Browsing: Fashion

One of the chief criticisms of the burgeoning eco-fashion scene has been the relative dearth of stylish options for all the fellas out there. The fact is, even the most eco conscious chap with only the vaguest interest in style can’t help but feel a little put out when a hunt for an eco-friendly t-shirt can only produce a motheaten number that looks like something from a primary school nativity.

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Peaches Geldof lives her life in the limelight. As the daughter of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates, Peaches has had a high profile right from day one, and as one of the UK’s most prolific socialites she’s rarely out of the glossy mags.

Some people might be tempted to criticise her for having life handed to her on a plate, but today we’re applauding Miss Geldof for going the extra mile. Proving that she’s listened to some of the lessons that her dad’s work has taught her, Peaches has been working alongside one of our favourite fair trade jewellery manufacturers, Made, to design and produce a fabulous new range of handmade fairly traded jewellery which we think really hits the spot.

In Peaches’ own words:

“I like Made because it’s ethical yet this doesn’t compromise the fashionable status of their collections…the handmade attention to detail adds something special to each piece created.”

This bold, bright and stylish range was inspired by warm summer days and daisy chains. It’s the perfect way to jazz up your summer wardrobe as the days (slowly!) start to get a little warmer.

Photo via: peachesgeldof.net

I like clothes and I like shopping for them but over Christmas I looked at my wardrobe and decided enough was enough; no more fast fashion, and I’ve been looking for guilt free shopping alternatives ever since.

I’ve adopted the following Fashion rules

• Do I really need a new…..?
• Will I wear it more then once?
• Is it really worth the cash?
• Is it well made?
• And no more fast fashion-stores; Primark being at top of my list.

In January my first initiative was actually selling old clothes which I no longer wear on ebay and using the money to either buy vintage items that I couldn’t usually afford, expanding the organic fibres in my wardrobe or saving the money for a rainy day. This has been working brilliantly as I’ve sold in total 22 items and made some shrewd purchases including a pair of Vintage Terry de Havilland wedges. I’ve only had to make a couple of trips to the post office and in the process cleared space in my wardrobe and am now the proud owner of a great pair of shoes with some cash put aside for that rainy day.

In February I attended a

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What am I?

The Spring People Tree catalogue has just plopped onto my door mat and my Fairtrade Fortnight pledge has come up trumps – what better way to stick to buying only organic and fair trade products than to revamp my wardrobe? The sun is shining, spring is in the air and ethical retail therapy is about to work its magic!

Living off organic and fair trade produce for the past week has proved surprisingly easy. Homemade lemon drizzle cake and banana bread have lifted spirits and won over some hearts. Trips to Asda, Sainsburys and Marks and Spencers have kept hunger from the door. Looking forward to rich pickings in the Co-op tomorrow – apparently the price of all fair trade products is currently reduced by 20%. Of course, my husband’s Lenten pledge puts mine in the shade (not that there’s any sense of competitiveness there, of course!), and all of this is certainly raising awareness in our household and provoking much discussion.

Example of discussion:
Young daughter: That’s garbage, that is.(pointing to organic fruit and veg box)
Ethical Mum: Don’t be silly, sweetie. (secretly sympathising with this view when observing the amount of

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It’s halfway through half term and my life is overwhelmed with children.
With no time or energy to think about anything else, I focus my thoughts on children and the question that my Dad puts to me on a regular basis – “Just what exactly are you teaching your children?”

As parents, we put the education of our children in the hands of their school teachers, football coaches, Brownie leaders, Sunday School teachers and Youth Club organisers. And then do we sit back and think “Job done.”? Maybe, maybe not.

But what exactly are we teaching our children?

Have we failed when our teenage son knows what we think of Primark and yet can’t resist the lure of cheap clothing?
Should we feel pleased our 16 year old has been moved by “Slumdog Millionaire” or outraged that he watched it on a pirate DVD?
What do we do when the selfish enjoyment of ten minutes in the shower outweighs all environmental and financial concerns?

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The founder, designer and director of Fifi Bijoux, Vivien Johnston, is a leading light in the world of ethical jewellery production – she believes in setting a gold standard through her choice of Fairly Trading suppliers and the eco-friendly and sustainable manner of production. What’s all the more significant is that she’s been creating such a stir that in recent months she’s been invited to speak with and spread her wisdom to some of the biggest names in the gold and diamond mining industry. Fifi Bijoux is working on getting the word out on ethical jewellery production; how it should be done and the undeniably beneficial consequences. In this post Vivien writes about her  experiences during 2008 and what’s been happening in the world of ethical jewellery.

“This New Year, my resolution is to find those little spaces in the hectic pace of life. Those moments when you feel nothing but sheer delight and catch precious times with friends from afar or family you wish you could see more of.”

Technorati Profile

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It’s getting towards that time of year…with only four weekends left until Christmas the shops are rammed, and everyone around me seems to be at least halfway through their Christmas shopping whereas I have hardly even begun.

A rising onset of panic has prompted my quest for the ultimate Christmas gift – something that will give rise to the appropriate ‘ooohs’ and ‘ahhhs’ upon being opened, but something that is more than a disposable knickknack or curiosity. I’m looking for something that with ethics and a story but which won’t break the bank, and of course has that extra bit of wow factor.

It was with these thoughts in mind that I came across The Leaky Collection, a fabulous little range of jewellery with an interesting story, making it much more than what meets the eye. The collection features some really lovely wooden bracelets and necklaces which won’t fail to be a hit, but the real winner come in the form of the Zulu Grass strands – colourful and versatile jewellery which is ethical and ecologically sound to boot.

Read the rest of The quest for the ultimate Christmas gift. »

Nvey Eco Selection Box

The party season is almost upon us and we all want to look our best; however as the cold weather draws in, memories of summer holidays and healthy looking sun-kissed skin are but a vague memory. We’ve all heard the clichés and deep down we know that beauty is only skin deep, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be looking after it – after all, your skin plays a crucially important role in protecting all that’s inside from all that’s on the outside.

According to the Green Beauty Bible, as many as 63% of us have sensitive skin. This is partially due to the chemicals in our environment, an enormous global issue to be addressed internationally. However the other significant contributing factor is the sheer number of chemicals that we consume voluntarily ourselves, rubbing, massaging and dusting them into our pores in the guise of moisturisers, concealers, lipsticks and eyeshadows to name but a few of the culprits.

The cruel irony is that a huge majority of the beauty and skin nourishing products on the market today sold to improve our skin are in fact packed full of chemicals and synthetic ingredients which just aren’t good for us. After much negative press coverage, the majority of more savvy cosmetic companies have realised that paraben-free products are the way forwards, however it shouldn’t stop there.

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See photo credit at the bottom of this post.

With London Fashion Week kicking off today, the beautiful, the big, the brash and the bold will be amassing in the capital, ready to strut their stuff.

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OLD AEROPLANE SEATS, USED MILITARY MATERIALS AND DISCARDED GLASTONBURY TENTS…

You’d be excused for thinking that these would be the kind of items you’d see in a Junk Shop or even at the dump, however the innovative thinkers at Worn Again have snatched up this array of random items, combined them with even more wacky bits of waste, and seen them as an opportunity!

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