If you’re a die-hard of the sustainable fashion movement, you may have heard, Lora GENE has launched a 5- item capsule collection designed in collaboration with the writer, activist, style consultant and personal stylist Aja Barber.

The success of the range since its launch can be evidenced by all the chatter online, where the beautiful pieces are making waves in the slow-fashion world. The shared love of ethical fashion between Aja and Lora wasn’t necessarily on the agenda to evolve into one of the most socially conscious and inspiring collections of 2021. But, the legion of fans that have supported the rise and rise of Aja and Lora as thought-leaders, social advocates and slow-fashion champions, are not disappointed with this coveted edition to the Lora GENE range- setting the tone for the summer season. Sharing a passion for women’s clothing made from sustainable materials and a desire to make the fashion industry more inclusive, Lora and Aja Barber’s friendship began via Instagram, whilst discussing the lack of inclusivity in the fashion industry, and expressing frustration with finding sustainable fashion in plus-size ranges. Aja, whose work focuses on sustainability, ethics, intersectional feminism, racism and the various ways systems of power influence our buying habits, met with Lora on a summer day in London and the rest is history.

The pair came up with a capsule collection that bears both of their names- the resulting apparel, something they conclude was born from a “most valuable partnership.”

 

Consisting of three new dresses and two versions of a tailored coat; the line uses sustainably sourced materials, such as organic cotton and is made ethically in the Lora GENE manufacturing facility. As with the majority of the ethical clothing from Lora GENE, the pieces come in a variety of different colours and are designed to be timeless; outlasting trend-led seasons.

Lora Gene commented: “Sharing our passion for sustainability and making the industry more inclusive, Aja and I met, and ingenuity quickly evolved; taking shape as a capsule collection that wears both of our names.” A friendship firmly in hand, the meeting has become one of the most valuable in the evolution of the Lora GENE concept and the company’s continued efforts to change consumer behaviour.

''I've always wanted this brand to be about women's comfort and I believe colaboration is key to achieve that, because comfort is a very personal concept. On one side is you as the maker who has a certain vision and ideas, but the women that wears your clothes sit on the other side of these ideas and I feel somewhere in between is the answer. Working with Aja has given me a perspective on women I didn't have, she helped me realise my power as a designer as well as a business person''

 

The collaboration between Aja and Lora GENE goes beyond the mendacious claims of “sustainability” and “being green”, many high street brands have made in recent years to sell products. For instance, the collection is made from surplus yarns and deadstock fabrics including pure linen, cotton, pure wool, and a wool-alpaca mix. Aja said during an interview: “Embarking on this project with Lora Gene has been a dream come true. Not only have I built something I'm incredibly proud of, but I've also built a lasting friendship with someone who's taught me a lot. I've always wanted to create something and put my name on it, but it had to meet my quality standards, be ethical, socially conscious, and available to a lot of different bodies. We hear a lot of the industry speaking about what can and can't be done. We can actually do these things. It's not even that hard."

It’s fair to say that this line, as with every piece created here, is redefining fashion standards and winning the hearts and minds of slow-fashion advocates everywhere.Sizes from the collection run from a UK 8 to UK 28, and prices range between £109 and £219. Shop the line HERE

Aiming to make sustainable fashion truly accessible to all, the collection is available to rent on peer-to-peer fashion rental app HURR and to buy using the ‘buy now, pay later’ system Klarna.