Cropped Jackets & Blazers for Women: Moto, Faux Fur & White | bebe Blazers & Cropped Jackets for Women Nothing ties an outfit together like a blazer or cropped jacket. A blazer will take a cute top and pants look to a whole other level and radiates sophistication and confidence. Short jackets work wonders for leg-lengthening and have the advantage of keeping your outfit visible underneath. Wear a blazer to add professionalism and attitude to your outfit. Want something warmer? Provocative Labels Expose Sweatshop Horrors to Shoppers The only thing on a clothing label that most of us pay attention to when we’re shopping is what size a garment is. As for whether an item was made in a sweatshop by a kid getting paid a pittance: Plenty of shoppers take an "out of sight, out of mind" approach to the issue. A new campaign from the Canadian Fair Trade Network turns the spotlight on how the $9 jeans we buy are being produced. This berry-colored sweatshirt looks perfect to slip on when you take your dog for a walk. "They couldn't afford medical treatment and he couldn't risk losing his long-time job at the cotton plantation. The tag on the blazer in the above photo takes on the situation of sweatshop workers in Bangladesh. "Her father was killed when a fire ripped through the cotton factory where he works. "100% cotton. That's the equivalent of 86 degrees Fahrenheit—a temperature most of us would find difficult to work in for an entire day.
The Best Ethical Fashion Brands What: Fat Face has a company-wide Code of Conduct where all factories that produce their goods must abide by as well as working with suppliers and other organizations to make sure their workers are treated fairly. What: Your new one-stop shop for ethically made wedding wear, Minna describes itself as an ‘Eco Luxe’ brand. With wedding dresses, veils and bridesmaid dresses made from sustainable, organic, recycled and locally produced textiles, you can dress your whole wedding party without feeling guilty. What: Worn by Kate Middleton, Mirabelle makes handmade fair trade jewellery as well as a British Made collection. Think pretty pendants at good prices. Wear: Hammered pendant, £69 What: Committed to ethical trading, Monsoon’s ethical compliance team regularly checks that their factories are abiding by its Code of Conduct which sets out minimum requirements on working conditions, pay and employment rights. Wear: Betty Embroidered Dress, £89 Wear: New Balance 811 Training Shoe, £65
Nourish The Roots: Raw Superfood and Seed Energy Bars I have a treat for you today, dear readers. These raw superfood energy bars are sure to make your body sing with happiness. They are packed with some pretty darn healthy ingredients and I'm here to highlight some of those right now. Pumpkin Seeds- Pumpkin seeds are an incredible source of iron and are an excellent source of essential fatty acids that promote good prostaglandin production. Sesame Seeds- Sesame seeds are one of the highest plant-based sources of calcium and iron. Chia Seeds- Chia seeds were once used by Aztec warriors as an energy booster and are an incredible source of plant-based omega 3 fatty acids and protein. Bee Pollen- A true superfood, bee pollen contains all of the essential components of life and is a complete protein. Raw Cacao Powder-Unlike processed dark chocolate, the antioxidants in raw chocolate are completely preserved. Unrefined Coconut Oil- Unrefined raw coconut oil is one of the best fats you can consume. 1. 2.
INTERVIEW: Fashion Project Turns Clothing Donations Into Force for Good Online clothing shopping is an endless world of opportunities. Nowadays, there are countless websites and even mobile apps where you can buy, sell, and even trade with others online. What if there was a place where you could shop used designer-brand clothes at affordable prices while benefitting global charities at the same time? Fashion Project is the industry’s leading clothing online donation service that sells like-new or gently-used clothing and accessories with up to 55% of net proceeds benefitting charities. Members of this online community can donate clothing and shop based on causes they care most about. Anna Palmer and Christine Rizk founded Fashion Project based on the radical idea that shopping and fashion should not only be enjoyable but have a beneficial impact on the world. What’s the story behind Fashion Project? Both Christine and I have experience with nonprofits, which taught us how to drive business in an atmosphere where funding is crucial. + Fashion Project
How Sustainable Brands Are Turning Their Backs on Fast Fashion Trend Every fall, fashionistas and students heading back to school rid themselves of their old, worn garments to gear up for the newest trends. And that mantra — out with the old, in with the new — is reinforced in the constant cycle of trends that make their appearances on the runway each season, and some clothing on the store racks made so inexpensively it almost feels disposable. Fashion is a $1.2 trillion global industry, and more than $250 billion of that is spent annually in the U.S. alone, according to a 2015 Joint Economic Committee Congressional report. Fast fashion is a business model that moves designs from the runway to the store quickly to capture current trends and typically can include inexpensive, poorly constructed garments that can be ruined after a couple of trips through the washing machine. The Dirty Fashion Industry The concept of pollution usually evokes images of coal power plants, oil spills, barren rain forests and plastic bottles clogging up the world's oceans.
Blueberry Bliss Breakfast Bars (No-Bake, Vegan, Gluten Free, Naturally Sweetened) Even under the least desirable conditions (rain, snow, sleet, ice, and let’s not forget those – 40 C wind chill temperatures), I always come back to thinking that walking my dog first thing in the morning is pretty much the best possible way to start the day. An ideal opportunity to welcome the new and rinse out the old before the chaos of the inevitable takes over and the monkey mind sets in. And this time of year, well, it’s hard not to be in love with the outdoors. Everything is lush, fresh and inviting. Flashes of life and color on every corner. Even our cat is getting in on the action! Here’s to your morning glory! Update *2015* – I’m delighted to report that these humble bars have been viewed by you over 1 million times (crazy, but true!) Blueberry Bliss Breakfast Bars (No-Bake, Vegan, Gluten Free, Naturally Sweetened) A delicious all natural protein bar that is gluten-free, vegan and naturally sweetened Author: Kelly Serves: Makes 16 bars Ingredients Instructions Notes Voila!
The hidden cost of second-hand clothing Donating your used garments might be well intentioned, but the situation on the ground means they may be doing more harm than good You probably know a little bit about the origins of your clothes. The small label in the back of your T-shirt might read ‘Made in China’ and you probably recall where you bought it. But have you ever stopped to think about what might happen after you give it away for recycling? Your old T-shirt does not just go away, it goes somewhere. As we buy more and more clothes and rapidly discard old outfits to make space in our wardrobes for new fashions, we fuel another little known economic system: the international second-hand clothing trade. Many old clothes are donated for re-use through recycling bins and door-step collections. Destinations of the UK and the USA’s second-hand clothes (Image: The Journey of Jeans) Across the UK, industrial facilities sort and process thousands of tons of unwanted garments. So what should you do with your old clothes?
Stella McCartney: Change Agent LONDON, United Kingdom — In a nondescript building tucked away on a quiet street in West London, Stella McCartney and her team are comparing the properties of a real leather shoe to the various non-leather swatches being considered for her brand’s Winter 2015 shoe collection. McCartney is wearing a cream blouse, open at the neck, with faded blue jeans and non-leather boots. Pinned up against the wall are boards labeled: “Heels,” “Mules,” and “Cutouts.” A large white table is scattered with moulds, lasts and uppers – as well as scissors, ID cards, empty glasses and a partially-eaten package of organic dark chocolate. Women of differing ages, ethnicities and body types come in and out of the room with a constant flow of new ideas and creative references while McCartney acts as a kind of real-time editor, deciding what colours, materials and shapes feel right for the upcoming season. Stella's Sustainability Commitments | Source: BoF At this point, McCartney turns to me, a fly on the wall.
Kamut dark chocolate energy bar | HealthBean So, I really like prunes. I can just grab a handful out of the bag and I’m a happy camper to munch away on them. I know, I know…it’s a definite stereotypical dietitian thing, bring on the jokes. But, I bet, I can make you like them too. I’ve been hearing a lot about dates as sugar substitutes lately – date sugar, date paste, date syrup. As mentioned in previous posts, here and here, I was sent some #wholegrains by Healthy Grains Institute. This last post highlights Kamut, an ancient grain that has retained the same nutrient profile for centuries, hence the name. This recipe is easily adaptable to whatever your cupboards are filled with. Kamut dark chocolate energy bar Author: Selena De Vries Makes: 20 Ingredients ⅔ cup prunes1½ cups water¾ cup coconut¾ cup kamut flour1 cup large flake oats½ cup dried cranberries½ cup dark chocolate, cut into slivers (or chocolate chips)½ cup pumpkin seeds, toasted¼ cup hemp hearts1 banana, mashed3 TBP maple syrup Directions Preheat oven to 350.
India Still Struggling to Combat Child Labour Active Citizens, Asia-Pacific, Civil Society, Democracy, Development & Aid, Economy & Trade, Editors' Choice, Education, Featured, Headlines, Human Rights, Labour, Population, Poverty & SDGs, Projects, Regional Categories, TerraViva United Nations An estimated 4.35 million children between the ages of five and 14 are thought to be part of India’s workforce, working anywhere from brick kilns to carpet factories. Credit: Bigstock - Eleven-year-old Chottu* works 12 hours daily at a roadside tea joint near New Delhi’s bustling interstate bus terminus. The moment fume-spewing buses halt here to disgorge groups of tired and hungry passengers, the frail boy has to push his way through the crowd to sell his wares – packets of potato crisps, biscuits and hot tea, which he pours into tiny plastic cups from a metallic tea pot. “Child slavery is a crime against humanity. As competition is fierce from other vendors, Chottu has to work swiftly to catch his customer’s eye. Civil society steps in