We finished the lookbook shoot for 2012 SS, Summer edition and AW in Japan last month. It was rather warm for end of October and we took some great shots.

Despite the large number of shots we take (50- 70 a day! phew!), we’re lucky to have a talented team of people working with us. The positive spirit (Maemuki seishin) and the excellent team work made for a great atmosphere of the shoot. Despite not having a break to rest my eyes, I stayed focused throughout – so did everyone else. It was a massive help to have Miki Alcalde there to help too.

Here’s a location shoot we did in the beautiful Autumn sunshine at Izu-shirahama for 2012 SS and Summer editions of the Japan catalogues.
Big thanks to Souma-san, the owners of The eco-lodge Villa Shirahama, Eriko Suzuki (stylist), Ayumi Naito (hairmake/traffic), Stephanie Hannon (model), Kasumi-san, Dean-san, Yan-san, Miki (photography assistant, everyone at People Tree.

This is a location shoot from another day, where we took shots surrounded by roses in full-bloom. Thanks to the hard work of Jennifer (model), Eriko Suzuki (stylist), Nagisa-san (hair & make up) to Miki & Bahag and everyone at People Tree.
Please look out for our SS/Sumer 2012 catalogues!

We shot the Autumn/winter 2012 collection lookbook in a sunny studio in Tokyo just behind the office.
We got on so well and it was so much fun. Thanks to Sak Asamiya (model), Shinji Ikeda (Hair & make up/ Mod’s hair), Eriko Suzuki (stylist), Miki (Photographers assistant) and everyone at People Tree.

Despite a tight schedule, the shoot went so well. We need to promote Fair Trade Fashion but can’t really do expensive shoots like other fashion brands. Still, the quality of our fashion shoots has improved so much thanks to our dedicated team – and my photography is getting better too!! – People Tree spends a huge proportion of its sales revenue on producer training, design and quality assurance, as well as campaigning for Fair Trade. That’s why it’s difficult to spend what other fashion brands do on imagery.
We would like to thank all our staff as well for always putting the producers first and the design team for creating such amazing products. We can’t wait to show you the photos we took!

Leading financiers, business people and opinion leaders are adding to the debate about corporate governance, greed and accountability. Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and even David Cameron are stating their cases in the current crisis about not cutting aid, about tax the rich better, and holding banks accountable.

Protests around the world and most recently London at St Pauls bring together a broader debate about democracy, livelihoods and corporate accountability. People Tree has worked for the last 20 years to promote corporate accountability, transparency and citizen action, as we believe this is the only way to social justice. A failing economic system is not just an issue for developing countries, as we have seen with the banking system’s failure since 2009. Many People Tree customers work in education and healthcare and are concerned to see cuts in the infrastructure that creates a healthy society.

I visited St Pauls with some of our team, who have been voluntarily there to check it out. Please watch our short film and share with friends.

Occupy LSX Initial Statement
1. The current system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust. We need alternatives; this is where we work towards them.
2. We are of all ethnicities, backgrounds, genders, generations, sexualities dis/abilities and faiths. We stand together with occupations all over the world.
3. We refuse to pay for the banks’ crisis.
4. We do not accept the cuts as either necessary or inevitable. We demand an end to global tax injustice and to our democracy representing corporations instead of the people.
5. We want regulators to be genuinely independent of the industries they regulate.
6. We support the strike on the 30th November and the student action on the 9th November, and actions to defend our health services, welfare, education and employment, and to stop wars and arms dealing.
7. We want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world’s resources must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich.
8. We stand in solidarity with the global oppressed and we call for an end to the actions of our government and others in causing this oppression.
9. This is what democracy looks like. Come and join us!

The most perfect day at the beach this year – Japan

We headed down to Izu last night, which is south of Tokyo. We stayed in a beautiful eco-lodge called Villa Shirahama. The team of 10 divided ourselves up between a room for boys and a room for girls, and I had the best night’s sleep I’ve had for a loooong time. Villa Shirahama have been selling People Tree products and have been supporters of People Tree and promoters of green issues locally for years, and it’s really lovely to meet them and photograph in their amazing resort.

We photographed the Japan and UK High Summer and Spring catalogues, getting up at 5 o’clock to start make-up. We were shooting by six, four lovely models who were all into the issues themselves, and a fantastic team. We even had a delicious home-made organic lunch, made by Tomoko and her husband, who run this lovely simple eco-Resort. Visit if you’re in Japan and want somewhere lovely to stay in Izu. www.villa-shirahama.com or info@villa-shirahama.com

Lots of discussions on the long ride back in the van about Tohoku and how to change the world, so riveting I didn’t notice my jetlag.

There’s little good coverage of the protests in London, spurred on by Wall Street and the deepening financial crisis.

It makes me angry to read blanket statements that the protesters are “against capitalism” (and the movement’s “Initial Statement” doesn’t say anti-capitalist anywhere – see below). Sure, we’re all against a capitalist system that is dysfunctional because it ignores the costs to people, society and the environment. Everyone I spoke to agrees that greed is the cause and with more accountability there is enough in the world for all. Loads of food donations were arriving first thing in the morning from all kinds of hard working people, cleaners, secretaries, even students. The atmosphere was amazing!

There are alternatives – People, citizens’ groups (environmental and human rights) and the Fair Trade movement have been campaigning for alternatives. Since the 80’s, citizen-led NGO groups around the world have been campaigning for a triple bottom-line approach to business that promotes livelihoods and does not bankrupt the environment. A new approach to economics, with new models of accounting.

Social businesses embody this belief and are the fastest growing sector in the UK. They work with people, job creation and the environment are central to their operations, and they are willing to compromise short-term profits for long-term profits and wide social benefit.

Occupy LSX Initial Statement
1. The current system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust. We need alternatives; this is where we work towards them.
2. We are of all ethnicities, backgrounds, genders, generations, sexualities dis/abilities and faiths. We stand together with occupations all over the world.
3. We refuse to pay for the banks’ crisis.
4. We do not accept the cuts as either necessary or inevitable. We demand an end to global tax injustice and our democracy representing corporations instead of the people.
5. We want regulators to be genuinely independent of the industries they regulate.
6. We support the strike on the 30th November and the student action on the 9th November, and actions to defend our health services, welfare, education and employment, and to stop wars and arms dealing.
7. We want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world’s resources must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich.
8. We stand in solidarity with the global oppressed and we call for an end to the actions of our government and others in causing this oppression.
9. This is what democracy looks like. Come and join us!

Visit the opinion-leaders and campaigners at St Pauls and learn more at http://occupylsx.org

Learn about issues – activists are well organized and there are general assemblies everyday that you can join.

Last week Sister Vineetha, Founder of Assisi Garments, India, People Tree’s biggest partner, visited us.

It’s expensive to make good clothes – decorating, stitching, hand finishing – all that quality and integrity takes time and money. People must stop fishing for fast, cheap delivery, it is unrealistic. We need to forget ‘fast fashion’ and embrace ‘slow fashion’, fashion that is more planet friendly and people friendly; crafted clothes that last and are valued not instantly consumed and thrown away. Sister Vineetha, Assisi Garments

Assisi Garments produce many of People Tree’s most beautiful organic and Fairtrade cotton dresses.

Last week, Sister Vineetha from Assisi visited PT. We have worked together for 16 years, and together we were the first to develop a Soil Association certified product made totally in a developing country. From very small beginnings, hard work and our mutual bond of friendship and respect, Assisi now employs a manufacturing workforce of 200 including underprivileged women.

As the name suggests Assisi Garments is run by an Order of Franciscan Sisters. These nuns remain true to the teaching of Saint Francis of Assisi. Born in 1181, in Italy, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, Saint Francis dedicated his life to outcasts, nursing lepers in the lazar houses near Assisi and begging for the poor at church doors. He advocated a love of nature, teaching that, as creatures ourselves, it is the duty of men to protect and enjoy nature.

Today, the work of Saint Francis is at the heart of Assisi Garments’ mission; a social enterprise producing 100% organic and Fairtrade cotton clothing and helping the most vulnerable in society to independence. At the same time, the Order is supporting 3 schools for deaf and mute children and a social work network of 800 Sisters throughout India working to help the poorest of the poor.

When you buy:

you are participating in this ASSISI PICTURE.