London’s young philanthropists and environmentalists came out in support at Oceana's "Fashions for the Future" event, which took place at London’s Phillips Auction House Thursday night.

During the runway portion of the event, designers showcased clothing created from re-purposed materials, including fishing nets. Designs were modeled by environmentally conscious models and young marine conservationists. Contributing designers included Christopher Raeburn, ADA + NIK, Rapanui, Auria London and Rose Fulbright.

"This event is a unique way to use fashion to support a cause that I truly believe in,” said co-host, Junior Ocean Council Chair Stephanie Bilet. "Oceana’s international approach to protecting our oceans is urgently needed, and fashion is a fun way to draw attention to this important work.”

Organized by Oceana’s Junior Council, the event benefited Oceana’s Save the Oceans; Feed the World campaign, focused on restoring ocean biodiversity and improving global food security.

Throughout the night, guests learned more about Oceana’s campaigns and victories: since its inception in 2001, Oceana has protected more than 1.2 million square miles of ocean and helped restore the population health of countless sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. Oceana is now active in countries that control close to a third of the world’s seafood catch.

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CEO Andy Sharpless highlighted the campaign to “save the oceans and feed the world,” noting the fact that improving ocean health not only allows for greater biodiversity, but also means that  fisheries can flourish, thereby providing a valuable food source for hungry people worldwide.

“Wild seafood can provide millions of people with a healthy source of protein every day,” Sharpless said. “But to feed these hungry people, we first have to restore the marine habitats that sustain fish populations. Oceana is leading the way in using smart, science-based strategies so that we can harness the extraordinary power of the ocean to feed us.”

Footwear executive Trisha Sweeney needs to wear comfortable shoes — a pair of pony hair flats by Carolinna Espinosa, to be exact — to make the rounds of the expansive industry trade shows such as those held last month in New York. As chief merchandising officer of the leading e-retailer, shoebuy.com, Sweeney walks the marketplace aisles searching for the next big trend as well as meeting with manufacturers to develop new business networks. With the Boston-based e-commerce site offering over a million different shoes, Sweeney tries to develop merchandise that appeals to a wide range of shoppers. “If you are looking for a black plain pump or a designer stiletto, we want to make sure you can find it as easily as possible and have a great online experience, “said Sweeney, who spoke with Globe correspondent Cindy Atoji Keene about building out the footwear e-retail site.

“I began my career as a sales manager at the Jordan Marsh Department Stores. Today, a couple decades later, it’s definitely a different world out there. There are some fundamental principles about my retail business approach that have not changed — integrity, customer satisfaction, responsiveness — but the space itself has changed, from brick and mortar to the Web.

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“We need to stay on the cutting edge, both on the merchant and the technology side. A new overhauled website was just launched with more user tools, consumer reviews, bigger images, and easier navigation. Shoebuy has a hybrid drop-ship model that allows us to carry a very broad assortment of styles, especially in narrow and wide size runs, even up to size 18.

“I love working with shoes — if you walked into my office, you’d see a lot of shoes, shoe boxes, hats, and purses. I think I’m pushing over 150 pairs of shoes in my closet at home. It’s both a perk and a hazard of my job.”

After a winter filled with freezing temperatures, mounds of snow, big puffy jackets, tall boots and toasty scarves, it’s finally getting to time to prepare for spring.

This might include dusting off sandals, taking out lighter spring clothes and, of course, shopping for some new additions to the wardrobe.

Popular spring colors

The use of color is very in this spring. Emilia Valle, director of the fashion program for The Art Institute of Seattle, described the trend as a “Pandora’s box,” or a variety of patterns and colors.

“There are so many different things going on,” she said, “there’s something for everyone.”

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Bright whites, blushes, pastels, olive green, and black and white are popular for spring.

“The pastels usually resonate for spring and summer fashion,” said Laura McDowell, the spokesperson for Marshalls and T.J. Maxx.

A strong, bright yellow color is “very huge for spring” as well as shades of red and orange, Valle added.

Both McDowell and Valle said they are also seeing a lot of floral patterns this spring. Floral pants, dresses, tops, hats, scarves; you name it, it’s probably been made with a floral pattern.

Oriental patterns are also trending, said Sara Petit, assistant professor and department coordinator of fabric styling for the Fashion Institute of Technology.

“Pajama and kimono shapes will be seen a lot,” said Petit.

Pajama and kimonos have more of a relaxed, comfortable look.

Spring styles and looks

Fringes, headbands, embroidered patches and feathers add to the Bohemian look this spring.

Valle describes the look as “very eclectic.” A variety of different pieces fringes, ruffles, flowers and flowing items can be added to make the look. She said the look also has a 1970s vibe in the prints and colors.

Crochet, flush tones, lace and floral make for a very feminine look, which is really popular said McDowell.

“Sheen and shine, sequins and metallic foil finishes will be everywhere as well as embroidery and jeweled trims,” said Petit.

Footwear

Metallic, neutral combinations are very much in this spring, said McDowell. The color combination between the metallic’s and neutrals makes a sandal, wedge or heel more versatile with your spring wardrobe.

“It seems like comfortable and fashionable shoes are in,” said McDowell.

Comfortable sandals, wedges, flats, and slip-ons are popular and stylish.

Don’t forget the gladiator-style sandals, because for another season they remain popular, Valle said.

Ankle boots, loafers with a square toe, platforms, are also trending for spring fashion.

Must haves for your closet

“A must have is a maxi dress,” said Valle.

Maxi dresses are typically floor length. Floral, solids, prints and color, any type of maxi dress is worth a purchase.

McDowell said layering the maxi dress is popular. Many are taking a “daytime dress” and wearing it to work with a blouse or jacket over it for more structure and versatility.

If you don’t own a pair already, Valle said to snag some Bermuda shorts, which she called “the short of the season.” Bermuda shorts fit just a hair below the knee, so they’re in-between a crop and shorts.

Tunics, wide-leg trousers, layering shirts and woven tops are other must-haves.

Handbags

“We’re seeing a lot of 70s trends like fringes and clutches are still popular,” said McDowell.

“Casual handbags are the biggest trend in terms of cross body and more slouchy.”

Other trends that are emerging this season with handbags are what Valle calls the “doctors bag” and the “bowling ball bag” which offers a more structured look than the slouchy, casual bags.

Accessories

Wide or skinny, any sized belts are trending. Belts are an added accessory to any outfit, and most popularly used with dresses.

“It’s more synching at the waist with belts,” said Valle.

Layered necklaces, gold, “boyfriend style-watches,” and fringe are also trendy, said 
McDowell.

A woman with a rare genetic disorder has defied the odds to become a top fashion model.

Melanie Gaydos was born with Ectodermal Dysplasia, a rare genetic disorder which causes abnormalities to hair, teeth and nails.

Talking about her symptons, Melanie explained: ‘Ectodermal Dysplasia means my pores are very small and I have very little body hair.’

She went on: ‘I only have three baby teeth at the moment… My baby teeth grew in and then they promptly started decaying.’

Melanie’s career started shortly after she moved to New York (Picture: Fred Attenborough / Barcroft USA )

But despite having the odds firmly stacked against her, the 26-year-old has forged a career as a top fashion model.

Melanie explained that her modelling career began shortly after she moved to New York City.

Melanie’s look has been described as fearless (Fred Attenborough / Barcroft USA )

She explained: ‘I ended up meeting and starting a lot of my fashion work based off of Craigslist because there were a lot of fashion photographers on there who were looking for models who didn’t have a stereotypical look.’

Melanie never dreamed her modelling career would take off as it has (Picture: Ruaridh Connellan / Barcroft USA)

Talking about her motivation for entering the world of modelling, Melanie explained: ‘I just started modelling as a means to learn more about myself – I never thought that it would journey into where it has today.’

But her career soon took off, and Melanie is now so popular that she works as an actress and model full time.

Melanie confided that she was bullied as a child (Picture: Fred Attenborough / Barcroft USA)

But although she’s now happy and successful, Melanie’s life wasn’t always so rosy.

She confided: ‘As a child I faced a lot of bullying and a lot of people stared at me.

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She went on: ‘When I was about 16 I was really depressed and suicidal I didn’t really want to live – I didn’t think that I would be alive past the age of 18.’

Apple’s ability to mesh technology with beautiful design will be put to the test when it finally releases the much-anticipated Apple Watch. The tech giant is taking a super-advanced piece of technology and packaging it as a fashion statement.

Although the iPhone-compatible wearable watch is still more than a month from its official release date, the hype is building among Apple enthusiasts and fashionistas alike as they anticipate the first product Apple has designed to be worn.

On April 24 this year, the new smartwatch will find its way on to store shelves in a dazzling variety of colours and styles to trump even the options for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. There will be 38 Apple Watch choices with a range of changeable faces – including an animated Mickey Mouse face. Apple says the watch is designed to be “highly customisable for personal expression”, allowing the owner to make a unique statement.

The watch is all about personalisation, even more so than previous Apple products, which have sported various colour possibilities plus the option of engraving the iPhone, iPod and iPad, which will also be available for the watch. With six band types and 18 interchangeable colours, you can don the sport band for a gym session and switch effortlessly to the Milanese loop for a night out.

Wearable technology

But is the world ready for wearable technology? We can hardly forget the moment when fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg put Google Glass on the runway in 2012.

But the Google Glass project is currently on hold. This head-mounted optical display was seen as somewhat dorky, giving rise to the opinion that technology belongs on our desks and not on our bodies.

So the question remains: will the Apple Watch succeed as a fashion item in a way that Google Glass has not? The emphasis on creating a fashionable product is readily apparent, with Apple leaning heavily on fashion insiders and retail gurus throughout the development phase. Apple is betting big on the success of its watch.

Apple’s senior vice president of design, Jony Ive, even introduced the device to iconic designer Karl Lagerfeld and a 12-page spread is reportedly being prepared for Vogue.

In case we needed further evidence that Apple is taking the fashion aspect seriously, super model Christy Turlington Burns appeared alongside Apple CEO Tim Cook to spruik the watch. She went so far as to call the Apple Watch a chic fashion accessory at the official launch.

The price of design

Given the emphasis on luxury, it is perhaps not surprising that the Apple Watch comes with a designer price tag for the 18-karat solid gold edition, which also has a top-of-the-line computer inside it. Apple says prices for these top-of-the-range models start from A$14,000.

For those of us who are not prepared to take out a loan on what is essentially a piece of jewellery, the entry-level Apple Watch Sport with its aluminium body and rubber strap starts at A$499 for the 38mm version and A$579 for the 42mm.

One step up from there is the Apple Watch, which has a A$799 or A$879 price tag for the 38mm and 42mm versions respectively.

Depending on the band you choose, be it classic leather or the Milanese loop, expect to pay up to A$1629. Apple has never been shy of setting premium prices.

What can the watch do?

Given the hefty price tag, you may well be inclined to ask: what does the Apple Watch actually do (after telling you the time)? Quite simply, the watch aims to get us moving.

Like the Fitbit -— an early leader in the fitness tracking market -— the Apple Watch is an activity tracker that counts our steps and measures our heart rate. And let’s not forget, it’s also a timekeeper and rather novel communication device.

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Despite similar products on the market, Apple is betting that it can do it better, thanks to its ecosystem of hardware, software and services. Coupled with a loyal fan base and the watch’s status as a fashion item, Apple is likely to be on to another winner in terms of sales.

But despite its potential to help us achieve our fitness goals and perhaps curb obesity rates in Australia (three in five adults and one in four Aussies children are overweight), will we see Apple move from a well-loved consumer brand to the next big name in fashion?

There does seem to be a convergence of technology with fashion.