This long weekend I wanted to check out the Art Fest at the The Distillery District in Toronto and fluke!  I found some beautiful cruelty free and Canadian made clothing lines!

I will definitely go deep into the lines I loved,  however our site needs an upgrade, so stay tuned….:)

H&M, a popular go-to for fun and affordable fashions, is taking a notable step towards a more sustainable future with the debut of its Conscious Collection. The collection consists of apparel and accessories made of eco-friendly materials such as recycled polyester. H&M Head of Design, Ann-Sofie Johansson shares, “the possibilities for creating a complete fashion statement with eco-smarter materials are huge now.”

The launch of the Conscious Collection suggests H&M is working hard to re-establish its commitment to ethical clothing and sustainability after allegations that a New York City store was destroying and dumping unused clothes and reports of organic cotton fraud exposed the retail giant to a firestorm of criticism in early 2010.  As the world’s second largest clothing retailer, H&M’s renewed efforts to promote socially responsible consumerism is encouraging.

In fact, H&M is simultaneously implementing the Conscious Garment Collection Initiative, a program that allows shoppers to exchange their unwanted clothes of any brand, quality and condition for vouchers. Donated garments are marketed as second-hand goods, repurposed or recycled, with hopes of reducing the volume of clothing that might otherwise end up in a landfill.

The Conscious Collection is now available in selected stores across Canada.

Buying new jewellery is a lovely treat but historically the industry has a poor record when it comes to ethics. From dangerous production methods to environmental damage, there can be a host of consequences fuelled by consumer demand for cheap jewellery. However, the good news is that with a little thought you can choose pieces without these negative repercussions. Follow these simple guidelines to ensure your jewellery purchases are ethical.

What to avoid
Recent media coverage has thankfully resulted in so-called “blood” or “conflict” diamonds now accounting for just 1% of the world`s trade but there are still improvements to be made in terms of adequate remuneration and working conditions for miners. “Dirty gold” results from mining processes that use mercury and cyanide, which are incredibly harmful both for the environment and the labourers involved. The use of organic materials like ivory, coral and marine life, such as preserved seahorses is utterly deplorable. Jewellery featuring any of these elements should be avoided at all costs.

Choose wisely
Gold has become the first jewellery component to receive Fairtrade certification, so always ensure you choose jewellery that has been made in accordance with this. Not only will the producers receive a fair price for their gold but the mining process is carefully controlled to minimise the environmental impact. Ask your jeweller about the provenance of the stones they use to check the ethicality of the supply chain.

There has been a boom in sustainable jewellery crafted from unusual materials such as recycled glass or reclaimed wood. Not only do these look stunning but they make use of materials that would otherwise go to waste. Another popular trend is upcycling, where old jewellery is taken apart so the stones can be reused in fresh setting, creating new pieces. Look for jewellery that is manmade, without using chemicals or heating processes and support companies that have fair working conditions and environmental policies in place.

There is a growing interest in ensuring that the jewellery industry improves its standards of ethics, not only by improving production but also by offering a wider choice of environmentally-friendly options. So from beads to stones and necklaces to earrings, it`s easier than ever to choose ethical, responsible jewellery that both looks and feels great.

The winter cold dryness can take a toll on the moisture and suppleness of your skin.  There are many products out there that claim to hydrate your skin however they include chemical perservatives that actually perpetuate skin irritations and dryness and have been linked to several other health issues.

The good news is that there are several affordable all natural and ethically sourced options that can be used.   Two great  lines to look for are Yes To Carrots and Live Clean.  Both of these lines work hard to provide greener products at affordable price points, their products are paraben free, sulfate free, and petroleum free.  But do they work?

Living in Toronto, the weather has been going up and down and it has made both my hair and skin lose a great deal of moisture.  I immediately felt the difference when using the Yes To Carrot shampoo and conditioner, it’s been 2 months and my hair’s shine is restored and I actually don’t see any split ends coming, even though I’m due for a haircut.  I am also using the Live Clean – Exotic Nectar that includes Argan Oil, and I have noticed my skin is not as dry and irritated after showers.  These are great solutions to preserve moisture in your skin and hair and the prices are great too; the shampoo and conditioner combined was under $20 and the body wash was under $10. Another trick I discovered by accident is the Live Clean Argan Oil, I didn’t realize it was for hair and I put it on my body like a lotion right after my shower at night, it worked so well that I didn’t even need to re-moisturize the next morning in February! (keep in mind I have really really dry skin especially in the winter)

Just this past week was London’s Fashion and one essential part was Estethica featuring 15 ethical designers.

All Estethica designers adhere to at least one of the three Estethica principles of fair-trade and ethical practices, organic and recycled materials and are selected for both their ethical credentials and design excellence.

One of the collections show-cased was from Beautiful Soul a line that is progressive in its values at the same time paid tribute to very classic British fashion, and is my personal favourite.

EcoLuxe London, the bi-annual ethical luxury fashion exhibition, opens on the 17th/18th of February 2013 (Sunday 12:30pm-8pm and Monday 9am-8pm) at London’s  Kingsway Hall Hotel, 66 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BX, Covent Garden, London, UK.

Created by ethical designers for ethical designers, EcoLuxe London promotes high end, sustainable fashion and brands and is open to press and fashion buyers who are looking for high quality and exclusive brands with a conscience.

Ecoluxe London,  launched  by Miriam González  Durántez – in  September 2010,  is a not-for-profit organisation  promoting    sustainable  luxury and is  the  leading  ethical  fashion  platform  in  the UK.

The  6^th Ecoluxe London exhibition  gathers   eco-conscious  brands  and  artists  from  all  over  the  world  to showcase  their work

Ethical fashion involves using an environmentally and socially conscious approach to the design, production, purchasing and selling of clothing and accessories. Eco-friendly fashion is now being offered by some famous designers, many of whom come together during ethical fashion shows.

2013 Ethical Fashion Shows in Paris

Paris host two ethical fashion shows each year, bringing together numerous designers who care for both people and the environment. You can view all kinds of ready-to-wear fashion styles, from more traditional looks to funky street wear, as well as tour the fashion showrooms.

Some of the designers who`ve held recent runway shows at these Paris events include Keto Couture, Giancarlo Gallo, Sally Intiego, Ana Gutierrez and Ogodor. Recent conferences have focused on the issues surrounding female laborers, while workshops have taught knitting and weaving techniques to attendees.

Although the first Parisian ethical fashion show of 2013 has already ended, another one will be offered in either March or September of this year. While it will be held at the Carrousel du Louvre for sure, firm dates have yet to be announced and can change at any time.

2013 Ethical Fashion Shows in Berlin

Berlin also holds ethical fashion shows, one of which occurred in January 2013. Another show will likely be held this year, but the dates for the event haven`t been announced yet.

The most recent Berlin show featured various informative presentations, panel discussions and seminars. These meetings focused on ethical issues such as better working conditions, responsible sourcing of cotton and how to follow sustainability practices in such a competitive industry.

Other events included instructions on how to incorporate yoga into business and the official launch of a new business portal designed specifically for ethical fashion labels, called “Get Changed!” The Create Green Breakfast event focused on recycling in the fashion industry.

The Knowledge Lounge featured eco-friendly fashion labels. In order to be featured in this lounge, a clothing line had to use recycled or certified organic materials. Just a few of the designers featured included Format, Milch, Pure Cotton, ReClothing, The Hemp Line, Prancing Leopard and Stormie Poodle.

Issues Surrounding Ethical Fashion

Ethical fashion involves a wide range of social and environmental issues, including safe working conditions, fair trade, animal welfare and sustainable productions.

Both children and adults are exploited in some clothing factories, working in unhygienic conditions for very low pay. Ethical fashion helps promote safer work environments, workers` rights and fair wages.

Ethical fashion also focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of all business operations. For example, cotton is the most widely used fabric across the globe, but cotton growers often use a lot of pesticides that contain potentially harmful chemicals. Eco-friendly fashion designers use organic cotton instead.

Many eco-friendly labels are Fair Trade Certified, which means they follow the ethical production guidelines set forth as it pertains to international labor, social policy and environmentalism. Workers are guaranteed sanitary working conditions.

The certification also indicates that a company offers adult laborers a fair wage while investing in the international communities where they produce their clothing. No child labor can be used.

Promote eco-friendly clothing lines by purchasing those that follow fair practices and use organic or recycled materials, such as those mentioned above as well as Joie. Ethical fashion can help to make the world a better place.

A film that strives to encourage transparency in supply chains.

 

I love your city and have you in my heart and pray for you guys <3

One of the presenting designers Nicole Bridger’s discusses in this video her inspirations in her fall line – namely the Hindu goddess Kali-ma.