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Eco-fashion is constantly evolving and it would seem that it is finally on the cusp of something phenomenal that will hopefully move ethical fashion from the periphery to the mainstream in the longterm. Ecoganik has been plugging away for ten years in the contemporary organic fashion movement, attempting to make headway. With a new creative director, Genevieve Cruz on board and a re-modelled marketing campaign, Ecoganik are gracing the pages of prestigious publications such as In Style, WWD, Lucky Magazine, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and the New York Times. Ecoganik are experts at catering for the eco-conscious consumer and Genevieve Cruz is now looking towards fashionistas who are keen to be more earth conscius, without compromising their sense of style. Each piece designed by Cruz is wearable, comfortable and relatively inexpensive, ranging from $63 for a tank to $250 for a dress. I am hoping that ethical fashion is going to become ever more innovative and a social norm. With labels like Ecoganik injecting effortless style into earth conscious attire, the dream seems ever more possible by the hour.
What do they do? Adili is an online ethical store selling a range of Fair Trade, fairly traded, recycled, organic and other ethical womenswear, menswear, accessories, footwear, babies and children's clothing, household items, skincare and gifts, produced by a range of ethical labels.
What are they about?
Adili is the Swahili word for 'ethical and just,' which is what Adili stand for, believing that fashionable clothing can be made without causing unnecessary harm to people or the planet. Adili showcases the pioneering brands who have demonstrated that trade can be conducted in a fairer manner, without exploiting people along the supply chain. With this in mind, Adili has created a framework for each brand to be evaluated against, before they can be adopted as a supplier. Each supplier must demonstrate against a set criteria how they are ensuring the ethical and just nature of their production processes.
Who is behind Adili?
Adam Smith is the CEO of Adili, with 14 years experience in the retail sector. He has undertaken various roles throughout his career, including Director of Operations for sit-up Ltd and eCommerce Development Director at Dixons. Adam has experience of setting up supply chains from the Far East and Indian sub-continent and a personal empathy with the values of Adili.com.
Quentin Griffiths is the Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of ASOS. His background is in marketing.
Christopher Powles in a Non-Executive Director, who combines his experience of financing small unquoted companies with a long standing interest in the environment and developing world. Christopher was born in Africa and has been involved in conservation and ethical projects for a number of years.
Claire Lissaman is a consultant on ethical and fair trade, having formerly been the UK director for RUGMARK, a certification, labelling and development initiative working to end exploited child labour in South Asia's rug industry.
What criteria do Adili use to ensure that items are ethical?
Adili has a set definition of fair trade, which includes, "a trading partnership based on trasparency, dialogue and respect that seeks greater equity in international trade," amongst other things. Some brands carry a certification label such as those issued by IFAT (International Fair Trade Association) and the Fairtrade Foundation. Adili uses the word fairly traded to denote brands that are working within their set definition, but do not yet have formal certification.
Adili recognises organic certifiers who are members of The International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM), including: The Soil Association, Skal, IMO and AGRECO. Adili uses the term organic to denote products that are crafted from organic fibres but are not currently certified.
Adili also sells locally sourced products (which supports local businesses, promotes traditional skills and helps to combat carbon emissions from shipping clothes all other the world) and sells products that use alternative and recycled fibres (which prevents wastage, as millions of textiles are binned each year and avoids the reliance on cotton, a crop which accounts for billions of dollars worth of pesticide use every year and consumes vast amounts of precious water).
For further information on Adili's ethical framework, check out Adili.com.
Hot picks?
I thought you'd never ask, the Ciel Sophia Dress, for £185, made from certified organic cotton, the fairly traded Kuyichi Harpoon Print Top, for £40, made from 50% cotton and 50% polyester, the fairly traded Kuyichi White Denim Jeans, for £78, the Fifi Bijoux Ardent Pendant, for £205, made from ethically mined gold and gemstones, without the use of cyanide, arsenic or mercury and all the Spiezia beauty products, because I think Spiezia are fantastic! 
Sexy and ethical are not traditionally synonymous, but times are changing and Kelly B Couture has proven that ethical fashion can be as sassy and chic as the mainstream fashion industry, without the dubious environmental and production processes. Kelly B Couture is the invention of San Francisco based designer, Kelly Barry, whose love for fashion and design stretches back to her youth, when she was permanently attached to the family sewing machine.
Kelly spent three years at CCAC (The California College of Arts and Crafts) and upon graduation she entered a career as a production manager and designer for a supplier of organic cotton garments and fabric. This experience led to her establishing the environmentally friendly and highly fashionable Kelly B Couture. Her passion is to create comfortable and unique clothing for the conscious consumer. In real terms this means utilising organic and other natural fibres and ensuring fair labour practises in the production of garments. Kelly’s first organic cotton line debuted in spring 2006 and her current spring collection is colourful, urban, sassy and sexy and all this down to a girl with moxie.
For UK shoppers, online ethical store BTC elements sell Kelly B Couture and ship to the UK.
[via Hippyshopper]
Ethical fashion might have only hit the headlines in the UK more recently but Finnish designer Camilla Norrback has been incorporating organic fabrics into her collections since 2002. Camilla effortlessly combines eco-principles with inspired contemporary and aesthetically pleasing chic design, that screams "Wear me!" rather than "I'm a hippy!" Her ecoluxury collections prove that ethically sourced materials that are not harmful to people or the planet, can be of incredibly high quality and exceedingly luxurious. Her spring/summer 2007 range has sense of 1970s nostalgia, elegance and glamour and Camillas' autumn/winter 2007 collection is inspired by female pioneers throughout the ages, where, "old meets new in shapes and colours, female meets male." The garments are classic, with rich muted colours and intricate structures. The theme for the autumn/winter season is visions, working towards new goals and evolving in harmony with others.
Dawn Mellowship delves deeper into the inspiration behind Camilla Norrback's fashion statements and passion for eco-fashion, taking the opportunity to talk to the lady behind ecoluxury.
What is your background in fashion?
“I started sewing when I was twelve years old, and immediately fell in love! I got my first sewing machine when I turned thirteen. And since then I have created my own clothes, and in a way this is just continue my childhood dream.”
How and why did you become interested in ethical fashion?
“The deeper questions in life have always been important to me. In my work, I strive to contribute to the world in the best way I can. Also, having grown up in a small town in Finland close to nature, I have learned to the importance of taking care of our environment. Our lifestyle has a great impact today.”
How did your ecoluxury range come about?
"Actually, when I first started using organic fabrics in 2002, the environment wasn’t so 'hot' in the fashion press, so I sort of toned down the ecological parts of my work. My brand had a little bit of an identity crisis in 2003 and 2004, but as I was working on my autumn/winter 2006 collection I came up with the word ecoluxury. Suddenly everything fell in to place. I feel that it corresponds so well to my work and that people really appreciate what I’m doing both in way of designs and in the way I work."
What does 'ecoluxury' mean to you?
“It means not compromising with the design or the way of doing business, that people are most important, including those who produce the fabric and garments as well as the wearer. I strive to do my best in both senses – I need to fulfil my artistic needs, but not at the expense of other people.”
Are your products certified as ethical and what quantity of the fabrics is ethical?
“I work with three types of certification regarding fabrics, organic (which I of course prefer), Oeko-Tex certified fabrics, and finally product controlled fabrics. I have personally visited the factories we work with to see how they work and to ensure that their standards are high. For me it’s important having a close relationship with everyone involved in the process of making a Camilla Norrback garment.” What sort of fabrics do you use? “I love all-natural fibres like cotton, wool, silk and linen. We mainly use organic fabrics such as organic cotton and wool, and Oeko-certified fabrics where we are unable to get organic. Silk usually falls in the third category, product-controlled. This means we get as much information as possible about the fabric, how it has been dyed, worker conditions etc. If we can’t find a fabric with any of those three certifications, we always chose the next best choice, such as a fabric that has been locally manufactured or a material with an historical background such as the Harris Tweed we are using in our coats this season." What are you aiming for with your summer ‘07 and winter ’07 collections? “To give people collections filled with great design and as much organic luxurious materials as possible!” Where do you get the inspiration from for your designs? “Mainly from the fabrics themselves. But also from movies, music and what is going on in society in general.” 
What are your three favourite pieces from your spring/summer ’07 collection? “Oh that’s hard to say… but I would go for the lace dress Moa in organic cotton, the silk balloon dress and the jeans in organic cotton with bow pockets.”
Who is your favourite fashion designer and why?
“I would have to say that I liked Phoebe Philo’s work for Chloe, Burberry and Prada.”
Do you have any favourite ethical labels, if so who are they are why do you like them?
“I like the philosophy behind Edun. They are really trying to change the fashion industry.”
Where do you go from here?
“I want to continue my work, making more clothes produced in a good way from the best materials. I really want to change the fashion industry and make it more human and caring! Not least, I will of course continue developing my collections and my design!”
Yesterday, ethical brand People Tree launched a summer sale, offering up to 75% off of a whole range of items. People Tree is a pioneer in the ethical and Fair Trade fashion arena. They have a Fair Trade policy, to pay producers a fair price and aid some of the world's poorest communites and an eco-policy, to promote natural and organic cotton farming, avoid damaging chemicals, protect water and forest supplies and use natural and biodegradable substances where possible. People Tree is a registered member of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), which stipulates ten standards that Fair Trade organisations are required to follow and the brand works with 50 Fair Trade groups in 15 developing countries, helping the world's most marginalised communities use Fair Trade to avoid the poverty trap. Their designs are stocked in over 30 Fair Trade and independent shops around the United Kingdom, in Topshop's flagship store in Oxford Street, London, as well as being distributed to a range of other countries.
Here are a few of my favourite bargains!
1) Delia Summer Dress, cut from £38 to £19 - 100% organic Fair Trade cotton.
2) Greek Tunic Top, cut from £28 to £21 - 100% organic Fair Trade cotton.
3) Emma Embroidered Blouse, cut from £36 to £9 - 100% Fair Trade cotton.
4) Amazon Leaf-Print Skirt, cut from £45 to £36 - 100% organic Fair Trade cotton.
5) Three-Quarter-Length-Trousers, cut from £45 to £22.50 - Fair Trade cotton. 6) Jute Safari Bag, cut from £18 to £13.50 - Fair Trade.
Ethical fashion is picking up pace and more of us are realising the impact of the mainstream fashion industry on our increasingly fragile environment. Billions of dollars worth of pesticides are sprayed on cotton crops every year, polluting the environment and harming producers all over the world. Forty million garment and textile workers worldwide are subject to poor working conditions, low pay, forced overtime, unsafe working environments, to name but few of the problems these individuals face. The ethical fashion industry is demonstrating to us that it is more than capable of producing stylish garments with a conscience. One of the brands that are embracing this vision is the California based Ecoganik, providing “a fusion of fashion and eco consciousness.” Ecoganik is a member of the Organic Trade Association, the OTA Fiber Council Committee and Co-op America Business Network and they only use certified organic and eco-friendly materials in their clothing and accessories, free from harmful pesticides and chemicals. To colour their garments they use low impact dyes, free of metal and mordant substances.
Ecoganik make the most of alternative fibres such as eco fiber – a recycled cotton fabric, tencel – a 100% biodegradable silky fabric made of the cellulose extracted from trees, using a non-toxic process and hemp – a crop that is naturally antibacterial and resistant to insects and pests (thus it can be grown without the use of pesticides).
Ecoganik’s ranges are affordable and incredibly attractive. Here are a few of my favourite pieces. You can find all these pieces online at Couture Candy.
1) Bamboo Dress with Lace in Sky, $129 – 92% bamboo, 7% spandex.
2) Long Stripe Dress in Blue and White, $150 – 62% polyester, 19% cotton, 19% modal.
3) Organic Tissue Earth Tank in Chamomile, $63 – 100% organic cotton.
4) French Terry Short in Tulip, $85 – 100% organic cotton.
5) Jersey Elastic Waist Mala Pant in Eggplant, $105 – 100% organic cotton. 
[via Hippyshopper]
Summer means sales and not just for mainstream fashion, but for ethical fashion too! A study carried out by Doorone.co.uk, of 1,152 UK adults, aged 16+, discovered that 67% of those questioned felt that ethical products are too expensive. So, now's your chance to make the most of the sales and grab some great ethical fashion buys. You don't have to go mad, but by slowly building up an ethical collection a bit at a time, you will eventually find that you have a whole wardrobe full of ethical garments. There is no need to throw your old wardrobe out (that will cause more waste), instead give anything you don't want to a charity organisation like Oxfam or the British Heart Foundation, exchange some items on Uk.freecycle.org or take them to a recycling bank. Check out Recyclenow.com for your one in your locality.
Back to the sales, here are just a selection of the bargains you can find out there.
1) Ecoganik Kimono Tissue Top, cut from $68 to $47.60 - 100% organic cotton, BTC Elements.
2) Ecoganik Laurel Long Tie Side Thermal, cut from $62 to $37.20 - 100% organic cotton, BTC Elements.
3) Edun Crochet Tank, cut from $154 to $92 - 100% organic cotton, Coco's Shoppe.
4) Stewart + Brown Organic Cotton Cinch Skirt, cut from $80 to $48 - 100% organic cotton, Coco's Shoppe.
5) Kuyichi It's All About Me T, cut from £35 to £23 - fairly traded, Adili.
6) Beyond Skin Suzy Pointed Toe Stiletto Court Shoes, cut from £165 to £94 - black faux leather, The Natural Store. 
If you are feeling frilly this summer, in line with the New Romantic trend, I suggest you venture online and make a few purchases from Pardess. Pardess make some beautiful ethical clothes that are both wearable and stylish.
Every garment by Pardess is hand made by Mimi Rogers and the “Elite” Collection offers couture design for wedding dresses and evening wear. Garments are made from internationally certified organic materials, packaging is made from recycled tissue paper and card and printing is from soil-association approved organic printers.
Pardess was established after Mimi Rogers had a conversation with friends who shared her passion about fashion that would leave an ethical footprint. They didn’t see why we should have to choose substance over style, rather than having both, so Pardess was born. Mimi has been designing and crafting clothes since a very young age and after working on an organic farm in France, Mimi was inspired by the difference organic living made to people and the environment.
Pardess is also selling some fantastic bags and 20% of the profits from these will go to The World Land Trust.
I can’t wait for Pardess to expand their range, I am converted already.
Eco-fashion is constantly evolving and it would seem that it is finally on the cusp of something phenomenal that will hopefully move ethical fashion from the periphery to the mainstream in the longterm. Ecoganik has been plugging away for ten years in the contemporary organic fashion movement, attempting to make headway. With a new creative director, Genevieve Cruz on board and a re-modelled marketing campaign, Ecoganik are gracing the pages of prestigious publications such as In Style, WWD, Lucky Magazine, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and the New York Times. 
