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.

Formal spring outfit

Ok, so spring is almost over...let this cute outfit take you into the warmer weather!

Kowtow Fair Trade organic cotton charcoal Whether dress $145 from www.kowtow.co.nz

Hug Fair Trade organic cotton black drape front cardigan $60 from

www.micahclothing.co.nz

Terra Plana black vegetable-tanned leather Ginger shoes $235 (ethically made in China), from Starfish stores (Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, see www.starfish.co.nz for addresses)

Nancybird Australian made vegetable-tanned leather smoke festival bag $237 from www.atamira.co.nz

Pele Accessories sea shell pendant necklace, handmade in Samoa $37 from www.pelebags.com

Trade Aid Fair Trade silver disk earring with wooden bead $14.95 from www.tradeaid.org.nz

Formal winter outfit

Look glamourous despite the cold weather in this stylish, sustainable outfit.

Untouched World NZ made black 100% organic Mountainsilk™ merino wrap dress $195 (currently on sale, as are a number of other items on the Untouched World website) from www.untouchedworld.com





American Apparel USA made bamboo jersey black tights USD$22 from www.americanapparelstore.com






Minnie Cooper NZ made black leather Perin shoes
$319, see www.minniecooper.co.nz for store locations.



Trade Aid Fair Trade black alpaca wool alpacamina $69.95 from www.tradeaid.org.nz







Pele Accessories e’eli black clutch bag $79, handcrafted in Samoa from www.pelebags.com




Trade Aid Fair Trade recycled tin long spangle earrings $22.95 from www.tradeaid.org.nz







Pele Accessories paua necklace $31, handcrafted in
Samoa from www.pelebags.com

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

Other types of shoes

Eco-friendly, ethically made sneakers were a lot easier to find than I thought, but what about other types of shoes? When it comes to casual shoes, there is a quite a variety. American brand Keen Footwear has a range of ethically made, eco-friendly shoes. They use materials such as canvas, recycled polyurethane, reclaimed rice paper, recycled aluminium, rubber, latex, and leather. See www.keenfootwear.co.nz for stockists. I like the look of the Harvest Mary Jane shoe, pictured above.

Po-Zu, meaning ‘pause’ in Japanese, is a brand which makes a variety of shoes for men and women. They are ethically made in Portugal, using natural materials such as organic hemp, vegetable tanned leather, wooden buttons, cork, coconut husk, natural latex, vegetable tanned suede, and wool. They also make an edible shoe polish, although I’m not sure that’s available in New Zealand. A few styles of Po-Zu shoes can be bought from www.idiomboutique.co.nz and www.conch.co.nz. Prices start at $200.

El Naturalista is another eco-friendly, ethical brand that makes shoes. The Spanish company has a list of ten commandments which embodies their ethics, regarding human rights and respect for the environment. Check out www.elnaturalista.com for stockists. The website is Spanish, but there is an option to view it in English.

Ethically made, eco-friendly formal/corporate leather shoes are more difficult to find, but I came across Pikolinos, another Spanish company. They make sure all their employees are treated fairly, and the majority of shoes are made from vegetable-tanned leather, using water-based dyes, and solvent-free glues. Bank Shoes stores stock a couple of styles of Pikolinos shoes, for $269. Check out the Pikolinos website at www.pikolinos.com. Unless you speak Spanish, you’ll need to use Google Translate to turn it into English.

Sneakers

I don’t really wear sneakers a lot, but they’re essential for wearing to the gym and to my hip-hop dance classes. It came time for me to replace my falling-apart sneakers, and I decided to find an ethically made, eco friendly pair.

Fair Trade sneakers are not as difficult to find as I’d thought they would be. Starfish stores (in Wellington and Christchurch) sell sneakers made by French Fair Trade brand Veja. The shoes are made in Brazil from organic cotton, wild latex, and vegetable-tanned leather (not all styles are made from leather). They are available in a variety of styles, from about $200 I think. I got a pair of the 'Taua' style half price at $99, and I really like them.

Australian brand Etiko sells Fair Trade vegan sneakers which are made in Pakistan. The soles are made with sustainable latex which comes from Sri Lanka, and the canvas and laces are made from certified organic cotton. The dyes are free from PCP and AZO, and the shoe boxes are made from post-consumer recycled waste. Three different styles of Etiko sneakers can be bought from SAFE’s Cruelty Free Shop in Auckland, or at their online store, www.choosecrueltyfree.org.nz. The prices start at $99. Etiko also sells Alparagatas (outdoor slippers) at their online store, www.etiko.com.au. They cost AUD$65, and are made in Argentina.

The USA brand Simple Shoes sells Fair Trade and eco-friendly shoes, made from materials such as jute, hemp, certified organic cotton, recycled plastic bottles, silk, eco-certified leather, and recycled car tires. Prices start at $169.95. They make a number of different styles of shoes, including sneakers and sandels. Check out www.simpleshoes.com for stockists. Even though I don’t wear sneakers a lot, these shoes are sooo cute that I’m strongly tempted to get a pair...