Ethical fashion (with Green Beach accessories)

The anti-consumerist has quashed my disappointment about the fact that local Sainsbury's sold out of Anya Hindmarch 'I'm not a plastic bag' bags within minutes this week and I did not get one (if you don't know what I'm blathering about see this New Consumer article). Anyway I'm looking forward to seeing them paraded by the lucky few at the Fair Trade Fashion Show being held next Friday (4th May 2007, 7pm, at the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea*). Following from the huge success of the fashion show last year, once again the Swansea Fair Trade Forum are organising the fashion show to showcase the exciting range of fair trade fashion and accessories available in South Wales. I can announce (drum rolls, please) that Green Beach will have a stand there, with all our summer range. As a result of our launch, we are holding off on mail order for another week (unless you are absolutely desperate - email me).

Hope to see you at the show!
Ella

*Tickets are available through the Environment Centre on 01792 480200 (£2 in advance & £3 on the door - last year was a sell out!)

Green Beach Website of the Week:-
Regular readers will know I love Howies clothing and the new summer stuff is now available on their website. I would like to point you in the direction of the 'seventh wave' boardshorts (available for both men and women) made ingeniously from recycled polyester and stripy vests made using recycled cotton (pictured). May I suggest, unashamedly, that Green Beach jewellery would look fab with such an outfit. By the way, has anyone checked out Howies' Little Big Voice lectures, guidance for anyone who wants to start a business or make a noise in a socially and ethically responsible way?

Treading more lightly in Wales

I'm on the publicity treadmill at the moment and had a long conversation with Welsh based WM magazine about Green Beach and my ethical(ish) life (article to feature in their Summer edition). The WM chat steered towards the green revolution in Wales - the organic farmers, the crafters and the trend towards ethical consumerism. Did I think that Wales was at the forefront of change for the greener good? I certainly did/do. We have the Centre for Alternative Technology, great organic producers such as Graig Farm, Rachel's Organic dairy* and of course, Howies - that's just for starters.

As well as continuing to make the summer stock (available to Mail Order in the next few days), I enjoyed crafting a bespoke jewellery order for a beach wedding. Its great to get to know a customer and make something they really want and will (hopefully) cherish. We welcome bespoke orders, especially if you have old beads or pearls that are crying out to be redesigned.

Ella

Green Beach website of the week:

Its amazing how many new green and ethical retailers are springing up all over the place but you can't beat Natural Collection for a vast array of "inspiring products for a better world" (I couldn't say it better myself). Beach worthy fashion that caught my eye include tropical print organic bikini's and wear-with-everything sandals (or flip-flops - pictured) made from recycled tyres and hemp for men and women. Decorate your beach house (or bathroom) with fair traded seaside hooks and entertain the family with idea's book 'Nature's Playground'.

Organic Jac's Welsh links:

* Rachels Organic Dairy is promoting an organic yoghurt diet (10lbs in 2 weeks!) - the website is worth a peek in any case.

Also, belated congratulations to Pitstop, carwash & valet service, based in Swansea. They scooped a top Environment Agency award for recycling their water through a closed loop reed-bed recycling. Pitstop have achieved Green Dragon level 4 environmental standard - (note to self - must explore these standards for Green Beach).

Read all about it!

Surprised to see my face in the Western Mail today (story link here). Helen Nelson, executive director of Cynnal Cymru, has written a great article on the 'rise of the eco-blog' and has described my progress through writing for Hippyshopper, New Consumer and my own popular blog, Organic Jac. Green Beach is given a mention to, so welcome to Western Mail readers! Cynnal Cymru is an independent not-for-profit company, promoting sustainable development in Wales (check out their SustainWales website).

I have more good news. From next week, a selection of Green Beach jewellery will be available to buy through mail order (as well as at Pebble, Mumbles & Cowbridge). Designs will be limited and perfect for summer!

Ella

(Pic - Langland Bay, off season)

Travelling up the coast

Popped into Pebble yesterday and am most pleased to her that the jewellery has already had a good response. Bracelets have been selling well, a feel good purchase, also good as presents.

I read in the Guardian over the weekend that cornflower blue is the summer colour and I'm hoping that our sea tone range will compliment this summer's blue clothing.

The good news is that some of our jewellery is also going to be available at the Pebble shop in Cowbridge (5 Town Hall Square), not far West from Cardiff.


Ella

On a roll

Exciting news! Pebble in Mumbles will be the first to stock our jewellery and our new collection is already on sale. So when you're visiting the farmers market this Saturday, pop up to the shop (top of Newton Road) and have a peek. We chose to approach Pebble because we love this clothing boutique which sells fab recycled bags and Seasalt organic clothing in amongst more mainstream brands. I remember chatting to Ade from Howies last summer about the importance of seeing ethical fashion/accessories as stylish in their own right. Jane at Pebble loved our jewellery for its beachy look and the fact that its a bit greener than mainstream jewellery is just a bonus!

Now for the arty bit -
Our particular inspiration for Summer 2007 has been the ebb and flow of the tide. The lapping sea edge and white froth on the beach which rolls over pebbles and shells. The smoothness of the driftwood and the rare jewels of washed up ‘sea glass’ in turquoise, amber and pale green. Yes, really!

Our first jewellery collection includes fair-trade, recycled glass in blue tones evoking beautiful sea glass. Each glass bead and pendant has been handmade by artisans from Ghana, Africa. These are complimented with vintage faux pearls and natural elements such as wood and shells.

Thanks to Pebble, we are on a 'roll'. Will report back soon, Ella.

P.s. we haven't forgotten about website - its on the way.

Another first for Mumbles

The sun is glorious and the visitors have started pouring into our little village of Mumbles, Swansea. Mumbles has been a popular tourist destination for hundreds of years, thanks to the Mumbles Railway (which sadly closed in 1960). The 200th anniversary of the railway was recently celebrated - on 25 March 1807, the very same day that the British Parliament passed a Bill to outlaw the transatlantic trade in slaves, Swansea took its place in history with the inauguration of the world's first passenger railway. It is sad however to think that 200 years later, there is still slavery in the form of child trafficking, child labour and unfair working practices in some countries. Christine and I value Fair Trade principles will try to continue to purchase as many of our non-recycled materials as ethically as possible.

Continuing on the Mumbles theme, we have decided that it makes sense to test our creations out in a local gallery or boutique. The website will be run, albeit a little later than first hoped. More details on retaillers to follow.
Thanks for reading, Ella

Green Beach Websites of the Week

• Read more about the Mumbles Railway at the BBC mini site.


• Read local news and events (including the local produce market - next week) at the Mumbles Online Newspaper


• Learn more about the fight for freedom at the Anti Slavery International website

Five ways to reuse our little jewellery bags

I have already noted that our creations will be presented in recycled material bags. We have come up with 5 ideas to reuse the bags -

1. Fill with lavender & hang amongst your clothes


2. Fill with (fairtrade) chocolates & give as a gift


3. Pop in your phone/ipod/sunglasses instead of having them rattle around your bag


4. A make up bag


5. Collect a few and reuse as children's party bags

Limited time, limited editions

The trouble when you immerse yourself in a new project, whether ethical or not, is that everything else becomes at risk of falling by the way side - relationships, you usual leisure activities and for me, my house. I'm living in a bit of a mess at the moment, my husband would call it a pigsty, I on the other hand see it as our 'nest'. I'm surrounded by magazines & books, scraps of fabric, shells, driftwood - all for inspiration of course. The cleaning has been overlooked in favour of jewellery making but at least we still make time for cooking - you've got to eat! I fear Christine is worse (she really needs help for her increasing driftwood collection) but we are finally unleashing all those creative ideas we've been harbouring.

I have been working on earrings - recycled glass & vintage pearls with a starfish (pictured). Its going to be a limited edition, in fact most of our designs will be limited because its gets boring making the same thing over and over. We are also trying to come up with a philosophy, about our ethical and green principles etc. I'll let you know what we've come up with next week.

Oh and we also had a mention in New Consumer again, in their ethical blog round up.

Happy Easter

Ella