Chinti and Parker

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About

Cousins Anna Singh and Rachael Wood launched Chinti and Parker in October 2009 with a clear mission: to create beautiful, ethically-made garments that value style on par with substance. Super-soft fabrics, flattering cuts and a palette that combines key neutrals with fashion-conscious colourways and prints has become the brand’s blueprint, providing the building blocks of the perfect capsule wardrobe.

Conscious Cloth

Using high quality natural materials that are chosen for both their inherent beauty and ethical consideration, Chinti and Parker clothing spells a new era of style and luxury. One that is built on integrity and sustainability, and one which far outlives seasonal trends.

Materials

Production decisions always consider the beauty and quality of a garment in line with ethical and environmental concerns. All jersey (cotton, bamboo and cotton-cashmere) is produced in Portugal, and cotton jersey is 100% organic except for grey marl. Cashmere is made in Italy from fine Italian yarns and woven cotton pieces are produced in both Portugal and India. The latter is a step that supports local industry and growth in this developing country, where both Anna and Rachael have family.

Transparency and Responsibility 

Each garment comes with a tag stating its individual ethical credentials, so you can see clearly whether it’s organic, fair trade or made within the EU.

In order to limit unwanted environmental damage, Chinti and Parker actively offsets carbon emissions as outlined by the Carbon Neutral Company and in so doing has been certified carbon neutral.

 

CONSCIOUS CLOTH

At Chinti and Parker we have a clearly defined mission: to marry beautiful clothing that slips seamlessly into existing wardrobes with environmentally and ethically kind production wherever possible.

All our cotton-jersey is made from 100% organic cotton, certified by GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard. The only exception is the grey marl, which due to its inherent blend of threads is too weak to successfully produce the ultra lightweight quality we desire. As techniques evolve, we hope this will change. We have, however, pledged from the beginning that production values are to be considered in balance with the overall quality and beauty of a garment.

In the case of Bamboo-Seacell jersey range, itʼs been an instant love affair of style and ethics. Bamboo is highly sustainable with tactile properties akin to silk (it literally pours over your skin) while Seacell is an entirely eco-friendly fibre, made from wood pulp and seaweed. The perfect fabric choice for our dresses where beautiful drape is key.

Our knitwear is made from the finest Italian cashmere, produced by a family-run business in Mauritius. Though not organic, it has been chosen for its sustainability and superior quality, while its production location has been chosen for its rare craftsmanship and care – the reason we work with The Carbon Neutral Company to offset our garmentsʼ travel, thus keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum.

While we actively search for a source of certified organic cashmere, we have been careful not to overlook the details, as we firmly believe every little helps: every piece of knitwear boasts hand-finished details with natural trims. Even our buttons are made from Corozo, a palm nut that is both highly sustainable and exceptionally hard-wearing.

One of the most wasteful and environmentally damaging aspects of all retail is packaging, which though admired for a second, typically ends up in landfill. For this reason weʼve chosen to keep things minimal. Each Chinti and Parker garment arrives in its own organic cotton envelope, made by Teddy Exports, a fair trade co-operative from the Tamil Nadu region of Southern India. Theyʼre rather lovely and happily live on as shoe bags or protective pockets for delicate pieces in your wardrobe.

 

The Chinti and Parker girl has two lives for Spring Summer 2013. One takes in the quotidian demands of life in the city, while the other embodies a carefree spirit of long days spent in the open, reconnecting with life’s simpler pleasures.

The biggest story of the season is colour. Parrot blue, spring green and watermelon pack a vibrant punch, while bluebird, moss and palest ecru form a gentle and sympathetic backdrop. The palette sets the dualistic pace of the perfect spring summer wardrobe.

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Bluebird Polka Box Tee Navy and Cream Polka Cotton Cardigan 

Also making its mark is pattern, with hand-drawn irregular checks lending an urbane edge to 50’s feel day dresses, drawstring pants and petite collared blouses. Tiny squares sharpen the classic ditsy print and are seen on simple tees and blouses. Match printed separates for a modern fashion look or go classic-eclectic with contrasting patterns and colours.

Spots and stripes remain a tour de force. New spotty pieces include poplin dresses and gathered skirts embroidered with delicate dots, while boyish classic, the Oversize T, is freshened up with a tiny polka – proof that a hint of print is as versatile as any plain. Perennially cool, Breton stripes are updated in the season’s distinctive new palette with both bold and neutral combinations.

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Moss/Bluebird + Gold Stripe Cardigan Gold/Ivory Irregular Check 50’s Dress 

Lovers of the ‘wear anywhere dress’ will delight in the expanse of options. Coolly elegant maxis in bamboo jersey will see you from office to art opening and beach to dinner. Likewise, midis, notably a T-shirt dress with a hint of ruffle at the waist, promise style with mileage. For fresh and sweet, look to the cotton Schoolgirl and Cami dress in linen jersey, both easy dresses that don’t warrant a second thought once on.

Shorts make a welcome debut with a classic boy cut in pale wide-striped cotton canvas. Blending effortlessly with a simple tee or to balance the soft new ruffle trim tops on offer, they traverse town to country in a coltish stride.

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Navy/Cream Cotton Polka Sweater Spring Green Cotton Dot Skirt 

Masters of seasonal knitwear, the new range is exceptionally well versed. Leading the way are textured cotton knits in boxy and oversize styles, while the iconic One Pocket Sweater in cashmere has been updated in seven new colourways. Ultra light Worsted cashmere now comes in oversize V and crew-neck sweaters and classic intarsia motif, the polka dot, has been reinvented in delicate hues with stars replacing patches as elbow decoration de jour. The statement is most definitely in the details.

 

Modern art’s love of minimal shapes and free mark-making, is a mine of inspiration for Chinti and Parker’s Autumn Winter 2013 collection. Orderly stripes, scattered triangles, irregular handmade marks and shocks of high voltage colour set against a prettily muted palette of dusky pink, indigo blue and clay, create a visually striking collection.

Stripes appear more refined and confident than ever; wide horizontal bands cover the simplest Roll neck Sweater in ultra fine cashmere, and give clout to full-skirted cotton dresses, while intarsia sweaters with carefully aligned strips of colour have an optical allure that you can’t take your eyes off.

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Printed Chambray Button Through Dress 

Triangles offer further visual magic. Small gridded formations decorate the neckline and cuffs of cashmere sweaters for interest that doesn’t overpower, while larger scattered triangles on crewneck knits and sharp cotton pants make for a bolder sartorial statement.

Softening the geometric strictness, is Big Tooth and Little Tooth, large and small scales of a print created from handmade marks. Sweet shirt dresses, chinos, button-back blouses with Peter Pan collars and cotton skating skirts all come in this charming print, whose expressionist irregularity is the perfect discord to modernist lines and sharp edges. Similarly, beautifully constructed Aran knits provide a soft organic texture that buffers the collection’s over-arching graphic intensity.

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Navy and Cream Diamond Print Pocket T Navy Mirror Fleck Trousers 

Mirror fleck and piping make their debut this season and lend classic garments such as mannish trousers speckled with silver, and feminine blouses edged in navy, an element of surprise and originality that does not tire. Likewise, subtle ‘hot spots’ of neon yellow and pink on the cuffs or pockets of a neutral sweater or cardigan keep timeless styles firmly in the moment.

With its unique blend of classicism and directional pattern and colour choices, Chinti and Parker Autumn Winter 2013 promises enduring relevance in terms of both style and wearability; a quality that is arguably the end goal of all art.

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Grey Interlock A-Line Dress Navy Roll Neck Sweater 

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Cream and Navy Tooth Print Shirt Navy and Cream Triangle Intarsia Sweater Taupe and Navy Tooth Print Chinos 

For more info visit www.chintiandparker.com

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