Natural Mumma Magazine April 2019 by T5 Publications

Issue Twenty One April 2019

Taking Care Of Yourself, Your Tribe And Our World...

Ethical Bridal Wear Brands WIth Heart Slow Fashion Celebration

Sponsored by

THE

FASHION REVOLUTION ISSUE NMM April 2019

ary 2019 NMM

Never Miss A Thing... For all the best in: · ethical fashion · natural skincare and beauty · health and wellbeing · parenting and motherhood · healthy living and good eating · ecology and conservation · conscious lifestyle choices

all back issues available at Issuu

www.naturalmumma.com

Welcome To Natural Mumma Magazine Contents 4

It’s Verry Kerry One designer’s remarkable sustainable life

Colour Our pick of the boldest and brightest makeup

Behind The Conscious Collections - how to spot an ethical outfit by Sian Conway of #EthicalHour

Beauty Shortlist Awards 2019 Entries open and new judges confirmed for 2019 Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards

My Big Fat Ethical Wedding Is the green wedding the future?

Love ur Look We catch up with Ronke Fashola

Food For Thought Sri Lankan Cuisine Contact: holly@naturalmumma.com Photo by Gerard Hughes

Holly wears dress by Love ur Look Makeup by Ere Perez and MiA Hair by Green People.

ur Fashion Revolution issue is all about embracing slow fashion and celebrating your own unique sense of style. Who better to collaborate with than the wonderful Verry Kerry? We’ve been chatting with Kerry Mounsey, the founder and designer of the ethical brand this month and her warmth, humour and abundant energy have injected life into these pages. This is the first issue of the magazine to have been sponsored by a brand, and we really appreciate the support from Verry

Kerry. Their generosity is helping us to keep Natural Mumma free to read, so make sure you have a good look at their website and social pages and offer them some support too (once you’ve read the interview with Kerry and drooled over the stunning kimonos that we are showcasing in this issue). This issue also features slow fashion advice from our resident sustainability guru Sian Conway from #ethicalhour, a fascinating feature on green bridalwear by Tamsin Smith from Brides do Good and an inspiring interview with Ronke Fashola from Love ur Look. Our product review is all about colour this month with a selection of makeup in bold and vibrant shades and we delve into Sri Lankan cooking too. Later this month I’ll be judging the Babies & Children category of the Be The Change Awards, and I’m also delighted to have been selected as a judge for The Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards 2019. You can read more about both awards (and how you can get involved) in this issue. NMM April 2019

IT’S VERRY

KERRY Kerry Mounsey’s unique designs reflect her passion for life, love of nature and the adventures she shares with her daughter, Nala. We caught up with Kerry to find out more about her remarkable sustainable life.

Would you say that your designs reflect your background? Being born in Zambia, growing up in Australia and now living in London – am I right in thinking that there is a sense of all these places in your work? Absolutely! There are these places and more in everything I create. Zambia is always the heartbeat of my creations - the amazing light, fragrant flowers, mangoes falling off the trees, the intense smell and feel of warm rain... Australia too had a similar effect on me - filled with the earthy

Photography by Katarina Denesova

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aromas and sounds of the bush, dazzling southern cross starry skies and the salty sea breeze. I am just in love with nature. I was lucky to travel as much as I did as a child and continue to as an adult. I get restless in one place for too long. You can see Bali, India, Zanzibar, Australia, Zambia, France, Italy, England - to name a few - in my prints. I try to capture the essence of these beautiful places in every print that I design, to instantly transport you when you see it and wear it, without having to get on a

plane. Each piece is like a beautiful memory, the ultimate souvenir, that can be treasured forever. Was there one pivotal moment when you decided to launch your own ethical clothing brand? It was a combination of moments, but the main instigation was the reality that I could never find anything that was ‘me’ enough. And I loathed the idea of ‘fashion’ ‘trends’ and looking just like everyone else. As a kid in Zambia, you couldn’t buy nice clothes easily in the

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shops back then. So, I either got my brother’s hand-me-downs (which I loved) or my mum would buy fabric and we would take it to a local tailor to get dresses, skirts and even our school uniforms made. As I had a particular style, and that style wasn’t so popular at the time, all my family and friends would say “Oh that’s very Kerry.” It stuck! What was the very first piece that you designed? Pyjama trousers and a kimono.

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I love comfort! And I love practicality and versatility. My initial concept all those years ago, was pyjamas that you could wear outside. I can basically live in my pjs all day long, so I wanted to create something that was comfortable enough to sleep in, but cool enough to be seen out in. The kimono was inspired by my mum, who always wafted around our house in Zambia in one. There wasn’t a Christmas morning where I didn’t see her looking glamorous and cool in one, and many

weekends (no doubt also nursing a hangover!). Zambians can party! My brother and I also had our own kimonos growing up, it was quite a thing in our house. When designing a print do you go for the colours first or the concept? Good question! Both. Sometimes I see an amazing colour palette be it from a nature photo, an indoor plant, some mosaic tiles, even a bowl of chia seed pudding with berries, and get inspired from

to food, 70’s wallpapers, rugs, beetles, tribal patterns, colours, water, rain, and traditional arts and crafts all play an integral part. I am constantly snapping pics of things everywhere I go. I get a sense that you are a real creative dynamo. Can you talk us through a day in the life of Kerry?

there to create the print. And sometimes I get the feeling first, which translates into the graphics and then the colourway that best reflects and makes the print sing. Where do you find your inspiration? Everywhere! My travels play a huge part in my inspiration. My thing has always been about creating a feeling that lasts, not fashion or trends. Stunning visuals of nature, sunsets, flowers, plants, birds and animals, mosaics and temples,

It starts with lots of cuddles and snuggles with my daughter. I make a thing about it. My day doesn’t go well at all, if it does not start with that! And she knows it too. Call it my meditation. Then the usual breakfast and getting her ready for school. We used to ride on my bike to school until it got stolen, so now we walk, saying good morning to the train, canal, ducks, swans, trees and anything else along the way. After that I will (try) and do a small core workout of sorts, stretch, shower, thank the universe and get stuck into the day. I either head to my shop/office Bamboo & Bee on Roman Road in East London, or work from home. There are endless areas to cover and I make my list and start from the top. But as easy as that sounds, my days are often scrambled jumping from here to there and everywhere. Lunch is usually yesterday’s leftovers as I hate waste, or a little vegan salad from simply fresh, but quite often I crave and munch on raw mushrooms, raw broccoli and hummus, and nuts. I always offer it around and no one ever takes me up on it! Not sure why?! After I collect my daughter and take her swimming or any other activity, we come home, do homework, make dinner, bath, sing, stories and bed. And then I open up my computer and carry on. I have an amazing colleague Olivia who helps me with the running of the many day to day things (including some modelling!), and Francesco, who manages

my website and leads on all the marketing, and who has been integral in helping me grow the business over the years. I’d be lost without them! What’s the best thing about running Verry Kerry? Being creative! The freedom to create my own designs, working with incredible, talented people who help me bring it all to life, and then seeing people love and appreciate it. It is quite a thrill! Giving back is a main focus of the brand and I have loved meeting and supporting Streets kitchen, Refugee Community Kitchen, Tara orphanage in Delhi, Malambo Grass Roots in Zambia and look forward to many more. Another obvious best thing is the flexibility to be with my daughter. There are some beautiful images of your daughter wearing a Verry Kerry kimono (such as our cover shot), do you have plans to make a children’s range in the future? I already have a couple of kids’ pyjama sets. My daughter said she wanted a doggy print, so I whipped one up and made it all 70’s looking and groovy. And unisex. I don’t like gender stereotyped clothing. But yes, that is the first kid’s kimono I have done. As it is a new product, I want to take it slow and get as much feedback as possible before pushing the go button on many other prints. But I have received many requests for kid’s kimonos… so I think a mini Parisian Rouge among others will be on the cards. Do you have any lifestyle advice for other parents who are looking to live a more sustainable life? Switch to bamboo toothbrushes and do it today – my daughter and I both have them and we love them. Also, do whatever it takes to say no to plastic bags. For the minutes of use, it has a lifetime

Visit our blog where Kerry talks us through the entire design process of her beautiful, ethical loungewear - from the initial spark of an idea, to the finished piece arriving at a customer’s house. With a no plastic policy, fairly traded bamboo and organic cotton and hand mixed azo and chemical free dyes, it is a truly transparent process. NMM April 2019

of destruction. Take a fabric bag with you whenever you leave the house. Even my daughter gets on board and carries things, anything not to use a bag. It is our thing. If you insist on having your fruit and veg separated, then insist on paper bags or take your own. There are usually paper bags for the breads and croissants so go and grab those. What we pay for, we vote for in life, so we just must stop paying/voting for things to be wrapped in plastic where we can. The big boys have a lot to answer for obviously. Some things are out of our control. But we must start taking the control back. If we don’t who will? Remembering to say no to a straw before it’s too late is tricky! But thankfully more and more places are using paper. Buy from sustainable brands and never buy polyester. They may cost more, but the effect on the planet and longevity of the piece and therefore smile on your face is priceless. There are so many more sustainable brands out there doing good, being transparent and making far more interesting things than the cheap nasty mainstream. What can we do to gently teach our children about sustainability? I think gently doesn’t come into it! We need to show that this matters more than anything. Parents need to lead by example - show the alternatives, explain, educate, inspire. Children respond well to doing the right thing and doing something for themselves. For their home. Making the connection that outside our door is still our home is a vital one, and every choice we make affects it. As the inspirational Greta Thunberg said “Adults keep saying, ‘we owe it to the young people to give them hope’. But I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to PANIC. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. I then I want you to act… I want you to act as if your house is on FIRE. Because it is. “ What’s next for Verry Kerry? More beautiful kimonos! I look forward to exploring the children’s range more fully, and I have

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started work on a home range, with organic throws, cushions, aprons etc, all with my earth friendly prints. I have also talked about possible yoga collection in collaboration with an amazing yoga teacher friend of mine Alessia (aleyogajourney), and I would love to connect with more diverse talented peeps and create Verry Kerry experiences. Because feeling is everything!

www.verrykerry.com NMM April 2019

Natural Mumma Loves... Mother & Nature

Mother & Nature is a unique range of outdoor maternity wear that can be worn pre and postpregnancy, due to the expandable side panels. It has been designed for the Mum-to-be that still wants to get out and enjoy all the activities they did pre-pregnancy, but in comfort and style. The only waterproof maternity jacket available in the UK. Made in the UK. motherandnature.co.uk

Kay Reed

With a passion for wildlife conservation, Kay Reed is an eco silversmith using her work to spark conversation about endangered species. Using recycled gold and silver each beautiful and inspirational piece features an endangered animal in their habitat with 10 per cent of profits donated to wildlife charities. Follow @kayreedss www.kayreed.co.uk

Hideous

Hideous is an ethical UK brand. All designs are by anonymous artist, Mr Hideous and ethically made from organic materials in a renewable energy powered factory. Every product has full traceability, from seed to shop. Hideous uses no animal derived products and the packaging is recyclable (and cute!) www.mrhideous.com

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Pure Lakes

Pure Lakes is all about keeping things as pure, natural and safe as possible. There is nothing harmful, damaging or superfluous in any of their products. This is not only reflected across each of their ranges (they only use the best and most effective ingredients, but don’t overload their products with unnecessary ingredients, scents or colourants), but also in the ethos of their business and even the chic, stylish design of the packaging.

Pure Lakes is a family run business with a focus on quality, enhancing natural beauty and enjoying the simpler things in life. Good skincare shouldn’t take be faffy or time consuming, it shouldn’t be obscenely expensive and it certainly shouldn’t come at any risk to the environment or our health. The fair pricing is simply an extension of

the whole Pure Lakes ethos. The products are beautifully made, using premium quality natural ingredients but they are much more affordable than many other similar brands. All of their leave on skincare includes rosehip seed oil and hyaluronic acid - these powerful natural ingredients are renowned for their age-defying properties. If you’d like to try the beautifying effects of Pure Lakes for yourself then you can buy their products from http://www. purelakes.co.uk using code NM25 for 25 per cent off your first purchase. NMM April 2019

COLOUR

Our pick of the top makeup for a vibrant and bold look.

Ilia High Impact Lipsticks & Multisticks

True Red is a beautiful, classic shade and Rosewood is a soft oxblood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; these lipsticks offer long-lasting colour and great hydration. The Multisticks give sheer, buildable colour perfect for warming the complexion. I love Dreamer for a fresh-faced nude glow and At Last for sultry definition.

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Odylique Lipsticks in Apricot Sorbet & Cherry Tart

100 per cent natural, and 86 per cent organic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; these lipsticks are brimming with nutrients to nourish and protect the lips. The colour range is spectacular, and they feel wonderful on your skin. Apricot Sorbet is a soft honey shade, whereas Cherry Tart is a sheer, sophisticated berry tone.

MiA CC Cream

This SPF 30 coloured cream melts right in leaving a radiant glow and beautifully, soft skin. Light enough to let your skin breathe, it also offers enough coverage to soften minor imperfections and balance out the skin tone. Vegan friendly and packed with age defying, soothing, natural ingredients.

Ere Perez Cheek & Lip Tint

Packed full of natural ingredients, such as antioxidant rosehip oil and beetroot, this sweet-smelling multipurpose tint offers fantastic buildable colour that lasts. Apply sparingly to the cheeks for a natural flush. Add one coat to the lips for a sheer, subtle pink or apply liberally for a vivid finish.

Delfy Highlighter, Foundation & Eyeliner

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after a little more coverage, then the Water Proof Foundation brightens and hydrates while smoothing away imperfections. The duo highlighter includes both a stick and a liquid highlighter (with wand) and the eyeliner has an extra long nib making it ideal for creating all sorts of looks.

Benecos Happy Nails, Bronzing Duo & Eyeshadow

This vegan nail polish is available in some beautifully vivid colours, free from five of the most toxic chemicals and enriched with natural oils to care for your nails. The bronzer contains natural pigments for a subtle summery glow and the eyeshadows blend beautifully for subtle definition. NMM April 2019

Behind The Conscious Collections

How To Spot An Ethical Outfit

ave those high street ‘conscious collections’ got you confused? Wonder where your clothes go when you drop them for recycling? Unsure who made your clothes or how to find out? Ethical and sustainable fashion has hit the headlines in a big way since the 2013 Rana Plaza Collapse sparked the global Fashion Revolution movement. Even the UK Government have got involved, with a recent investigation into the environmental impact of our fast fashion habits. But with complex global supply chains and micro-seasons hitting shelves every 4-6 weeks, there’s still a lot of confusion when it comes to who makes our clothes, how they’re made and what impact they’re having on the planet. For Fashion Revolution Week 2019, I decided to answer some of the most frequently asked questions I get from fashion fans: What’s the difference between ethical and sustainable fashion? ‘Ethical’ focuses on the human element of production - so in fashion supply chains this would range from the farmers who produce raw materials like cotton, to the garment workers who sew the clothes. To be truly ethical, everyone in the supply chain would need to work in safe conditions, with suitable labour rights and a living wage. Everyone has different ethical priorities, but for many people this would also include no animal cruelty or animal derived products. ‘Sustainable’ focuses on the environmental impact - so sustainable fashion involves materials which are kind to the environment and have a low carbon footprint. To put this into context, clothing manufacture

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and sales in the UK is the fourth largest pressure on our natural resources after housing, transport and food, so fashion has a huge environmental impact! ‘Sustainable’ would also include the packaging - for example, plastic free is becoming an increasingly important priority for many shoppers. What does the ‘conscious’ label really mean? Some of the bigger fast fashion retailers have introduced ‘Conscious Collections’ to appeal to ethical consumers. These clothes may be made from innovative new materials - like pineapple leather to cash in on the rise in veganism. They may also include a percentage of recycled fabrics or be made from organic cotton and natural fibres. From a sustainability angle, this is good news. Organic cotton is better for the environment as it isn’t grown using harmful pesticides which cause a lot of damage - including killing bees (a threat to global food supply chains). Innovative new fabrics usually have a lower carbon footprint than their traditional counterparts or are made under ‘circular economy principles’ where nothing goes to waste. However, these clothes are still made in the same factories. Although the conscious collections come at a higher price point than their other clothes, this isn’t because workers are paid more. They’re still made with the tight profit margins achieved through exploitation and are often priced higher to cash in on the rising public interest in ethical and sustainable products. They may be sustainable, but they’re not necessarily ethical. Where do my recycled clothes

by Sian Conway, Founder #EthicalHour go? To achieve a more sustainable fashion industry, we need to slow down and buy less. However, many people ease their fast fashion guilt by sending older clothes to charity shops, or dropping them at instore recycling collection points. The average piece of fast fashion is only worn 5 times before it’s sent to landfill or recycled! Some of the biggest names in high street fashion have launched ‘take back schemes’ with in-store collection points for old clothes which often include slogans that imply the clothes you drop off will be turned into new garments. More often than not though, the deposited clothes are actually resold - often in a country thousands of miles away from the point of sale. Industry experts suggest that less than 1 per cent of clothing is recycled to make new clothing. Often these textiles are sent to developing countries where they are resold, burnt or end up in landfill instead. H&M’s sustainability reports acknowledge that of all of the material used to make an estimated half a billion garments a year, only 0.7 per cent is recycled, despite their many drop-off points and Conscious Collection. Often these recycling schemes are an easy sustainability win for fast fashion brands because they don’t actually involve any changes to their production processes so donating to clothing recycling schemes is not always as good for the planet as you might think. Instead, try to buy less, choose clothes that will last and learn to make repairs to give your garments a longer life. How do brands sell clothes so cheaply - are they made by robots? Many people think that clothes are

made by robots, but this isn’t the case. You shouldn’t be able to buy clothing for less than the cost of a latte, but it’s only possible thanks to exploitation. Sweatshops were a major point of outrage in the 1990s as many brands were exposed for using child labour - but sadly the campaigns for labour rights have not achieved the systematic change they lobbied for. Modern slavery, labour abuses, child workers and sweatshops are still used all around the world in fashion supply chains. Industrial accidents in garment factories, including the Bangladesh Rana Plaza collapse, have exposed several brands and encouraged improvements to health and safety regulations - but these aren’t always upheld and enforced. Often the exploitation is cleverly hidden through complex supply chains and sub contracting which evades the auditing processes brands put in place by using unapproved factories.

This enables brands to deny knowledge of exploitation in their supply chains but continue to keep prices low due to exploitative labour. Sadly, if you’re able to buy cheap fashion, it’s because someone else is paying the price. How can I find out if a brand really is ethical/sustainable? Are there badges I can look for? There are no global certifications for ethical and sustainable fashion. There are labels you can look for - like organic and Fair Trade - but just because a brand is ethical doesn’t mean it’s sustainable, and planet friendly doesn’t mean the supply chain is exploitation free. The best way to spot an ethical and sustainable brand is to avoid impulse purchases and do your research first. Think about all the people and costs involved in getting the garment from farm to factory to shop floor, and ask yourself if it’s too cheap - if you think it is, chances are exploitation is involved somewhere, so it’s best to avoid.

Brand websites are a great place to start too - but beware greenwashing - the harmful trend where brands exaggerate their ethical and sustainable claims to appeal to ethical consumers. Truly ethical and sustainable brands will provide evidence, supply chain transparency, and feedback about their limitations and how they’re trying to do better. The brands doing good will have nothing to hide and should be happy to answer any questions. During Fashion Revolution Week (22nd – 28th April 2019) you can join the campaign by asking brands #WhoMadeMyClothes? on social media. Ultimately, the best way to wear more ethical and sustainable fashion is to love the clothes you already have, and as Vivienne Westwood said “Buy Less, Choose Well, Make It Last” Twitter: @EthicalHour and @SianEConway Instagram: @EthicalHour

Natural Mumma Magazine

Next Month In

Natural Mumma TRANSFORMATION

BE THE CHANGE AWARDS TRANSFORMATIVE NATURAL SKINCARE SUSTAINABLE ACTIVE WEAR NATURAL MUMMA MAGAZINE ISSUE 22 AVAILABLE FROM 3 MAY 2019

April 2019

NMM Team Editor: Holly Daffurn

holly@naturalmumma.com

Creative: Gerard Hughes mail@gerardhughes.co.uk

is produced by T5 Publications. Contents may not be reproduced, stored or distributed in any form without prior written permission. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure all information contained in this magazine is accurate but the publishers can accept no responsibiilty for effects arising therefrom. All rights reserved. We receive compensation for all products featured on the ‘Natural Mumma Loves...’ pages as well as several of the other brands mentioned in the magazine. We only work with companies whose ethos reflects the intention of this publication. All of the written content is copyright Natural Mumma Magazine (unless stated otherwise) and full rights to this material belongs to Natural Mumma Magazine (or any other named authors).

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Natural Mumma Loves... Verry Kerryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kimonos

A collection of truly unique robes, beautifully cut and stitched into flattering, elegant pieces, with so many versatile uses. Add some casual, effortless elegance to your loungewear wardrobe, travels, poolside cocktail sipping and every festival or party in between. A perfect maternity present, these kimonos will accompany new mums through pregnancy and beyond, thanks to their relaxed fit and the inside ties. Photography by Bruce Harber

Parisian Rouge Organic Cotton Long Kimono (Above) Romantic and exotic, this stunning vintage red and turquoise floral print will transport you to an exquisite secret garden. Perfect for brides on the morning of their big day.

Geisha Long Kimono Dressing Gown (Above Right) Their best selling gown, recommended by Lauren Laverneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On Style for The Guardian! A beautiful floral print on a blue base, with an elegant Sangallo embroidered trim, printed on organic cotton. Zambezi Sun Long Kimono (Right) Beige base with black geometric tribal print and strong red, yellow & blue primary colours on the border at the bottom. Hand screen printed with azo free, earth friendly dyes.

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Blue Brick Road Long Kimono (Below) Beige base with mosaic print in 3 blues - steel, harebell and turquoise. Screen printed by hand with azo free earth friendly dyes. Emerald City Long Kimono (Right) Evoking ancient tribes of the Amazon. Hidden temples. Tiles, tombs and rock. Simple yet stunning tonal colours found in the rock, earth and nature. Digitally printed with azo free, earth friendly dyes.

Crane Dance Peach Long Kimono (Middle Left) Inspired by the majestic poetic Japanese scene of the crane bird in the early morning mist, dancing around the iconic blossoms and blooms. This print features a soothing peach base and pretty vibrant turquoise, reds and yellows. Humming Bird Dawn Long Kimono (Left) “I wanted to create an enchanted border print encompassing the illusive humming birds dancing in the first morning light, when everything is still and simplified, and the warm red amber glow of the sun rising warms your soul and ignites the days possibilities.”

Aztec Embrace Long Kimono (Left) Peachy base with blue, yellow, green water colour Aztec print. Screen printed by hand with azo free, earth friendly dyes.

Whether you choose the floaty bamboo or organic cotton, there’s always a perfect occasion to wear a truly unique long kimono. Exceptionally and ethically made. Full length, 130 cm from collar. Sizes UK 8 - 18, 3/4 length sleeves

Chief Long Kimono (Left) “I wanted to conjure up the tribal strength from all indigenous tribes from across the globe, including North & South America, Africa, as well as Australia & New Zealand. The strong primary colours represent the simplicity of the components - earth, water and blood of the people and are combined in shapes that emulate the sun, rivers, habitat and the way we are all connected.”

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2019 Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards What are brands saying about the Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards? “It is rewarding just to know that Weleda is still a favourite with parents after so many decades…The Beauty Shortlist Awards champion natural and organic products and manage to stay independent from pressures to reward advertisers, and this integrity and enthusiasm shines through.” - WELEDA UK

BEST BEAUTY BUYS Entries open and new judges confirmed for 2019 Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards. Holly Daffurn, editor, Natural Mumma magazine joins the judging panel for year six.

ntries for the 2019 Mama & Baby Awards are now open, closing 15 May. This year’s Awards will take place on Friday 21 June. New categories for 2019 include zone-targeted body treatments, Best Natural Baby Talc, Best Eco Kitchen Cleaner and Best Baby Changing Bag. Leading this year’s judging panel are: Holly Daffurn, co-author of The Natural Baby book and editor of ethical fashion, beauty and conscious lifestyle magazine Natural Mumma Ana Green, zero waste advocate and founder of leading UK organic beauty and eco lifestyle blog Ana Goes Green Liz McCarthy, CEO of premium clean beauty e-boutique A Beautiful World, featuring cult US brands Josh Rosebrook, Lilfox About The Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards Founded in 2014 by beauty journalist Fiona Klonarides, the awards spotlight the standout clean, green and environmentally friendly beauty, health, pregnancy, home, baby, toddler and kids’ products for parents and their little ones.

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Miami, The Body Deli and Indie Lee among others David Peters, dad of two, practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and A-List facial acupuncturist at London’s Bulgari Spa in Knightsbridge Holly Spierings, new mum and creative director of the awardwinning Australian cosmetics brand Eye of Horus “The Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards serve an important purpose: to showcase excellence, honour ethical brands, promote a more organic, low waste lifestyle, and offer consumers a 100 per cent trusted, expert-ranked guide the top natural products for mums, babies and toddlers in a crowded, often hyped – and greenwashed marketplace” - Fiona Klonarides, founder, The Beauty Shortlist Open to UK and international brands, Beauty Shortlist’s Mama & Baby Awards recognise excellence, safety and efficacy and were launched to honour the highest standards of eco sensibility and ethics across a wide range of brands - from smaller or new independent artisan brands to the biggest natural and organic household names in the world.

“We are so proud to hold several trusted and respected Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards. The excitement, buzz and recognition of these awards speaks volumes to our consumers, this is such a valued accolade” – Michele Riley, founder, The Konjac Sponge Company “The Beauty Shortlist Awards are enormously credible within the industry and a very important part of our yearly strategy” – Aurelia Probiotic Skincare “Happy Birthday, Beauty Shortlist Baby Awards! Thank you for the wonderful recognition of Neal’s Yard Remedies over the last 5 years” – Neal’s Yard Remedies “The UK is a new market to us and through the Beauty Shortlist Awards we received a lot of attention. We feel these awards give an objective and honest overview of the best products – it’s an honour for us to be one of the winners” – Suzanne Kaufmann – Organic Beauty & Luxury Spa

2019 ENTRY FORM Celebrating 10 years of The Beauty Shortlist this year (2009-2019). Categories cover beauty, baby, eco home and wellbeing. http://www.thebeautyshortlist. com/2019/03/20/entry-form-2019mama-baby-awards/ Twitter & Instagram @BeautyShortlist @naturalmummamag Contact: Hannah at hannahbeautyshortlist@gmail.com

Ethical Brands Fashion Revolution

Future Fashion Focus: LIVE Mastermind

Be The Change Awards Celebration Event

Ethical Brands For Fashion Revolution

In a nutshell: Future Fashion Focus has been organised by industry leading experts to help ethical and sustainable fashion brands start and scale their ventures. Brand owners will learn how to stand out in a sea of greenwashing, build a loyal audience and convert them into paying customers, so they can make more income and impact!

In a nutshell: The Be The Change Awards are a new global initiative for 2019, recognising the innovative and inspiring work being done by businesses, organisations, communities and changemakers to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems. We will be announcing the winners at a vibrant celebration event, where there will be plenty of opportunities to meet and network with industry leading experts from the fields of ethical production and sustainability across all categories, including fashion, beauty, travel and tech for good.

In a nutshell: The UK’s leading independent ethical fashion showcase is back! Named as the leading fashion event in London for Fashion Revolution Week 2018 by Elle Magazine, Ethical Brands For Fashion Revolution will bring together the UK’s best fashion and accessories brands, plus industry leading experts for a day of shopping, connecting and vibrant discussions about the future of ethical and sustainable fashion.

Join us to celebrate, connect and be inspired at our drinks reception - kindly provided by sponsors Adnams.

Details: Saturday 27th April, London Museum of Brands, 10am - 5pm

There will be opportunities to get valuable feedback from marketing experts and connect with fellow brand owners to raise the profile of your ethical fashion brand and learn all the strategies you need to grow. Who is it for? Ethical and sustainable fashion and accessories brand owners ready to start or scale up their venture, looking for expert support and industry leading strategies. Details: Friday 26th April, London Museum of Brands, 1.30pm - 5pm Tickets: £40 plus Eventbrite fees, available here: https://www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/future-fashion-focus-livemastermind-tickets-56566632320

Who is it for? Ethical and sustainable business owners, community leaders and aspiring changemakers looking to connect with like-minded friends and make a bigger impact for their cause.

Who is it for? Anyone with an interest in ethical and sustainable fashion!

Tickets: £3 plus Eventbrite fees, available here: https://www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/ethical-brands-forfashion-revolution-2019tickets-56198608551

Details: Friday 26th April, London Museum of Brands, 6.30pm - 9.30pm Tickets: £25 plus Eventbrite fees, available here: https://www. eventbrite.co.uk/e/be-thechange-awards-ceremony-2019tickets-58134499854 NMM April 2019

ake Emily. Emily is a newly engaged bride-tobe living in the city. She wakes up in the morning and blends herself an oat milk smoothie, before hopping in the shower and washing her hair with a zero-plastic shampoo bar. She cycles to work, and drinks her midmorning coffee from a bamboo reusable cup. After work, she stops off at a charity boutique to pick up a birthday gift for a friend, and places it in her natural, cotton tote bag. She heads out for cocktails, sipped through a reusable, metal straw. Later, she arrives home, collapses on the sofa, opens up her laptop, and starts scrolling through photos of brand new, glittering, wedding dresses online.

This is a dress she’ll spend thousands of pounds on, and wear only once. A dress that will contribute to a UK wedding industry worth over £10 billion. A dress that will eventually add to the £140 million worth of clothing that goes into landfill each year. In some ways, the bridal dress is the last vestige of throwaway apparel in an increasingly sustainable fashion industry. For many, it’s understandable that brides-to-be fear compromising on style on their big day. But why should that mean compromising on their principles? There are alternatives. Pioneering social enterprise Brides do Good funds programmes that empower young girls and educate

communities in order to eradicate child marriage. They curate a unique collection of designer wedding dresses through global partnerships with brands and brides, and offer forward-thinking brides-to-be the chance to be part of a bigger love story, by donating up to two-thirds of funds raised through sales to charity projects. Brides do Good provides a solution that retains all the glamour of your big day, and with the knowledge that you are not only combating a destructive cycle of consumption, but empowering girls around the world. The Brides do Good model is mobilising the power of the wedding industry for good, by asking brides to make a stronger

My Big Fat Sustainable Wedding The idea of sustainable living is becoming a mainstay in our daily lives. But when it comes to bridal gowns, could going green be the new white?

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choice. Offering high-end designer brands like Elie Saab and Vera Wang at affordable prices, and available in sizes from 4 – 30, Brides do Good offers brides the chance to afford to buy the dress of their dreams, and make the dreams of other girls come true. Brides do Good’s charity projects work in areas where daughters are frequently seen as burdens due to continuing gender inequality, and early marriage as a solution to transfer the economic burden onto another. Patriarchal value systems, control and the notion of family honour can also drive the practice. These traditional practices often go unquestioned over generations. Brides do Good’s programmes educate and empower young girls and their communities, to create real and sustainable change. Nowadays, brides are beginning to seek out sustainable and ethical wedding solutions for all parts of their big day. This year saw Princess Eugenie go plastic-free on her big day, and where the royals tread wedding trends are sure to follow. From locally grown environmentally friendly flower confetti by Shropshire Petals to hand-made biodegradable party favours by Paper Tree, there are lots of progressive alternatives. Iconic social enterprise TOM’s recently launched its wedding range, with offerings like veganfriendly, satin slip-ons for even the tiniest of bridesmaids. Elsewhere, Bohotanical offers wedding florals for eco-minded couples throughout Kent, London, Surrey and East Sussex (and are happy to travel further afield). There’s also a growing market for eco-friendly wedding planners like Arbre & RIVIÈRE in London, and Welsh company Togetherness, who are committed to tackling the throwaway culture of conventional wedding planning. But, there is still a long way to go. Although brides are becoming increasingly receptive to green wedding solutions, the industry has historically been slow to turn its attention to the dress – and traditional wedding media even slower to accept this growing trend. However, times are slowly

changing, and even luxury brands are now making efforts to support sustainability. Hailed as the leading lady of ethical and eco-conscious bridal design, Norwegian designer Leila Hafzi’s sustainably made bridal range uses fabrics like natural silks created by the Santal women in Bangladesh, and organically farmed cotton, hand loomed by women and dyed with herbs in a small village in India. The brand works to establish an end-toend environmentally friendly production cycle, that empowers working women around the globe. Closer to home, Real Green Dress is a bridalwear company based in North Hampshire, that offers original, restored, vintage gowns, and a unique collection of remodelled dresses. Upcycling is also a hallmark of Reformation’s bridalwear range, which uses almost entirely natural and recycled fibres. According to Brides do Good Founder and CEO Chantal Khoueiry, now is a really exciting time for the sustainable wedding industry. “Social impact and consciousness is more and more at the forefront of many brand’s minds. Recently, more brands are proactively seeking us as trusted partners. Crucially, we are focused on brand equity, and are never going to do anything to jeopardise that. Our mission is to create a greener wedding industry that can exist for our daughters for generations to come.” So with all these promising advances, what do we need now? Well, you. For every woman that chooses to make an ethical choice from companies like Brides do Good, a ripple effect of sustainability and empowerment is sent out across the globe. So go forth and plan the wedding of your dreams! And feel really, really good about it. Tamsin Smith is Engagement Officer: Charity Projects at Brides do Good. Brides do Good will be hosting a pop-up boutique at Bicester Village from 29th April, where brides-to-be can browse or shop from their designer collection. To find out more, visit www.bridesdogood.com.

Jen Palmer, Commercial Director at Brides do Good

Tamsin Smith, Engagement Officer: Charity Projects. NMM April 2019

I Love Ur Look We catch up with Ronke Fashola of Love ur Look to find out all about her latest range and how her vintage-inspired clothing empowers women. You’ve just launched a new range. What can you tell us about it? The collection is as always inspired by having fun with fashion. We don’t follow trends. Instead we listen to our customers, hear what they have to say at events and of course pay attention to past sales to ensure we don’t make any mistakes with shapes or prints. We normally have two or three main collections within each season. This season it is our Mexicana range and the China Lantern Print dresses. The Mexicana print collection was inspired by a trip I took to the Frida Kahlo exhibition. I have been a lover of her work for a very long time and when it came to the V&A I had to go. The exhibition did not disappoint. The China Lantern is a mix of 50’s inspired prints and Chinese lanterns. Both are fun and will make anyone wearing the stand out from the crowd. A percentage of your profit is donated to Tolfa, the animal hospital in India close to your factory. Can you tell us a little more about the wonderful work that they do?

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In total I donate 1-2 per cent of my money to Tolfa. This is done throughout the year. When I started to travel to India 10 years ago one thing that struck me was how lucky animals are in the UK. Sadly, very few animals have good lives in India. Even many of the domestic dogs are not looked after as people have not been given the correct education and don’t vaccinate them for instance. They end up being more of an accessory to show your status – thankfully, that’s only a small percentage. A large number of dogs, cows, donkeys, camels, cats are all sadly homeless or very badly treated and catch terrible diseases. This is where Tolfa come in. An organisation with rapid response they pick up, treat, vaccinate… the list is endless. This charity is amazing and the work they do is incredible. You travel to India twice a year to source fabrics and check in with the factory that makes your clothes. How does this time in India influence your designs and your lifestyle as a whole? Yes. In fact, I am getting ready to

go next week. India is a country of extreme hard workers. It always amazes me what they can do there and it takes days for it to happen here. ‘Anything is possible’ in India, it really is. My main goal when I am there is to re-use as much fabric from past production. So, making things with off-cuts is a priority. I also visit a lot of surplus markets. As India is one of the largest garment manufacturing countries, many brands have a large amount of wastage. This ranges from buttons, zips, trims. Similar to China you will find a market for everything. I buy as much as I possibly can from these markets in India to prevent them from going to landfill. Most recently this includes denim, which is one of the biggest pollutants in the garment supply chain, due to the dye. This is why not following trends is so important. We want the garment we make from the denim we have found to be so unique you never want to be parted from it. What do you bring back to London with you (in terms of material items as well as concepts/ideas)?

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I don’t tend to bring that much back. Buttons mainly and swatches of fabric. Mainly samples I have made. The bulk of everything I have is in my office space, which I share with several other small businesses from around the world. You are very careful that all of your clothing is produced ethically and have regulations in place involving rate of pay, minimum age and health and safety. When people are looking to buy ethically what can they look out for? What questions should we be asking? Yes, the factory are my family. They are all very well paid and looked after. I also spoil them with presents every time I visit. They

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have also just built a new factory and I have been helping them with their health and safety, fitting fire extinguishers etc. It’s all about transparency. If a company does not have anything on their ‘about us’ page, you should ask yourself why? If a company is selling everything for £5, you should ask how the workers get paid? We all have a choice. I understand some more than others, as some people’s financial circumstances may differ. But do you really need a new dress or shoes every month? So looking at our consumption habits too. Your clothes empower women on all sorts of levels, not just in those

who make them but also in the way that the cut is so flattering. Your designs are a real celebration of the female form. Was this a conscious move? Love ur Look - The name of the brand is something I want every woman to hear when they get dressed and walk to work or jump on the bus, or drop the kids off at school… ‘I Love ur Look’... Such small words can make someone’s whole day and empower that person to be the best version of themselves. I was a personal stylist (www. stylizers.co.uk) for 10 years before setting up Love ur Look so I know what a woman’s body is like. I have seen so many beautiful bodies.

So, this brand is about embracing what you have, wearing colour, being brave and sticking two fingers up to the world of black top and black jeans. I will be launching an empowerment collection at the end of May - so watch this space!

thing, and no one can, so they always dip back into history this is why vintage will always be so important.

Your designs have a clear vintage influence. What advice can you give to people who want to adopt a more vintage style?

I also work as a course director for South Bank University part time. I absolutely love it and working with younger people also keeps me thinking, reading, researching and pushing to help them reach their goals. I currently have 25 future fashion entrepreneurs whom I inspire (I hope I doâ&#x20AC;Ś). I organise a number of classes and lecture with a number of other external fashion experts. The course is BA Fashion Promotion with Marketing

Try to mix it into your everyday wardrobe. If you have never tried it before - start small. Maybe with just a jacket or bag. I believe everyone has an era that they should be wearing. Fashion today is all the same. Designers are trying to think of the next big

Can you talk us through a typical day in the life of Ronke?

and combines business studies, fashion marketing and promotion (videography and photography). Which lead to job opportunities as a fashion buyer, digital marketing, styling, photography. If Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not at SouthBank I will be in my studio/ office space with my assistant. She looks after my wholesale accounts and I do the marketing and product development. Once you finish one collection you are working on the other. There is no down time. Work is six days week. Sunday is my down day. In between this I work out 4-5 days a week. Exercise is essential when you run a company. It keeps you focused.

www.loveurlook.co.uk NMM April 2019

Food For Thought

Sri Lanka Sri Lankan cuisine is fast gaining popularity outside the Indian Ocean, with new restaurants and street food stalls popping up all over the world. But is this delicious slice of culinary culture more than the latest food fad? It has a long, rich history and if you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t experienced it for yourself then you are in for a real treat. Taking influences from Indian, Indonesian and Dutch cuisine, rice and coconut are prevalent in much of the meals with an intoxicating balance of spices at the heart of each dish.

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food for thought HOMECOOKING TIPS

YOUR SRI LANKAN STORE CUPBOARD

Formerly known as “Spice Island” it comes as no surprise that spices play a major part in the majority of Sri Lankan cooking. Black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander leaves, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, ginger, mustard seeds, nutmeg, saffron, tamarind and turmeric are all firm favourites. Fresh curry leaves This is the most flavoursome and aromatic form of the spice (although powdered or dried varieties may be easier to get hold of). Pandan leaves Frequently used to add a delicate fragrance to curries and rice. Pandanus plants can be found in most Sri Lankan kitchens. Red lentils Pulses are key to the Sri Lankan diet (due to a partially vegetarian population). Dhal is usually served with most meals, alongside curry and rice. Coconuts Not only is the milk, flesh and oil used, but the Sri Lankans use every last part of the coconut making it a truly sustainable option. The timber is used for building, and utensils and tools are crafted from the wood. Samba rice The local rice is denser than basmatic rice and has quite a pungent flavour that is thought to be an acquired taste. Maldive fish A fish or shrimp sauce formed from spiced, dried and smoked fish flakes. It is widely used to add extra flavour and thickness to curries and sauces.

If you wanted to cook hoppers at home, then you could easily cook them in a small wok if you have trouble sourcing an appachatti. It can be hard to get hold of key ingredients such as fermented rice flour so you may have to opt for plain rice flour. String hoppers are a similar food but are formed from shaped rice noodles, so you might want to try these instead. Dhal is a great way to start infusing more Sri Lankan flavours into a simple meal. For family meals and dinner parties, you could serve a batch of hoppers alongside a pot of steaming dhal, curry, mallung and a range of sambals for people to help themselves to. This is a great way to introduce people to the flavour combinations of this cuisine. Pol sambol (or coconut relish) gets sprinkled over a lot of Sri Lankan food and is a great starting place for home cooking. It is simply a mixture of grated coconut, red chillies, red onions, lime and salt.

Pol Sambol

1 whole coconut (finely grated) 1 tablespoon of red chilli (finely diced) ½ red onion (finely diced) The juice of two limes A pinch of salt Mix until well combined and serve as an accompaniment.

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WHAT TO EAT...

Curries (karis) These tend to fall into three distinct categories, white, red and black. The white curry has a mild flavour and uses plenty of coconut milk, the red curry includes an abundance of chilli and the black curry has greater depth of flavour as the spices are lightly toasted during cooking. Sambals These richly flavoured pastes are based on chilli with accents of lime, salt, Maldive fish, and onion. They are one of the accompaniments that are served alongside Sri Lankan meals with the purpose of awakening the tastebuds and enhancing the flavour of each dish. Mallungs Green, leafy accompaniments to rice. They are formed from fresh vegetables and are a great source of vitamins and minerals. They are usually lightly fried or par boiled and may include some additional flavour such as lemon, salt, chilli, onion, coconut and ginger. Hoppers These delicate savoury pancakes are a staple of Sri Lankan cuisine, made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk they are ideal for a gluten free diet. They are formed in a traditional curved pan (or appachatti) and topped with curry, relish and perhaps a fried egg. Dhal There are many ways to cook up a dhal but for a real Sri Lankan flavour you can expect the red lentils to be cooked in coconut milk with onions, fresh green chillies and tomatoes and the additional flavour of tempered spices such as mustard seeds, curry leaves, cumin seeds, pandan leaves and fenugreek. For true Sri Lankan flavour it is best cooked in an earthenware pot.

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FOR KIDS

For children, hoppers have a great visual appeal, and the fact that these little baskets of light batter have a delicate coconut flavour makes them all the more enticing. Pittu are a delicate steamed dessert formed of rice flour and coconut. They are traditionally cooked in bamboo steamers and served with sweetened coconut milk, for a nutritious and tasty dessert that children often love. A lot of Sri Lankan desserts have nutritional benefits, such as the Sri Lankan cheesecake which includes vitamin rich dates and plums.

food for thought

HEALTH

With the abundance of greens, vegetables, coconut milk, spices and cashew nuts, Sri Lankan food tends to be pretty packed with nutrients. Chillies are integral to Sri Lankan cooking and are a vital source of vitamin C. Cinnamon, turmeric and ginger are also known to help reduce LDL cholesterol. A Reader’s Digest study found that a daily dose of ½ tsp of cinnamon could reduce LDL cholesterol in diabetics by 30 per cent. Fermented yoghurt and milk are prevalent in Sri Lankan cooking and are great for promoting healthy gut bacteria. White rice can be a good source of energy, but as with any simple carbohydrate it can lead to blood sugar spikes which means it is best to avoid eating it on a daily basis. For the health conscious, it would be worth serving your Sri Lankan curries with brown rice. Red rice is also a much healthier option, is rich in fibre and is in keeping with the Sri Lankan diet (there are 12 strains of Sri Lankan red rice).

FINAL THOUGHTS…

If you love rich, intoxicating layers of spice, fragrant rice, fresh green vegetables and delicate notes of coconut then Sri Lankan cuisine will certainly appeal. The flavour combinations aren’t difficult to make at home, but for a truly authentic flavour it is definitely worth experiencing them from an experienced Sri Lankan chef before trying your hand. NMM April 2019

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