SIX Magazine Global Guide to S&E Fashion Issue

S EN S E.FAS H IO N

Instinct

Editor-in-Chief Alina Rätsep Advertising Director Rita Usanga Design See Studio Associate Editor Rachael Oku Guest Features Editor Claire Lewis Guest Beauty Editor Georgie Wolfinden @ Glowgetter.co.uk Web Editor Victoria Sayce Contributing Photographer Contributing Stylist Contributing Assistant Stylist Contributing Hair & Make Up Artist

Rasha Kahil Tamara Cincik Siam Goorwich Jay Turnbull

Contributing Writers Aindrea Emelife Louise Dear Anne-Louise Fogtmann S&E Guide to Nordics Ann Wang S&E Guide to China Hitomi Ito S&E Guide to Japan Emma Grady S&E Guide to America Chiara Rimoldi S&E Guide to Brazil Joanna Bounds S&E Guide to Australia Samar Sadullah & Adrian Harris @ TALLDARKROAST.COM S&E: Germany Emma Watkinson Top UK S&E Designers Louise @ GetLippie.com High-tech Beauty Laura Yates Get the Glow Jessica Latapie Body Oils & Vanity Case Aneka Chohun SIX Loves Camilla Wellton Viola Levy A Green Getaway Diana Bocco Science of Eating Live Foods Laura Chatterton Raw Model SIX Magazine is published by SIX MAGAZINE LIMITED. Š Copyright 2011 SIX Magazine Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher.

Cover image Model: Tillie from NEVS Models.

Hair and Make Up by Jay Turnball.

Tillie is wearing Dr Noki body.

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Editor’s

Letter Hi, and welcome to the first shiny issue of SIX! We are about the sixth sense of fashion - call it eco, ethical, sustainable, responsible, slow or fair trade. What matters is that the underbelly of fashion is changing its shape. The message has become clear: ethical fashion should no longer be separated from FASHION. We have a long way to go before we reach our ultimate goal of fusing the two together to the point where they become one. So for now we have to somehow identify the industry leaders who are pioneering the idea and bring them to the forefront. It is unfortunate but true - for many, the words green and ethical are a buzz killer. The reaction is ambiguous some run for the hills, others fall asleep. Few stay and see what the deal is. And so, I’d like to introduce S&E fashion, i.e. Sustainable & Ethical brands and designers – for the sole purpose of keeping the readers who are still easily scared off by seeing green in the same sentence with fashion.

In our first issue we’re introducing a scope of S&E brands from around the world – Australia, America, Scandinavia, UK, Canada and Japan among others. We are dedicated to changing the perception of ethical fashion among those who are not yet aware or not interested in the subject, and so we’ve scoured the world to find the best designers and collections to excite you.

This is our first step on a journey of S&E fashion slowly disintegrating into fashion itself. And it’s only going to get better from here on.

Alina Rätsep Editor-in-Chief

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Block Buster Rebecca Taylor

Felder Felder

Rich combinations of fuchsia, turquoise and coral – designers such as Etro, Gucci, Jaeger and Rebecca Taylor infused their summer collections with a generous helping of intense colour and vibrant print.

Written by Claire Lewis SIX 06

t

Etro

Colour boldly shows in clashing blocks, with designers throwing complete caution to the wind with intense colour fusions. Our love affair starts when trends meet sustainability and we’re pleased to see that a bevy of our favourite eco-friendly designers have taken this bold trend on board. Ada Zanditon’s SS11 collection, entitled The Pyramora, is infused with stunning pops of turquoise, vibrant orange and coral pinks. Inspired by pyramids and coral reefs, the prints truly leap off the clothes, adding a new dimension to the designs.

Suno is all about layered print mixes and bright colours – making the brand the perfect advocate of this season’s colourful trend. Max Osterweis established the label in 2008, after more than a decade of collecting textiles during visits to Kenya. The company employs local Kenyan talent, treats workers fairly, and showcases some of Kenya’s artistry, all whilst creating directional and fashion forward collections. Directional designs, avant-garde cuts and stunning prints can be seen in Beautiful Soul’s SS11 collection.

Beautiful Soul adopted the colourful trend for their summer pieces, putting

Ada Zanditon

the focus truly on fun this season! The collection includes a special retro bird print collaboration with textiles designer Polly Hope. Organic luxury fabrics complement the colour palette of bright purple, mustard, pink and blue.

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Ciel

Beautiful Soul

Suno

Camilla Norrback

ON THE RADAR K by Osman

Top London-based designer Osman Yousefzada has joined forces with luxury travel company Kuoni to launch a capsule collection, which will see 100% of the profits going to charity. K by Osman is a limited-edition luxury clothing and accessories collection, created by local artisans in the destination by which it was inspired.

The first item to launch this exciting and vibrant collection is a hand-printed cashmere and silk wrap scarf inspired by India, with the print exclusively designed

by Osman. Featuring a fun and vibrant geometric print, this scarf is the perfect piece to keep the cold at bay on a night out. Money made from each piece sold goes directly to the countries that helped create them, with profits raised by the scarves going to the Children’s Rights in Goa charity. Available online at www.kuoni.co.uk and in Kuoni stores.

Photo Sam Kemp

Yorkshire Pearl

Yorkshire Pearl is an accessories brand with a difference. From fur stuffed bells and antique flutes, to a jumble of vintage buttons, iconic lion head door knockers and other weird and wonderful curiosities, each piece by Yorkshire Pearl is a complete one-off, hand crafted lovingly by the designer known around town as BBERT. All creations are handmade in London, using upcycled and recycled embellishments, and are considered more as works of art than jewellery by those in the know. Spotted on and by such individualists like Telegraph Editrix Hilary Alexander, Liberty Creative Director Jasmine Sewell, Susie Bubble, Yvan Rodic aka The Facehunter, Janice Dickinson and late Isabella Blow’s niece Harriet Verney, Yorkshire Pearl looks set to be the next big thing in sustainable fashion.

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Irene & Jenny

We all come to inherit beautiful pieces of jewellery from loved ones past, and are left with something truly special – not just a unique piece of jewellery, but also a living memory. It’s this turning of sorrow into a positive experience that inspired the creation of new fine jewellery brand, Irene & Jenny. Founded by mother and daughter team, Anita and Amalia Brightley-Hodges, the duo specialise in creating one-off rings from old family gems and keepsakes, finding inventive ways to breathe life into old jewellery to produce an heirloom, which can be passed down to the next generation.

What makes the Irene and Jenny brand truly unique, is that not only will you be getting a piece of jewellery dictated by your personal style and infused with your memories, you also get excellent customer service from this family-run business ensuring above all else that your jewellery will be in safe hands. www.ireneandjenny. co.uk

69b

Image Partimi

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Internationally renowned stylist, designer and ethical advocate Merryn Leslie has worked for some of the world’s leading fashion publications including i-D, EXIT, Italian and British Vogues and US Harper’s Bazaar. Currently working as a designer on her own sustainable womenswear line, AND AGAIN, Leslie is a true fashion maverick.

She recently opened a womenswear boutique, called 69b, in London’s Broadway Market, an area recently tipped by Italian Vogue as being “the hippest place in the world”. 69b showcases contemporary, forward thinking designers and brands that are engaging in sustainability.

Labels available at 69b include White Tent, Lu Flux, A Question Of, BACK by Ann-Sofie Back and many more. Also stocked will be an amazing array of luxury vintage accessories and shoes. AND AGAIN and 69b can be found at: 69b Broadway Market, London, E8 4PH.

Bride Conscious Wonderfully fluid, strong shapes and iconic silhouettes, House of Tammam’s Eco Bridal Couture collection is now available to adorn the bodies of eco and fashion conscious brides.

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The award winning House of Tammam has already gained respect in the fashion industry as one of the most innovative and ethically sound brands currently practicing.

Launched by designer Lucy Tammam in September 2007 all garments are fairtrade, ethically produced, sustainable, vegetarian and environmentally friendly.

Each dress is designed and immaculately tailored to skim and flatter a bride’s body. The beautifully designed garments are inspired by 1930’s glamour, using vintage lace, luxe peace silks and organic cottons, cut to accentuate the female form. Key pieces in the collection include cascading gowns in taffeta and subtly draped dresses complete with small trains – the perfect finishing touch to dresses of such substance.

It’s hard to come by a brand that favours both cutting edge design and ethically conscious foundations, but Tammam does so with such flair and fashion forward credentials, that there truly is no need to compromise style or ethics on your big day. The Tammam Eco-Couture collection is available bespoke from the Tammam Atelier, while the made-to-order and prêt-aporter ranges are available from selected boutiques.

ART

© Washington Green FAPC

Louise Dear Free-spirited, vivid and exciting. It is especially hard to condense all the creative chaos present in Louise Dear’s work into three words.

Written by Aindrea Emelife

The captivating energy infused in her work seems to be mirrored in the artist herself, as her vivacious personality shines through. Dear cites her main influences as Utamaro - the floating world artists - and their influence on the Art Deco period of the early Twentieth Century.

Gazing at works by this artist is definitely a vivid affair, as colour jumps off the page and hits you straight in the face. Dear splatters paint onto the surface to form a piece of art bursting with exuberance and displays an involvement with the complexity of the three dimensional surface, as her pieces are usually painted on aluminium foil. Her body of work is a vibrant and shocking explosion of colour which strikes you from the get-go. Whilst I flick through her pieces my senses are invaded and stimulated, blending into one as I taste the candy colours and hear the paint strokes drag along the aluminium.

Dear has journeyed across the world, including visits to South Africa and the Far East, and her travels seemingly form strong inspirations for her work, absorbing every drop of culture and applying it to her canvas with hints of kawaii and an essence of kitsch. Sensuality is embedded in her pieces, which celebrate the beauty of the female form in a highly romanticised way, stemming to the appreciation of innocence, or lack thereof.

Nymph-like women are entwined with bright flowers, with underlying patterns hinting at the transparency of the paint.

Louise shows a rich intensity in her work, and her passion for painting bleeds into every paint stroke. Louise Dear is a painter who, put simply, loves painting.

She is not afraid of colour, and doesn’t take things too seriously. She leaves us with a sense of optimism, and appreciation of forgotten beauty, which she exposes so literally. A shining beacon of bright, bubbly creativity – Louise, dear, you are fun.

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Š Washington Green FAPC

Camilla Wellton

Global

Guide*to S& E *Sustainable& Ethical Fashion SIX 17

S& E: JAPAN

Nadell

Supported by historically notable traditional dyeing techniques and experts trained under master craftsmanship, Japanese ethical fashion designers are innovative in their approach to creating natural and relaxing pieces that interpret the comfort of ‘connecting with the environment’. Using hand-woven textiles made of natural/organic fibres and dyes, collections tend to be hand-crafted and soft, deftly juxtaposed with deliberate and blunt cutting techniques offering a uniquely Japanese blend of luxury and femininity.

A designer of Korean origin, Yona Kitamura creates simple, casual and natural prêt-a-porter collections with notably sophisticated and eye-catching pattern cuts. With a strong desire to express the comfort and coziness of organic cotton, Kitamura’s primary material of choice, she uses wool and silk fabrics interwoven with organic cotton to convey the feeling of organic nature.

Throughout their collections Nadell utilize subtle and delicate variation in colour favouring naïve greys, blues, pinks, and yellows, all handdyed by Kyoto artisans using traditional plant dyes. www. nadell.jp

Written by Hitomi Ito Several centuries ago there was a deep appreciation of the beauty of nature, whereby Japanese culture openly coveted “wearing” its beauty. Through this desire sensible coloring and dexterous weaving techniques were developed, with ‘Tsuji-ga-hana’ and ‘Kyo-Yu-Zen’ being great examples of such famed techniques, which expressed the humble, modest aesthetics of small wild flowers, using the natural wild flowers themselves to extract dye. Years later, as people came to notice that these techniques were about to be lost - as a result of too much emphasis being placed on economic growth and fast fashion - designers and craftsmen began to collaborate in order to offset the crisis. Reconnections between the locally-skilled artisans and the fashion industry at-large - buoyed in no small part by the consumers - became the natural first step towards the ethical fashion cycle.

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matohu (mah-toe-woo)

Looking at the modern world through the eyes of traditional Japanese aesthetics, designer couple Hiroyuki Horihata and Makiko Sekiguchi pursue new fusions of Western and Japanese styles. Alongside local craftsmen, they carefully study the traditional methods of creating Japanese products - from kimonos to pottery - and re-enact them with Matohu sourced local textiles, fusing the old and new with a strong sense of modernity. Producing airy, silhouette-emphasizing robes and dresses that are poetic and thought-provoking, Matohu’s main focus is on their perception of and preserving the whole beauty of nature. www.matohu.com

Hasuna

Ikkuna/ suzukitakayuki

Ikkuna, meaning ‘window’ in Finnish, was incepted in order to become a window that connects people. Founded by designer Takayuki Suzuki, Ikkuna’s owner firmly believes organic cotton is at its best when taken as closest to the raw material as possible, producing a cacophony of beautiful herbal-dyed pieces in dark grey, navy and sky blue, culminating in sweet and tender collections that extract the full charm of organic cotton, marketing it to an international audience with the addition of elegant ruffles and draping. www.ikkuna.jp

While Hasuna do not produce domestically in their native Japan, their exquisite accessories collections set them apart as pioneers in the Japanese ethical fashion scene. Established as a development-aid company in Rwanda and Belize, the Hasuna supply chain is fully traceable and uses environmentally friendly materials, which are processed for a fair wage by socially disadvantaged people such as streetchildren. With the brand name “Hasuna” meaning “lotus flower”, it perfectly communicates their wish to support local people so they may shine like the lotus flower, and indeed they do. www.hasuna.co.jp

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Kagure (kah-gu-ray)

One of Japan’s most popular fast-fashion companies, “Kagure” - which means “Where people gather” in old Japanese - opened Tokyo’s first green fashion shop in Aoyama. Showcasing an original collection of ethical fashion in collaboration with local designers, herbal dyed organic cotton, linen, wool and silk are used to great effect. Kagure’s main aim is to offer a sanctuary where consumers can simply come, relax and receive an ethical lifestyle experience with no obligation to purchase. www.kagure.jp

The Cosmic Wonder

A new ecological lifestyle project by art project team The Solar Garden COSMIC WONDER Light Source, started in the spring of 2010. With all of their products encompassing both the spheres of fashion and home, goods are 100% organic and chemical-free. The Solar Garden COSMIC WONDER Light Source’s fashion line typifies modern and fresh urbanchic style, further enhanced by a rich palette of delicate colours derived from madder, gardenia, pomegranate, mulberry leaves, rose Bengal, and indigo. www.cosmicwonder.com

S& E: AUSTRALIA Australia is a hotbed of ethical fashion, thanks to the use of organic fabrics, water-based dyes, local manufacturing and hand-printed fabrics. Here are six Australian ethical labels every eco-savvy fashionista needs to know.

Written by Joanna Bounds

Elsom

Founded in 2006 in Sydney’s Surry Hills - a stone’s throw from Bird Textiles - Sam Elsom’s eponymous range uses age-old hand-tailoring techniques to transform the newest in sustainable fabrics. Elsom works alongside sustainable farmers in India to source the finest organic cotton, and has even gone as far as to create sequins from recycled plastics for a range of sequinned leggings. www.elsom.com.au SIX 22

Skin & Threads

Sydney-based label Skin & Threads are well-known for their use of 100 per cent natural fibres, creating long-lasting garments that embody the ethos behind slow fashion, putting their environmental conscience firmly ahead of the temptation to massproduce. Favoured among Hollywood A-listers including Nicole Richie and Isla Fisher, fans lust after Skin & Thread’s signature polo-necks made from cruelty-free Merino wool and fair-trade African-print ruched skirts. www.skinandthreads.com

Bassike

What started as a collection of organic cotton-jersey tees, dresses and trousers, launched by two sunbleached Sydney women in 2006, has been picked up by high-end retailers including Fred Segal and the esteemed e-retailer, Net-a-Porter. com. With the latest range featuring oatmeal vest tops, asymmetric-cut tees and twice-washed tank dresses, the locally manufactured label has grown into a globally renowned brand. www.bassike.com

Bird Textiles

Based in the über-chic Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, Bird Textiles’ fairtrade fabrics are produced in the tropical hinterland of Australia’s famed Byron Bay. Garments are lovingly hand-printed at the company’s Queensland base, using only certified organic cotton and waterbased dyes. The company’s machinists sew utilising the newest technologies in solar powered energy and all gift-wrapping is printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks. www.birdtextile.com.au

Cloth

An independent textile company based in Sydney, Cloth’s fabrics are screenprinted by hand on a long table in a tin shed in the NSW bush. Natural fabrics such as organic hemp, linen and cotton are used to great effect, along with water-based inks and dyes. Founder Julie Paterson is also a dab-hand at transforming her textiles into highly sought-after lampshades and rugs. www.clothfabric.com

Gorman

Australian designer Lisa Gorman launched her Organics range in 2004, with southern hemisphere shoppers falling in love with her soft cotton basics range of tanks, trousers and tunics. Gorman has since gone on to run one of Australia’s greenest labels as her Organics range exclusively uses certified organic yarns and sustainable, recyclable fibres.

Proving that eco is very much a way of life, all Gorman stores run on accredited green power: as the company donates to Friends of the Earth every time a customer turns down a shopping bag, resulting in garment packaging being reduced by 90 per cent. www.gorman.ws

Photo Ben Glezer

S& E: CHINA Whilst not necessarily known first and foremost for its sustainable record, China plays a unique and pivotal role in the world’s luxury market. At present China is responsible for producing one quarter of luxury goods sold globally and it is predicted that its share of global sales in luxury goods and travel is set to account for nearly half of the world market by 2020.

In spite of these impressive figures and demonstration of success in the luxury market, trying to find a luxury brand that originates in China is like trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. Instead, luxury in China is dominated by imported brands from Europe and America, as they are considered to represent high social status and offer better quality and longevity.

Yun Xi

Written by Ann Wang Needless to say, the environmental impact China is making is quite significant. Despite of efficient efforts made by the Chinese government in pushing for a greener economy, when it comes to luxury consumption, awareness for ethical fashion among brands, marketers and consumers is yet to be further developed.

CuR

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Yun Xi

However, there are some signs of hope emerging. A few years ago, ‘environmentally friendly’ became the new buzz word for the new China. In 2008, at around the time of the Beijing Olympic Games, major local press started referring to green as ‘the new black’, hinting that going green might soon be considered as the way forward for China’s burgeoning economy.

Taking their cue from the Olympic spotlight in 2008, Beijing based artisan network and shop brandnü began collaborating with a number of Chinese urban designers and artists to support local charities and organizations, working to re-design rural livelihoods by offering support, resources and better access to emerging urban markets. According to brandnü’s founder Nathan Zhang, who is a designer and community professor, ethical fashion is a very new field in China. “I started a second hand re-design project with Scottish fashion designer Laura Tinley. There were no brands or shops that focused on selling ethical fashion or ethical products so we started something, making brandnü the first, one-of-a-kind charity shop in China.”

With partnership support from big names in urban fashion and art circles, such as Yun Xi (www.yunxidesign.com), Laura Tinley, Zhangna, Wenfang (www. wenfang.org), Martin Banner, Dominic J, No. 223 and Joanna Wang, brandnü successfully brought contracts to NGOs with projects such as 815 bags and Yunxi design to Miaolosophy, introducing jewellery designers to the Unconstrained Art Fair Trade project.

Currie Lee, a South Korean-born Canadian, educated in the US is yet another of China’s great artistic imports bringing fresh, ethical and environmentally conscientious values to the high fashion scene in China. Naming her brand D-SATA by CuR (www.d-sata. com), Lee offers innovative, exquisite

and bold designs which have attracted many a fashionista to the capital of China.

Inspired by her formative years as a lawyer scribbling and sketching on her legal pad, Lee’s later designs are inspired by her journeys as a traveler and hoarder scribbling and sketching in her journal.

Exclusively hand-crafted in Asia’s emerging ‘cottage industry’ by city dwellers and those who live in rural minority-villages, each item is crafted with 100% love and attention, using only the finest in natural and up-cycled materials. D-SATA by CuR employs women who earn a living wage as opposed to a minimum wage, which provides the community with social growth and affords local people the chance to work with dignity.

Another brand hoping to change the ethical face of fashion in China is NLGX, named after Nan Luo Guo Xiang, which is the main hub of street fashion in Beijing.

A heritage brand, inspired by an urban lifestyle, NLGX is the brainchild of Ed and Michael, two men of Chinese origin who founded their progressive brand back in 2008. Growing up in America and Europe respectively, both men have lived in China for the past seven years, sharing a common ground,t striving to preserve both traditional and innovation in sustainable fashion, only working with renewable fabrics for their main line collections.

Hugely influenced by international fashion’s top brands, China has big potential to leapfrog into the ethical fashion market. As the trend for ethical fashion in the West is rising at a steady rate, continuous efforts are being made by both the Chinese government and grassroot creatives to ensure China catches up.

Wen Fang SIX 28

S& E: GERMANY S&E Guide to Germany is a product of collaboration with TALLDARKROAST.COM - an online magazine with the focus set firmly on the hottest trends in fashion. TALL DARK ROAST went to Berlin to give us a scoop of the best in good and ethical fashion from Germany.

Written by Samar Sadullah & Adrian Harris

Lana

A one-woman operation, which has been in the fashion scene for over 20 years, LANA is original, universally identifiable and defines femininity to the very core of its being. Their philosophy of ‘individual, concept and innovation’ has resulted in the brand being one of the most classic, modernised and appreciated eco friendly brands known. Their beautiful collections are inspired through ecological materials, with their range being acutely engaging to the sphere of the fashion friendly world. www.lana-naturalwear.de

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Julia Starp

A young designer from Hamburg Julia Starp specialises in outwear characterised by exquisite details and distinctive cuts.

Starp makes extensive use of sustainable, environmentally friendly materials such as organic cotton, peace silk, hemp and bamboo. The designer is a prolific producer of exclusive, one-of-akind garments in the haute couture category, which have brought her success in numerous competitions, such as the Concours International in the Carroussel du Louvre in Paris. She has also collected newcomer designer awards from burda, Pfaff and Catwork.

Julia Starp puts the emphasis on individuality, exclusiveness and quality.

All items are made exclusively in Europe under ethical conditions. www.juliastarp.net

Ica Watermelon

Ica Watermelon stand by their philosophy of combining emotion to their design with an intricate attention to detail. Ica keeps a central importance to nature and the environment, illustrated in each and every garment.

Founded by German based designer Knupfer, the line is made from natural premium fibres such as organic cotton, silk, linen and wool.

Traditionally handcrafted, the detail is breath taking.

In practice with a sphere of colours, Ica Watermelon create a variety of dazzling, contrasting looks. www.icawatermelon.com

Consequent

Magdelena Schaffrin

Modern luxury is about time, quality and conscience.

Quality means to invest time into a product, into the process of design and manufacture. Magdalena Schaffrin has chosen to invest time into her collection to create a high quality and long lasting product. She has carefully chosen the fabrics - her clothes are made from natural materials almost entirely organic or environmentally certified.

Schaffrin designs in a classic style, with strict lines and clear shapes, giving a lot of attention to detail and material combinations. www.magdalenaschaffrin. com

In the way we perceive wealth and luxury nowadays, values have to be redefined and traditions have to be rethought. Aspects such as quality, honesty and social responsibility edge ever closer to the spotlight.

Distinctive, original and unique, Consequent is a brand that prides itself on delivering excellent, highend clothing, with the loyal stand of acknowledging their social responsibility on par with their ecological responsibilities. Certified according to Global organic textile standard (GOTS), Consequent produces 98% of its clothes in European factories and sewing rooms thereby creating many jobs, besides to the ecological effect of shortened transport routes. www.consequent.org

Mikenke

Loyal to nature and all that surrounds us, MIKENKE create works of art. Liberation is their key objective engaging in realism and separating their designs from a more conventional, conformist approach to fashion. The workshop turns into a laboratory where the human body is examined with artistic sensibility for its sensory perceptions and needs. Determined habits of viewing and wearing are put into question, classical cutting methods are experimented with and new possibilities of material are being explored to ultimately develop a distinct and innovative design language. Stereotype fashion norms are broken with a wink.

Hosting a range of dazzling corsets, knits and inventive geometric enthused jewellery pieces - MIKENKE makes an indelible statement, quite unlike any other. www.mikenke.com

S& E: SCANDINAVIA The Nordics have been at the forefront of ethical living for some time, paving the way for the rest of the world, promoting an abundance of ethical products from skincare and food, to transportation and fashion. So strong is the Nordic belief in sustainable fashion that the organisers of the international fashion weeks across the five Nordic countries have merged to create NICE (Nordic Initiative, Clean and Ethical).

Gunnar Hilmarsson, of Iceland Fashion Week and Andersen & Lauth, says; “In general, Nordic consumers are at the forefront of all environmental and ethical issues, and ethical fashion is no exception. I do not believe it is a ‘trend’ that is taking place. I think we all basically care: for the big companies, they just feel that they have to show responsibility and lead the way and the independent ones [opt for sustainability] out of passion.”

Aymara

Written by Anne-Louise Fogtmann SIX 34

Aymara is the name of the ethnic population indigenous to the Andes across Bolivia, Peru and Chile, and is also the name of the knit-based fashion brand designed by Dane Maria Høgh Heilmann, which since 2006 has made a name for itself as a brand with sustainability at its core. Of Aymara’s fabric choices, Heilmann says, “Our Bolivian producer has created the Cashllama wool we use.

There is no one else in the world that makes it, as it is a relatively new technique.”

Working closely with a local Bolivian community to improve living and working conditions, caring for the natural resources and strengthening trade, Aymara is a Danish brand who is happy to be ethical for the long-haul. www.aymara.dk

Camilla Wellton

Described as ‘a Swedish luxury brand in love with the dream of being the soul in your wardrobe’ by founder Camilla Wellton, the eponymous label is going from strength to strength. The Stockholm-based designer shows her bold, structural and contemporary designs across the Nordics, Paris and London each season. “We use ecological materials for a growing number of styles in our collections, but will not use an ecological material for the sake of simply doing so.

We choose to use one if it has a beauty and quality of the same order of or surpassing that of a traditional textile.” Wellton, who has a background in environmental science, also has a 100% organic line called the Eco Couture line. www.camillawellton.com

Steinunn

Leila Hafzi

Since presenting her debut collection in 1997, Hafzi has been at the forefront of ethical trade, being among the first to produce a collection exclusively comprised of eco garments.

With all production taking place in Nepal, Hafzi ensures control of the eco products and is a member of The Ethical Trading Initiative, an initiative involving firms, employers, organisations, trade unions and NGOs. Marrying the worlds of eco and red carpet glamour, Hafzi and her co-designer Marcus Green are miles from the neutral shades often associated with eco, instead creating rich, colourful garments in the most vivacious shades which are bright, eyecatching and uplifting. www.leila-hafzi.com

Icelandic designer Steinunn Siguroardottir is the founder and creative director of the inspirational, unique and highly popular fashion label Steinunn. Offering a signature collection informed by the local landscape and cultural traditions, Siguroardottir seeks inspiration in nature. Steinunn use natural fabrics and place great importance on visiting their producers and evaluating work conditions on a regular basis. Winning countless awards, exhibiting and teaching worldwide, Steinunn Siguroardottir has many feathers to her bow, previously working for brands such as La Perla Ready To Wear, the Gucci Group, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein prior to setting up her own eponymous label. www.steinunn.com

Neutral

The brand with the most Certified Responsibility in the world, Neutral has been active in the textile industry for the past 20 years. Owned by a Danish family, the brand finally found its feet after years of selling to promotional companies for whom price often came before principle. Neutral decided that this was not a sustainable way forward, opting to instead look for a way to supply high quality products, made to the highest ethical standards possible. Utilising wind power as the main source of energy at their facilities, ecological living runs pure through this basicwear brand, with even the smallest details not being overlooked, such as their buttons, produced from compromised cotton. www.neutral.com

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Noir

Noir states that its mission objective is to create fashionable apparel based on CSR principles in all links of the supply chain, causing no harm, instead emancipating the communities, cultures and environments in which it operates. This 端ber-hot Danish brand has achieved great success and today also owns sister brands BLLACK NOIR and Illuminati II, which all strive to adhere to the principles of the UN Global Compact, the International Labour Organisation and the International Chamber of Commerce, with special attention to supporting the environment, sustaining social ethics and adhering to a sustainable business model. www.noir.dk

S& E: CANADA The S&E guide to Canada has been created in collaboration with Eco Fashion Week Vancouver.

Here, they present their pick of the top SIX Canadian ethical brands

Red Jade

Red Jade is a fashion line that has helped transform the expectations of sustainably produced clothing. Designed and manufactured in Vancouver, Margarita Angelatos takes her design expertise to a new level, opening the door to chic, innovative and sophisticated eco-friendly clothing.

Designed by Angelatos, Red Jade is sophisticated and ultra-feminine clothing that embodies the spirit of a confident women. The line, inspired by European design, is created with the finest in Eco-Luxurious TM fabrics such as hemp, organic cotton, merino wool, silk, and tencel. www.wearredjade.com

Nicole Bridger

Nicole Bridger is a born and bred Vancouverite, running her eponymous and socially conscious contemporary womenswear brand from her beloved hometown in Canada.

Bridger’s beautiful SS11 collection is a representation of her signature style combining sculpted fabric with elegant draping – a style she created whilst cutting her teeth at Vivienne Westwood in London. Only working with sustainable raw materials, Bridger sources locally whenever possible and uses low impact dyes in order to reduce her environmental impact. In 2010, Bridger became the first recipient of the Fashion Takes Action (FTA), Fashion Designer Forward award in which she was touted as Canada’s top eco designer. www.nicolebridger.com

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Harricana Par Mariouche

Harricana Par Mariouche (Montreal, Quebec) specialise in high-quality fashion and apparel that is manufactured locally, whilst also specialising in the recycling of old furs which has saved the lives of more than 600,000 animals over the past 15 years. Recycling furs has also enabled Harricana Par Mariouche to extend the life of more than 60,000 coats, silk scarves, cashmere scarves and wedding gowns.

While also reworking vintage clothing, the folks of Harricana have given gorgeous materials a second life, transforming them into unique pieces that are truly one-of-a-kind.

Almost 90% of the fur and textiles Harricana Par Mariouche use comes from Quebec, with its manufacturing also based within the province. It is a well-known fact that racoon, otter and beaver fur is so solid and durable that it can last up to 100 years, making it increasingly valuable.

While fur is controversial, the people of Harricana Par Mariouche have found an innovative and creative way to continue to incorporate fur into fashion, boycotting the continuous killings of animals, instead utilising vintage furs to great effect. www.harricana.qc.ca

Kdon

Dagg & Stacey

Dagg and Stacey’s vision is a subtle balance of enduring, effortless style, quality craftsmanship and femininity. Based in Toronto, Dagg and Stacey began by producing limited run collections primarily made from recycled materials and vintage fabrics. The company designs and manufactures their line exclusively in Toronto in collaboration with local independent traders to a high standard of construction.

Dagg & Stacey also seek out only quality natural and innovative sustainable fabrics, taking a socially and environmentally conscious approach to fashion. www.daggandstacey.com

Kdon by Kim Cathers is a fresh line of clothing that is inspired by the earth and natural environment, created with the joy of imagination and finished with precise hand detailing. A story of the designer’s mind, the AW11 Kdon collection is full of dark shapes lined with contrasting colour, enabling designs to dance, drape and fluidly flow around the form. Viewing it as an extension of herself, Cathers describes her collection as dark, divided, confident, feminine and fearless. Cathers designs are a breath of fresh air with her innovative style giving eco fashion a new, stronger voice. In 2008, Cathers was a finalist on Project Runway Canada, a great personal achievement which helped to promote awareness and popularity of both her own line and its environmentally minded cause to a national audience. www.kimcathers.com

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Nixxi

Based in British Columbia’s beautiful gulf island, Salt Spring Island, Nixxi’s designer Jada-lee Watson creates an aesthetic that fuses contrasts: structural lines with casually draped silhouettes, soft knits with textured weaves, simple refined classics with edgy contemporary cuts. Placing an emphasis on achieving a great fit, Watson creates designs that are versatile and can be easily individualised by the wearer’s own personal style, made using the highest quality sustainable fabrics and production methods.

Fabric texture plays a major role in the inspiration for Watson’s seasonal collections, with an array of exciting knitwear made from organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, soy, lyocell, organic wool, silk and linen. Taking her fabrics from fibres grown without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, or from fast growing renewable crops, Watson is a true eco pioneer .

Nixxi’s SS11 collection takes us to the Caribbean with the lightness and simplicity of sandy beaches overlooking a sea of cool blues and greens. This season it’s all about blending simplicity with strong details: choose from pleated shorts, exposed zips, rouched dresses, and tops featuring illustrations by guest artist Camilla d’Errico. www.nixxi.ca Photo Nirrimi

S& E: UNITED STATES Ethical fashion - like seasonal trends - is constantly changing.

As more designers consider the life cycle of a garment and its impact on the environment, innovations in design and manufacturing processes continue to be developed.

Yet, the lack of industrywide regulation means it is the designers who determine what ethical fashion is for their brand – rendering ethical fashion only as strong as the designers who embrace it.

The following fashion brands - from a designer label using a revolutionary fabric dyeing technique to a slow fashion label revitalizing artisan craftsmanship in the South - represent a snapshot of ethical fashion in America today.

Loomstate

Founded on the premise of creating a higher demand for organic cotton, Loomstate designers Rogan Gregory and Scott Mackinlay Hahn have been crafting casual men’s and women’s clothing with modern appeal since 2004. The New York-based label manages all stages of their manufacturing process in-house to guarantee responsible production and fair labour practices. Fully committed to organic farming, Loomstate uses 100% certified organic cotton from various regions of the world, including Peru, Africa, and the USA. In 2009, Loomstate brought eco-fashion to mass markets with their limitededition collection of casual wear for big-box retailer, Target. The previous year, Gregory’s eponymous line, Rogan for Target, was the first Target GO International collection to use certifiedorganic clothing.

Written by Emma Grady

www.loomstate.org SIX 42

Organic by John Patrick

For John Patrick of Organic, fashion is a political statement. An outspoken front-runner in the ethical fashion world, and respected by the fashion industry at-large (the designer was recognised with the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation’s 2010 Sustainable Design Award), Patrick has championed the use of botanical dyes, digital printing techniques and the sourcing of recycled fabrics and organic wool yarns for several years.

Since the creation of his label, Patrick has cultivated direct relationships with his suppliers: from organic farm collectives in Peru, where he sources cotton and handspun alpaca wool, to a small family-owned mill in Italy, which produced the intricate embroidered white lace found in the Organic SS11 collection.

www.organicbyjohnpatrick.com

Photo: Marcio Madeira

Linda Loudermilk

Costello Tagliapietra

Costello Tagliapietra designers Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra employ their patternmaking and tailoring skills crafting couture garments for a high-profile clientele, including Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey, and Nicole Kidman. Costello Tagliapietra are true pioneers in sustainable fashion. For their SS10 collection, Costello Tagliapietra debuted AirDye®, a revolutionary technique enabling them to dye and print onto fabric without the use of water. Their unique process offers no compromise and has seen the brand go from strength to strength, creating signature styles which combine balanced drapery and form-fitting silhouettes with injections of vibrant colour and patterns inspired by nature. www.costellotagliapietra.com

From traffic-stopping statement t-shirts to form-fitting couture evening gowns, Linda Loudermilk’s designs - with their dramatic edge and punk-rock appeal - are not for the faint-hearted.

Loudermilk founded her eponymous fashion label, comprised of a couture, ready-to-wear, denim, t-shirt, and jewellery line, out of a desire to create fashion with a soul. A pioneer of merging luxury and sustainability, Loudermilk coined the term “luxury eco”.

Meticulous when it comes to researching sustainable textiles, Loudermilk has been experimenting with and promoting the use of organic cotton, bamboo, seaweed, and recycled plastic bottles since 2002. www.lindaloudermilk.com

photo Robert Rausch

Alabama Chanin

Designer Natalie Chanin is revitalising the art of detailed craftsmanship with her hand-made slow fashion label Alabama Chanin. Using new, organic, and recycled materials, Chanin produces her label in seasonal, as well as limited-edition, runs. From form-fitting jackets to free-flowing skirts, each piece offers superior quality and intricate detailing such as stenciling and beading.

With all organic materials sourced entirely in the US, Alabama Chanin epitomizes local fashion with homegrown heart and soul. www.alabamachanin.com

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Isoude

Isoude’s timeless gowns and ready-to-wear separates exude elegance and glamour. Katie Brierly approaches garment manufacturing in a slow and sustainable manner employing local textile cutters and sewers in New England. Seasonal collections are comprised of tailored jackets and pants, hand-dyed silk shift dresses with hand-cut silk detailing, sweeping floor-length gowns and wedding dresses in a subtle color palette with bursts of vibrant colour such as cochineal and royal blue.

Working from her studio in Rhode Island, Brierly masters each stage of the dyeing process by hand using plantderived dyes and textiles such as silk, organic cotton, wool, and hemp-silk. In May 2010 Brierly’s designs were featured in an exhibition, Eco Fashion, at The Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York – cementing her position as one of America’s ethical fashion pioneers. www.isoude.com

S& E: BRAZIL As the geo-political map of the world is shifting - much like the melting Polar icecaps - the incipient economic crisis is blowing the global house of cards, putting emerging countries - often left out - firmly under the spotlight. Two such countries in particular have seen a revival, and have coincidentally been touched with Olympic gold: if China is considered the factory of the world, Brazil is the very lungs of it.

Stretching over 8.5 million square metres, Brazil is home to the world’s largest forest ecosystem: the Amazon.

Nourished by a fifth of the world’s fresh water, it’s only natural that the local economy is starting to invest in its biggest resource - the environment.

Replacing bio-fuel with natural cosmetic, Brazil’s green conscience has reached the sophisticated realm of its fashion industry, prompting leading designers to combine the glamour they’re revered for with sustainability and ethics.

Written by Chiara Rimoldi

Raiz da Terra

Best known for their vast array of beautiful dresses, Raiz da Terra Green Co. pride themselves on working with the newest in sustainable fabrics. One such fabric is ‘Tecno-Bamboo’, seen as symbol of energy and happiness.

A 100% bio-degradable fibre, with anti-bacterial and deodorizing properties, it also boasts antiUV protection, a high capacity of absorption and evaporation and is extremely durable. Waging a war on landfill, dresses are also made from a 50/50 fabric mixture of recycled plastic bottles (made into a yarn called ‘Eco-Pet’), and cotton, creating a soft, breathable and comfortable fabric. www.raizdaterra.com SIX 46

Natural Cotton Color

Natural Cotton Color is a brand from Paraiba, a northern state of Brazil, known for its textile industry and for its weaving tradition. Natural Cotton works with over 200 local artisan specialised in the ancient art of knotting, called macramé, weaving, embroidering, knitting and complex crochet techniques such as frivolitê de Orobó.

Local female convicts are involved in the production process, three days of work equals a deduction of 24 hours of the sentence to be served.

Natural Cotton, which recently debuted at Rio-à-Porter (event within the Fashion Rio), works exclusively with fashion products made from naturally coloured cotton. www.naturalcottoncolor.com. br

Será O Benedito

Será O Benedito is one of the pioneers in low impact urban footwear and sweatshopfree environment. Orivan Pavan started the São Paulo based company in 1995 by recycling truck tarpaulin into fashionable bags, clothes, shoes and even furniture. www.shopsob.com.br

SHOPPING Puma by Hussein Chalayan Fairtrade Scarf, £45

Julie Verhoeven Mirrored Face Digital Print Scarf, £40

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Tie the Knot The Fairtrade Foundation has teamed up with 14 designers including Julie Verhoeven, Marios Schwab, Holly Fulton and Hussein Chalayan for Puma for Fairtrade Collective to create a bespoke range of highly desirable, beautifully made scarves made from Fairtrade certified cotton, grown by farmers in Cameroon, Senegal, Mali and India. Using digital print techniques, each scarf bears the individual handwriting of the designer. The scarves are available from ASOS, prices start at ÂŁ40.

Holly Fulton Skyscraper Digital Print Scarf, ÂŁ40

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SHOPPING Treasure Hunt

Pack up your kirks and backpacks and embark on the treasure hunt of your life. Alexandra Abraham pieces are made with the ancient finds that the River Themes washes up on its shores, including beautiful china and hundred year-old coins. Ute creates her mesmerising jewellery with fair-trade gold and recycled silver, and of course every treasure hunter must own at least one iconic panama hat. Make yours Pachacuti!

PURE double ring by Ute Decker Fairtrade Ecological gold For stockists & prices contact www.utedecker.com

Photo Elke Bock

The Emperor’s Pavement (44x33cm), framed Acrylics, mixed media and 23 carat gold leaf £1400 www.alexandraabraham.co.uk

Rivington Rucksack Upcycled fair trade coffee sack, soft grain leather £185 www.lostpropertyoflondon.com

Mobius Arm Sculpture 100% recycled silver For prices: www.utedecker.com

Photo Elke Bock TSIX 50

Hasani Muilt Strand Necklace Designed by Pippa Small £450 (made to order) www.made.uk.com

Belmont Leather Eco Messenger Upcycled soft grain leather £210 www.lostpropertyoflondon.com

Bangles £325 each www.alexandraabraham.co.uk

Fedora Llano Weave Grade 8 by Pachacuti £99.50 www.panamas.co.uk SIX 51

Sense

Photographer: Rasha Kahil Stylist: Tamara Cincik Hair & Make Up: Jay Turnbull Assistant Stylist: Siam Goorwich Models: Tillie at NEVS Eva at Sapphires

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Body Noki Noir

Body Noki Noir Trousers Elena Antoniades

Dress Bora Aksu Boots Nina Dolcetti

Trousers and Ring Ada Zanditon Top Edun from Browns Focus Jacket Mishka vintage

Leather trousers Ada Zanditon Top Edun from Browns Focus Boots Nina Dolcetti

Dress Noki Noir

Dress Tiffany Amber

Dress Camilla Wellton Headpiece Worn With Love

Lingerie Nichole de Carle

Lingerie Nichole de Carle Shirt Bora Aksu

Jumpsuit Remodelled vintage

by Mishka vintage Boots Nina Dolcetti

Dress Mishka Vintage

The battle between organic and hightech skin care is truly on. Should we use what’s good, or what works, or better still – the combination of the two? As with any leather-related subject, the answer is never straightforward. When it comes to skin care, the end decision is truly personal to the skin owner.

We asked two experts in relative fields to share their tried and tested favourites with us. Louise from GetLippie.com is our high-tech expert, presenting her top pick of ‘what works’ products, while our Guest Beauty Editor Georgie from Glowgetter. co.uk shares her top six favourite organic brands in the same skin care categories.

The choice is yours.

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V

V Organic High-Tech Glowgetter

Get Lippie

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ORGANIC

BODY

HAIR

LIPS

I am a big fan of the Jurlique range. The products are not only natural - they offer real results and do what they say on the tin. All of the ingredients used in the products are grown on their biodynamic farms in Australia, which ensures products have a maximum ‘life force’ or living energy.

Their lovely Jasmine Body care lotion is a real luxury - I am a big fan of jasmine infused products and this is one of the best I have yet to come across. The powerful blend of Jasmine, honey and marshmallow helps to firm, hydrate and protect the skin leaving it baby soft and smelling of fresh jasmine bliss! www.jurlique.co.uk

Ditching your chemicalfilled shampoos and conditioners is often not easy. Why? Well these large companies spend millions making sure they work and don’t weigh your hair down, although they fail to tell consumers that they’re often filled with nasty chemicals which are not great for your health.

The good news is that the innovative Masters hair-care range is natural and it works wonders on all hair types.

Expect gorgeous smells, high quality ingredients and your hair to be returned to its former glory. One of the best products in the range is the Honey and Hibiscus shampoo which transforms tired, dull hair to shiny, gorgeous tresses and smells of heaven. www.glowgetter.co.uk

If your lips are feeling a little worse for wear then invest in a great natural lip treat. One of my favourites is the Cowshed’s rich Lippy Cow natural lip balm. It smells gorgeous and has a nice rich texture, perfect for parched smackers.

The essential oil based ingredients include linden blossom (which protects and nourishes), rose geranium (which works to rejuvenate), and ylang ylang (which stimulates circulation). Lips have never felt so soft. www.cowshedonline.com

Jurlique Jasmine Bodycare lotion - Hydrates the skin and leaves a gorgeous scent

John Masters Honey and Cowshed’s Lipp Cow lip Hibiscus shampoo – Repairs balm – Nourishes and damaged + lifeless hair plumps your pout

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HIGH TECH

LIPS

HAIR

A hydrating lip gel chockfull of hydrating and easily-absorbed fatty acids, this lip balm has been a revelation in the Lippie household. It moisturises from the second you apply it, and doesn’t feel waxy, oily or sticky, and the moisturising effect lasts throughout the day. It’s just perfect to use under lipstick too, I prefer the original unflavoured version, but the newly released Mojito flavour is a winner too. www.malinandgoetz.com

Frizzy hair is the bane of many an existence, and this lightweight serum changed my life - and my hair - for the better. Silicone weighs the hair down slightly and pulls out the frizz, but this is no ordinary silicone.

A secret combination of silicones in this serum work to penetrate the hair and force out excess water, so as well as fighting frizz, it makes your blow-dry quicker too. If you can’t face a blow-dry, then opt for an air-dry and you’ll see the same smoothing results. www.paulmitchell.com

Malin + Goetz Lip Moisturizer – Hydrates and moisturises

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum – Smoothes and softens

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BODY

Biotherm Oil Therapy Baume Corps – Combats dry skin and leaves you feeling fresh and revitalised Made with musk rose, passion flower and lashings of apricot oils, this lightly scented lotion sinks in beautifully to leave skin smooth, silky and moisturised all day.

Upon application it sinks in without a trace of oiliness and replenishes your skin’s lipid layer with vitamin F. I find it deals with tricky areas such as knees, elbows and heels perfectly well, leaving them softened, without being greasy. This product also doubles up as a perfect hand cream. www.biotherm.co.uk

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FACE MOISTURISER

Ila Rainforest Renew Day Cream – Makes skin more radiant Cult beauty brand Ila have just launched their new Rainforest renew range which contains powerful, natural ingredients straight from the Amazon.

The Rainforest Renew Day cream is a light and easily absorbed and works to replenish the complexion by improving microcirculation in skin cells, reducing inflammation and strengthening collagen fibres. Leaves skin feeling soothed and looking radiant and rested. www.ila-spa.com

FACE CLEANSER

COR soap – Clears up acne and congested skin

STAR BUY

Arcona Youth serum – Plumps and repairs the skin

A-list favourites ARCONA There are so many cleansers are brilliant at formulating products that are effective out there that claim to help but also natural and cold problem skin but the COR pressed. This powerful antisoap is a saviour for acne aging serum is one of the prone, hormonal and skin best repair products I have that is generally unhappy. tried, helping to prevent Packed full of natural photo-aging, fine lines and ingredients, with the main loss of elasticity, whilst one being silver - which is repairing age-damaged fast emerging as one of the most effective anti-bacterial skin. The end result is more luminous, firmer, youngeragents with cell repairing looking skin. And if you properties available – this product is brilliant news for have been basking in the sun too long it also helps to acne suffers. The magical combat the damaging effects silver suds promise to of UVA/UVB rays, whilst heal, cleanse and brighten stimulating collagen and even the most congested elastin growth. complexions, while helping www.arcona.com to replenish collagen, protect from UV damage and help skin retain moisture.

There is often a waiting list for this über product, so be prepared to wait. www.glowgetter.co.uk SIX 74

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HIGH TECH

FACE MOISTURISER

FACE CLEANSER

Collin Resultime Collagen Clarisonic – The ultimate in Regenerating Gel – Plumps efficient cleansing and firms the skin A cheat, perhaps! But, the This is a deliciously Clarisonic is about as highsoft pink gel containing tech as cleansing can get. vectorised ‘micro’ collagen Based on the same sonic alongside a group of fifteen technology as your sonic ‘skin identical’ molecules, toothbrush, a Clarisonic aiming to provide a unit with cleanse up to six brightening boost for dull, times more efficiently than tired skin. Designed to be your cleanser alone, and used as a primer as well as provides all the exfoliation a moisturiser, I’ve found you will ever need. Truly, that this plumped and this has changed my skin for firmed my lacklustre skin in the better; a life without my a very short period of time. unit is now unthinkable as a I’m hoping that it will also result. Whilst it won’t lessen provide some long-term your wrinkles (alas), your benefits too. A keeper – as skin will never feel as clean, far as I’m concerned. velvety and smooth any www.collin.ltd.uk other way. www.clarisonic.co.uk

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STAR BUY

Sisley Flower Mask – Breathes life into tired and dehydrated skin This is my ultimate Sunday night treat. Stuffed with iris extract, and more of that pesky Vitamin F, this is perfect for providing the ultimate moisture boost when your skin is feeling a little the worse for wear.

It’s also really handy to use ‘the morning after the night before’ as it is designed to get nutrients and moisture to the layers of your skin in super-quick time, and it can be removed after just three minutes – a total lifesaver. www.sisley-cosmetics.com

Loves...

Based in sunny California, Raquel Allegra is an artisan who made her name by creating one-of-a-kind designs from reclaimed LA County Jail T-shirts. Each of her creations is cleverly cut, dyed, sewn and then deconstructed – all by hand. The resulting finely shredded shirts are hard-core flirty, revealing an ample amount of skin whilst retaining the wearer’s modesty.

In creating her signature shredding technique that has now become synonymous with the namesake label, Raquel Allegra has introduced a wealth of elegance to the once basic tee. The ethereal and informal beauty of the pieces has garnered instant admiration from celebrities, editors, stylists and savvy consumers from Los Angeles to Beirut.

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Allegra’s SS11 collection is inspired by a dream of an African Safari, enhanced by the use of muted colours such as rust, ecru and stone. Screenprinted line drawings inspired by tribal shields further evoke the African mood.

With seven seasons of production thus far, the Raquel Allegra label can be found internationally in boutiques such as Barney’s NY, Lane Crawford, Liberty of London, Harvey Nichols, and for her global audience, Net-a-Porter. com.

Camilla Wellton

When it comes to the perfect dress there is no better choice than Camilla Wellton’s The Cepheid dress. Made from organic cotton from Le Chanvrier in Belgium, the dress is hand-woven and made exclusively using natural methods, and the result is absolutely breath-taking.

Wellton deftly draws out the garment’s bolder side, adding a delicate neckline and flared wing-like sleeves elegantly connected at the back. The gorgeous shade of white enhances the beauty of this piece and the alluring charm it holds, giving the dress a rare and ethereal quality. Pure and beautifully angelic, The Cepheid is simple yet astonishingly exquisite, and is a dream piece for anyone on a hunt for a dress with a difference.

The Science of

Eating Live Foods If the term “raw food” brings to mind cave men sinking their teeth into freshly-caught prey, you might be in for a surprise. Raw foodists will be the first to tell you that raw foods are healthy because they’re alive and teeming with nutrients. If you cook foods to a temperature higher than 46ºC, nutrients are destroyed.

Raw foods, on the other hand, are full of live enzymes, which help your body to break down and absorb nutrients better.

Written by Diana Bocco

Image: SAF Restaurant - Raw Pizza Trio

So Is It Easy?

There is however, another, more obvious advantage to a raw food diet. Most raw foodists subscribe to a vegan or vegetarian diet based on plant foods (although some include raw meats, unpasteurized dairy and raw eggs).

According to registered dietician Andrea Giancoli, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, this “type of plant-based diet has been shown to decrease the risk of chronic disease and obesity. Most people aren’t eating enough whole plant foods, but raw foodists have a leg up on the general public due to the nature of their diet.”

Image: SAF Restaurant Raw Almond Caper Pate

How to Do it Right

Many raw foodists aren’t 100% raw because it can be very time consuming and expensive to get right. To make the most of a raw diet, Giancoli recommends aiming for balance. A combination of 75% raw and 25% cooked foods is more practical and easier to manage for many people.

When it comes to the question of eating meat, advice becomes more conflicted. Some diets, known as paleo diets, advocate eating raw meat because of its high content of B vitamins. However, experts disagree and point out the high risk of ingesting harmful bacteria. Wellness expert Latham Thomas, who counsels women in holistic living, stresses that this is a major drawback of eating raw meat. “There is so much contamination in the food system when it comes to animals that you can’t be sure whether yours was sourced from a clean environment and not injected with harmful hormones and antibiotics.”

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In a word, no, however it’s not rocket science either. According to registered dietician and certified strength and conditioning specialist Brian Zehetner, some call the raw diet difficult, but that’s only because it’s such a deviation from the norm. Focusing on salads, fruits, and nuts, and then gradually moving to grains and other foods can make the transition a lot easier.

How hard the process is depends partly on how you were eating before the change. If your idea of eating veggies is getting a baked potato as a side dish to your steak, then you’re in for a lot more work. Giancoli says turning raw requires “quite a learning curve”. If you’re going at it full-speed, you’ll end up investing quite a bit of time and money in the process. You’ll need special equipment to dehydrate, blend and soak items. A quick look at any raw recipe book will tell you that you also need to start trying unusual (and expensive) ingredients like maca, raw carob and sea vegetables. Of course you can always opt to take an easier route such as learning how to sprout beans using a glass jar and photosynthesis from your windowsill.

In sum, there’s no science to eating raw with the key being to simply focus as much as possible on uncooked, unprocessed foods. “Change is always difficult”, says Zehetner, “but if you talk to raw foodies, they’ll tell you it gets easier and easier. The goal is to introduce raw food gradually and, as you do, advocates say that your body will start to crave more and more raw food.” After all, eating raw is a philosophy and lifestyle as much as it is an eating plan.

SIX Loves…

London’s finest raw food restaurant SAF. SAF’s food is 100% botanical with no animal products, dairy, refined or processed ingredients. Everything on SAFs menu uses only the purest seasonal plant based ingredients, locally sourced and organic where possible.

The result is a culinary experience that simply bursts with real, natural flavour and nutrition. Tip: don’t miss Saf’s cheese board. Pesto au poivre, mixed herb ricotta, olive tapenade and sundried tomato cashew cheeses contain no dairy, haven’t been cooked in the process, and are very likely the most wonderful thing we have tasted this year so far. www.safrestaurant.co.uk

Image: SAF Restaurant - Raw Quiche

Style and sustainability go hand in hand.

Not just a passing trend, ethical fashion is here to stay and has planted its roots firmly in the British fashion industry. Fashion of the new millennium is promoting a conscious message about the environment and is changing our perspectives about sartorialism and our individual and collective social responsibility. With British heritage brands enjoying renewed success at present, it’s hardly surprising then, that home-grown designers are flying the flag full mast for ‘eco chic’. Here SIX names our top six British ethical designers who not only design with a sustainable economy in mind, but strive to innovate within the luxury market, making us ditch convenient fast-fashion fixes in favour of style with a clean conscience.

Written by Emma Watkinson

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Top SIX British

S& E

* Designers *Sustainable& Ethical SIX 83

No.

One

Ada Zanditon

Ada is no stranger to pushing the envelope.

Having honed her skills whilst interning for British fashion stalwarts Alexander McQueen and Gareth Pugh, in 2008 the young London College of Fashion graduate made her mark on the international fashion scene after showcasing at the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris winning an award for the creativity of her debut collection. After taking part in Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s “Ones to Watch” in 2009 at London Fashion Week, Zanditon’s unique kaleidoscopic prints and body-con structures won her praise from editors and fashion critics alike. Moreover, it was the strong ethics behind her design work that marked Zanditon as a true eco pioneer among the emerging design talent of her generation.

Believing that the sustainability of her clothes is paramount, Zanditon has attracted a legion of fans with her bold creations made from recycled denim yarn, reclaimed polyester and organic cotton – ensuring everything is produced under strict fair-trade standards.

Zanditon’s AW10 collection cleverly named “Echolocation” was born from her fascination with the journey bats make through the twilight realm, navigating their path using sound exclusively. Producing an array of vibrant prints juxtaposed with sharp secondskin tailoring, Zanditon gained instant acclaim with her pledge to donate 10% of the profits to the Bat Conservation Trust – showing ethical designers the world over how to give back to the environment that so inspires eco fashion.

With an interest in the environment that goes far beyond mere conservation, season after season Zanditon wows with her inspired take on the natural world. Creating a stunning and highly conceptualized collection for SS11, “The Pyramora” demonstrates the scope and potential of Zanditon’s capabilities, knowing no bounds. Certainly a more evolved look, Zanditon’s sense of street-smart urbanity combined with a talent for creating architectural shapes has resulted in a collection that is truly avant-garde yet also highly wearable. For SS11, the pièces de résistance came from the collaboration with jewellery designer Luca Romanyi. Zanditon’s colourful print work has been translated onto triangular tiles made from eco resin, dramatically combined with Swarovski crystals and leather to stunning effect.

The designer’s ambition propels her efforts in biomimicry – to continue to emulate and be inspired by the world around her and recreate it on the world’s fashion stage in a way that benefits the environment and actively promotes sustainability. Ada Zanditon is currently stocked throughout Europe and America and the brand looks to expand overseas into key fashion markets: Singapore, China and Russia. The future certainly looks bright for this rising star and we wait with bated breath for what AW11 has in store, with adventures of Antarctica and extremophiles billed as the designer’s latest inspiration.

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No.

Two

Beautiful Soul

Nicola Woods, the woman behind the luxury womenswear (and more recently menswear) label Beautiful Soul has already struck chords among fashion’s elite. Short-listed for the Hospital Club 100 Award 2010, winner of the Ethical Fashion Forum’s INNOVATION award and a finalist at Fashioning the Future, this Notting Hill-based label is the epitome of breathtaking fashion with a heart.

At the core of the brand’s history is Nicola Wood’s unequivocal passion for up-cycling traditional Japanese kimonos. The designer’s innovative methods of converting these emblematic garments into coats, jackets, skirts and signature boleros - within the strictures of 28 cm of fabric - push the concept of design to the very limits of creativity.

A former insurance broker-turned-designer, Wood’s concentrates on the longevity factor in her clothing, creating multi-function garments that are timeless and make beautiful additions to any wardrobe. Entitled “Believe”, Beautiful Soul’s SS11 collection is a beacon of proof that

ethical fashion can tick the right trend boxes, and can do much more than merely convey the ethos of sustainability. Flirting with this season’s romantic and feminine inspiration of the 1950’s siren in the style of Madmen and style icon Grace Kelly, the result is a delicate and playful collection of vintage prints in a host of luxury organic fabrics. Particularly lovely is the retro bird print contributed by eco textile designer Polly Hope.

Woods’ genius and determination allows her to operate a strictly zero-wastage policy which has resulted in an exquisite range of corsets constructed entirely of leftover fabrics – testament to Woods’ creative talents and ethical design savoir faire. Opting out of LFW for SS11, Beautiful Soul instead created a fashion film to showcase the collection, with great results. In the film the Beautiful Soul woman tentatively wanders through a painted world of soft colours and dreams – an extension of the design ethic of this ever-developing brand.

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No.

Three

Henrietta Ludgate This young Scottish designer has managed to build a strong reputation as a creative force in luxury womenswear already counting the Ethical Fashion Innovation Award, a nomination for Young Scottish Designer of the Year, and a finalist position for the British Council’s Young Creative Entrepreneur of the Year among her achievements. Also short-listed for the British Fashion Council’s ELLE New Talent Award, last season saw massive interest in her designs leading to a successful increase in international sales.

A Central Saint Martins graduate, before setting up her eponymous label, Henrietta Ludgate refined her talent for structural design whilst freelancing as a costume designer for Channel 4 and the BBC. Describing the wearer of her clothes as “elegant, wonderfully fun and a little bit different”, Ludgate centres her design ethos on supporting traditional Scottish craftsmanship, sourcing and producing all

garments locally. While her showroom is based in the heart of London, the designer works from her studio in the Scottish Highlands, infusing each collection with traditional heritage, underpinning Ludgate’s unique design ethic.

The SS11 collection is an exploration of the bright and vivid colours of ‘Aurora Borealis’ or as they are more commonly known, the Northern Lights, honing Ludgate’s sophisticated style with playful and dynamic sharp lines and draped tailoring to closely follow the contours of the body. Her AW11 inspiration paints a Narnia-esque picture of ice maidens, wicked witches and snow queens with a hint of luxe furs taking centre stage. Henrietta Ludgate is a rare talent in the fashion industry of the new millennium, and it’s her invested interest in creating heritage pieces whilst supporting her local community that marks her above her “faster” fashion contemporaries.

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No.

Four

Izzy Lane Izzy Lane, the high quality knitwear label works with one clear purpose in mind – to prevent the unnecessary slaughter of British wool sheep. Whilst researching wool farming methods, founder Isobel Davies was devastated to find that 80% of the wool we use in the UK is imported from Australia and New Zealand, with British farmers resorting to burning spare wool as the selling price did not always cover the overall cost of shearing.

Determined to re-work this poor economic model, Davies set up a ‘Sheep Sanctuary’ where unwanted sheep are rescued and ethically raised to produce wool. Her luxury knitwear is spun from the kemp-free wool of primitive Shetland sheep, whose wool is left un-dyed to preserve the natural colours, with all cashmere made from the fibre of Scottish cashmere goats, also reared by Davies. At the heart of Izzy Lane’s brand philosophy is the belief in the importance of monitoring the whole garment manufacturing process; from

how the sheep are cared for, shearing the wool, spinning, weaving and knitting.

The brand’s efforts towards the environment and promoting, quite literally, home-grown produce have not gone unnoticed. In 2008 Izzy Lane was awarded the Re: Fashion’s Re: Designer of the Year Award and was also Small Fashion Retailer winner at the RSPCA’s Good Business Awards.

Davies operates a network of hand-knitters who lovingly craft the luxury wool and cashmere collections in North Yorkshire and there is a story behind everyone working for the brand, usually families who have been spinning and weaving for generations. With a revived interest in British heritage brands that has seen stunning collaborations between Anya Hindmarch and Barbour, Davies’ design ethos is at the forefront of contemporary trends with her riding-style jackets, slouchy cable knits, charming berets and wool suits offering the personification of country luxe.

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No.

Five

Nina Dolcetti At Nina Dolcetti the ethical design process centres on the increasingly trendy method of up-cycling. Head Designer, Elisalex de Castro graduated from Cordwainers in 2005 and within three years had launched her own brand.

Known to her family as ‘Nina’, de Castro’s ethical policy aims to attack what she sees as wastefulness in the fashion industry.

Praised by her critics and contemporaries, de Castro shows at Estethica during LFW and is now part of their mentoring programme.

Her “little sweets” (the literal translation of Nina Dolcetti), or shoes as we know them, are constructed to reuse off-cuts and unwanted pre-consumer waste, whilst the heels are formed with sustainably sourced wood and the soles are made from recycled leather. More recently, de Castro has also introduced a series of ethically sourced vegetable tanned leather.

Handmade in a small factory in East London,

every detail of the design and manufacturing process at Nina Dolcetti is consciously thought out in such a way that stunning, innovative fashion-forward footwear is made with the environment in mind.

The shoes themselves are a dream to any self-proclaimed footwear aficionado. They are elegant yet constantly striving to push boundaries. Often on the cusp of avant-garde, they truly deserve their place in the modern woman’s wardrobe. Focusing on the lines of feminine symmetry, de Castro seeks to extend shape by creating a unique curved wedge with a reverse instep, resulting in sensually flattering shoes. Not only are there sound ethics that underpin this brand, but also the uniqueness and exploration of structure within the design is what differentiates Nina Dolcetti from its counterparts.

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No.

Six

Olga Olsson Ruth Ferguson is the creative force behind high fashion swimwear brand, Olga Olsson.

Named after her grandmother who acts as Ruth’s inspiration for “glamour and compassion”, the label employs artisans from the towns and favelas of Brazil to create each piece. During an eclectic upbringing whilst learning the ways of the fashion world, Ferguson fell in love with Brazil when she was working on a fair-trade project for Viva Rio, an NGO that supports seamstresses from nearby developing communities.

Originally sourcing the finest fabrics from India such as handloom silks, organic cottons and linen, the garments are created in an atelier in Rio and then hand painted in a second atelier supported by NGO Justa Cor, which offers apprenticeships in dying and painting. Also, at the heart of Ferguson’s style inspiration is her love of bohemian, sexy cool 70’s beach culture: silk tie-dyed kaftans, retro prints and effortlessly glamorous one piece

swimsuits. With each dye used being Azo free, Olga Olsson only work with digital prints, reducing their carbon footprint considerably.

The free spirited designer garnered her experience whilst on a postgraduate course at the London College of Fashion, going on to cut her teeth at Alexander McQueen, Matthew Williamson and Harrods. The result – a stylish, fashion forward brand with a strong social conscience, that can count the likes of Kate Moss and Elle Macpherson as fans.

Receiving the highly acclaimed INNOVATION prize from the Ethical Fashion Forum at LFW for her debut collection in 2010, Ferguson’s beautiful designs and brand philosophy won over judges Dolly Jones, editor of Vogue.com and Laura Bailey, Fair Trade Foundation Ambassador. Taking each season at a time, Ferguson is working to create ready-towear and luxury travel accessories collections, providing everything you need for your next beach escape!

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Raw Model

One man’s story of a life-changing diet Written by Laura Chatterton America-based fashion model, Anthony Anderson, graced billboards for internationally recognized companies such as Target, Kohls, Macy’s and Gillette, and has modelled for elitist fashion brands including Hugo Boss and Tommy Hilfiger.

Although Anthony enjoys his thriving career, he has decided to take a step back to focus on his business, Blackbird Naturals organic food company, and his Raw Model blog.

Like all models - and let’s face it, most humans - Anthony felt pressure to tone up and lose weight when he tried to start a career in America’s fashion capital, New York. It was this extreme pre-conceived notion of male beauty that led him to discover the Raw Food diet. Whilst he didn’t find starting the extreme diet the easiest thing in the world, Anthony soon discovered it had its benefits, including extremely quick weight loss.

And that’s not all. Embarking on the Raw Food diet resulted in Anthony realising he could help the environment and himself, so he started by growing his own seeds, nuts, fruit and vegetables.

Now a great advocate for sustainable living, having built his own house and farm in Minnesota, Anthony grows over 200 varieties of fruit and vegetables.

Anthony’s online business, Blackbird Naturals, sells his homegrown produce and seeds. He also updates his popular

lifestyle blog: www.rawmodel.com, which documents his diet, business and lifestyle.

With Anthony’s website and business not only promoting, but more importantly demonstrating how to achieve a sustainable lifestyle, followers can learn how to plant and grow their products through video tutorials, as well as learning step-by-step delicious, natural recipes, such as the Raw Key Lime Pie. To keep himself going Anthony tends to eat raw dairy from grass-fed cows and health food green powders like chlorella, spirulina and ormus greens from Sunwarrior.com. Although he is still strict, he doesn’t limit himself and is no longer vegan. “Adding in high quality animal products was the biggest revelation for me in the past two years. I’ve no more sugar cravings and it has been much easier to keep my weight stable.”

Anthony continues to do good for the planet and hopes in the next five years to continue living simply in Minnesota.

“I want to live deeply connected to the cycles of nature, growing and foraging most of my food, having very few bills to pay, and if possible, taking time in the winter to travel to the tropics”. “I feel that we are due for massive changes both geopolitically and earth-wise as well.

Growing food and being self-reliant will become a necessity, not just a hobby to feel good about.”

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BEAUTY

Oil Barrel Written by Jess Latapie

Beautiful skin is something that will never go out of fashion and so, as a product championed for centuries, we put body oil under the Best for microscope. Aside from anti-aging having intrinsic beauty benefits, organic body oil Alquimia Rejuvenating Anti-Aging Body Oil offers a recipe of mood enhancing, sensory pleasing £42 (150ml) and deeply healing properties This beautifully aromatic blend of Frankincense derived from naturally and Lemon promote a sourced and chemical free sense of harmony, while ingredients. After much a mixture of Iris, Myrrh, Sandalwood and Bejuni research, testing and oils offer suppleness and pampering, SIX have found help increase cellular the most luxurious, delicious regeneration. Alquimia is an astounding alchemic and oh so organic recipes to feast your skin on this season. luxury not to be missed. www.lovelula.com

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Best for energising Ila Body Oil for Vital Energy £34.73 (100ml) Struggling to get up in the mornings? Straining to complete that all important gym work out? Ila Organic Body Oil could be just the ‘pick me up’ you need.

With uplifting scents of Geranium and Lemongrass oils, to name a few, this fantastic oil works to revitalise your body’s bioenergy field and put the spring back in your step. www.ila-spa.com

Best for an overall glow Jo Wood Organics Amka Organic Body Oil ÂŁ35.75 (175ml) Take a leap into this pool of active plant extracts, teamed with a drop or two of Gingko, Guarana and Ginseng, all beautifully combined with a variation of protective and moisturising ingredients to give your skin an all round glow and boost your circulation. A delectable delight from Beauty Goddess Jo Wood herself this product comes highly recommended. www.jowoodorganics.com

BEAUTY

Best for body sculpting

Best for all over body treatment

Best for all over body treatment

Alquimia Body Sculptor Body Oil £53.95 (150ml)

Dr Alkaitis Organic Nourishing Treatment Oil £61.28 (120ml)

Neal’s Yard Detox Toning oil £14 (100ml)

Alquimia hits another high note, this time as the champion body sculptor.

This unique blend of stimulating oils is loved by actress Penelope Cruz for its natural and effective ability to help reduce excess body fat while firming, cleansing and moisturising. Visit www. lovelula.com to purchase this perfect partner for your bikini in the lead up to summer.

Winner of the Natural Health Beauty Awards in 2010, this treatment oil can be used for face, hair and body - proving it’s worth every penny.

Championing the healing effect of Rosehip andSt John’s Wort oils, alongside various unique and exotic ingredients in this gorgeous creation, Dr Alkaitis’ Nourishing Treatment Oil is a must-have for any pampering session worth its salt (or oil!). Available from www.lovelula.com SIX 100

This silky, light oil works deep into the lymphatic system of the body, helping to eliminate toxins and fatty tissues while leaving your skin feeling soft and bursting with citrus scents.

This is a fantastic boost for a Sunday evening pampering session to detox the week away and start afresh! Visit www. nealsyardremedies.com for more information.

Best for unwinding Neom Lavender and Patchouli Body Oil £30 (100ml) Whether it’s been a long day and you deserve a good massage, or you simply need a calming touch to your moisturising regime, Neom’s calming blend of Bergamot, French Lavender and Patchouli will provide a sense of tranquillity while quenching your skin’s nourishing needs – not to mention leaving you smelling gorgeous! www.neomorganics.com

VANITY CASE

Tailor your skin

Although new to the beauty world, Absolution has a unique offering of both simplicity and flexibility within its varied product range. Created as a reliable facility to tailor your skin and meet its changing needs on a daily basis, Absolution can plump, brighten, quench and protect, depending on what mood your skin is in.

Certified by Ecocert, for more information visit: www.beingcontent.com/ skincare/night-creams/ la-creme-du-soir--nightcream-.htm.

High-tech alert!

Die-hard fans of high-tech beauty products, let us introduce you to the latest on the cell development front – BioEffect EGF Serum. It is a nextgeneration anti-ageing serum that improves the appearance and health of your skin by encouraging the skin to repair its own cells. Its key ingredient is Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), a substance which occurs naturally in human skin and which has the ability to speed up the rate of cell turnover within the skin. Containing only 9 ingredients, it is suitable for all skin types and what’s best – it’s so effective that just one drop does the trick. www.bioeffect.co.uk SIX SIX102 00

From Paris with Love

Passionate Paris-born beautician, Katia Beilli presents Senteurs De Fee – ‘the fruit of her extensive knowledge and fascination with plants and flowers’. In addition to being a mere cosmetic product, Senteurs De Fee focuses on the power of the natural ingredients used, and what positive effects these can have on our bodies. Beautifully scented with sweet lemon and ‘true’ lavender, you will find your mouth watering at the fragrance of these products alone. www. senteursdefee.com/index. php?language=en

Go the extra Yard, and treat yourself!

The international fashion weeks have just ended for another season; aeroplanes have landed, reports have been published and new collections bought. After the mad frenzy, nothing could be more blissful than a ‘time out’ treatment at Neal’s Yard Remedies. So prepare to kick off your vertiginous heels, sit back and relax to relieve some of that oh-soglamorous tension. www. nealsyardremedies.com/ therapies to make a booking at a branch near you.

Drench your skin from within

Polish up!

A big beauty trend for this spring is to brighten your precious pincers with the newest and liveliest of shades, cleverly colour matching to your outfit.

Honeybee Gardens have a gorgeously feminine range of colours that are all odorless, non-toxic and environmentally-friendly. www.honeybeegardens.com

One of the greatest and simplest secrets to achieving radiant skin - as proclaimed by celebrities, models and experts alike - is to drink plenty of water. It seems, however that there is another great secret to behold.

Next time you’re thinking of how you can achieve great skin, think of Pukka Organic Detox tea. Infused with Aniseed, Fennel and Cardamom, this tasty blend will cleanse and revive your tired skin from the inside out. And if this doesn’t tickle your tastebuds, there’s a whole range to choose from: www.pukkaherbs.com

Our Guest Beauty Editor is Georgie Wolfinden, the editor and founder of natural beauty and wellbeing website www.glowgetter. co.uk. Brimming with sumptuous natural beauty products, exercise and relaxation techniques, spa recommendations and health tips, Glowgetter is a one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about natural health, comprising of detailed reviews, advice and new discoveries. Written by Laura Yates Where does your passion for holistic health and natural beauty derive from?

About ten years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS and I had raging acne and felt I was out of energy all the time. I knew that Western medicine was not helping me so I began to research a more natural route to feeling well again. I began doing yoga, reading lots about PCOS (Collette Haris’s books were super helpful), and ate a low GI diet, while doing lots of juicing - mainly green juicing. Combined, I really began to feel not only well but really alert, inspired and excited about life again.

from the inside out. Historically I have had acne due to my PCOS and whilst I don’t have it anymore, if I use commercial sunscreens I get spots. I love ARCONA’s natural sunscreens which not only protect my skin, but also don’t clog my pores. I always recommend it to acne sufferers.

How has your health and lifestyle benefited from using natural products and practicing a more holistic approach to health?

Nowadays I am never sick. I get a cold every five years and get over it very quickly. My skin is clear, my mind alert and I always feel full of energy and positivity.

What is next for Glowgetter?

It’s an exciting time for us at Glowgetter.

We are shooting Glowgetter TV which will give people tips for keeping healthy and happy, with some great experts involved.

Content will be on detoxing, how to use certain products we stock, and there will be lots of interviews with leading health experts and much more. We are also going to write a healthy cookbook with a difference.

I can’t tell you exactly what it is about at the moment but it will probably be on sale in January 2012, so you’ll have to wait until then. We also have some real wonder products that we’ll be stocking exclusively from April which is really wonderful.

What are your three must-have beauty items that you can’t live without?

I absolutely love the Spiezia Organics Balm Cleanser. It smells gorgeous, has super pure ingredients and makes the skin glow. It can be used on all skin types but is particularly soothing for acne and sensitive skin. I take Viridian’s beauty oil every day. It’s great for balancing hormones and really feeds thirsty skins

Is there a particular skincare brand that you swear by?

Yes, COR silver soap and ARCONA skincare. Both are natural but give really super results. Both are available from Glowgetter incidentally.

Georgie Wolfinden is a wellbeing expert and founder of leading wellness website www. glowgetter.co.uk SIX 104

Get the Glow

Vygenhoek Organic Spa

A Green

Getaway Organic spas create a natural healing environment for stressed out city dwellers Written by Viola Levy

Vygenhoek Organic Spa

Myvatn Nature Baths

Organic spas are known the world over for creating a natural healing environment for stressed out city-dwellers so it comes as no surprise that with the rise of ‘green’ beauty brands and the constant desire to simplify one’s skin care routine, more and more people are turning to organic spas in droves. “By putting aside the stresses of modern life - including noise, pollution, toxins and waste - organic spas are able to offer a more balanced and relaxing experience”, explains Michael Stusser, founder of The Osmosis Day Spa in Sonoma, California. One obvious plus point of this type of spa is that the products incorporated into the treatments are free of any parabens, sulphates and other chemical ‘nasties’. However, it seems that another kind of benefit lies in their approach to beauty; browsing through the treatment menus of several such spas, it’s clear that the emphasis is placed more on staying healthy and loving your body as you care for it – rather than banishing every last wrinkle or dimple of cellulite.

Where could be better to indulge in a spot of organic pampering than in beautiful rural surroundings? Take The Scarlet Spa in Cornwall, England, which offers wood fired hot tubs (chlorine-free of course), where guests can sit on top of the

cliffs and look out over the Atlantic Ocean.

Further afield, The Vygenhoek Organic Spa in South Africa provides luscious views of the Dullstroom Hills, where visitors can enjoy homemade scrubs created from crushed herbs freshly cut from the adjoining farm, or encase themselves in natural seaweed body wraps. For the truly exotic, New Zealand’s Kauri Cliffs Spa is tucked away on the edge of a Totara forest with a picturesque river running alongside it, where you can take in the breathtaking scenery and detoxify with a natural Kiwi Mud Wrap. Some such spas even incorporate the healing benefits of the landscape itself, such as The Mývatn Nature Baths in Iceland, where guests can take a dip in the healing geothermal water of the natural baths, which contain a blend of minerals, silicates and geothermal micro-organisms to clear and soothe the skin and provide sublime relaxation. For those with even more esoteric sensibilities, hidden away in Malaysia’s Berjaya Hills is The Chateau Spa and Organic Wellness Resort. The spa boasts a herbal-infused sauna chamber and a ‘salt grotto’ to provide guests with an experience similar to an underground salt cave. It is said that breathing in the air infused with salt microns and negative ions can help reduce the symptoms of asthma, and soothe irritated skin, making it an ideal escape destination far away from the pollution of city life.

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The Scarlet Spa

Unusual Spa Treatments

Hopi Ear Candling is an ancient treatment that has been practised by the Ancient Egyptians and Native Americans for centuries, and aims to cure a wide range of conditions such as migraines, the build-up of ear wax and even asthma.

As I tentatively rested my head on its side, the candle - a hollow cotton flax tube impregnated with honey and herb oils - was placed over my ear canal and lit. The gentle heat produced combined with the oil and herbs, encourages ear wax to soften and draws it to the surface.

Unsurprisingly, the whole process caused a fairly strange sensation, and wasn’t the most relaxing of treatments, although I did notice my headaches subside in the few days that followed. Hopi Ear Candling is practised at The Dublin Holistic Centre, Ireland. www.dublinholisticcentre.com Cedar Enzyme Bath is a traditional Japanese practice, where one is buried in a rectangular wooden pit filled with a cedar and rice bran and laced with 600 plant enzymes. The enzymes work to draw toxins out of the skin, whilst the heat generated by the fermentation process is meant to relax clients in their buried state. I nestled in among the debris like a hibernating hedgehog, and in the surrounding warmth was tempted to drift off into a peaceful slumber.

After eventually being ‘dug out’ by the therapist, I emerged feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and well-prepped for the ensuing massage that followed. Cedar Enzyme Baths are available at The Osmosis Day Spa in Sonoma.

As one might have guessed, the Pindasveda (Rice Bag Massage), is an Indian treatment involving a bag filled with Njavara rice warmed in milk and a customised blend of herbs, which is then massaged across the back to alleviate sore joints and muscles. Although I was slightly sceptical about having what is essentially a pudding wrapped in muslin pummelled across my shoulders, the treatment was incredibly relaxing, and my tense tired muscles were soon lulled into submission. The rice concoction smelt delicious too. Pindasveda is available at the Shymala Ayurveda Spa in London. www.london.shymalaayurveda.com

Cedar Enzyme Bath SIX 110

Hopi Ear Candling

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