Boutique Directory: Ethical and Eco
In an era where green is most definitely the new black, the number of eco and ethically sound fashion options are growing by the day - and thankfully, the days of hemp smocks and straw flip-flops are long gone. Claire Baylis, eve's Eco Editor, sheds a little light on how to look glamorous and save the planet at the same time!
Firstly, you can do the recycling thing. Hand-me-downs, top-notch vintage, fabulous second-hand finds - it all counts. Then there are all the gorgeous dresses, accessories and shoes by the hottest designer recycled' labels; check out Junky Styling and Worn Again.
Next, there's fair trade. Working to guarantee producers a fair wage, buying fair trade is an easy way to use your purchasing power to support communities the world over. Hip brand People Tree has been pioneering this for years.
Then there are organics. Focusing on the cotton industry alone, toxic pesticides can damage the planet, but thankfully, organic cotton products are popping up in high street chains and independents alike - see www.wearorganic.org.
Organic cotton isn't the only sustainable fabric option either. Look out for luxurious hemp blends and bamboo too - A-list hit label Ciel does some gorgeously feminine getups.
Do: Choose quality over quantity. Over one million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year - bad news for landfill - so buying classic pieces you can wear season after season is the way to go.
Don't: Just wait for your local store to cotton on to the wonders of green glamour, if there are no ethical threads to be found, ask why. Fashionista demand will always fuel supply.
Next, there's fair trade. Working to guarantee producers a fair wage, buying fair trade is an easy way to use your purchasing power to support communities the world over. Hip brand People Tree has been pioneering this for years.
Then there are organics. Focusing on the cotton industry alone, toxic pesticides can damage the planet, but thankfully, organic cotton products are popping up in high street chains and independents alike - see www.wearorganic.org.
Organic cotton isn't the only sustainable fabric option either. Look out for luxurious hemp blends and bamboo too - A-list hit label Ciel does some gorgeously feminine getups.
Do: Choose quality over quantity. Over one million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year - bad news for landfill - so buying classic pieces you can wear season after season is the way to go.
Don't: Just wait for your local store to cotton on to the wonders of green glamour, if there are no ethical threads to be found, ask why. Fashionista demand will always fuel supply.
