Archive for the category: shopping

:: Ethical shopping picks

Posted by Joelle on July 20, 2008 | Permalink

Jeans by Camilla Norrback, bag by Ashley Watson, fabulously hip ethical styling: all at Fashion Conscience

For the last year or so I have been making ever increasing efforts to avoid sweat-shop produced clothes as much as possible. First up was just to buy less stuff, and to make sure the stuff I did buy would last me, and to favour independent and local shops. I have been getting stricter and stricter with myself, looking for organic and fairtrade labels, recycled products and manufacturing practice that cares about the communities who make it.

Luckily it’s getting easier as more and more labels with watertight ethical credentials are appearing, and getting more publicity. Gradually I hope, it will become normal and we won’t have to do so much detective work before we can shop worry free.

So, it’s time to share a few of my favourite ethical shopping picks with you - nice timing at the moment as there are quite a few summer sales going on. Each month or so I’ll be posting more picks.

Fashion Conscience - the picture above is from this UK based online boutique, a great one stop shop.
Howies - most days I am wearing something from Howies! They do great organic jeans, t shirts and laid back clothing and they are awfully nice.
Annie Greenabelle - Very cute retro themed clothing in organic, fairtrade and reused fabrics. Stocked at Equa and the Topshop Oxford Circus concession.
Toms - I bought the loveliest pair of simple summer shoes from Toms. They work with communities in Argentina and South Africa and for every pair sold, they give a pair to a child in need
Enamore - very glamorous label with fancy underwear and vintage styled dresses in organic and sustainable fabrics.

Categories: green, shopping, style
Tags: ethical picks, fashion, green

2 comments

:: Get Folksy

Posted by Joelle on July 16, 2008 | Permalink

Rulers by GetFolksy on Flickr
Enchanted by the name, I’ve been keeping an eye on folksy.com for a year or more, since a mysterious message appeared there about beta testing. It seems the project finally launched in beta a week ago, and is taking it’s first faltering steps towards becoming a suitably marvellous site.

A lot like a UK based Etsy, this is a place to buy and sell items by crafters and small designers. There’s also a making section which will showcase how to guides and stories about the making of items on the site. Currently there’s a good showing of work for sale from design graduates. Here’s my picks: Read more…

Categories: craft, design, shopping
Tags: craft, design, folksy, handmade

8 comments

:: Pleasing new skirt - Clothkits review

Posted by Joelle on April 1, 2008 | Permalink

I’ve had chance to wear my newly sewn skirt a few times recently, it’s the ‘I want one too’ birdie skirt pattern/kit, £35 from Clothkits (whose launch I covered a few weeks ago).

I was so excited to get the kit - just look at that gorgeous strawberry print Liberty lining fabric! And I am happy to report that the process of making up the skirt, and the finished item are lovely too. Read more…

Categories: craft, shopping, style
Tags: birds, clothkits, liberty print, review, screenprinting, sewing, skirt

4 comments

:: Spoons

Posted by Joelle on March 17, 2008 | Permalink

The spoon is a small topic to warrant a whole blog post, I know. But I like spoons, and today I found these: the most charming spoons I ever saw. I feel so covetous of these spoons, to have them hanging above my kitchen counter, quickly to hand when I need to scoop up a tablespoonful of something for my baking. They are by Beehive Kitchenware Co., who work from the inarguable premise of making things that are decorative as well as functional.

For any other spoon lovers out there, feed your habit.

via Poppy Talk Handmade’s Green Pop

Categories: design, shopping
Tags: spoons

5 comments

:: I’m all a flutter

Posted by Joelle on March 11, 2008 | Permalink

Much as I love the way they look, I’ve never got on with false eyelashes. I find them fiddly to stick on straight, and part way through the evening one will begin to peel away, like a hairy caterpillar making its way across my face.

Here’s a possible alternative though, in the shape of a silver necklace by Stephanie Simek, who has spotted that these soft human-hair lashes make a dreamy, surreal necklace. Available for $38 on her Etsy shop, along with versions shedding a beaded tear.

With Easter coming up, her impossibly delicate looking gold-lined quail egg necklace also caught my eye. Very pretty, yet quirky jewellery.

Categories: craft, design, shopping
Tags: etsy, eyelashes, jewellery, necklaces, stephanie simek

2 comments

:: Dotty - Project the Second

Posted by Vanessa on March 4, 2008 | Permalink

Hello! I’m feeling quite pleased with myself because I just finished this bag, a take on the clutch in my ‘Bend-the-Rules’ sewing book. Of course, it’s extremely imperfect and is only my first take on the project (even in this picture you can see loose seams and the button needs securing) but I have plenty of spare fabric to practice better versions with. I went on an exciting shopping trip down to the fashion district (the nearest subway stop is Pershing Square) where I was astounded by the sheer number of fabric shops and the way rolls of fabric were stacked ceiling high in each. Fortunately, I had a tour guide who helped me find the best shops to go to, and the fabric and button for this bag is from Michael Levine. When I get better at sewing on my machine, I’ll definitely be heading back to buy some more interesting fabrics.

Even though I messed up the lining in this particular clutch (it’s a bit lumpy and my ’see Jane run’ fabric is upside down from one angle) I’m proud of myself. I threaded my machine up on my own, without having to phone Kerry or have a refresher lesson. One step closer to being an efficient sewing machine user!

Categories: art, craft, design, shopping
Tags:

2 comments

:: Ahh, that’s better.

Posted by Vanessa on February 28, 2008 | Permalink

Luckily, I came home to TV, internet and a working phone!
And without further ado; I’ve been thinking about plates a lot lately (stay with me, please). We have some lovely simple plates that our friends gave to us, and some quite basic IKEA-y ones we got for ourselves a while back. But I’ve a craving for some more decorative ‘for best’ style plates, like this one from CB2. My strange plate longing was inspired by a designer in the back of a magazine that I have long since lost and it’s driving me crazy. Her plates were decorated similarly to the one pictured, only, well, more exciting (and pricier). Does anyone have the slightest idea what I’m talking about? A further hunt around ebay hasn’t inspired me further. I don’t think I want vintage plates though I’m a fan of some vintage patterns - I think I want something modern and elegant. You know, to go with my unrealised idea of the perfect dinner party where I don’t get all hot and flustered and yell at anyone who comes into the kitchen. Expect further plate-ery…

Appetizer plate from CB2. for $2.50

Categories: about us, shopping, style
Tags: elegance, plates, style

3 comments

:: Make time - meet Clothkits

Posted by Joelle on February 24, 2008 | Permalink

I’m filled with a mixture of relief and excitement tonight, after visiting the Clothkits launch at the Kids.Modern show today. Turns out I was actually kind of nervous about it. I’ve got such warm nostalgia for the old 70s brand, and had long harboured ideas about trying to relaunch a similar thing, so I was worried that the new owner, Kay Mawer, and the new designs would not live up to my high hopes.
Read more…

Categories: craft, shopping
Tags: annabel waterman, birds, clothkits, colour, flowers, jane foster, kids.modern, kits, rob ryan, scandinavian design, sewing

9 comments

:: Love and Haight

Posted by Vanessa on February 22, 2008 | Permalink

When I told my mum that Stephen and I had been to Haight/Ashbury, it sounded like her face lit up (over the phone, see). A big time seventies hippy, my mum had heard plenty about Haight and had always wanted to see it. I don’t know how much it’s changed, but it reminded me of a hybrid Melrose-Venice Beach; small boutique shops, incense-and-scarves-selling shops, hipster shops, and the original Amoeba records. It was lovely walking around in the sunshine, taking in the bustle. I had the best orange juice ever in a cafe just on this stretch and I can’t remember the name of the place, darn it! In the fabric shop pictured, a woman with very purple hair told me where the Singer shop was located since she had sold out of magnetic edge guides. Everyone seemed helpful and charming - recommending the best cookie, or helping us figure out which way the Golden Gate bridge was. All in all, one more lovely way to spend time in San Francisco.

Categories: local guide, shopping, style
Tags: Haight Asbbury, san francisco, shopping, wandering

10 comments

:: Buying handmade is still buying

Posted by Joelle on February 14, 2008 | Permalink

“Desafio superzíper: eu apoio essa campanha!” by Alice Batelli on Flickr.

I just read this short article What Would Jesus Sell? by Jean Railla of GetCrafty on the Murketing blog, which has crystallised a niggle I have had in the back of my head for a while. Read more…

Categories: adventure, blogs, craft, green, shopping
Tags: blogs, craft, craftivism, jean railla, murketing, thinking

11 comments