Vivienne Westwood and Marie Claire launch eco-friendly collaboration.

Vivienne Westwood and fashion magazine, Marie Claire, have joined forces to launch an exciting global project promoting awareness of deforestation.

To support the recent announcement by the UN General Assembly that the year 2011 as the International Year of Forests, the international fashion guru has designed a limited edition T-shirt dress exclusively for Marie Claire international readers.

Westwood, who is not only known for her daring designs, but also for her support of the current trend to up-cycle clothing, urges shoppers to “buy less, and choose well”.

Fair Trade clothing company, People Tree, who only use 100% organic fair trade cotton for their hand-made garments, have worked with Westwood to produce the dress.

Not only can wearers of the dress be happy in its eco-friendliness, but will also be pleased that proceeds from the sales will go towards supporting tribes in Bangladesh, whose lives have been endangered by deforestation.

The collaboration will combine the sale of the dress with a special rainforest editorial section, with Westwood herself as the guest editor.  It will be published in 24 editions of Marie Claire that will be available this month.

The limited edition Vivienne Westwood t-shirt dress is available to buy from www.peopletree.co.uk , retailing at £28 each.  For every dress sold, £7 will go towards helping forest tribes survive deforestation.