Compassionate Fashion - Gucci & UNICEF

By Lorna 

Gucci Creative Director, Frida Giannini will be honoured on February 11th 2011 at UNICEF's annual Women of Compassion luncheon. Jennifer Lopez will present the award with honorary chairwomen Rihanna and Mary J Blige.

Under Frida Giannini's direction, Gucci has committed over $9million to UNICEF to support UNICEF orphans and children affected by AIDS in Africa, where over 11 million children have lost one or both parents to the disease. This has been achieved through various special projects and commissioned exclusive design pieces for Gucci to retail. The most recent of these projects was a special edition Sukey bag which has been stocked in Gucci stores in 20 countries with 25% of the retail price donated.

"Gucci's ongoing commitment is helping UNICEF and our partners reach our goal of benefiting 4 million children through the Schools for Africa campaign."

"For most of Africa's children, particularly orphans and children affected by HIV and AIDS, education represents a way out of a life of entrenched poverty,” said Nichole Brown, UNICEF Chief of Corporate and Foundation Fundraising. “By providing children with access to a quality education in a safe and protective environment, we are building better lives for not only these children, but future generations as well."

When you look at the problems people face all over the world, it is easy to feel helpless. That is why these Women of Compassion awards are so important; they are inspiration to the likes of women (and men) in industries everywhere that it is possible to make a difference and improve our world for the better, congratulations Frida!  

Find more info on the Gucci and UNICEF partnership, at Gucci or UNICEF

Attention please!

by Naomi.

I would just like to say....

I LOVE this H&M dress! 100% recycled polyester. £14.99. What else needs to be said?

Only one thing left to decide.....

Cornflower blue...

or sunshine yellow?

Decisions decisions....

Facts: H&M summer ruffle dress, 100% recycled polyester £14.99.

Free beauty bible alert!

by Naomi

Cosmetics lovers around the UK - get yourselves down to a branch of Boots! Une cosmetics has teamed up with Beauty Bible to offer a free copy of 'The Green Beauty Bible' when you spend over £15 on the range.

If you aren't familiar with it, Une makes beauty products using natural and organic ingredients and with eco-friendly packaging. Every product in the range of 20 is from at least 98 per cent natural origin and 14 of them are Ecocert certified. Une's ethos is to help make the most of natural beauty, so its shades are quite muted - lots of lovely nudes, browns and pinks!

'The Green Beauty Bible' is written by beauty journalists Josephine Fairley and Sarah Stacey who promise to "tell you everything we know about naturally gorgeous; how to live, feel and look healthy and beautiful in a more sustainable, eco-friendly way." 

This includes: tips, interviews with 'green goddess', Tried & Tested consumer surveys based on the opinions of over 1,050 testers, covering 44 categories from natural ‘miracle’ creams to mascara, shampoo to deodorant, from nearly 100 brands. Hhhmmm - sounds promising!

It has received pretty good reviews on Amazon and I have been wanting to try the Une range for a while, so I will be heading to Boots to get my hands on some goodies this week!

If you have already taken advantage of this offer, let me know what you think of the book (and products!)
xx

Facts: Une Beauty: spend £15 on products and get The Green Beauty Bible free at Boots. Une Beauty: Ecocert, sustainable practices, eco-friendly packaging, natural and organic ingredients.

SSsssshhh - beautiful shoes!

by Naomi

Hi guys, apologies for the break in posting - Christmas was hectic and January has been just as busy! My family and I did manage to have something of an eco-Christmas with lots of handmade presents, from carved candlesticks from wood offcuts and knitted gloves to homemade jam & chocolates, and sewn bags & quilts - I am still yet to manage a wrapping paper-free Christmas though!

Anyway, I'm back on it now and promise to make it up to you with lots of fabulous eco finds and perhaps even some blogs about some of the sewing projects I am attempting!

Here is the first - a little beauty that dropped into my inbox today. Now I never need an excuse to buy new shoes, but Hetty Rose has gone and given us one anyway in the form of a gorgeous ready-to-wear collection.

Made from vintage kimono fabric and leather they are totally delectable, and perfect for all things spring and summer (at around £200 a pair you may have to save up until spring to afford them - or buy them now and sneak them past your partner/ parents/ children!) The antique fabric means each pair is unique - so no spotting someone with the same pair on!

These are my favourite - so chic and unusual....sigh.

Prices are between £180 and £205 - find them all at Hetty Rose.

Facts: Hetty Rose ready to wear shoes, antique kimono fabric, made in the UK.