Fashion ComPassion at the Ethical Fashion Show!

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Fashion Compassion

Fashion ComPassion had an excellent night at the Ethical Fashion Show & Industry Speakers: Rasing Money for the Rehema Project on Wednesday. The event was promoting variety of sustainable and ethical brands from all over the market, from clothing and beauty to food.

Ethical Fashion Show Poster

All the money raised by the Ethical Fashion Show would go towards funding the Rehema Project, a charity which helps vulnerable women and children in Tanzania. Before the show began, we were treated to an exclusive Q&A session with some of the industry’s leading experts on sustainable fashion.

Q&A session on sustainable fashion hosted by Charlotte Instone

The panel included Caroline Nodder (Editor in Chief of Drapers), Tamsin Lejeune (Director of Ethical Fashion Forum), Maggie Jones (Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport), Sandy Black (Author of ‘The Sustainable Fashion Handbook’), Liz Parker (Labour BehindThe Label) and Mark Bloom (Managing Director of Komodo). They discussed a range of issues including the consequences of the Rana Plaza collapse and the difficulties which faced sustainable fashion companies.

(L to R) Tamsin Lejeune (Director of Ethical Fashion Forum), Liz Parker(Labour Behind The Label) and Caroline Nodder (Editor in Chief of Drapers).

(L to R) Sandy Black (Author of ‘The Sustainable Fashion Handbook’), Maggie Jones (Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport) and Mark Bloom (Managing Director of Komodo).

The show was showcasing men and womenswear from a range of sustainable brands including People Tree, Beulah, Komodo, Junky Styling and Zoe Boomer. The evening was a huge success and we want to thank everyone involved, especially Charlotte Instone who put the event together. Here are just some of our photo highlights! Enjoy!

Fashion ComPassion at the Ethical Fashion Show – Bhalo Saturday Shirt (£65) & Bhalo Scarecrow Trousers (£90).

The fashion show showcased mens and womenswear from People Tree, Beulah, Komodo, Junky Styling and Zoe Boomer

Congratulations to everyone who made the show a success!

Check out the full album of photos on our Facebook page!

Guest Blogger of the Month: One Green Dress

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Fashion Compassion

What is the name of your blog?

One Green Dress

Tells us about your blog and why you started it.

I started my blog One Green Dress over a year ago when I was becoming increasingly interested in ethical fashion. I had been researching the different brands and the various debates within the ethical fashion industry and learning about how fashion could be ethical and sustainable. I was beginning to compile a huge amount of information and decided that I wanted somewhere to store and display it both for my personal use and to show others what I was finding out.

Why is sustainable fashion so important?

I really feel that fashion has become hugely consumption driven- people have stopped caring about what they are buying and are more concerned about buying as much as possible, as frequently as possible. For me, it’s really important to think about the journey that the clothes have taken from crop to shop; how many processes it gone through, countries it has traveled through and hands it has passed through.

How would you describe your style / fashion sense?

Well I try to aim for an elegant, well groomed look; quite formal in general and then I tend to funk up outfits with bold jewellery. When I buy new clothes I buy them to last so I try to stick to classic, flattering cuts that won’t age too quickly. A lot of my wardrobe wouldn’t look out of place in the office; it’s quite smart and easy to dress up or down.

Who do you admire in the world of sustainable fashion?

I admire those people that aren’t willing to settle for just one aspect of sustainability. I really admire companies that aren’t picking between being environmentally friendly or using fair labour but are striving for both and looking at improving all aspects of their global production chain. I think we should always strive to be better than we are in ethical fashion.

What are your favourite ethical brands and why?

I’m always finding new ethical fashion brands and my favourite new finds are O My Bag, Leila Hafzi and Maiyet. I just bought O My Bag’s Sleazy Jane handbag and I couldn’t be more pleased with it! O My Bag are definitely the most ethically sourced leather bags that I have ever found- they have covered everything from the cows to the labourers and all the processes in between to make sure they are as ethical as possible. What I find to be above and beyond in the realms of ethical fashion with these three brands is their focus on design led fashion. They do not expect people to buy their products just because they are ethical – they expect people to buy their products because they are gorgeous, well made and worth investing in.

What are your top tips for buying ethical and sustainable products?

Do your research and make sure that the brand you choose to buy from are being clear about their ethical credentials as well as striving for greatness. Personally, I think it’s worth spending more and buying less, so choose wisely and pick a product that’s worth investing in and will last you for years to come. This way you will end up with a wardrobe full of items that you can truly treasure.

What are your 3 top picks of the Fashion Compassion website?

Amelia’s 3 top picks from Fashion ComPassion’s website – Shipbreaker Dress (£99), Gold Flowers Turquoise Earrings ( £135) & Neon Cross Body Bag (£160).

Check out Amelia’s ‘One Green Dress’ blog here.

Amelia is also on Twitter - @onegreendress and on Facebook.

Amisha Ghadiali’s ’12 Rules To Dress By’ – the simple guide to making your wardrobe sustainable!

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Fashion Compassion

Here at Fashion ComPassion, we love hearing about campaigns which endorse the ideals of sustainable and ethical fashion as well as capturing the imagination of the public. One campaign which has recently piqued our interest was the ‘12 Rules To Dress By’, a sustainable fashion guide and checklist developed by sustainable fashion expert and campaigner Amisha Ghadiali.

Amisha Ghadiali. Photograph by Ben Fisher (Photo via Elegance Rebellion)

The project came about through Amisha’s realisation that, although people were aware of the issues impacted by the international fashion industry, many of them were uncertain about the steps they should take in order to make their own wardrobes more sustainable and ethical. For Amisha, the responsibility of taking on issues like forced labour and toxic chemical use, and demanding change lies not only with governments and the fashion industry but also with the consumer. Clothes are an incredibly important aspect of our everyday lives; everyone wears clothes regardless of gender, race, age or style. In other words, we, the consumers, have the perfect opportunity to make a positive change to millions of people’s lives and to protect the environment – simply by making more conscious decisions about the way we shop for and wear clothes and fashion accessories.

’12 Rules To Dress By’ checklist

By collaborating with visual communication designer Joana Casaca Lemos, Amisha created a simple yet provocative poster and checklist of the 12 Rules to spread her message about ethical fashion far and wide, encouraging people to think about the clothes they buy and wear. Whilst the checklist is only supposed to be a simple guide on to how to make more ethical and sustainable purchases, Amisha believes that by following her 12 rules individuals can really make a difference.

’12 Rules To Dress By’ Poster

In brief, Amisha’s 12 Rules To Dress By are:

Ask yourself if you really need something new, or if you can wear something in a different way to make it feel fresh.
Try and set a limit for how many things you buy a year.
Research ethical designers.
Support small local designers.
Buy something organic, or made from a new fabric such as from Soy Bean, Nettle or Milk.
Have a wardrobe clear-out and give your unloved pieces to your local charity shop or hold a swishing party.
When buying something new, ask the shop/designer what is not on the label, where it was made and whom by.
Get out your sewing machine and customise something old into something new.
When buying something new, think of how long you will like it for.
Buy something that is fair-trade.
Rent or borrow something instead of buying something new.
Have fun with it.

The response to Amisha’s ’12 Rules To Dress By’ has been phenomenal. Since the launch in January last year, the rules have amassed a huge following around the globe and have been translated in over 10 different languages. What’s more, both the poster and the checklist are freely available to download, encouraging everyone to take part. The next step for the ’12 Rules To Live By’ project is to get the break into mainstream fashion and raise the profile of ethical brands and designers. For Amisha, 2013 should be a year where each individual will become a conscious consumer and demands the fashion industry to change its ways for the better.

To find out more about Amisha and her ’12 Rules To Dress By’, go to her website – Elegance Rebellion.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Tell us how Fashion ComPassion makes you feel and get 15% off your next purchase!

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Fashion Compassion

Send us your testimonials and photos wearing Fashion ComPassion collection and get 15% off your next purchase! The best ones will be featured on our website, blog and Facebook page! So what are you waiting for? Send them to info@fashioncompassion.ac.uk and we will send you a coupon with 15% off!

Here a few examples to inspire you!

Fashion ComPassion’s Top 10 Women Who Changed The Face Of Fashion

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Fashion Compassion

Last week, millions of people across the globe came together to celebrate women and their achievements as a part of International Women’s Day. Here at Fashion ComPassion, we were inspired to think of the innovative and influential women who have played a part in the history of fashion, bringing positive change to the catwalks, and to wardrobes worldwide; here’s our Top 10 Female Fashion Heavyweights.

1. Livia Firth

Livia Firth – Creative director of Eco Age and co founder of the Green Carpet Challenge. (Image via My Green Style)

Livia Firth is the creative director of Eco Age, an online magazine and boutique which combines glamour with ethics. Since teaming up with eco journalist Lucy Siegle to launch the Green Carpet Challenge in 2009, Livia has been championing sustainable style and innovation at some of the world’s biggest red carpet events. Firth claims that fashion has an important role in promoting social justice, environmental integrity and brilliant ethical design with a conscious. As a bonus, she gets to be married to Mr Darcy…

2. Lucy Siegle

Lucy Siegle – Journalist and broadcaster specialising in environmental and social justice. (Image via Daisy Green Magazine)

Lucy Siegle is an journalist and broadcaster specialising in environmental and social justice. As well as writing her weekly ethical living column in the Observer, Lucy is a regular contributor to ‘Grazia’, the ‘Guardian’, the ‘New Statesman’, ‘Elle’ and ‘New Consumer’ magazine. Her recent book, ‘To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World?’, offers readers an unflinching look at the darker side to the fashion industry and its environmental and social impact on the planet. A must read!

3. Orsola De Castro

Orsola de Castro – Founder of ethical fashion label From Somewhere and Estethica. (Image via the Guardian)

Orsola De Castro is an internationally recognised innovator and opinion leader in sustainable fashion. Her revolutionary label, From Somewhere, was the first fashion brand to address the issue of reproducibility in recycling and pre-consumer waste for the fashion industry. In 2006, Orsola, along with her partner Filippo Ricci, founded Estethica – the sustainable fashion exhibition at London Fashion Week. Estethica has gone onto become one of the industry’s leading showcases of eco sustainable design.

4. Bibi Russell

Bibi Russell – Bangladeshi fashion designer and former international model. (Image via Images of Asia)

Bibi Russell is a former international model and Bangladeshi fashion designer. In 1994, Bibi opened her own fashion company, Bibi Productions, in Bangladesh with the desire of infusing indigenous Bengali cultural elements into her designs. Her aim was to demonstrate the immense skills and expertise of local artisans, to preserve the heritage and foster creativity, to provide employment opportunities and to contribute towards the eradication of poverty.

5. Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney – award winning British fashion designer and supporter of PETA. (Image via Financial Times)

Stella McCartney barely needs an introduction; an award winning British fashion designer, she is best known for her signature style of razor sharp tailoring, natural confidence and sexy femininity. As a lifelong vegetarian and supporter of PETA, Stella does not use any leather or fur in her garments or accessories. In 2006, she launched her vegan-friendly line of accessories that fuse natural and man made materials with high quality construction.

6. Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood – Iconic British fashion designer and political activist. (Image via MyZeroWaste.com)

Vivienne Westwood is one of the most iconic British fashion designers of the last 30 years. Her influential designs and merchandise have often been linked or inspired by her many political causes such as CND, climate change and the civil rights group Liberty. A definite fashion matriarch!

7. Safia Minney

Safia Minney – Founder of Fair Trade and environmental fashion label People Tree. (Image via People Tree)

Safia Minney is founder of Fair Trade and environmental fashion and lifestyle label People Tree. Safia’s lifelong interests in social justice, trade and environmental issues lie at the very heart of her Fair Trade business and, as a result, she is regarded as one of the world’s foremost commentators of Fair Trade in the fashion industry. Her label, People Tree, aims to improve the lives and environment of the artisans and farmers in developing countries who work to make the products whilst providing their customers with desirable high quality fashion.

8. Ali Hewson

Ali Hewson – co-founder of Edun. (Image via Victoria Mary Clarke WordPress)

Ali Hewson is the co-founder of Edun, a global fashion brand created to encourage trade in Africa. Ali’s label aims to bring about positive change in Africa through a fair trade-based relationship rather than by direct aid, helping to build long term, sustainable opportunities by supporting manufacturers, infrastructure and community building initiatives.

9. Sass Brown

Sass Brown – a full-time professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York specialising in ethical design practices in fashion businesses. (Image via Nottingham Trent University)

Sass Brown is a full-time professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York who specialises in ethical design practices in fashion businesses. Sass has created collections for a number of manufacturers, from urban clothing to her own signature collection of women’s designer sportswear. She has also worked with women’s cooperatives in Latin America, most notably COOPA-ROCA in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and taught workshops to manufacturers and fashion enterprises in Peru. Sass’s book, Eco Design, showcases some of the best expressions of eco fashion around the globe.

10. Summer Rayne Oakes

Summer Rayne Oakes – Co-founder of Source4Style and managing Editor of Above Live. (Image via summerrayne.net)

Summer Rayne Oakes is a model-activist and TV media host. She is one of the co-founder of Source4Style, a B2B online marketplace for sustainable materials; and the Managing Editor and EVP of Sustainability of Above Live, a digital platform highlighting global influencers and their environmental passions. Her 2012 environmental short film, eXtinction, highlighted some of the greatest environmental challenges happening in the world right now and recieved critical acclaim from critics.

Fashion ComPassion’s Wonder-Lust Art & Fashion evening!

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Fashion Compassion

In February, Fashion ComPassion and Debut Contemporary hosted WONDER-LUST, the first in a collaborative series of events which aimed to bring emerging creatives to London’s fashion and art scene. Our VIP and press launch event was held at the Debut Contemporary art gallery and showcased socially responsible fashion brands from war torn and underprivileged regions.

Wonder-Lust window display at Debut Contemporary

Fashion brands which were on display included Nawa, Numa, Palestyle, Inaaya and Lost City. Each product had been hand crafted by women artisans and told a story of beauty, history, believe and determination. Here’s just some of our favourite photos from the night:

Nawa Jean clutches paired with Maia Franceschi’s artwork. Inspired by Jean Shrimpton, a British fashion icon in the 1960s, these Nawa Jean clutch bags flaunt a minimalistic look, geometric shape and retro-vintage feel.

Inaaya jewellery products paired with Ewelina Kolaczek’s glass artwork. This fashion brand produces limited run pieces by combining classis techniques with artisanal production.

Inaaya Reverie Durri necklace and Ba’ali earrings.

Inaaya Red Sindoor Durri necklace and Ra’ani Durri necklace.

Inaaya Zenith Durri necklace and Obsidian earrings.

Lost City scarves and clutches paired with Dan Johnson's artwork.

Lost City scarves and handbags paired with Dan Johnson’s artwork. Lost City products embody a sophisticated urban aesthetic, earth-friendly production processes and ethical business practices.

Palestyle clutches and jewellery paired with Thomas Dowdeswell’s artwork. Palestyle insures that their fashion creates awareness towards the value and history of handmade Palestinian embroidery and Arabic calligraphy, thus promoting the warmth of the heritage in a trendy manner.

Palestyle Pink Glam clutch. Made with 100% Croc Embossed leather, gold-plated calligraphy plaque with Swarovski crystals and a gold chain.

New to Fashion ComPassion! Numa jewellery and clutches paired with Adrian Scicluna’s artwork.

New to Fashion ComPassion – Numa Sun clutch.

Wonder-Lust was a huge success, with many bloggers, press reporters and fashionistas discovering exciting new brands and artworks. Check out GEO news coverage of Wonder-Lust!

We also did our own little behind the scenes video of our event which you can check out below:

We wish to thank everyone involved for all their hard work and for making the night a success!

Guest Blogger of the Month: Sadie’s Wardrobe

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Fashion Compassion

What is the name of your blog?

Sadie’s Wardrobe

Tells us about your blog and why you started it.

I started my blog way back in April 2009, when I was just starting to get interested in fashion. I had been reading a lot of other blogs at the time and really wanted to make one of my own! It’s a good ‘creative’ outlet, where I often feature little DIYs and sewing projects. I recently ‘rebranded’ it as an ethical blog, although it has always featured lot of vintage & thrifted items.

Why is sustainable fashion so important?

Fast fashion is very much the norm, and I really didn’t think twice about it before I read Lucy Siegle’s book ‘To Die For’. For me, the importance of sustainable fashion is definitely something that needed pointing out. Since reading the book, I just don’t think I can go back to buying cheap disposable clothes. The way I see it is that in a world of finite resources and growing population, we really can’t afford to keep producing clothing at the rate we do. At the same time, fashion is such an important cultural symbol. So I think the best solution at the moment is to make it as sustainable as possible.

How would you describe your style / fashion sense?

I’m not really sure how I’d describe my fashion sense! I tend to wear a lot of bright colours and 70s blouses, and I’d say I’m very influenced by 60s mod style. But since moving to Paris, a lot more grey and ‘texture’ has been creeping into my wardrobe.

Who do you admire in the world of sustainable fashion?

Anyone who has decided that they want to do something about sustainability issues and managed to achieve it, no matter how big or small!

What are your favourite ethical brands and why?

The first ethical brand I really became aware of was People Tree, and they are still one of my favourites. I love that they are able to produce clothes that are ethical but still fashionable (and affordable!). I’m discovering new brands every day, which is really really encouraging. Sites like Fashion Compassion are really useful for discovering new brands!

What are your top tips for buying ethical and sustainable products?

My top tip for buying ethical and sustainable products is to look for companies whose philosophy is based around being ethical, and that way you know it is genuinely important to them. It’s also good to buy second hand, as this has very little environmental impact, but I try to remember to support the ethical companies too, or they can’t continue to exist!

What are your 3 top picks of the Fashion Compassion website?

Sadie’s 3 top picks from Fashion ComPassion’s website – Pineapple dress (£80), Saturday shirt (£65) & Pocket skirt (£80).

I really love the 50s-style Pineapple summer dress by Bhalo. Wouldn’t mind one for a holiday wardrobe! The pastel coloured panels on the Bhalo Pocket skirt give it a really cool twist. I love the fact that it has hand-made coconut buttons! For lovers of mod fashion such as myself, this Bhalo Saturday shirt is perfect. Again, I’m a big fan of the contrasting pastel-coloured sections!

Sadie Wardrobe is also on twitter: @sadieswardrobe

Treat Your Loved One This Valentine’s Day With Fashion ComPassion

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Fashion Compassion

With Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, why not treat your loved one to one of our beautiful Fashion ComPassion products? We have lots of gorgeous gifts which will make the perfect Valentine’s present for that special someone in your life!

Not only are all our products beautiful and unique, they are also ethical and socially responsible.

Here are our top gift picks for Valentine’s Day:

Sarah’s Bag

Sarah’s Bag is now available at Fashion ComPassion!

We have recently added Sarah’s Bag, a new socially conscious brand, to the Fashion ComPassion range. Described as feminine, fresh and fashionable, Sarah’s Bag is an intimate line of hand crafted, custom-made women’s fashion accessories which are stylishly aware and socially responsible.

New to Fashion ComPassion – Black Calligraphy Clutch & Mini Diskette Pop Black Clutch by Sarah’s Bag.

The Black Calligraphy Clutch & Mini Diskette Pop Black Clutch by Sarah’s Bag are now available from the Fashion ComPassion Website.

Sarah’s Bag began back in 2000, when Sarah Beydoun decided to set up her company as part of a rehabilitation program, allowing women at risk from economic deprivation or the stigma of having served time in prison to learn valuable skills in return for a reliable income and a stable source of pride, dignity, and empowerment. In the process, these women would be helping to bring the centuries’ old traditions of artisans and textile makers in the Middle East into the world of contemporary fashion. Each piece makes a unique statement, requiring 10 to 15 days of meticulous embroidering, beading, crocheting, and hand stitching to produce. Sarah’s Bag is now sold out of 20 stores in Europe, Middle East & Asia.

Palestyle

Palestyle Calligraphy Jewellery and Clutches with Message of Love

Palestyle is a socially responsible brand which works with Palestinian refugee women in camps in Jordan and Lebanon. They fuse the traditional arabic heritage with contemporary fashion to create a trendy chic collection of jewellery and fashion accessories.

Palestyle Calligraphy Cocktail Ring

Palestyle Calligraphy Cocktail Ring. Gold-plated calligraphy ring with Swarovski crystals. This exquisite gift comes in various inspirational messages; Charming As The Moon, Secret of Your Beauty, Magic of Your Eyes.

Palestyle products are made in small workshops around the Middle East and the calligraphic writings are inspirational messages by the refugee women. This brand empowers the women in the refugee camps by giving them a sustainable income and percentage of revenue from sales.

Palestyle Glam White Clutch

Palestyle Glam White Clutch. Made with 100% patent leather, gold plated calligraphy plague with Swarovski crystals and gold chain. These exquisite clutches come in various inspirational messages; Charming As The Moon, Secret of Your Beauty, Magic of Your Eyes.

Inaaya

Inaaya Jewellery

Inaaya is a socially conscious fashion brand which combines classic Sindhi design and embellishment techniques with artisanal production and interprets them through the lens of contemporary fashion.

Inaaya Red Sindoor Durri Necklace

Inaaya Red Sindoor Durri Necklace. Solid red 7 layer vibrant vermillion with a two way necklace with silver accents and a peacock fastener. Hand crafted by women in Khaipur, Pakistan.

Inaaya currently works with female artisans in rural impoverished areas of Pakistan where the infrastructure and poverty issues are compounded by women’s rights issues. By providing contractual employment based on productivity, Inaaya gives their workers the chance to gain a supplemental income without neglecting their pre-existing responsibilities. This arrangement stands until both parties are comfortable with full time employment. In both scenarios, the employment empowers the workers and allows them to better their living conditions as they deem fit.

Inaaya Reverie Durri Necklace

Inaaya Reverie Durri Necklace. Five tiered choker embellished with hand embroidered brooch. Hand crafted by women in Khaipur, Pakistan.

Inaaya’s philosophy is simple. Create progressive designs using traditional materials and techniques. By buying Inaaya jewellery, you are not just shopping with a conscience. You are also preserving another rapidly diminishing virtue; Compassion.

Show the one you love what truly matters this Valentine’s Day. Treat them to a socially conscious and ethical gift from Fashion ComPassion!

Check out our website for more Valentine’s ideas and gifts!

Fashion ComPassion is now on Polyvore!

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Fashion Compassion

We’re delighted to announced that Fashion ComPassion is now on Polyvore!

Fashion ComPassion is now on Polyvore! (“Fashion-able” by groovyhippychick, featuring our Palestyle brown calligraphy scarf).

Polyvore is a community driven where people can express their sense of style and their love of fashion. Members can mix & match products they love in unique, creative ways and share their fashion discoveries with other like minded people. Not only does Polyvore encourage inspiring fashionistas to express themselves but they also offer brands and retailers deep insight into what their customers like.

Since setting up our profile, a number of Fashion ComPassion items have been used by Polyvore members to create new and exciting fashion sets. Here are just a few that caught our eye!

“Peaceful Warriors + Trippy Hippies with DANNIJO” by jennifer, featuring our Beshtar Tribal Silk Dress.

“Spring” by cwoolaway, featuring our peach earrings with zircons made by artisans in Rajasthan.

“Sickeningly Sweet” by caraharper, featuring our Palestyle Fuchisa Glam Clutch

“Sin título #10″ by rosa-lidia-sanchez-llanos, featuring our Nawa peacock green Jean Clutch.

“Comfy cute(: ” by allyhayes60, featuring our gold plated earrings made by craftsmen in Rajasthan India.

“little moisque on the prarie” by takwa-m, featuring our Palestyle purple calligraphy scarf.

“Pops of Color” by houseoflemoore, featuring our Nawa Yellow Jean Clutch.

“Summer Night With You Date On The Beach” by chanabbey, featuring our Beshtar blue silk summer halterneck top.

“Purple Pants” by kimberly-lp, featuring our Sougha moon clutch.

If you fancy having a go at making your own sets with Fashion ComPassion products, why not check our profile on Polyvore?

Guest Blogger of the Month: Amna Salman from Style Stripped

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Fashion Compassion

Style Stripped Logo

What is the name of your blog?

www.stylestripped.net

Tells us about your blog and why you started it.

Style Stripped is the first ever fashion blog to come out of Pakistan. It’s a premiere fashion portal, bridging the gap between the customer and the designer. My aim was always to empower the general public, proving them with enough knowledge to make informed choices when making purchases.

Why is sustainable fashion so important?

Lower costs in certain parts of the world attract intensive outsourcing. This means that costs have gone down and purchasing power has increased. This has led to much of the high street fashion to be considered as disposable. Sustainable fashion is important to realize the cost of these cheap options other than the price tag.

How would you describe your style / fashion sense?

I was a tom boy during much of my earlier life, when I did switch I developed a very mature dressing sense. My priority is to look classy and elegant. I do every kind of trend but proportion is essential, it’s important for a look to be balanced.

Who do you admire in the world of sustainable fashion?

Edun. They use drawings by the schoolchildren in Kenya of their everyday lives, printed onto organic cotton T shirts with 100 percent of the proceeds going to supplying eveything from reading materials to hot meals to the children. Secondly, I think Fashion Compassion has done a lot for this side of the world taking in Middle East and its surroundings, creating awareness and bridging gaps.

What are your top tips for buying ethical and sustainable products?

Research is essential. Know what goes into the products you’re buying, the process, materials and social responsibility etc.

What are your plans for the future?

I blog because I love to. I would stop the moment it doesn’t make my heart beat faster, it’s the love of fashion and the mission to empower the consumer more then the brand.

What are your 3 top picks of the Fashion Compassion website?

Style Stripped’s Top 3 Fashion ComPassion picks (Right to Left): Embroidered Velvet Pouch by Palestyle, White Calligraphy Scarf by Palestyle & White Sapphire Earrings by artisans in Rajasthan.