6 Inspirational and Sustainable Style Blogs to Check Out

Monkee Genes and vintage

Sustainable style is becoming a hot topic amongst fashion and style bloggers. I love checking out style blogs for ideas and inspiration. Here are some of my favourites which I would recommend looking up.

Sadies Wardrobe

Sadie is a student and lives in Paris, her delightful blog is filled with pictures of her life in Paris, outfits, ethical fashion commentary and a fantastic Ethical Shopping Guide for Paris, which is definitely worth a look if you are planning a visit.

Dresses on a Clothes Line

Written by Ron, a student in London and Oxfam volunteer, Dresses on a Clothes Line features beautifully styled photographs with charity shop finds and plenty of sustainable style.

October Rebel

October Rebel writes her blog about living in the Carolinas (US) and experimenting with personal style. Her blog is packed with goregous photos, great ethical brands from the US. October is also a big fan of Mata Traders which is a great brand also available in the UK.

The Owl and Accordion

Vicky at The Owl and Accordion was the winner of our last ethical outfit competition. In addiiton to some great outfit pictures, her blog includes charity shop finds, DIY and Crafts for the home and garden, plus ethical childrens wear and some very cute family photographs.

The Conscience Collective

A blog by 2 very stylish ladies, Emma and Stacey who showcase their ethical and sustainable outfits plus writing about their favourite ethical fashion finds, tips on sustainable living and delicious meat free recipes.

A Little House in Town

Whilst more of a personal/ sustainable lifestyle than fashion blog, A Little House in Town is a diary of Nik’s life on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast. It does however feature plenty of fashion. The blog also features Nik’s participation in the Wartime Wardrobe Challenge which involves plenty of thrifting, DIYing and upcycling.

Image credit:  http://theowlandtheaccordion.blogspot.co.uk

Which sustainable style blogs do you love?

With warmest wishes

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Are Organic Jeans the Ultimate Sustainable Fashion?

We think Organic jeans are the ultimate in sustainable fashion and here is why….

Jeans never really go out of fashion, they are the complete opposite to of fast fashion in that we buy them to keep and the longer we own them, the more we love them. Organic jeans like any pair of jeans become a kind of second skin that mould into the shape of our body, developing character as part of the process of wear and tear and becoming much loved as a versatile piece of clothing that is comfortable, timeless and can be dressed up or down according the occasion or our mood. With jeans it is all about finding that perfect fit and once you have put in the time and effort to find that perfect fit you hope they will last for ever making them a piece truly sustainable fashion.

But despite these many positives, jeans are often not regarded as sustainable fashion because of  the many environmentally damaging and unethical processes involved in their manufacture. First up is the cultivation of cotton. The pesticides used to farm conventional cotton are damaging to people and the environment and cause cotton farmers to get trapped in a cycle of poverty. The harvesting of the cotton in some parts of the world also involves child labour. The manufacture of jeans is also criticised for its use of water and pollution caused by dying process and also the health damaging process of sandblasting which helps to give it that aged look to jeans.

Organic jeans offer the best of both worlds. A piece of sustainable fashion that will last for many years to come and will never go out of fashion. You can help to minimise the environmental impact of your organic jeans even further and make them even more sustainable by washing at low temperatures (some people even put them in the freezer instead of washing!), mend them when possible, when they finally come to the end of their useful life, upcycle them into something else or donate to charity.

By spending a little time to choose the right brand, cut, fit and colour of organic jeans, you can be sure that you will find the perfect pair that will last for many years. Here are just a few of our favourite brands of organic jeans.

Monkee Genes

Monkee Genes Organic Jeans

The first and only organic jeans brand to be accredited with Soil Association and the Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS). Monkee Genes are fresh, fun and available in a wide choice of colours. Their moto is  ‘No Slave Labour, No Child Labour, No Blood, No Sweat, No Tears’.

Kuyichi

Kuyichi organic jeans

Kuyichi are not only recognised as a pioneer of ethical and sustainable fashion but they are also an incredibly transparent brand. They work with Made-by to ensure that their range of organic jeans and clothing are made by suppliers that commit to the social standards approved by Made-by such as SA8000, Fairwear, BSCI and Wrap.

howies

howies organic jeans

howies believe in making something well, making it to last and making it once. Their range of organic jeans and clothing is made with with triple stitches, strong pockets and unbleached waistbands to eliminate what is often the weak point of jeans.

Nudie

Nudie Organic Jeans

Nudie are considered to be amongst the best jeans in the world. They are made using the finest materials and processes for denim and jeans manufacture to ensure that they become like a second skin for the owner, ageing beautifully and lasting well.

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Why Sustainable Fashion Has To Be About Individuality

Sustainable fashion

Here at style-is.co.uk, we love individual style, not just because it is a fantastic way to express yourself and a great outlet for personal creativity but also because also because it makes the world so much more of an interesting place and we believe is the only way forward for sustainable fashion.

I am addicted to checking out fashion blogs, street style blogs and just people watching in general to see the amazing outfits that they have created. This seems to be a growing trend and street style is becoming hugely influential. Many people now turn to blogs for inspiration instead of fashion magazines which tend to tell us more about the ‘must have’ pieces and how to wear the latest ‘trends’ for the season. Fashion blogs show us how we can make a look work for us, how we can add our own take on a style and how we can create outfits using a mixture of clothes that we already have in our wardrobes, charity shop finds and completely unique upcycled pieces.

Trends have never really worked with the concept of ‘sustainable fashion’. A trend by its very nature changes frequently and encourages people to keep buying new clothes in order to keep up and fit in with what the main stream of people are wearing. Whilst we are being dictated to each season on what are the latest ‘must haves’, it is virtually impossible to consume responsibly.

Developing your own individual style on the other hand is a great way to be sustainable. Finding the clothes that really work for you regardless of what the latest trends are is a good way to ensure that your wardrobe will stand the test of time. How many times have you bought into the latest trend only to realise that it doesn’t really suit you or just isn’t you? I think we have all been there! Fast fashion doesn’t last because we become fed up with it quickly and just want to move onto the latest look. By developing your own individual style, you can find a look that really works for you, makes you look and feel better and is timeless.

Your style is almost like an extension of your personality. It is the first thing that people will notice about you and we all know that first impressions count. What do you want your style to say about you? This infographic by Ecouterre says it all

ecouterre

Over the coming months at style-is.co.uk are going to working on a creative project called ‘The Style Statement’. We hope you will share and tell us about your own unique and individual style and help us to create an inspiration gallery of individual style and sustainable fashion. If you would like to get involved please email ceri@heathcotecommunications.co.uk.

Have a lovely bank holiday weekend!

With warmest wishes

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Ethical Fashion Can Be Affordable!

One of the main objections that I hear when I speak to people about ethical fashion is that they would love to buy it but can’t afford to buy it.  Today I want to show how ethical fashion can be and is affordable and share some ideas on how you can actually save money and look better by buying ethical fashion.

As we all already know, nothing good can ever come of a £2 t shirt. Not only is it likely to have been manufactured in unethical conditions but it is not likely to last for as long as a high quality t shirt that has been ethically manufactured and for which you spend a little more. This idea can also apply to all sort of clothing, shoes and accessories.

Whilst many people will consider fast fashion to be the most affordable, it is actually the opposite as it needs to constantly replaced, making it more costly in the long run. Investing in clothing that will last for many seasons to come both because of its timeless style and better quality has to make more sense both economically and style wise.

Ethical fashion certainly doesn’t have to be expensive though, there are plenty of very stylish ethical fashion brands that cost the same sort of prices as mid price high street retailers, the difference is that little extra that you are paying ensures that the clothing has been made without exploiting workers and is helping to build a more sustainable livelihood for those involved in the supply chain. I also believe that as a result of this you get a beautiful piece of clothing that won’t go out if fashion in one season and has been carefully made often using artisan techniques.

So just to prove my point here are my favourite affordable pieces of fashion for spring that you can love for many seasons to come.

 Affordable ethical fashion

 People Tree Organic Cotton Confetti Print Sleeveless Dress – £27.50

Gringo Fair trade dress

Gringo Fair Trade Dress with Sequins and Studs – £39

 Neon Top

Skunk Funk Organic Neon Top – £40

 Skunkfunk ainhoa jersey dress

Skunk Funk Ainhoa Jersey Dress – £38

Ethletic trainers

Organic & Fair Trade Ethletic Trainers – £38

Komodo top

Komodo Top Fair Trade Top – £32.50

Seasalt Cornwall Organic cotton tee

Seasalt Cornwall Organic Cotton Tee Shirt – £16

Fair + True Striped Maxi Dress

Fair + True Striped Maxi Dress – £59

You can also check out our special offers page and sales page for some amazing money saving discounts.

With warmest wishes

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Sustainable Fashion – the May Round Up

So much has been happening over the last month with regards to ethics and sustainability in the fashion industry. Such sadness as we witnessed on television the devastating factory collapse in Bangladesh, followed by a little hope that this will be a turning point as a number of big brands sign up to the Bangladesh Fire and Safety Agreement. There were however disappointingly many who failed to sign agreement which you can read about here in the Guardian.

Our round up of posts and articles for May includes some that we think are helping to show the way forward for sustainable fashion.

We have already blogged about the debate at Vogue Festival entitled ‘Can Fashion Change the World’. You can now check out the full video of the debate on the You Tube video above.

Ecouterre have shared 9 sustainable fashion brands that produce ethically in Bangladesh. A really useful post and  a good alternative to boycotting brands manufacturing in Bangladesh.

Think Green Fashion has posted Sustainability Should be The Rule Not the Exception. We absolutely agree and can’t wait until “sustainable fashion is the most normal thing in the world”

We also loved the interview in the Metro with Safia Minney about Fair Trade and what is going on at People Tree .

On the Oxfam Fashion Blog, you can catch up on the Charity Ethical Fashion Show and Panel in Hammersmith that took place this month. 

City Girl at Heart blogs about the issues in Bangladesh and asks the question Can Ethical Fashion Exist on the High Street.

We also loved the beautifully written piece by Rosalind Jana of Clothes, Camera and Coffee – Death in Bangladesh is a Too High Price to Pay for Quick, Fix Fashion. She discusses how amazing it would be if other teenagers joined her in buying fewer, well made clothes    produced under fair conditions.

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The New Sharing Economy – 6 Initiatives That are Changing the Way We Consume Fashion

PO

It’s official sharing is the new buying with a greater focus on sustainability and climate change, austerity measures and rising costs of raw materials. The sharing economy is currently valued at £22 billion in the UK and it looks like it will continue to grow year on year.

Recent concerns over both unethical manufacture and unsustainable practices in the fashion industry make the sharing economy even more relevant to fashion. If we are all going to buy less, choose well and make our clothes last (as advised by Dame Vivienne Westwood), then sharing is the easiest way to keep our look fresh. Sharing is nothing new but the latest sharing economy initiatives for fashion make the most of the internet and have opened up a whole new world of people to share with beyond our friends, families and local communities. Innovative websites and apps also streamline the process of sharing making it much easier and more convenient for us to fit sharing into our busy lives.

Here are just 6 of the initiatives that are changing the way that we consume fashion, but at style-is.co.uk, we believe this is only the start. We believe that sharing is a trend that is going to get more and more popular as soon as people begin to discover what good sense it makes.

Corporate Recycling – Patagonia + ebay Common Threads Partnership

Patagonia are certainly pioneers when it comes to sustainable fashion turning traditional ideas about fashion and marketing on their head with an advert advising customers ‘don’t buy this jacket’. The notion of sustainability doesn’t often seem to sit well with the fashion industry which is centred around persuading people to buy more clothes. But with the Patagonia + ebay initiative, it really does seem to make sense. The high cost of Patagonia clothing and their functional nature seems to lend itself to the sharing economy where customers buy second hand instead of new and sell their clothes after use through the the Patagonia + ebay shop.

Clothes Sharing App – Pink MothBalls

Pink Mothballs is an app for iphone which simplifies the process of borrowing and lending clothes. It allows users to connnect with friends on Facebook, list clothes that you can lend, browse friends clothes to borrow, keep track of what you have borrowed and lent and even send a friendly reminder for anything not recieved back.

Clothes for a Good Cause – A Suit for Success

A Suit for Success is an initiative set up by asuithatfits.com, it encourages people to donate unwanted suits that they no longer want in return for a £50 voucher to spend on a new suit. The suits are used to help disadvantaged young people to get into work. One of the barriers of homeless people in finding jobs is having suitable clothing to wear for an interview and A Suit for Success helps to remove this barrier.

Jeans Leasing – Mud Jeans

In some ways jeans are some of the most sustainable items of clothing. Whilst their manufacture can be damaging for the environment from the pesticides used to grow the cotton to the dyes used to colour them. But look in any vintage shop and you will usually see rails of second hand jeans confirming that they are a valuable comodity. Mud Jeans is a Dutch brand which has pioneered the idea of leasing jeans. The idea behind leasing a pair of jeans is that you get the benefit of wearing an expensive pair of sustainably made jeans without paying the full cost.

Dress Hire Websites – Wish Want Wear

Hiring dresses or outfits for a special is no new idea. People have been hiring dresses for balls and black tie occasions for years. Dress hire websites like Wish Want Wear introduce the added benefit of choice and convenience though, allowing customers to borrow the seasons latest designer dresses at a fraction of their cost new. Dresses are insured and posted out to customers, once they have finished they can simply post them back again. This is a great aspect of the sharing economy which allows people to wear clothes that they might not otherwise be able to afford.

 Skills Sharing – Sew it Forward 

Sew it Forward is an initiative started by Zoe Robinson of The Good Wardrobe. It aims to get London sewing by encouraging those this crafting skills to share those skills with others at event in London and is a slightly difference take on the sharing economy involving the sharing of skills rather than clothes. The genius behind Sew it Forward is that it not only gives attendees a new hobby or craft to enjoy but to equips them with useful skills that will help them prolong the life of their clothes and build a sustainable wardrobe on a budget.

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Ruby Rocks in Dreamland for Spring Summer 2013

We are big fans of Ruby Rocks, so when we spotted this video of the Ruby Rocks in Dreamland for Spring Summer 2013 collection on The Style Rawr, we just had to share it.

The film and the collection are pretty dreamy with lots of pretty prints including Peacock inspired designs and eye poppingly bright tropical prints. The dresses are also timeless and flattering but with a modern twist. We love the cut out back details which make them perfect for hot summer days. They also have some great printed jumpsuits, biker style jackets and skirts.

In case you were wondering, their collections are also manufactured in a small factory in Bali. They ensure that their workers are well looked after with a reasonable wage, healthcare benefits and good working conditions.

You can check out Ruby Rocks in Style-is.co.uk here. We also have a fantastic 15% off discount on all Ruby Rocks fashion until the end of May. (check individual products for discount codes)

What do you think of this film and the Ruby Rocks Spring Summer 2013 collection?

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Our Top 10 Dresses Online Spring Summer 2013

This bank holiday weekend, we had a taste of summer weather so we thought it was  a great time to share with you our top 10 favourite dresses online for Spring and summer 2013. Whilst we are loving these dresses to make a great style statement for spring and summer 2013, we don’t think their appeal will end there. These dresses will still look great next year and the year after, hopefully for may spring and summers to come as great style never goes out of fashion. They also have the added benefit of being ethical and sustainable fashion so you can shop happy in the knowledge that by buying these dresses online you are making a difference to the people involved in the supply chain and minimising your impact on the environment.

Ruby Rocks Red Dress

Even if the weather doesn’t reach tropical temperatures the stunning tropical print on this dress by Ruby Rocks will always cheer you up. A flattering style with a sash tie over the tummy and gently flaring skirt. Made in a small clothes factory in Bali which rewards its workers with fair pay and excellent benefits. Definitely the boldest brightest and happiest of the dresses online for 2013!

SkunkFunk Tutarra Cut out dress

Fresh and white is a great choice for hot summer days and holidays, for a slightly cooler spring days just add leggings and a cardigan. This Tutarra Shift dress by Skunkfunk has a classic shift shape making  it really versatile for work, parties and casual. It is made from sustainable fabrics by a company with eco credentials.

 Seasalt Cornwall Chervil Dress

A stripey dress is such a classic piece for Spring and summer. It will always look effortlessly chic. This Chervil Dress by Seasalt Cornwall is made from supersoft organic cotton making it so comfy you will want to wear it everyday!

Peter Jensen People Tree Solider print dress

This dress is from the fab Peter Jensen for People Tree Collaboration. A classic and flattering style of dress with a fun and quirky soldier print on soft organic cotton jersey. As one of the pioneering brands of ethical fashion, People Tree are making a big difference in Bangladesh and other countries around the world by helping to create a sustainable livelihood for those in their supply chain.

Komodo floral dress

For a special occasion, you can’t beat a pretty floral dress. We love this Komodo dress with its retro style full skirt and flattering high neck. Would wear with a simple tan coloured pair of sandals.

Bioneuma Natural fashion Dress

You can’t beat a little black dress for versatility and this one by Bioneuma Natural Fashion can be dressed up or down as the mood takes you. Hand made using high quality organic fabrics, this dress is classic and easy to wear, a true wardrobe staple.

Vintage renewal cheetah dress

Animal print always makes a big style statement and this cheetah dress by Vintage Renewal would be great for beach wear, festivals parties and everything in between.

Patagonia Margot dress

The colourful printed dress by Patagonia is made from super soft stretch organic cotton for the perfect combination of style and comfort. Patagonia are a brand with sustainability and a love of the great outdoors which is why this dress is so great for girls who love to surf or go to the beach.

Fair + True Bustier dress

Another fun print dress by Fair + True that makes a bold statement, this dress is perfect for hot sunny days when worn with flat sandals but can also be dressed up for the evening with heels and a clutch. For a really fresh and bright look add a neon green clutch bag.

Mata Traders Dress

This pretty dress Mata Traders has a striking print. Mata Traders are a brand dedicated to creating beautiful clothes and accessories under fair trade principles and using artisanal techniques.

Which are your favourite dresses online for spring summer 2013?

With warmest wishes

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Sustainable Fashion Outfit Competition Round Up

Monkee Genes and vintage

Big congratulations to Vicky of Owl and Accordion who has won our sustainable outfit competition and £100 to spend on shoes at Spartoo. I loved the colour combination and pretty accessories in her outfit which combined vintage and charity shop pieces with organic cotton jeans by Monkee Genes.

I have had a really tough time trying to judge this competition as all of the outfits were amazing. So many chic and sustainable entries each with their own unique style. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has entered the competition. I have really enjoying seeing your outfits and getting some inspiration for outfits myself. Sharing your outfits has also helped to inspire others to give sustainable fashion a go and raised awareness of the issues of unethical and unsustainable fashion.

So here are are the rest of the competition entries (in date order). I would definitely recommend that you check out the links and the blogs to find out a little more about them and see some more photographs including in some cases close ups of the accessories.

Timberland boots

Nia of Fashfoodista found this amazing jacket in a charity shop. She has teamed it with a pair of Timberland Earthkeeper boots for a great Heritage/ country look.

VFranca of Oranges and Apples has created a beautiful and colourful outfit featuring charity shop, second hand and handmade pieces.

Dream in Green boots

Interestingly Hazel From Hazel’s World of Joy‘s outfit features the boots that she won in our last outfit competition, a lovely choice by Dream in Green worn with a dress from ebay.

side street style

Laura from Side Street Style’s outfit features a dress that is both ethical (People Tree) and second hand! Her pretty accessories have come from a variety of sustainable sources including bangles found on the beach and a scarf handed down from her mum.

vintage1

Anna of Confessions of a Slummy Mummy put together her lovely outfit for a Christening entirely from a local charity shop!

Sustainable fashion

Xenya from Green Stilettos describes her very chic outfit as having an average age of 8 years. Her coat is vintage and her boots are made in Switzerland.

last straggler

Zaena of The Last Straggler created her striking outfit with a charity shop jumpsuit and her Grandad’s loafers.

Zakee Shariff People Tree Top

Angela of Sasstainable outfit picture comes all the way from Sydney. She is wearing a People Tree Zakee Shariff top, jeans from the H & M Conscious Collection, sandals by Boche and jewellery by Canadian Ethical Diamonds.

vintage dress

Wendy of Moral Fibres has created an outfit completely from second hand and vintage pieces. Check out the link to see the pretty detail on the Japanese vintage dress.

People Tree Orla Kiely dress

I love the way Ronnie of Dresses on a Clothes Line has styled this dress with cute knee socks, an ethical wool cardigan and thrifted, vintage and handmade accessories.

sustainable fashion now

At Sustainable Fashion Now, a vintage outfit accessorised with a sustainable wood bracelet by Carla Fernandez and Vegan Doc Martins- we love this look!

With warmest wishes

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Vogue Festival 2013 – Can Fashion Change the World?

Vogue Festival

It was fantastic to see such an important question ‘Can Fashion Change the World?’ being asked as one of the talks for this years Vogue Festival 2013. Amidst the glitz and glamour and talk of fashion, it was completely appropriate that some of the wider issues affecting the  industry should be addressed at such an event.

Livia Firth was the first to speak. Known for raising awareness of sustainable fashion through her glamorous Green Carpet Challenge, Livia is also a director of Eco Age. Livia talked about the impact of fashion but also about her Green Carpet Challenge and recent handbag collaboration with Gucci. Just a few of the key points made by Livia included

“Not only can fashion change the world, but it absolutely must”

“the impact of fashion is not only environmental, but social: ‘we carry the story of the people who make our clothes around”

“I want us to acknowledge and honour the women who make our clothes”

“I believe deep down, we all want to do the right thing”

“Buy carefully and get more mileage out of each piece of fashion”

Katherine Hamnett then spoke telling us of how saddened she was by the tragedies in the garment industry in Bangladesh and she had adapted her talk because of what she described as a ‘dark week for the fashion industry’.

Katherine went on to explain how she believed the brands were responsible, describing her experiences of fashion industry buyers beating prices down as low as they possibly could and actually taking great pleasure in it and treating it as a sport. She asked ” Who are the fashion victims?” stating that “this has to be a turning point for the fashion industry, yes the price may be low, but when the price is paid in human lives they could hardly be more expensive.”

Katherine described what she thought could be the solution as verifiable EU laws covering goods imported into the EU covering issues like building, labour, banned chemicals and the SA8000 standard. She stated that by insisting on these standards would remove the competition posed by cheaply produced imports.

Tom Craig is a photographer who has worked on humanitarian issues for many years and has also worked as a fashion photographer for Vogue. He talked about how photography provides an window on the world. Also how fashion has given so many people a voice and how it can act as a forum where so many other issues can be discussed.

Tom’s answer to the question of whether fashion can change the world, centred around fashion as  a phenomena. He said that “fashion is composed of elemental parts, the people that are within it, Look at this panel, a remarkable group of people that are brought together by fashion. He concluded ” I think it has the power, but we need to be broad minded about it” ”Can fashion change the world? Well, we can give it a good go!”

Last but by no means least was Dame Vivienne Westwood stating how she wasn’t going to talk about fashion. Despite her talk being about her Climate Revolution, it is likely that everyone in the room could easily see how what she was talking about could relate to fashion as well as so many other things in life.

Vivienne urged the audience to read her blog Active Resistance explaining that she though “it would give a view of the world that you won’t get very easily”. She blamed climate change on the rotten financial system stating “what is good for the planet is good for the economy”. She talked passionately about many issues relating to climate change and about different standards for them and us and leaving the audience with plenty to think about. Here are just a few quotes:

“It’s not just fashion that can change the world, it’s people”

“If people only bought beautiful things, that’s not consumption, that’s climate revolution”

“people haven’t got a clue about what goes on in this world – we need to be more engaged”

Climate Revolution

Unfortunately the talk over ran leaving no time for questions and answers, this was such a big question to try and answer in such a small space of time.

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