30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Po-Zu Shoes

Posted on December 19, 2011 by admin

AW10 1 30 Days of Ethical Fashion Po Zu Shoes

I have never been really fond of Ugg Boots for how they look. On the really cold days in the winter, I will have to admit that they keep your feet toasty warm but I prefer to try and look a little different than the same as everyone else. That is where Po-Zu come in. They have a range of warm and extremely comfortable boots for winter that will set you apart from the crowd in terms of style.

I have the Piper check boots and I love wearing them on those cold icy mornings to brighten up my outfit which almost always consists of a black winter coat. They also look great with a thick pair of coloured tights.

As an added bonus Po-Zu boots are great for the environment. They are made from a range of natural and sustainable materials including hemp, wool, cork, coconut husk and natural rubber. Many of the styles are also suitable for vegans. When you have finished with them, you can bury them in the ground and they will completely biodegrade. They are stitched together instead of using glue and are made in an ethical factory in Portugal.

I also couldn’t tell you about Po-Zu shoes with mentioning their amazing coconut husk foot bed. Each shoe or boot has a unique sole (or foot bed) which moulds to the shape of your foot. The website describes them as being like ‘walking on clouds’ and I have to say, they are probably the comfiest shoes that I own.

Po-Zu have also had some interesting collaborations with Timberland, Amazon Life and Maharishi.

Check out the full 30 Days of Ethical Fashion Series here.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Tara Starlet

Posted on December 18, 2011 by admin

Retro styles from forties and fifties are a huge trend at the moment. Along with stars like Dita Von Teese and Katie Perry, I am betting it is brands like Tara Starlet, who have been making reproduction dresses inspired by pin up girls and silver screen stars for some time, that are partly reponsible.

Tara Starlet dresses are perfect for ladies who like to look feminine and lady like. They are beautiful timeless pieces that should be bought and then treasured. It is not just the fact that they will not go out of fashion that makes them great for the environment. They are also made from end of roll fabrics with designs that encorporate original vintage buttons and trims for true authenticity. Because of the fabrics used, there are limited numbers of each style made so that you will be unlikely to see anyone else wearing the same dress.

I really love Tara Starlet dresses and would definitely love to own one.

You can buy them at www.tarastarlet.com along with a range of retro inspired tops, skirts, trousers and lingerie.

with warmest wishes

Ceri x

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Goodone

Posted on December 17, 2011 by admin

Goodone is a London based brand that seeks to take an intelligent approach to design not only satisfying a hunger for new and constantly evolving concepts in style, but also addressing the environmental impact of the fashion industry. They cleverly upcycling old clothes by combing them with new British sustainable fabrics.

Goodone have a strong signature of bold colour blocked styles that are contemporary and modern. Goodone have won numerous awards. In 2007, they collaborated with NOKI to produce clothes shown in London Fashion Week Autumn Winter, as part of Fashion East.In recent years they have also collaborated with Amnesty, Liberty, WWF, Greenpeace, Shelter and No Sweat, as part of a project upcycling old campaign t-shirts, exhibited at London Fashion Week and launched an ASOS capsule range.

Check out the Goodone website for their current sale and also some really unique knitted accessories. They are also stocked by Responsibly Gorgeous and Beyond The Valley.

We are now over half way through the 30 days of ethical fashion series. I hope that you are enjoying it. You can check out the rest of the series here.

I know I haven’t posted any outfit photos for ages, but don’t worry I will be posting some very soon. Have a lovely weekend.

With warmest wishes

Ceri x

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Annie Greenabelle

Posted on December 16, 2011 by admin

If I had to decribe the ethical fashion label Annie Greenabelle in just a few words it would be fresh, trendy and affordable. The latest collection is packed full of cute dresses which would suit most people. They are incredibly wearable with plenty of pretty prints and fun details to add a bit of interest.

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In contrast to some ethical labels, this is definitely one that would work well for the teenage and younger girls that is not to say that it wouldn’t work equally well for an older 30 something like myself or anyone else for that matter, but the collection just fits well with current trends for those that want to be in fashion.

Annie Greenabelle is an ethical company through and through with a transparent supply chain. They use organic and fair trade fabrics combined with end of roll and reclaimed fabircs to add a bit of variety to the clothes.

At the moment they have some fabulous party dresses, vintage inspired skirts and jersey dresses which are great for everyday with prices starting at a bargainous £34. I would definitely recommend checking them out and you can currently get 30% off jersey dresses using the discount code JERSEY30 at checkout.

What do you think?

If you would like to catch up on the previous posts in my 30 days of Ethical Fashion series, you can check out the other posts here.

with warmest wishes

Ceri X

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Bourgeois Boheme Vegan and Fairtrade Shoes

Posted on December 15, 2011 by admin

I am not a vegetarian, but as I have discussed in previous posts, I am well aware of the environmental impacts and ethical implications of the leather industry, so am definitely glad to consider alternatives to leather where possible especially the products are also Fairtrade.

Borgeois Boheme has recently caught my eye as a brand whose designs are as desireable as their ethics. I love my high heels but most of the time I end up wearing flats so I am always on the lookout for a beautiful pair of ballet pumps that will make a statement. Ballet pumps are possibly the only pair of flats that look delicate, graceful and ladylike with a dress but also equally at home with a pair of jeans.

The current collection of Bourgois Boheme at Fashion Conscience includes just three styles of ballet pumps, but even with such a small choice, I would really struggle to choose between them. At the moment, I think I am swaying towards the leopard print.

Which do you like the best?

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Bibico

Posted on December 14, 2011 by admin

Bibico is a deign led ethical company with clothing designed by Nieves Ruiz. The clothes are the perfect balance of contemporary and classic. Easy to wear pieces that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion and are made extra special by the attention to detail including hand-woven prints, embroidery and artfully crafted knitwear.

Bibico clothes are made by women in World Fair Trade Organisation certified cooperatives using tradition techniques including sewing, knitting and hand stitching to produce a high quality garment. The Fairtrade clothing sold by Bibico helps to support vunerable communities.

I hope that you are having a good week and keeping warm.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Melie Bianco Vegan Bags

Posted on December 13, 2011 by admin

There are a number of reasons why people choose to become vegan including health reasons, animal welfare and environmental concerns. But being vegetarian or vegan does just not apply to food, it can apply to anything that contains animal products including handbags and shoes. The processes used to tan leather are damaging to the environment and the health of those working in the tanneries, the rearing of livestock also has an impact on the environment so vegan options are often better for the environment.

Melia Bianco produces really beautiful handbags that are not only made from vegan materials but also in ethical factories. For winter 2011, the brand has a collection of structured bags with both casual cross body straps and more ladylike top straps. The bags features bright colours and interesting details which make them great for adding a bit of interest to a neutral outfit.

You can buy Melie Bianco bags from Fashion Conscience.

I hope you are having a good week.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Komodo

Posted on December 12, 2011 by admin

On day 12 of my 30 days of Ethical Fashion series, I would like to share with you Komodo (if you didn’t already know about this label!).

Komodo was set up by Joe Komodo back in 1988 and he says that it was born out of a sense of fun and travel but was also about living their own lifestyle and avoiding having to get a proper job! Komodo started as stall on Camden market selling ethnic goods. The company still stays true to its original values sourcing organic and ethically manufactured products where possible and utilising local skills in countries like Nepal. Komodo also supports the Free Tibet campaign by making a donation each time a piece from the Free Tibet collection is sold.

The appeal of Komodo is that the clothes showcase the best handmade crafts of a region but without being too literally ‘ethnic’. They look stylish and original but also not out of place in a western and urban environment. It is great to see another fabulous brand that is desirable for many more reasons than just because they are ethical, to quote the website.

We are a Fashion Lifestyle brand first and do our best to be as ethical as we can in the process, rather than Eco-warriors trying to make fashion.

You can currently get some great offers on Komodo at Fashion Conscience. You can also check out more fantastic brands in my 30 days of Ethical Fashion series here.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Zakee Shariff For People Tree

Posted on December 11, 2011 by admin

Tommorrow, People Tree will be launching their latest collaboration with designer and artist Zakee Shariff. The collection will consist of jersey pieces with unique bold prints.

Zakee Shariff has developed a cult following over recent years. Her signature is the elegant drawings, prints, and paintings that are used to decorate clothing. For the People Tree collection she has applied pop colours and paisley and bird motifs to a stretch mini-dress, a slouchy long sleeve box sweat, and a slashed sleeve tee.

The collection wil be made from 100% organic, Fairtrade certified cotton in India by Assisi Garments, one of People Tree’s Fair Trade producers who pay up to 30% more than conventional garment manufacturers. The organic cotton is from Agrocel, a pioneering Fairtrade certified organic cotton producer in Gujarat, India.

I will definitely be checking out this collection which looks fun and affordable with prices from £35 – £40. It will be available from People Tree from tommorrow.

If you would like to check out other posts in my 30 days of ethical fashion series, you can do so here.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Nancy Dee

Posted on December 10, 2011 by admin

Day 10 of ethical fashion and I am loving finding out about even more sustainable and ethical fashion brands, I really hope that you are enjoying reading about them. One brand that I just had to feature is Nancy Dee.

I have always loved jersey because it is so easy and comfortable to wear but I have never realised quite how amazing it can look. Nancy Dee has some really lovely jersey pieces including dresses, tops and skirts. The fluid look of the jersey is perfect for the flattering draped look that is a feature of many of the designs. There is also definitely a bit of vintage inspiration there. They are incredibly versatile pieces many of which would work equally well for the office or for a night out. They also have some lovely dresses featuring their own unique retro prints.

Nancy Dee is an ethical company and applies its philosophy throughout it operations from the sustainable fabrics used which include bamboo, organic cotton, soya bean fabric and Modal (an eco-friendly man-made material which originates from beech wood) to its timeless styles and clever pattern cutting to reduce waste. It also designs and manufactures all of its clothing in Britain helping to preserve and develop the specialist skills which have established this country’s reputation for quality manufacture.

What do you think? Do you love this brand as much as I do?

If you have missed any of my 30 days of ethical fashion series so far, you can check out the other posts here.

I hope you are having a fantastic weekend!

With warmest wishes

Ceri X