Take The Seamless Pledge!

We've talked a lot about ethical clothing here on the Ears and Whiskers blog, and today Sarah is back with a new challenge for 2014...

I used to love to shop, but lately I've been feeling a pang of guilt every time I walk into Primark or window shop in Topshop. Ever thought that you'd love to spend less time in H&M and more time reworking vintage pieces or amazing finds from the charity shop but aren't sure where to start?

Perhaps you're starting to feel like if you can't guarantee the ethics of shop you'd rather not shop there? Or maybe you're just fed up with seeing people wearing the same clothes as you! (I know I am, always very embarrasing to spot someone else in the room wearing your favourite dress, right?)

If any of the above applies to you and you're looking for a change then why not try The Seamless Pledge!

The Seamless Pledge is all about encouraging people not to buy mass manufactured clothing, and to go out and either make your own or buy something second hand. Hubbard's Cupboard is all about vintage and one of a kind pieces, so I think it fits in with the pledge pretty well! :)

We spoke to Elena Cresci, the girl behind the Seamless Pledge to get an idea of why she started the project :)

How long have you been sewing?

I have been sewing since 2009 I think? I got started in my second year of university (I hand-sewed a wonky skirt), but it wasn't until the Summer I got started with proper patterns and the like. Then, I moved to Germany for a bit, got myself a second-hand sewing machine and tried to improve as much as I could.

What inspired you to create the Seamless Pledge? 

The blog itself actually started as a project for my postgraduate journalism course at university! I was already blogging about sewing at that point, but I kind of wanted to take it to the next level. When I first started sewing, there was a pledge called Wardrobe Refashion, but the woman who had started wasn't able to carry it on. I interviewed Zoe Edwards, another sewing blogger, and we were talking about how it was a shame there wasn't anything like that anymore... enter the Seamless Pledge!

After Zoe shared it, I got loads of people saying they were up for it, it was so surreal. I didn't quite expect it to hit the nerve it did. I think there are a lot of people thinking about the ethical and environmental implications of fashion these days.

How long have you been doing it now? 

I didn't buy any new clothes at all for at least a year, if not more, from October 2011. I'll hold my hands up, I have bought the odd thing since the "official" pledge came to an end in 2012, but I can honestly count on one hand the amount of new clothes I bought in 2013. And one was a Christmas jumper, which I figured was OK because I cannot knit so save my live AND it had a Home Alone reference... Whay!

What are the rules of the Seamless pledge?

The rules

• No buying new clothes for the duration of your pledge. New mean any new mass-manufactured clothes.
• You can buy second-hand manufactured clothes – so be prepared to get to know your local charity shops awfully well.
• Vintage clothing is a-ok!
• Anything you’ve made by hand is definitely allowed. Get your sewing machines and your knitting needles out, because handmade is definitely in!

What are you sewing goals for 2014? 

I had this whole 12-month challenge set out where I was going to pick one sewing project a month to concentrate on. Annoyingly, it's already come to pieces because a) I haven't had a sewing machine for about a month and b) my first challenge of sewing sequins turned out to be THE MOST TIME-CONSUMING THING EVERRR. Right now I'm drafting "the pain of sequins" post in my head - it's been traumatic. But I'm still going to squirrel away at that challenge because it's more about stretching my sewing abilities than meeting some arbitrary sewing target.

I have a 'Can't Jar' so I'm basically picking things out of that and going from there. I sewed my first pair of trousers recently, which was immense. Next on the list will be things like a bag, a coat... next month, I'd like to draft my own dress pattern. That'll be fun

What tips can you give to people who want to move away from mass market fashion? 

Charity shops are your friend. Seriously. They are the best places. And go to the ones in rich neighbourhoods - when I lived in Guildford, there were constantly designer clothes in the local charity shops. You'd be amazed what people chuck away. Also, you may think you can't sew, but it can be pretty easy to whip up a quick pencil skirt. It's having a big resurgence at the moment, so there are plenty of sewing classes around. That said, there is a plethora of material online from various sewing bloggers who are far better at this sewing lark than I am.

What has been the most helpful resource in learning how to sew new things? 

See above - definitely the sewing blogosphere. You'll be hard pressed to find a kinder and more open community of people online. They are a constant source of inspiration and motivation. Some of my faves are Gertie's New Blog For Better Sewing, Tilly and the Buttons and Zoe (interviewed above). Karen of Did You Make That also has a blog on the Guardian fashion network because she is brilliaaaant. 

What kind of sewing seemed daunting when you started that you now feel you've mastered?

TROUSERS! I definitely haven't mastered them, but I'm going to brag about having made a pair forever and ever. Buttons are also becoming less daunting. What I've found is I can fudge things quite a lot so long as I remember that no one has to see how messy my stuff is on the inside...

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Thanks Elena! :) Do you think you could give up buying new clothes for a month? Six months? ...*gulp* a year?

If the answer is a big fat YES! then here's how to join in:

 

It’s super simple to join up. Just comment on the site with your name, your blog (if you have one) and how long you’re signing up for. Once you’ve done that, you can also add the button to your blog using this code:

[a href="http://seamlessblog.wordpress.com/the-pledge/" target="_blank">[img src="http://seamlessblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/button.png" alt="The Seamless Pledge" /][/a] (replace the [ ] with < >)

Replace brackets with < > and stick it in a textbox widget on your blog and/or post the following to your social network of choice:

"I (insert your name here) am taking the #seamlesspledge until (length of time here). http://bit.ly/tktV04"

& that's it! Do let us know if you sign up, and if you have a blog then leave the link in the comments, I love to read them! :)

Love

Sarah 

Wedding Wednesday // Dressed in Blue

Ever thought about having your wedding in Blue?

Pantone (the global authority on color) has surveyed the global Fashion weeks to bring the most important color trends of the season... This Spring/Summer it has brought 2 beautiful shades of blue! Perfect for all you quirky brides to be, get in your 'something blue' on your wedding dress!

We're a huge fan of unique dresses at E&W and are in fact already in the making of our first blue silk Wedding dress for a very wonderful bride. As we cant show any progress on this one (its all hush hush!) we thought we'd put together our little montage of the most beautiful blue gowns we could think of!

Some old and some new, but you'll have your something blue on full show!

Image credits: 1.Dior S/S 11  2.Marchesa Resort 2014  3.Monique Lhuillier Pre Fall 2012  4.Claire Pettibone 2012 

5.Ellie Saab Haute Couture S/S 14  6.Yolan Cris Evening wear 2013

Check out Pantone's full color report here

Let us know what you think of a colored wedding dress! Would you wear one down the isle?

♥

UK Handmade

Hola lovely readers! Sarah here again, bringing you some more handmade and ethical finds from around the web! :)

This week I found something super awesome - ever heard of UK Handmade? It's a new discovery to me but a very welcome one so I thought I'd share it with you all in case you hadn't discovered it yet either! :)

It's actually been running since 2008 so I'm not sure how I missed it (am I the last one on the boat?!) but that just means there's lots of lovely back issues to make my way through so I'm definitely not complaining.

They describe themselves as 

"a design-led online magazine committed to showcasing and promoting the best creative talent the UK has to offer."

Which sounds pretty great, right? They have a directory of bricks and mortar handmade shops across the UK (Hubbards Cupboard should totally be listed in there, right?)  as well as a directory of online shops, a magazine and a forum for creatives to discuss all things handmade (it currently has over 5000 members, which is crazy and awesome at the same time). They also have tips on running a business, as well as inspiration posts, reviews and showcases. Fab!

It's so nice to see people being proud of their work and proactive about pushing back against the commercial tide. There are so many options these days when it comes to buying hand made, quality, one of a kind goods - it's really wonderful to see!

You can read the latest issue of the magazine below, although I'd definitely recommend visiting the site to have a good nose around, there's a lot to discover! :)

Let me know if you check it out! :)

Love

Sarah

// New Year

It's that time of year again when everyone is busy thinking about how different the upcoming year is going to be, what their going to do differently, what to keep the same and what to make a little bit better. 

I've never been very big on new years resolutions but this year I feel very differently. I feel that 2014 is going to be a big year for me and my little business, with the wedding collection coming up, a new special fancy website being designed, my work being showcased by Camarthen Youth Theatre in their production of Evita, 2 couture dresses booked in that I am SUPER excited to make and bookings already filling up for the year I can't see how it won't be a big year! 

Unfortunately, however, Iv'e always been a bit naff with time management (apparently most creative people can relate ;)) so in 2014, it is my mission to overcome this! With so much going on, it's easy to lose track of things and especially easy to forget to do things for myself. It's time I learnt to manage a good work/play relationship!

So far (in anticipation) I have 2 x diaries, 3 x wall planners, I have actually figured out how to USE my Samsung Tablet and sync my calender with my phone... organizing to be organised.

Does anyone else have resolutions this year? Does anyone manage to keep them?! I'd LOVE some advice on how all you busy creatives stay organised!

xoxo

♥

Ethical Alternatives to Angora

There's sadly been a lot in the news recently about the terrible conditions that angora bunnies are kept in, after PETA released a shocking video with some very upsetting footage. 

A lot of major stores - including Topshop, H&M, Marks & Spencers and ASOS - have suspended usage of angora following the reveal, which we think is great news.

Angora ethics probably aren't something that most people know much about unless they've done the research, so we thought we'd put together a list of ethical alternatives to that angora sweater, to help you make better, more well informed choices!

Cashmere

First up, this beautiful cashmere shawl from Brora (£169) is made using ethically sourced cashmere from Inner Mongolia, hand spun in Scotland. Be sure to make sure that you're cashmere is ethically sourced if you do decide to splash out on it - if it doesn't say then best not to purchase it!

Cashmere is expensive for a reason - it usually takes 2-3 goats to make one jumper, plus those lovely goats can only survive in six regions in the world. If your cashmere jumper is cheap that should ring alarm bells!

The Guardian put together a really useful list of ethical cashmere firms, so check it out if you really want to purchase some.

Angora

Believe it or not it is possible to buy ethically sourced, humane angora items. Ambika Conroy has a whole collection of 'friendly fur' items (including this gorgeous beret $265) which she makes using fur from her own angora bunnies.

Aren't they cute?! :)

Synthetic Fibres

The easiest way to make sure that your products haven't inadvertently caused any animals distress is to steer clear of anything made from animal fur at all. These super cute Flufflies socks from Sea Salt Cornwall (£6.50) are made using 30% recycled polyester - also perfect for people with allergies to fur!

Lambswool

A lot of people might not think of wool as something that needs ethical protection - it's so prevalent in our society and in our stores that it's easy to forget that it comes from an animal! 

If you're looking to make sure those sheep are well looked after before they're sheared, then try one of these beautiful fairisle designed blankets (£69.99) from The Wool Room via Not on the High Street. 

They raise funds for RABI (the charity for farmers and farming families) and are also strong supporters of the Campaign for Wool - who aim to help wool growers get a fairer price for their fleeces.

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It's not always easy to know where your products come from - shops don't often make it very clear which makes it difficult for consumers to be able to make ethical choices. It can also feel a little overwhelming trying to make sure that the people you're buying from aren't owned by a larger company that may have a different ethos or ethical practices.

It is possible to shop ethically and affordably tho, so don't give up! Hopefully this post will have given you a few ideas on where you can spend your money and receive ethical fashion goods in return. 

With a little bit of research and education you can find a wealth of independent and international retailers who are happy and proud to display their ethical status, making it a cinch for you to shop ethical-dilemma free.

Perfect! :)

Love

Sarah 

Our Top 5 Ethical Christmas Gifts

Evening lovelies! After spending a good few hours on the old world wide web the last week or so scouring for some presents for my besties, I decided to go all out ethical this year!

I love supporting local businesses and finding some unique handmade gifts and I know its a winner because I always love receiving them too! Finding that special present is such a thoughtful thing, regardless of price.

Here's my top 5 last minute ethical gifts for every budget!

#1 Bicycle Cushion

From the wonderful sight Daisy Daisy, this cushion is an embroidered fair trade beauty perfect for any home at £35

#2 Embroidered Scarf

For the not so budget conscience buyer! This beautiful yellow and black embroidered scarf from People Tree for the fashion lover at £95

#3 Raw Quartz necklace

Natural quartz dipped in gold to adorn your neck at £12.99. Handmade by kissthefuture for Etsy. Jewellery is a safe option for Christmas - so make sure it's a special piece! 

#4 Gift of Reading

For the bookworm - a vintage book is always a thoughtful present. Last Christmas my mum bought me a 19th century edition of Alice in Wonderland and it's one of the best presents I've ever received. This 1950's edition of Pride&Prejudice is for sale by Eager for Word on Etsy at £12.50

#5 DIY present - Free!

Budget conscience? Everyone loves a DIY present. It's not always about the money you spend, the thought is really what counts. If you don't have a lot to spend, you can make these amazing 'Tub Teas' for the bath! Find out how on the Martha Stewart site!

xoxo

♥

The Ethical Christmas Jumper

It's that time of year again - the festive season is well and truly upon us and the shops have gone predictably crazy! A quick jaunt through town this week saw shops full to the rafters with Christmas decorations, Christmas cards, Christmas food and of course, the fast fashion favourite: the Christmas jumper.

An item that has done a complete 180 from "wouldn't be caught dead in one" to  "must have must have must have!". It's easy to see why the big fashion retailers have jumped on the trend, and while they're offering affordable fashion it's worth remembering that it's also possible to get an ethically sourced Christmas jumper too! :) 

Save the Children have teamed up with Wool & The Gang and 12 amazing designers to create "Christmas Jumper Day" on the 13th of December 2013. Each designer has put their own stamp on a Wool & The Gang handmade jumper, and you can bid on your favourite :) The lowest unique bid wins so take a look and pick your favourites (we really like the Paul Smith one)! The auction closes on the 29th December so be quick :)

In the spirit of Christmas Jumper Day we thought we'd do a roundup of our favourite ethical Christmas jumpers available online this year.

First up we love this super cute skier jumper (£98) - an investment piece made from a soft blend of wool and man-made fibres by ethical fashion retailer Lowie.

Did you know you can now buy clothes from Oxfam online as well as in their charity shops? This festive jumper (£50) is a little more subtle - don't the beads look a little like snowflakes? Oxfam are always updating their stock so it's worth keeping an eye on it :) (they also have a ton of party dresses in stock too if you still need one for your Christmas do!)

This Not For Ponies Christmas jumper (£35) from Not on the High Street combines two of the biggest trends from the last couple of years - Christmas jumpers and moustaches! Good work, guys. They also have a great range of kids and men's Christmas jumpers and all of their stock is handmade in their studio in Manchester. Great stuff!

Of course you can always go for a vintage jumper (try eBay, ASOS Marketplace or our very own Hubbard's Cupboard for some real gems). We especially love this uber tacky 1990s Christmas sweatshirt (£18).

Last but not least, if you're in more of a crafty mood (especially if you have some old jumpers lying around already) Oxfam have posted a fantastic Create your own Christmas jumper tutorial! Christmas Jumper Craft Party, anyone? (If you decide to hold one of these please invite the Ears & Whiskers team!)

We hope we've inspired you with your Christmas shopping selection - remember, a Christmas jumper is for life, not just for Christmas ;)

Love

Sarah