Design a t-shirt competition…

Democracy is the most popular thing in the world ( after food and sex ) ..and yet we can hardly be bothered with it, even if it only asks for a tad of attention every 5 years. British democracy is arguably our finest export (altho’ you could argue that Football is running it a close second) and its more than just something to be proud of.

I’ve spent a lot of years  travelling, mostly in Asia, and I can tell you that when a country doesn’t have democracy, or its democracy gets  run down  by some corrupt dudes with bad dress sense (and i’m not talking about chits for Garden Furniture appearing on their claims slips) then life can get real shitty for the common people.

I’m telling you democracy may seem a bit boring to you now, but try the alternative and you’ll soon realise its the dogs bollox ! – seriously, I’m honoured to have the chance to support a campaign like THINK ACT VOTE -  its the rock on which all campaigns about everything else are built on… So,
pay attention folks, your future will soon be wrote..
-  Joe Komodo Says …Think Act Vote !

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“Think Act Vote is a project to give us all the opportunity to share the positive choices we would make if only we got the chance.

Think Act Vote was started by a group of friends whose backgrounds are in ethical fashion, politics and design. What brought them together was a shared frustration about the negative view of politics held by so many people in the UK today and an ambition to do something about it – creating a community around the choices we make for our future.

You are invited to take part…

Think Act Vote are searching for the perfect design to make a print t-shirt championing their campaign from up and coming designers, artists and illustrators.

An online public vote will determine a shortlist of 10 designs.

The ultimate winner will be decided by the Think Act Vote judging panel, made up from some of the best-known faces in ethical fashion and design, including ethical hero Katherine Hamnett, celebrated illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve, the original ‘anti-preneur’, Cyndi Rhoades and our very own… the right honourable… judge Joe Komodo.

The winning design will be produced by Komodo and will available to purchase online and in selected shops across the UK.”

For more information and to enter the competition visit > thinkactvote.org

TwentyTen – here we go again…

Already I’m back into the swing of fashion shows – Paris this week, Berlin last… Minus 9 degrees one day BRRrrrrr. Shows have been ok tho’.. Everyone likes the new autumn/winter ‘10 collection , so that’s a reason to be cheerful… That and French food.

Spent the start of Jan back in Kathmandu. I’m not usually there at that time but I decided my mens range needed a shot in the arm and I’m glad I went. It was good to be there off the usual schedule. Not to mention watching the worst of the uk blizzards on BBC world whilst enjoying the sunny days and clear views of the Himalayas from our factories roof.

Best Komodo news, besides a cracking winter range, is that our main factory who we’ve worked with for 18 years just got its SA8000 certificate for human rights in the work place. Its the only factory in Nepal to have one and if you only knew how much political bullshit is going on there you’d be doubly impressed !

Most interesting world news for me is this new confrontation between Google and the Chinese goverment. I’m really hoping Google stand up to resist the chinese attacks on human rights activists by stealing so much info after hacking into their site. Let’s hope the stay true to their strong and simple moto “Don’t be evil !”

Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama’s representatives have gone back to Beijing for talks with the Chinese government. In the past these talks have been a waste of everyone’s time as they only want to continue their oppressive domination of the Tibetan colony, but there is a glimmer of hope that they may wish to offer a little compromise this time…  I really hope so, the situation in Tibet is really grim ..but Don’t hold your breath …

For now we need to get the selling season off to a great start and clear space in the warehouse for spring stuff. I know it sounds ridiculous, with snow still melting across the uk …but then so is creme eggs at xmas and yet …some folks are loopy !

- keep smiling … Joe Komodo ..

Book launch…

The launch for my Book at the Eco-Age store was really fun, ‘though I was a bit nervous on the run up. Wasn’t really sure how it would go, having never done this sort of thing before. You worry if anyone will come, if anyone will like the poems…l ike it might all just be a bit crap! But on the night the place was packed, and people to seemed to love the poems being read out, even people who’d heard them before seemed to get them in a new light in this atmosphere.

It was great that the cool journo’ Rageh Omaar was there to read the fist poem after me, which really got the night rolling. He was a great guest to have and he really loved the book. Rageh is someone I’ve seen for years on my TV  all around the world and so it was an honour to have him in my corner on this – I’m a big fan !

Our Hostess Olivia Firth was a brilliant mistress of ceremonies full of Italian charm and tho’ it was a shame hubby Colin was called away to collect a humanitarean award in LA, we still had other great guests like Elizabeth McGovern and good folks from the WWF and National Geographic. Anyway, the press people were impressed and lots of people bought copies of the book and prints. It was great fun signing them. I can’t understand why celebrities maon about signing autographs – it’s a lot of fun, you get to have a 30 second interaction with people and hope to leave them something they’ll remember. It’s a challenge actually to entertain them but I guess it’s a big ego boost too.

We all ended up in the pub and it was a nice feeling that everyone told me the evening had been a success … phew !

So, now I have to wait and hope the press write nice things and we get to sell some books. I’ve printed 1,000 copies and realised that tho’ the books look great, hand made in Nepal, its not a very profitable way to sell books – so i dont plan to make any more like this ! So far, so good as they are starting to sell and make people smile and think hopefully. Anyway, they’re out there….   and so am I… in Kathmandu these days making up the next winters collection…

- got to get back on track ..  c-ya!

My poem book - "Famous last words" with illustrations by Toby Leigh

Virgin blogger…

Saying goodbye to the summer is never great… but its been a good ‘un so I mustn’t grumble. We saw our Komodo styles selling well across most of Europe and it feels like there is a growing concern from more people in more countries to wear clothes that have honest roots, so that’s a reason to be cheerful.

We had some fun at Glastonbury this season with our special edition John Peel T-shirts which we were very honoured to be asked to make by UK homelessness charity Shelter. We found no shortage of Muso’s and colourful Festivalarians who wanted to sport the iconic image of the great Scouse selector …it was a great session !  (I have a few of these shirts leftover which you can buy >here<)

BLOC PARTYs Kele Okereke - John Peel stage, Glastonbury 2009. Photo Tom Bunning

Guess who... John Peel t-shirt by KOMODO for SHELTER, Glastonbury 2009

On the global weather front it’s been a bit cloudy… it’s been sad to follow the news of the Kangaroo Court in Rangoon, but its what we’ve come to expect from their Goons and the World leaders look away in shame. Life in Tibet has become tougher and tighter under the brutal Chinese occupation. Nepal struggles with her political stalemate, but we hope for better times for our favourite hills… At least Joanna Lumley brought them some grand news after her sterling campaign.

Bali had a good tourist summer which is so important for them and although the world is trying to recover from a heavy dose of economic flu, you’d not know it if you stood on Kuta Beach! Greenpeace tell me on their newsletter they’ve saved a big chunk of the Amazon from cattle ranchers as they continue to fight the good fight.

Coming up soon, as we deliver all our chunky jumpers into the shops, is a big snow storm – we hope ! We’ve got some new talent in our team contributing to our new collection, so we hope that makes hay and I’m soon to finally have a fancy launch do for my poem book… It’s a strange thing to throw out a book when your supposed to make clothes and you do certainly wonder if it’s any good or if people are just being polite !! …but hey, you only live a few times so, er.. spin a few rhymes…

Well, hope that covers it for a virgin blog… I’m ready for my lunch now !
Be nice…