Ethical clothes - tweeds are what we need now!

Continuing my search for the ideal coat (in the arctic weather we are experiencing) and the pursuit of ethical standards, I have come across a number of very interesting fashion labels. I went to visit Eco Age, the shop founded by Livia Firth (Colin Firth's wife) dedicated to sustainable living. The first floor, devoted to fashion, is occupied by "pop-up shops" (temporary shops) featuring a different aspect of ethical fashion. That program, called 12 Degrees of Ethical Fashion, is run by Livia Firth, journalist Lucy Siegle, designer Orsola de Castro and stylist Jocely Whipple.  My visit before Christmas coincided with a focus on local British labels which is still on-going. 

I loved Eloise Grey's tweeds. Her ethical standards are spotless, to the point of being intimidating! She works hand in hand with the Isle of Mull Weavers from the Hebrides (Scotland), using ethical, undyed tweeds. The colours of the tweeds result from the colours of the fleeces of the sheep and are as natural as they can get, beautiful whites, blacks, creams and browns. Even the lining of the clothes is terribly ethical: fairtrade organic cotton or a mix of hemp/silk. Tweed is highly resistant to dirt and water making it very long lasting and easy to care for.

De Beauvoir jacket

Cream & fawn tweed

West Skirt

But what would be beautiful fabric, made ethically, named after literary figures and of the highest quality without a good cut? I tried on the coats on display at Eco-age and very much liked the Toklas jacket (named after Alice Babette Toklas), an a-symmetric hip-length jacket that looked great in Tatersall check. Hip-length on me - vertically challenged as I am, turnout out to be 3/4 length and looking very good too!  Retailing at £790, it is now reduced to £450. The beautiful Elisabeth II coat, flared, knee length with an inverted box-pleat at the back priced £880 is now reduced to £480.

Toklas jacket

Elizabeth II coat

At those reduced prices, the coats become approachable if not exactly cheap for most of us. I think that we must allow that clothes made by hand, in limited series, with care not only for the environment but also for the welfare of the those involved in their production, can only come at a price.  I do have a soft spot for such clothes that tell a story, connect us to the land and the whole supply chain - rather more than for clothes that bring to mind the marketing departments of multinational fashion groups. I should mention that Eloise Grey's clothes at not available at the moment at Eco-Age but her clothes are available directly from her shop in Surrey, her website and other shops listed online.

Another label that I liked very much is Anatomy, based in Devon. Their approach again favours local producers, organic and Fairtrade fabrics and their look has a slightly retro feel with a wink at the 1950s. I tried their Fencing jacket, shown below, retailing at £440 at Eco-age and £415 on Anatomy's website. It is very well cut, feminine and flattering.

To know more about Eco age and the ethical brands mentioned, please go to the following websites:
http://www.eco-age.com/home
http://www.eloisegrey.com/
http://www.anatomyfashion.co.uk/index.php

As usual, I have no connection with the brands featured. The pictures displayed are provided by Eloise Grey and Anatomy, except for the last one, which is mine.