Eco fashion: your questions answered

Ethical fashion can be a minefield of half-truths and full-blown myths. Eco-author Jen Marsden answers your eco questions

Q. Aside from scouring charity shops, where can I go for the best budget buys in eco fashion? Most labels either seem to be rather pricey or a bit ‘mumsy'. 

Lou, London

 

  Adili toga dressA. The good news is that eco fashion is ever steering away from the mumsy look. The pioneer fair trade fashion brand People Tree improves its designs every season, managing to combine passionate commitment to working with fair trade co-operatives with a fabulous selection of affordable skirts, dresses, trousers and tops. Fast on its heels is Bibico, set up by a former high street fashion designer.

 

Much of the clothing you see on the high street is incredibly cheap because somewhere along the supply chain there has been exploitation. Eco fashion ensures improved conditions and this is often guaranteed through certification standards such as the Fairtrade MARK, the Soil Association organic seal of approval or the Made-By Track&Trace system.

 

Miksa is a new ethical fashion brand that oozes chic while using eco fabrics such as certified organic cotton and 100% alpaca wool in its range of jersey dresses, hoods and smock tops. Then there is Kuyichi, the raw denim brand from the Netherlands that is really street savvy with its pricing, stocked at Asos.com online and at eco boutique Equa in Islington's Camden Passage.

 

With its own shop in London's Covent Garden, Komodo has fabulous summer dresses, tops, tunics and winter knits to the cool starting tune of £22 that can be bought online from Bochica, an ‘ethical fashion at high street prices' online retailer.

 

Aside from stocking a lot of affordable eco fashion items, Adili has now started its own range of clothing including gorgeous toga jersey dresses for just £27.50! If you are looking for clothes to fit an active lifestyle, then check out the Howies store on Carnaby Street.

 

And remember: if you want to support eco fashion then adopt a less is more approach and take care of your clothes so that they last longer.

 

Q. I was wondering if you can suggest where I can get a hat for my niece like the ones Topshop and New Look are selling, but that's eco as well? Is there anywhere we can go to try before we buy?

Vicky, Glasgow

 

  Pachacuti hatA. Pachacuti has some brilliantly chic panama (fedora) hats. They conserve water and do not use any harsh chemicals in their production, ensuring they are more eco than most offered on the high street. Prices start from £30, which reflects the fact that the hats are handmade the traditional way by cooperatives in Ecuador and guarantee a fair income to the weavers. You can buy them in three sizes from Adili and choose from the Riviera Wide Brim Hats or the classic narrow look that includes a unisex version.

 

Check out the Pachacuti website directly for a wider selection of colourful and check design panamas, or for some quirky 1920s style felt hats and leather cowboy hats.

 

Fashion-Conscience sell Livity's lively fedora hats made from sustainable sea grass and organic cotton, also under fair trade conditions and starting at £32.

 

You may also want to check out the eco fashion boutique Bolshie in Glasgow's West End as it sells a lot of hot summer accessories.

 

Q. I love shoes and I'm always looking for new heels to complete an outfit. I was wondering what makes shoes eco?

Victoria, Bath

 

  Terra Plana shoeA. There are various aspects that contribute to a shoe being more eco-considerate:

*Being vegan - no animals have been harmed in the process

*Produced under fair trade conditions where workers are paid a living wage and have rights to be part of a trade union

*Manufactured with materials that are sensitive to the environment.

 

Many of these issues are interconnected. For example, most shoes use toxic glues that are dangerous on contact, and do not biodegrade at the end of their life cycle.

 

One popular feature of eco heels is the care taken over the energy-intensive leather tanning process. The common, cheap mineral tanning process uses chrome, a cancer-causing suspect that is also known to affect water systems. Vegetable tanning is an alternative process that uses a compound from tree bark.

 

With prices starting around £80,Terra Plana are the style pioneers of vegetable-tanned and one-of-a-kind colourful heels using recycled Pakistani quilts. Recycled materials such as vintage kimonos are used in Hetty Rose's handmade-to-measure shoes, from £290. Check out the collection from Kitty Cooper starting at £245 and the chunkier styles of Nina Dolcetti, which are ethically manufactured in London.

 

If you'd rather cut leather out completely then you can opt for some killer stilettos from vegan brand Beyond Skin. Its range uses PU, a similar yet kinder alternative to PVC. Yorkshire-based Izzy Lane has vegan shoes from £149, while Neon Collective offers a fab range of vegan shoes and heeled boots from Olsen Haus, Neu Aura, Charmone, Cri de Couer and Novacas. Prices begin at £50 for flats and £75 for heels.

 

Q. My partner recently popped the question! We're now on the hunt for for the perfect wedding rings. I saw the ‘buying diamonds guide' but wondered if you can recommend any good eco jewellers and suggest what we should look out for?  

Anna, Birmingham

 

  April Doubleday ringA. Congratulations! You can choose a conflict-free diamond ring by following the guide produced by Amnesty International and Global Witness, which you can download online here. Stylish designs from Chocolate Couture and Ingle & Rhode offer rings guaranteed by the conflict-free CanadaMark.

 

It's not just diamonds to consider. Many companies ensure better standards throughout the supply chain, from cutting workshops that conventionally still employ child labour, to regenerating land once it has been mined. Choose rings that use traditional panning methods rather than chemical extraction as this lessens environmental impact.

 

One trailblazing company is Cred Jewellery, offering classic yet modern wedding bands. Fifi Bijoux's collection of luxurious designs has got them a fan base that includes Colin Firth! Both these brands source their gold from a Colombian certification programme in Oro Verde.

 

You may also wish to check out the contemporary designs of April Doubleday.  Urth Jewellery is going to add in a Wedding & Engagement collection too.

 

Q. Can you recommend any good websites that I can rent clothes and accessories from?

Tess, Cheltenham

 

A. Renting your clothes and accessories is a great way to keep your wardrobe fresh without spending a fortune - particularly relevant if you like your designer brands. Aside from the usual membership fee, renting costs from about 10 to 15% of the original price.

 

Check out Positive Impressions and Fashionhire.co.uk for handbag hire, Blingyourself.com for designer jewellery and watches. And, get ready for winter with Keep and Share's range of UK-produced ethical woollies.

 

 

Q. How easy is it to shop for vintage? I've got a friend who won't share her style tips with me!

Ange, Leeds

A. Easy if you know where! Check out Queens of Vintage for some daily top tips and inspiration. There is also a handy city guide.

 

About the author

 

Jen Marsden an eco journalist and author of ‘Green Guide for Weddings'. With an eye for cutting through ‘greenwash' she's quick to tell what's rot, what's not, and what's hot in the green arena.

 

Look out for the forthcoming Green Guide to Fashion & Beauty, a full-colour guide to being glam, gorgeous and green. Each chapter includes an accessible explanation of the social, ethical and environmental considerations of the fashion and beauty industries, offering greener options and the low-down on the coolest planet-friendly style. With beautiful photography, case studies and advice from the experts, plus a comprehensive directory, it's all done with a light-hearted touch that guides, inspires and delights.

 

Eco beauty advice - read Jen's tips for a greener beauty routine

 

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