Smooth summer skin

by Naomi

The weather is hot, hot, hot which means it's time to whisk our shorts and mini-skirts and bask in the sunshine! And no self-respecting goddess would be seen baring all without doing a little preparation, so I bring you a few beauty treats to help get your skin feeling smooth and summery.

Naturally Upper Canada is new to the UK and has a positively enormous collection of natural beauty products - you will be spoilt for choice!

For glamorous hands and feet, there are the All About Hands and All About Feet collections. The former offers luxurious hand soap, a moisture rich hand mask, triple action night cream, moisture hand was, exfoliating hand & elbow scrub and daily moisture hand lotion, to name a few! The avocado scent is really fresh and the hand cream has a light texture that absorbs quickly.

Peppermint oil is used in the All About Feet collection, which includes soothing foot cream, cracked heel treatment, exfoliating foot scrub and massaging foot scrub. They are also available in gift sets so perfect to add to your wish list or for your nearest and dearest! Prices range from £7 - £10.

The Naturally body collection is offers luxurious body beauty essentials, made from natural ingredients and in some scents that smell good enough to eat: Pressed Olive Avocado, Sweet Vanilla Fig, Wild Mint Lime, Cranberry Moro Orange and Warm Honey Nectar.

I am a big fan of the Pressed Olive Avocado, which is really sweet smelling (but smells nothing like the avocado hand range!). The body butter is rich and nourishing; it has certainly got me keeping an eye out for others in the range, such as the coarse salt scrub, foaming milk bath and nourishing massage oil. I tested the nourishing lip balm from the Warm Honey Nectar collection and it makes a great everyday moisture stick, made from beeswax, Shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil. Prices range from about £5 - £10.

Naturally Upper Canada's products contain loads of natural ingredients and all are free from parabens, mineral oils, SLS and synthetic dyes. They are available from Amazon and soon to be elsewhere in the UK.

Facts: Naturally Upper Canada: beauty products made with natural ingredients, free from parabens, mineral oils, SLS and synthetic dyes.

For more information visit www.uppercanadasoap.com
With this lot to keep you busy, your skin will be soft and summer-ready in no time!

Smell sweeter with DKNY

by Naomi

Any self-respecting lady's dressing table isn't complete without a signature perfume (or a few in my case!). So if you are looking for a new scent, check out DKNY's latest creation: pureDKNY.

DKNY is making a bold statement, introducing the fragrance as "a moment of calm, to find beauty in living simply, taking time out for the things that are closest to your heart: love, joy, comfort, embracing relationships and finding community".

Fortunately the ideals extend to more than just the concept; DKNY is using vanilla from Uganda and helping to build long-term vanilla production there in association with humanitarian organisation, CARE. The 15-month project will reach 900 farmers in rural communities, 60 per cent of whom are women, and enable them access savings and credit to help with health care and school fees. Furthermore, the packaging is made from certified paper which is biodegradable and compostable.

But, lets face it, no-one is going to buy perfume just for its eco credentials. I haven't had a chance to test pureDKNY yet, but according to perfume magazine, Fragrantica.com, "The fragrance opens with Ugandan vanilla, dewdrop floral petals, lotus and Bulgarian rose. A heart beats in rhythm of exotic flowers - jasmine, freesia and orchid, while a base finishes the pure composition with white amber, sandalwood and vanilla in water." Sounds like it could be worth a try!

Prices at Boots are: £32 for 30ml EDT, £45 for 50ml EDT and £61.50 for 100ml EDT.

Andrea Garland at ASOS

by Naomi

Calling all beauty goddesses: delicious beauty products by Andrea Garland are now available on ASOS !

Featured a little while ago, Andrea Garland is a boutique sustainable beauty brand offering delectable natural beauty products all handmade in London. The pretty packaging ranges from vintage tins pill boxes and compacts, within the vintage range, to glass jars decorated with whimsical illustrations by Will Bourton.

The products include beauty balms, body balms, oils, hand cream, facial scrubs and many more. They are infused with scents such as lemon, violent, mandarin and lavender: the quest to be an eco goddess has never smelt so good! Here is a selection of just some of the treats available:

I love the look of the Boudoir Evening Body Oil (£14) with geranium, lavender and bergamot.

Get smooth with the Palma Rosa & Lemon Facial Scrub (£12).

Make the most of your beauty sleep with Jasmine Beautifying Night Cream (£24).

Facts: Andrea Garland beauty: natural and organic ingredients, vintage packaging, artwork by Will Bourton. Available on ASOS.com 

Sample sales ahoy!

by Naomi

There's nothing to get the fashion juices pumping like the prospect of a sample sale and there are two (yes two!) coming up!

The Foundation Agency and Fashion Made Fair have teamed up and bring you an ethical sample sale from Thursday 20th - Sunday 23rd May. It promises to be a feast of ethical designers, with brands including Kuyichi, Monkee Genes, Howies, Komodo, Bibico, Julia Smith, Outsider, Lowie, Equa Boutique and Where shoes.

Bring cash though as there won't be card machines and you wouldn't want to miss out on a bargain!

Upcycling specialist Goodone is also hosting a sample sale on Friday May 21st, with prices starting from a bargainous £10. The brand predicts big discounts on spring/summer designs, so could be a great place to pick up some sustainable pieces for the season!

The sample sale will take place from 4pm to 9pm at the Goodone studio, Studio 1b, 2-4 Southgate Road, London, N1 3JJ. Log on to www.goodone.co.uk to find out more.

Facts: Sample sale, Foundation Agency and Fashion Made Fair: Kuyichi, Monkee Genes, Howies, Lowie, Outsider, Julia Smtih, Komodo, Where shoes, Bibico, Equa Boutique. 20th - 23rd May, Truman Brewery, Brick Lane.
Sample sale, Goodone: upcycled clothes from £10, Southgate Road, London.

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.

I wanna be a bag lady!

By Naomi Davis

I love this new collection of bags by Issi, just launched in Selfridges! Issi combines art with fashion by collaborating with award-winning artists and the results are beautiful, inspiring yet ultimately functional handbags - perfect if, like me, you keep your whole life in your bag!

The range includes bags, clutches, purses and wallets, and uses materials that were previously destined for landfill, such as parachute silk, tea sacks, leather and particularly old British fire-hose. They truly are humanitarian handbags; 50 per cent of profits are donated to charities involved with the waste, and donations are also made to the Fire Fighters’ Charity, meaning you can do a good deed and purchase an enviable piece of arm candy in one go!

Artists involved in the launch collection include Elvis & Kresse, Lothar Götz, Olivier Millagou, Paul Morrison and Simon Periton.

I love Götz’s Sissi clutch (above), made from yellow fire hose, and the retro-chic bowling bag (below) which makes me want to don flares and hit the roller-disco immediately! Prices start at £220.

If you like things a little more artistic, the Beelzebag handbag by Periton is inspired by a fly and features mandibles and a wing! The wing incorporates a skull & crossbones design, and the bag also features an embossed eye.

 

Add one of these beauties to your bag collection pronto!

Facts:
Issi: Eco and ethical handbags, made from waste materials including British fire hose, donations made to charity.

http://www.issiworld.com/ 

Mid-season madness... 30% off!

by Lorna 


Lets be honest, the title says it all really! 30% off EVERYTHING at Ascension. Tonnes of gorgeous ethical clothing at massively reduced prices (until the 19th). Get involved and update your wardrobe for Spring! 

Check out these lovely little treats...

Enjoy the discount at  http://www.ascensiononline.co.uk/

Sequel London: Bags better than the original!

by Lorna 

SEQUEL London is a gorgeous new online haven for those in need of lust-worthy ethical leather bags!!

Inspired by a desire to reduce waste and encourage sustainable fashion, cousins Laura Queening and Claire Baigen set up Sequel London. The brand, launched this month, gives new life to carefully selected unwanted clothing from Oxfam Wastesaver. Recycled leather jackets, discarded silk ties and high quality unwanted curtains are cleaned, cut and remade to create a range of stylish, affordable and contemporary accessories.

Queening said: “Fashion can change so quickly, and often we see clothing that is in excellent condition, but wouldn’t be worn by the more fashion conscious among us! We only choose the best quality material, even if the clothing itself has long since passed its fashion sell-by date, and from that we make a new product, reducing waste and offering something different in today’s disposable lifestyle.”

The Spring Summer 2010 collection consists of a range of six designs, which are priced from £39 to £79, and offer bespoke, durable styles at high-street prices. Here at EcoGoddess we are loving the leather covered button detailing and the unique linings, all helping to make each bag completely unique! The removable silk tie handles are super cute and add a splash of colour. We likee!  

All Sequel London accessories are made in London...of course!!

For more info visit www.sequellondon.co.uk 

Facts: Sequel London. Recycled, Leather, Silk, Made in England, Sustainable

Gorgeous casuals for summer

by Naomi


The weather has been so nice over the past couple of weeks it's got me thinking about my summer wardrobe, particularly as I'm progressively replacing my existing wardrobe with eco and ethical pieces. There are some fab pieces just in, so here are a few of the best!

The stripey ruffle on this organic cotton dress from People Tree (£48) adds a cute twist to a versatile staple.

This organic cotton playsuit also from People Tree (£28) is perfect for the beach, the pub, festivals, holiday - need any more excuses to indulge?!

I love this layered blouse (£42), a casual and summery take on the classic white shirt, and it is perfect for work and play! From People Tree, it's made in Bangladesh from handwoven cotton.

Appease the rain gods (or goddesses!) with a stylish homage in the shape of this lovely little Umbrella vest top from People Tree (£32). Team with these organic classic skinnies by Monkee Genes, from Ascension (£50).

Facts: People Tree: organic cotton dress, £48, organic cotton playsuit, £28, layered handwoven cotton blouse £42, Umbrella vest top, £32. Ascension: Monkee Genes in organic cotton, £50.

Candy colours to tempt your sweet tooth!

by Naomi

Over-indulged on Easter eggs? Satisfy your craving for sugar with some classic pieces in pastel shades. Lilac, lavender, spearmint green, lemon yellow, cream and baby pink are all hot shades for summer so team these nail varnishes with some of the latest eco and ethical fashion creations.

This Jackpot pointelle pullover available from Ascension is a wonderful shade of apricot and made from organic cotton (£50).

Also from Ascension is this cutesy dress by one of its new brands, Slowmotion: made from organic cotton (£54).

Article 23's pale blue organic cotton Polo Dress (£25) is perfect for summer; team with white plimsolls and a spot of tennis if you're feeling energetic!

For a beautiful and versatile investment, this lace blazer by Tara Starlet will take you from work to cocktail bar and from beer garden to wedding. Available in pink (pictured), white, nude and blue/grey (£56).

Last but not least, team your pastel purchases with these strappy numbers from Terra Plana (£95).

Enjoy! x

Ascension: organic cotton Pullover by Jackpot, organic cotton Dress by Slowmotion. Article 23: organic cotton Polo Dress. Tara Starlet: Lace Blazer made in the UK. Terra Plana: Audrey Nude strappy sandals.

Happy Easter! Happy Ascension!

By Lorna

To help us celebrate the Easter hols the lovely people at Ascension have given us 15% off EVERYTHING!!! Awesome! Just treat yourself and your loved ones to a little present and enter the code EASTER15 at the check out. Easy peasy.


Better for you than chocolate eggs!!.... although I will be lying if I am not tempted to tuck into a few Green & Black organic ones! YUM!


Happy Easter from EcoGoddess!  x


www.ascensiononline.com 

Give your wardrobe the boot!

by Naomi

The summer boot.

It is a concept that, until recently, didn't seem to make sense to me. But the writing on the catwalk dressing-room wall is that boots are hot for Spring/Summer 2010, so perhaps it is time for me to open my mind, and my closet to these stylish hybrid concoctions!

Whilst my initial reaction was one of fear and confusion (surely summer boots are a recipe for discomfort and overheating? And what will this mean for my pretty summer sandals?) I have to admit some of the designs are pretty gorgeous, and their trans-seasonal beauty makes them perfect investment purchases. Plus if last year's summer is anything to go by, boots could become a summer staple!

If you are contemplating summer boots, it is essential to stick to two golden rules: keep them light or bright in colour and opt for lightweight fabrics and/or cut-out detailing to keep your tooties comfortable!

These victorian-inspired styles by WHERE are chimney-sweep chic, and made from washed canvas and oily goat leather by artisans paid a fair wage.

Olsenhaus shoes are vegan and made in factories that "are personally checked for ethical practices and environmental impact." I love the combination of electric blue and nude in these cut-out bondage 'Fate' shoe-boots ($220). The 'Star' shoe-boot ($240) is super versatile and in a shade of red that will perk up any outfit from jeans and a t-shirt to a floaty dress.

United Nations is the sister company to Terra Plana and its architectural Fold Hi design in Cotton Candy (£175) are a triple-scoop ice cream of a boot perfect for picnics, shopping, dinner, cocktails and oh so much more!

These are some of the best from eco and ethical designers. Don't forget to also raid vintage shops for second-hand cowboy boots that give a hazy-summer's-day-in-the-mid-west feel (even if you are in a rainy Blighty!)

Find out more at

www.wherefashion.co.uk

http://www.olsenhaus.com/

www.unitednude.com

Facts: Eco and ethical boots. WHERE handmade footwear made by artisans and small producers paid a fair wage and using natural and environmentally friendly materials. Olsenhaus vegan footwear animal-free, cruelty-free and made with human rights and the environment in mind. United Nation footwear, sister company to Terra Plana.

Hydrate with Vivienne Westwood!

By Naomi

I am absolutely addicted to unhealthy fizzy drinks, so I have made it my mission to drink more water. I have been in the (bad) habit of buying drinks in plastic bottles when I’m out and about, and then feeling guilty about it.

When I discovered that Swiss reusable bottle manufacturers SIGG had teamed up with designer-extraordinaire Vivienne Westwood, it seemed like they had heard my cry for a stylish and eco-friendly way to hydrate myself!

The collaboration aims to build awareness around the issue of the environmental damage caused by purchasing and throwing away plastic, and will see three limited edition bottles launched over the course of 2010. Timed to coincide with the main fashion shows in February, June and September, the first was launched last month. There are a limited number still available on the SIGG webshop for £18 plus p&p.

Featuring the Vivienne Westwood logo and a bold call to ‘Act Fast and Slow Down!’ the bottle epitomises Westwood’s valiant approach to both life and fashion. I never thought I would lust after a bottle, but this is like a piece of drinking couture!

Find out more at www.sigg.com

Facts: SIGG reusable aluminium bottle, designed by Vivienne Westwood, £18.

Moss goes Mozzy-free!

by Naomi

Who knew that protection from mosquitoes could be so chic? 

Respect must be paid to innovative London designer William Tempest for creating this little LGD (that's little grey dress) from panels of recycled mosquito nets! Kate Moss has donned the one-off dress for Sports Relief, to help raise awareness of malaria, which kills one child every 30 seconds in Africa.

Sculpted and corseted in Tempest's signature style, the dress has come a long way from its origins protecting people from mosquitoes! The nets are one of the easiest and most effective ways of preventing the spread of malaria.

For more information, visit the Sports Relief website.

Eco floral explosion at H&M this spring

By Lorna

H&M deserve a medal for this new collection, or at very least a big gold star!!

Romantic, exotic and abstract, the Garden Collection says it with flowers. The floral looks are inspired by sun-drenched landscapes, chlorophyll-green gardens and a chic updated version of 70s flower power. The collection boasts ultra feminine chiffon dresses made from recycled polyester (made from PET bottles or textile waste), super soft beige lightweight anoraks made from tencel (a renewable material with minimal environmental impact) and a whole host of floral printed organic cotton dresses, shorts and tops. The romantic garden collection is made entirely from sustainable, organic and recycled materials!

The Garden Collection launches officially on the 25th March, but I went into my local H&M to see if any of it was already in store. What I found was some truly gorgeous pieces from the range (loving the floral shorts) and a lot more besides...

H&M have impressively avoided the standard high street ‘lip service’ to the ethical fashion market and instead have presented a truly BEAUTIFUL floral inspired collection. This collection is only the tip of their complete commitment to pushing organic and sustainable fashion. H&M are members of the Organic Exchange, which is a non-profit, member based organization dedicated to expanding the organic cotton market and other sustainable textiles. As well as ‘green tags’ on the Garden collection, I found green tags on a whole host of other garments across the store. Lots of the women’s basics are now made from organic cotton, also men’s polo shirts and PJ trousers and even some accessories. As I wandered around the store, I kept finding more and more green tags, a lush bleached denim puff sleeve shirt made from Tencel, organic cotton Paris style striped t-shirts, organic linen tailored shorts, organic cotton maternity tops, the list went on.

This Garden collection is the initiation of something really accessible, affordable (£6.99- £34.99) and beautiful and I feel massively inspired that such an iconic high street store has made such a big commitment to creating fashion forward sustainable clothes. H&M have now set the benchmark for other high street retailers to live up to, they have proved it is possible to keep the price down and make beautiful sustainable product. I for one will definitely be in store on March the 25th buying this beautiful red dress (at £29.99) if nothing else!