Posh Swaps Blog

This post was written by Ceri Heathcote of Ethical Fashion Blog.

A few weeks ago I went to The Good Fashion Show and was really excited to also be able to attend Swap in the City, a clothes swap party or swish. The clothes swap phenomena has really taken off since ’swishing’ was invented by  Futerra, the UK’s leading sustainability communications agency. If you are looking for a party to attend or would like to find out more about how to organise your own party, their website www.swishing.org has plenty of information.

Swap in the City was organised by Nicole of Total Renewal, who has a wealth of experience in organising swishing parties and  even has beauty therapists on hand to give treatments whilst you are waiting for the swapping to begin.

We were told to bring along up to 10 items of clothing either designer, vintage or high street. I took along 2 vintage, 2 designer and 2 high street pices and on handing them in at the beginning of the swap was given tickets with numbers on allowing me to pick corresponding items from the swap. The swap began with the ring of the bell and there was a rush of excitement and grabbing as everyone reached for the pieces of clothing that had caught their eye. I managed to grab some amazing pieces  and although it wasn’t all vintage and designer, I didn’t really mind as I loved it and will definitely wear it.

I would definitely recommend anyone to give a clothes swap party a try, it is fun, a fantastic way of refreshing your wardrobe and recycling any clothes that you do not wear. To be fair to your fellow swappers, the clothing that you take along should be in excellent condition and something that you are proud to pass on. You should also be completely happy to part with item of clothing as once it has been entered into the swap their is no going back!

Clothes swapping is a fantastic way to get some new clothes and get into ethical and sustainable fashion. So what do you think, would you like to give clothes swapping a try?

Finding the right sustainable footwear can be difficult, ethical shoes are often not quite as on trend as you might like. Simple shoes seems to have got the perfect balance between ecology, street style and comfort. Not only are they manufactured with the greatest of respect for both people and the planet using recycled and sustainable materials which include recycled inner tubes, bamboo, hemp and organic cotton. The brand has been going since 1991 and is definitely developing something of a following.

For this seasons double denim look, simply wear these Simple shoes with your favourites pair of ethical jeans!

 Simple Carnival Trainers are old school! perfect for men who like the retro look that is so on trend at the moment.

These colourful Aloha trainers look fantastic with just about any sporty or casual outfit. They even look great with shorts when the weather gets warm.

These E Benedict trainers are ideal for wearing with a relaxed outfit for the weekend. They are also super comfy should you decide that you want to get out and about.

Ethical fashion is one of those terms that seems to be bandied about all over the place but there doesn’t really seem to be any clear definition of what it is. The easiest way to discover it and see what you like and don’t like about it is to check out some of the amazing brands out there. Check out Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog for some great examples of ethical fashion.

I guess the reason the term ‘ethical fashion’ is so difficult to define is that ethics are very different for different people. For some ethical fashion is about environmental sustainability and preserving the environment for future generations, for others it is about ensuring that people working in the fashion industry are treated fairly and with respect and trying to use fashion it to alleviate poverty. It can also include treating animals with respect or vegan fashion that does not inlcude any animal products at all. Finally some also consider buying locally produced fashion the best option in terms of ethics as it cuts down on transportation , is easier to ensure fair treatment of workers and it supports the local economy.

Most people will look for a combination of the above when shopping ethically for clothing. Anything that encourages less consumption, better treatment people, animals and the environment, more sustainability and recycling, even in a small way, has to be a positive choice.

The variety and choice or ethical clothing is increasing all of the time and you know longer have to resign to looking boring, frumpy or hippyish if you want to dress ethically. Here are just a few ways that you can make your fashion more ethical.

Sustainable fashion

Generally sustainable fashion starts with the use of some sort of  sustainable material. This can include organic cotton, hemp, bamboo or Tencel, all of which are considered more sustainable choices than conventional cotton which is grown using lots of pesticides. There are also know innovative fabrics which use reclaimed materials including plastic bottles to make clothes. Recycling or upcycling is definitely on the  up in fashion. The process of making something new from something old, be it a vintage or second hand piece or factory offcuts, seems to stimulate some amazing creativity.

Fairtrade Fashion

Fairtrade is used to describe products that have been fairly traded with farmers in developing countries. There are now a growing number of fashion companies pioneering and developing their own Fairtrade programmes which not only make use of Fairtrade cotton but also local and traditional, artisan skills such as weaving, embroidery and beading. These schemes allow workers and communities to benefit from the profits made by the clothing. There are also a number of certifications that can be held by the factories which ensure fair treatment of workers.

Vintage and second hand fashion

One of the most sustainable ways of shopping has to be shopping for vintage and second hand clothing which has virtually no carbon footprint. There is a growing movement of people who buy there clothes in this way and look amazingly stylish on it.

When deciding which ethical fashion to buy, greenwashing can be a problem. There are many companies who call themselves ethical but with little in the way of ethical credentials. The easiest way to ensure that you are shopping ethically is to look for companies who have strong ethics and practice sustainability in everything that they do.

Some ethical fashion brands also support charities by donating a percentage of their profits or turnover each month.

Image - organic cotton dress by Jackpot on Fashion Conscience.