EN 
We look forward to welcoming VIN + OMI who will be joining us at The Dorchester to host their second London Fashion Week show with us.
Design
Eco-Friendly Fashion With VIN + OMI
February 16, 2022
As they prepare to reveal the world’s first ‘plant leather’ garment made from chestnuts, we discover Vin and Omi’s impressive path to pioneering greater sustainability in fashion and beyond.
Dynamic duo
These two irrepressible designers run three studios and a charitable foundation. They have won numerous awards, dressed countless celebrities, hosted globally acclaimed fashion shows, manage numerous clean-up projects around the world, and have created eco-friendly fabrics from HRH Prince Charles’ nettles. Their creativity seems to know no bounds, yet sustainability is at the heart of everything they do. Having already pushed so many boundaries, we can only wonder what the future will hold for them. One thing is for sure, there’s plenty more to come from this groundbreaking pair.
Fashion pioneers
For London Fashion Week, VIN + OMI is launching the world’s first ‘plant leather’ garment made from chestnuts. The show will be hosted at The Dorchester and highlight a new way of working with waste plant material in a truly sustainable way. This project has been seven years in the making, but the durable and waterproof new fabric looks set to be a real game changer for the fashion industry.
We are not just a fashion label, we are an ideology
VIN + OMI
Designers in residence
A creative ideology
Although they both have a science scholarship, fashion is something Vin and Omi have almost fallen into, finding it the most effective means of challenging both industry and consumer perceptions about more sustainable ways of living. Their eye-catching designs are certainly not short of media coverage but staying true to their ideology is what matters to them the most. The VIN + OMI manifesto includes always looking for unique solutions to a problem and only working with companies and individuals that are trying to change for the benefit of the planet.
Leading by example
VIN + OMI challenges brands to think differently and aims to open people’s eyes to new ways of working. Collaborating with well-established brands is proving that adapting and innovating is the best way for companies to survive and thrive. We believe The Dorchester is a great example of this, where we are planning to reuse waste from nearby Hyde Park to produce blankets for the guestrooms, and create colourful scarves from the hotel’s waste plastic.
Working with royalty
Having established a shared commitment to acting for the good of the environment, Vin and Omi have learnt so much from HRH Prince Charles. He was the one who suggested to them the idea of making bog cotton, and part of their London Fashion Week collection includes textiles made from plant waste gathered from his Highgrove Estate. They are also working together on projects to help other UK country estates utilise their waste and provide sustainable solutions.
Collaboration is key
Through their careful collaborations, attitudes are changing as people realise they can make a difference. Vin and Omi possess the power to make sustainability fun, rather than guilt ridden. Authenticity is everything to them and it’s really paying off. Their garments hang in major museums, their research is being archived at the V&A, and everyone from Michelle Obama to Lady Gaga have worn their designs.
A difference at The Dorchester
As our designers in residence, watch this space to see what they bring to The Dorchester. After hosting the latest VIN + OMI fashion show in our beautiful ballroom, we’ll be working together on a number of sustainability initiatives throughout 2022. As well as the project to create scarves and blankets, they have designed a fabric print for us and we have a few other exciting ideas in the pipeline.
More like this
Collect Magazine
View the latest issue of Collect, our bi-annual magazine featuring a curated mix of culture, art and lifestyle, together with the latest news from Dorchester Collection hotels.