Fair Trade Fortnight - Day 8

Teaching today so required to be smart. Another Skunkfunk skirt with lovely asymmetric stitched panel, worn with a People Tree polo-neck jumper and Terra Plana shoes. I can't remember where the necklace came from but the ear-rings are hand made using Tibetan beads, purchased from a craft stall while visiting friends in Australia in January.

Skirt detail, stitched pattern

Fair Trade Fortnight - Day 2

Today's focus is a Skunkfunk skirt, worn with a Namaste pink blouse, a Nomads black longline cardigan and Patagonia boots.  Jewellery is via My Fair World again today as well.
I was very fortunate to get the boots in a sale - less call for size 2 maybe! Mostly an outdoor-wear brand, Patagonia's mission statement is Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. Rather than claiming to BE a responsible brand they describe themselves as  BECOMING one, realising it is an ongoing journey.
I first came across Skunkfunk when I purchased a dress in Shimto the dress agency in St Albans (see blog post 5/8/13) and was delighted to find out about their ethics when researching the company. They hold GOTS certification and have a strong commitment to sustainability as part of their corporate responsibility. Primarily based in Spain, I am even more delighted to have found a few of their interesting pieces available from time to time in England.

Dress Agencies

I was recently tempted into 'dress agency' Shimto in St Albans - I had avoided it previously thinking it would be designer prices, as the sign outside states that they sell your designer garments for you. However I was greatly surprised, and will visit again! Buying second-hand has to be better for the environment than the millions of tonnes of clothing that go into landfill each year, and I suspect a lot of designer stuff only gets worn a few times!                        










I picked up a lovely Skunkfunk dress for only £27.  The stripes are so flattering as they take the eye across the body and miss out the lumpy bits! It's shown here with my 'happy beads' brought from Cape Town by friends, that happen to pick out the colours in the (now) retro print.





I love the little details like the badge on the bottom and the leather label in the back neck.

And I was even more delighted when looking up Skunkfunk on the internet to discover that they are a very environmentally-friendly company with GOTS certification and a commitment to improving the social conditions in the factories which produce their collections. That's great when Topshop, Gap and Walmart are still failing to sign the Bangladesh Safety Accord following the Rana Plaza factory collapse in April in which over 1000 people died, and others including Matalan and Benetton are refusing to pay compensation to victims despite their garments being manufactured in the factory.

They are based in Spain, so I am looking forward to Skunkfunk opening a wider online store so we can actually buy their clothes in this country!