Handmade in the High Andes and Himalayas, these top quality handmade knitted kids' wrist warmers are a cheery way to brighten up the winter gloom. Not only do their lovely colours and unusual designs exude a wonderful ‘joie de vivre’ but they also help to supplement the subsistence income of small farmers in Nepal and Ecuador who knit when the daily work is finished or slow. By supplying year round orders to the knitters they are assured regular and reliable income.
Reduced from £6.95 to £3.45 at Natural Collection
Kids love to be creative, so why not encourage their natural talents while teaching valuable lessons on helping the planet?
Eco Art: Earth-Friendly Art and Craft Experiences by Laurie Carlson is packed with crafty projects for 3-To 9-Year-Olds, all using sustainable methods that children will be able to put to use in other areas of life. Materials include natural items such as twigs and pebbles, and moves on to recycled products like plastic bottles, which also means no expensive shopping for new ones! A great starter book for crafting with your kids. £6.95 at Tarquin Books
The edging on the pillowcase makes a wonderful hemline for this sweet re-fashioned girls' smock.
It's just one of a wide range of innovative clothing for toddlers, children and adults at Witherine's shop. These adorable garments are hand-made out of vintage napkins and dishcloths, tablecloths, pillowcases and scarves. All items are in pristine condition and unique. A great way to recycle, sold at great prices.
If you're inspired by the pillowcase dress and would like to make your own, there's a great pattern for one at Red Instead.
ReForm School is my latest eco-discovery, and has one of those captivating sites that could quite easily eat a morning...Selling everything from toys to crockery to clothing, all you'll find here is recycled or re-claimed, and spruced up with the appliance of some really strong design talent.
Their recycled wood treehouse is particularly impressive, and would make a good home for dolls, toy furniture, small rodents or any other knick-knacks you'd care to put in it. It's crafted from recycled European cherry and elder wood. There's also some original art made from re-claimed materials, posters and prints to check out.
With the likes of Lily Allen, J-Lo, Christina Aguilera and Nicole Ritchie all currently 'with child', babywear is set to get a whole lot cooler. We've picked out a few select items that will make your baby the cutest kid on the block -- and all of them are ethically made and from eco-friendly, organic fabrics. Clockwise from top left:
1. 'Big Bird' tee from eight3one
2. Organic Savannah Lion tee-shirt from Belle & Dean
3. Kimono from Go Natural Baby's Zah Collection.
4. Fairtrade, organic kids' pyjamas from Makes a Change.
5. 'Bow Belle' dungies from Cut4Cloth
There's no denying that vintage clothes shopping for adults has become super-glam, but you don't hear much about second hand gear for kids. All this could be about to change as a stylish new store called Loop in Ealing, West London, has opened its doors with all sorts of high quality, pre-owned gear for kids inside.
The shop owners buy direct from parents to ensure items are in good condition, and favour well-known brands like Mamas & Papas, Boden, Gap Kids and Osh Kosh. You might even dig out a designer piece by Ralph Lauren for your little one if you've got an eye for quality.
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This adorable baby tee with 'prickly little hedgehog' design is just one of many charming organic pieces from UK-based website Belle and Dean.
Here, you'll find nothing but the softest, natural unbleached fabrics, printed with water-based inks - a great place for kitting out your baby's first wardrobe. Made specially for newborns, there's a range of baby grows featuring this design and many more. And for toddlers, there's a range of bigger tees. If you like the designs so much you want them all for yourself, there's a "bigger people" range for Mums and Dads.
[Via Treehugger]
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