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

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.