Few of us under 40 years old, will remember making do and mending clothes, something that happened during the war and afterwards, as a way to cope with shortages. Now the whole make do and mend philosophy is coming back with recession stricken fashionistas finding new ways to keep up with the latest fashions. Retailers have recently reported a sharp increase in the number of sewing machines being sold as people refashion and recycle old clothes into new pieces of clothing or even make their own clothes from scratch. if you would like to have a go at refashioning old clothes, there are plenty of resources and ideas to get you started. Here are just a few.

Shrug made from an old T shirt from cutoutandkeep.net

Dress made from a mens shirt from Threadbanger.com

A ruffled vest from Threadbanger on Youtube.

To get started you will need a sewing machine (unless you are good at hand sewing and very patient).

This Brother LS2125 sewing machine is just what you will need.

Eco and ethical fashion is going from strength to strength with initiatives like Estethica at London Fashion Week and organisations like the Ethical Fashion Forum supporting up and coming eco and ethical fashion labels and providing them with the resouces to ensure their eco and ethical credentials. These new rising stars in the fashion world use eco and ethical principles not just as a selling point for their designs but also as a integral part of their designs. Take for example Junky Styling who recycle old clothes into innovative new designs and Mark Liu who has pioneered new techniques in pattern cutting to minimise waste at the same time producing unique and very desirable clothes.

As conusmers become more aware of ethical and environmental issues associated with fashion and it’s manufacture, they seek out clothes that have been ethically produced with a minimal impact on the environment. But they are looking for more than just an organic cotton t shirt. The latest eco and ethical brands have so much more to offer in terms of design innovation than just their green status.

For some very stylish eco fashion try this Indian Eco tunic in 100% organic cotton from London boutique Leila.

Nothing is as sure to make you feel great than doing something selfless and virtuous. Perhaps you have already helped an old lady across the road or donated some money to charity. If not some feel good fashion could have the same sort of effect. By feel good fashion, I mean ethical or eco fashion, clothing which in some way has a more positive effect on the world than conventional clothing. There are some great organic clothes around. Organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides, which have a negative impact on the environment and can be dangerous for those living and work in the vicinity. They are also free of chemical residues so could well be the healthiest option giving you a double feel good factor.

If you thought that organic clothes weren’t pretty and stylish, you were wrong, look at this Organic cotton silk mix dress.

If you thought that organic clothing wasn’t affordable, you were wrong. These Organic Denim Cropped Trousers are an amazing price.

If you thought that you couldn’t get all organic clothes including lovely underwear, you were wrong, just look at this Ciel Organic Underwear.

One of the most well known and well established manufacturer of recycled clothing Patagonia has cemented it’s status as a luxury apparell with the announcement that Patagonia clothing will be stocked by Harrods, a store synonomous with luxury. The debut of Patagonia at Harrods proves that it is possible to produce something luxurious and very useful with waste or recycled materials.

Patagonia is a manufaturer of outdoor clothing and has pioneered many environmental iniatives, the most noteable being it’s common threads recycling scheme, where customers can return clothes that they have worn for recycling. Patagonia also donates  1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment and uses a variety of eco textiles for manufacturing. Patagonia has become recognised for not only minimising the environmental impact of the clothing that it manufactures but also producing high quality and high performance, functional out door clothing. 

Harrods will stock various Patagonia products including the Rain Shadow jacket and borderless trek pants which are made from recycled polyester.

This Patagonia Addie Hoody is perfect for those who want stylish functional outdoor clothes.

picture from www.patagonia.com

Green fashion and sustainable style seems to be the subject that everyone is talking about lately. Clothing manufacture have a huge environmental impact including the carbon footprint, use of fossil fuels and pesticides used in the growth of cotton. When you add the huge problem of disposing of textiles and landfill in the UK, it just makes sense to wear clothes made from recycled materials.

Until recently the though of wearing clothes made from recycled materials was not particularly appealing, but lately I have been seeing more items that are recycled but also very stylish. Following the launch of the governments sustainable clothing action plan, even some of the main high street retailers like Marks and Spencer’s are now stocking ranges of eco friendly clothes, so there really is quite a bit of choice. Here are a few of my favourite recycled finds:

These U Roads recycled soul shoes have soles made using recycled truck tyres.

This cool effect slip is made with polyester from recycled plastic waste so helps to protect the earths valuable resources.

This practical and cosy fleece is made from polyester made from recycled bottles.

I am not a complete tree hugger, but lately have started to become a lot more aware of how my consumer choice can effect the environment, particularly where clothing and fashion is concerned. Recent years have shown a move by some fashion retailers to produce and sell cheap and badly made fast fashion to keep up with the latest trends as dictated by the industry. Whilst on occasion, I have been tempted and have even bought some of this fast fashion, I have been very quick to realise the errors of my ways. I have come to the conclusion that you get what you pay for, very cheap clothes generally look very cheap. Whilst they may be cheap in price, there is also an additional price to pay.

Fast fashion clothes are usually worn just a few times before been thrown away. The quality of the clothes means that they usually have very little second hand value and so are unlikely to be recycled. The disposal of clothes into landfill contributes to the methane emissions, a green house gas which is released from landfill as waste breaks down. Even worse, many synthetic materials do not break down at all and so remain in the ecosystem for ever.

Whilst I am concerned about environmental issues, I am determined to still look stylish and believe it is possible to be a responsible and stylish shopper. Here are my stylish tips for being stylish and minimising the environmental impact of your fashion choices:

• Where possible, choose natural fabrics produced locally
• Choose well made clothes that will last for more than season and can be sold recycled once you no longer want them.
• Take good care of your clothes - often mending or repairing can be an economical alternative to just throwing them away.
• When you have finished with your clothes sell them, swap them or donate to charity.
• Develop your own personal style so that you do not have to change your wardrobe every season to keep up with the latest fashions.

This wool Amanda Wakeley coat will last you for years and will definitely not end up as landfill in the near future.

Everyone is talking about it. everyone is wearing it. Ye it is official green is the new black or Eco chic has it has been labelled is one of the hottest trends. So what is Eco chic all about. The new eco designer brands are all about removing the guilt associated with no ethical production of clothing whilst allowing consumers to look amazingly stylish. Its not just about ethical buying but also about innovative designs and just plain gorgeous clothes.

Heading up the Eco fashion warriors are celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, Peaches Geldolf and Natalie Portman. Throw away fashion is out, organic cotton is definitely in. Ethical fashion is all about providing a fair deal for the workers who manufacture the clothes. Organic cotton is produced without chemicals or pesticides which is much better for the environment and creates a sustainable habitat for the people living in the regions. The best thing about ethical fashion and eco chic is that you can now wear the latest trends and designer clothes without an ounce of guilt- perfect! To celebrate here are some of my favourite ethical clothes:

Womens Eco Rain Shell Jacket

Stunning Organic Cotton Dress From France