Forever Fashion: Viv Does Vegan

Vivienne Westwood has designed a range of gorgeous Anglomania Melissa shoes entitled 'Lady Dragon'.

Totally sexy, hot and vegan, these little numbers won't make your feet hot and sticky...quite the opposite. Made from MELFLEX plastic, a patented, hypo-allergenic, recyclable, and flexible PVC, these little babies will keep you comfortable and slip-free. They even smell faintly of sweets!

In an assortment of shades, there's a colour for everyone, we buy ours here!

Forever Fashion: Comfortable, Cool and fragrant free, when working out in Bamboo!

Many moons ago on a whim, I bought some bamboo socks from my local health food store. Everyone in the shop was raving about them, I thought they must have dull lives or were on commission or something, but I bought them anyway to use for working out. It may sound daft, but it took a really long time for me to realise how good they are. When my feet are comfortable, I don’t notice them. One day I went to the gym and had forgotten my bamboo socks, when I came out my feet felt awful, puffy, sticky, saw and I had blisters. Then I realised.

With new found respect for my bamboo socks I checked out where they came from. A great little, planet supporting, carbon positive company called Bam and to my delight I discovered they do Bamboo sports clothing as well. As my old kit was starting to look like pyjamas I purchased a couple of tops and some shorts. They arrived the next day, informing me that they have planted trees in my name as a result of my purchase.

I put my new bamboo outfit to the test. One outfit, one week, 5 sessions, 1.5 hours per session, high intensity (lots of sweating). The results are impressive. To sum it up, comfortable, cool and fragrant free! Bamboo is 3-4 times more absorbent than cotton, so if those kitchen rolls have the power of 1 elephant in a sheet then my bamboo outfit definitely ropes in its family and mates as well. All the moisture is absorbed away from the skin, keeping it comfortable, the absorbed moisture in the material seems to work in a cooling effect so by the end of my work out I am not left feeling hot and sticky. Finally, at the end of the week my gear was surprisingly whiff free, there was a slight odour under one of the under arm areas! This is due to the anti bacterial properties of the bamboo which does not support the growth of bacteria, so no smell!

Check out Bam's full range of clothing here. Reading through their website alone gave me a giggle!

Lydia Vine

Forever Fashion: LFLECT – SAFE CYCLING IN STYLE

It's important to be visible when you are on a bike, but sometimes it's a challenge to be stylish, fashion forward, and be safe at the same time. Although I value my life highly, I also care about how I look (i.e. I'm pretty vain), and sometimes your options feel pretty limited in the world of bike apparel. But this is changing. Companies like Cyclechic, Velorution and Amsterdammers have great bikes and interesting accessories, and are serving the community of people for whom cycling is pretty much their main form of transport and they want to do it in style. We want to be safe, but we also want to look good!

Always on the look out for stuff to wear whilst cycling that won't make me look like a nineties raver, I was very happy to come across LFLEC from Lost Values. A great range of knitted accessories, and, excitingly, some haberdashery bits and bobs you can use to customise your own clothes, all made with reflective wool that shines brightly at night when illuminated, making you ultra visible when out cycling in the dark. Highly practical, everything in this range is also very beautiful. All the knitted stuff is handmade in the UK using wool from the Scottish Highlands.

It's very hard to choose any one item as I really like all these things, but one thing that particularly caught my was the reflective lace, decorated with tiny cycling figures, in a range of colours and style, for you to add to your clothes as an elegant trim that will make you shine and shimmer like an angel on two wheels.

Be seen, be safe, be stylish!

Don't forget: Bike Week 2010 is almost upon us! Check out the website and find out what's happening near you.

Sophy Colbert

Forever Fashion: 21 Things I Love at Untold

This fabulous website, Untold, acts as a springboard for up and coming designers, artists and photographers who may otherwise have found it hard to get into the industry. They showcase beautiful textiles, clothing and accessories as well as the offer of creative advice.

One partnership which particularly caught my eye was 21 Things I Love. The two creators , Adrea Carr and Kin Fleary both bought together 21 things that they loved, to draw inspiration for their collections and their passion clearly shows. This charming company uses surplus fabrics and organic materials to form versatile pieces. Each collection is made to order and uses short run production methods to help cut down on waste. Their Collection No 1. Butterfly Effect '09 - Small Things Make a Difference has been inspired by butterflies and the idea of order & chaos. Adorned with ribbons, their designs can be altered by pulling hems and necklines into different shapes, forming unique and contemporary looks.

Each collection has an accompanying t-shirt range which donates 10% of their profits to The Bee Project. This project endeavours to help reverse the demise of the honey bee which has occurred as a result of climate and environmental change.

‘21 Things I Love is an eco-conscious label built on a commitment to quality, sustainable environmental practices, fair exchange and outstanding design. Playful and versatile, 21 Things I Love brings glamour to eco-fashion.’

Exactly what we like to hear!

Poppy Sakulku

Photographs by Julia Mills & styled by Lupe Castro.

Forever Fashion: Quirky Prints by Brat & Suzie

Embrace this season’s must have nautical trend with Bratt & Suzie's illustrated striped T-shirts. Designer Polly Vickery and illustrator Louise Boulter create quirky, unique animal illustrations, hand-printed on a range of T-shirts, vests and canvas bags.  

All garments are made by Continental Clothing, an ethical clothing manufacturer in the UK who work towards improving labour conditions in the garment industry and support the promotion of ethical trading.

Buy your quirky print here!

Carly Gordon

Design: Leblas Eco Jewellery

Leblas' full collection of jewellery, no matter how delicate the design, are destined to be statement pieces because they showcase such impeccable artistry.With inspiration deeply set in designer, Arabel Lebrusan's Spanish heritage, Leblas offers time-tested, beautifully constructed pieces that showcase Filigree (delicate twisted threads of silver and/or gold), Damascene (interlacing gold on steel or other metals- a trademark design of Toledo, Spain for centuries), and handmade Gold Sequin Chains.  Each piece is crafted with sustainable practices, that are culturally, socially and environmentally responsible.

Lebla's collection of engagement and wedding rings are the perfect way to share your love with that special someone in your life. Constructed ethically and socially conscious, these rings are made with love in mind from the start. The beautiful conflict-free diamonds, and recycled platinum, and precious white and yellow golds are the ideal way to start a beautiful new life together.

Starting this April 2010, Leblas is teaming up with Urth. Urth, also committed to ethical practices and sustainability, will bring in more delicate patterns of the Leblas signature filigree, adorned with enameled candyfloss pastels for this Spring season. The soft colours added to the metal craftsmanship will range from spearmint to soft lilac. If you are in London, visit Leblas on 149 Sloan Street to support ethical jewellery and an inspiring sustainable business, or shop online: HERE.

Tyler January

Forever Fashion: The Original & Best Workwear Boots That Will Last a Lifetime

The kind folks at Rubbersole sent me a brand new pair of gorgeous Dr Martin's in white in time for the Spring.

Now although Dr Martin's is not an ethical brand as such and mostly made of a leather upper and rubber sole (a no-no amongst many of us). These boots are without a doubt virtually indestructible through wear and tear alone.

'Forever Fashion' is all about products which stand the test of time and which are timeless and classic. Dr Martin's are a piece of design history from their workwear origins to punks to the grunge movement and back around again and these fit into that category. I seriously doubt that I will ever need another pair of boots again with these strapped to my feet!

I would love to see a vegan or recycled leather range evolving from the brand, taking them forward into the 2000's and beyond. Dr Martin's is an iconic brand that will no doubt still be around  in another 50 years time.

Photographs by James Hedley