- Charlene O'brien
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Charlene O'Brien is an eco fashion designer and launched the label Eco Logika. Eco Logika is handmade ethical and organic fashion label, which operates out of Western Australia.[1] Eco Logika was worn by The Earth Diet creator Liana Werner-Gray at the Miss Earth Australia pageant 2009.[2]
Contents
Early Years
Charlene O'Brien was born on the 3rd of July 1964 in Bulawayo Zimbabwe, and settled in Perth during 1997. After attending school in Bulawayo Zimbabwe, O'Brien graduated from the London College of Fashion in the mid eighties, although it was a while before she established her own fashion business, Tierra Ecologia, in 2002.[3] After her graduation at college in London, O'Brien returned to Bulawayo Zimbabwe. Whilst she was there, she was responsible for Sharon Stone's wardrobe at the beginning of her career, and also worked as a tourist guide on safari trips in Victoria Falls. After doing considerably well for herself there, she decided to visit Australia in the late eighties. While in Australia, she helped open up a restaurant named Zebra's Steakhouse. This turned out to be a huge success, and the restaurant became exceedingly popular and well known for its delicious African cuisine. After some time in the food industry, O'Brien began to feel the need to head back into fashion. A few issues with her private life made the decision to return back to Africa certain. In the early nineties, she settled in the small town of Francistown, Botswana located in Africa. In her early years of resuming her passion for fashion, O'Brien would import 20 ft containers of used clothing from Australia to Botswana, where she opened a small clothing store. She did very well there for a short period of time, before the price of importing container loads of goods from overseas increased substantially due to a newly introduced taxation. O'Brien had also recently married, and was now pregnant with a child. In March 1996, she gave birth to a baby boy, Sky O'Brien. She then left for Australia once again with a baby on her back and a few belongings. She immigrated to Perth, Western Australia, where she started a long and winding road of eco fashion.[4] She established the label eco logika in 2002 whilst still in Western Australia. This label focuses on creating clothing that is both luxurious to wear, and sustainable towards our environment.[5] Using the latest technology with ancient craftsmanship in clothing production, O'Brien combines fashion and conscience by designing clothing which preserves ancient hand crafts, creates fair trade opportunities and provides employment opportunities within community villages across the world.[6]
Philosophy
Through her company, Tierra Ecologia, est. 2002, O'Brien created a carbon neutral through their solar powered workplace, using rainwater for dyeing collected off their property.[7] They conserve the environment by using recycled and organic materials preferably certified and help global communities sustain themselves by eradicating poverty, prostitution and terrorism by creating jobs at grass root levels. They use no chemicals or pesticides in production and save on water, the worlds most valuable resource.[8]
Eco Logika
Each Eco Logika design are individually handmade pieces and Hand dyed Textiles using organic Australian Bush Dyes. Exhibits in selected Galleries Nationally and Internationally. O'Brien offers textile workshops. Eco Logika invent new yarns using recycled denim, organic cotton, hemp and natural dyed wool and silk for eco textiles, eco clothing and accessories. Production methods use ancient hand skills in knit, crochet and weaves. They design for the self aware man and woman who value well-made hand crafted products. They care about earth and humanity by promoting environmental issues in their community.[9]
Current projects
Eco Logika was worn by I Love Earth founder Liana Werner-Gray at the Miss Earth Australia 2009 pageant.[10] Miss Earth is an annual international beauty pageant promoting environmental awareness. Along with Miss Universe and Miss World contests,[11] Miss Earth is one of the three largest beauty pageants in the world in terms of the number of national-level competitions to participate in the world finals. The reigning titleholders dedicate their year to promote environmental projects and to address issues concerning the environment.[12] Recently returned from participating at The Ethical Fashion Show, Paris Fashion Week 09, the label eco logika luxe by Charlene O'Brien , was worn by Perth model Elise Carr in a photoshoot taken by Taylor Schon Titled "Rondezvous". At this point in time, Tierra ecologia is in business with renowned Product Placement and Public Relations specialists Oscar Generale Productions,[13] who are situated in the glamorous cities of New York and Los Angeles. After signing a one year contract with OGP, Charlene O'Brien has been busily creating luxurious outfits for the breathtaking showroom in LA. It won't be long before the celebrities you see on TV will be enjoying the innovative designs created by the growing Tierra ecologia.
References
- ^ Eco Logika by Charlene O' Brien - Events
- ^ Miss Earth Australia - Beauty for a cause - Home
- ^ Australian Events – Event – australianexplorer.com
- ^ PleaseTakeMeTO Travel Guide – Videos, Information, Photos, Maps & Holiday Packages
- ^ NAVA
- ^ VisitVeneyards.com – Home
- ^ totaltravel.com.au
- ^ http://www.tierraecologia.com/values.html
- ^ http://www.1stopbelmont.com.au/whatsonin_event.asp?id=2125
- ^ http://www.iloveearth.com.au
- ^ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041008/world.htm
- ^ http://spicezee.zeenews.com/missuniverse08/article5354.htm
- ^ http://www.oscargeneraleproductions.com/ogp/welcome.html
External links
Categories:- Australian fashion designers
- Living people
- People from Perth, Western Australia
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