Top 10 Green clean products
January 12, 2010 by Maria Kaski · Leave a Comment
Green-fingered ladies, it’s time to get dusting as we present the top ten eco cleaning products that will be making their way into our cupboards this year. Lucie Goulet writes.
Traidcraft Recycled Kitchen Roll
Traidcraft Recycled Kitchen Roll is entirely made out of recycled paper collected in the UK. Its purchase directly contributes to a fund supporting fair trade producers and helping them expand their enterprise.
£12.96
HYPERLINK “http://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/p-8089-traidcraft-recycled-kitchen-roll-12-x-twin-packs.aspx#” http://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/p-8089-traidcraft-recycled-kitchen-roll-12-x-twin-packs.aspx#
Degradable Draw Tape Swing Bin Liners
Symphony Environmental claims to have found the solution to those plastic bags laying in forests and beaches: adding d2w to the plastic at the extrusion stage makes the bags degradable by simple exposure to sun and air. Those bin liners break down in 3 years.
15 bags, £1.27
HYPERLINK “http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/HG08″ http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/HG08
Traidcraft Rubber Gloves
Those bright teal gloves are “washing unfair trade away”. The first UK’s fairtrade rubber gloves, this product is made in Sri Lanka by the Firstlight Project which ensures a fair price for field latex. Firstlight Project also educates farmers and provides technical support.
1 pair, £0.99
HYPERLINK “http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/HG15″ http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/HG15
Enviroproducts general Purpose E-Cloth (42g)
E-cloth promises a miracle way to clean your whole house with just water. Think about all the nasty sprays and chemical solutions it could avoid. Inspired by a Swedish concept, the cloth is made with teeny tiny microfibres which can get rid of the most tenacious dirt and grease. It can be used for up to 300 washes.
From £4.88
HYPERLINK “http://www.e-cloth.com/” http://www.e-cloth.com/
Morphy Richards Ecolectric Performair 1000w Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
This light and easy to carry vacuum cleaner’s low electricity consumption motor saves energy. Thanks to its efficient filtration, it received the British allergy Foundation seal of approval. It is packaged in 100% recycled and recyclable material.
£99.95
HYPERLINK “http://www.greeningengland.co.uk/product/16/69769/Morphy-Richards-Ecolectric-Performair.html” http://www.greeningengland.co.uk/product/16/69769/Morphy-Richards-Ecolectric-Performair.html
Earth Friendly Carpet Shampoo
This rug shampoo is GM-free, vegan and PETA approved and replenishable. Earth Friendly Products are safe for the whole households, from children to pets. The company has drafted a Freedom Code which ensures that all its products are free from certain substances including ammonia, artificial fragrance and chlorine. This shampoo is made with natural bergamot and sage.
£6.95
HYPERLINK “http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/guardian/product.aspx?subGroup=1498″ http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/guardian/product.aspx?subGroup=1498
Bentley Organic Surface cleaner
The Bentley Organic Surface Cleaner is made with organically grown citrus peels and aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder. It kills over 99.9% of household germs. All Bentley Organics products are certified by the Soil Association.
£4.95
HYPERLINK “http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/guardian/product.aspx?topGroup=380&subCat=371&subgroup=3275″ http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/guardian/product.aspx?topGroup=380&subCat=371&subgroup=3275
Method Tub & Tile Spray
Methods specialises in environment-friendly home-cleaning products in 100% recyclable, well-designed packaging. All the ingredients used in the tub and tile spray are biodegradable, non-toxic and gentle on the skin. The company does not test its products on animals.
£3
HYPERLINK “http://www.methodproducts.co.uk/tubtile.html” http://www.methodproducts.co.uk/tubtile.html
Bio D toilet cleaner
The Bio D Toilet Cleaner does not use any chemical harsh on the environment. Bio-D uses as much plant-derived and renewable raw material as possible. None of their products are tested on animals, nor do they include animal by-products or GM ingredients.
£8.75
HYPERLINK “http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/guardian/product.aspx?topGroup=380&subCat=125&subGroup=2949″ http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/guardian/product.aspx?topGroup=380&subCat=125&subGroup=2949
Ecover Window and Glass Cleaner
The Ecover window and glass cleaner is completely biodegradable. It is not tested on animals and has as minimal an impact as possible on aquatic life. The packaging, in polyethylene and polypropylene, is 100% recyclable in a low energy process.
£2.34
HYPERLINK “http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/Products/Cleaning/Window+and+Glass+Cleaner.htm” http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/Products/Cleaning/Window+and+Glass+Cleaner.htm
Ladies and gents, it’s a New Year and it’s time to dust away the cobwebs of yesterday and make a fresh start. Here we present the top ten eco cleaning products that will be making their way into your cupboards this year. Lucie Goulet writes.
Interview: Adam Lowry on his cleaning range
January 6, 2010 by Maria Kaski · 1 Comment
Adam Lowry, founder of eco cleaning brand, Method, explains the ethics behind his company, how one product took eight years to develop, and why he rarely looks in the rear view mirror. Amiee Jones writes.
Energy boosting breakfast cereals
January 5, 2010 by Maria Kaski · 2 Comments
As the most important meal of the day, breakfasts should not be taken lightly. With a whole host of puffed wheat, porridge and mueslis offering the best nutrients and nuttiest flavours, we take a look at who’s ruling the healthy and nutritious breakfast roost. Maria Kaski writes.
Body perfect: Sexy sports fashion
January 4, 2010 by Maria Kaski · Leave a Comment
If you’ve eaten one mince pie too many and sipped a little too much fizz this Christmas, look no further than our Get Fit Fashion guide to help inspire some much needed gym action and get you in tip top shape for the New Year. Maria Kaski writes.
Smart and sexy: ideas for the eco city dweller
January 3, 2010 by Maria Kaski · Leave a Comment
Suits have been developing through the ages, and this season, they are sharper and more fitted than ever. Bold prints have given way to pared down shades and retro shapes that accentuate sumptuous fabrics. Here we give you the low down on the best suits to help you get your man looking dapper. Maria Kaski writes.
EXCLUSIVE Interview with Lally’s Closet owner
December 21, 2009 by Maria Kaski · 1 Comment
We love vintage at Greenmystyle.com. It’s an eco, stylish and often wallet-friendly way to add new gems to your wardrobe. So with the launch of Lally’s closet, an online vintage retail space, scheduled for November 23rd, we talk to its owner Topsy about stocking Tom Ford and enthralling vintage neophytes. Lucie Goulet writes.
The idea for Lally’s Closet, the new vintage shop on the web, sprang from a thrill familiar to all vintage lovers: “the feeling of discovering something that is exclusively yours, knowing that not a single soul will have the same”. Not your average vintage shop, Lally’s Closet also stores new designs from emerging createurs, including remade pieces.
Hi Topsy, thank you for taking the time to chat to Greenmystyle.com. Firstly, Why did you decide to open a vintage shop?
I have loved fashion since I was very young, and I have a passion for vintage and all things unique, so the shop has been in my head for a number of years it’s only just now that I have been able to bring it to life. I have always wanted to create a platform for emerging designers, as I studied fashion design myself and I understand how difficult it is to break through in this very tough industry.
How do you choose the designers you sell?
The designers are chosen for their design skills and uniqueness, and above all else their passion for their work.
How do you source the vintage garments?
We source the vintage garments from various places worldwide, we try to have a varied collection of vintage items.
What makes Lally’s Closet stand out from the other vintage shops in London?
We are very lucky in London to have so many wonderful vintage stores, however Lally’s Closet is different because we are online therefore accessible to everyone in the UK and beyond. We also stock new collections by emerging fashion designers.
We understand that not everyone enjoys rummaging through vintage shops. People might live in areas where good vintage shops just don’t exist so we aim to bring the best vintage pieces to the comfort of your own home. We wash all of our garments where possible, and many pieces are re-worked with a modern twist so we like to think that as well as appealing to avid vintage fans we might also convert those new to vintage shopping! Our vintage garments have been pre-loved, cared for by us and then hopefully cherished by our customers.
Most of the designer collections we stock are either one-off pieces or uniquely available from Lally’s closet.
We will also be stocking Lally’s Closet own branded new items, such as gorgeous iPods and travel card holders, useful and lovely things!
Who is your target customer?
We hope that we have something that appeals to everyone! Whether that is a brand new one-off dress by one of emerging designers or perhaps it’s a re-worked dress that you couldn’t imagine life without, we aim to have wide appeal.
Did environmental concerns play any roles in your decision? Do you have any green rules?
I do believe that each and every one of us should be more concerned about the environment and our impact upon it. The fashion industry alone is quite a big culprit, from the chemicals used in production to landfill waste, but people are now becoming more aware and I think that projects such as Make Your mark in fashion and LCF’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion are having such a positive affect on the industry.
We are concerned about environmental issues at Lally’s closet, and as such we aim to use recycled paper and biodegradable packaging where possible, and obviously vintage clothing in our opinion is the most wonderful way to recycle! But being green or ethical is not what we aim our USP to be. It’s not something we shout about because we believe that these things should be an intrinsic part of any responsible brand. So we aim to sell beautiful things, that just happen to be ethical.
What are your plans for the future of Lally’s Closet?
We’d love for Lally’s Closet to be recognised as a brand in it’s own right, to be the place to get your vintage clothes. We are planning to launch our own collection very soon, so watch this space!
It would also be amazing to help launch the career of the next Tom Ford though our Designers Closet section.
We love vintage at Greenmystyle.com. It’s an eco, stylish and often wallet-friendly way to add new gems to your wardrobe. So to celebrate last month’s launch of Lally’s closet, an online vintage retail space, we’ve been talking to its owner Topsy about stocking Tom Ford and enthralling vintage neophytes. Lucie Goulet writes.
Budding bookworms: gifts for the eco kid
December 11, 2009 by Maria Kaski · Leave a Comment
A new wave of children’s books tackling recycling and climate change has arrived on the literary scene. Packed full of images and easy to digest facts, these books are set to give kids an insight into thinking about their effect on the planet. Maria Kaski picks her favourite eco kid’s books.
Festive Organic Fizz
December 3, 2009 by Maria Kaski · Comments Off
There is nothing like bubbly to get a party started, so make sure you toast in the new year with the very best organic fizz around. To make things a little easier for you we have tasted the offerings and picked out our favourite and most affordable biodynamic fizz. Maria Kaski and the tasting team sample the sparkling wine.
EXCLUSIVE Interview with Brat & Suzie founder
December 1, 2009 by Maria Kaski · Leave a Comment
Brat & Suzie, the urbanwear eco label renowned for its fitted T-shirts and canvas bags, will be showcasing at the Clothes Show Live this December. Launched just over a year ago, the brand has already gathered interest from fashion magazines including ELLE and Drapers. Polly Vickery, one of the brand founders and designers, talks to Lucie Goulet about animal inspiration, being sold in Topshop and making the move from employee to fashion entrepreneur.
Currently sold in eight shops throughout the UK, including Topshop on Oxford Street, Brat & Suzie is now expanding towards Brussels and Japan.
The A/W collection includes cute, quirky and easy to wear tops adorned with unexpected pets such as a flying bat or an eating giraffe in punchy pink and grapefruit, white and red stripes or plain white. The menswear displays the same originality with green rabbit and red monkey tees. Prices range from £8 for a canvas bag to £22 for the T-shirts.
How did the idea for Brat and Suzie come about?
As a creative and artistic person, I have always thrived when producing my own garments. Another one of my aspirations has always been to have my own company and have full control over all aspects of the business. I worked in various companies for 7 years and during this time I gained the business skills I needed to be independent and confident enough to make the transition. When I met Louise, my fantastic designer, I decided it was time to take the plunge and really reach my full potential. Brat and Suzie are the names of my childhood pet cats and I felt it was the perfect way to combine my artistic talents with my own personal style and well learned business know-how!
What sort of women and men are your clothes aimed at?
Brat and Suzie appeals to smart, fun loving guys and girls who have an eye for fashion and are looking for something unique. The prints are detailed and edgy giving the Brat and Suzie customer a chance to create a fresh and young look.
Where does the design inspiration come from? How do you choose the animals which adorn the T-shirts/bags?
Our inspiration comes from all kinds of things; from Japanese fashion magazines to a dog seen in the street. Louise often adds her own quirky, unexpected flair which creates the final Brat and Suzie touch!
Which schemes do you have in place to make Brat and Suzie an eco-aware company?
Being an eco-aware company has always been one of the main objectives when creating the Brat and Suzie brand. At the moment it is not possible to make absolutely everything ethically sound, so I chose to focus on making the oversized T-shirts EARTH POSITIVE, in order to gain a foot on the eco-conscious ladder. As the brand matures I hope to have more eco-aware products, as this is an important part of my strategic direction. I do not wish to preach the eco-aware ethos of my company, as this is something that I feel consumers should be able to take as standard rather than as added value.
What is the main hurdle facing ethical designers these days?
One of the biggest problems is ensuring that the sources you use are in fact ethical, as there are many issues with sub-contracting in the industry. Being ethical often means more expensive production so it can be really hard to compete with cheaper fast fashion brands. It is also hard to get customers to understand why garments are more expensive. The fashion industry is characteristically fast paced, dynamic and ruthless. When products demand such a narrow time frame from design to in store, being ethical is often easily disregarded but must be seen as a core competency at all times.
Which eco brands do you admire?
I think Lowie Knits have just about the cutest collection! I love their transparency and honesty about their supply chain and that they tell the story of where their raw materials come from. I also think Beautiful Soul’s recycled kimono collection is fantastic. And I especially admire the way they have implemented a zero waste policy; this is both innovative and commendable.
Brat and Suzie is now on sale at Topshop. How did you reach this partnership? Has it changed the way you design the clothes?
Working with Topshop has been one of my biggest achievements to date and has really provided a springboard to establish the brand and gain recognition. The partnership was first made when I exhibited at the London Edge show. I gained some contacts with Topshop at the show, and I was in talks with the brand for some months. They decided to stock the brand in the London Oxford Circus branch and it has been a fantastic opportunity, which I hope will flourish in the future.
In terms of the effect on the design of the clothes, it has changed the pace in which I work rather than the aesthetic. As a fast fashion retailer Topshop expects a high turnover of stock and demands new products often. As an eco-aware company I found this challenging because I always want to maintain high standards of production for the end consumers.
Why did you decide to show at the Clothes Show Live?
The Clothes Show Live is a huge part of the UK fashion calendar, and it is a way to not only reach those in industry but also the end consumer. The Brat and Suzie brand is based on the idea that customers can receive a personal touch. By attending events such as the clothes show they can have some direct contact, which they cannot have on a day to day basis as I do not yet have my own store. Moreover, it is a great promotional tool and I hope to gain some new customers just in time for Christmas!
Brat and Suzie
http://www.bratandsuzie.com/
Brat & Suzie, the urbanwear eco label renowned for its fitted T-shirts and canvas bags, will be showcasing at the Clothes Show Live this December. Launched just over a year ago, the brand has already gathered interest from fashion magazines including ELLE and Drapers. Polly Vickery, one of the brand founders and designers, talks to Lucie Goulet about animal inspiration, being sold in Topshop and making the move from employee to fashion entrepreneur.
Hollywood stars donate red carpet dresses for Topshop scheme
November 27, 2009 by Maria Kaski · Leave a Comment
Topshop gives shoppers access to A-lister’s dresses
Topshop are launching a hiring out initiative of A-lister’s gowns, giving us mere mortals a chance to give these gorgeous frocks a new lease of life. From 26th November until 6th December at Topshop’s flagship Oxford Circus store, you will be able to nab yourself dresses paraded on the red carpet by the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Dita Von Teese and Peaches Geldof. Mandy Barder writes.
Other stars that have donated their gladrags include Freida Pinto with a white mini dress from Burberry Prorsum, Kate Moss with a maroon Lanvin slip dress, Nicola Roberts with a custom made tour dress with hundreds of swishing silver tassels and Julia Restoin Roitfeld with an eye-popping floor length Roberto Cavalli dress. Designers from Marios Schwab and Zandra Rhodes to Brit sensation Christopher Kane have also muscled in on the action.
Unfortunately, such beautiful treats do come at a price, but luckily for us it’s not bank breaking. A mere £40, which goes straight to charities Age Concern and Help the Aged, you can hire a dress for the night. If you simply cannot part with your dreamy garment, there is a chance to bid for it after Christmas when an auction will be held showcasing the entire collection.
Opening times for Topshop’s “Dress Me Up” are from 1-9pm Monday to Friday and 1-8pm on Saturdays and 1-5pm on Sundays.
Topshop
Scarlett Johansson's red carpet dress
Topshop have launched a hiring out initiative of A-lister’s gowns, giving us mere mortals a chance to give these gorgeous frocks a new lease of life. From 26th November until 6th December at Topshop’s flagship Oxford Circus store, you will be able to nab yourself dresses paraded on the red carpet by the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Dita Von Teese and Peaches Geldof. Mandy Barder writes.
The Sartorialist founder Scott Schuman on fashion journalism
