Monday 23 March 2015

good on you

Have you heard about the Aussie website Good On You?

It's a fashion website (with a great name - I love a good pun) that ranks a number of well known clothing brands on their ethical and environmental credentials. It can be quite hard to find a perfectly 'sustainable' fashion label these days, but I still prefer to reward those taking steps in the right direction - a big change to the garment industry has to start somewhere, right? And this site makes it easy to see which brands are taking steps toward more ethical and sustainable practices.

You can click through to buy all the pieces on their site, and if you're curious about how each garment receives a given ranking, the webpage includes information on which rating system (or systems) has given that garment a certification.

I was recently asked to pull together my favourite pieces from the site - you can read the entire article here, or see some of my picks below:

Ginger and Smart – Secret Vice sleeveless blouse

ginger & smart secret vice sleeveless blouse camelliaExcellent
Style: This lovely peachy-pink goes perfectly with other items already in my wardrobe, and the interesting cut and tailoring makes this a standout, timeless piece.
Eco: Silk is considered a ‘natural’ fibre and typically has a long life, but is not acceptable to vegans and many vegetarians, so must be a personal choice.
Ethical: Certified by Ethical Clothing Australia

Nobody Denim – Cult Skinny Jeans Addict


nobody denim cult skinny jeans addict high waistExcellent

Style: Everyone needs a solid pair of jeans, and I find high waist skinny jeans provide a classic silhouette that can be paired with flats, heels, boots or thongs (flipflops for our northern hemisphere friends!)
Ethical: Made in Melbourne and certified by Ethical Clothing Australia, so I know the people who made these jeans were paid well and treated fairly.

Ginger & Smart G&S Incision Slouch Pant

Ginger & Smart G&S Incision Slouch PantExcellent

Style: Perfect combination of tailored but comfortable, and can easily be dressed up with an amazing pair of shoes and blazer.
Ethical: Certified by Ethical Clothing Australia.

Ginger & Smart Infinity Skirt

Ginger & Smart – Infinity Skirt – Pencil skirts (Black & White)

Excellent

Style: The bold geometric shape paired with the high feminine waist make this a power-skirt with a twist.
Ethical: Certified by Ethical Clothing Australia.

Ginger & Smart Arcadia Dress


Ginger & Smart – Arcadia Dress with Sleeves – Dresses (Arcadia)
Excellent
Style: This dress is the ideal combination of femininity and structure, plus the interesting detailing makes me know I won’t get bored anytime soon.
Ethical: Certified by Ethical Clothing Australia.

Collette Dinnigan Eclat Bra

Style: Such a stunning piece of lingerie, so feminine and pretty. And who doesn’t love a bit of black lace – like a secret when worn underneath a sensible shirt.
Ethical: Underwear should be as ethical as outerwear, don’t you think? This beauty is certified by Ethical Clothing Australia.


Collette Dinnigan Eclat BraExcellent

Tuesday 3 March 2015

accessories review : oxfam

Did you know that Oxfam recently released its new Accessories Catalogue?

Oxfam asked me to review the catalogue (what a fun request!) and here I have pulled out some of my favourite pieces:

Layered Paper Geode Pendant
This incredible 'Geode' is actually made of layers
of waste magazine paper and crushed glass at a
fair trade workshop in Swaziland -
my absolute favourite piece of the collection.

Layered Paper Stone Ring
Made in the same workshop as the 'Geode'
pendant above.

Cana Flecha Bracelet
Made from cane that has been dyed with fruits,
vegetables and plants, and braided by Zenu
Indian artisans in Colombia.

Ceramic Shard Silver Necklace
Made with salvaged shards from a
Vietnamese ceramic factory.

Golden Brass Cuff
Created using traditional techniques in India,
and featuring a soft hammered detail.

Mosaic Bangle in Turquoise
Handcrafted, wooden bangle covered in traditional
Indian lac - tiny beads and mirror shards.

Scarf with Triangle Motif
This scarf is handwoven 100% linen,
and screenprinted using AZO-free dyes.

Triangle Design Clutch
Natural leather clutch that will gain patina and
age with grace, enhancing this bold pattern.

* * * *

All the accessories sold by Oxfam Australia are sourced to help Fair Trade producers reach new international markets, and help the artisans emerge out of poverty. Oxfam Australia is a Fair Trade organisation and works rigorously to ensure the artisans and products adhere to the principles put forth by the World Fair Trade Organization and the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation. You can read all the details on their website (I love transparency!), and you can also learn about the artisans who made all of the products on each product page.

The catalogue also marked Oxfam Australia's first ever photoshoot, and the catalogue features stunning models that celebrate the rich diversity of Australians - two of the models below are young Indigenous women from Darwin who are now studying in Melbourne, and the silver-haired maven is a fierce advocate for animal rights and works at Oxfam Australia.


 



All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed flipping through this new catalogue, seeing the beautiful ethically-produced pieces, and daydreaming about my next accessories purchase.

The entire catalogue is now available online - happy shopping!