Posh Swaps Blog

Organic cotton is grown with out the use of chemical pesticides and is usually certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard).  The growth of conventional cotton uses a large amount of chemical pesticides and farmers involved in it growth can become trapped in a circle of poverty as pests become more resistant and the cost of agro chemicals grows. There are also many other ethical and environmental issues surrounding the growth of conventional cotton including the use of enforced child labour during the harvest in Uzbekistan and the shrinking of the Aral sea partly due to cotton irrigation.

Organic cotton clothing offers a solution to many of these issues and by buying organic cotton clothing consumers can help to minimise their impact on the environment. The ethical fashion industry is gathering speed and growing fast and it now much easier to buy a wide range of fashion dress made from certified organic cotton, you can even often find organic alternatives in your local jeans shop.

Here are 5 great reasons why it is well worth making the effort to choose organic cotton over conventional cotton for your clothing.

• Organic cotton clothing is natural and soft to wear. You can be absolutely sure that it is free of chemicals that could potentially be carcinogenic, toxic or allergenic. It is often recommended to choose organic cotton clothing for children and adults with eczema, because it is hypo allergenic.
• Organic cotton is farmed naturally and without the use of genetically modified species. This promotes a healthier farm and environment.
• No harmful chemicals are used in the manufacture of organic textiles making them better for the local wildlife and people.
• Organic farming offers farmers a more sustainable livelihood and helps them to break out of the cycle of poverty, needing to buy more and more agro chemicals to obtain the same yield as pests become resistant. The genetically modified seeds and pesticides used in conventional cotton production are controlled by just a few large agro chemical companies and have left many farmers in debt. Organic cotton offers a more sustainable alternative with a minimum price for organic cotton guaranteed. The cost of growing organic cotton declines over time as the ecosystem regains its balance.
• Organic cotton is also obtained from known sources so you can be sure that it has been harvested by forced child labour in Uzbekistan.

Ethical shoes are comfortable and made to last. They are also usually made from natural materials which will keep your feet cool and allow them to breathe. That said just because you don’t want to compromise on comfort or sustainability, it doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on style. These days eco friendly shoes are made from a variety of materials including vegetable tanned leather, cork and hemp. They are often stitched rather than glued and many have natural rubber or recycled soles. All of these features are cleverly incorporated into the design of the shoes so they look great!

If you have never bought ethically manufactured shoes before, the sales is a great time to give them a try. Spartoo have a fantastic sale on with many of their ethical brands including Pikolinos and Dream in Green reduced by up to 50%.

Anapurna by Dream in Green

Makalup by Dream in Green

Delos Shoes by Dream in Green

Betty Print Sandals by Terra Plana

Sandals by Pikolinos

Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog is holding another ethical fashion outfit competition for fashion bloggers. I the last few competitions are anything to go by there is likley to be some great entries with stylish outfits made from vintage, second hand and ethical fashion pieces. Anyone with a blog and a twitter account can enter by taking a photograph of themsleves wearing someting stylish and ethical. There is no need to go out and buy anything to enter this competition charity shop, borrowed and even swapped clothes all count as ethical as they have less of an environmental impact than buying new.

The prizes which are worth over £250 in total include an outfit by From Clothing, an ethical fashion brand based in Devon, a skirt by Bibico, a label known for its contemporary ethical fashion and Grassroots Fashion, a fresh company offering upcycled and recycled fashion.

Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog is a personal style blog with a strong emphasis on sustainability. It features a variety of posts on charity shop, vintage clothes and ethical fashion brands.

You can now be eco friendly and also Shop the latest trends online from evening dresses to jeans and just about everything in between. There are some fantastic online magazines including Daisy Green, which are helping to educate and inform us on how we can look stylish and also look after the environment.

One of our favourite ethical brands at the moment is Kuyichi. They have a fantastic selection of classic and contemporay jeans that will never go out of fashion. Jeans are generally quite a sustainable choice especially if you buy them from an eco friendly retailer like Kuyichi. They last for ages and are generally a piece of clothing that most of us will get loads of wear from. You can check out our post on the history of jeans here.

As pioneers of sustainable fashion, Kuyichi were one of the first brands to introduce organic jeans. Now they continue to make their much loved jeans but also continue to innovate with new styles and sustainable textiles. Most of their collections are made of organic or recycled fibres.

The Kuyichi brands is all about style with a soul. The brand is fresh and contemporary but also true its roots. It makes beautiful and stylish clothes with respect for both people and the planet. The label is all about being relaxed and enjoying life but they do not believe that this enjoyment should cause suffering to others.

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.

A good  pair of boots are a real investment that you can keep and wear for years. If you choose a classic style that are high quality well made they will go with a multitude of different outfits, always look stylish and never go out of fashion. The sales are a great time to invest in a great pair of eco friendly shoes or boots that are not only incredibly comfortable but also made with respect to the environment. Spartoo have a fabulous sale on at the moment with boots by some great eco friendly brands at amazing prices. Here are just a few of out favourites.

These ankle boots by Pikolinos would look equally good with a trouser suit for work or a pair of jeans on the weekend. The wedge heel is a great way to add some height without making them difficult to walk in. You can be sure that these shoes will be top quality as they are made using artisan techniques.

These versatile boots by Dream in Green can be worn to dress down a pretty floral dress or with leggings or skinny jeans for a Rock and Roll look. They are made with vegetable tanned leather which is kinder to the environment than conventional leather.

These cosy boots by Think would look great with a casual skirt and thick tights for the weekend. They are made from 100% natural materials and a completely handmade manufacturing process.

Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog is celebrating its fourth anniversary with an exciting competition for fashion bloggers. The competition has prizes worth over £300 including £100 vouchers to spend at Spartoo shoes, a £50 voucher for People Tree and a pair of handmade earrings.

The aim of the competition is to get fashion bloggers thinking about ethical fashion by creating an outfit that contains at least one piece of ethical fashion including vintage, charity shop and upcycled clothing and accessories. It is open to all UK Fashion Bloggers with a Twitter account and the closing date is 28th November. You can find out more about the prizes and how to enter over at Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog.

Ceri Heathcote of Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog has also just created a new group called Ethical Fashion Bloggers, that will provide a platform for bloggers to network with other bloggers that have an interest in ethical fashion, promote  their blogs and work with ethical brands. It is not just for those that only blog about ethical fashion, it is for anyone with an interest. Bloggers can find out more and join the group here. Ethical Fashion Brands can keep up with what the group is doing by signing up to their newsletter here.

Havaianas women’s sandals have stood for style, comfort, affordable luxury, and positive energy for over 45 years. Inspired by the traditional Japanese sandal with fabric straps and rice-straw soles, Havaianas is known for their eye-catching sandals since 1962, with their signature logo-emblazoned thin strap and foot-beds with a textured rice pattern.

Featured styles include our slim line of women’s sandals for the ladies whose feet run just a bit more petite, and our Conservation International Line, which donates 7% of sales of these nature-patterned flip flops to social environmental projects in the Brazilian shoreline. The Havaianas Bridal Collection of women’s sandals in delicate pastels and jeweled straps. And whether we’re offering fun options like glow-in-the-dark flip flops, metallic burnishings or the chance to customize your own pair of women’s sandals, you’re sure to feel at home in any pair you choose.

You’ll also feel comforted knowing that Havaianas is doing their part to help conserve the environment, with their support of Conservation International and The Institute for International Research, a non-government organization in Brazil dedicated to promoting science, education and sustainable business. And Havaianas employs environmental sustainability methods, such as electricity and water consumption, residue recycling and environmental conservation training for employees right in their own factory.

Havaianas are always in season. Visit us.havaianas.com to get started on finding the perfect pair today.

If you spend all day on your feet or walk a long way, comfort is likely to be pretty high on your priority list when it comes to choosing shoes.

Po-Zu shoes have also put a very high priority on your comfort when designing shoes, along with caring for the environment and ethical manufacture. As if this wasn’t already the makings of a great shoe, they have also added in a healthy dose of quirky style. These shoes are perfect for those who want to stand (comfortably) apart from the crowd and make a statement with their shoes. 

The styles are also smart, feminine and versatile so you can be sure to get plenty of wear  out of them. Po-Zu shoes are made from completely natural materials and have an amazing foot mattress made from coconut fibres which moulds to the bottom of your feet.

These beautifully made Hop sandals are not only perfect for the end of this summer, but will last for many summers to come. When you no longer want them, you can bury them in the ground to biodegrade.

For the autumn and winter you can keep your feet super warm and comfy in these Pep sheepskin boots.

These Lola shoes are perfect for everyday wear- they go with everything. We love the cork detail.