Can you save money and give to charity at the same time?

Posted on June 19, 2013 by admin

Many people now like to use their buying power to make a positive influence on the world (me included) by shopping with ethical companies and companies that give some of their profit to charities. But of course as most of us are on a budget of some kind, whilst we want to help where we can, can’t afford to spend extra money. That is why I really love the concept behind My Favourite Voucher Codes, a site with discount vouchers for a whole range of retailers from fashion to food.

The great thing about shopping with My Favourite Voucher Codes is that they give 20% of their profit to charity and you can vote on the charity that you would like them to support each month. This month, you can choose between Help for Heroes, Soilders, Sailor and Airmen and Families Association and British Red Cross, all incredibly worthwhile organisations.

The site has 4323 discount codes at the moment. You can shop with just about any online retailer that you would usually shop with so no need to change your usual habits or style when it comes to buying clothes. For those of us that carried away when shopping online, there is a very handy voucher code app which lets you shop as usual online and flags up any discounts that are relevant to the sites that you are shopping on so you will never miss out on a bargain or the chance to give a bit to charity.

Much as I can see this as a fantastically useful tool for shopping for clothes. The greatest benefits I can see are on my monthly food shop for the family which is by far my biggest monthly outgoing. You can save up to £75 with grocery shopping with this Waitrose Voucher Code

Fare Fashion at Bristol’s Big Green Week

Posted on June 18, 2013 by admin

I am often heard moaning about missing out on all good events which always seem to happen in London. Well not on Saturday night, when I was invited to attend the Fare Fashion Gala Evening which included a fashion show, banquet, a talk by Tasmin Lejeune of Ethical Fashion Forum and a glass or two of bubbly. The event was organised by Fare Share South West, a charity which works with the food industry to minimise perfectly good food going to waste by distributing it to organisations working with the most vulnerable people in the community and Bristol Fair Trade Network, an organisation working to promote the sales of fairtrade in Bristol.

All of the designers and boutiques involved in the fashion show were selected because of their strong commitment to sustainability through upcycling, vintage, reclaimed materials and fair trade and organic fabrics. Here are just a few of the outfits featured in the show.

092 a Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

Pearl Bespoke Designs

084 a Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

Pearl Bespoke Designs

109 a Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

Stitch Up Studios

125 a Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

Arthur and Henry + Pants to Poverty

149 Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

Sumptuous Designerwear

139 a Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

Sumptuous Designerwear

209 a Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

Click Sargent - Fix Up, Look Sharp

191 a Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

Clic Sargent - Fix Up Look Sharp

228 a Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

Boho Hemp

247 a Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

Outsider

241 a Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

Outsider

250 a Fare Fashion at Bristols Big Green Week

The Birdcage

: Vyosna

: Vyosna

: Custard Clothing

: Heartfelt Boutique

: Heartfelt Boutique

: Heartfelt Boutique


: Heartfelt Boutique

Here is a little more about the brands featuring in the show:-

Pearl Bespoke Designs is a professional dressmaker for all occasions. Each garment is bespoke and made to fit and suit perfectly!

Stitch Up Studios is a communal sewing space run by its team of members, we share our equipment and knowledge with anyone wanting to get involved.

Arthur and Henry make amazing organic cotton mens shirts and Pants to Poverty are all about, you got it, pants!

Sumptuous Designerwear sell and hire new and preloved high end clothing.

Outsider are a London based sustainable fashion brand with the mission statement that ethical fashion should look just like fashion.

Clic Sargent are an amazing charity that have helped so many children and their families suffering from cancer and leukaemia including my niece and her family, so I am very happy to support them in any way that I can. Fix Up, Look Sharp is their amazing upcycled label which creates funky fashion from donated clothing and is now available on ASOS Marketplace.

Boho Hemp are a sustainable brand making beautifully soft and wearable clothes from bamboo, hemp and organic cotton.

Birdcage in Bristol is a fantastic vintage shop,cafe and live music venue.

Vyosna is a Warsaw-based sustainable apparel label with a slow fashion approach. The company specialise in short runs of high-quality clothes for men and women with a focus on combining smart looks with casual comfort.

Custard House Clothing is another Bristol based boutique which restyles and reworks clothing. Heartfelt Boutique – this was perhaps the highlight of the show for me with a twenties theme and lots of glamour and sparkle. You can find Heartfelt in Clifton, Bristol.

I had a fabulous night and was even sitting on a table with George Ferguson, the Mayor of Bristol who had changed his trademark red trousers for a green pair for the event! See below!

I hope that you are having a good week? what have you been up to? If you happen to be around Bristol over the next week, there are lots of events going on for Big Green week which you can check out here.

With warmest wishes

Earth Kind Originals – Story Behind the Brand

Posted on June 13, 2013 by admin

I was recently sent a lovely organic cotton dress by Earth Kind Originals. I really loved the dress and the ethos of the brand and its connections with Cornwall, a place that holds many happy memories for me. I was lucky enough to catch up with Helen Davies, the founder of EKO and find out a little more about the story behind the brand.

EKO Organic Day Dress - Mulberry

Why did you decide to set up Earth Kind Originals and what do you hope to achieve?

I set up EKO after wanting to relocate back to the Cornwall where I grew up, from London where I had established my fashion career. I completed a BA/Honours in fashion design at Surrey Institute of Art and Design and then worked in the commercial fashion industry in London. It was great experience. I frequently traveled to factories in Europe and China, I attended seasonal inspirational buying trips to Paris and worked my way up through the design teams. My last full time role was at JoJo Maman Bebe, where I was in charge of their large maternity collection, from soft separates to evening wear and everything in between. This was a fantastic experience but not an environment I could see myself working in forever. I always imagined myself working and designing by the sea. My Father and Grandfather had their own businesses and I always felt that I wanted to do the same, I think its was in my blood to do my own thing. So I took a leap of faith four years ago and ventured into the unknown and moved back to Cornwall to start EKO, and wow it’s been a real adventure!

What inspired the brand and the designs?

The final collection of my degree was based around ethical and organic fashion, and I furthered my knowledge in this area developing successful organic commercial ranges. Seeing the positive impact you can have within the fashion industry and the growing market for organics was an eye opener. I love simple and contemporary design from Japanese designers like Issey Miyake, to the functional design of Muji and how everyday items can be elegantly simple, functional and sustainable.

Sennen Cove Cornwall

Please tell more about what you love most about Cornwall? where are your favourite places in Cornwall?

I love Cornwall for the creative people it attracts and the beautiful coastline, it’s what inspires me and keeps my mind fresh with new ideas. As for places I like here goes:

• beach – the long stretch of golden sand from Godrevy and Gwithian to Hayle River – I surf their on a regular basis, a lovely beach break with a great cafe – perfect for a cuppa, catch up and meetings, business and pleasure
• gallery – the Tate Barbra Hepworth gallery / gardens is a lovely tranquil space in St.Ives (a hub for artists) where her sculptures are set around beautiful gardens – a constant inspiration for natural form and sculptural drape
• local cafe – up the road from the EKO HQ is the Cook Book in St.Just a cafe / book shops just off the main square and a great Friday afternoon treat
• Walk – a lunchtime walk for us is down the road to Cot Valley a unique place where smooth rounded boulders deposited by ancient glaciers meet the rough seas of the Atlantic make. On calm days it’s a great place to find a hidden spot amongst the rocks and cliffs and look out for dolphins and seals or just layback amongst the pink Armeria

Why have you chosen to use organic cotton and other sustainable fabrics to make

EKO Organic Tube Dress - Grey

your clothes?

We use Turkish organic cotton which has a fully traceable supply chain, it is GOTS approved by the Soil Association and can be tracked back the farmers and fields, this is very important to us. Our organic cotton is grown, spun, knitted and garments are produced all in the same area of Turkey which makes the supply chain efficient and lowering the environmental impact. We also use Tencel which is made from eucalyptus fibre from European suppliers Lenzing in Austria, again we can track back to source. We work closely with fibre, fabric and garment manufacturers to understand exactly where and how our clothes are made from ground to garment.

How do you ensure that your clothes made with respect for people and planet? do you have any ethical/ organic certifications?

Yes we are GOTS certified and approved by the organic exchange with ISO working standards. We visit our production factory regularly and have a strict supplier manual to ensure all ethical criteria are followed. Our supply chain is very important to us and we work hard to maintain a transparent working relationship with them.

Where are your clothes made?

All of our collection is made in Turkey in one factory – its small, family run and we have been working with them for 3 years now, we see them as part of the EKO family and part of our success – we could not have got where we are now, without them.

EKO Organic tube dress skirt

What kind of women wear your clothes?

The great thing is there is not a certain age or stereotype. When we do shows there are mothers and daughters that will both buy from us, often the same garments but for different reasons. We see elegant older ladies that just want something soft and organic against their skin. We have a large yoga following and some of our designs are specifically create with this in mind. A number of boutique spa hotels including the beautiful Scarlet Spa in Mawgen Porth near Newquay incorporate many items from our collection into their uniform. I guess it shows our range is versatile and timeless which is what we have aimed to achieve. We have our selected garment road testers and rely a customer feedback to improve how we do things every season.

Setting up an eco fashion brand can be a challenge, what have you found to be the biggest challenges and what do you love most about what you do?

The biggest challenge is coming from a design background and having deal with not very creative business side of running the company. Trying to juggle the creative elements with the day-to-day less exiting stuff. Its all new to me which is scary but at the same time very rewarding. Having a customer ring up at the end of a long day and tell you how their go-to EKO dress is still going strong after 3 years and they still love it. I love waking up in the morning, dealing with different challenges, some fun, some stressful, but knowing I can easily escape to the coast for a surf, a wild swim or just windy walk and come back refreshed and ready to carry on building EKO into the successful brand I dream it will be.

A big thank you to Helen and EKO for sharing this inspiring story and sending me one of their lovely dresses to try out. It is definitely one of the most comfortable items in my wardrobe and its simplicity makes it very easy to wear and style. I have already worn it quite a few times. In the above picture I am wearing it with a scarf from Hoss Intropia.

You can check out the Earth Kind Originals website here: www.earthkindoriginals.co.uk

With warmest wishes

Eco Living – Natural Wax Candles

Posted on June 12, 2013 by admin

I have always loved burning candles to create a relaxing and calming ambience, make my house smell lovely or even to keep insects at bay when camping or sitting in the garden. Recently though I have been put off using them by reports that parafin wax candles could be linked to health risks including asthma and lung cancer. Parafin is also a by product or petroleum which of course we all know is a non sustainable/ renewable resource.

I was really pleased to discover that there are some much more healthy and natural alternatives to parafin wax candles which also represent a more eco friendly choice. Scentedcandleshop.com has a fantastic selection which includes yummy scented candles, tea lights and candle jars which make great pressies.

Soy Wax Candles

Soy is a highly sustainable and renewable crop which is not just good for eating and making clothes. Soy candles are clean burning, eco friendly and also ideal for vegans. Soy wax candles also burn slowly with a consistent release of scent.

Organic Candles

Organic candles are made from natural plant wax from plants that have been grown without the use of chemical pesticides. The organic certification gives added reassurance that these candles are made from 100% organic materials and are free from harmful substances.

Bees Wax Candles

Bees wax candles are a healthy and natural option with a sweet aroma of honey. They are both smokeless and sootless with the wax being sourced naturally from bees.

Other Natural Wax Candles

Other natural sources of wax for candles include plant Wax, Palm and Stearine Candles. All more eco friendly and healthy alternatives to parafin wax. You can also get natural wax candles or tealights with citronella that are great for keeping insects away at barbeques.Natural wax beads are also a great choice if you like to get creative with your candles. You can mix them with your own blend of essential oils and burn them in an oil burner or use them to create your own candles.

Do you love candles? what are your favourites?

A Skunkfunk Dress and Dates for Your Diary

Posted on June 9, 2013 by admin

Dress – Skunkfunk
Necklace – Hiro and Wolf
Denim Jacket – swapped
Shoes – Swedish hasbeens
Bag – Accessorize

This dress is definitely going to get lots of wear this summer. It is by one of my favourite ethical/ sustainable fashion brands Skunkfunk and is made from a really soft jersey making it really comfy to wear. If you don’t already know about Skunkfunk, their company ethos is to make fashion that endures trends, with clothes that can be worn in multiple ways and for a variety of occasions. They also use eco friendly materials including organic cotton, recycled polyester fibers and regenerated cellulose.

If you are interested in sustainable and ethical fashion, there are plenty of events going on over the summer months which I thought I would share…

Bristol Big Green Week – FareFashion Saturday 15th June

There are loads of interesting events going on for Bristol Big Green Week. I can’t wait for the Farefashion: Big Green Week Launch Party, a gala evening featuring A fashion show, inspiring speakers, a sustainably sourced banquet and ‘Fashion’s Dirty Secrets’ photo exhibition. Tickets are only £25!

Vintage Fashion Fair London Sunday 16th June

Spend a relaxed Sunday leisurely browsing the stalls of this well established London Vintage Fashion Fair for genuine vintage goodies for your summer wardrobe. Held at Cecil Sharp House in Primrose Hill, there is also a lovely vintage style cafe downstairs for for refreshments when you have finished shopping. Visit the website to get a free ticket for this event.

Ecofair Hosted by Fashion ComPassion- Wednesday 19th June

Fashion ComPassion & renowned art gallery Debut Contemporary will host the second in a collaborative series of events which aims to bring emerging creatives to London’s fashion & art scene. ‘ECO-FAIR’ will showcase exquisite eco-friendly brands from around the world together with stunning pieces created by very talented artists.

Innocent Inspires – Wednesday 19th June

The tickets for this event, which is just one in a series of tailor made evenings by Innocent, are now sold out, but you can enter my giveaway to win tickets plus a months worth of smoothies by clicking the link above. This event is about ethics and features ’how to lead a stylish and sustainable life with model Laura Bailey’, a talk by ethical eating trailblazer Arthur Potts Dawson on his sustainable food and how we can help people every time we shop, and eco fashion designer Henrietta Ludgate on doing business in an ethical way and the future of ethical fashion.

Ethical Fashion Forum SOURCE Summit – Momentum – Friday 12th July

SOURCE Summit 2013 is an industry event organised by Ethical Fashion Forum and will unite leaders from the largest global retailers to the most pioneering brands and suppliers, from all over the world and every part of the fashion industry supply chain; to build upon and accelerate the momentum that is gathering pace for sustainable fashion.

Do you have any exciting or interesting events lined up fr June and July that you would like to share?

With warmest wishes

Eco Technology – Fairphone

Posted on June 7, 2013 by admin

This is the first of one of my new regular Eco Technology features which I will hopefully be repeating once a month along with my natural beauty, eco living and natural food posts. Gadgets and smartphones have become an important part of lives but are also related to the constantly changing fashions as much as the clothes that we wear. So today I am posting about Fairphone, a smartphone that puts social values first.

Almost everyone owns a Smartphone but that I have become increasingly aware of the ethical and sustainability issues surrounding them in recent months. Just one of the issues with mobile phones is the upgrade market which constantly encourages us to chuck out our old phones and start again with the latest model. Whilst there is quite a healthy recycled market for mobile phones many are sent to countries like Indonesia and Africa and being of dubious quality quickly becomes obsolete, if they aren’t already. Those working in the recycling industries abroad are often overworked, underpaid and poisoning themselves to death.

Whilst there are hugely positive aspects to the use of mobile phones around the world including greater democracy, improved communication and improved public health, there is also a altogether more sinister side to mobile phones. Ethical Consumer reports on how

In the remote, mineral-rich Kivu region of eastern Congo, global demand is fuelling a thriving but extremely bloody trade in the raw materials used to produce mobiles.

The area’s recent past is a catalogue of suffering and violence, with armed groups battling for economic, political and military control. These rebel militias (and increasingly, the Congolese national army) have gained control of lucrative mining networks rich in minerals such as cassiterite (tin ore) and coltan – crucial to the manufacture of electronic goods.

In retaining their strangleholds, the groups have visited horrific human rights abuses on civilian families. Reports by Global Witness, the UN and others have documented widespread abuses including mass rape, murder, extortion and forced labour, child soldier recruitment and population displacement.

You can check out the Ethical Consumer mobile phone guide here, which gives full information about all of the ethical and environmental issues surrounding mobile phones.

Unable to cope without smartphones and mobile devices, even the most ethical of shoppers has faced no choice other than to buy from one of the brands which supports this destructive industry. So I was really interested to hear about an alternative that has just launched ….

FairPhone – The Worlds First Ethical Mobile Phone

Fairphone is a social enterprise in Amsterdam, which is interestingly being crowdfunded. The phones are ethically manufactured and eco friendly using only conflict free tin and coltan (tantalum). They are also addressing the important issue of e-waste with recycling coalition Closing The Loop to buy discarded scrap from affected areas, processing what can be safely recovered locally and shipping the rest to professional recyclers in Europe. They are also working to forge long-term relationships with suppliers to ensure good working conditions. They are also working towards complete transparency with a price breakdown that enables you to know exactly where the phone’s components come from.

They have already sold 6263 phones and raised 125% of their goal with just 6 days to go so it definitely looks like the project is going to be a goer! The phone is Android OS with a touch screen and a 8 megapixel Plus 1.3 megapixel camera. Plus it has lots of other techy features which I don’t have the slighest bit of interest in, you can check out their website for more information if you are a gadget geek!

I think it looks cool and hopefully by the time my iphone stops working there will be some more reviews on how well it works so I can seriously consider whether to get one. What do you think would you consider swapping your iphone in for a FairPhone?

Have a lovely weekend!

With warmest wishes

Win Tickets to Innocent Inspires and a Month’s Worth of Smoothies!

Posted on June 6, 2013 by admin

I was really disappointed that I won’t be able to make it to the next Innocent Inspires event but equally excited that I have been given a pair of tickets to giveaway along with a month’s supply of smoothies.

I love Innocent smoothies although I rarely get to have them as my children alway gobble them up before I get a look in. I also love that Innocent are a great example of an ethical business and a really fun company at the same time.

The Innocent Inspires events are a series of tailor made evenings by Innocent. The next event is about ethics. It features ’how to lead a stylish and sustainable life with model Laura Bailey’, a talk by ethical eating trailblazer Arthur Potts Dawson on his sustainable food and how we can help people every time we shop, and eco fashion designer Henrietta Ludgate on doing business in an ethical way and the future of ethical fashion. There will also be the chance to find out how to use your skills to do some good with the Good for Nothingcrew and the chance to get your hands dirty transforming an urban area in to a wildflower wonderland with the Guerrilla Gardeners.

The event takes place on 19th June in the Innocent Yurt at Paradise Park, London starting at 7pm and will aslo include a delicous picnic. Before you leave, you can help them to disappear without a trace by taking back some of what’s inside to your own garden. You can read more about Innocent and their Innocent Inspires events here.

So for the chance to win pair of tickets and a month’s supply of smoothies, just enter using the rafflecopter below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Goodluck!

With warmest wishes

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Ruby Rocks Summer Dress and a Trip to London

Posted on June 3, 2013 by admin

I haven’t been around and blogging for the last week or so because I have been off to London for a night with Mr S and then onto a campervan trip to the Gower Peninsula in Wales with the girls. Finally the summer weather has arrived and I took the opportunity to wear my new Ruby Rocks dress to wander round Brick Lane on Sunday. I couldn’t resist having my picture taken in front of some of the amazing street art.

Ruby Rocks are a fantastic brand. The clothes colourful and fresh and are made in an ethical factory in Bali. I got this dress from Fashion Conscience which btw has a 15% discount on Ruby Rocks and lots of other ethical fashion brands including another favourite of mine SkunkFunk when you discount code SUPPORT until the end of June.

London was fantastic we spend all day wandering around Brick Lane and Spitalfields, stopping for lunch and a few cheeky beers along the way. Finally we stopped off by the Tower of London to sit by the river, enjoy the sunshine and watch the world go by.

In the evening we went to St Katherine’s Dock for dinner. I had been hoping to try out some Dim Sum at Ping Pong but it just wasn’t to be. After booking a table and then walking miles to get there (the nearest tube listed on the website was completely wrong!) we were told they were experiencing technical issues and so food would be delayed. We decided we were far too hungry to wait and ended up in Strada instead, shame as the Dim Sum looked delicious.

On Bank Holiday Monday, we checked out the V & A Museum, something I had been wanting to do for ages. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to queue for the Bowie exhibition but I enjoyed checking out the rest of the museum and lunch accompanied by yet more beautiful sunshine in the gardens before making our way home. I love London and hope I get the chance to visit again for fun rather than work soon!

Here are some of the photographs of the trip.

Dress – Ruby Rocks
Shoes – Swedish Hasbeens

Dress – c/o Earth Kind Originals
Scarf – Accessorize
Bag – Oxfam

I hope that you have had a good week and have been enjoying the sunshine. What have you been up to?

With warmest wishes

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Swedish Hasbeens

Posted on May 24, 2013 by admin

Swedish hasbeens c/o Spartoo Shoes

I thought it was about time I shared with you my new pair of Swedish hasbeens. Inspired by the Eurovision Song Contest, Sweden and Abba, I thought that a pair of clogs (or Toffels as they are apparently known) would make a good alternative for spring and summer to my Melissa ballerina pumps which I have worn pretty much non stop for the last few years. I love their chunky style great for dressing down dresses for the daytime.

Swedish hasbeens are handmade using the same craftmanship as was used in the 70′s. They are also made from natural materials including natural grain leather and a wooden sole. I love that they also come with a handy leaflet that gives tips on how to look after them and preserve their life. I followed the instructions to treat them with a little olive oil to help them resist dirt and water.

It is great to have a natural coloured pair of shoes to wear with lighter summer clothes but they also go well with black casual clothes. I was in desparate need of comfortable and reasonably flat shoes for day to day wear which involves walking children to school (usually at high speed because we are late!) and these seemed like the perfect answer.

My initial impressions were that they looked great but were not hundred percent comfy with the leather digging into my foot on one side. The instruction leaflet I received with them advised

Don’t get mad. The natural grain leather will soften and stretch with wear and one day will fit like a glove, a foot glove.

This was absolutely correct and after only one day of wearing them around the house, I have to say they are super comfortable. I have managed to wear them for the high speed school run and not a single blister which is unheard of for me with new shoes. I tend to like wearing bare feet most of the time around the house and these shoes are now almost comparable to bare feet for me.

Although I have worn my Swedish Hasbeens, I haven’t managed to take an outfit photo of them yet but hope to do so over the weekend, when I will be giving them the ultimate trial of walking round the markets of London.

What are you up to for the bank holiday weekend? I am definitely keeping my fingers crossed for some beautiful sunshine.

With warmest wishes

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Eco Living – Spring Picnics

Posted on May 21, 2013 by admin

Image credit

A while ago after going to the Liberty London Girl talk at Bath in Fashion, I decided that I was going to diversify a little with the topics I blog about to include a monthly post about natural beauty, natural food, eco living and eco tech. Today is the first of my eco living posts and I have decided to share some ideas for eco picnics.

When the warm weather does finally arrive, I always like to make the most of it by getting out of doors. In the summer, we try and have dinner out doors as often as possible and picnic lunches are the perfect way to get the children out and running around in the park. For those that work in an office, a picnic lunch is a hundred times better than grabbing a sandwich in front of your computer screen, It gives you time to take a break get some fresh air and rejuvenate ready to get back to work in the afternoon. A home made picnic is also a much more eco friendly, tasty and healthy option than a shop bought lunch with all of that throw away packaging.

Sandwiches

Image credit

I love sandwiches and they are most definitely my favourite picnic food. To avoid getting bored I like to choose different breads and concoct lots of different sandwich fillings. Pinterest is also a constant source of sandwich inspiration! For an eco friendly and chemical free alternative to foil or cling film, I love the reusable sandwich wraps at Yours Sustainably which also open out as a mat to put your food on. A local farmers market is also a great place to stock up on yummy fresh fillings for sandwiches.

My favourites are

Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels with rocket
mozzarella, tomato and avocado with pesto
Turkey, horseradish and watercress on rye bread

Tiffin Tins

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My girls love salads for lunch and these stylish tiffin tins are great for filling with a variety of salads including Greek Salad, pasta salads, cous cous salads and either fresh strawberries or fruit salad.

These tiffin tins from Yours Sustainably are fair trade, made from recycled metal and free from chemical nasties.

Cold Drinks

A cold drink is just what you need to sip whilst lazing in the sunshine. I usually just fill a bottle with water but for a special treat, I love elderflower or some other posh cordial. A Chillys Drinks bottle is a good eco alternative to disposable drinks bottle and keeps your drink really cold too. For a really special treat on a weekend, a bottle of cider, Prosecco or champagne served in these pretty fragipani floral cups goes down a treat! The cups are fair trade and handmade from recycled materials are available from Yours Sustainably.

Picnic Blankets

Image credit

Finally, no eco picnic would be complete without a recycled picnic blanket (also available from Your Sustainably) or why not upcycle your own using scraps of old fabric, perfect for lying the sunshine with a good book.

Vintage fairs are also a great place for finding retro picnic wear and baskets. Whilst I have featured a number of products from yourssustainably.com in the post, I have not been sponsored or received any payment or samples in return for this post, I just really love their products and stylish take on eco living!

Do you love picnics? what picnic goodies would you stash in these tiffin tins?

Not long to go until the bank holiday weekend and I can’t wait. I have lots of fun stuff planned, what will you be doing?

With warmest wishes

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