FruGal Challenge – Eco Age Day 4

Fashion With A Heart

I have fallen 100% head over heels in love. Not with a man (although there is someone rather special in my life) but with a dress! Yes, I said a dress.

If I could wear this dress everyday I think I would. But not only is it beautiful beyond words but the love and thought that goes in to making it is even more beautiful.

After working for two months in the Delhi slums with women and girls forced into prostitution, Natasha Rufus Isaacs and Lavinia Brennan founded Beulah London. Each dress is handmade by a female survivor of sex trafficking, who are supported by a charity that Beulah London works closely with. A portion of their profits are donated to Indian and UK organisations dedicated to eradicating modern-day slavery.

Eradicating modern-day slavery has become a very important issue to me. I recently interview Anil Kapoor who produced a eye opening documentary about the sex trade in India. This year I will be supporting the CNN and their Freedom Project which it driving the abolish modern-day slavery that effects between 10-30 million people in the world.

So, not only is this dress stunning but it is changing a women’s life somewhere in the world.

Paired with cute  ballet flats or these vintage Prada shoes from Chic and Seek, it is a dress that everyone will fall in love with, and maybe with you in it!

FruGal Challenge – Eco Age Day 3

Into My Mother’s Closet

Christmas came early for me this year when my mother allowed me to have a peek into one her closets. Far in the back, hidden away, was a treasure trove of vintage clothes! There wear Yves Saint Laurent dresses from the 80′s, colourful Zandra Rhodes jackets, Chanel blouses and Gucci day dresses.

When I asked her how she had bought all of these amazing pieces she told me that 20 years ago there wasn’t this ‘fast fashion’ trend. Designers had seasons, Autumn Winter and Spring Summer. There were no mid season collections, cruise collections, defusion lines. Designers had either AW and SS and that was it.

And each year there were The Sales! Every January and July and my mother would save up her pennies and go to the big designer shops to find amazing pieces that she knew would last her forever.

And now, I get to wear them! This is my Lady In Red dress by Charles Jordan with a Gucci belt and some vintage shoes all found in my mothers wardrobe. (Now residents of my wardrobe!)

FruGal Challenge – Eco Age Day 2

Oceans & Corals

The beach has always been a big part of my life. If you asked me; ‘where I would like to be right now,’ my answer would be; ‘on a beach looking at the ocean.’

For many years I have been involved with an organisation called BREEF (Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation). It was founded by a friend of mine’s father and protects and educates people about over fishing and preserving our reefs and oceans.

When a dear friends of mine, Sophia Rogge, showed me her new collection of beach sarongs and scarves printed with the most beautiful designs inspired by corals, I was immediately in love. She is so passionate about protecting corals and our oceans, it is incredible.

The Eco beachwear is made eco-friendly dyes, organic cotton and 10% of gross profits goes to Corals for Conservation http://www.coralsforconservation.com/

It is a fantastic collection and has been featured in Vogue, Grazia

InStyle / The London Chatter and of course Dare2

It makes me happy to buy and wear something that I know is not only organic or sustainable but also giving back in some way and making a difference.

The sandals I am wearing are, again, from Melissa – Black and white MELISSA Heart flip flops. I have so many pairs because they are so comfortable and cute.

Off to the beach before catching my flight back to London!

FruGal Challenge with Eco Age

I have been asked by Livia Firth & Miranda Porter at Eco-Age to take part in their FruGal Challenge. I have to take a picture of what ethical, eco and sustainable designers I am wearing that day. Here is day one! Check it out.

Form Around The World

I love to travel, but the best thing about travelling is all the wonderful treasures you find along the way.

A few years ago I spent a summer working and travelling around Mexico. It was the most incredible 3 months. I was working with female prisoners in one of the prisons in Mexico City. At the weekends I would go off to near by villages and towns to explore the country. One weekend we went off to village about 2 hours south of Mexico City. In the town there was this stunning little market and there I found this dress. The stall owner was sat there with her daughter hand embroidering all the clothes with beautiful flowers and birds. I have worn this dress everywhere and absolutely love it! Paired with some Melissa white flip flops I am ready to wander down to the beach at Tarfia for the day where I am writing an article about the area and the Eco Center here.

www.eco-age.com

Eco LUXE

The Waves of the Ocean

Unique and super luxurious, it is hard not to fall madly in love with this fishy creation. Yes, I said fishy and there is a reason……

UNNUR RUN ‘Forest’ Handbag $995

The Icelandic Unnur Fridriksdottir, founded the company UNNURWEAR, in 2006, making high quality handbags, accessories and clothing for fashion forward women all over the world.

Unnur’s specialty is using sea-leather in her handbags…yes FISH! The fish being used in the current collections is farm grown Icelandic Salmon and farm grown African Perch. After all the name UNNUR means in Icelandic “the waves of the ocean”.

In using sea-leather UNNURWEAR is contributing to sustainable fashion, and not endangering any species. There is nothing fishy about that!

The sea-leather smells like regular leather, and the more it’s worn – the better it looks!

UNNURWEAR is about global consciousness of culture, nature and comfort. After all, we are just natural.

UNNUR – www.unnur.com