Blue Suits, Cropped Pant’s and Flowers; Menswear Spring 2014

Men’s wear Spring 2014 is in full bloom! Pun intended. With almost everything finding its way to the runway from casino slot machines in Milan to full floral suits everywhere else! Nothing is beyond menswear designers next Spring. With menswear usually rating barely a mention next to its women’s counterpart, it is arguably refreshing to see such boldness and variety available in men’s fashion.

Although not all spring 2014 trends are in my taste, aka the floral trend (except in a subtle context and styled perfectly), a big trend that has made its way to the catwalk for next spring is the colour blue. You can except to see blue tones feature heavily in suits by Tom Ford and Hermes;

 

more subtle references will be available from Prada, Galliano and Givenchy.

Other big trends we can see popping up is the cropped pant and floral prints which are dominating catwalks particularly in Philiip Lim, Dries Van Noten and AMI’s Spring 2014 range;

As exciting as it is to see such a diverse range of styles, designs and prints in menswear, I won’t heavily oppose every trend failing to flow down to boys wear, I can’t imagine my husband being overly impressed with my boys dressing themselves in a full floral suit to my brothers wedding next year – although styled right I think it could look quite impressive; however, the right tones of blue and used correctly are always a winner in boys wear.

Fortunately brands such as No Added Sugar and Indikidual have picked up the trends which we’ll see feature in their spring 2014 ranges;

Related articles

• Dries van Noten Spring 2014 Menswear (desphosphenes.com)
• Four menswear trends for spring/summer 2014 (guardian.co.uk)
• Dries Van Noten Spring / Summer 2014 men’s (fashionising.com)
• Marc Jacobs Spring 2014 Menswear (desphosphenes.com)
• Menswear Trends for Spring 2014 (thegallopingpony.wordpress.com)

GQ: A Refreshing Insight into the world of Men

As I scan through the pages of the June GQ Magazine, I’m confronted by a foreign world of masculinity. Having never read a men’s magazine of this calibre before and under the assumption that all men’s magazines were filled with scantily dressed women and useless facts on foods and sports, I was astounded at the level of depth, sophistication and intellect that saturated each page.

Having bought the article out of curiosity, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed each component of the magazine. From articles on iconic actors and up and coming actresses to reviews on top restaurants, designers and cars. I found the bold articulation of each article, deep hue colours of the advertorial pages and the diversity in information truly refreshing. It was evident that the intended reader of this magazine would assumedly be an older or perhaps corporate male, which is suggested in the higher end products advertised and the absence of any real juvenile type antics and discussions, but the slight hint of femininity (for lack of a better word) that sprung up occasionally through the female writers and articles on woman and sex, makes it a worthy read for both men and women.

I was intrigued by the images that the magazine conveys of men and not overly surprised to find predominantly good-looking, well dressed or sophisticated men similar to what you’d find in women’s magazines. However, as well as appreciating the sheer boldness and matter of fact style of the magazine I enjoyed seeing the brilliant way the editor appeals to the predominantly systematic style brain of men through the language, content, colours and advertorial.

The style section of the magazine was just as impressive, and something I’d be more than happy for my husband, brother or dad to pick up and get some pointers from. In fact their website. www.gq.com is just as impressive. Through itemizing styles in categories such as shirts, watches, shoes, denim and so forth, it’s clear, simple, direct and easy for men to search and get great style advice. Such as these topics taken directly off their website:

* 5 Things You Need to Know About Buying Denim Our panel of  denim designers weigh in on how to pick a pair like a pro. Read More http://www.gq.com/style/wear-it-now/201204/how-to-buy-jeans-best-denim-men#ixzz2aP0bCozB

* Don’t Be So Damn Square Before we start talking about  styles of shoes, let’s talk shape. If you’re still walking around in square-toe,  rubber-soled lace-ups—the kind you buy on the cheap and that make you look like  you’ve got platypus feet—grab them from your closet and toss them.

Seriously. your shoes should be as streamlined as the rest of your wardrobe.  That means a slim contour (but not painfully skinny) and a rounded (but not  sharp) toe. They’ll look stylish, tasteful, and masculine. And that’s all you  can ask for. Read More http://www.gq.com/style/style-manual/201204/dress-shoes-leather-polish#ixzz2aP14dlRo

* What the Twenty-first- Century Suited Man Looks Like Check out  Christoph Waltz here and you’ll see more than just a sharp-dressed man—you’ll  see a completely contemporary man. What’s the secret? The trimness of the suit?  Sure. The elegance of the details? Totally. But look a little closer and you’ll  notice what’s not here: no aggressive plaids, no I’m-the-man pinstripes, no  four-button jacket. Instead, the message is smart, confident, thoroughly put  together. He makes a statement by not making one—or at least looking as if he’s  not trying so hard to make one. Like the best in modern design, his suit is  simple and streamlined, perfectly crafted. That’s the look you want.
Read More http://www.gq.com/style/style-manual/201204/suits-guide-tailoring-fit#ixzz2aP1fcZ9U

I love that there website is more about style as opposed to fashion. Yes they list products, designers and tell you were to buy and what to buy, but they also tell you what to wear, how to wear it, how to buy it, and give great advice on how to improve your own style which is far more important.

With three boys, it’s important they are surrounded by positive role models and have a positive and respective view of the world and everything in it, which is why I’d be happy for my boys to grow up reading GQ and be exposed to intellectual, successful and aspiring male role models.

Related articles

• GQ & The Invisible Man (menbehavingmadly.wordpress.com)
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Label in focus: Kutie Protocol

I’d like to think I have a social conscience. That although I don’t live a wholey sustainable/eco-friendly life, I try to incorporate it into my daily living and key components of my life where and when possible. For example, when given a choice between organic or non-organic produce I go organic, I’ll choose free range over farmed where possible, I try to support local companies/products and when it comes to clothing I’m not one to shy away from sustainable and organic clothing due to cost. Above all of this however, I love a label with a story! Brands such as Munster and Diesel have all caught my attention due to their good will stories, and now to add to this is an Australian label that is new to me Kutie Protocol.

I’m truly surprised I have not come across this label earlier in my 5 year journey as a mother of boys! There styles are unique, designs are simple yet on trend and they offer a nice selection in boys and girls denim. They also go back to there roots to manufacture their Australian label sourcing fabrics locally and reducing their carbon footprint by avoiding wastage, excess and using recycled water. All you have to do is read their story to at http://www.kutieprotocol.com/KP/About_us.html”>http://www.kutieprotocol.com/KP/About_us.html to see that they work towards sustainability and at being as eco-friendly as they can throughout the manufacturing process.

Some of my picks are:

   Adam and Eve Skinny Jeans

       John and Yoko Biker Jacket

Available in Australia, America, Japan, Korea and Online, Kutie Protocol is a must have boys wear label, not only because they have some great designs but that through supporting them we’re supporting their effort to do what they love in an eco-friendly way.

Australian Made

How relevant is Australian made clothing? Is the cost justifiable? Is the demand that great? All questions I’ve considered time and time again throughout my journey as a mother and fashion enthusiast. As an Australian I’d like to say it is, that there is still relevance for Australian made clothing despite the ever-increasing access to international manufacturers at a fraction of the cost. Although I’m a big believer in keeping things local and supporting our textile manufacturing industry to the point of creating my own organic and Australian made fashion label 5 years ago, through personal experience, I completely understand why labels go overseas and why consumers do not quiver at the thought of purchasing sweat shop produced garments…the price is simply unbeatable! However, whilst this statement alone could spark an all-consuming debate on an endless array of topics – sustainability, fair trade, the power of consumers, moral justification etc, I feel conflicted about the pros and cons of Australian manufacturing and a little saddened that it is not more practiced and followed.

Would we be more driven to Australian made products if the price was comparable? Again I’d like to say yes, however, after my own personal studies and survey of a variety of mothers I fear the answer would more likely be no, unless there was an upsurge in Australian made labels and a greater awareness of these labels and their availability. So let’s become aware. Although Australian made labels are not always easy to find, especially boys wear, there are a number of Australian designers that are keeping their manufacturing practices local and affordable, with one in particular that inspired this post.

After reading a local free magazine I discovered Duke of London. An exciting new Australian made fashion label that produces unique and affordable boys wear. www.dukeoflondon.co

• 

  SLIMS – AZTECS
  $49.00

  
• SLIMS – MUSTARD
  $46.00

• 

  SLIMS – WHITE
  $46.00

• 

  LEATHER DENS
  $61.95

• 

  THE COOPER DEN
  $74.95
• 

Like me, founder Kiri was a frustrated mother of 2 boys in search of better boys wear when she started her label inspired by her 2 gorgeous blonde haired boys. As a new boys wear label, I was very excited to see a range of functional clothes that were bright, fun, different and affordable that is Australian made. As shown in some of my favourite styles above, Dukes of London shows that we can keep things local without breaking the bank or compromising our styles.

Another inspiring label that is Australian made  Knuffle Kid.“Knuffle loosely translated from dutch is “to cuddle” – Kid is a baby goat or small childKnuffle Kid is all about the joy of being a child – it’s about the time in your life when memories first form – it’s about having a favourite dress that gets passed down to your little sister or eventually to your own child.” http://www.knufflekid.com/about/

Although predominantly ticking all the right boxes for the girls, they do offer some boys wear that is a bit different to the norm, bright and fun, which is what all children need! Some of my picks would be…

 

With labels like these starting to emerge in Australia, there is no reason why ‘Australian made’ should not be relevent or why we should not be more actively supporting them. As a mother of 3 boys, I understand why price is important, why we buy non-Australian made products – price, convenience and a dominance in the market. However, the more we support locally made labels, the more competitive the market becomes and the cheaper the prices get (in theory at least). So for all those fashion savvy mothers looking for quality, stylish yet different boys wear that are Australian made, check out these 2 labels and start buying!!!

The Illusive Baby Boys Wear: My Recent Findings

Boys! Boys! Boys! Never before has this word been so consuming and relevent to me as it is at this particular point in my life. Consumed by an ever-increasing rise in energy levels, physical activity and refereeing brotherly disputes and wrestles, my life as a stay-at-home mum has definitely intensified with the addition of my third boy. But surprisingly it is not as difficult as I had originally imagined. Perhaps it was me planning for the worst possible case scenario and imagining a new very hectic existence, or the truly invaluable help of my mother that has aided my transition from a mother of 2 to a mother of 3, or the fact that babies really are not that difficult – at least in comparison to my very active 4 and 2-year-olds! They really do just eat and sleep at this tender young age (which makes me laugh when I think back to the time that we only had one baby and I thought it was so difficult!). Don’t get me wrong, the lack of sleep, balancing the ever existent demand of attention and trying to distribute my time evenly between all three boys and my husband, isn’t always easy, and I have accepted the fact that ‘me time’ simply doesn’t exist anymore, but I do think things could have been worse (perhaps I’ll bite my tongue in 3 to 6 months).

As I look back at baby photos of my first two boys and then compare them to my third, it surprises me how different all three were and are! From no hair, to almost black hair and now to very fair hair, it makes me think about the future and wonder how each of them are going to turn out. Another thing I wonder about, is why people continue to present the same style of baby clothes, in the same colours and styles despite the significant upsurge in ‘baby trends’ and fashion over the past 4 years. I must admit, I haven’t received a significant amount of baby clothes this time around as most people assume I have that covered (which is not really the case considering the 3 month and season difference between the three boys), and from what I have received most have been quite cool and bright – particularly the baby suits received from my sister that were bought online from www.next.co.uk, similar to these colourful lovelies…

However, we’ve still receive the same neutral, boring or baby blue pieces that can be found everywhere! Fortunately I’ve managed to find some great little newborn bargains that allow me to mix and match my new colourful items with some of the dull and lifeless pieces I’ve either had for my older boys or were given.

Bonds has always been a staple in my boys wardrobes, even now, and although they do have a far greater range and variety then they did four years ago, the market is still very heavily girl dominated which can make finding boys wear in the required size difficult (as always)! However, after heading to my local Trade Secret store, I did manage to pick up some very soft and comfortable navy track pants and hoodie at a cheaper price that I’m planning to brighten up with some colourful and funky $10 tees I found at Cotton On for kids…

 

The past 4 years has seen a growth in variety and styles for baby boys which is exciting and despite finding some funky little pieces, I’m still finding the baby wear market to be heavily dominated and aimed at girls, which is highly frustrating! It astounds me that even when fluro and bright colours have dominated ‘fast fashion’ trends for the past 12-6 months, it is assumed parents are still drawn to the boring old baby blues and browns that consume the baby boys wear market! Perhaps they do, but either way, I feel when we live in such a hot and sunny country – even in winter, it wouldn’t hurt Australian fashion designers and retailers to look at fabrics and labels that are fun and colourful for boys particularly in winter, as to reflect the playful, cheeky and energetic traits of boys and children in general.

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• This Yummy Mummy Means Business (theformationscompany.com)

Fashion and Boyswear: Have we sacraficed Quality for Quantity?

So it’s been a little while since my last post, it turns out being 37 weeks pregnant with 2 little munchkins running around is more time-consuming and exhausting than anticipated! But that’s life – well my life; so time to get on with it!

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the quality of clothing that has hit our stores lately, and often wonder what has happened to ‘the old days,’ when clothing was made to last, to be worn, run in and over used! It wasn’t that long ago when you could buy a tee-shirt that would hold its shape wash after wash, or a pair of denim cotton jeans that didn’t rip or stretch to the point of un-wearability. Even buying designer, isn’t always a guarantee of quality any more.

Is this the result of globalisation? The internet and fast communication making everything accessible and any one a ‘fashion designer?’ All it takes to establish a label these days is a quick search on the internet for a manufacturer anywhere in the world, send some photos of clothes you like or easier still pick some from a list of pre-designed styles, order the minimum – which is often now merely a size range;  put your tag on it and sell it at minimum expense via any free social media site! Brilliant for any one wanting to start out in the fashion industry and an easy way to make money – as there is clearly a market for it, but at what cost? With label after label being spewed out of the internet and over social media sites, it seems quantity is increasing while quality is diminishing.

My thoughts on this arose through out the week after a short venture to a popular department store in Australia, that saw me purchase 2 pair of $7 burgundy coloured jeans for my boys. At $7 I wasn’t expecting a great deal of quality, but I thought they’d be great kick about jeans that could be worn and torn through out winter. They were bought in a rush to get my over active boys out of the shopping centre, however, despite the price I was astounded at just how poor quality the jeans actually were! My eldest son, who loves changing his clothes several times a day and wearing anything new, put the jeans on in excitement almost immediately after walking through the door and ran down the hallway to show off his latest piece of clothing. I want lie, I was surprisingly impressed with the cut of the jeans on him and thought I’d found a bargain pair of skinny leg stretch denim jeans. Then when I got the other pair of jeans for my 2-year-old I realised that my 4-year-old – who normally wears a size 5-6, had actually put the size 2 on instead of his size 4 pair! Once we swapped sizes I realised that I really had got what I’d payed for! An oversized pair of jeans, made from a light cotton that would rip at one slide in the dirt and were far too long and high-waisted for any real kind of comfortability! I’m sure they’ll serve their purpose for a short period of time and would therefore be worth the $7 I paid, but it made me think about denim jeans and what has happened to their quality over time?

With new labels popping up like the sun, it’s no real surprise quality is being sacrificed for quantity, but I’m a little disappointed at the extent and rate in which it is happening. Has mass importation of fashions from offshore manufacturers meant quality and/or independent labels are diminishing or arising quicker due to a greater need? I wonder what Levi Strauss would say if he saw the ways in which his original creation of blue jeans, which began in the late 1800’s and known as the ‘workers pants’ for their durability and strength, has evolved throughout time? Even his own label that has seemingly stood the test of time and is still a top seller amongst denim jean consumers, has seen a cut in quality throughout the years for the purpose of quantity and cost.

I’m a big believer in you get what you pay for, which is why I usually don’t cut price corners when it comes to denim jeans, but where do you draw the line? Should we be expecting more from our denim suppliers? I suppose it could be argued that we should really be expecting more from fashion labels themselves, particularly when we’re paying top dollar for some. But I’m interested in finding out what you think. I know I feel boys wear just simply isn’t lasting as long as it use to and it’s hard to find a decent pair of denim jeans for my boys that aren’t ripped or destroyed after one season, but is this just the price we pay for choosing to buy mass-produced items at a more affordable price as opposed to independent or designer pieces that are more expensive?

What do you think? Has the modern fashion industry sacrificed quality for quantity? If so is that because demand has increased in a price driven society? Should we accept lesser quality simply because it’s cheaper in some cases? If we are paying top dollar for items that simply do not last, should we be challenging the labels more?

Something to think about…..

Related articles

• “Wooden” Jeans Can Make the Denim Industry More Environmentally Friendly (news.softpedia.com)
• Repair Your Pair (Of Jeans) (makezine.com)
• Why a Good Pair of Jeans Can Save You Money (savemoney247.co.uk)

Australian Designers of Boys Wear: My top 10!

American Apparel, Mini Rodinni, I Dig Denim, Scotch and Soda, (just to name a few) are all amazing international children’s designer labels that have an impressive range of  fashion styles for boys, all of which are readily available at the touch of a keypad. With the phenomena of the internet and globalization, we are no longer restricted to the limited variety and quality of department and chain stores. We can have the latest styles and fashions for boys without dragging our unwilling children to often over crowded shopping centres or without leaving the comfort of our own homes. Although boys wear is still not as readily available as girls wear, with access to websites such as The Iconic, Orfeo and Scandinavian Minimal, fashions for boys from across the world are now in our hands.

But what about our local Australian designers? When we think about designer fashions for boys, we often think of international fashion heavy weights but forget some of our own amazing talents that are of the same quality and usually at a better price. So with the aim of highlighting some of our own local talents, I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 rated Australian Fashion Labels for boys. I will note that in compiling this list I was overwhelmed with amazing girls wear labels (which I may touch on in another post), from Australian designers that at least tripled anything I found for boys wear. This aside, here are my top 10:

1: Sudo

Probably my favourite Australian boys-wear collection, maybe because the clothes are designed by a dad of three! Available in all good boutique stores, their winter 2013 range does not let them down!

“Sudo is the brainchild of Melbourne based fashion advocate Terry Lay. A father of three children, Terry set about creating a fashion forward clothing brand for kids aged 2 to 12 years. Breaking away from conventional children’s wear, Sudo is for those who have an eye for fashion,   styling and quality, with huge emphasis on fit,  construction and function-ability. Sudo offers adult like styling and quality for the next generation.” www.sudo.com.au

2. Munster

As mentioned in previous posts, Munster is a brilliant advocate for boys fashion in Australia. With funky and fresh styles they manage to capture the fun side of being a child and produce exciting clothing!

“Munster kids is a collection of kids apparel that is driven by music, art and street culture. Inspired by urban legend Mikey Munster, the devious side of every kid, Munster garments balance a mix of kid themes and adult styling with durability and comfort leaving them satisfied and you feeling a little jealous.”  www.munsterkids.com.au

3. Havaianas

As a must in our house, Havaianas couldn’t come in any lower than 3. With the boys having a pair from the moment they could walk, there durability and fun designs make them a winner for both the kids and parents!

Although not completely Australian, having began in 1962 based on the Japanese sandal ZORI, it wasn’t until after the World Cup in Brazil in 1998, that Havianas began to have an impact in the global market and spread to over 60 different countries including Australia by 2000. Now they are almost a household name and appear to have become a bit of an Australian icon, hence their inclusion in this list. www.havaianasaustralia.com.au

4. Minti

As an Australian and New Zealand brand, Minti is another fun fashion label that was established over 9 years ago on the ethos ” “would we wear that if we were small?” Sitting at #4 on my list their range of girls-wear is equally impressive.

“Since it’s inception in 2003 Minti was always set to go from strength to strength and be at the forefront of making awesome street wear for little people, with ranges that include clever graphics on deluxe cotton garments through to Hand destroyed denim jeans and more intricate cut and sew pieces.

Minti is owned by husband and wife teams Nick and Amy Joblin and Nick and Jenny Clegg.  In March of 2008 Nick and Amy made the move from Auckland to Melbourne to keep up with the demand coming out of Australia, the brand is now very much an Australian and New Zealand brand with Nick and Jenny staying in Auckland to look after the NZ demand.

The brand is now designed out of Minti’s head office in Melbourne, Australia.” www.iloveminti.com/about

 

5. Little Horn

With the ethos “we are forever young,” Little Horn is a brilliant Australian children’s label. Stocked across Australia, New Zealand and online, it’s range of comfortable and practical boys and girls clothing is a must this winter. Exemplified in there 2013 winter range, is a combination of this season’s hottest color trends including bright and the blue/green fad that always works on boys. www.littlehorn.com.au

6. Polka

Another favourite of mine, is the ever tasteful yet fun designs of Polka. Stocked Australia wide, Polka incorporates a large array of styles, designs and colours that are flexible and practical. There girls-wear range is probably more impressive than there boys-wear range, but with their variety in design from season to season and their fun catalogue photos, they are definitely a must for any boy!

There own description of the label basically sums the brand up:  “PÖLKA: WEARABLES FOR SMALL FOLK Welcome to a land where fashion is fun, you can mix it and layer it without help from mum! Cheery colours and patterns; for mr’s and misses, disguised as Vikings and Eskimo Princesses.” http://www.facebook.com/Polkakidswear/info

  

7. Alphabet Soup

With a website on the way, all you have to do is look at their facebook page to see just how children focused the owners of Alphabet Soup are. Based in Melbourne but stocked throughout Australia, the company produces a large range of boys tees, shirts, hoodies, shorts, denim, jackets and accessories for “fashion forward grommets.” With an emphasis on boys and what boys like, there prints are fun, modern and something the kids will love!

8. Chalk and Cheese

Established in 2005 by Tracy Eastwood, who returned to Australia after a stint of designing in the UK, Chalk and Cheese designs aim to reflect a unique style of fashion inspired by European trends. With an emphasis on simplicity and neutral tones with spurts of color, this label is a great example of fashion that could travel across seasons with its layering ability. Offering more than just unique fabrics for boys and girls, Chalk and Cheese made my list as they proudly manufacture in Melbourne! Something that I truly appreciate and I know many other mothers who’d feel the same.

So if your really looking to support our local economy and designers, look no further than Chalk and Cheese. www.chalkncheeseclothing.com.au

9. Eeni Meeni Miini Moh

This is an Australian label that produces more than just simple designs with a neutral palette and unique prints. Available as apparel for boys and girls, bed linen. toys and accessories, this is a label that has a social consciousness as well. Producing clothing that is available for boys and girls from sizes 0-12,  “each collection embodies (their) habitual characteristics of combining natural fibres with a harmonious palette,” something that is refreshing and complimentary to current fashion colour trends. There designs are well thought out and reflect a care that can only be produced in a harmonious environment.

In addition to this, they are also passionate about embracing its “social responsibility to people and the planet.” Creating a team that are committed to ethical sourcing and selecting suppliers that share their beliefs. They use suppliers that adhere to their code of conduct and operate in accordance with internationally recognised minimum standards on human rights, labour, banned substances and the environment. In fact since they began production in 2002, they’ve donated over $250,000 to underprivileged children in clothing and monetary donations. www.eenimeenimiinimoh.com.au

10. Fred Bare

Probably most commonly associated with David Jones, Fred Bare is a wholly Australian company that aims to produce quality childrenswear that incorporate style and exclusive prints and artwork. Established in 1992 by Fiona Sinclair and her partner Robert White, they were originally only found in department stores but can now be sourced in the best boutiques in Australia, New Zealand and online.

As a more conservative Australian label, their boys wear pieces brilliantly complement some of the more trend based pieces from labels such as Munster, Minti and Sudo, or are ideal for more formal occasions. www.fredbare.com

So there you have it, my top 10 Australian childrenswear labels that produce what I consider to be the best selection of boys-wear fashions and styles in Australia. All with exciting 2013 winter collections on the way or on the shelf now, we have no excuse to not be supporting our own and dressing our boys in the best of the best from down under!!

Guilt Free Fashion

It’s been a few days now since my last post, as a mother of boys time does seem to sneak away from you!! But during this time I’ve been pondering on some of the ideas raised within my last post on sustainable fashion. One of the topics that arose from the short survey I conducted amongst some of my friends was that of guilt. My previous post suggested that a significant number of women (majority mothers) focused heavily on price when buying fashions, however, something I didn’t discuss was a comment brought up by my sister and her friend on the issue of guilt. After stating she knew nothing on sustainable fashion, other than my opinions, or that the what and where of a garments manufacturing was taken into account whilst she was shopping, she contemplated for a moment and added “We are just deciding whether to feel guilty about that or not. Should we be more aware of environmental impacts!? This is the question we ask ourselves.” I thought what a brilliant statement, and then thought how relevent is this? Is this something people ask themselves when they shop? Do you walk out of a retail store after purchasing something for yourself or child and feel guilty about not considering the sustainability of the garment? Do you even ask or question whether the garment is made of organic fibres? Was it made in a less fortunate village or town that contributes and benefits the economy, infrastructure or people of that village? Do any of the profits contribute to a charity? Tough questions, that realistically would not cross the majority of consumers minds when they shop, which is perfectly understandable given the lack of awareness that is out there on such topics.

So where do we shop guilt free? What labels are doing good in the ‘big bad world of fashion?’ Well for those out there who are not purely price driven and do buy designer labels either for themselves or their boys, I’ve touched lightly on charitable designers and labels in my previous post and listed some such as Australia’s children designer label Munster Kids,

but there are hundred’s more labels across the globe that are focused on sustainability and adapting to or giving back where and when they can. Yes organic labels are on the rise and they are contributors to sustainable fashion, however, I believe sustainable fashion is about more than just organic and the environment. Take Edun for example. Without going into too much detail on the label and the endless ways in which they contribute to sustainable fashion, this is a fashion label founded in 2005 by Ali Hewson and Bono (lead singer of U2) with the intention to increase awareness of the African Rag trade and in particular the damaging effects the cotton industry has and is having on the country. It actively works to increase trade with Africa and is aiming to produce 40% of its seasonal fashion collection in Africa by 2013 with the aim of building long-term, sustainable opportunities by supporting manufacturers, infrastructure and community building initiatives (www.edun.com).

Although any piece from their amazing collection could be considered an indulgence for most mothers, you could happily shop guilt free knowing you were supporting the African community and contributing to cleaner work environments through supporting Edun’s Conservation Cotton Initiative (CCI) in Uganda.

In fact Diesel has recently collaborated with Edun with a Spring 2013 denim collection that is manufactured in Africa with the finest CCI cotton from Uganda. However,this is not the only reason to shop guilt free with Diesel. Apart from having amazing denim for men and women, they also have a fantastic kids and boys wear range,

and have also established their own charity Only The Brave Foundation, which was “born four years ago with the mission to fight social inequality and to contribute to the sustainable development of less advantaged areas and people throughout the world, the Only The Brave Foundation so far has supported over 100 innovative projects providing concrete solutions to the life of more than 40,000 people.”

The H & M ‘All for Children’ collection is a collaboration between the designer and UNICEF. Released in 2013, the collaboration is aimed at protecting the rights of kids living in India’s Tamil Nadu region, where cotton is the primary source of income. Through the collection, which is targeted at 1-8 year olds, they use 25% of the proceeds to establish proper education systems in Tamil Nadu  (www.trendhunter.com/trends/h-m-all-for-children).

For the mum’s and women, there are some very charitable designer labels across the globe including the Benetian group and Asos. Asos Africa for example,

is a range designed by the company that supports a sustainable work environment in Kenya by partnering with Soko. I’ve also found a website, www.psfk.com, which is an online designer label store that donates 20% of the proceeds from all purchases to a charitable cause. Basically, designers are paired with a particular charity campaign and when an item is purchased, 20% of the RRP goes to the not-for-profit project. Toms for example, has set up an initiative that donates a pair of shoes to someone in a developing country for every pair of shoe sold through PSFK. Currently more than 1 million pairs have been distributed to those in need in more than 20 countries.

So for those who are looking for ways to support sustainable fashion and shop guilt free, there are endless ways you can go about it and support the fashion labels that are supporting not only the environment, but also the people and communities of the less fortunate both locally and globally. I could go on for hours about sustainable fashion and list page after page of labels, fashion designers and fashion organisations that are charitable and working toward sustainability but I won’t. If people really want to make a difference, I suggest stop talking about it and actually do something. It’s easy to want to change the world and condemn big corporations for doing more, but what are you doing in your immediate area? Do you volunteer your time to feed the homeless in your town or city? Or volunteer at your local second-hand store? Do you even buy second-hand clothes or donate regularly to charity?

If your feeling guilty about your shopping and want to find ‘sustainable labels’ ask your local retail store owners about which labels are doing what, or get online and google it, there is a world of information at our door step, and a world of sustainable fashion for men, women, girls and our boys. If your not then don’t, which is equally acceptable. We all have a choice and it’s not our place to judge, because at the end of the day there is no right and wrong there are simply consequences.

Fashion is Bought, Style is Born!

Boys Fashion is bought and worn but a boys style is born.

Boys are born with their own unique style. Yes they are influenced by the tastes of those around them, but when you give your boy the ability to communicate how their feeling and express themselves through fashion, their unique style and therefore character, personality, moods and feelings are communicated. Only last night did I see my four-year old son’s personality shine through when he came out after his bath dressed for bed… …as impractical as it was for him to be in long sleeve pyjamas and a baseball cap in 30 degree heat, it’s one of the most rewarding parts of being a parent to see your child express themselves so readily!

But boy style envy of celebrity children such as the Beckham boys or Gwen Steffani’s little styler is not hard to have as you flick through your favourite gossip magazine and then have the desire to reciprocate their looks at your local discount store or children’s boutiques – a venture that is usually achievable, particularly with websites such as http://www.zara.com or http://www.zulily.com (although the second has better bargains for girls, if you search there are some great boys wear bargains that are heavily discounted) and if you’re in Australia http://www.cottonon.com (again more for girls wear but they do have a good cheap range of coloured denim skinnies at the moment) or http://www.thekidsstore.com.au  is also easy to get caught up in. But at the end of the day you can buy boys clothes and tell them what to wear, but when you give them free choice and the ability to dress themselves their true style comes out and it’s not always in the order or manner you’d prefer, but for me, as a mother of 2 boys, it is always more rewarding!