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.

Best of the Boots...

By Lorna

Yes Ecogoddesses, it's that time of year when even if the sky looks okay in the morning by the time you come to leave the office/Uni/day job in the evening the tide could have turned and you could be wading through puddled streets with squelching socks! Depressing, eh!? well... it would be if you hadn't invested in the most BEAUTIFUL WINTER BOOTS you had ever seen! Think about it, even if you are sloshing through what feels like pavement tidal waves, just looking down at your new boots make you smile!! : ) This is the way I felt about a pair of boots I bought last year from eco shoe masters WHERE. I have worn them endlessly... so much so that I am now anchoring for a new pair of on trend weather proof boots so I can alternate. This desire resulted in me scouring the internet to share with you my top finds for the best winter boots!


Stopping the rain at no 1: BOURGEOIS BOHEME - VEGAN BLACK PATENT KNEE HIGH BUCKLE BOOT £120

Putting a spring in your beautifully veg tanned leather clad step at no 2: Its the LANA boot from TERRA PLANA (with brand new non-toxic biodegradable gel pad for superior comfort!) AT £220

Stepping up the style ranks at no 3: NEU AURA- SUNBIRD OVER THE KNEE BLACK VEGAN BOOTS at £222.00

Availability: In stock.

PLEASE SPECIFY THE FOLLOWING DETAILS :

Keeping toes toasty at no 4: NEU AURA -BLACK VEGAN RIDING BOOTS at £156

Sustainable wooden soles at no 5: SANITA - AYA CONE ANKLE BOOT at £149

Winner of the style stakes at no 6 (not as practical!!): NINA DALCETTI- BEV 

Click on the description below for a link to the shoe of your wintery dreams....

BOURGEOIS BOHEME- VEGAN BLACK PATENT KNEE HIGH BUCKLE BOOT at £120
TERRA PLANA- LANA BOOT AT £220 

NEU AURA- SUNBIRD OVER THE KNEE BLACK VEGAN BOOTS AT £222.00
NEU AURA - BLACK VEGAN RIDING BOOTS at £156
SANITA - AYA CONE ANKLE BOOT at £149
NINA DALCETTI - BEV 


Facts: Winter boots, Ethical, Vegan, Puddle Proof, Veg tanned leather, sustainable soles, toxic free biodegradable gel inserts, Bourgeois boheme, Terra Plana, Neu Aura, Sanita, Nina Dalcetti

Sale time!

by Naomi

Nothing makes a slightly damp and grey week seem brighter than a great sale!

Prompted by my recent holiday, I have picked out some Cote D'Azur inspired finds: think French riviera chic, sophisticated and versatile but with a playful summer vibe.

This dress and cardi combo by Lowie is perfect for cool summer and autumn days. Made from finely knitted organic cotton, the elasticated waist and striped collar on the dress are flattering and feminine (£158 to £79). The cardi (£95) is the perfect partner!

I love this stripy tie top (£98 to £49), also by Lowie, which can be teamed with these beautiful sandals by vegan brand Beyond Skin (£135 to £71) for a look that epitomises eco cool summer-casual.

OK, so it's not on sale, but it is gorgeous! My lust-have item of the season is this beautiful silk blue band panama by Pachacuti. At £122 it may make your purse cower in fear, but it is rollable (comes with instructions and the optional extra of a box) meaning you will never again have to suffer the how-the-heck-do-I-pack-this-hat holiday dilemma!

Furthermore, Pachacuti works with women's cooperatives in Ecuador, ensuring Fair Trade and supporting pensions, developments, education and healthcare initiatives. It uses sustainable raw materials, minimises waste, and doesn't use harmful chemicals in the production process. What more could you ask for?!

Facts: organic cotton by Lowie, vegan sandals by Beyond Skin, Fair Trade panama hat by Pachacuti.

Patriotic eco fashion

by Naomi

Well call me mushy, but I've developed a real sense of patriotism over the last few months. Perhaps it's due to the economic trials and tribulations of the last year, or maybe it is the anticipation of the 2012 Olympics. Whatever the reason, what better way to express a love for our nation than through the medium of fashion?! Nostalgic style and British-themed fashion is where it is at, and so I bring you a selection of the best!

Be boldly British and sport the Union Jack (more a contemporary take on British elegance than Geri Halliwell circa 1997.)

London Undercover umbrella:

The umbrella is a British icon and a classic one is a staple to any truly patriotic wardrobe. This gingham/ plaid Union Jack design by London Undercover is a stylish take on the traditional walker-style umbrella and is made from recycled materials with minimal waste. Team it with a trench coat and brogues, and you will be singing in the rain! It can be yours for £40 from http://www.londonundercover.co.uk/

Crumpets and cuffs:

If you are the kind of gal that likes to get suited and booted, why not finish your shirt with these cufflinks made by Skip Sisters from recycled stamps? Available for £39 from www.fashion-conscience.com

Alternatively,
team together red, white and blue:

Bamboo dress:

This navy dress by Fin, made from 100 per cent organic bamboo, is perfection when teamed with red tights. Available in-store at the new Ascension store, for £240. See www.ascensiononline.com for more information.

Melissa shoes:

I am a big fan of Melissa shoes (particularly the Vivienne Westwood collection - well worth a look) and these vegan t-bar Mary Janes are so cute. They are on sale at www.fashion-conscience.com, reduced from £50 to £35. Choose between ruby red (pictured) or royal blue.

Military Jacket:

Lowie's handmade cropped wool jacket features ornate antique-style buttons and a longer tail, simply oozing this season's military trend. Make it yours for £178. www.ilovelowie.com

Last but not least, be delightfully dapper: androgyny is the new black! This means brogues, straight-cut trousers and braces are all back in the game.

Classic tailoring from Ascension:

This peg-top trouser and blazer combo epitomises flattering masculine tailoring. Trousers £75, blazer £109, at www.ascensiononline.com

Eco-friendly brogues:

You can pick up some vintage or second-hand brogues on sites such as Ebay and Etsy, and the same goes for braces. Bourgeois Boheme, which specialises in responsibly made footwear and accessories, has a range of mens' and womens' brogues such as these by Marco Tozzi  - a bargain at £36! http://www.bboheme.com/

Facts: London Undercover umbrella: recycled materials. Skip Sisters cufflinks: recycled stamps. Fin: organic bamboo.Melissa shoes: vegan. Lowie: handmade wool. Ascension: fairly traded.

WHERE oh WHERE...

by Naomi

I am always on the lookout for stylish eco & ethical footwear, as I find it one of the most difficult areas to be better at; vintage are usually too small and many modern brands are too expensive for my pocket. WHERE is one of few brands that I think offer something stylish and not too pricey (although still definitely a considered purchase!)

I love their A/W collection. The studded Tressa shoe is edgy yet versatile and the Omayda shoe looks like the perfect day shoe.

WHERE shoes and accessories are hand made by small producers and artisans across the globe. The brand pays workers a fair wage and says it does its best to make and package using natural and environmentally friendly materials.

They are currently offering a discount to its followers on Twitter so find them at www.twitter.com/WHEREitisAT 

Facts: WHERE hand made shoes, ethical shoes.

Nina Dolcetti- Gorgeous Upcycled Shoe Heaven!

By Lorna

Ouhhhhh pretty! ...Yes thoses were my first thoughts when I saw these shoes too!

Welcome fellow Eco Goddesses to the beautiful world of Nina Dolcetti shoes! One thing the eco market is relatively short of is beautiful ethical shoes so I was really excited to stumble across this collection made from entirely reclaimed materials!

Designer Elisalex Grunfeld de Castro graduated from world-renowned footwear design college- Cordwainers in 2005 and launched her high end luxury show label Nina Dolcetti at the Estethica exhibition at London Fashion Week in 2008. Her collection of unique handmade shoes creates the perfect synergy between conscious attitude and avant garde elegant fashion.

Each carefully crafted shoe is designed and constructed to re-use off-cuts and use unwanted pre-consumer waste. This reduces waste within the fashion industry and avoids the environmentally unfriendly effects of leather tanning. Each pair is handmade in a small family run factory in East London.

These shoes are so beautiful, both in their design and their ethics. As a designer if you love what you do, I believe it comes across in what you design and produce. Now, this may be a romanticized image but I feel like you can really see the love that went into designing and making these shoes and who knows, maybe when you wear them you can feel it too! 

Nina Dolcetti shoes are available from www.ninadolcetti.com

Facts: Fab eco friendly shoes, Nina Dolcetti heels, recycled, handmade in the UK