Equa boutique: Ethical Autumn fashion and last minute bargains

I am determined to get some last minute sales shopping in as we enter the Autumn/Winter 2007 season. With that in mind I ventured onto Equa boutique’s website and not only have they got some fab new fashions in for the chilly seasons but some great sale offers. Here is a small selection of my favourite items (sale and non-sale). Black is back and hides a multitude of sins, so if you are not a fan of this colour, I apologise for the selection!

Equa sell a range of organic (Soil Association or SKAL certified), fairly traded, fairtrade (Fairtrade Foundation certified), environmentally friendly (using azo-free dyes), UK made (supporting the UK fashion industry and the reduction of greenhouse gases from all those travel miles), recycled (reducing landfill pressure), vegan and hemp (preventing the reliance on heavily irrigated cotton) clothing and accessories. The ethical credentials of products are identified with easy symbols so you know what you are getting.

1) Ciel Striped Tee, cut from £45 to £20, organic and fairly traded.
2) Matt & Nat Vicious, £90, fairly traded and vegan.
3) Edun Sage Dole Skin Trousers in Black, £130, fairly traded.
4) Edun Chandelier Tee, £42.
5) Wildlife Works New Grandpa, cut from £56 to £40, organic and fairly traded.
6) Stewart + Brown Cinch Skirt, cut from £52 to £45, organic and fairly traded.

Summer nights - ethical dresses for the evening

Finding an ethical dress to wear for a night out might seem a bit more challenging than finding daywear, but here to the rescue, as ever, I have managed to source a selection of beautiful ethical dresses that can be worn in the daytime or the evening. Three of them are made from 100% organic cotton, which is fantastic, because the growing of regular cotton uses 25% of all insecticides and almost $3 billion worth of pesticides every single year. Between 1 million and 5 million pesticide poisonings take place every year, leading to 20,000 reported deaths among agricultural workers (Environmental Justice Foundation). Pesticides also contaminate rivers around the world. Organic cotton uses natural pesticides (such as a mixture of chilli, garlic and soap), is handpicked and often rain fed, which is a much more environmentally friendly option.

The other three dresses use alternative fabrics, preventing the reliance on cotton, which uses up precious water resources - six pints of water are required to produce one cotton bud. Global cotton consumption has been estimated to be responsible for 2.6 per cent of the world's water use (EJF). Bamboo (used in the Ecoganik dress) is a fast growing grass that is organically grown. It is also antibacterial and antifungal. The Debbi Little Parachute dress is made from recycled parachutes, so prevents wastage and the Enamore dress incorporates innovative fabrics such as hemp and tencel.

Now all you have to do is choose which ones to go for!

1) Katherine Hamnett Cynthia Dress, 100% organic cotton, £239.99, Katherine Hamnett.
2) Camilla Norrback Moa Dress, creme, 100% organic cotton, 1275 kr, Mint and Vintage.
3) Ecoganik Bamboo Amy Kimono Dress in Paradise, 95% bamboo, 5% spandex, Couture Candy.
4) Debbi Little Parachute Dress, made from 1950s parachutes, £240, Equa Clothing.
5) Ciel Sophia Dress, 100% organic cotton, £162, My Wardrobe.
6) Enamore Eva Dress in black with vintage detail, 55% hemp, 45% tencel and vintage, £150, Enamore.

Going for gold

Sparkly, shiny fashion is in. Metallic outfits can make you look like a Christmas turkey, waiting to be basted, or else you can end up looking like Bet Lynch or Marlene from Only Fools and Horses. I think it's better to stick to metallic accessories or perhaps a more tasteful, toned down metallic dress or top.

Ethical fashion is not behind the times and metallics have made their way into some ethical brands and accessories, so today I am going for gold! Below you will find a selection of gold fashion items and accessories to leave you looking stylish, tasteful and right on trend.

To start you off, on the left we have the Maxi handbag - Chardonnay by designer Sarah Donegan, handcrafted with vintage textiles and trims, sold by Green Apple for £140.

Amelia Shoe - made from distressed gold pleather with brogue detail - £45, Bourgeois Bohème.

Glam Gold Belt - with silver studs and large diamante detail - cut from £18 to £10, Bourgeois Bohème.

Fifi Bijoux Angel Pendant - made in the UK by Master Goldsmiths, using only ethically mined 9 carat gold and gemstones, no use of cyanide, mercury or arsenic - £164, Adili.

Velvet Scarf - Petrol/Chocolate/Sand - 40% Polyester, 50% Viscose and 10% Polyamide - £16.50, Bourgeois Bohème.

Kylie Gold - sequenced gold upper with cute bow detail - £38, Bourgeois Bohème.

From Somewhere Bell Shaped Skirt - made from reclaimed cotton, silk and linen - £150, Equa Clothing.