Favourite fashion purchases of 2010

I know that a big part of sustainability is focusing on consuming less, and therefore buying less, so talking about loads of things I’ve bought does seem somewhat odd, considering my worldview...However, the purpose of this blog is share with the world my findings on what options there are for eco, ethical clothing, so that when people do purchase clothing, they can make more informed choices.

I bought quite a lot of really great clothes (ok, too many) this year, but to narrow it down to my ten favourite purchases:

- Veja Fair Trade beige/chocolate organic cotton and natural latex Taua sneakers $99 (bought for half price) from Starfish (Wellington store, see www.starfish.co.nz for store addresses) I got these during Fair Trade fortnight in May. They are super comfy, and great to wear when I go to the gym and my dance classes. They also look very cool teamed with skinny jeans.

- Skinny Nelson organic cotton hooded cardigan $70 – I got this half price at Fusion in Wellington in June, and I wear it so much. It’s unisex, and kinda baggy – looks good with skinny jeans.

- Freeset Fair Trade Organic cotton brown duck t-shirt $40 from www.choosecrueltyfree.org.nz – This is really cute and comfy, and I like that the proceeds not only go towards supporting the women who work for Freeset (ex-prostitutes in Kolkata, India), but also towards the work of SAFE, an animal rights organisation.

- People Tree Fair Trade organic cotton tunic $30 – I got this on Trade Me. People Tree is a UK label. It is great to layer over t-shirts, or wear as a sleeveless top.

- Hug Fair Trade Organic cotton slim leg jeans $74.25 from www.micahclothing.co.nz (currently on sale, I also got mine on sale for $70) I got these when Micah Clothing was doing a roadshow. I previously had said (not on this blog, but to various friends, family members, and anyone else who would listen) that I would never ever ever wear skinny jeans, but changed my mind when I found these. They’re not super skinny, they’re more somewhere between straight and skinny, and are quite flattering on me.

- Hug Fair Trade organic cotton blueberry drape front cardigan $45 (currently on sale from $60, I got mine for $40 at the Micah roadshow) from www.micahclothing.co.nz – I tie this in front, it’s very cute and flattering. Great to wear over a plain t-shirt.

- Thrive NZ made black merino cardigan $48 - I got this when Thrive had a discount outlet store on Lambton Quay. It was a sample or something for the 2011 winter collection, and it’s awesome, I wear it so much.

- Untouched World NZ made black puna wool pants $95 (heavily discounted, original price was $295) – I got these when Untouched World had a discount outlet store on Lambton Quay for a few weeks. They are a really nice pair of pants.

- Descendant NZ made organic cotton black scissor skinny jeans $134 from Starfish – I got these half price at the Wellington Starfish store. I used to think black skinny jeans were only for emos, but now I’m convinced they’re a wardrobe staple. Well, they are for me anyway. They don’t have to be for you necessarily. These are great for teaming with a slightly baggy t-shirt and some ballet flats or sneakers.

- Terra Plana black Ginger vegetable-tanned leather pumps, ethically made in China, $235 from Starfish. These are great shoes for the office. The heels are not too high, so that minimises the risk of falling over, although I still have fallen down some stairs a couple of times when wearing them. However, I won’t blame the shoes.

Casual spring outfit

Look funky in this eco-friendly outfit, while staying warm in this in-between weather; spring can often feel like winter in NZ!

Hug Fair Trade deep indigo organic denim pencil skirt $60 from www.micahclothing.co.nz

Freeset Fair Trade organic cotton white fork t-shirt $35 from http://store.liminal.org.nz

Tightology Australian made botanica grey organic cotton/nylon/elastane full tights from www.tightology.com.au AUD$39.95

Etiko Fair Trade black canvas Alparagatas AUD$65 from www.etiko.co.nz

Untouched World NZ made black stretch organic cotton seaside jacket $129 (on sale) from www.untouchedworld.com

Trade Aid Fair Trade black silk satchel with red tag $69.99 from www.tradeaid.org.nz

Pele Accessories wooden beaded earrings, handcrafted in Samoa, $16 from http://www.pelebags.com/

Mamarua NZ made recycled resin rata red heart pendant $30 from www.aotearoa.co.nz

Casual winter outfit

Go for dark shades like black and charcoal, with sustainable fabrics such as merino and organic cotton in this cold-weather eco-friendly ensemble.

Hug Fair Trade organic women’s classic bootcut blue jeans $99 from www.micahclothing.co.nz

AS Colour women’s graphite short-sleeved WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) certified merino t-shirt $48 from www.ascolour.co.nz

The New Zealand Sock Company NZ made classic merino black dress city socks $15.99, see www.nzsock.co.nz for stockists.

Etiko Fair Trade sustainable latex and organic cotton black hightops $120 from www.choosecrueltyfree.org.nz

The Merino Story NZ made merino black long drape cardigan $71.20 from www.whatsonsale.co.nz

Freeset Fair Trade jute black squares courier bag $26 from www.marketplacers.co.nz

Pele Accessories wooden beaded earrings handcrafted in Samoa, $16 from www.pelebags.com

Kowtow Fair Trade organic cotton black cirque scarf $48.75 (currently on sale, as is everything on the Kowtow website) from www.kowtow.co.nz

NZ Nature NZ made black merino skull cap $24.95 from www.nznature.co.nz

Icebreaker black merino AC gloves 320, ethically made in China, $31.07 from www.outsidesports.co.nz

Freeset

Freeset does what the name says – sets free! The Fair Trade company was started up in Sonnagachi, Kolkata, India, by New Zealanders Kerry and Annie Hilton in 2001, in order to create alternative jobs for women who were working in the sex trade. In Sonnagachi, there are more than 10,000 prostitutes ‘standing in line’ (ie waiting for clients) within a few square miles. Many of these women have been trafficked from rural India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, and previously there was not any way other way for them to earn money.

Freeset began with twenty women who were taught to sew jute bags. Now there are more than 150 women who work for Freeset. Freeset provides a healthy working environment and higher than average wages to its employees. The bags are also eco-friendly; jute is a biodegradable material, and it doesn’t need much in the way of fertilizers or pesticides. Freeset make a wide variety of gorgeous, funky bags, which can be bought at www.marketplacers.co.nz. Prices start at $11 for wine bottle bags. I have a couple of the Freeset bags, including the Courier Squares Black bag, $26 (although I got it for $10 new on Trade Me – score!).

Freeset now also makes Fair Trade organic cotton t-shirts. A few styles are available for sale at the Addington Coffee Co-op online store (Addington is a Fair Trade coffee company). The t-shirts can be bought at http://store.liminal.org.nz, and are $35 each. There are three designs available in the classic cut – Alphabet in blue, or green, Fork in blue, green or white, and Jailbreaker in black or white. The same three designs are available in the fitted cut, but the Alphabet is only available in blue, and the Fork is only available in white.

SAFE’s Choose Cruelty Free store (in Auckland, and at www.choosecrueltyfree.org.nz) sells three designs on fitted Freeset tees – a blue one designed by Annah Stretton , pictured, a brown one with a picture of a duck (which I have), and the I am Veg t-shirt, which isn’t pictured on the website. They are $40 each. SAFE (Save Animals From Exploitation) is an organisation which campaigns for the safety of animals, and all profits from products bought at the store go to help their work. So by buying one of these t-shirts, you’re supporting two really good causes.

I really like my duck t-shirt! I found that the sizes tend to be a little smaller than usual – I have a medium, which is often the same as a 12, but I usually wear a 10, and it fits me perfectly. It’s great to know that by buying Freeset bags and t-shirts, that you are helping women to have better lives.