I've just discovered Absolution Saves - a new-to-me label that's well worth checking out, as it ticks all the right green boxes and its clothes are stylish and fun.
As well as the kidswear range, there are men's and women's t-shirts, all with cool contemporary designs. All garments are designed and printed in England, sweatshop free and made with made with 100% biodegradable material, including organic cotton and super-soft bamboo. I really can't find anything bad to say about this range, only I wish it were bigger!
I love Accessorize for its cool, design-led bags, jewellery and hosiery so I was delighted to see that the brand has branched into fairtrade at last, starting with this funky, retro butterfly print tote bag and its hip cousin, the "I heart bags" bag.
The butterfly pattern looks a bit Bridget Riley to me, which gives it a bit of a 60s look. And best of all, it's made from 100% fair trade cotton, has a double handle for extra support in case you want to go on a mega-shopping spree, and costs just £12. [Via The Bag Lady]
What could be more fitting for an Earth Day party than serving your canapes on biodegradable plates made from leaves?
The all natural plates are made from sal and siali leaves, from the forests of Orissa, east India, where they have been used for centuries at festivals and weddings. Making the plates is a popular activity in these areas, with many women working on them at home for extra income; the plates are then sold through fairtrade organisations. You can buy a pack of 20 for £4.99 at Ganesha
As our friends at Catwalk Queen have already reported, tie dye is big on the catwalk this year, and the hippy-dippy style is bound to start blossoming on our streets as soon as the sun gets its hat on and spring gets going in earnest.
But if you'd rather wear the genuine article; hand-dyed garments that have been made under rigorous ethical conditions, avoid the high street and check out the new range at fairtrade label Namaste, which has really caught the major trends this season. As well as the tie dyed skirts, layered dresses and sunhats there are some really pretty floral pieces here that rival anything you'd find in Laura Ashley! It's also pleasingly affordable, with the long dresses pictured retailing at just £34.99
Spring is in the air, even if at the moment it just feels like one hour less in bed (grr) and slightly lighter evenings.
But before long those floaty, summery fabrics will be taking over your wardrobe and you'll want to accessorise accordingly, and Tearcraft have really come up trumps on that front. As well as this beautiful 'Butterfly Blooms' scarf, which features hand-applied batik printing and costs just £13, there are loads of seasonal jewellery items and other gorgeous accessories to see you through spring in style. And, of course, everything you'll find here is reliably fair trade.
You don't have to wait till easter to get your chocolate fix, as there are mini eggs galore on the shop shelves at the moment. But these are the first fairtrade mini eggs I've seen, which you've gotta admit is absolutely 'cracking'!
The tiny speckled eggs are brought to you by the Kuapa Kokoo co-op; a union of 937 village societies, representing about 40,000 farmers. They currently sell about 650 tonnes of cocoa to the fair trade market each year. If you haven't tried their chocolate, either in egg-form or as a delicious Dubble chocolate bar, I really suggest you give it a try. It's not just for kids! £1.49 at Ethical Superstore
'Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon', Winne the Pooh once wisely said, so it's nice to see his sentiment is a little bit more true now we can buy balloons that are not only fairly traded, but 100% biodegradable and made from rubber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Much as we love them, most balloons are a menace to the environment, being essentially a disposable product that doesn't stay in one place for long: they either end up in landfill, or float off into the environment at large where they can do damage to wildlife.These large, extra-strong balloons -- the first to be ethically and environmentally sound -- are made in India and great quality, which is perhaps surprising when they are designed to decompose in an ecologically sound way. Now that sounds worth celebrating to me! [Via Little Green Blog]
Pack of 25 for £2.30 at Fair Deal Trading
I've just discovered Absolution Saves - a new-to-me label that's well worth checking out, as it ticks all the right green boxes and its clothes are stylish and fun. 
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