People Tree & Quintessentially Models!

I sent an email in response to an advert for a dresser at a fashion show in London not really expecting to hear anything... however I did get a reply and it turned out that the show was in fact quite a big event! It was a collaboration between People Tree (a fair trade fashion company) and Quintessentially Models (an ethical modeling agency) to create an ethical event and launch Quintessentially!

I got to visit both the design headquarters for People Tree and the Quintessentially headquarters for meetings to organise the event, and also worked alongside Safia Minney, the founder of People Tree,  and Eleni Renton, one of London's top model bookers. 

It fascinated me knowing that I was working alongside models who had been shot in top magazines such as Vogue! I had a lovely model Kaitlyn and was also given the opportunity with one of the other girls to go out into the club at the start of the event and mingle with the guests, whilst trying to temp them to buy £10 raffle tickets for rather impressive prizes I must say! I managed to sell my whole book of tickets which was great because all the money went to 'Well-Being of Women' Charity :)

The event and show were a fantastic experience and despite having to dress the models squashed inside the tiny men's toilet of the nightclub, it was a brilliant night and a valuable insight into the higher end of the ethical fashion market...

Here's Safia Minney's report on the night from her People Tree blog:

September 12, 2008

People Tree rocks the runway! - 'Notably impressive' says vogue.com

The British Fashion Council have long taken a stand on size 0 models, but without other key fashion capitals falling in line London can't do more to regulate against this unhealthy trend.

Quintessentially models are an ethical model agency because they don't have size '0' girls on their books. They look after the health and welfare of their young women and don't employ under age models either. Having heard horror stories from model friends about how vulnerable young women are and being fed up looking at images of 14-16 year old girls working for big brands selling clothes with price tags that could rarely be brought by career women under the age of 30 (or the rich..?) I'm glad to see this kind of model agency launch and take practical steps to change the fashion industry from the inside and hopefully deliver some realler and healthier images of women in the process.

People Tree partnered with Quintessentially Models and Whisky Mist in the Hilton Park Lane to showcase its Autumn Winter 2008 collection and gave a sneak preview of the new Spring Summer collection just before London Fashion Week.

Quinessentially models Kaitlyn, Hannellie, Genevieve and Natasha.

We also showcased the best of our SS09 Collection - with an even bigger collaboration with high profile designers including Bora Aksu and Sam Ubhi - and this fabulous dress made with organic poplin designed by our new Head of Design Tracy Mulligan.

These messages reached some of the most important fashion editors, buyers and celebrities who all turned up to support Fair Trade. Among them were Jo and Leah Wood who choose our Sam Ubhi Jewellery as the perfect way to accessorise their vintage wear.

People Tree is at London Fashion Week next week - I'll keep you posted as things unfurl...

Posted by Safia at 04:30 PM | Permalink