The endless summer days we’ve had this year have filled me with such joy. But it has meant my summer wardrobe has had to work a lot harder than usual. And we’re now at that tricky trans seasonal stage where you’ve run out of ideas of how to style your summer wardrobe, but you don’t quite want to bring out the boots and jumpers just yet. So rather than splurg in the sales, I’ve added a few new ethical accessories to my wardrobe. Items that will instantly update a look and have longevity beyond August.
The Jute Bag
This handmade macrame jute bag is incredibly versatile and strong. Recently I’ve used it in so many ways, a beach bag on holiday, swimming lessons with the kids and even a grocery bag. It’s so handy because it folds up small, so it’s great for stuffing into a suitcase or squishing underneath the buggy with the rest of my family’s clobber. You can buy it from ethical online boutique The Small Home. To keep my valuables safe inside it I’ve been using this pastel geometric jacquard clutch from Dilli Grey. It has a handmade seashell and tassel detail.
Ethical how? Made by a Fairtrade, social enterprise that aims to provide marginalised people in Bangladesh with a fair wage.
The Statement Earings
When I’m wearing the same dress for a third day in a row(!) I like to have some accessories to jazz it up. These hot pink tassel earings from Dilli Grey have been my favourite. I’ve particularly loved wearing them with a bright red jumper to add a little colour clash.
Ethical how? Handmade in India by artisans in Jaipur.
The Shoes
My feet are always the last thing to submit to the inevitable season change. And these Mohinders city slipper shoe will work equally well with jeans and a jumper as they will with a dress in the sunshine. They’re made from water buffalo leather, which has been vegetable tanned by small run family tanners in India. From an enviromental perspective this makes the leather more eco-friendly than most. Leather today is often chrome tanned which makes it non bio-degradable and the chromium waste, if badly managed, ends up polluting rivers and water sources.
Ethical how? Handmade by highly skilled, fairly compensated artisans in rural India who have been making this type of shoe for generations.
The Statement Hat
Let’s face it, if you’re wearing a good hat no one notices your clothing. This hat was a gift from my friend Antonia who runs the a lifestyle boutique Tinker Taylor a lifestyle store in Bushy Park. Unsurprisingly the hat is sold out, but it is always worth having a little look at her online boutique. Though not all items are specifically “ethical” she curates products from small independent brands, and has a lovely range of homewares and accessories, including soy wax candles and organic soaps.
The Face Cream
With two kids to look after full time this summer holiday, I’ve abandoned my usual skincare routine and opted for something quick and easy. Instead I’ve been using one product, Green People’s Age Defy Tinted Moisturiser*. It’s got a SPF 15 protection to block out harmful UVA and UVB rays, is a lightweight moisturiser and gives good coverage hiding pimples and uneven skin. Sea Fennel acts to brighten and firm the skin. Personally it works really well with my skin, however if you have particularly dry skin you might want use a serum or more intensive moisturiser underneath.
Shop The Edit
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Jute Bag | The Small Home (sold out in this colour but others available)
Pastel geometric jacquard clutch | Dilli Grey
Hot pink tassel earings | Dilli Grey
Mohinders city slipper shoe | The Small Home
Age Defy Tinted Moisturiser* | Green People
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wonderful new items. I was especially interested with the shoes. Buffalo leather is not very common, is it still a meat byproduct?
Author
Thank you Lil, and thanks for your great question. The brand Mohinder are quite open about the fact that they currently don’t have all the answers about their leather. They know they are buying leather that has been produced by hand in rural small-scale tanneries in India. In January 2017 they visited a small village to meet with a group of leather-producing families to find out as much as they could. But one question they are still seeking to establish is whether the water buffalos are slaughtered for their hides only or are a meat by product. As you can see supply chains are deeply complex. If you’d like to read more about the leather then here is a link to their website https://mohinders.com/pages/mohinders-leather. Thanks again Karen x