Archive for the ‘Ethical fashion’ Category

3 is the magic number…

Friday, October 7th, 2011

I have recently come across a lovely new boutique and online ethical store call Magic Number Three.

Magic Number Three (MN3) is an independent fashion boutique that features seasonal collections by leading ethical designer brands. MN3 provides conscientious style choices for a discerning clientele, including luxury local tweeds, upcycled everyday wear, workwear separates in organic fabrics, and statement occasionwear made in the UK.

The store has some lovely pieces and it’s now firmly marked in my Favourites list!

Plus coming up this week the store is running a Week Of Fashion. This will involve a whole week of fashion events to celebrate the MN3 sponsorship of Leeds Fashion Show and to showcase just how this ethical womenswear boutique is making change for good in fashion.

The full programme listing can be found at www.magicnumberthree.co.uk/whatson

There looks to be some fantastic ethical fashion events so if you are in the Yorkshire area, take a look at the link above to see what’s on and when.

 

http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shoes/wedges/PRDOVR~49152/49152.jsp

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Ethical Summer Wardrobe

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

How nice have the recent bouts of sunshine been?!

When the sun is shining, life always seems so much brighter!

For those of you have lovely summer holidays booked either abroad or in the UK (lucky you!) then I have picked a few of my favourite ethical summer buys!

My next holiday is sadly not until September, so these holiday buys will be sat in my suitcase for a good few weeks to come! Roll on holidays!


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Alexandra’s holiday picks!

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Today I have picked a few of my favourite Biome holiday products. All of them are ethically sourced and made with care. Add a unique extra to your suitcase this summer!

Travel Lingerie Bag – keep all your under garments together in this lovely little bag

Lingerie bag

Lightweight cotton kimono – perfect for covering up for breakfast on the balcony!

kimono

Single roll-up bed - If you are going camping, then this fantastic roll-up bed will be extra comfy for your kids!

roll up bed - group

Posted in Biome Lifestyle, Eco-tourism, Ethical fashion | 6 Comments »

EKOsense

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

I love it when I come across a like minded, ethical company selling great products! Yesterday I was contacted by EKOsense, who sell some wonderful organic clothing.

I am very tempted by their lovely yoga trousers (may spur me into going to my classes more too!) as well as their twisted wrap. Their website says “EKO Sense is a new organic clothing company, creating truly ethical and luxurious clothing that reflects the laid-back beauty that Cornwall is famous for, by producing casual essentials in the kindest of fabrics.”

yoga trousers

Sounds and looks good to me!

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This weeks stories

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Here are my favourite ethical & lifestyle stories of the week…

joelI was reading about Joel Henriques this week. Joel is an artist in Portland, Oregon who creates many different things from mobiles to paintings. All his products are carefully and skilfully made by hand – you can even watch his YouTube videos that show his work up close and personal, with some videos even show him making it. Fantastic!

 01-gold-bar

Announced today, Gold will be the new commodity to be eligible for a Fairtrade certification. Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) launch the first ever third party independent certification for gold, opening up market opportunities for millions of impoverished small-scale miners and their families. When questioned, customers buying jewellery claimed that, partly because it is an expensive and often significant item, it would hold more value to them if it was also fairly traded.

Talking of jewellery… I have also read about (via Daisy Green) the beautiful new collection necklaces, earrings, bangles and rings made from 100% recycled silver. The range melds the best Nepalese cultural forms with contemporary style and the best traditional craftsmanship. Part of the Yamuna Collection by Annabel Panes, it combines CRED’s excellence in design and ethics with Nepali artisanal craftsmanship, as each piece is handmade by our friends the Harigni Cooperative.

This beautiful range of 100% recycled silver jewellery includes the first ever Oro Verde Fair Trade gold plate, resulting in a stunning combination of colours and finishes. It is my birthday coming up soon so I now know what will be on my list!

silver_large

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My Organic Cotton Jeans…

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

I decided I was in need of a new pair of jeans for work and after receiving the Howie’s catalogue (and loving it!), I thought a trip down Carnaby Street to the Howie’s store was in order… The Howie’s store is a lovely little place, full of their great ethical designs. One pair of organic cotton jeans happily purchased.

Fella Jeans - Howies

Fella Jeans - Howies

The jeans label proves very interesting reading about organic cotton, which I thought I would share with you…

- The average cotton T-shirt contains only 73% cotton. The rest is made up of resins and chemicals that were used to grow and make it.
- In America last year, farmers applied 53 million pounds of toxic pesticides to cotton fields.
- Cotton is the most sprayed crop – using over a quarter of all insecticides used today.
- This is obviously not good for the farmer’s health, the water table’s health, the factory workers health, the sea’s health…

Howie’s organic cotton costs about 30% more than normal cotton however as it’s worn close to your skin, for many hours at a time, it seems to me that it is clearly worth the difference in price.

Fascinating stuff! Thank you Howie’s for the lovely jeans and the very interesting reading!

Fella jeans - Howies

Fella jeans - Howies

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This week’s green news – The Recessionista iPhone cover, Urban Agri-tecture, LFW couture recycling…

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

 This quirky Recession iPhone Case is proving to be a popular recession beating accessory! Made from recycled cardboard the Recession iPhone Case aims to take a more light-hearted approach to these serious and somewhat depressing times.

iphone

It has been another great year for sustainability at London’s 100% Design, the UK’s leading architecture and design event. Some of the finds from this year’s event included flooring made from old belts, deer horns turned into mosaic tiles and beautiful basins made from coconut shells…  coconut

Sustainability and ethical fashion was prevalent at this year’s London Fashion Week, with a dedicated area to eco and fair-trade clothing. We particularly like Jasper Garvida recycled couture. The designer styled Asahi bottle tops in to embellishments on dresses in his collections creating an exciting ‘Couture Recycling’ collaboration between the two brands.

Jasper1

I have recently read about MetaboliCity – who aims for London and other cities to “metabolize its resources and waste to supply its inhabitants with all the nourishment they need and more.” MetaboliCity is a design research project by Loop.pH , aiming to re-integrate nature into our cities to combat key issues ranging from pollution to obesity and sustainable food production. Through creating food growing networks and Grow Labs, they want to establish “large-scale awareness about the importance of localised food production”. To find out more or to even develop your own Grow Lab, click here. 

urban agrictecture

Finishing on some good news, it seems that Brighton and Hove City Council is planning to become the first area in the UK (outside of London) to install electric car charging points.  By the end of 2009 there will be ten charging points placed across Brighton and Hove Brighton and City County Council

Posted in Design, Eco Living, Ethical fashion, Green events | No Comments »

Ethical clothing

Friday, March 27th, 2009

A few years ago ethical fashion seemed to be light years away from the catwalk trends. However, now thanks to a number of fantastic designers such as Ciel, Annie Greenabelle and Edun, ethical fashion is finally offering discerning customers fashionable alternatives.

One of my favourite online stores Equa - not only as they have a fantastic collection online, but they also have a lovely store in Islington about five minutes away from our office! A little too tempting though…! If you are not based near the Islington store then take a look online at their lovely collection.

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Untouched World

Sunday, October 12th, 2008

I feel ethical fashion still has a slight ‘hippy’ stigma attached. However, the range of ethical clothing brands are growing rapidly and some of my favourites include Ciel, Howies, Eco-boudoir and Noir (the latter though is a little out of my price range!).

However, whilst reading one of my favourite magazines Healthy and Organic, I was pleased to come across a fashion website I previously hadn’t seen Untouched World. Apparently it was the world’s first fashion company to be recognised by the United Nations.Looking round the site, they have some lovely items ranging from everyday wear, yoga wear and evening wear.
They say “Untouched World™ is an ethical lifestyle fashion brand based on the New Zealand lifestyle. It grew out of a desire to create a positive, sustainable future. Social, cultural and environmental sustainability is built deep within the DNA of Untouched World™. We believe you don’t have to give up quality, luxury and great design to be good to the planet and look after its people. We design ethical luxury fashion without compromising performance and style”

Great philosophy!

I think I know what I’ll be asking for Christmas now…!

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New Designers 2008

Sunday, July 6th, 2008
I have been so busy with work recently, that I haven’t had a chance to make it to the New Designers Show at the Business Design Centre, Islington.

I am determined to take a couple hours out of my day though to see the show, as it really is one of my favourites.

The event showcases design talent from around the country. Categories range from architecture to furniture to fashion. The event brings together over 4,000 graduates from a vast range of universities and design colleges such as The University of Leeds to Central St Martins College in London. New Designers 2008 will take place in two stages, from 3-6 July and the 10-13 July.
Biome Lifestyle has in fact worked with a few designers, after noticing their talent at the New Designers Show. I wonder who we will find this year…

Posted in Design, Ethical fashion, Furniture | No Comments »