Fair Trade Fortnight - Day 13

Today has been a 'blobbing around at home' day, so I have worn People Tree jumper and leggings, cosy Greenfibres socks with Soul of Africa boots, topped with a charity-shop find: an Edwardian silk slip worn as a dress. Not fair trade - but surely sustainable when it must have lasted over 100 years!














Some of the construction is clearly machine sewn, but I wonder if it was taken in as the tiny french seams at the sides are clearly sewn by hand - machines don't do running stitch! I think the edgings might be hand sewn too as it looks like blanket stitch, so may be the other embroidery is too - it is just exquisite. Beautiful to wear against the skin in summer, and so pretty worn this way in winter too, as it's a shame to hide it away for more than half the year!

Fair Trade Fortnight - Day 11

A different company to include today: Along with People Tree black leggings and overskirt, Elvis and Kresse belt, Soul of Africa boots and an asymmetric necklace in just the right colours, I am wearing a waistcoat by Aarong, This ethical brand began in 1978 as a means to empower rural artisans to rise above poverty. Today it supports over 65,000 artisans and has 15 retail stores across Bangladesh.

Close-up of embroidery

The lovely hand embroidery is a piece of Nakshi Kantha, a traditional rural craft. While each kantha (the word for a light quilt, originally made from sewing together layers of used and worn fabric such as saris) has designs that are unique to its maker's imagination, usually there is a basic traditional pattern. Common motifs include lotus, sun, moon, tree of life, fish and animals such as elephants, tigers or peacocks.

Aarong have some beautiful embroidered silk saris on their website - but it doesn't look as though they ship as far as here, sadly, as the prices look incredibly reasonable to UK eyes.