Fashion with an ethical twist

Why you should support ethical brands

 

Katharine E Hamnett

After 20 years in the fashion business, Katharine Hamnett is still confronting political issues in style. Everyone's favourite political sloganeer has reissued her iconic slogan t-shirts in organic cotton, ‘ People are realising that how we consume decides the future of the planet,' says the Queen of Green, ‘ and they're finally doing something about it.' As well as creating a ‘Life is Sacred' t-shirt for the Grazia Lives not Knives campaign, Hamnett has recently designed a ‘Save the Sea' t-shirt for the Environmental Justice Foundation (EFJ). Campaigning alongside Bill Nighy, Tom Aikens and Rick Stein to help highlight the consequences of pirate fishing and what needs to be done to stop it. Model David Gandy (who you may remember from the D&G ads) certainly helps draw attention to the plight.

Visit www.katherinehamnett.com

 

Noir

'We want to be known as the first brand to turn social responsibility sexy,' says Peter Ingwersen, the founder of high fashion brand Noir. The Copenhagen-based company supports sustainable business processes in the Third World, more than 50% of the fabrics used in our collections are certified and organic African cotton,

‘We've launched our own range of cotton fabrics from Uganda under the brand 'Noir. Illuminati II,' adds Ingwersen, a firm believer that ethical fashion is here to stay. 'It is a zeitgeist trend but it'll last longer than two seasons - because what's the alternative? To pollute more and use child labour?' Point taken.

Visit www.noir-illuminati2.com

 

Beyond Skin

Beyond Skin, winner of the Grazia Ethical Award and the RSPCA Good Business Award, create stylish footwear using no animal products and no sweatshops. Shoes are handmade in England and Spain from sustainable eco-friendly fabrics (faux leather or suede, cotton and hemp) and have recycled rubber resin soles. The company also donates 5% of profits to a selection of ethical charities.

Visit www.beyondskin.co.uk

 

Ciel

Luxury womenswear label Ciel designs for ‘women who don't want to sacrifice style in the name of sustainability' and, with Cate Blanchett and Jasmine Guinness as followers, the brand well and truly achieves that aim. Company founder, Sarah Ratty, a member of the Ethical Fashion Forum, has been producing environmentally friendly fashion since the 1990s when she set-up the Conscious Earthwear label. The lifelong Greenpeace supporter moved on to the more grown-up Ciel in 2004. This autumn's luxurious knitwear collection is made of 100% organically farmed baby Alpaca from Peru. Spinning and knitting take place in the same local area, whilst the carbon footprint is offset by a partnership with the ‘Save the Amazon Organisation'.

Visit www.ciel.ltd.uk

 
GreenKnickers

Old school friends, Rose Cleary Southwood and Sarah Lucy Smith started GreenKnickers to prove that ‘ethical choices can be funny, sexy and beautiful.' Pants are made from organic cotton, hemp and recycled fabrics, whilst padded cycling knickers are super-soft bamboo - and with ‘Cycle More' embroidered across the bum they certainly make you smile and think.

Visit www.greenknickers.org

 

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