IN SUPPORT OF EARTH DAY AND ITS COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE PLANET, WE INTRODUCE AN EXCLUSIVE COLLABORATION WITH MOTHER OF PEARL – OUR MOST SUSTAINABLE FASHION COLLECTION YET.
Being kind to yourself and others feels more important than ever, and with our latest collaboration, you can extend this philosophy to your clothes.
Led by sustainability guru and creative director Amy Powney, Mother of Pearl is the London-based label creating contemporary fashion while protecting people and planet in the process. The John Lewis & Partners + Mother of Pearl collaboration is testament to this thoughtful approach, utilising Amy’s expert knowledge of raw materials and conscious manufacturing to produce a fully traceable collection that celebrates creativity with purpose.
“John Lewis is a company committed to sustainability, making it a perfect partner for Mother of Pearl’s first high-street collection.”
‘I truly believe collaboration is key to making long-lasting change,’ says Amy of joining forces with our fashion team. ‘Making beautiful pieces for the high street with the most sustainable fabrics and production is not an easy task, but working with John Lewis & Partners has made this a reality.’
Such determination to generate positive change is something that has driven 32-year old Amy throughout her career; in just 13 years she has gone from sweeping the cutting-room floor at Mother of Pearl to taking the helm as its creative director, working tirelessly to reduce the label’s environmental impact. From sourcing cruelty-free, organic fabrics to providing customers with complete transparency of the supply chain, and travelling to factories to personally meet the people there, her approach promotes sustainability and social responsibility at every step.
“We hope to bring a little bit of joy, a small moment of escapism and of course some clothes we can all look forward to wearing. ”
But it’s not just sustainability that has made Mother of Pearl such a coveted label. Its distinctive, high-fashion aesthetic is loved by some of the world’s most stylish women – it counts Gwyneth Paltrow, Daisy Lowe and Jameela Jamil among its fans. Vogue also approves, having crowned the label joint winner of the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund award in 2017. Characterised by unique prints, innovative fabric pairings and signature details, Amy calls the look ‘serious fashion not to be worn too seriously,’ a style philosophy that is echoed throughout the collaboration.
Working closely with Amy from the very first sketch – her adorable dog Roxy in tow – we delved into the Mother of Pearl archive to dream up 21 launch pieces, with more styles to follow later this year. From maximalist polka dots on elegant, asymmetric separates to fluid striped tailoring and cool leopard print midi dresses, these are trans-seasonal pieces to be loved and cherished forever.
“Working alongside Amy and learning from her sustainable knowledge has been so important for us and we look forward to sharing all of this with our customers.”
All fabrics used are either TENCEL™ or 100% organic cotton. A favourite at Mother of Pearl, TENCEL™ is derived from renewable wood sources that come from sustainably managed forests. ‘The fibre is created in a closed loop production process, so the waste water is recycled and fewer chemicals are required during manufacture,’ explains Amy. ‘The trees are managed under strict regulations to make sure there is no harm to our planet.’
The team followed a new virtual sampling method during the design process, allowing them to decide on final pieces without creating waste, while the jeans (due to launch soon) were developed using expert Jeanologia software to ensure a low impact washing process. By delivering the collection in one shipment to our warehouse rather than using air freight, we were able to further reduce its environmental impact.
Combining style and substance in equal measure, this is a collection of beautiful pieces you’ll truly look forward to wearing, one that we are proud to launch in support of Earth Day. Shop now exclusively at johnlewis.com.
