The Eco Edit: February
From the sustainable jewellery brand worth knowing to the designer supermarket collaboration everyone’s talking about, in this month’s Eco Edit we take a look at the hottest new eco friendly brands lining the shelves this month.
Eco friendly brands worth investing in…
Affordable Fine Jewellery By Otiumberg.
Our quest for the perfect pair of hoops may have come to an end thanks to the sustainable, ethical jewellery brand, Otiumberg. Along with the wear-with-just-about-everything fine gold hoops, they do a plethora of other everyday pieces, from the daintiest rings to personalised necklaces, tough-luxe chain bracelets to pretty pearl and stone embellishments.
Created by sisters Rosanna and Christie Wollenberg, the siblings started out just designing huggies and hoops (no brainer as to why they have nailed them, then) and steadily built their offering of pieces for the modern jewellery lover, that can be layered and worn every day.
The brand is now stocked at the likes of Alex Eagle Studio, Brown’s Fashion and Galeries Lafayette on the Champs Élysées, and the collection remains true to the clean, contemporary aesthetic it first started.
Otiumberg’s dedication to creating responsible pieces has remained at the forefront of the brand too, with a focus on slow fashion – they launch a very small run of new products to see the demand before they put bigger orders into play, ensuring the product doesn’t end up in a landfill. They also use recycled metals in all their pieces and don’t launch collections each season, instead focusing on products that are truly timeless. Plus, customers get an easy-to-access and affordable repair service that covers all their jewellery care needs, from re-plating to stone replacement.
Trying to act truly sustainably is incredibly challenging in an industry that is so driven by seasonal consumption and newness. For us, sustainable fashion means embracing a slower, non-seasonal approach and creating meaningful pieces that can last a lifetime.
– Rosanna Wollenberg, Co-Founder
The Sustainable Stylist, Sophia Lorimer
If you’ve ever thought “I’ve got nothing to wear” only to be stood in front of a wardrobe bursting full of clothes, you need Sophia Lorimer. Ripping up the rulebook when it comes to personal styling, Sophia helps women to shop their own wardrobe, buy less, buy better and simply change the way they consume fashion for the better.
Her company styling service, Fine Tuned Wardrobe, takes women in a style rut through their existing collection, inspiring them to regain control of their closet and feel confident. Sophia’s services include anything from rethinking the ways to style the clothes you already own to identify the gaps you may have in your wardrobe and mindfully shopping for pieces that are going to last.
Her services are available online and in person and can help to create a curated capsule wardrobe that works for you, with sustainability at its core.
Reworked Vintage Fashion By Freya Simonne
Horrified and totally deflated by being faced with the amount of clothing thrown away to landfill each year, designer Freya Simonne was after a new challenge. She had worked in the fashion industry for almost a decade but longed for something more meaningful that aligned with her own sustainability ethics.
And so, her eponymous label, Freya Simonne was born. Freya now takes vintage textiles, exclusively, and works them into the most exquisite pieces. Think bohemian-inspired quilted jackets with sweet Peter Pan collars and puff-sleeve babydoll dresses in a kaleidoscope of prints. This is upcycled fashion that has truly breathed new life into old garments, and clothing that makes you feel great.
I want to encourage people to reconnect with the textiles they already own and reimagine them in new ways. I truly believe the future of fashion will be made from the past.
Anya Hindmarch Launches A New Supermarket Bag
Trailblazer in reusable bags, Anya Hindmarch, returns this month with a supermarket launch everyone’s going to want to get their hands on during the weekly shop. The British designer has teamed up with Asda and Co-op, 16 years after her now iconic “I Am Not A Plastic Bag” design made waves in the fashion industry, to launch the new Universal Bag.
Available in 300 Asda stores now and 315 Co-op stores from the end of March, the bag is intended to get people reusing their bags and reframing their mindset. Its recycling mechanism – an innovative built-in returns pocket – prevents contamination and ensures 100% recyclability at the end of its life – genius. It is also made from 100% recycled materials (that were destined for landfill) and is guaranteed for 10 years.
Bringing luxury to the everyday with an ethical conscience is just what Anya is so great at.
Both bags will retail at just £10.
Sweet Sleepwear by Gingham Palace
You can always trust influencer Kelly Eastwood AKA The London Chatter to come up with sustainable, ethical fashion goods. This month, she’s been waxing lyrical about the mother-daughter-founded brand, Gingham Palace, and most specifically their super cute sleepwear.
The sustainably crafted designs are all ethically handcrafted in Spain using locally sourced natural fabrics and are only available on pre-order to eliminate products destined for landfill.
They do killer dresses too, adorable childrenswear and coquettish accessories but it’s the PJ sets we love. As Kelly says, they are “hella cute”.
Film Fashion Reimagined Launches In Cinemas
If you seriously want to reevaluate the way you shop and think about clothes, you need to watch this film. Fashion Reimainged is the first feature film from Toronto-born, England-living Becky Hutner and it really will make you stop in your tracks.
The film follows trailblazing fashion designer, Amy Powney, of the cult label Mother of Pearl. Raised off-the-grid in rural England by activist parents, Amy always felt uneasy about the devastating environmental impact fashion has on the world. The film leads to her winning the much-celebrated Vogue award for the Best Young Designer of the Year. Amy used the hefty cash prize to create a sustainable collection from field to finished garment, and transform her entire business.
The film documents how that decision changed her whole career. Inspiring, informative and a must-watch for us all.
I hope that everyone who wears clothes watches this film!
– Senator Mona Das
Fashion Reimagined will be released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 3rd March 2023. Find out where your nearest screenings are at www.fashionreimaginedfilm.com
For more eco friendly brands to shop, check out January’s eco edit