We’ve featured her before, but we can’t help doing it again. Look at this magnifeco pantsuit from Los Angeles-based Kristinit. Named after the Latvian version of founder Kristina Lenss’ name, Kristinit uses innovative organic fabrics, local manufacturing, and fair trade practices. This Grace jumpsuit is constructed out of 100% organic linen,and features a sculpted, halter neckline, deep pockets, and open back. Sizes run XS-L. $265.00.
Time to pick up that LDB or spring dress, that piece that you know will have to be replaced for next season or that piece you know you need for the spring/summer. For the next 48 hours Envi is offering all stock at 50% off. Online only! Eligible discount will be taken at checkout with promo codes “yinyang“. All sales are final, not valid on “final sale” category and select sale items. Envi ships everywhere.
Emma Watson’s collection for People Tree, the ethical fashion label, has launched and is selling fast! All clothing is made by hand from 100% organic and Fairtrade-certified cotton in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The Bedford Waistcoat, a fitted button up waistcoat with revere collar and two ticket pockets. Comes in black or cloudburst (shown). £35.00.
This Moira Contrast Trim Dress is a three-quarter length sleeve fleece jersey dress with square neckline. Contrasting trim at neck and pockets and on removable belt at waist. Comes in peacoat and light grey (shown). £45.00.
There’s a guys line too! Union Jack T-shirt, organic cotton jersey t-shirt with crew neck and short sleeves £25.00. Ships to most of Europe.
Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day and is being marked with the slogan ‘Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All‘. I am a big believer in giving and donating locally. But if you have already given to your local woman’s organization, and spent time with women whom you really love today, then a little online shopping with magnifeco organizations like this is a bonus.
Annie O is a socially responsible business which works directly with marginalized artisans creating products which help sustain these artisans livelihood and protect traditional artisan techniques. It is in the high Andes of Peru where the artful traditions of weaving and embroidery have developed over the centuries. Today, Peruvian artists are committed to preserving their craft traditions, many of whom have struggled through years of oppression, domestic violence, and civil war. It has been women such as these who have kept the ancient art of spinning, weaving, dying and embroidery alive. These belts are hand-embroidered, using sheep’s wool with hand-sheared horn buckles. Comes in Narrow: W: 1.5” L: 43” $60.00 or Wide: W: 3” L: 43” $80.00 USD.
Pachacuti is the UK’s only Fair Trade hat specialist, working directly with women’s co-operatives in Ecuador. They assist elderly weavers through a pension scheme, finance capital expenditure and support community development projects such as building a new grocery store, and ensuring that poor families can afford to educate their children. Panamas are made from native toquilla palm, which is harvested sustainably along the coast of Ecuador and transported to town by donkey. The entire processing of the hat uses no harmful chemicals and the mild chemicals used to bleach the hats are then filtered through a system of tanks so that water can be constantly re-used in the production process. When a Panama finally reaches the end of its life after many years of wear, it can be put on the compost heap. Prices start at £37.50.
Keo K’jay is a social enterprise that was established in Cambodia to train and provide jobs for women living with HIV in Phnom Penh through the creation of handmade items made at home. Each woman with HIV/AIDS is provided with individual training in her own home, allowing them a comfortable and safe environment where they can work on their own time in case of getting sick or having to provide for their families. Employment also allows for their children to attend school and break the cycle of poverty. Each scarf is made entirely from recycled men’s shirts. Unique stitching and construction make each scarf one of a kind. Dyes and inks are made from all natural materials grown and found in Cambodia. Available from Embodies. $30.00 USD.
Nest is a nonprofit organization that empowers female artists and artisans around the world. Using a unique combination of interest-free microfinance loans, mentoring from established designers, as well as a market in which to sell their crafts, Nest helps its loan recipients create successful small businesses. Nest instills pride of ownership, preserves ancient artistic traditions and successfully moves women from poverty to self-sufficiency. They also partner with domestic designers, who offer them exclusive pieces, with the proceeds going to fund additional artisans. These designers also mentor the loan recipients, giving them valuable business, marketing and design advice. In this way, Nest has created a community of artists helping artists, and women helping women, the world over. This Apple Branch minidress by domestic designer Rectangle Designs, is available in pearly blue on gray or metallic gold on gray. $62.00 USD.
Wherever you and however you mark the day - may we all take one step forward toward ‘Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All’
While most of us can wait another two months, those of you in the UK have one week to figure out what to get your Mum for Mother’s Day. Here are some magnifeco ideas -
We featured her not too long ago, and are completely smitten with this collection of biscuit tin jewellery made by the Kate Hamilton-Hunter Studio. This heart bracelet has slightly domed hearts to shape it to the wrist. £28.99. The studio is offering our readers a 15% off any of their recycled jewellery designs. Enter code magnifeco, good until March 30.
Puresha, the organic makeup and skincare store, have put together a very special ‘Grazie mama’ gift that to gives your mama some well-deserved gratitude this Mother’s Day. The gift comes hand-wrapped in fair-trade Furoshiki cotton and is personalised by a hand-written ‘Grazie’ card. Inside mama will find organic and ethically sourced Chococo chocolate- hand-made in Dorset, along with one of Cargo Plant Love’s bestselling ecocert lipsticks, designed by Bond-girl-turned-mum Denise Richards. This sheer praline shade (named after her daughter) is perfect for all complexions. In addition, there’s a Soap and Paper Factory Geranium Solid Perfume as well as a tub of Fig Fizzing Bath Powder. A gift that’s worth over £55, for £40.00
How about a beautiful selection of Green & Black’s organic chocolate - this chocolate gift hamper contains twelve miniature bars including their Organic Mint squares- 27 individually wrapped squares of solid dark 70% chocolate infused with peppermint oil. Finally four 100g chocolate and two 35g bars to keep hidden and savour at a special moment. All delivered in a recycled gift box with lid and hand tied with crushed berry coloured satin ribbon for Mother’s Day. £20.00
From Nigel’s Eco Store this ‘I am Not a Paper Cup‘ is a reusable, double walled, thermal ceramic mug with a re-sealable silicon lid that’ll keep her coffee safe, and reduce her need for paper cups. Help her take a small step to reducing her carbon footprint, and alleviating eco guilt. £12.99.
If in doubt, there’s always flowers! Arena Flowers is the first UK florist to sell Fair Flowers, Fair Plants accredited flowers, delivering sustainable, ethically grown flowers to UK flower lovers. This Pink Lily Bouquet is £35.99 with free delivery.
Sometimes the easiest changes to make are right in front of our eyes. If you have a computer, why not make it a green one? The USB EcoStrip 2.0 helps you to conserve electricity by turning power-drawing devices off when you aren’t at your computer. EcoStrip 2.0 acts as a normal power strip/surge protector for your computer and peripheral devices — with one important difference: when the computer is turned off, power is shut down to peripherals eliminating the vampire drain of electricity. Regular $54.95, now $44.95 USD with free shipping to U.S. *Only works for North American residents.
butter LONDONwas founded by Sasha Muir. On moving to the United States, she was shocked at the number of toxic ingredients in cosmetic products. She saw the need for a new brand of hand and nail care products that combined high fashion and health and set about building what is today, a premier British fashion brand. Then London’s leading manicurist & nail trend spotter, Nonie Creme, joined butter LONDON as its Founding Creative Director to help create a complete range of hand and nail care products without those chemical nasties. 3 Free means No Formaldehyde, No toluene, and No DBP (Phthales).
You can get this starter pack, with the following items: 3 Free lacquer in Pink Ribbon (or lacquer colour of your choice), Horse Power nail fertilizer, and Hardwear P.D. Quick topcoat. $38.00 USD (or buy in CAD or GBP).
U.K.-based goodone has a video on their site, that has some astounding facts: If every Briton purchased one item made from recycled wool each year, it would save 371 million gallons of water, 480 tones of chemical dyes, and 4571 million days of an average family’s electricity days. [source: UK Govt]. goodone founder Nin Castle’s main focus is to exceed people’s expectations of what upcycled textiles can be, and for goodone garments to show how much is possible with recycled textiles. Like this Double Top Buckle Dress, made from pieces of recycled lightweight knits. £137.50
Or these Hip Pocket Leggings, high-waisted colored block leggings made with a combination of reclaimed jersey and end of line virgin cloth. £62.50. After their successful show at Esthetica during London Fashion week, goodone is now expanding to international stockists in Berlin, Hong Kong, Melbourne and New York. Or you can buy from their online shop.
Today is World Book Day, designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe. The origins of the day come from Catalonia, where roses and books were given as gifts to loved ones on St. George’s Day – a tradition started over 80 years ago.
The Quick Reads series, launched in 2006, is aimed at reaching out to the millions of adults in the UK with reading difficulties and the one-third of the British population that never picks up a book, they are written by bestselling authors for both emergent readers and for readers wanting a short, pacy read. And research shows that once they have acquired the habit of reading, they never lose it. To celebrate World Book Day, Quick Reads is exclusively offering one title – The Thief by Ruth Rendell – as a free download , for one week only from 4th March 2010.
Download it for a friend, buy a family member a book, read to a loved one, donate some of your collection to a charity near you…. however you celebrate your love of books, enjoy!
Growing up Heather Beeson thought she was going to be an shoe designer or dress maker, but after studying metal art at the University of Alaska Southeast she became inspired by the simplicity of metal and stone combined. Nashelle Jewelry began over 10 years ago, with Heather sitting on her living room floor day after day creating. Now Nashelle Jewelry is a team of 14 designers who take pride in the fact that they use all recycled 14kt gold fill and recycled sterling silver materials, and that none of their designs are mass produced or out-sourced. These ‘Surface’ InStyle Earrings were seen in InStyle Magazine. $99 USD. **Because all of their jewelry is handmade to order, please allow 2-3 weeks to ship. Ships everywhere.
Kristinit - Organic linen jumpsuit
