Ten pretty little clutches that you can easily make at home.

The clutch is, without a doubt, this fall’s it-bag. Instead of dropping major dough on one, revamp one that you already have or make one yourself from scratch. Here are ten of our favorite DIY clutch projects, some which require as little as tape and spray paint.

Placemat Clutch
Sometimes you come across things that are so brilliant in their simplicity that you can’t believe you never thought of it yourself. This DIY placemat clutch by Vannalisa Scafaria is such a thing. Of course a placemat would make an excellent clutch!

Miniaudiere with Golden Horse
Sometimes elaborate parties call for desperate measures. This DIY tutorial by Trinkets in Bloom shows you how to turn a humble sunglasses case and plastic toy horse into a glamorous miniaudiere fit for the Kentucky Derby. Pretty brilliant.

Glitter Bow Clutch
Fall is all about glitter and adornment, in every which way. This tutorial by The World is My Oyster shows you how to make a glam glitter bow clutch inspired by a Betsey Johnson bag. We think it would be perfect for all those holiday parties you will soon be attending.

Gold Colorblock Clutch
Colorblocking is still going strong this fall, but try metallics to give the look a bit of an update. Transforming an old clutch into a fashion-forward statement can be as easy as spraypaint and tape. Have a look at this tutorial by I Spy DIY for some pointers on how to do it right.

Handcuff Clutch
Are you one of those people who constantly misplace your pretty little clutch wherever you go? In that case, this DIY handcuff clutch by A Matter of Style, inspired by Louis Vuitton’s fall accessory collection, may be just the thing.

Knuckle Duster Clutch
Sometimes runway style can be so easy to achieve with some patience and glue. Case in point, this knuckle duster clutch tutorial by (studs and pearls) shows you how to make your own version of that gorgeous Alexander McQueen version.

Envelope Clutch
Some time ago, I started noticing people at different fashion weeks carrying laptop cases as clutches. It was a curious trend, perhaps brought on by necessity, but then laptop cases started getting more stylish too. This DIY envelope clutch by Swellmayde works really well as an oversize clutch, but play around with the measurements and I think it could make an excellent laptop case too.

Bell Clutch
Inspired by a Christian Louboutin clutch, this little DIY number by Carry on… Carry on… really lets you attend your next party with bells on. It’s a bit time consuming, but once done, the end result is quite stunning, as not as loud as you may think.

Book Clutch
We love the nerd chic appeal of these quirky book clutches that started popping up here and there a while back. It makes you look smart and bookish and can perhaps even protect you against purse snatchers. This tutorial by Runway DIY shows you how to make your own version, using your favorite high-brow piece of literature, of course.

Woven Clutch
Woven bags just have this sophisticated air about them. This tutorial by Burda Style shows you how to weave pieces of faux leather together to create a nicely textured bag. People won’t believe you actually made it.

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Edgy jewelry made by local artisans in five countries, using materials like naturally discarded buffalo horn and reclaimed bombshells.

When launching her new jewelry label, Edge of Ember, designer Lynette Ong knew she wanted to ensure the pieces were not only going to be beautiful, but also made in the most ethical way possible. “The inspiration for Edge of Ember first came to me two years back when I was in Ubud, Bali where there were tons of silversmiths and art workshops,” says Ong. “Most of them had an open workshop concept where customers could see the artisans working on these uniquely handcrafted pieces. I found these gorgeous works of art absolutely amazing. Yet with the overwhelming trend in the marketplace towards mass production, customers get either machine-lasered fare from factories or designer handmade items that were exorbitantly priced.”

Fueled by a desire to share the stories and skills of these local artisans with the rest of the world, Ong, who was living in Hong Kong at the time, traveled extensively though Asia to find and form parnerships with the five local non-profit, fair trade organizations and artisan groups in Cambodia, Nepal, Vietnam and Indonesia that she works with today.

Designer Ong has not had any formal design training, and calls the brand’s aesthetic a reflection of her personal style. “I have always loved jewelry,” she says. “I think accessories complete an outfit and showcase an individual’s personality. But it was only when the Edge of Ember idea came to me that I started dabbling with jewelry design. I love combining simple, classic pieces and bolder jewelry to create a look that is versatile enough to wear for both casual and formal occasions.”

Edge of Ember’s first collection is called SARAT (which is the Khmer word for “beauty”) and features handmade jewelry pieces from Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam, with organic hand-hammered metals, bold geometric studs and ethnic-inspired tassels that are accompanied by an elegant mix of crystals and pearls. “The studs and spikes give an edgy and raw feel that I translated from bustling developing cities like Phnom Penh and Hanoi, the crystals set in antique-plated bezels show a hint of vintage and Art Deco, and the pearls and tassels add a touch of old school glamour,” says Ong. “I like to contrast the edgy and feminine, and the ethnic and the contemporary in pieces.”

The matte gold plated geometric studs and spikes used in many pieces are made from bombshells rescued from Cambodian land. The local artisans Edge of Ember work with are all part of the Rajana Association, a fair trade organization that helps create jobs for skilled craftspeople. The horn bangles are made in Vietnam, where local artisans use naturally discarded buffalo horn to delicately create these stunning pieces. All hammered pieces – which are Edge of Ember’s signature style – are made in Indonesia, where artisans meticulously hammer metals by hand to create the soft-textures, versatile pieces.

The brand also gives back to the local communities where their artisans live and work by channeling 10% of all proceeds into the Ember Project, the brand’s philanthropic arm. The Ember Project sponsors projects that focus on issues affecting women and children, and charities that address the problems women face because of the inherent gender inequality in these developing countries. Two of the initiatives, Daughters of Cambodia and Shakti Samuha in Nepal, rescues women from prostitution and sex trafficking and provides them with the skills to sustain their new lifestyle, while the specific Room to Read program by the Girls’ Education Program in Vietnam, helps young girls to complete their secondary education.

Says Ong: “I see these pieces on a confident, stylish woman who isn’t afraid of having fun or taking risks, who can throw together a perfect outfit from seemingly disparate elements and is assertive, intelligent and socially conscious.”

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With a colorful, eclectic collection made entirely in Los Angeles, Clover Canyon injects New York Fashion Week with a breath of fresh California air.

New York Fashion Week was very black and white and monochrome this time around. This is practical but, let’s face it, we need some color on our lives. This made Clover Canyon‘s presentation at Lincoln Center’s The Box feel even more like a breath of fresh California air. The label’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection was an explostion of bright colors and crazy prints, featuring geometric shapes and paisley mixed with California pop culture icons like muscle cars, soda bottle tops, steering wheels, surfers, highways, mountains, prairie homes and a certain kind of medicinal plant, with a sprinkling of sequins thrown in for good measure.

Launched only last year, Clover Canyon received instant appreciation from fashion editors and buyers and can now be found at major retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Net-a-Porter and Shopbop. Creative Director Rozae Nichols, who had her own eponymous line for 15 years, has lived her whole life on the west coast. She decided to make local production an important part of the label’s DNA, stating: “Clover Canyon is made in California, and always will be.”

From the label’s atelier, Clover Canyon’s design team works collaboratively on designing the original prints, and hand-engineering them to frame and enhance the body. All garments are designed, patterned, cut and sewn in-house, using an innovative mix of new technology mixed with old world craftsmanship. “I have a wonderful team, a glorious design team,” Nichols tells Harper’s BAZAAR. She goes on to say that the label is able to maintain an accessible price point by “creating an in-house science and precision that we’ve mastered with no waste or excessive burden. The fabrics are humble, they’re not insanely expensive. We make Clover Canyon look expensive because of the artistry.”

Nichols has been focused on prints for a long time, and with Clover Canyon she completely surrenders to them, making it the focus of all the label’s collections so far. “We approached Clover Canyon with a new attitude for print and made a commitment to making it about saturated color,” she says. “Part of the magic is the research we do to make the images very opposite and juxtaposed.”

There’s no doubt that prints are having a fashion moment right now, but Clover Canyon still stands out from the crowd. One is not drawn to these fantastical garments because they happen to be what’s trendy right now, the precise mix of tailoring and placement of the patterns gives this collection a timeless appeal that will surely make it stand the test of time. That, along with the outspoken commitment to local production, is what we really love about them and welcome with open arms.

All photos by Johanna Björk

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Ten clever, easy DIY ways to remake your pants for fall.

I was in NYC the other day, and for the first time in what seems like forever I was actually cold. This means two things: fall is definitely on its way and shorts are once again to be replaced with pants. The good news is that there are so many great styles of pants that are on trend for fall. But, instead of buying new ones, revamp the ones you already have with these 10 easy-to-do DIY projects.

Palazzo Pants
Wide-leg, printed palazzo pants are probably one of fall’s absolute biggest trends. They are as easy-breezy to make as they are to wear. This gorgeous pair by a pair and a spare look like they came straight off the runway. I’ll be making a few pairs of these in different prints immediately.

Color-blocked Pants
Color-blocking is still going strong this fall, and you can easily turn a pair of ho-hum chinos into a cheerful fashion statement with little more than fabric paint and tape. HonestlyWTF will show you the way.

Tuxedo Pants
Suddenly, tuxedo pants are seen everywhere, and they are super simple to make at home. Check out this tutorial by Henry Happened to find out how you can make yours. We’d make them in black and white and love that they can be dressy if worn with a sheer blouse or sporty if worn with a simple T-shirt.

Lace-Embellished Jeans
Lace seemed to pop up in the collections of many designers this season, mainly used as an embellishment. When paired with unexpected materials, such as denim, it creates a contrast that feels fresh and very on trend. This pair of lace-embellished jeans by a pair and a spare were inspired by Jason Wu’s Fall 11 collection and will certainly give you the look for less.

Distressed Denim
At fashion weeks around the world, fashionistas were wearing denim that wasn’t just a little bit distressed but completely shredded to bits. If you want this look to happen naturally, it would probably take a few years. In this tutorial, Swellmaybe and UniqueLA show us a simple way to achieve the look, DIY style.

Tie-Dye Leggings
Nope, we are in no way over tie-dye just yet, and the fact that it’s such an easy and fun way to transform any kind of garment just fuels our fascination. This tutorial by designer (and tie-dye expert) Shabd Simon-Alexander for Martha Stewart gives you an almost floral print, which feels very current for fall and will work long into spring and summer.

Silk Scarf Trousers
These below the knee shorts can be made from one single scarf (which you can find tons of in almost any thrift store), and the larger the scarf the longer your trousers can be. This tutorial by Park & Cube shows you how easy this is to do, but make sure to follow their advice to measure twice, cut once.

Studded Denim
Sometimes it’s those small, simple details that can really make a garment go from something that just lingers in your closet to something you wear every day. This simple, clever tutorial by Swellmayde shows you how to revamp a pair of existing jeans using metal studs. We love that they are both tough and sweet at the same time.

Fringe Pockets
Embellishment is a huge trend this fall, and the good news is that it’s very simple to do yourself. Putting fringe on the pockets of your jeans takes them from ordinary to fun in a pinch. It also plays well with fall’s western trend. I remember doing this to a pair of jeans when I was about ten years old, so it’s very simple. Check out this tutorial by Fashionista New York Girl to find out how. Just use a pair of pants instead of shorts and it’s perfect for fall.

Pajama Pants
Who would have thought we would ever consider wearing pajama pants outside of the house, and with heels nonetheless. Luckily for all of us, this comfy bedroom-staple has made it’s runway debut and taken it to the streets. This tutorial by ducky house shows you how to make a pair from old sheets. We think they would look great in a dark silk fabric or white cotton, with contrasting neon lace for the cuffs.

SEE ALSO:

DIY: 10 Things to do With an Old T-Shirt

DIY: 10 DIY Bracelets You Can Make This Weekend

DIY: 10 Summer Shorts You Can Make At Home

DIY: 10 Statement Earrings You Can Totally Make

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Take the animal-print sweater look from runway to real life, in a conscious way.

Shirts and sweaters emblazoned with the faces of various animals are seen everywhere in Fashionville these days – from the runways of design houses like Kenzo and Givenchy to the backs of street style stars and pop singers like Rihanna and Pink. It’s a great look, but we know how to achieve it in a better way.

Rapanui’s Wolfpack Sweat features not a rottweiler or tiger but a wolf, an animal that has went from being nearly eradicated in the U.S. in the 20th century to making a remarkable recovery in many parts of the country to once again facing serious danger.

Made in a windpowered, Fair Wear Foundation audited factory using 100% organic cotton, the Wolfpack Sweat is also printed with phthalate-free inks and hand-finished in the UK. To cut down carbon emissions, it’s transported by boat, not air freight.

So you can be trendy without compromising on your ethics. If you would also like to help wolves, support the Defenders of Wildlife’s Campaign to Save America’s Wolves.

Street style images: 1 & 2

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The Fair Fashion runway show, held during New York Fashion Week, shows us that fashion can look good and do good.

When attending fashion week, it’s easy to become overwhelmed (and slightly disturbed) about the sheer amount of clothing that designers put out every season, much of it produced less than ethically. A nice counterpoint to this was the NYC Fair Runway Show, held on Thursday at co-working space Wix Lounge in NYC.

The runway show was organized by the NYC Fair Trade Coalition, an all-volunteer grassroots organization dedicated to educating consumers about the value and importance of fair trade and promoting fair trade businesses in NYC.

Kibonen|NY (also top)

Featured designers included Kibonen|NY by Cameroonian designer Kibonen Nfi, inspired by traditional Cameroonian garments, REBORN by Soham Dave, which fuses the old and new with contemporary leisure clothing, filling a niche for authentic pieced and hand crafted from natural materials, and mccoll&clan, a New Jersey-based SEE (sustainable, eco, ethical) label committed to a design and business ethos that supports more sensible ways of innovating fashion.

REBORN by Soham Dave

The models wore vegan shoes by Monisha Raja of Love is Mighty, a brand dedicated to preserving indigenous arts, tribal culture and craftsmanship in India. Makeup artist Lacey Elliot used products from Josie Maran’s vegan, eco-friendly line.

mccoll&clan

After the show, guests were treated to samples from fair trade makers of tea, root tea, chocolate and quinoa vodka. There was also a marketplace, featuring pieces from the runway show.

Fair trade may not yet be a buzz word in the fashion world at large, but maybe this fashion week runway show could be the start of a greater discussion of the topic? We certainly hope so.

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Using patented no-waste technology, knitwear brand Kotoba makes pieces that are as conscious as they are covetable.

At New York Fashion Week, knitwear seemed to make an appearance in some form on just about every runway. On Thursday, collective knitwear brand Kotoba celebrated the launch of their Spring/Summer 2013 collection with a fun, low-key presentation at The Maritime Hotel in the Meatpacking District.

Kotoba is the Japanese word for language and the collection, designed by Melinda Danko and Lindsay Mann, featured timeless pieces in simple, versatile silhouettes enhanced by unexpected structural details and textures. Basics in black, taupe and ivory were complemented by pieces in bright and playful colors, particularly orange and mint green, two of the most on trend hues this fall and going into spring.

“We were inspired by multiple things, but it all came down to leisure activity,” says Melinda Danko. “We thought about the one thing that people forget to do, which is how to enjoy themselves – how to have fun doing sport activities, going to the beach, taking care of environment – things that are important in life.” This playful spirit was evident in the presentation, as the models were given props like footballs, skateboards and baseball bats.

“Lindsay and I developed the collection very organically,” says Danko. “We just burst out ideas and silhouettes and with the yarns we have it just came together. We started with one design and it all just fell into place after that”

All the pieces in the collection are produced using WHOLEGARMENT technology, a patented production technique derived from Shima Seiki, a Japanese knitwear machine manufacturer that has been around for fifty years, but has more recently, in the past five years, developed knitting machines for making clothing. It’s an innovative way of producing knitwear that is lightweight and stretchy and made virtually without any waste.

“We wanted to bring back crafts and trade and the sustainability aspect to the U.S. domestic market,” says Danko. “Everything we make is seamless, there’s no waste in the production, and the entire collection (except the yarns, which are from Italy) is made in America”

Kotoba’s spring collection is everything I love about sustainable fashion – it’s locally and ethically produced (in NYC’s Garment District), using innovative technology, but it’s also fun, sexy, wearable and timeless.

Danko says: “We make qaulity garments that, yes, you are going to spend more money on. But the lifetime and durability makes them pieces that you can have in your wardrobe and love for years.”

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At New York Fashion Week, Suzanne Rae presents a new, minimalistic take on feminine beauty.

Initially inspired by Francesca Woodman’s photography, Suzanne Rae‘s collection for spring/summer 2013 “explores a woman’s curious ability to be both delicate and strong.”

“Pairing this with minimalism, which often carries masculine overtones” the designer says, “the collection seeks a balance, reflecting a more progressive and less conventional expression of femininity.”

The collection, which premiered during New York Fashion Week yesterday, at the Philippine Center in Manhattan, seems to be a return to basics for Suzanne Rae. The color palette was restrained and featured low-key neutrals, like we’ve seen in the collections of many other designers this fashion week. Soft hues of light and dark gray, off-white and khaki were complemented with gorgeously nuanced shades of gold and blue. It all seemed to signal a return to beauty in fashion.

Materials ranging from soft silks and knits to stiff cotton and linen were mixed to create textural interest while maintaining a long and flowy silhouette. The show was styled by Lotte Sindahl, with bold accessories by WXYZ Jewelry (including amazing Egyptian inspired collar necklaces) and shows by Solestruck and Ma Petit Shoe.

In all, the collection represented a return to wearable basics in beautiful colors and materials.

We also took a peek backstage after the show:

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British sustainable label Rapanui brings eco-fashion to sea by staging the first-ever fashion show held aboard a commuter hovercraft.

I’ve seen fashion shows in many strange places, but never on a hovercraft. Probably because it had never been done, until this past week when British sustainable fashion label Rapanui staged a guerilla-style fashion show on the Isle of Wight ferry crossing.

The show, which was held in advance of London Fashion Week, was a collaboration between the award-winning eco-fashion brand and Hovertravel, the company that operates the high-speed energy-efficient hovercraft crossing service across the Solent, from the Island to Southsea.

“Rapanui are a great eco-friendly clothing brand based on the Isle of Wight,” Loretta Lale, commercial and marketing manager of Hovertravel, says of the collaboration. “We are always keen to work with local businesses from the Island, especially ones that aim to make a genuine contribution to sustainability.”

The ship’s crew – turned catwalk models for a day – showcased the 2012 collection by walking down the aisles of the Hovercraft during its regular 8am crossing, surprising the hundreds of commuters onboard. The collection consists of casualwear made from organic cotton in an ethically accredited, wind-powered factory. Rapanui is also known for the award winning traceability and eco-labeling schemes the company has developed for their clothing.

Rob Drake-Knight, co-founder of Rapanui said: “We were really excited to bring fashion week to the Island in such a quirky way, giving the commuters a taste of the catwalk in their seats as we crossed Solent.”

It’s unclear what the commuters thought about the show, but one thing is for sure, they spent some time thinking about sustainability and fashion that day. Who knows what kind of effect small disruptive interventions like this can have? We’d like to see more of it, and we’re looking at you, New York Fashion Week.

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Ten clever, easy-to-do DIY clothing revamp projects to update and transition your wardrobe into fall.

Labor day may have officially signaled the end of summer, but its not quite time to go out and buy fall clothing yet. Skip the store and scratch the itch to buy something new by revamping your existing clothes with these 10 easy-to-do DIY wardrobe updating projects.

Lace-up Heels
Bring your summer pumps right into fall by transforming them into lace-up heels. It’s surprisingly easy to do with just a handful of supplies, Runway DIY shows how. Wear a pair of socks underneath and you can rock these until the snow starts falling.

Givenchy Boots
The first time I saw these boots I thought they looked kind of awkward. I still sort of do, but the fashion elite seems to have taken quite a liking to the Givenchys. Instead of coughing up serious cash for the real things, take a pair of wedge heels you never use and make your own versions. Check out this tutorial by Syl and Sam to learn how.

Gladiator Lace-up Sandals
Now that summer is officially over, it’s time to retire those flip flops for the season. Instead of putting them away in a box, however, do like Glitter N Glue and wrap them in a scarf to turn them into pretty lace-up sandals, perfect to wear with ankle-length pants this early fall.

Studded Knee Cap Jeans
Inspired by one of Christopher Kane’s runway looks, this DIY tutorial by Chictopia shows you how to make a regular pair of jeans into a true statement piece. You can, of course, put the studs wherever you want on a pair of jeans, but we think the knee cap placement kind of rocks.

Stitched Open-knit Sweater
The loose, open-knit sweater was all the rage this summer, and to take it into fall all you really need is some yarn and an hour to spare. Check out this brilliant tutorial by Inspiration and Realisation and get out those stitching needles. Because you already know how to make the T-shirt Yarn.

Gold Collar
Collars are still going strong this fall, and they are a great way to instantly update any shirt. This one by A Pair and a Spare is super easy to make, and probably more wearable than the Louis Vuitton piece that inspired it.

Embellished Collar
This fall, we won’t only see more of those removable collars (see above) but also lots of embellished collars on the shirts themselves. It’s a fun update to a wardrobe staple and could really look spectacular. This tutorial by Love Maegan shows you how to transform the collar of your favorite shirt to make it seriously glamorous.

Embellished Skirt
This fall is all about embellishment, and there is almost no such thing as too much. This DIY tutorial by P.S. I Made This shows you how to take a plain skirt from ordinary to fabulous by embellishing it with lace trim.

Cut-out T-shirt
Fall is all about layering, and you can start right now with lighter weight pieces. This DIY T-shirt project by Refinery29 shows you how to quickly and easily cut up a regular tee to make it look all desiger-y. And, it’s perfect for layering.

Geometric Beaded Top
Inspired by Burberry Prorsum’s tees embellished with wood beads, Inspiration and Realisation made their own version of this hot fall trend. The beads can be painted any color and cut into any shape, so the possibilities are endless. We love that they used upcycled popsicle sticks, we all probably have some of those laying around after summer.

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