SOSUME FEATURED IN PEPPERMINT MAG!

SOSUME appeared in Peppermint Magazine's Autumn 2011 issue, with a brief profiling the brand and AW11 capsule collection in the regular Limelight section! Check it out :)

SOSUME FEATURED IN NINE TO FIVE!

SOSUME's Drop Lapel Vest featured in NINE TO FIVE magazine. Made from 100% Organic Wool. $329. You can buy this item at Revivre in Sydney! Shop 4, 49 Bay St Double Bay.

SOSUME IN HOW BIG IS YOUR ECO Q&A!

Click here for the full article

Q&A: SOSUME

A cheeky riposte to being denied the rights to his originally hoped-for name, the moniker SOSUME (as in, so sue me) conveniently by-passed the need for stern legal letters and allowed designer Alex Trimmer to focus on creating luxurious jersey separates. With the AW11 collection now in stores, HowBigIsYourEco figured the time was right to grab a few moments with Trimmer…

Tell us about the new collection…The AW11 Collection is about wearable, structured outerwear with beautifully soft cardigan and basics. I explored using contrasting fabrics such as the emu leather detail with organic wool and raw silk. I love the difference of these materials.

There’s always a strong aesthetic link from one collection to the next, isn’t there?
Spot on! I feel that each collection is a progression of the next. That isn’t to say that you can’t do anything spontaneous but it’s important for me to allow customers to add to their wardrobe, rather than replace. I look forward to injecting subtle colour soon.

So how would you describe your design philosophy?
Wearable wardrobe staples for women designed with the highest integrity in regards to fabrication and make. The idea was to show that you don’t have to sacrifice style, make, feel, quality in order to wear something “green”.

Fabrics are obviously important to you…
Crucial—I spend a lot of time searching all over the world. I’ve sourced fabrics from the US, Korea, India, Italy and Australia but predominantly its Japan and France. It really depends on the season.

What do you most like working with?
Micro modal is the main fabric that runs from season to season but I also use anything from 100% certified organic wool to 100% raw silk and small bits of emu leather for detail.

How much organics do you use?Most of the outerwear is organic materials but I use mainly natural man-made cellulose fibres. These have been around for a few decades but the benefits are only now starting to be realised. Organic fabrics are great because you’re guaranteed that there have been no chemicals used and these man-made cellulose fibres are great because they have been developed with the environment in mind, that is, water usage and chemical runoffs have been considered in their development.

You’re a big advocate of Australian made…
I like to make everything in Melbourne because of quality control and flexibility. I see my manufacturers every week whether it is for sampling or checking in on production schedules and it allows me to understand any issues they may be having first hand. Flexibility in this industry is critical—by manufacturing in Melbourne, I can make any changes I need quickly and accurately. Not to mention retaining Australian jobs and its manufacturing industry.

It’s not necessarily the easiest or cheapest option, though, is it?Well I haven’t had the option of manufacturing overseas. I know for a fact that it is definitely more expensive but I think my customer appreciates and accepts it. I cant really say if it’s easier to manufacturer overseas as I’ve never done it but on the face of it, it seems harder as you have zero control once your order is placed. I’ve investigated it but don’t think I will ever leave Australia—I find relationships are key to anything in life, not just in business and this industry.

So who is the SOSUME woman?SOSUME’s woman is intelligent, beautiful, determined, and conscious of her purchase decisions. She is aware of her environment and cares for all components. She may be married or single, with a family or none but she always looks the part, feels relaxed yet empowered by her wardrobe and virtues.

Got a high-rotation, must-have piece AW11?
My favourite piece is the Long Coat. It’s made from 100% certified organic wool with 100% cupro lining. The detail on the pockets is emu leather and the buttons are sourced from Italy and are metal, but lightweight. I love the way the coat falls and how it looks when opened and in movement—the splits up the side and back allow the coat to open fully.

ALEX TRIMMER ON THE PANEL DISCUSSING SUSTAINABLE FASHION

Here is a write up from Style Wilderness:

Is Fashion Sustainable?

This week has been all about feeding off other bloggers' posts instead of writing my own, and when you're on a roll (or incredibly lazy), why change things? Last night I went to "Is Fashion Sustainable?" which was a forum organised by Lara from Wardrobe Wonderland, so head on over to that blog if you want to find out more. There's profiles and links about all the speakers, and if you're at all interested in finding out who's who in sustainable fashion in Melbourne (or even in Australia), it's well worth the read. Here are the panelists, with apologies for the tiny, crap, horribly backlit picture...from left to right: Kerryn Caulfield, Cameron Neil, Tullia Jack, Juliette Anich, Alex Trimmer and Karen Webster.


I got to chat with Alex Trimmer (who designs Sosume, which is a very cool brand we used in the Fair@Square fashion show) before the forum started. And that amazing, gorgeous magazine I'm holding? That would be Peppermint, not that I'd be doing my best cheesy grin while shamelessly flogging the magazine I write for or anything like that! (Subliminal message: you need to buy this mag!!!) 

SOSUME FEATURED IN RUSSH!

SOSUME

WORDS HANNAH MCOWAN

That well-worn bumper sticker saying Save the Planet! never held quite so much weight as in the present. Between those pesky rising sea levels, saying goodbye to yet another rare species and that huge patch of plastic garbage that floats somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, it really sounds like planet earth is up the proverbial creek. So whether you are sorting your plastics from your paper or recycling sewerage and installing wind turbines to power your house, one thing is certain - it's cool to be green!


It's awesome then that little-known Australian label SOSUME is producing beautiful clothes with an environmental conscience. The brand goes to extra lengths to source organic and natural fabrics that present the lowest environmental impact on the planet. To take us into winter, their AW 11 collection is a darkened mix of layering essentials: think waist coasts, hooded-capes and tunics in luxurious fabrics.

So now we can do our part for the planet whilst looking superb. Surely a win-win situation and certainly less labour-intensive than that whole grey water business.

Click here for the full article.

THE STYLE NET INTERVIEWS SOSUME!

Click here for the complete version

A few weeks ago we wrote about our favourite Australian label, SOSUME, who are revolutionizing the way consumers view and wear eco-friendly clothing.

We had such great feedback from this post that we thought it best to get up close and personal with SOSUME designer Alex Trimmer and find out what goes on behind the scenes of this cult label:

Tell us about SOSUME, how the label was formed and the values of your brand?

SOSUME is designed for the modern, sophisticated, educated woman. It provides a product that allows them to feel completely guilt free in terms of the impact their consumer decisions have on the environment. The underpinning philosophy of the brand is to show that eco-friendly clothing doesn’t have to come in the form of hemp potato sacks and hippy sunflower dresses. You can look and feel absolutely stunning, intelligent, strong, and needless to say beautiful in an outfit that feels buttery soft, is breathable, warm and comes with the guarantee that you have significantly reduced your carbon footprint without even looking like a hippy.

Were did the name SOSUME come from?

SOSUME began as a fairly fun label, consisting of basics such as tees, tanks, dresses, tops, and pants. It is actually a play on words- “So Sue Me!”- which was my response to another company having naming rights for the original name in a particular country. It also adds a little humour to the label which prides itself on its eco-friendly credentials.

What was the inspiration behind your latest collection?

I guess you could say the Amish. There are a few styles such as the Long Coat and Shirt Dress that are reminiscent of this lifestyle. I also wanted to experiment using contrasting fabrics and materials in the same design such as using Emu leather as detailing for the panel pockets on the Long Coat which is made from 100% certified organic wool. The other piece which utilises an array of materials is the Cowl Vest which has emu leather, micro modal and a beautifully soft 100% raw silk woven which is actually certified by PETA.

What are the biggest challenges of creating an eco minded label?

Sourcing. I have to be extremely careful in how and where I source my fabrics and materials. I spent a lot of time in the beginning, and still do for that matter, researching fibre technology. I also try and attend seminars on this topic and have found some amazing products out there. One of the most interesting discoveries has been what scientists are developing when it comes to man-made cellulose based fibres- these take into account not only chemical usage, but also water usage, product care and end use. Most consumers are not even aware of these issues when it comes to the environmental impact their clothes make on the environment.

What have been the highlights of your career and what are you most proud of?

It’s funny you ask because you never really have time to look back at what you have achieved as you’re always thinking of the next season and the season after that and how to grow the brand. I would say just having a good number of stockists in Australia and a small number overseas is a fantastic achievement. A big highlight that is coming up is my inclusion in No Home, a film revolution which is being premiered at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) with filmmaker Chase Burns and is part of the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival. Along with that, I have been nominated for the Spirit of the Black Dress Award which I’m completely over the moon about! I’m humbled by the nomination.

What changes have you personally made to live a more Eco friendly lifestyle?

I got rid of my car! I now rent cars when I need to see pattern makers, factories, run errands, etc. I also use recycled paper in all of my printing and I actually really dislike printing line sheets and look books- I would actually prefer to offer all buyers and press USB sticks to display collections! It’s much cleaner and neater too.

Where would you like to see SOSUME in 5x years time?

I would like to see an increased stockist list in all current territories, namely Australia, New Zealand and the US and perhaps moving into Europe, Japan and South East Asia. I also want to collaborate with a like-minded company, not necessarily in the fashion industry- I have a few in mind. I also really want to team up with a brand ambassador, someone who embodies all of SOSUME’s principles in their personal core values.

What advice would you give to those aspiring to work in the fashion industry?

Go for it! Just listen to your gut- you’re going to hear a lot of opinions but I found the more I listen to myself, the more I get done and I’m prouder of the outcome and it also actually turns out for the better!

Who are your go-to designers / stores?

I love classics and structure so I’m a fan of Max Mara, Chloe, Celine, Hermes, Rick Owens, basically a lot of the French based designers. But I find a lot of the time it varies season to season so my opinion changes all the time. Regarding stores, I really like minimalist interiors that have those beautiful one-off items and that goes for the interiors themselves. So you could say Assin is fantastic, as is Left, both in Melbourne. I also really like cute, small, directional stores that are off the beaten track.

Describe an average day in the life of 'Alex'.

Haha. I’m up at 6am and in bed by midnight. It’s spent most of the time staying in contact with stores, factories, the pattern maker, and various other suppliers. I also dedicate an hour a day to developing long lead plans such as potential projects, a collaboration for example. But basically I just seem to run errands all day and design collections at night with the music turned up!

What music is playing in the SOSUME office?

Three artists- Kanye West, The Heavy and The Black Keys

Favourite quote?

That’s a tough one. I want to say something from Churchill but I would have to say “Cash is the life blood of a business” – Anonymous from Year 10 Business Class Textbook.

SPIRIT OF THE BLACK DRESS VIDEO!!

Spirit Of The Black Dress from Turbo Productions on Vimeo.

SOSUME's ALEX TRIMMER GETS INTERVIEWED BY MAKERS OF MELBOURNE!

Jane from Makers of Melbourne delves deep and asks SOSUME's Director Alex Trimmer about his latest collection, Autumn/Winter 2011.

Read about it here!

The collection has recently dropped into SOSUME's Australian and New Zealand stockists. To find one near you, click here.

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SOSUME FEATURED IN RUSSH ONLINE

Several SOSUME pieces appear in the popular RUSSH 'Shopping' pages, which act as a guide for readers to shop online based on a particular trend every few weeks. The 'Tough' Shopping shoot features the Cowl Vest, the Long Sleeve Top ($129) and the Loose Tank ($79), with the latter two both available online now! If you purchase 3 or more items, we waive the shipping cost. For international orders, simply contact us via contact@sosumeclothing.com

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SOSUME STOCK DELIVERED! and sale...

Go check out:
Finity - Shop 9, Chapman Wy Arc Chapman Rd, Geraldton WA 6530
Aura - Shop 7, 30-32 Ardvoss St, Applecross WA 6153
S2 - 1a Glyde St, Mosman Park 6012 WA
S2 - 26 Angove St, North Perth 6006 WA
Wardrobe In The Lanes - Shop 5 The Village Walk, Yarragon VIC 3823

Verve Boutique - 177 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Debs of Sorrento - 24 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento VIC 3943
Bue Boutique - Shop 5, 1122 High St, Armadale VIC 3143
Breathless - 8a Vivian St, Burswood WA 6100
Osbourn & Reed - Shop 5, 294 Bong Bong St Corbett Plaza, Bowral NSW 2576

Storia - 151 James St, Guilford WA 6055
Blonde Venus - 707 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Cartoon - 30 Douglas Pde, Williamstown VIC 3016
Drift Lab - 40 Jonson, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Olrik Denmark - 552 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141

Final deliveries will be made by end of March!!

Also, check out online! Lots more stock! A little too much in fact so I've decided to put on a sneaky discount for the following styles:

- 601 Harem Pant

- 302 Long Sleeve Crop Top

- 208 Long Tee

Simply type in SOSUMEX in the coupon code when checking out to receive a 25% discount. Sale will end April 1.

SOSUME FEATURED IN ONYA MAGAZINE!

SOSUME's Alex Trimmer was today featured in Onya Magazine by Lara McPherson.

SOSUME TALKS ECO FASHION

SOSUME Director Alex Trimmer has been invited to be a panelest discussing the importance of sustainable fashion as part of the L'Oriel Melbourne Fashion Festival on Tuesday night at 6pm, 22nd March at Honey Bar in South Melbourne.

On the panel will be:
Cameron Neil former Operations Manager of Fairtrade Australia
Alex Trimmer – Director of SOSUME Clothing
Tullia Jack – Sustainable Fashion Academic and founder of The Spirit of the Black Dress
Juliette Anich – Director of The Clothing Exchange
Kerryn Caulfield – General Manager of Technical Textiles and Non Wovens Association

The panel will be moderated by:
Karen Webster – Program Director of Fashion at RMIT and former Director of LMFF

Please come along to the night! It's a FREE event but you have to register your seat by clicking here.

Hope to see you all there!

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SPIRIT OF THE BLACK DRESS

A big thank you to all the people involved in organising this years Spirit of the Black Dress. Check out the reviews!

Lady Melbourne

Wardrobe Wonderland

Melbgirl

Businesschic

Style Melbourne

Image courtesy of ladymelbourne.com.au

NO HOME PREMIERE

I want to start off with a big thank you for everyone who turned out to the No Home premiere on Monday night 7th March. It was a great success! A massive thanks to Justin and Alastair for creating such an enormous event- I can only imagine the time and energy spent on a project of this scale. Oh and I can't forget Chase Burns, my filmmaker!

Here's the short!

skipping girl - SOSUME from Chase Burns on Vimeo.

If you missed out, here are some articles which reviewed the night. Enjoy.

Spook Magazine

RUSSH Magazine

OYSTER Magazine

The Vine

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SOSUME FEATURED IN MX!

Friday 11th March. SOSUME's Ruffle Skirt ($189) was featured in mX's ballerina styled shoot in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane issues. The Ruffle Skirt is made from 100% certified organic wool.

MORE AUTUMN/WINTER STOCK HAS ARRIVED

Aura - Shop 7, 30-32 Ardross St, Applecross WA 6153
Bue Boutique - Shop 5, 1122 High St, Armadala VIC 3143
Storia - 151 James St, Guildford WA 6055
Olrik Denmark - 552 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141

HOT OFF THE PRESS: SOSUME IN THE AGE!

SOSUME featured in The Age by Janice Breen Burns for the No Home film event at ACMI on Monday night 7th March. Get your tickets at nohome.tv!!!

AW11 DELIVERIES!

BEW STOCK HAS JUST ARRIVED READY FOR THE WEEKEND AT:

S2 - 1a Glyde St, Mosman Park 6012 WA. 08 9328 2568
S2 - 26 Angove St, North Perth 6006 WA. 08 9328 2568
Breathless - 17 Avion Way, Claremont WA 6010. 08 9384 6300
Blonde Venus - 707 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006. 07 3216 1735

Enjoy the Weekend xx

SOSUME GOES TO NEW YORK!

It was a great trip all in all. I managed to shoot a great look book for my SS11/12 Collection with Garen Barsegian and his team. I met up with Jen Steele at Cosmo and Amanda Frankel at Elle. Unfortunately I didn't have time to make it over to Maire Claire to see Amanda Hearst but hopefully on my next trip we can touch base. I also finally had the chance to meet up with Tanya at Aikaz Showroom, the lady behind my sales force in the US! It was so great to finally meet her and the team there and we all think 2011 is a great year ahead! All trips to New York need to have a walk through Central Park included on the itinerary- it's beautiful in all seasons. Oh, and one of the best parts of the trips was I went to my final night's dinner at Daniel, the famed New York restaurant owned by Daniel Boulud and had the chance to meet and greet at our table! Made the night! Other than that, it was all about doing what New Yorkers do best, that is, drinking coffee, dining out and needless to say, having a few drinks ;)

Enjoy xx

SOSUME FEATURING A SHORT FILM AT ACMI!

This is really exciting news! SOSUME has teamed up with Chase Burns to create a short film for No Home, a new way to communicate fashion through film. It will be premiered at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne's Fed Square on Monday night 7th March. Tickets are $28. No Home is part of the LMFF Cultural Calendar. Here are some handy links to recent press articles and ticketing!!

Hope to see you all there!

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No Home press release
Small Lust media article
Melbgirl media article
ACMI Website