Organic Fashion | Eco Trend Spotter

October 09 Product Reviews

At the beginning of each month the EcoTrendSpotter Team publishes a post which summaries of the previous months reviews.

Hopefully this will make life a little bit easier for you.

Hedgerow Herbals Gift Set

Citrus Organic Skincare by Essential Care

Your House Requires Ecover Eco-Surfactants

The Eco Showerdrop

Ascension Orginals – Organic T-Shirts

Nectar & Perch Book Ends

Primavera Cold Therapy Eucalyptus Roll On

6 in 1 Solar Toy

Red Robot Eco-friendly Bags

Love Eco Tooli Lights

Stunning Bags from Pure Design

Energy Saving Week gadgets

LoveLula Favourite Brand – Kimia

Simply Fair Gift Wrap and Tags

Babi Pur Maternity Collection

Gossypium – New Fairtrade Underwear

Get yourself some screamingly good Fairtrade underwear (an absolute find) & enjoy wearing it at Gossypium. Looking gorgeous underneath is a reason to celebrate everything that’s you. This is a NEW collection from Gossypium for women & teens & it’s full of joie de vie.

Check out the selection below.

>>> Visit MoreEo’s Gossypium page to earn 10% cash back

>>> Search Gossypium Shopping offers

People Tree – Autumn Collection

People Tree is the pioneer of Fair Trade and ecological fashion, making stylish clothing and accessories for women, men, children and babies. Their products are made to the highest Fair Trade and environmental standards from start to finish and consistently prove that it is possible to wear stylish, exciting and affordable fashion, at the same time as respecting people and planet.

The video below details their Autumn / Winter 2009 collection. This was recorded at the World Fair Trade Day, Tokyo, Japan.

>>> Visit the People Tree Shop and earn a massive 9% cash back.

EQUA – Autumn Ethical Fashion Collection Launched

Equa is a women’s wear boutique based in Islington’s Camden Passage in London a short walk from Angel tube station off Upper Street.

They are unique in London, proudly offering ethical style on the high street. All the collections found at their boutique and online are beautiful, stylish, desirable and ethical.

Equa have just launched their Autumn Ethical Fashion Collection and below we have listed our favourite items. The new collection includes items from Matt&Nat, Annie Greenabelle, People Tree and Komodo.

>>> Visit the EQUA shop and earn 8% cash back on everything you spend.

Ascension (Formally Adili) – New Winter Collection

Ascension, the pioneering eco-chic department store launches its first Autumn/Winter collection. This clean and modern range of ethically produced pieces is available exclusively Ascension only.

Below we have provided you with a sample of the Winter Collection

>>> Visit MoreEco’s Ascension page to earn 8% cash back

Building on the success of their Spring/Summer 2009 debut season, Ascension’s Autumn/Winter collection celebrates the same clean lines and ageless eco-chic style. Ascension has successfully united ethical credentials with fashion aware, feminine designs and given each piece a distinct modern edge. The result is an inspired, contemporary capsule collection of 35 pieces starting at an affordable £29 for a polo-neck up to £159 for a coat.

“The AW09 Ascension collection has developed into a credible fashion offering that really demonstrates how the brand is pursuing a strategy of accessible, yet very stylish clothing. The collection has doubled in size and includes knitwear, outerwear, tailoring and the use of exclusive prints. Ultimately, Ascension is intended to stand with the mainstream fashion collections on offer, with a distinctive handwriting and an absolute ethical underpinning.” Adam Smith, CEO Ascension

Inspired by the Middle East and Orientalist 19th century paintings, in-house designer Sury Bagenal has created soft, romantic shapes including billowy blouses and loose, easy-to-wear tunics that layer perfectly for maximum wear. Beautiful rich colours of dusty berry, Persian teale, pebble and black anchor the collection whilst the warm colours of gold and pomegranate add accents.

“I’ve designed this collection to be easy-to-wear. It’s important to me and to Ascension that our Own-Label pieces are core wardrobe staples that can be layered up for a more casual day look and also strong enough to stand alone, dressed up with a pair of heels” Sury Bagenal, Head of Design, Ascension

Designs have evolved around the artisanal skills that infuse the collection. All fairly-traded of course. Regional Gujariti stitches nestle amongst extraordinary hand-work by SEWA; a women’s union and cooperative in Gujarat, India. Meticulous hand embroidery and time-honoured Indian cutwork, skills passed down from mother to daughter, adorn necklines like modern jewellery. Traditional hand tailoring is applied to jackets and trousers by Mr Dipak Pariya and his team in a small workshop in Nepal, one of the world’s poorest countries.

“The key piece for the A/W 09 season is the overblown billowy shirt. I’m also thrilled with our cropped tailored jacket that will be a great individual piece. Most exciting of all is that we have been able to produce a gorgeous print this season which pulls all the rich colours of the collection together “. Sury Bagenal.

Sustainable, ethically sourced fabrics are truly exceptional. Organic cotton voile billows softly whilst fluid bamboo jersey drapes effortlessly. The finest organic cotton, made in the same place it’s grown. Luxurious peace silk is dyed with pure vegetable dyes in rich colours and organic knits are chunky as well as fine.

The provenance and integrity of Ascension’s Own-Label collection is infused in its fabrics and in the detail of the hand-work. The ageless, covetable and modern designs provide opportunity, give hope and can offer a future. Ascension is redefining ethical fashion.

>>> Visit MoreEco’s Ascension page to earn 8% cash back

Oxfam's Ethical Store

If you’re looking for ethical fashion you really cannot dismiss Oxfam’s fantastic ethical range. By buying gifts and fairtrade products from their range you are helping their work in impoverished countries and helping others find a better life. Right now there’s up to 70% off in their Summer range so make sure you check it out! The EcoTrendSpotter team has chosen some of their favourites for you to enjoy… and remember, shop via MoreEco.com to make the most out of your shopping!

Greenmystyle.com editor Sarah picks her top five items from the Devidoll Summer Sale

We love this time of year, and not just for the Summer fashion free-for-all and the Pimm’s. There’s a buzz in the air about the great bargains to be had in the Summer Sales, of course! On the high street the Sales can be a time of mindless spending on more mass-produced stuff to chuck to the bottom of the wardrobe without wearing, and we definitely don’t support that old-fashioned behaviour. Instead, we advocate using the Summer Sales as a time to invest in long-lasting quality ethical pieces that might be a little beyond your budget at other times.

It’s fine to mix in a little fashionable fun, but our tip would be to look for classic items that will live on long after the Sale banners have come down. Devidoll is a great place to start. Here are Sarah Woodhead’s, editor of leading daily eco glossy Greenmystyle.com, five picks from the Devidoll Summer Sale.

(Check out the sales at other Ethical fashion shops at MoreEco and join today for FREE. Complete a purchase at a shop of your choice to receive up to 10% cash back and co2 offsets)

1. Doie bubble skirt dress, £36 reduced from £102
In the softest bamboo jersey this Doie summer dress is the perfect piece for dressing up or down. I’d be tempted to wear this with heaps of brightly-coloured clashing necklaces, of varying lengths, turning this versatile summer dress into a show-stopper.
The colour is on-trend with this season’s brights, and is flattering to all skin-tones. Plus, who doesn’t love a summer dress at less than £50?!
Pop a tee or blouse over the top, with a waisted belt, and transform the look.
Also see: Kelly B Roberta bamboo knit dress, £60, reduced from £163

2. Panda Snack ruffle flower tank
Basics that have a feminine flourish always catch my eye. I can often feel a tad too dressed down in a simple vest so I tend to look for interesting prints and patterns or dress up with accessories.
This Panda Snack tank does the work for me with its delicate ruffle flower. I’d throw this on with summer jeans or cotton pants, layered over a contrasting colour, and feel just that necessary style edge.
Also see:
Viridis Luxe sleeveless pleated top in bamboo and cotton jersey, £58, reduced from £104
Fin organic cotton crochet knit tank top, £35, reduced from £95

3. AOKI Mandy jeans, £65, reduced from £135
Ok, I have to admit I already own these jeans, but if I didn’t they’d be the first item in my shopping basket. They are just about the most comfortable jeans I have, in a light enough denim to cope with a little summer sun.
The straight leg is flattering and they pass the all-important bum test with flying colours. A little secret, because they aren’t desperately low-slung they make a wonderful choice if you have a little tum.
The AOKI Mandy jean is a perfect example of a Summer Sale investment buy. You’ll wear these jeans for years.

4. Mociun Paperbag shorts, £44, down from £118
I love these cute shorts from Mociun. I’d style them with a nod to Eighties glamour. If I had Giselle’s legs I’d be wearing them with towering heels (perhaps these Beyond Skin Sui Generis peep-toes, with an unmissable 75% off), a light billowy blouse, tucked in to accentuate the nipped-in high waist, and oversized bangles and necklace. An essential accessory would be an application of organic fake tan, with no chemical nasties, picked from Greenmystyle.com’s Top 10 Natural Fake Tan Guide.
They would also look fab styled nautically, with a stripey tee and cute white pumps – that’s a summer style perenial you can rely on year after year.

5. Nahui Ollin Buckle Ritual bag, £37, reduced from £140
Every year I see gorgeously stylish girls sporting metallic day bags with their pretty summer outfits and think how spot-on they look, as I sheepishly hide my wintery brown leather tote behind my back. Metallics never fail to look glamorous and feminine.
The Nahui Ollin Buckle ritual bag, like all Nahui Ollin pieces, is entirely hand-made by specially folding and weaving individual candy wrappers, gum wrappers and soda bottle labels that are factory rejects from independent manufacturers and have never been used. These ’surplus’ materials are diverted away from landfill to be made into the funkiest accessories by independant families in Mexico, under fair-wage conditions. No seriously stylish ethical wardrobe should be without one.

Check out the sales at other Ethical fashion shops at MoreEco and up to 10% cash backon everything you buy.

Summer Eco Travel Essentials – Part 3 Eco Beach

So far in Eco Trend Spotter’s Summer Eco Travel Essentials series we have looked at Eco Gadgets and Eco Washbag essentials. Now in Part 3 we are going look at what essential eco products you may need for the beach.

Eco Beach Holiday Essentials
We have selected a few key eco items you need to include in preparation for your eco trip to the Beach. It may be a beach in South of France or Weston-Super-Mare, but we still think that they are essential items.

Fair Trade Wide Brim Crochet Panama Hat

Keep the sun of your face in style this summer with this genuine Panama Fair Trade hat. Easily rolled up to fit in your suitcase without loosing its shape. . By purchasing this Fair Trade hat you are helping to improve the livelihoods of hundreds of hat weavers. This genuine Panama hat is suitable for rolling & springs back into shape very well. Handmade made from crocheted straw by a womens co-operative in Ecuador.

Keep the sun of your face in style this summer with this genuine Panama Fair Trade hat. Easily rolled up to fit in your suitcase without loosing its shape. By purchasing this Fair Trade hat you are helping to improve the livelihoods of hundreds of hat weavers.

This genuine Panama hat is suitable for rolling & springs back into shape very well. Handmade made from crocheted straw by a womens co-operative in Ecuador.

£30.00 from Adili

Sarah Smith Large Bath / Beach Towel – Confetti
This premium quality towel is made from 100% Fairtrade certified cotton.

Generously sized and luxuriously soft, the brightly coloured design will look great in your bathroom or on the beach this summer. For added convenience this towel is machine washable.

Sarah Smith produces a bright, colourful, eye-catching range of aprons, bags and tea towels. All of the products made in Britain proudly carry the Fairtrade mark.

£ 15.95 from Natural Collection

Biodegradable Flip Flops – eco friendly, fair trade, 100% FSC, by Ethletic
These eco friendly flip flops are the essential footwear this summer. They’re fairtrade, biodegradable, comfortable, and perfect for holidays, the beach, or for keeping your feet cool in the summer heat (ahem). Made from latex rubber, these flip flops have a strong sole and are 100% FSC-certified (a world first), they also contain no animal glues, PVC or EVA.

Ethletic pay a Fair Trade premium to the rubber producers in Sri Lanka, and the shoes are produced under a Fair Trade arrangement in Pakistan: The Fair Trade premium there helps pay for health insurance for the workers and a micro credit scheme. Every pair has the FSC logo on. Look good, feel good and retain peace of mind.

£14.97 at Nigel’s Eco Store

Fair Trade Beach Volley Ball – play with peace of mind
This Beach Volley Ball is fully compliant and so can be used in pro tournaments. It works just as well with friends down on the beach! With Fairtrade Foundation logo. The natural latex used to make the bladders in these balls is sourced from sustainably and responsibly managed plantations in South India and Sri Lanka.

They do tend to lose a bit of air naturally, so will need pumping up now and again – this is normal, and also happens with the best professional footballs. Ethletic pay a Fair Trade premium to the rubber producers in Sri Lanka, and the balls are produced under a Fair Trade arrangement in Pakistan: The Fair Trade premium there helps pay for health insurance for the workers and a micro credit scheme.

£10.94 (Special 25% off) from Simplyfair

Quick Sit
They say the simplest ideas are the best and the QuickSit is just that. A nifty new product that’ll make your life easier and is eco-friendly too.

Made in the UK from 100% recycled plastic, your QuickSit arrives neatly flat packed and ready for you to assemble in four easy steps. Then before your eyes, a neat, rather trendy and surprisingly sturdy little seat for you to enjoy.

Once you’re done with your QuickSit, simply fold back down for easy storage. The design even incorporates carry handles to make life even easier.

£14.95 from Love Eco

Jimi Wallet
Made from 100% recycled materials, the Jimi™ wallet is a compact, colorful, water resistant innovation in the normally bland world of mens wallets. It’s designed to slip right into your front pocket and has a removable money clip too.

The Jimi Wallet intentionally doesn’t hold as much stuff as a traditional wallet. It’s slimmer than a regular wallet and unfolds to reveal two compartments, one with a money clip, the other to hold credit cards. It’ll hold five cards and three notes so is the perfect urban accessory, and great in the great outdoors. Already a hit with the cycling and snow sport community, Jimi’s water resistant shell makes it ideal for a huge swathe of outdoor activities.

£13.00 from Love Eco

Remember if you join MoreEco today we will give 500 start up bonus points plus you can earn from 8 points for every pounds spend with our Merchants.

Top Ten Adili SALE products to buy this weekend

Adili is one of the UK’s leading Eco-Chic online clothes retailers. Adili want to show the world that a stylish and design-led eco fashion lifestyle can be sustainable. Based in Dorset, in an office that’s surrounded by greenery and the beautiful English countryside, they aim to run the business as environmentally and socially responsibly as possible.

The best news is is that Adili is having a Mid-Season Sale with up to 50% off products across the whole range. The team at MoreEco would like to share with you the their Top ten favourite Adili eco fashion items in this Eco Sale. remember if you shop for Adili products via MoreEco, The Eco Reward Shopping site, you will earn 8 points per pound spent and earn free carbon offset. A triple eco shopping bonus.

So MoreEco’s Adili top ten Mid-Season sale items:-

Teared Maxi Dress by Beaumont Organic

Was £135, Now £94.50 – The Maxi dresses were all over the catwalks for spring & this is a style that never goes out of fashion. Made from organic cotton in a delicate mix of neautrals. Beaumont Organics donates 1% of their profits to support the Niusawa School in Fiji.

Glass & Brass Bracelet by Made

Was £24.00, Now £12.00 – From the gorgeous boutique collection this fabulous bracelet is simple yet sheek. Made from recycled glass & brass to reduce the amount of waste to landfill. Made radically improves the lives of impoverished communities in Africa. Following the principles of fair trade Made train local artisans, providing fair wage.

Saddle Regular Fit T-Shirt by Ascension

Was £18.50, Now £12.95 – Jump into your jodhpurs and join the Ascension Pony Club. Get nostalgic and think back to those Sunday lessons round the paddock.Ascension has worked with Continental Clothing & the Carbon Trust on a pioneering project to calculate the exact carbon footprint of this top which is 2.6kg.

King Size Box Weave Blanket by Luma

Was £113, Now £56.50 – A soft & luxurious pure organic cotton blanket in a stylish waffle weave. The neutral colours make this a classic piece with timeless appeal. Proving ethics & luxury go hand in hand, this gorgeous blanket is made from 100% organic cotton and made in India under fair trade conditions.

Spa Glass Candle by Ciel

Was £15.50, Now £7,75 - This signature scent organic wax candle is perfect for uplifting your mood! A blend of neroli, citrus, mandarin, lavender and rosemary essential oils.Organic plant wax in a re-usable and recyclable tumbler.

Silk Butterfly Nightie by Adili

Was £48, Now £33.60 - Flutter away into a deep sleep wearing this luxurious silk nightie. This pretty nightwear piece has been naturally dyed in a delicate all over butterfly print. Made from hand screen printed fabric that has been environmentally friendly dyed using natural vegetable dyes instead of horrible chemicals.

Lingerie Bag by La Vie Devant Soie

Was £14.50, Now £7.25 – The perfect way to store your new organic silk underwear for a relaxing weekend break. Made from organza and hand embroidered in Cambodia. These lingerie bags are hand embroidered by traditional artisans in Cambodia. By buying this beautiful piece, you’re supporting fair trade & traditional skills.

Gardeners Hamper by Trevarno

Was £44, Now £17.60 - A luxury hamper of nourishing hand and nail treatments with deliciously scented handmade soaps ideal for treating someone who likes to get their hands dirty.Trevarno are proud to be the first & longest established organic skin care manufacturer certified by one of the UK’s largest organic certification bodies.

Tiger Tee T-Shirt For Men by Komodo

Was £25, Now £12.50 – Hemp is known to block more UV rays than cotton fibre, so if you are looking for a cover up top this summer which is stylish to boot, this is the top for you!! Komodo is a member of Made-By, the first fashion initiative that focuses on environmental & working conditions throughout the production chain.

Lewis Reg Fit Jeans by Kuyichi

Was £83.00, Now £41.50 – Cool, laid-back organic jeans in a ‘used & abused’ dark blue wash. We love these versatile regular fit jeans as they go with everything.Organic cotton is grown without any nasty chemicals making it a greener alternative & causing less harm to the environment.

I hope you enjoyed MoreEco’s Top Ten Adili Mid-Season sale items.

MoreEco Adili Mid-Season Sale Top Ten Slide Show

Frugi Stripy Organic Cotton Boys T-Shirt – No Girls Allowed Hoody

no-girls-allowed-frugi

How cool would it have been to have a tree house like this when you were a kid! Your boys will love this top for it’s great tree house print and mums will love it for the classic blue stripes and for how well they wash and dry over and over again. Frugi organic cotton, outstanding quality!

Frugi boys clothes are made in a fair trade factory offering good quality employment and health care. The cotton is certified Fair Trade by the Fairtrade labelling organisation and is certified organic so it’s kind to the farmers and the environment. Horaa!

Buy this cool t-shirt for £17.99 from Babi Pur. Earn 125 points and offset 12.5 kg’s of carbon for free.