Natty Nan!

Vintage, retro, natty...

Fashion has gone full-cirle, and we're back to the 50s. So, if you don't quite fancy raiding your nan's or mum's wardrobes, then check out this little number from People Tree.

This Daphne Check Skirt for £35 from PT is neither new or revolutionary, but it is adorable! Elasticated waist...check. Knee length...check. Check...check!



Worn high waisted, this fair trade skirt would create the perfect summer look worn with a simple white tank (check out this Ivy Vest Top £12) and flat tan sandals.

Not to everyone's taste, but I love it!

Happy Fairtrade Fortnight!

From 22nd February-7th March it's Fairtrade Fortnight, and so what better time to find out what being Fairtrade really means? Swat up on the Fairtrade Foundation website.

Before you head off, though, thought you'd want to have a quick look at these latest New Arrivals from the world of sustainable fashion:



Fairtrade Pocket Tunic, £18 from TOPSHOP
Jackpot Jenna Scarf, £30 from Ascension
Sutton Strip Top, £25 from Emma Watson for People Tree

I know it may not seem like it, but Spring is on the horizon, so what better way to get rid of those winter blues than by injecting a bit of colour into your wardrobe. Luckily, just like the high street, environmentally friendly retailers are offering some great keys pieces this coming season, including lots of peaches, stripes and cutesy floral prints.

That's all for now, folks!

Thought you'd like to check out...

... some of these ethical fashion designers and retailers:
(click on retailer name to go direct to their website homepage)

Komodo

Why: Eco-friendly and natural materials and dyes, as well as supporting developing countries through ethical business.



Top buy: Cinamon Jacket, Was £71.52 Now £42.91

Kazuri

Why: Handmade ceramic jewellery from Kenya, supporting local Kenyan women with ethical pay and working conditions.



Top buy: Candy Necklace, £34.95

Beyond Skin

Why: Handmade, ethical vegan shoes inspired by catwalk and high street trends.



Top Buy: Gloria Shoes, Were £120 Now £60

Leju

Why: A 100% sustainable substitute for ivory made from a South American seed called Vegetable Ivory is mixed with silver and gem stones to create stunning jewellery pieces.



Top Buy: Morra Earings, £35

Lowie

Why: Handmade and handknitted fashion accessories made from organic cotton, eco-friendly leathers and low-carbon fabrics, all embellished to a high standard.



Top buy: Merino Roses Legwarmers, £38

Nancy Dee

Why: Directional and on-trend clothing made from high quality natural, organic or sustainable jersey fabrics and manufactured according to strict Fairtrade standards.



Top buy: Veronica Dress, £78

Keep an eye for even more great ethical fashion brands that I'll be bringing you over the next few weeks!

Eco-Jeans Special

I don't know about you, but I simply couldn't live without my jeans. Skinny, bootleg, boyfriend or other, jeans are simply THE staple piece of mine and any girl's wardrobe.

Along with the rest of the world of eco-fashion, Fair Trade, organic or sustainable jeans are usually associated with unflattering and itchy designs, but that simply isn't the case.

So, if you want to find that perfect pair of eco-jeans, then hopefully the few selected products below will show you that you can find quality and stylish jeans from the world of eco-fashion:

Skinny



From left to right:
Monkee Jeans from Tescos, Were £50 Now £25
Kuyichi Jeans from Purity, Were £109 Now £54.50
Ascension Jeans from Ascension, £59

Bootleg



From left to right:
Nudies Jeans from MyWardrobe, £89
Eve Jeans from EDUN, 85euros
Ted Baker Jeans from John Lewis, £89

Boyfriend



From left to right:
Kuyichi Jeans from Ascension, £110
Wrangler Jeans from ASOS, Were £75 Now £36
Fella Jeans from Howies, £75

And finally...

Head over to Ascension where you can currently get £30 off all new season jeans for one week only.

Sustainable Spring Style

Whilst flipping through the latest glossy mags, it's hard not to be confronted by the latest 'must-have' Spring trends. Alas, very rarely will you be given a choice of on-trend products from eco-fashion retailers...

Which ever trend you fancy getting your hands on this Spring, there are plenty of retailers that sell organic, Fair Trade and sustainably sourced Spring must-haves, and to make it easier I have put together a few photos and links to give you an idea of just-how fashion aware these eco-retailers really are...

Romantic Blushes


Top: Miksa, Bochica Was £37, Now £20
Dress: By Johann, Urban Outfitters £48
Dress: Braintree, People Tree £29


Parisian


Skirt: bibico, Ascension £30
Reversable Vest: Howies £45
Dress: Emma Watson, People Tree £35

City Monochrome


Dress: Annie Greenabelle, TOPSHOP Was £54, Now £30
T-Shirt: Bora Aksu, People Tree Was £32, Now £13
Dress: Edun 120euros

Fantasy Florals


Dress: By Johann, Urban Outfitters £45
Necklace: Frank & Faith, Was £20, Now £18
Dress: Annie Greenabelle £61

EcoChic Fashion Show, Geneva

Whilst everyone is buzzing about London Fashion Week which commences next week, it's easy to over look the EcoChic Fashion Show and Exhibition which has just taken place in Geneva.

Supporting the best established and up-and-coming eco fashion designers, EcoChic showcases Eco-Couture and Ready-To-Wear designs proving that sustainable fashion doesn't mean compromising on design or quality.

There were two Ready-To-Wear designers I was particularly interested in seeing; U2 Bono's EDUN range, and Annie Greenabelle. As expected, EDUN's collection was Rock inspired (think of high street All Saints and you get the idea), which mixes rich plums with neutral blacks, greys and creams. EDUN has a website where you can buy t-shirts, dresses, tops, jeans and knitwear, so make sure you check out www.edunonline.com.

Annie Greenabelle is one of my favourite eco-designers (check out TOPSHOP and Ascension as well as her own site, www.anniegreenabelle.com) as she doesn't shy away from other catwalk trends. Right now her collection is made up of monochrome, checks and stripes (hot hot HOT), all at prices that won't make you run a mile...always good!

Below is my pick of the best designs from EcoChic Fashion Show and Exhibition, but you can head over to www.ecochicfashions.com/geneva.html for more photos and info.


Above: EDUN


Above: Annie Greenabelle


Above: Lalesso

Whoopie! 30% Off Jewellery at Ascension!

Great news! Head over to Ascension where you can currently save 30% off selected pieces of ethical jewellery, including necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

With some great Valentine's Day as well as every day pieces to choose from, it's defo worth checking out.

Enjoy!

Here's the link: http://bit.ly/b4oX5W

Emma 'Hermione Granger' Watson Designs Collection for People Tree

Having read the Harry Potter books since first released back in 2001, I was rather protective of the characters when I knew the first Harry Potter films were to be released. Thus, when Emma Watson hit the silver screen as Hermione Granger, she, well, grated on me a bit. And with her recent rise to fame as one of the UK's best-dressed celebs and her contract to model for Burberry, out of jealousy she grated on me even more.

But all is forgiven.

Emma Watson has redeemed herself by designing a new fashion collection for affordable eco-fashion brand, People Tree, helping to promote this great ethical brand by offering a wide selection of trendy and, most importantly, wearable eco-fashion for men and women.



The Emma Watson for People Tree's collection is made up of preppy-style pieces, possibly influenced by her place at America's Brown University, offering casual and easy-to-wear pieces for women as well as men. With reds, whites and blues, stripes and preppy styles on the menu, this collection has some great Spring/Summer pieces that have been already spotted on the designer catwalks.

My favourite pieces include this Union Jack T-shirt Dress http://www.peopletree.co.uk/products/union-jack-dress/, this Oxford Cricket Jumper http://www.peopletree.co.uk/products/oxford-cricket-jumper/ and this Trinity Skirt http://www.peopletree.co.uk/products/trinity-skirt/. All great wearable pieces that can be layered and mix-and-matched with the rest of the Emma Watson collaboration.

We hope this latest celebrity endorsed eco-fashion collection can help promote ethical clothing as fashionable, wearable pieces.

You can check out Emma Watson's People Tree collaboration by heading over to www.peopletree.co.uk

Welcome to Funkle's Eco-Fashion!

Hello and welcome to my new blog dedicated to Eco, Fair Trade, Organic and Environmentally Friendly fashion.

Funkle's Eco-Fashion was set up to spread the word about the world of eco-fashion. Having been a Fashion Reporter for a leading fashion website, I thought it was time to keep like-minded fashion fans up-to-date with the latest news and styles in the world of sustainable fashion, retailers and brands.

Let's face it, eco-fashion hasn't had the best rep over the last few years. With eco-fashion perhaps more associate with itchy hemp and unflattering styles, I thought it was time to put the record straight.

With a whole world of high-fashion eco brands and retailers out there to explore, friends of the Earth and fashion lovers can unite their passions at last!