On Tuesday night I was lucky enough to be a finalist in the Ethical Fashion Forum Source Awards and super excited and so honored to win an award. I won the award for recognising excellence by a contributing writer for SOURCE Intelligence for an invaluable contribution on the topic of online marketing and communications.
There was an reception in London with the opportunity to catch up with some amazing ethical brands and some of the most inspirational people in the sustainable fashion world. It was amazing to find out about some of the great work that these brands are doing and the new ground they are breaking but most of all I enjoyed discovering some seriously beautiful clothes.
I thought I would share with you the winners and runners up, all of which are definitely worth checking out:
Innovation
Dress by honest by
There were two winners in this category. Honest By, the worlds first 100% transparent company, launched in January 2012 by Bruno Pieters, they make beautiful chic mens and womens wear. Linda Mai Phung combines Asian influence with modern style and exquisite embroidery made in a workshop in Vietnam by disadvantaged women using sustainable materials. Highly commended were Eden Diodati and Modahnik, both make beautiful clothes and have great ethical aims.
Accessories and Footwear
Bag by Gunas
The winner was Gunas, who make amazing handbags with respect for both people and planet. Highly commended were Cholesbury for low energy production of shoes using recycled materials and Katcha Bilek for accessories made in the UK from recycled inner tubes, bicycle tyres and seat belts.
Jewellery
Necklace from Hearts
The winner was Hearts, a brand that hand make beautiful one off pieces by restoring and reworking vintage jewellery. Highly commended were Andy Lifschutz Jewelry, jewellery handmade by artisans in Africa using reclaimed materials and Raven + Lily eco friendly jewellery made by women living with HIV and AIDS.
Childrenswear
Cardigan by Toto Knits
Toto Knits won in this category for their innovative, fun and fresh knitwear designs that are handmade in Kenya by single mothers. Highly commended were Dhana Eco Kids for their organic and eco friendly childrens clothes and Macarons, beautiful detailing and conscientious manufacture.
One to Watch
Laptop Bag by Nomi
Nomi was the winner for their high end products which are creating opportunities for survivors of human trafficking. Highly commended in this category were Marzipants for their luxurious cotton trousers.
Brand Leader - Design 
Dress by Lalesso
Lalesso were the well deserved winner of this category. Not only do they make amazingy beautiful clothes inspired by East African but they have also transformed the community where they are made. Highly commended were Arthur & Henry for their sustainable formal and casual shirts, Comme Il Faut for their designs which respect and empower women, complementing their different body shapes and sizes, Sanyukta Shrestha, a made to order sustainable bridal label and Studiojux for their eco friendly minimalist designs.
Brand Leader – Street Casual Wear
The winner was the THE IOU PROJECT for their internet enabled community building tool seeking to link customers emotionally to its brand values, created to satisfy the need to empower both the artisan and the consumer. Highly commended were Nudie Jeans co organic jeans, Pants to Poverty, a pioneering organic and fairtrade underwear brand.
Brand Leader – Accessories and Footwear
Andean Collection
Andean Collection won this award for their accessories designed in New York adn handcrafted by artisans in Ecuador. Highly commended were CRED jewellery for their fine jewellery made from traceable precious metals and Pachacuti for their organic and Fair Trade Panama hats.
Africa Award
SOKO is a manufacturing unit in Kenya which makes the clothes for many ethical fashion labels including some of the other award winners. Highly commended were Indego Africa, a Fair trade certified social enterprise using use locally sourced Dutch Wax cloth and Mayamiko currently working on Mayamiko Cotton Project in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Independent Boutique
I was really pleased to see one of my favourite ethical retailers win this category Think Boutique, they have a great selection of beautifully presented stylish and ethical clothes. Also highly commended were Indigo Bazaar, an Australian Ethical Boutique and Wabi Sabi Ecofashionconcept, a store with sustaible clothing and home gifts.
Design Leader
Blazer and Trousers Suno
Suno, a New York based label won the design leader category. The label is particularly known for its beautiful prints. It’s clothing is made in Kenya, India, Peru and its home base of New York. Highly commended were Vivienne Westwood for her awareness raising and accessories collection which is made in Kenya.
Retail Leader
Shirt by ASOS Africa
ASOS won this award for their Green Room, which sells a range of ethical brands including its pioneering ASOS Africa collection. ASOS have also committed to the ETI base code and are carbon neutral. Highly commended was Eileen Fisher with a strong commitment to protect the environment, empower women and support traditional crafts and culture.
Outstanding Contribution
This was won by Safia Minney, founder of People Tree who has been a pioneer of ethical fashion for many years. Orsola de Castro & Filippo Ricci, founders of esthethica, From Somewhere and Reclaim to Wear and British writer and journalist were highly commended.
Sustainable Style Icon
This award went to Livia Firth for her Green Carpet Challenge with Model, TV host, author, journalist, social entrepreneur and environmental activist, Summer Raynes Oakes being highly commended.
Media Awareness Raising
This award went to Six Magazine for being the first UK magazine to focus on the design aspect of ethical fashion. Africa Fashion Guide, an online platform about African fashion and textiles and Threads of Tradition, a film series about the work of ethical designers that are changing the dynamics in their nations.
There were also a number of awards for Industry categories including suppliers, fabrics and components which you can read more about on Ethical Fashion Forum.
The dress code for the awards ceremony was ‘stylish and sustainable’, Mr Style Eyes treated me to a new dress for the occassion. I will share my outfit in my next. I will also be sharing my new sustainable fashion dress website very very soon (hopefully tommorrow). It will feature over 140 ethical fashion brands and thousands of stylish choices, so if you are looking for some where to find an amazing fashion dress Christmas pressy ideas, watch this space!
I hope you are having a fantastic week, I am but also so looking forward to rest at the weekend before Christmas party season begins.
With warmest wishes
Ceri x
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Samanuscha is an American brand combining playful colours and prints with organic and natural fabrics. They have some fun menswear too!
Ananda Pascual works with Fair Trade Producers in Cambodia, India and Peru, using natural and organic materials to create fresh and fun knitwear, leggings, skirts and separates. I am particularly in love with these Motorcycle leggings! They also have some great menswear.
Embellished Truth use chrome free vegetable tanned leather to create beautiful handbags that have been hand embossed with Paisley designs. The Indian inspired handbags are a great way to add a subtle style statement to an outfit!
Katcha Bilek are a brand that have only just come onto my radar but one that I instantly loved for their distinct and unusual aesthetic. They are transforming materials such as innertubes, car seat belts, bike tyres and rubber car mats into bags and accessories. To quote their website “the most fun you can have with rubber in public”.
I am a big fan of African prints but have never really come across much in the way of beaded jewellery so was really interested to see Abacus Beadwork, a brand making jewellery in lots of brilliant colours and styles ranging from bold statement pieces to more subtle styles. The jewellery is a great combination of Zulu heritage with contemporary design and also helps to support traditional Zulu bead craftmanship.
Amanda Li Hope makes fine jewellery from fairly mined gold and gem stones. The collection are both elegant and minimal. I particularly love this sterling silver X ring.
CFM McEwan make beautiful hemp, bamboo and silk scarves featuring photograph prints of artist Claire McEwans sculptures which are made using a variety of materials.
