon; fashion designer; 2011; Wellington
North Shore Dyers Limited; 2011
Barry Betham; fashion designer; 2011
Overview
Lunatopia
This skirt is from Starfish's Autumn/Winter 2012 collection Lunatopia. Laurie Foon, the company's founder and head designer stated that the collection was inspired by 'rebels, visionaries and daydreamers' and shooting stars, including 'David Bowie’s Moonage Daydream metamorphosis from folk singer to Space Age gender-bender; Debbie Harry’s new wave Blondie stage persona; and Princess Diana’s regal 80s elegance'.
Lunatopia was launched at New Zealand Fashion Week 2011.
Eco-friendly
Made from hemp, the skirt is an example of Laurie Foon's commitment to producing eco-friendly fashion.
For the catwalk, Foon accessorised the collection with jewellery made from resin and recycled plastic collected on beaches in Wellington and Auckland.
Starfish
'We aim to create well-loved, versatile clothes that peole will enjoy wearing for a long time because they wear well and the style is enduring'. Laurie Foon, 2008
Starfish was founded in Wellington in 1993 by Laurie Foon, who had formerly operated a re-fashioned clothing stall called Jive Junkies in Wellington's Wakefield Market. Throughout her career, Foon sought to take a sustainable and ethical approach to fashion, and to continue to make in New Zealand rather than off-shore. In 2007 Starfish became the first fashion company in New Zealand to receive an NZI National Sustainable Business Award for‘commitment to key sustainability goals, including energy, waste and transport issues as well as social responsibility and family friendly employment policies’. Where possible, Foon sourced locally-produced, organic fabrics, used dyeing and treatment processes that had a far lower environmental impact than the conventional alternatives textiles and used recycled elements such as belts and buttons. Aiming to be transparent, Starfish provided their clients with an eco-folder in all their stores which constained organic certifications, dying and printing standards and fabric information.
Starfish closed in 2013.