Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - September/October 2020

VIVOBAREFOOT LAUNCHES RE-COMMERCE SITE IN A BID TO REDUCE MASS VOLUMES OF SHOES IN LANDFILL Vivobarefoot has announced the launch of its re- commerce site, Revivo, which has been created in a bid to reduce the mass volume of shoes that end up in landfill. According to the company, more than 25 billion shoes are produced each year, with 90% of these ending up in landfill, often within 12 months of purchase. Launching on 20 th July, ReVivo, will recondition worn or returned Vivobarefoot shoes, keeping them out of landfill, and is a step towards the company’s goal of becoming one of the most regenerative businesses in the world. Vivobarefoot CEO Galahad Clark says, “No doubt, the elephant in the sustainable shoe room is end-of-life and the fact that nearly all shoes end up in landfill or, at best, get ground down into flooring material. The shoe industry makes shoes out of complicated different materials bonded together with a lot of petro-chemicals that will ultimately sit in landfill for a lot longer than the lives of the wearers! “At Vivobarefoot we’re on a journey to make the most sustainable shoes in the world: regenerative for people and planet. The launch of ReVivo is a super exciting step in that journey and one of many initiatives we are taking to make sure none of our shoes ever end up slowly decaying in landfill!” Visit www.vivobarefoot.com/uk FINE JEWELLERY BRAND THE ALKEMISTRY LAUNCHES NEW LUXURY CRAFT CONCEPT London-based fine jewellery brand The Alkemistry has launched a new craft concept that allows customers to be able to weave their very own piece of fine jewellery from 18-carat gold chain and vibrant silk. The concept is called ‘Kumachi’ and honours an ancient Japanese weaving technique. Kumachi derives from two Japanese words, ‘kumi’ meaning ‘coming together’ and ‘hachi’ meaning ‘eight’, signifying the entwining of eight cords. Each Kumachi kit will contain four colours of silk thread, an 18-carat gold chain and clasp, a weaving wheel, a luxe glass sand timer and a scroll with step-by-step instructions. Each colour of silk thread provides enough length to make three different versions of your bracelet. This means customers will be able to craft something totally unique, with 32 different colour combinations to choose from, including the option of making a bracelet in all one colour. Visit www.thealkemistry.com VOICE INTERNATIONAL RESTARTS DISTRIBUTION FOLLOWING COVID-19 OUTBREAK Voice International has announced that it is back to distributing its handmade jewellery and accessories to stockists old and new. Voice International is an independent jewellery and clothing company that exists to empower women through creative employment. Every product is handmade in Uganda by an artisan who has developed the skills to design and create beautiful products, from jewellery and hair accessories, to bags and kimonos. According to the company, “Right now we’re excited to replenish stock of our Courage collection, especially our Bravery earrings. The Courage collection was inspired by geometric shapes and the use of brushed brass complementing ankole, a natural horn bi-product sourced from within Uganda. Using this natural material results in distinctive colours and gradients, meaning every pair of Bravery studs is completely unique. “Every piece of Voice jewellery tells the story of the inspirational woman who made it, and we believe that in these difficult times our products can inspire those who wear them to live bravely. “In partnering with Voice International, you’ll not only be stocking beautiful, handcrafted products, you’ll also become part of our story, and part of a cycle of empowerment, creativity, community and bravery.” Visit www.voiceinternational.org.uk WOW! STUFF PLEDGES £1000 FROM SALE OF NEW PRINT-YOUR-OWN MASK KITS TO NHS Wow! Stuff, has used its innovation team of in-house scientists to create a patent applied-for home printable face mask kit in two categories; Fashion and Arts & Crafts. The company is also pledging £10,000 from its sales to the NHS Charities Together.Both product lines will be sold under Wow! Stuff’s subsidiary company, The Printable Face Mask co. Ltd, while also being offered through Wow’s normal sales channels. Thanks to the new technology, kids can make masks with any image from a phone or smart device. They can even get their face, identity and personality back by taking a selfie and printing it out on the 100% percale cotton sheets from a regular home inkjet printer. Your-Face Masks can use any image and print to the A4 sized cotton sheets, whatever photo, print or pattern. Your-Face Masks can even use a selfie picture taken through the app to 3D map your face and ensures the image covers the mask entirely. Visit www.wowstuff.com INDUSTRY NEWS 123