Lisa Gorman.

I was lucky enough to be able to sit

In on a lecture from one of Australia's leading fashion designer's, Lisa Gorman, at RMIT Brunswick.

For those of you who don't know who she is, you should get to know her! www.gorman.ws

Lisa Gorman is leading a surge in environmentally friendly retail practices and fibres and fabrics. Eg. Organic cotton. I had heard of her practices by using organic materials, but I was certainly not aware to what extent Gorman was changing their retail operations to help reduce carbon emissions.

Here's a few to do with the fabrics and the production of the fabrics.

-Where organic materials are available they are used.

-Bamboo used as part of collection.

-Organic inks used in knitwear [bland colours currently only available]. Water based inks are used for other purposes rather than inks which contain toxic chemicals. Research is currently being undertaken to produce organic inks in a larger colour palette.

Here's a few things Gorman has done in terms of manufacturing and retail operations:

-Packaging is unbleached and recycled raw brown paper.

-Energy saving lights.

-Low toxic paint.

-Sea-freight over air-freight.

Gorman is also trialling something never been done in Australia before, a 'shipping-shop' which is pretty much a portable store. Although the concept has been used internationally it is a first for Australia. The store will only contain one of each item in the collection and one of each size, the customer is invited to visit the store to try on the clothes but cannot actually purchase the item there and then rather they must purchase the item online. This reduces the need of all the energy and lights needed for a permanent retail store, no need for packaging and reduces the need for stock to be shipped to the store on a regular basis. This 'shipping-shop will be trialled at the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in Sydney at the end of the month. Although based in Sydney this store will be moved around the country. Gorman herself said that the store would be transported by rail rather than truck, also reducing their carbon footprint.

With people becoming ever so environmentally friendly, I think it's time we look at more ways we can try to reduce our carbon footprint, even if it's supporting others who have lead the way.

Current AW 08

There are 3 Gorman stores in Melbourne: [Be sure to go into her store if you walk past one!]

-Chapel St.

-Brunswick St.

-Melbourne GPO.

D

xxx