Beach lover or not, we all agree that plastic waste destroying marine life and polluting pristine white sands is a horrifying image. As the population at large is slowly starting to wise up and make changes to our mass consumption of single use plastics, artists and creators are finding innovative ways to use sustainable products from our collective waste. Sabrina Dragusanu who studied jewellery design at Central St Martins has successfully made use of recycled plastic in her jewellery collections. Visually the pieces stand alone as coral inspired jewellery, instantly transporting you to some of earths exotic mysteries that lie it’s reefs, the pieces stand as a reminder of what we stand to lose when we ignore sustainable practices, but more positively just how much we can achieve when we make choices to support sustainable practices.
Another consideration when tackling sustainable shopping is emissions. When buying locally from smaller, independent sellers, we help lower the emissions that go into the production and shipping of mass produced textiles. That’s why we are proud to showcase Baash and Lime who are on trend and ready for you to add a staple bucket hat to your collection with the same wide variety of print and colour you may expect to find on usual fast fashion hauls. They have a vibrant variety of prints instantly brightening your day and transporting you to a sunny destination whether you are covering your hair on a rainy day, or actually accompanying you to a far away destination as your sun protection and fashion accessory! All handmade in the U.K., you can rest assured that the traditional practices of fast factory fashion are not on your shoulders, or head!
Do you lust after the idea of getting your hands on the latest coveted designer bag? Is the luxury fashion industry a fantasy or fix you can’t quite let go of, à la Carrie Bradshaw? Well, we all have our vices. No judgement here. Although, we’ve got a proposition you may like. Bits and Totes have stepped in to make use of the designer waste scraps (that don’t quite make it into Carrie’s closet) and put them into production in their fabulous range of tote bags. Often two tone in style, these bags are made from some of the finest materials. English herringbone to French Linen, from Gucci scraps to Hermes; they are timeless and are an elevated equivalent to the usual canvas tote. So, if you want to feel a touch of the designer luxury whilst swapping your old plastic shopper for one of these it may make walking past the mannequins on Regent Streets that touch easier, as you may be holding a piece of the designer Wishlist already, that will stay in style every season!
Gifted Hands Africa is not just tackling the issue of sustainability by using materials that are environmentally friendly and easily recycled, they are supporting single mothers in Africa to earn a living through their crafts, enabling them to support their families. They manage to curate a collection ranging from Christmas stockings, cross-body bags, hand woven baskets, an accessories line and more whilst still focussing on the importance of organic and raw materials. Fast becoming a favourite at our SoLo shop, take a peek at some of their collection below and come along to check out the rest in store for a shopping experience that ripples in a positive way across the globe.
