Eco Friendly Fitness Clothes

Posted on April 20, 2012 by admin

I go to at least four fitness classes each week and run once or twice a week and so sometimes feel like I spend much of my life in fitness clothes. In the past, I have never made any attempts to find eco friendly fitness clothes because not only do I want them to be uber flattering and comfy but also easy to wash. It is difficult enough to find all of these things so I figured adding sustainable to the list would be setting myself up for an impossible task.

But, new sustainable clothing lines are appearing all of the time, as I desparately need some new gym clothes and love a challenge, I though I would check out what was available, here is what I found.

This Stella McCartney organic cotton hoody from Sweaty Betty is really pricey at £110 but I really love the look of it so will definitely be keeping an eye out in case it ends up in the sale.

This organic cotton hoody by Award winning Isle of Wight based, eco friendly brand Rapanui is much more affordable and available for £45 at Ethical Superstore.

I was particulaly interested in finding some Bamboo fitness wear as not only is bamboo highly sustainable, I know from the childrens clothes that I have for my daughter that it is incredibly soft and comfortable. It is also great for wicking sweat making it ideal for fitness wear, although I don’t of course sweat, I glow!

I came across Asquith London which I really liked the look of. The collection is made from certified organic cotton and bamboo and is designed to look classic, flattering, natural and elegant. I really like this idea and would much prefer to wear this type of clothing than overly branded pieces. It is designed to be worn for yoga, pilates, the gym or leisure wear so would I would feel quite happy wearing it to drop the children at school before an excercise class. I particularly liked the look of this coral coloured top made from organic cotton and bamboo and these Bamboo yoga pants which are available in taupe or black. They also had a range of other tops which could be layered over this one.

Fushi are also based in London and have some fantastic pieces made from sustainable fabrics. This organic cotton crop top would work well layered under the bamboo halter back tank.

As I expected much of the fitness wear that I found had a yoga focus but I was also hoping to find something suitable for running and high impact excercise classes.

Patagonia are one pioneers of ethical and sustainable clothing and they have a selection clothing designed for yoga and trail running. Whilst I wouldn ‘t exactly class myself as a trail runner (more of a jog round the block kind of girl), I have been meaning to get myself something a little more practical for running in. Generally as I am out and about in public, I prefer my running clothes to have a little more coverage to the clothing I would wear in an excercise class and often I need something a little warmer especially first thing in the morning. I liked the look of this silkweight t shirt and these running shorts would be great for the warmer weather as shorts never look great on me. They also have a good selection of sports bras including some for high impact sports.

Do you know of any good UK eco friendly fitness clothing brands? If so please leave a link in the comments.

I have been quite busy writing over the last few months. This week 2 of my articles have been published .

Ethical Fashion Forum Source Magazine – Marketing Sustainability Online, How To Make The Most Of Social Networks

Ms Wanda’s Wardrobe – Ethical fashion without hippies

There is also some really interesting stuff going on at Ms Wanda’s blog. If you want to ask more questions to your favourite retailers, brands and designers, why not join Ms Wanda’s Fashion Mob?

Lots of exciting stuff going on for me next week. Apart from my birthday and a trip I have planned to rearch my second hand and vintage guide to Bath, I will be having coffee with one of my favourite ethical designers and dinner with my bestest friends. Have a very lovely weekend.

With warmest wishes

Ceri x

Ps – this post contains some affliate links but is only stuff I really liked the look of

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What to Wear in Spring? An Annie Greenabelle Dress

Posted on March 28, 2012 by admin

Yesterday morning I mentioned on twitter how I was a little unsure of what to wear in this weather. We haven’t quite transitioned into full on summer or even spring when I feel confident enough to wear a dress without tights or leggings and yet by mid afternoon the weather has been beautiful to the point where I want to do nothing more than sit in the garden. Some of the suggestions included thin layers and tights or leggings.

I love sleeveless dresses whether it be summer or winter as I feel less restricted in them and when it isn’t quite warm enough to go bare armed or legged I can always throw on a pair of leggings (my favourites at the moment are from People Tree) and a charity shop cardigan.

On Sunday, we had family coming for dinner and I wanted to wear something that looked nice but was also really comfortable. This Annie Greenabelle dress and these People Tree leggings were perfect. Both are made from Organic cotton which is nice and thick and really soft, lovely to wear.

What do you wear in this inbetweeny spring weather?

If you haven’t yet entered my ethical outfit competition, there is still time to do so. There is over £200 of ethical fashion to be won, it closes on Saturday!

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

SkunkFunk – A Collection That Endures Trends

Posted on March 21, 2012 by admin

Each day I discover something new and amazing in the world of Ethical Fashion (perhaps far too much time spent on Twitter and Pinterest). A recent such discovery was SkunkFunk which I have been dying to blog about.

The brand is just what ethical fashion is crying out for more of. Well made, fresh and funky designs that everyone wants to wear. SkunkFunks collections are bold, bright and fun with a few neutral separates thrown in for good measure.

The brands philosophy is that fashion and environmental and social concerns should go hand-in-hand. They use eco fabrics where ever possible including organic cotton, recycled polyester and lyocell but also believe that sustainability is about creating collections that endure different trends.

I definitely think these clothes are the sort that would stay in my wardrobe and be worn for a very long time to come!

You can find out more about SkunkFunk and see their complete collections at www.skunkfunk.com. In the UK you can buy SkunkFunk at Fashion Conscience.

My favourite piece is the dress in the first picture. Which do you like best?

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

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Fair Trade Fashion For Fairtrade Fortnight

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin

Yesterday was the beginning of Fairtrade fortnight. I always think that Fairtrade fortnight is a great time to indulge yourself with some delicious fairtrade chocolate and If I wasn’t trying to lose a bit of weight, I most definitely would! But instead I have decided to share some of my favourite Fair trade fashion for SS12.

Orla Kiely for People Tree Dress made in India from 100% Organic Fairtrade Cotton

People Tree Lora Dress made in India from 100% Organic Fairtrade Cotton

People Tree Macy Swallows Oversize Tee – 100% Organic Fairtrade Certified Cotton

Zakee Shariff for People Tree Paisley T Shirt - 100% Organic Fairtrade Cotton

pleat hem 50637 std1 Fair Trade Fashion For Fairtrade Fortnight

Annie Greenabelle Pleat Hem Dress – 100% organic fairtrade cotton

Annie Greenabelle Peach Poppy Skirt- Made from 100% Organic and Fairtrade cotton

Breton top by Armour Luxe at ASOS – made from Fairtrade cotton

In all honesty this post has been a fairly difficult one to write. Whilst lots of companies talk about Fair trade on their website it is difficult to find many with the actual Fairtrade Certification in individual products. It really confused me so I decided to look into it a bit further.

Fairtrade cotton ensures that the farmers get a fair price for their crops, a Fairtrade premium to be used for development and for cotton and a number of other products works only with smaller farmers in rural areas.

Only those products with the Fairtrade trade mark below are certified by the Fairtrade Foundation against internationally agreed Fairtrade standards and are usually labelled ‘Fairtrade’. Other products described as’ Fair trade’ may not have the certification but may still be ethical and follow fair trade principles to varying extents. The certification only really applies to commodities like cotton, so for example handicrafts and artisan items may not be covered by it but still can be described as ‘Fair trade’. If you want to find out more check out the Fairtrade Foundation website

So now I have cleared that up…

If you would like to join in the Fairtrade fortnight, here are just a few Fairtrade Fortnight promotions by retailers that I have come across.

People Tree are running a streetstyle competition with the chance to win a £500 shopping spree. Simply take a photo of yourself in your favourite People Tree purchase and send it to them. The photos will be posted to the People Tree Facebook gallery and the winner chosen by the community. The competition closes Friday 9th March. They are also giving free delivery on all orders over £50.

Ethical Superstore are giving £5 off all orders over £50 when you use the code XFTF12 during Fairtrade fortnight. A fantastic opportunity to stock up on Fairtrade fashion or Easter Eggs or both!

Fashion Conscience are offering free delivery on all orders during Fairtrade fortnight.

Will you be doing anything for Fairtrade Fortnight?

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

Ps this post contains some affiliate links

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Organic Cotton Checked Shirt by Patagonia – A Review

Posted on February 15, 2012 by admin

Shirt by Patagonia from Nature Shop
Denim Cut offs – upcycled from an old pair of jeans
Boots – El Naturalista
Necklace – MADE UK

I was recently contacted by Nature Shop (www.natureshop.co.uk) to see if I would like to choose an item to review from their eco friendly range of brands which includes Patagonia, Timberland, Merrell, Keen, Simple and Teva. This organic cotton shirt by Patagonia really caught my eye. I have been wanting a checked/plaid shirt for some time but have never really managed to find just the right colour, quality and cut.

Whilst I am well aware of Patagonia as one of the pioneers of sustainable clothing, I have always considered them to be purely functional clothing for extreme conditions so have never really looked properly at their range (when do I ever go out in extreme conditions?). I do however go camping in Roberta our camper van and although we were particularly lucky with the weather last year, it can get a bit nippy in the evenings particularly early in in the year. This shirt looked like a great choice for a practical but stylish camping outfit.

The shirt proved to be a great choice as it is super comfy to wear. The fabric is described as a soft organic cotton flannel and I can definitely vouch for the fact that it is really soft and warm and feels great.

I ordered a size up so that I could layer it over another for extra warmth. Whilst it is straight cut and a lot less fitted than the clothes I would usually wear, I quite liked the kind of ‘grungey boyfriend’ look to it when worn open with the sleeves rolled up and it is definitely practical for climbing in and out of the campervan crawling around in tents. I loved the reddy/ orange colour of this shirt but it is also available in a very nice Prussian Blue.

I would definitely recommend this Patagonia shirt for anyone looking for high quality clothing that also looks good for camping, festivals and other outdoorsy type stuff. The style is pretty classic so I don’t think it will ever go out of fashion.

In case you are interested, in addition to using eco/ sustainable fabrics, Patagonia are doing plenty to for the environment including giving 1% of all sales to grassroots environmental groups, innovative supply chain management, the common threads recycling initiative and confronting the issue of consumerism head on with their groundbreaking ‘Don’t buy this jacket’ advertising campaign. (more info on their eco credentials if you click on the link at the top of the page)

The necklace that I am wearing is part of a parcel of goodies that I recently received from Ethical Jewellery brand MADE UK, but more about that in another post very soon.

I hope you are having a good week, if you missed this weeks fantastic Ethical Fashion Bloggers Valentines Day DIY/ Upcycling round up,, you can check it out here.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

Charity Shop Outfit and a Night Out in Cardiff

Posted on January 19, 2012 by admin

Top, cardigan and handbag – charity shops
Organic cotton jeans – M&S
Ring – a high street retailer
Shoes – Dream in Green

On the weekend, I went to Cardiff for a night out with my sister.I took the opportunity to get dressed up and wore an outfit that I have been wanting to wear out for ages, a pencil skirt and bustier top from a second hand shop and jumble sale. I also did my hair in rollers for a kind of fifties style. I did of course take photographs, but annoyingly they seem to have disappeared somewhere between the camera and laptop! Perhaps I will have to do a rerun of the whole night again, which involved a show bar , several jugs of cocktails and plenty of dancing to the likes of Diana Ross, just so I can get some outfit photos.

So instead today I am posting an outfit that I wore last week featuring some of my charity shop finds. Nothing special but plenty of bright colours to cheer up a cold dull day. I have been dying to make an outfit with my new bright yellow handbag!

I am currently reading the book, To Die For by Lucy Siegle. I have only got a chapter or two in but I am already finding it hugely thought provoking and eye opening, even though I spend most of my time working time reading and writing about ethics and sustainability in the fashion industry. Franca at Oranges and Apples has written a great review of the book. Have you read it yet, what do you think of it? or are you planning on reading it? I a considering offering it as a giveaway on the blog once I have finished reading it.

I hope that you are having a fantastic week.

With warmest wishes

Ceri x

Tuesday Treats – Ethical Fashion Bargains in the Sales

Posted on January 10, 2012 by admin

Yay, today I am back to doing Tuesday Treats which I have really missed. It is my opportunity to share with you just some of the lovely and ethical stuff that I have come across over the last week. This week as an extra bonus, it is all also reduced in the sale. I often find some of the best bargains in the sales come if you can manage to hold off for a week or too after Christmas as this is often when the big discounts kick in. So if you really can’t stick to that new year shopping ban at least you can shop so in a relatively guilt free way.

First up, in case you didn’t already know, People Tree have some amazing sales.

I really love this Isabella Maxi dress with hand embroidered flowers which is reduced to just £26.25!

This pretty tea dress from the Orla Kiely, People Tree Collaboration is made from Organic Fairtrade cotton and has a pretty teacup print. It is reduced by 40%.

I also love Monsoon dresses but as they are often a little beyond my budget, the sales is the perfect time to treat myself to something lovely. I have posted about Monsoon’s ethics before, they are one of the most ethical high street retailer with a big commitment to sustainability and ethics. You can read more here.

bala wood emb Tuesday Treats Ethical Fashion Bargains in the Sales

This Bala Wood Emb dress is hand embroidered and made from organic cotton. It is reduced by 70%.

I love the print on this Savannah Sleeveless top. It is reduced to £9!

tatiana blouse Tuesday Treats Ethical Fashion Bargains in the Sales

This pretty Tatiana blouse reminds me of Erdem.

I wear leggings all the time in the winter so am always on the look out for new ones.

These Striped leggings by Fair and True are reduced to £24.50 at Fashion Conscience.

These Melissa Vivienne Westwood booties are available in black, red or cream and reduced to a bargainous £72 in the Fashion Conscious sale. Fantastic for the rain.

Have you found any amazing ethical fashion bargains in the sales?

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

ps this post contains affiliate links

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Ethletic Shoes

Posted on December 31, 2011 by admin

Baseball boots are a classic piece of casual clothing. The perfect comfortable choice of footwear which look great with so many different outfits from jeans to dresses.

Ethletic trainers are made by Fair Corp a company that makes sports and fashion products whilst putting people and the planet first. The shoes and boots are made from Fairtrade and organic cotton and Fairtrade rubber. By purchasing organic cotton Ethletic trainers you can help farmers in India to improve life for themselves and their families. Other Fair Corp projects and factories help those in Pakistan. The Fairtrade schemes have a variety of benefits including safe drinking water schemes, eye clinics and education.

Ethlectic trainers are available in a variety of colours in both hi top and low top styles. You can find out more about Ethletic Trainers from www.thefaircorp.com. They are also stocked at Fashion Conscience.

Check out the rest of my 30 Days of Ethical Fashion series here.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Monkee Genes

Posted on December 27, 2011 by admin

Monkee Genes are another ethical fashion pioneer. They sell a organic cotton jeans in a variety of different cuts and colours and were one of the first to get Soil Association approval for their jeans and also have the Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) .

The label came about in 2006 after the founders became disillusioned with fast fashion and the offerings of retailers like Primark. They wanted something fresh, vibrant and youthful so started offering jeans in innovative fits and styles made from high quality classic denim. The label offers some of the most on trend cuts including low rise and super skinny in some eye popping colours and very affordable prices.

Personally I love the pink and purple, What do you think?

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

30 Days of Ethical Fashion – Seasalt

Posted on December 21, 2011 by admin

ruby dress 30 Days of Ethical Fashion Seasalt

For today (day 21) of my 30 days of Ethical Fashion, I would like to share a brand that I have just bought some Christmas pressies from. I was impressed by both what I received and the customer service.

Seasalt started as just one shop in Penzance in 1987 and has now grown to include 12 shops in the South West, an online store and many more stockists. The brand is one of the pioneers of sustainable fashion. They were, in fact the first fashion brand to have clothing certified to Soil Association standards. In 2010 they won the ‘UK’s Best Organic Retailer’. They are also largest seller of Soil Association Certified product in the UK. They are signed up to the Ethical Trading Inititative. 60% of the cotton collection at Seasalt is organic and where possible they use recycled or sustainable alternatives.

I love the bright colours, bold patterns and fun but practical styles at Seasalt. Actually they remind me of many happy holidays to Cornwall and they are just the sorts of clothes that I want to wear when I am by the sea with all of that beautifully fresh air. But they are also great for practical and very stylish for everyday wear where ever you are. They have their own unique signature style which is classic but modern and won’t go out of fashion.

They also have some great accessories, check out the knitted scarves, snoods and legwarmers!

You can buy Seasalt clothing from the Seasalt website.

I hope that you are well, only 4 more days to go until Christmas! If you are looking for ethical bargains in the sales, please check out the rest of my 30 days of Ethical Fashion Series.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X