How many of us are opening our closets to ethical fashion?

Having recently arrived back from the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris and had the time to read through the Fashion and Responsible Consumption Survey found in the catalogue it's interesting to discover some of the statistics relating to the social aspect of ethical clothing.

The creative talents and fashionable designs of such brands still seem to fall on deaf ears. Granted, the importance of ethical fashion has risen in the last two or three years, but there still seems to be a struggle to convince the general public that ethics can be beautiful. In fact, the items of ethical clothing most commonly purchased tend to be organic t-shirts and small items, which don't necessarily fall into the category of high fashion. Clothes are a luxury and, unfortunately, become an exception to our ethical standards. Less than 50% of people believe that ethical clothing can be fashionable. This doesn't seem extensive but is never-the-less an improvement on previous years. The Ethical Fashion Show in Paris, and other such events, give ethical labels the chance to showcase the best of their collections and work to establish a place within the 'fashion' category. In response to the question; Where is ethical fashion going? With the help of shows such as Paris and with the increased use of electronic media, ethical fashion can only move forward and place its stamp on the fashion world. Ethical fashion is breaking into universities, such as the London College of Fashion, with the development of ethical studies. The key appears to lie with the next generation who have grown up with, and been educated within the rising tide of ethical awareness.

At least one thing is for certain, the social impact of ethical fashion is gaining momentum as today's suppliers and buyers realise that ethics and sustainability encompass more than the use of organic materials. Organic t-shirts are great, but we need to remain mindful of the conditions of the people who are producing the clothing, and of the environmental impact of their production.

As the presence of ethical fashion grows on the catwalk, on the high-street and on-line, the current majority of people, who haven’t yet discovered that our clothes can be beautiful, ethical and fashionable will doubtless become the minority.

High-end ethical fashion from Noir

High-street ethical fashion from Goodone

Bibico wins coveted La Redoute ‘Ethical Fashion Show Award’ in Paris

Earlier this month bibico went to Paris for the most important French ethical fashion show of the year, the Ethical Fashion Show. The event is supported by the French government, home shopping company La Redoute and LVMH. Over the course of four days, including one open to the public, fashion professionals can discuss the present and future issues of the fashion industry, showcase their collections in the showroom or attend runway shows.

Exhibitors, who visit from all over the world, have to meet strict criteria to confirm that their fashion –

“Is designed and produced in conditions that respect mankind”
“Decreases the environmental impact of the textile industry, from the design of fabric to the end of the clothes lives”
“Preserves local skills”

One of the highlights of the show is the presentation of the ‘Ethical Fashion Show Award’, judged by a panel made up of fashion and green experts who are looking to celebrate the best in ethical fashion.

Bibico as the winner of the La Redoute Award gained the opportunity to design a small collection exclusively for La Redoute. Judges said they were impressed by the originality of Nieves’ designs and the accessibility of the bibico label in terms of price.

Here’s Nieves being interviewed by Madeinethic:

Oh-So classic French chic: The Breton Stripe

You can’t go wrong with a Breton stripe, so no surprise it’s back on-trend this season. Wear with blazers, jeans or over leggings for sexy, casual style.

Breton beauties from left to right: Balmain AW09, Elle Macpherson, Oliva Palermo, Claudia Schiffer, Alexa Chung. Image from WhoWhatWear.

Bibico does Fair Trade Breton...tops, tunics and jumpers. Available online and at Topshop, Oxford Circus.

bibico sailor knit, hand-knitted by artisans in Nepal from locally sourced wool, £50

Inhabitat showcases bibico at the London Design Festival

Writer, photographer and champion of sustainable design Antonia Halse got glammed up in bibico when she explored the London Design Festival. Look here for her pick of the most dazzling designs on show this year.

Here she is sitting on one of the Argentinian pallet chairs decked out in bibico's stripped boat-necked sailor jersey tunic.

And in front of 'Wasted' an installation made from reclaimed materials that was designed for the entrance to the V&A. Designed by architect Ian Douglas-Jones and designer Ben Rousseau.

Antonia also wears the very fabulous Red Lady Dragon Peeptoe Bow Shoes. These veritable gems were made by Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, in collaboration with Melissa Shoes.

Besides being 100% recyclable, Melissa shoes are made from MEFLEX, a revolutionary breathable and non-toxic plastic and are totally cruelty free and devoid of animal products. Plus, a startling 99.9% of Melissa’s factory water and waste is recycled and the Brazil-based company’s employees are paid above average wages and benefits. These are so on my Xmas wish list.

FOR THE LOVE OF DESIGN

According to the Evening Standard it’s “officially the coolest new event on the London calendar”. So, if you’re looking for a bit of inspiration to get your inner designer all fired up this weekend. Or feel like looking at beautiful, occasionally weird, and wonderful things. We suggest checking it out.

Visit Tent London, open from 24 - 27 September 2009, at the Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL. In the digital section you can meet ethical little fellows like Wattson who will tell you how much electricity your home is using and look all svelte at the same time. Aside from Wattson, and in the very heart of Tent London. We are swooning over...

Zoe Murphy. Zoe promotes ‘loving what belongs to you’. She recycles furniture and textiles to offer us bespoke pieces that are sure to keep your heart aflutter.

Rebecca Ellen makes breathtaking embroidered wallpaper inspired by the Welsh countryside, urban architecture, road signs, pylons. And penguins. In her deft hands the norm becomes the spectacular.

Original Little Bird. Pretty. Pretty. Pretty. Textiles. And some lovely bags made from vintage fabric, lined with taffeta or silk. This one is handmade from early 20thC fabric, lined with cream silk (£35).

Would you like some art with your cupcake? Talented artist Esther Coombs retrieves teacups, saucers and the like from their lost lives and doodles all over them. They’re so good they will distract you from your supper.

Meanwhile over at 100% Design in Earls Court you will find artists and designers customising benches which have been made out of discarded palettes. We’ve checked out some of their work. And it’s lovely. The benches will be auctioned off to raise money for the Lugano slums in Argentina. Where these palettes, sadly, are often made in unsafe workshops. The proceeds will go towards making a safer work environment for the people who make them.

If you can get your hands on a palette or two and want to try your own hand at knocking together some sustainable seating the instructions are sold online for £10 at studiomama.

bibico designer Nieves displays her talent at Estethica

Earlier this year Nieves was selected to contribute to the Shared Talent project, run by the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at the London College of Fashion. The aim of the project: to design a one off collection that would showcase sustainable Indian fabrics. This is a pic of some of the gorgeous designs that resulted from everyone’s work; shown on display at the Monsoon stand at Estethica.

London Fashion Week: Ethical Fashion Rules @ Estethica

bibico launches AW09 collection!!!

We’ve been very excited about this one. Collection number two for bibico is AW09. Inspired by the wintery months Nieves delved into her speciality and designed some gorgeous knitwear pieces so you can be all wrapped up in Fair Trade jumpers and cardi’s this winter.

With the new designs bibico had to find a new producer group because the ladies in Mumbai, talented as they are, have decided to concentrate on their weaving and embroidery skills. So Nieves headed to the mountains in Nepal earlier this year to find a Fair Trade group that’s skilled with a pair of knitting needles.

The group of craftswomen that she met are responsible for the running of their household. For them knitting for the cooperative is a unique opportunity to earn a fair wage whilst putting into practice their valuable skills.

Nieves’ designs, coupled with Nepalese home-spun talent, have resulted in a collection of chunky aran knits, stripy jumpers, and pretty cardi’s. All of which are 100% wool and made from mohair and the best wools sourced from the local region.

The rest of the collection is equally delightful. Inspired by a military and navy look the bibico AW09 collection is all about layering chunky knits over stripes and checks to create a feminine and easy-to-wear look.

World Fair Trade Day 09

World Fair Trade Day is on the imminent horizon. The day to celebrate and applaud Fairtrade is Saturday 9th May. The theme is Big Bang and fairtrade supporters will be beating their drums all round the world with the message that fairtrade can help us beat poverty, beat climate change and beat economic crisis.

The World Fair Trade Organization (previously known as IFAT, but not in that Prince kind of way) is, they tell us, “THE SOURCE OF AUTHENTIC FAIRTRADE -THE 100% WORLD CHANGE VARIETY”. (An important distinction because as we all sadly know there are a handful or so of dodgy fairtrade masqueraders out there who aren’t really in it for the people, or the world, or the change. 100% or otherwise).

Anyway the WFTO is all about the people, so much so that they say they are not ‘The Global Authority on Fairtrade’ because they say they are. It’s because their members make it so.

And who are these illustrious members?

Well they’re a raggletaggle mix from all over the globe. They are the people who make up the organizations who demonstrate a 100% Fairtrade commitment and fully apply the 10 Principles of Fairtrade. They are the kids with the gold star plusses in the classroom of Fairtrade.

And incidentally they don’t get to have the honour of the accolade bestowed upon them and then sneak out back for a chat and a cheeky fag. Oh no they don’t. Rather, they are consistently monitored because these committed few have the mantle on their shoulders of being not just the pioneers of the Fairtrade movement but also its robust and brave innovators.

You can look them up. They are listed in the FT100 list of world-leading Fairtrade brands, businesses and organisations.

The bibico producers from Mumbai and Nepal are in there, a testament to their hard work and commitment. From poverty and hardship they have successfully created organizations which respect people and the earth. And, because of their efforts we can pick out pretty dresses for ourselves that weren’t sweated over in soulless health-damaging factories.

So, join us in celebrating World Fair Trade Day. Champion the successes that have been made. Get involved. Take this baby forwards. Check out the WFTO website to see if there are any events going on in your area. Get online and learn a bit more about Fairtrade and why so many people think it’s a good place to start for changing the world. Spread the word.

Big Bang!!! Annie Lennox launches World Fair Trade Day 09

It’s all about bibico. Well, not really.

This is an announcement in the interests of freedom, bi-partisanship, fairtrade, fashion and mutual loving. Whilst the author of this blog is related by blood to a bibico company member, she doesn’t want to make this blog all about bibico. Obviously she’ll mention it quite a bit, put up images from the collections, say what the bibico news is, and no doubt say that bibico is generally great (unless of course she has some sort of major fallout with her brother, which isn’t unlikely, and in that case she might out of spite say that bibico is rubbish). But the point is that this little bibico blog will also talk about other things. So you don’t get bibico boredom.

Why fashionably fair?

bibico is a design-led company with a penchant for stylish, sexy, beautiful clothes. bibico is about being fair.

We don’t believe in compromising lives for our styles. So, all our manufacturers are certified by the International Association of Fairtrade (IFAT). That means we, and more importantly you, can be sure that a decent percentage of what you pay has already gone to the people who made your garment.

We want to add something delightful to your wardrobe. Something elegant & ethical.