Melanie Jones in Good Housekeeping Magazine January 2018

I had the pleasure to be featured in January 2018’s issue of Hearst’s Good Housekeeping Magazine, as one of five women chosen for a real-life feature titled 2018 Our Year To Shine!

Melanie Jones Good Housekeeping Magazine Jan 2018

Melanie Jones in Good Housekeeping Magazine January 2018

All of our journeys were different. We all had faced challenging times and are now looking forward to a new year and chose it as our time for a fresh start. Our stories ranged from death and becoming a carer to a parent (Sarah-Jane), surviving breast cancer (Juliet), achieving the desired weight loss (Kathryn), a career change later in life (Jenni) to letting go and moving forward after a painful divorce (me).

Melanie Jones PR, Good Housekeeping Magazine,

Melanie Jones founder of Melanie Jones PR featured in Good Housekeeping Magazine, Hearst Magazine

All these experiences are not the easiest to talk about and share let alone publically. Yet collectively we agreed the process was cathartic. It allowed us to process, let go and share the burden. Sharing our stories allowed us to demonstrate that life and business don’t require perfection but resilience, the willingness to take on challenges, grow with and learn from them and share the process in the hope that we may learn from one another.

We are all vulnerable and survivors in many ways. Showing our humanity makes us relatable and able to connect. It’s the relief of recognising, “Oh my, she struggled too! She made it out the other end! She achieved and is achieving her goals despite or maybe even because of what life is throwing at her! I C-A-N do it too!” The stories of my fellow interviewees moved, encouraged, inspired, and motivated me.

The feature included a bit of each of our journeys but we were also treated to some major pampering, and breakfast and a delicious lunch. And most of all a makeover prior to the photoshoot. I was invited to Charlotte Mensah’s award-winning salon The Hair Lounge in Portobello on a Friday and in true VIP style, a car was sent to deliver me. There I was treated by the amazing hair stylist herself who to a contouring colour technique and highlights to sections of my hair. Of course, I couldn’t leave without her coveted award-winning Manketti Oil. The actual shoot took place the following week.

Arriving first thing I entered the Hearst headquarters and was directed upstairs to a large studio space.

I was greeted by buzzing activity but a very warm and friendly team; one of the most personable beauty editors I have come across Gillian Davies, the Bare Minerals make-up team Liz and Georgina, nail technician Tracy Dudziak at Opi and the hair team headed by the wonderful celebrity hair guru Laurence Close, one of the nicest people to meet.

Stylist Emma Bigger managed to surprise me with items I would have never considered but absolutely adored as she pulled my look together. Liam Duke managed to get all of us ladies comfortable and relaxed in front of his camera and captured some beautiful images.

Check out Good Housekeeping Magazine here: http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/news/mary-berry-christmas-tips-january-cover-star

Melanie Jones, Good Housekeeping, Melanie Jones PR, Mary Berry

Front Cover of Good Housekeeping Magazine with TV chef Mary Berry inside real-life feature on Melanie Jones founder of Melanie Jones PR

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José Hendo

José Hendo – Designer With A Conscience

José Hendo winner of the Radical Designer Award and shortlisted for BEFFTA’s Female Designer, describes herself as ‘a designer with a conscience’.

Her most prolific work to date is “Resonance”, designed out of barkcloth, beautifully sculptured gowns echoing Japanese cutting and tailoring. This collection enjoyed its debut on-schedule February 2012 at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week as part of the Ubuntu Project.

Recognised by UNESCO the manufacturing process of barkcloth dates back to the 15th century. Historically the fabric of ancient Ugandan kings, it remains a valued wedding gift to brides and in-laws. She says “My dream is to make bark cloth work alongside mainstream fabrics.”

Hendo’s adheres to the mantra of the three Rs – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. ‘Resonance’ collection explores a new way of dressing and thinking about clothes. Without metal snap, plastic fastener or buttons the garments are completely biodegradable. Sculpted with architectural precision Hendo’s wearable art may be worn in many ways and change with each wearing – and with each wearer – by ingenious pulley system hidden or aesthetically incorporated into the designs.

Whilst she works within an ethical/ecological context she refuses to be pigeonholed as an eco-designer or ethical. “I am simply a designer with a conscience.”

The label supports Bridging the Gap, a Ugandan charity supporting orphaned children and patronizes thrift shops similarly sustaining children’s charities.

José Hendo facilitates workshops and is currently planning on delivering a project within a secondary High School.

On the 28th of July 2011, the label was invited to UK launch of the Nnabagereka Development Foundation (NDF), the initiative of the Royal Highness Queen of Bugunda Sylvia Nagginda Luswata where Resonance was presented to the queen.

Passionately conscious of the times and inspired by the world around us the label uses eco-friendly fabrics as much as possible, creating unique one-off pieces, from organic barkcloth, cotton, used garments such as suits, denim, wedding dresses etc.

José Hendo promotes the use of organic, untreated raw and recycled materials to support ethical trading, fair working conditions and raising awareness about the environmental issues affected by the fashion industry.

Through sustainable fashion José Hendo wants to make a positive contribution to society. This is clearly demonstrated via José Hendos apprenticeships, work experience and workshops as a way of giving back to the community, whilst also creating awareness of sustainable fashion. Furthermore each sale made also sees a percentage given to charity.

The studio also produces garments for other designers including samples, complete collections shown at London Fashion Week and small production runs sold in boutiques and outlets such as TOPSHOP.

www.joseworld.com

Photograph by Oliver Morris

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