A gorgeous day in Portland for the NIKE LAUNCH

We arrived in Portland last nite after another 16 hour flight - exhausted but excited to be part of the NIKE LAUNCH starting tomorrow -

We went to Wat Pho today to see the biggest baddist buddah in town - a gold 45 metre / 15 metre high reclining buddah - set amongst the most detailed and ornate temples I have ever seen - Every single surface is considered and decorated - What we did not know is that today is part of the three day "songkran" celebration whereby you visit your local temple and bathe the buddahs for good fortune and make sand pagodas to symbolically replace the sand carried away by ones shoes during the year - We also battled crazy heat and humidity to see the grand palace another world crazy 3D surfaces and gold / gold and more gold .....no anglo-saxon reservations here ...... Tomorrow the new year starts and water partying continues for its 3rd and final moment - !!!

We arrived in Bankok today - the city of smiles ,sins and saints living together - We were welcomed with a crazy unreal sci-fi airport, oppressive heat , pollution and candy coloured cabs Our lovely taxi driver today wore strings of amulet charms draped across his chest which consisted of various sculptures and buddahs encased in glass - You need them to be driver in Bankok !! The traffic just does not move .......so congested is the city. We went to Pratunam market overflowing with heaps of cheap women's clothing - a shock to my system .... with not a scrap of naturel fibre in sight...this is a crazy polyester city so far .....but we saw some amazing street dancing with some great costumes. We had the most gorgeous dinner at the "Blue Elephant" and got to experience the infamous "tuk" ride home - too much pollution for an open air ride for my taste....but now an experience done and not to be tryed again !!

We arrived on April 4th to the crazy heat and humidity of Koh Sumai and to our beautiful villa - First trip "Tesco Lotus" and to see the amazing local prints and packaging - The shop has its own alter and prayer area inside - and prayer packs available to buy and shrine outside - this sure ain't Tesco UK !!

Still enjoying the streets of Hong Kong and its oddities ....... - grannies rock the eccentric fashion look - the foods look so wrong but taste sooo good.... - street art so common in every city in the world ......is so rare here, you really look.... - and finally, what is up with tissue pack machines ??

We went to see the Big Buddah - face wieghs 2 tons ?? and was assembled in the early 90,s by helicopter - amazing taking the chairlift up to the monastery and village. We also went to the last fishing village in Hong Kong - all on built on stilts as the fisherman were considered so low in society they were not allowed to build on land !! Ingenuity and necessity created villages suspended above the water - now of course depending on tourism mainly - but well worth seeing.

Mei-hui of "Victim Fashion Street" today trying out the egyptian collar she is taking out to Shanghai, China tomorrow for the amazing "East to East " POP UP SHOP that she has organized in the beautiful department store of "Xintiandi".

Luxe sample sale - we are located in then East Wing "The Weekend Edit". Hours are as follows - Feb.21- 11am - 9pm Feb.22 -11am - 7pm Feb.23 -10am - 7pm Feb.24 - 11am- 5pm

We were sent this last night by Angela at TRAID currently in India. She brought some of our AW13 samples for beading on Saturday and they have already started the pieces ! "SEWA" represents "The Self Employed Women's Association" and brings together women homeworkers living in slums around the city for regular work, timely payment, and fair piece rates.I have been wanting to use beading for awhile now - cannot wait to see the results !!

I just bought myself a little xmas present - "How to take better pictures , David Baileys Book of Photography" circa 1981. Voted best of the "how to" books by the Daily Telegraph back in the day..... This is in the genius "Fashion Photography " section !! The text says - "The choice of props and accessories for glamour and fashion photography is very important." I leave you with this thought - have a great Holiday Season and New Years !!

Researching for AW13 - in beautiful Bologna - long intense days...... but amazing.

Come and see us at @ Somerset House, Estethica Room in the West Wing

Today we started the incubator with the Nike MSI app with our teams - for the next 2 weeks we will all be working closely to produce sustainable collection prototypes and designs to present to Nike for upcoming book and exhibition inclusion - I am hoping the best for my teams !

We went to Victoria Park for the closing ceremony - how good were the olympics ??? I never even bothered before London - amazing !! - Closing ceremony was abit odd with some strange choices (George Michael ? and Russel Brandt singing the Beatles?) New female talents Adele and Florence seemed like they should have been there ..... ......and finally in a country that has produced some of the best singer/songwriters in the world ........there were some huge holes in the music history...... I mean where were the old British singing icons that can still sing........ like the incomparable Kate Bush ? Mick Jagger ? Tom Jones ? Robert Plant ?or even Elton John ? Now I am sure he would have cranked up the Red White and Blue with a spangle or two ...!!

Had the pleasure of sitting in the top top most row of the aquatics centre to see the duet syncronized swimming finals - the only olympic event I got tickets for !! So high up - the pool was the size of my hand !!! but what a great atmosphere. This is a sport that truly embraces Los Vegas glamour with incredible athletics !! The Russians were dazzling - they were just breathtaking (literally) We did give a few cheers for our canadian girls who took a huge risk in their routine by being funny !!

We looked at 65 hopeful students work today - handpicking the best for the next round of the NIKE "Materials Sustainability Index" Project. The students will be mentored by LCF / Centre for Sustainability /Nike and designers - Alina Moat , Matthew Miller , Christopher Raeburn and Michelle Lowe-Holder. We saw some very exciting work today and cannot wait until our design "Nike MSI app try out" day on July 5th -

Images from the M&S SHWOP Lab. To watch video interview by Unity PR click this link:

Joanna Lumley launched M&S' new recycling initiative "Shwopping" in East London's Brick Lane last night in collaboration with LCF’s Centre For Sustainable Fashion and Oxfam.

The Lab will take place at Dray Walk Gallery in The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL from 26th April – 9th May 2012

We visited the amazing Linea Pelle tradeshow in lovely Bologna from April 3-5 for inspiration. Here are a few pictures of the show and city.

lottolab / MLH studio and youths from the local business enterprise scheme will be offering the ultimate "COLOUR ILLUSION" I,MAKER experiance Start by purchasing one of the colourful "dot" scarves on offer. Choose your prefered colour story of rings and dots ...question colour perception and fashion ????... lotto lab will heat press your dot and rings while you wait .....fashion colour illusion TO GO .....please come by and see us !! We will also be holding drop in workshops for children for half term whom want to customize totebags with "illusion" shapes and stamps. Wednesday, Oct.26th is "LATES " at the musem / free and adults only from 6:45-10:00 pm. Lottolab will be hosting an "illusion" event with music /drinks and scarves !!!

We are excited to be a part of 'The Believers' launch during NY Fashion Week with a major exhibition opening hosted by Eventi Hotel at the Big Screen Plazas in Chelsea.

Qi Dong came by the studio today to hand us a copy of her novel 'Ombre'- an exquisitely beautiful novel of poetry and imagery. We were very excited to see 'Ombre' as MLH accessories and clothing were featured throughout. See post below for a sneak peek!

We were invited to Lucy Siegle's book launch for "To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out The World?" hosted by Beyond Retro with speakers Livia Firth and Lucy Siegle. It was a great opportunity to speak with Lucy who specialises in ecological and ethical lifestyle living.

One of our favorite East end boutiques, Luna and Curious, have opened a new shop at 24-26 Calvert Street, E2 7JP. Check out their new shop at http://lunaandcurious.blogspot.com and browse their goods on-line http://lunaandcurious.bigcartel.com.

Darkroom have collaborated with designers and artists to create limited edition pieces for the Valentine Charity Exhibition for Kids company benefitting vulnerable and neglected young people across London. This is the Michelle Lowe-Holder limited edition piece. Other artists and designers who took part include: Philip Treacy, Kate Hillier, Rob Ryan and Noel Stewart.