Own A Colour & Help Save A Child's Life!

By Lorna

Yay! Ecogoddess Fashion are now the proud owners of our very own DULUX colour! (please can I get a whoop!?) We are the latest in a whole string of celebs (ha) to buy and name our own colour online. In a genius fundraising idea, Dulux and Unicef have partnered to sell off the naming rights for every single one of the 16.7 million colours that the average  monitor, laptop, tablet and smartphone screen can display. For a donation of just £1, you get to choose a colour, name it whatever you like and then well.... own it. The money goes to Unicef for bringing clean water, education, medical assistance and other aid to children across the world. Pure, Simple, Brilliant!

One happy customer is UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore."I am the proud new owner of a shade of blue, which I have named Swedish Blue", said Sir Roger.

"It is the colour of the Swedish flag, the homeland of my very wonderful and very beautiful wife, Kristina, and not far off the cyan blue that represents UNICEF. Both Kristina and UNICEF are extremely close to my heart."

Own you own colour by clicking here
We would love to know what colour you choose and why? leave us a comment below to share your colour stories! xx

Inspired - A very exciting event this Sat!!

By Lorna

Saturday, 15th of October 2011@ The Kensington Roof Gardens

EVENT STARTS AT 7.00PM AT THE KENSINGTON ROOF GARDENS, 99 KENSINGTON HIGH STREET, LONDON W8 5SA

What are your plans for this Saturday eve? No plans yet, or too many to actually commit? Well, here at Ecogoddess HQ, we think we have found you the perfect night out!! At one of the most beautiful venues London has to offer, Kensington Roof Gardens, Mayamiko Trust are hosting a charity night like no other...'Inspired'. In collaboration with Slaves of the Extraordinary, there will be emerging fashion, music, ground breaking performance and dancers. Sounds good to me!

The following ethical designers will be featured: Lauren Solomon for SLAVES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY, MIA by Mia Nisbet, Fair+TRUE, Bestow Elan and Christi Sanders. There will also be music and performances from the following: Listen, feel and taste the wonderful cocktail of emerging musicians, DJs and dancers including E.I.C Dance Theatre, Michelle Cade and Catwalk music by Jakub Gaudasinski.

The event sounds fab but.... what is this REALLY about? The mission statement of the Mayamiko Trust charity is ''Empowering local communities through skills and fairer trade. To help people lift themselves out of poverty and end injustice.'' Malawi is one of the world's poorest countries with well over half the population in extreme poverty and 175 out of 1000 children die before they reach the age of 5 (World Health Statistics). Unsurprisingly then, a charity aiming to lift people out of poverty has started here - The Malawi Cotton project outlines plans to set up a factory (plans below) to produce clothing to sell to both the local and international markets. There will be education, training and childcare available to the local women who work here to allow them to generate a sustainable reliable income. They will have the life changing ability to support themselves and their family and free themselves of extreme poverty.

''We watch, we listen, we learn, we act. Through skills training, education, nutrition, sanitation and fairer trade practices. Mayamiko works to support creative talents and turn them into sustainable activities. Mayamiko loves everyone, but has a special soft spot for the most vulnerable - women and children.'' Mayamito Trust 2011

I will be going to this great event and I would love to meet you so drop us a comment below if you are going. If you know of any other exciting Ethical Fashion event happening in your area - get in touch, we love hearing from you!

To buy tickets and support this inspirational charity click here

To read more about the Malawi Cotton Project click here

Scribbling some more!

by Naomi

You know how I said I love to scribble? Well only a couple of days after posting I discovered another eco notebook that I think is pretty rad (yes I am totally bringing that word back into fashion!).

These simply elegant notepads and address books are made by Betty & Betts, who work closely with artisans in India. All the books are acid free, biodegradable or made from post-consummer waste, and the fabric is 100% organic. We like!




Betty & Betts books

I think they would make lovely gifts, wrapped in a vintage scarf or even just with a pen and a little ribbon! Single books start at £10 and these gift sets are £22.

Scribble, scribble, scribble!

Scribbling to my heart's content

by Naomi

I LOVE notepads. I think it's the feeling of possibility that comes with a fresh page - the idea that I could use it to do anything from starting a novel to writing a shopping list.... (ok that latter is more likely!).

I LOVE to scribble, doodle and make lists. I LOVE to write down recipes, and ideas for gifts or crafts. And I'm a little bit addicted to organising things. Lorna knows this and found me the perfect eco solution: a reecovid notepad.

It's a refillable ring binder - which means I can scrawl to my heart's content. The notepaper is made from acid-free recycled paper and the printing is done with vegetable dye. The covers are protected with a biodegradable coating.

I've got the Joss one (above £14.99) but there are lots of other designs available here.  A donation from each sale also goes toward the reecovid foundation, which is working to assist women in their recovery from sexual violence.

Happy scribbling guys!

-x-

A free underwear Monday treat!

by Naomi

Fancy getting your hands on some funky new underwear? Read on!

We are launching an offer specifically for you Eco Goddesses, courtesy of the lovely peeps at PACT. The first 10 of you to enter the code ecogoddess1 will receive a free - yes FREE - pair of PACT pants! And for those of you that miss out on this, the code ecogoddess2 will get you a cheeky 25% off!

PACT donates 10 per cent of sales to environmental causes including the Sierra Club, Forest Ethics and Oceana. It uses organic cotton and manufactures responsibly. 
Well they do say that change starts at the bottom. Ahem.

Speaking of which, here is a sneak peek at some of the brand's designs for your derrière!

Get your hands some PACT undies here - just enter the code at the checkout!

Facts: PACT underwear, exclusive offer: free pair for first 10 customers and 25% off afterwards, subject to availability. PACT supports environmental causes. Offer does not include P&P.

A slightly delayed Monday treat!

by Naomi

Yes...I know....it's been a while. Unfortunately or fortunately the last few Mondays have been super busy and I haven't had the chance to post! But I am here at last!

So today I am posting about what Ecogoddess did on one of the aforementioned Mondays! In our neck of the woods, the first Bank Holiday Monday in May means one thing: Stilton Cheeserolling!

It's not the high adrenalin break-your-neck-and-legs event that those crazy Gloucester folk partake in. It does involve rolling cheese down a hill (well wood painted like cheese), but as what constitutes for a hill in these flat fens is what other people would look at as a gentle slope, it is much more..... laid back! It does however require fancy dress and is part of an all-round huge fete which the entire village and surrounding villages turn out for.

After a hugely successful trial run last year, raising money for the EJF, this year Lorna and I ran our second charity bake sale. This year, it was to raise much needed funds for The Mustard Seed Project, which works to empower the people of a slum community in Mombasa.

We spent the weekend baking and icing and by the time we had finished, we had 180ish cupcakes, three traybakes, one loaf cake, 8 jars of chutney and lots of vanilla cookies and shortbread! We also sold some jewellery made out in Africa.

The pics here were taken after we had sold most of our cakes, but you can get an idea! We dressed the stand in ribbon and kitsch patterned fabric and tablecloths, and put cupcakes on pretty plates and cake stands.

The sun was shining and the fete-goers were loving cake - we sold out by around 2.30pm (which meant we could go and enjoy a nice cider in the sunshine!) After deducting costs, we raised a wonderful £310!

If you are thinking of doing your own charity bake sale, here are a few of our top tips:

• Presentation is everything - there were plenty of other stands selling cake and cupcakes, but our extra effort in dressing the stand and decorating the cakes attracted a lot of customers.
• Mix it up a bit - flavours should offer the classic favourites, but also something a little unusual. We did classics like Maple & Pecan, Coffee & Walnut and Carrot Cupcake, but also Oreo Cupcakes with a cookie at the bottom, Chocolate & Banana Loaf Cake, Lemon Cheesecake with a lemon curd centre, and Strawberry Cream Cupcakes with a jam centre and cream cheese frosting. Make flavours they can't resist!
• Know your audience - we tailored the cakes to appeal to both children, teenagers and adults. Some of the cupcakes were smaller, and so more manageable for children. We also did a rainbow sponge cupcake with bright glitter icing to appeal to kids and big kids! Not everyone likes chocolate or a huge amount of buttercream icing, so we did more grown-up flavours like Mocha, Lemon Drizzle and Orange Drizzle.
• Price it right! We needed to make a good profit over our costs, and knew that visitors would have varying amounts of money to spend. We sold little cookies at 25p each, then smaller cupcakes and slices of traybake at £1, and large deluxe cupcakes at £1.50.

Overall it was a great success and something we hope to repeat. We would love to hear about your bake sale experiences and any fundraising ideas!

Facts: Bank Holiday bake sale for the Mustard Seed Project. Cakes and cupcakes made from organic, fairtrade and free range ingredients.

An almost-on-holiday Monday treat!

by Naomi

The bank hols are just around the corner and that holiday feeling is slowly creeping up on everyone!

One of the things I love about time off is that, when the weather is warm there's nothing better than chilling in relaxed summery casuals. Barbecues with friends, that balmy breeze and the smell of suncream - ooh it's almost like being on holiday!

I've been keeping my eye out for pieces that ooze that chilled summery vibe and I think I have found a few gems!

The ASOS AFRICA range has some pretty tasty looking designs, like these peg-leg trousers with a leaf print (£45). OK, so you may not actually be on safari or stood in a vibrant African market, but with trousers produced in Mombasa and championing a Kitenge print from Tanzania, they are enough to make you feel like you could be!

I also LOVE this jacket and shorts combo, both also made in Mombasa. Perfection in peach!

The cropped jacket is a linen mix and I love the way it drapes - so elegant yet laid back (£50). The shorts are lightweight cotton with a soft handle finish, and a gorgeous rustic stripe and stylish cut that makes them great for day-to-night socialising (£30). Oops - I think I may have talked myself into buying these!

Last but not least, this Maradufu dress by Lalesso is simply gorgeous (£85). Lalesso is all about care-free summer style; it champions the talent of African artisans and created "an independent, charity based, eco and ethical clothing production unit," which it uses for all of its production.

If you're detecting a slightly African theme, it's no coincidence! I think I have been subconsciously inspired by my recent involvement with the charity The Mustard Seed Project, a UK registered charity which works to improve the lives of those that live in the Mgongeni in Kenya.

They are a really passionate and hardworking team, and fully believe in the ethos of empowerment not aid. More about my work with them in due course, but please do visit their website to find out more, and donate if you can. :)

Have a great week and some great days off!

-x-

Facts: ASOS AFRICA: supporting African artisans and production; Lalesso: uses an ethical factory and African prints; The Mustard Seed Project in Mgongeni, Kenya - empowerment not aid.

A fashion-fabulous health conscious Monday treat!

by Naomi

Wow - what beautiful sunshine this weekend brought us Brits! Everyone was out enjoying the heat and delving back into their summer wardrobes for the first time.

The sunshine always inspires me to try and get fit (try being the operative word!) and be a bit healthier in my lifestyle, so it's quite timely that this week's Monday post is about two new collections supporting some important health campaigns.

H&M's soon-to-launch Fashion Against Aids 2011 collection will be hitting shops on April 26, and is all about the androgynous street style mixed with casual essentials. 

Lots of celebs are supporting the campaign, including Keri Hilson, Selma Blair, Penn Badgley, Akon, Ginnifer Goodwin and the Scissor Sisters, and 25% of the sales are being donated to the charity Designers Against AIDS (DAA) and various other international HIV/AIDS prevention projects.


Ginnifer Goodwin (T-shirt £19.99)

 

Keri Hilson (Jumpsuit - £29.99)

Some of the pieces certainly aren't for the faint of fashion-heart, but that's kind of the way we like it here at Eco Goddess! The great thing about the collection is that it incorporates designs for those that want to wear their heart on their sleeve, and stylish essentials for those that just want fashion that gives to a good cause!

So you can say it loud and proud...

Vest - £6.99

 Or just have a warm glow in your heart knowing you have made a difference and got a lovely item of clothing at the same time...


Trench Coat - £34.99


There are plenty of pieces for the boyshapes and girlshapes as each design has been interpreted into menswear and womenswear.


Penn Badgley (Hooded Jacket £24.99, Scarf £6.99)


The new limited edition Tommy Hilfiger bag, supporting Breast Health International, has also just been launched, with Renée Zellweger as the face of this year's campaign. Made from vegetable-tanned leather, with a soft suede finish, it is the perfect everday bag, and €100 from each sale will be donated to the Fund for Living, supporting those affected by breast cancer.


Plenty of food for thought! -x-

Facts: Fashion - health campaigns; Fashion Against Aids and H&M - available from April 26; Tommy Hilfiger and Breast Health International, limited-edition handbag made from vegetable-tanned leather.

London Fashion Week! Vivienne Westwood sees RED...

By Lorna

If you ask any fashion student/designer (myself included) which designers they are most inspired by and Vivienne Westwood is sure to come pretty high up the list. An extravaganza of colour, volume and textural experimentation is evident but behind the showmanship of the collections lie Westwood's anarchistic punk roots.

Even now, with international acclaim, Westwood uses her skills and notoriety to continually highlight and protest ethical issues. For A/W 2008 a model walked with a placard protesting for the rights of Guantánamo Bay prisoners and Westwood took her bow in a blouse covered in protest badges. Also in the collection was a famous pair of orange pants (reminiscent of the fluorescent orange jumpsuits worn by detainees at the U.S. prison camp) with the slogan 'FAIR TRIAL - MY ARSE' 

For SS/11 Westwood worked with the International Trade Centre's Ethical Fashion Program of the United Nations to make oversized recycled eco tote bags. Handmade in Nairobi, these bags are made from recycled materials by marginalized communities of women. The Ethical Fashion Program supports the work of over 7000 women who live in conditions of extreme poverty but who have a strong desire to improve their lives.

Also for S/S11 Westwood has designed a stunning heart necklace for the charity Reprieve - who use the law to enforce the human rights of prisoners, from death row to Guantanamo Bay, they provide frontline investigation and legal representation to prisoners held outside the rule of law around the world. 

This week at London Fashion Week is no exception; Westwood has teamed up with Red Nose Day to design a range of 100 per cent Fairtrade organic cotton charity t-shirts to raise money. The t-shirts feature classic prints with bright red noses and are now available at TK Maxx from £9.99. Whilst not all her garments are organic/fairtrade, Westwood is certainly a fiesty woman who stands up for what she believes in and ensures her collections do the same. Bravo Dame Viv!!

Facts: Vivienne Westwood is a legend! 2011 Westwood Red nose organic cotton T-shirts £9.99
Learn more about International Trade Centre's Ethical Fashion Program here
Buy a Westwood Red Nose Tee here 
Buy a Westwood Eco tote or Reprieve necklace here

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

Roll up, roll up! London Fashion Week designer raffle!!

By Lorna

Exciting eco-fashion news! The Environmental Justice Foundation have launched a charity fashion raffle with over £100 prizes, worth over £8000!! 

Launched at London Fashion Week, tickets are only £5 each and the winners will be drawn on Oct 15th. 

100% of profits from the sale of raffle tickets goes to support the EJF's work empowering people who suffer most from environmental and human rights abuses around the world.

Be quick to snap up your chances to win now by heading to the EJF online shop.

Facts: Charity Designer Raffle, Environmental Justice Foundation, London Fashion Week.

Get soul with your soles!

by Naomi

If you're one of those that refuses to give up wearing summer shoes when Autumn arrives, then you will love TOMS shoes!

TOMS makes super funky espadrilles in all sorts of fabrics and patterns, and for every pair bought it gives a new pair of shoes to a child in need; one of the key causes of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted disease which can be caught through bare feet, not to mention the risks of injury and infection from walking barefoot.

There are classic designs like these black TOMS (£32):

Or graphic neon numbers like these by artist Gabe Lacktman ($68):

Or my personal favourites, these amazing glitter designs!

Get creative with the white TOMS (£32) and paint them with your own design - you could even host a Style Your Sole party and get all your girls/boys creating their own unique TOMS!

Just check out these pair customised by Regan in Texas - beautiful!

There are organic cotton vegan styles, leather styles and they even do a range of boots (because there are some days when you really can't get away with wearing canvas shoes!)

TOMS is setting a trend across the globe having made an amazing achievement and just given away its millionth pair of shoes!

Buy them from TOMS US or TOMS UK.

Facts: TOMS shoes, one for one, canvas and cotton espasrilles, Style Your Sole parties.

The Great FAshion Cycle... London to PAris!

By Lorna

Whilst scoping out new luscious eco brands at the Clothes Show in December I had the pleasure of bumping into Larissa from the EJF (Environmental Justice Foundation) who told me about this ‘‘amazing experience’’ which I "should DEFINITELY get involved in’’.

When she asked me to cycle 300 miles between two of the greatest fashion capitals of the world for one of the most active charities campaigning for human rights in the fashion industry, the only answer I could stutter was."..um.. sure?!"  

Not one to shy away from a challenge, I got home late that night and signed up. I awoke the following morning in a slight panic thinking "what the hell have I let myself in for??!!" Setting aside the fact that I had not sat on a bike since I was young enough to play kiss-chase, I didn’t even OWN a bike or have any idea how I was going to raise the min sponsorship of £1300!! Eeks!!

Fast-forward 6 months, throw in some major support from amazing friends, family and colleagues, 1 cupcake sale, 2 car-boots, 15 training sessions, a few sleepless nights, and I was raring to go!!

Call me naive, but I had a romantic image of cycling gently through beautiful French rolling hills, stopping to sip cappuccinos and wave to local farmers. Little did I realise this ‘multiple marathon’ would involve cycling the steepest hills known to man (well... to me!), against 50km head on winds and through multiple rain storms. Luckily the weather did eventually improve and the beautiful scenery took our minds off the distance!

Despite the leg muscle pain, punctures, sore bums, and all else we endured on the cycle, I met some really inspirational lovely people, did something I can be proud of and raised lots of money for an amazing cause. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me along the ride! Your generosity honestly got me to the top of each and every steep hill!

EJF is committed to eradicating child labour and the deadliest pesticides from cotton production and promoting organic alternatives.To get involved in an amazing experience for an incredible cause, sign up for next years Great Fashion Cycle by emailing Larissa at larissa.clark@ejfoundation.org 

To find out more about EJF’s Pick Your Cotton Carefully campaign, watch this video. 

Facts: 300miles Charity Cycle for Environmental Justice Foundation

Star-studded pop up shop...Indulge your curiosity!!

by Lorna

Inspired by Mary Queen of Charity Shops (brill program) I have recently begun volunteering at my local Oxfam shop. I expected it to be rewarding, but full of complaining grannies resisting change (like in the show!). What I found instead was lovely forward thinking people and an INCREDIBLE business model. Nothing you donate to Oxfam EVER ends up in a landfill! Seriously... not a single thing!

Good quality clothes, shoes, home wear and books are sorted, priced and sold in store. Rare items are sold on eBay. Fur goes to a charity for helping homeless people keep warm through winter. Bras get shipped to Africa by the ton. Fancy dress and wellies get sold to party loving revelers by Oxfam teams at festivals (I have been a customer many a time!). Even stained or torn clothes get a new life through being sold for rags for printing. Every penny that can be made is made. This is because everyone who works or volunteers for Oxfam has one simple united aim... to raise as much money as possible to end global poverty and suffering.

With that singular aim in mind a selection of A-list stars have joined Oxfam and Selfridges to create, stock and staff Britian’s biggest charity pop up shop. The shop, opening tomorrow, has been curated by an elite team, including Whistles CEO Jane Sheperdson, and will be stocked with affordable handpicked vintage and high-end gems donated by the stylish celebs.

You can check out amazing one-offs, from Livia Firth’s red carpet dresses (above) to Carey Mulligan’s bafta dress. Other celebs donating include the likes of Alexa Chung ( below), Helen Mirren, Will Young and Natalie Imbruglia. There will also be designer contributions from Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, Roger Vivier, and many more.

All proceeds from The Oxfam Curiosity Shop will go directly to women’s projects supported by Oxfam. These projects protect and support vulnerable women: campaigning against violence, empowering them to fight HIV and AIDS and offering the chance of education.

Hurry down and bag yourself a gorgeous gold sparkly dress worn by Annie Lennox to accept a glamour award! If you’re very lucky she may even serve you!

Click here to see a brilliant video of Annie Lennox showing some of her gorgeous donations!

 The shop will be in the Selfridges’ Ultralounge (lower ground floor) for one week only from Friday 14 May to Thursday 20. If you can’t make it to London, there is also an online aution on eBay until Thursday 20 May.

Facts: Oxfam Charity pop up shop at Selfridges 14 to 20 May. Donated celebrity clothes. Images: Livia Firth in Green Red Carpet challenge, dress donated for Oxfam sale. Mulberry Suit donated by Alexa Chung for Oxfam eBay auction.