It is I, your ever-delinquent eco-fashion writer Amber Clisura, here to give another thrilling installment in the greening of your wardrobe. Please, first and foremost, fellow Sew Green contributors, accept my apologies for being such a bad poster. My life has taken a series of crazy turn in the last 3 months that it is a wonder to behold me standing up. But now on to something important - clothing.

A while back I had the pleasure of interviewing Anne and Kerrie, the two masterminds behind the UK Based Junky Styling. Junky has been turning out amazing clothes that have been recycled, reused, rethought as well as combining industrial jobber/remnant fabrics that would have just been thrown out into their line. (A jobber/remnant fabric is yardage that is used commercially for fashion but whose remnant, after production use, is too small to resell to a fabric store for public consumption.) From skiwear to evening wear these two women have designed it all. Innovative and challenging, their clothing evokes a sense of history without being lumped into “vintage”. Couture and streetwear that truly redefine an idea of what a 21st century eco-conscious woman is and how she should dress.

(L) Annie and (R) Kerrie. Two wonderful women with one of the
most incredible labels I’ve seen in a while.

While in Paris for Pret a Porter I talked to them further about the eco-fashion business and their upcoming 10 year anniversary show at Dray Walk in the heart of London’s alternative design neighborhood.

Here is part one of a two part interview.

Many people think that in order to be considered an eco-fashion designer there is so much you have to learn before you can even begin to grasp the work. What inspired you to start Junky? Were you already interested in the environment when you started the company?

We began because we wanted to dress differently. Initially, it was all about unique design, and we were able to achieve this through cutting up clothes that were second hand. We started because there is nothing worse than being in the same place and same dress as someone else! We didn’t study for it and it the environmental relevance was there, but the design was at the forefront.

You’ve received a lot of attention from the fashion press in Europe but how do you feel your impact has been received so far?

Nominally - We are just a small spec on the fair-trade horizon, but one nevertheless that Vogue’s called ‘high fashion street couture’, so we’re happy with that !

A lot of people are asking how to give back, how to really make this sort of movement hit home. How do you feel you can push yourself even further? What are you hoping to achieve with your message of reuse::recycle::refashion?

Acquiring franchises around the world where we can train up the local community’s to create and recycle in the Junky way, this would leave a
great legacy

Something that is even more challenging in being green in this fashion world is being a woman. What has been your biggest challenge as businesswomen? As a start up? Doing eco-fashion?

When we started 10 years ago the biggest challenge was to get people to take us seriously and believe that our idea was a viable business option, as opposed to just a hobby! For us, perseverance and a belief that what we were doing got us through a lot of disbelievers. Meeting other women in business has enabled us to succeed in our right.

Of course I have to ask what would you have done differently if you had a chance?

I think I’d have liked to have some kind of training/experience before we began…Whether it be tailoring, business, accounting skills etc – I just think it would of made life easier !

What do you feel is the biggest issue that you hope you can tackle with your clothing?

The sheer disposability of fashion - let it be known that you CAN wear clothes for more than 1 month. The idea that when you are tired of something you can change it up and wear it again and again.

Do you feel that there is space for people to not do anything to stop the environmental harm that is going on in the world?

We have all now acquired a heightened level of education/information about the environment. No matter who we are, or what life we lead. So there are no excuses at all left for us to not do what we can to make a difference. We believe that if everyone does something, no matter how little, a change will be made

Is there anything you can share with us about your design process?

There is nothing to tell ! We just create sustainable designs via our Junky’s ethos - Timeless, deconstructed re-cut and completely transformed
clothing - forever

There is so much talk in the world today about trends and how “Green is the new black.” Which leads one to believe that Green and Eco will go the way of my Z Cavaruccis. Where do you think eco-fashion is going? How do you feel apart of that process/transit? Where do you want it to go if it isn’t going in the direction you feel it should

It’s my belief that finally, eco-fashion is becoming more design lead. Which is .of course, the way forward. People can’t be expected to purchase clothes solely on the basis that it’s a green product; they have to feel and look good as after all, they are buying a style- a fashion. So this movement towards a more sophisticated cut etc is a very positive thing. This then backs up my theory that green fashion isn’t just a fad - like organic food, you can’t forget what you’ve learnt, so keep learning and moving the cause forward.

For me I know now that I’ve learned a lot of some of the small things I can do to make a difference how do you bring issues of greening into the rest of your lives?

We all here at Junky do as much as we can. From choosing and investing in green energy to recycling, we all try to live as sustainable of a lifestyle as we can.

New Baby Girl ORGANIC Clothes PINK DRESS Fall 0-3M US $11.49 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 10:32:49 PST Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

SERENDIPITY Organic Brown Velour Dress NWT Sz 6 NEW US $16.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 11:02:57 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Cotton Gypsy Maxi Long Dress Smock/Halter Tube Organic US $14.73 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 17:27:28 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Gypsy Organic Short Skirt Mini Dress Tank Ballon Jumper US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 17:43:16 PST Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Catwalk Stylish Cotton Organic Short Skirt Mini Dresses US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 17:43:19 PST Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Organic Short Skirt Mini Shirt Dress Catwalk Design $98 US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 17:43:19 PST Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

BEACH MAXI LONG SUMMER TUBE GYPSY Dress Organic Smocked US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 17:53:16 PST Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

NWOT~George Baby Organic~Pink/Plaid Onsies Dress~0-3mos US $0.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 18:50:01 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

H&M grey jumper mini dress organic cotton NWT size 4 US $0.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 19:14:20 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

New Baby Girl ORGANIC Clothes PINK Dress Fall 3-6M US $11.49 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 20:08:45 PST Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Gypsy 05 Organic Maxi Dress US $75.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 20:55:57 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Gypsy 05 Organic Ombre Maxi Dress US $85.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Nov-22-2008 21:04:09 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

LARSEN GRAY ruffle sash dress Sz Small- 100% Organic US $35.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Nov-23-2008 13:56:32 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Trend Organic Short Skirt Mini Dress Catwalk Celeb Tube US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Nov-23-2008 17:16:04 PST Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Vintage Shirt Dress Sun Flora Short Mini Skirt Organic US $15.62 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Nov-23-2008 17:16:35 PST Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

If you liked this, You might also like:

1. Modern wedding dress wins green fashion award
2. An elegant, contemporary wedding dress made from a deconstructed charity shop purchase took top prize at the Ethic 08...
3. H&M gets greener with new organic cotton pledge
4. I’ve got to admit that the letters H and M are two of the biggest obstacles to my dream...
5. Eco Packing: An adventurous vacation
6. Ready for a different spring break adventure this week? Costa Rica, anyone? Belize? Have I got the perfect eco...
7. Organic cotton candy lingerie: a bra-gain!
8. Cute and girly, this pretty bra and briefs set is a steal at just £10.50, reduced from £27.50. That's...
9. Ebay Find: Beau Soleil Fringe in Large
10. I just had to post this lovely bamboo dress from one of my favorite eco-designers, Beau Soleil. Currently being...
11. New organic Botanic range at Boots
12. Boots has expanded its plant-based bath and beauty range Botanics with a range products containing a minumum of 90%...
13. Green offerings from online heavyweights
14. You’ll notice that I tend to favor little eco boutiques here. Partially that’s because the service is so personal, and...
15. Organic embroidered bird tote from Adili
16. It's vernal equinox today; the time of year when the days are getting longer and birds are beginning to...
17. Mini Tea Dress
18. With spring in the air, so is ultra retro chic!! Across the globe, we are all in love with...
19. Pre-Spring eco fashion window shopping
20. With all the nerves and worry about the economy these days, it’s gotten a little harder to daydream about...