Updates: The Sustainable Fashion Collective’s Launch on the 9th December 2010!

Three Brighton based Ethical businesses have joined together to create a unique Pop-Up shop in Brighton in time for Christmas. Called the ‘Sustainable Fashion Collective’, shoppers can expect cutting edge Eco Fashion, Fairtrade Fashion, plus Vintage Fashion, Homewares and Accessories from the likes of labels Lu Flux, Mimi Odette, Nancy Dee, Pieces of You, Tom Raffield and People Tree.

The three Brighton-based businesses Kolkata, Eco Btq and La Luminata all share a passion for Ethical Fashion and in their own individual work aim to highlight, educate and empower individuals to make sustainable choices within their wardrobe.

The boutique Shop will be launching to provide a beautiful selection of Eco and Ethical products to suit all budget ranges and cater to busy Christmas customers.

Owner of Kolkata, Siobhan Wilson says:

I’m very excited to be launching the Sustainable Fashion Collective with two prominent members of the Eco Fashion Community; Madeleine King of Eco Btq & Rachel Holland of La Luminata.

It is our wish to unite forces to create a high-impact boutique shop that covers all aspects of Sustainable Fashion; Fairtrade, Recycled, Upcycled, Vintage, Eco and Handcrafted to a willing audience.

‘The Sustainable Collective’ is a new initiative that will potentially lead to further collaborations between groups, businesses and sustainable designers.

Rachel

Health & Beauty: Fushi Wellbeing Rosehip Seed Oil – Keeping The Skin Well Oiled In Winter Helps Fight The Elements

I totally adore any products containing the magic ingredient of Rosehip, so I was really excited to hear about a new product called 'Wellbeing Rosehip Seed Oil' from Fushi.

Rosehip oil is rich in Vitamin A and C, which helps to delay the effects of skin ageing, assists with cell regeneration and promotes collagen levels. It also contains a high amount of essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, which further promotes healthy skin. Rosehip oil is very beneficial for ageing skin, scarred skin, stretch marks, dermatitis and for repairing sun damaged skin.

This wonder product when applied at night helps to repair and regenerate skin, protects it from the elements and promotes healthy new skin. Perfect for winter and the current cold spell!

Rachel

Health & Beauty: Smoke With Fire: New Mystikol Powder Eyeliners From Jane Iredale

I've been trying out Jane Iredale Mystikol Powder Eyeliners from her new Mystikol collection. Free from fillers, fragrance, chemical dyes or synthetic preservatives, these nifty pencil and highlighter combo's are perfect for carrying in your bag when you want to create a dramatic Cleopatra look.

High-end skin care ingredients are combined with natural botanicals and super saturated pigments for the slickest smoky eye the world has ever seen. The application is indulgent, effortless, seductive. The only problem is you have to get the consistency perfect, too much and you will end up like me - looking like you've drawn all over your own face, not enough and it's slightly pointless. With a careful approach you can nail this look!

With a powder eyeliner on one end and a pearlescent highlighter on the other, you will be blown away by how easily you can create a mesmerizing smoky eye in seconds, without any mess. Hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested and always formulated with exclusive skin care ingredients, Mystikol is safe for even the most sensitive eyes. Smoke out the competition with these five exquisite shades:

* Malachite A sparkling moss with buttery beige
* Amethyst Royal purple with luxurious pearl
* Dark Topaz Rich brown with velvet rose
* Lapis Lazuli Vibrant blue with shimmering ivory
* Onyx Otherworldly black with creamy pearl

A single Mystikol costs £17.50, a Mystikol boxed set with all five shades costs £69.00.

Rachel

Health & Beauty: Lush Launch Gorilla Perfumes in Time for Christmas

What better Christmas gift for her this year than a gorgeous fragrance from Lush's new perfumery?

Lush have just released new fragrances in time for Christmas called 'Gorilla Scents'. Far from their confusing name they actually all smell completely divine! In fact so good, that when recently sprayed on myself at a party, half of the room was trying to figure out where the amazing aroma was coming from. I of course had to enlighten them that it was wafting from me! The perfumes are made using natural, raw scents, are free of chemicals and pack a heady and unusual punch. There's lots to choose from - a selection are available in Lush shops, but they are all available online from www.gorillaperfume.com My favorites are...

Imogen Rose (£42.00 for 30g perfume bottle / £20.00 for 10g atomiser / £10.00 for 12g solid perfume)
A soft, exquisite Damascus rose perfume. Opening with fresh roses straight from the field using 100% pure rose oil and garden fresh notes of basil. It moves quickly into baby soft talc with tonka and rose absolute producing a warm embracing middle note. Finally the dry down is a sweet amber with vetivert, orris and ambrette seed providing a warm floral finish. A beautiful, romantic, one-of-a-kind perfume.

Lust (£20.00 for 30g perfume bottle / £9.00 for 10g atomiser / £4.50 for 12g solid perfume)
Unashamedly carnal and sexy, this fragrance is pure jasmine. It's extremely provocative, sensual and erotic. It practically bowls you over. This is the one to wear to feel womanly and sensual.

Orange Blossom (£23.00 for 30g perfume bottle / £11.00 for 10g atomiser / £5.50 for 12g solid perfume).
Fresh orange blossom absolute and neroli oil burst out of the bottle like a distilled Mediterranean moment. Over time, the honeyed and woody tones develop on your skin and you are left with a warm glow. Perfect if the cold weather is getting you down and you want to be transported to sunnier climes.

Rachel

Lifestyle & Home: Votivo Christmas candle

Festive candles are a sure-fire way to get everyone in the Christmas mood.

Votivo’s new soy-based Icy Blue Pine is a nostalgic mix of fir balsam, spruce and cedarwood that lasts more than 50 hours. It’s part of the Holiday Collection, which includes Christmas Sage, Joie de Noel, Winter Solstice, Red Currant, and Clementine & Clove.

All of Votivo’s candles are hand-crafted and luxuriously packaged – take your pick from the collections on the website, which also details stockists: www.votivo.co.uk

While you’re there, check out the special-edition Votivo for Vogue candle. The fragrance and charity were chosen by Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman and £5 per candle is donated to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Jane Lee

Health & Beauty: Tints of Nature Reconstructing Treatment

Tints of Nature’s reconstructing treatment is an affordable, effective hair product that works in fifteen minutes to revitalise and repair the hair follicles, condition the hair and leave it with an amazing softness and sheen. The full range of shampoos, conditioners, Scalp Treatment and new Reconstructing Treatment are the ideal way to keep your hair beautifully conditioned and in perfect pH balance.  Containing certified organic ingredients they help prevent the brassy and ginger tones of colour fade to coloured hair.

Paraben-free, not tested on animals, produced in the UK and winner of the New Forest Brilliance in Business Awards, this range has something for everyone.

Rachel

We Love: Fashion Crush – Karen O

Karen O. The glorious lady needs no introduction. Perhaps the coolest, best dressed woman in the World...if your idea of being well dressed involves, sequins, head-dresses, luminous billowing fabric, psychedelic prints, face paint and your idea of cool is high-pitched screaming. If you haven't already fallen in love with her, then you really should watch this.

A true innovator, wonder-woman-esque character with stage costumes made by American Costume designer Christian Joy, her bold style captures the imagination of her fans and sets her act miles apart from other artists. Oh yeah, and her band's music isn't bad either!

Rachel