Fashion Conscience is the place to be if you're after the very best in high-end eco chic fashion and accessories, and GreenMyStyle have a treat in store for anyone who'd like to get hold of items from brands like Terra Plana, Jo Wood Organics, Ovetto and Method at prices at more affordable prices. They're offering an up to 20% discount on all these names and more, plus the chance to win dinner for two courtesy of GreenMyStyle. Click here for details!

[Via GreenMyStyle]

The love affair between Melissa and Dame Viv is clearly far from over as these brazen bronze three-strap sandals have appeared on our radar just in time for that tricky transition into spring.

There's something of the gladiator about the shoes, which would go down a storm with bare legs and a mini dress. As ever in this range, they're ethically made in Melissa's native Brazil from that almost lickable recycled plastic that's such a treat on the beach. Pick up a pair for £61 at My Wardrobe

Related: Bubblegum-scented recycled plastic shoes by Melissa | Best of 2008: eco-friendly and sustainable shoes

New products have just arrived over at Fashion Conscience from the lies of Minna, Biblico, Matt & Nat, Melissa Shoes, Verderocks and Kayu just to name a few. Here are some of our favourite picks.

Left: Team this cute dark blue dress from Biblico (£42) with gorgeous oversized bamboo sunglasses from Kayu (£150), Ivy League cuff from Verderocks (£105) and add a pop of colour with this bright pink bag from vegan-friendly Matt & Nat (£145). Perfect for staying cool whilst shopping in the summer months!

Right: An elegant cream lace and cotton Minna dress (£250) doesn't need too much in the way of accessories, so complement it with a grey Matt & Nat clutch bag (£90) and these electric blue Melissa Mary Janes (£50). A great look for a casual or smart lunch!

Related: New season begins at Fashion Conscience | Fairtrade Fortnight: Fashion with a conscience

The multi-talented Warren Ellis spotted this rather cool spoof on the famous wartime slogan Keep Calm and Carry On, which turns out to be one of the latest desins from howies.

The reference to the thrifty and resourceful spirit being shown by many of us (either through necessity or through choice!) is one that really resonates, and I see this being a big hit.

If you'd like to get your own organic 'Make Things' tee, you can pick them up for £25 on the howies site

Related: Hippyshopper out and about at howies' Carnaby St launch | howies and Folksy want you to get crafting

Since its launch in 2005, Terra Plana has been highly influential in getting the 'ethical can be cool' message across to the more fashion conscious customer. Its designs are contemporary and distinctive, unmistakably eco. But with its new crop of styles for summer 09, I'm seeing a more trend-driven direction for the label, particularly in these 'Caecilia' pumps with contrast heel and platform. Smart move! Caecilia is £100 at Terra Plana

Related: Look pretty in pink with Terra Plana Juniper | Fresh new styles from Terra Plana

Let's all agree to forget for five minutes that it was snowing this time last year: the glorious sunshine means only one thing: that spring is here at last, so we might as well assume it's here to stay.

I've already seen sunglasses, parasols and summer shoes on display, so not being one to be left out, I've done a quick hunt for some fabulous ethically made accessories to see me from spring into summer.

Follow the jump for details.

Related: Eco-chic outfit for spring

Eco-chic fashion portal Adili has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2006, featuring the hottest trends in ethical fashion and providing an effortless and enjoyable way for green fashionistas to shop. It was one of the first truly ethical shopping sites to branch into the mainstream, and seems to have a near-hypnotic hold over the fashion world at present.

So it comes as no great surprise to hear that Adili is to build on its reputation as a showcase for other brands with the launch of its own brand clothing range. In addition to a fashion-focused range of clothes for men and women, Adili own brand features nightwear, lingerie, accessories and towels. I've picked out a few of my favourite items from the range here; read on after the jump for details.

I've seen some lovely examples of upcycled jewellery recently, with some new and inventive techniques that have really restored my faith in the artform. Much as I understand that computer circuit boards need to be disposed of responsibly, I'm really not sure that the place I want them 'deposited' is around my neck, so it's good to see some examples of upcycling that make use of other materials that need a new role!

My favourite idea has got to be the necklace made out of laddered stockings (top right) which you can find out how to make, here.

Can you guess what the other items are made of? Follow the jump to find out

Fashion-Conscience.com is supporting Fairtrade Fortnight, and to celebrate they have some new designers being stocked.

Big names such as Luella Bartley, Zandra Rhodes and Christian Lacroix have collaborated with the Environmental Justice Foundation to create t-shirts for their EJF range. Made with 100% organic cotton and with fair trade principles in place, they are not only kind to your wallet at only £32 each, but also kind to the workers involved and kind to the planet. A percentage of profits from the shirts will go towards the EJF who "work internationally to end forced child labour and dangerous pesticides in cotton production." Where else would you be able to get a great designer t-shirt for that price, and help support a fantastic charity at the same time?! Click here to get your very own EJF t-shirt.

Continue reading

Oxfam has been playing dressup with some fabulous fashion icons from the world of stage song and screen in a bid to hammer home the message that longevity is what makes an item of clothing truly desirable. It's a message that seems to be resonating not only with greens but with cash-strapped clothing addicts in all quarters at the moment, as the wisdom of having frequent, less expensive splurges on clothing you may never wear is finally called into question. God bless the credit crunch!

Jaime Winstone commented: "I love shopping at Oxfam because of the consistent originality and diversity of the clothes that they sell; the fact that no two pieces are the same allows me to create a really individual look"

Related: Oxfam's new look is 'bang on trend' | Charity shops need your help as donations drop

Sculptural, innovative and eccentric are all words I could apply to the work of rising star Ada Zanditon, who is currently leading the way in ethical haute couture. After causing a stir with her graduate collection and Emergence collection for S/S '09, Zanditon has just launched her A/W range to much acclaim.

The winter collection has all the trademark features of Zanditon's work: exaggerated silhouettes and extreme, hourglass curves, but in place of the linens and shimmery fabrics of the summer pieces, she has gone in for heavy Scottish wools, alpaca and silk. All of these materials are sourced in the UK, and an inspiration for the collection is Celtic spirituality.

Related: LFW: Julia Smith A/W 2009 Vauxhall Fashion Scout | Eco-chic labels for 2009: EDUN

When I was over at Estethica last week, I was excited to find out that People Tree has joined forces with my all-time favourite design collective Eley Kishimoto, to produce a capsule collection of garments for Autumn/Winter 09.

So far, all I've seen are a few selected pieces from the collection, which includes the extremely cute, puff-sleeved tunic printed with a neat example of EK's trademark bright patterns. It's always good to see People Tree pushing the boundaries of fairtrade fashion with their designer collaborations, and I have an inking this may be the best yet.

Related: Bora Asku designs collection for People Tree | Summer dresses: Thakoon for People Tree

The great and the good of the eco world were out proving that greens know how to have fun last night, when Estethica threw its London Fashion Week party at the West End's Molton House.

With a bevy of celebs on board including model Jade Parfitt, The Feeling, Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran and Mathew Horne from 'Gavin & Stacey', the party was a fitting celebration of all that Estethica has achieved in its six seasons at LFW. For more images and info on the event, check out GreenMyStyle's photo gallery.

Related: Ethical designers shine at London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week kicked off with two ethical catwalk shows on Friday, and I caught one of them: the Autumn/Winter '09 collection by eclectic, eco designer Julia Smith.

Smith's inspiration for the show, 'Mrs. White' was an eccentric old woman that she would often encounter in her student days while wandering the streets of South London. But there were certainly no 'Streatham facelifts' to be seen in this shoulder pad-clad and big haired, 80s-inspired show: Smith's trademark masculine tailoring was offset by more quirky embellishments, while a new direction for the designer was provided by figure-enhancing heavy silk and satin dresses.

Follow the jump for more on Julia Smith's collection

As a proud owner of a pair of Beyond Skin 'Hazel' shoes (pictured left) I can personally attest to their comfort, quality and out-and-out stylishness that always gets an envious comment on a given outing, even from members of the well-heeled crowd at London Fashion Week. These are beautiful and ethical shoes that will change your life, and because no animals were harmed in their making, they're improving non-human lives, too.

Find out how to win a pair over the jump

Related: GALLERY: Best eco-chic footwear of 2008 | Beyond Skin: beautiful, stylish ethical footwear