The Ivy League of Ethically brands – Ivywake

As we continue to highlight brands that are not only being ethical, sustainable, but also innovative, the subject of today’s post is Ivywake is a British Organic Clothing Company that was built on the idea of creating a company which could incorporate city and country style while still being sustainable.

Ivywake, self-proclaims to not being a perfect company as there are always ways a brand can improve their manufacturing, dyeing and transport process. As they grow as a company they pledge they will constantly integrate new methods and technology into their supply chain, allowing them to strive to become the most eco-friendly clothing company in the world.

Their primary goal is to change the way the fashion industry operates, at the moment with fast fashion it is creating a huge amount of pollution and unregulated labour in the countries where the cotton is grown and where the clothes are produced.

These are the two main areas they are focusing on tackling. Ivywake are doing this by using organic cotton for their garments, then using biodegradable and recyclable materials for their packaging.

However at the moment the organic fashion industry has not really managed to transition into the main high-street fashion industry. This has created a gap where people are forced to compromise between buying sustainable clothing and fashionable clothing.

This is where Ivywake want to fill this gap, their motto is “Don’t Compromise”. The reason for it is because they believe they are creating a company that allows people to buy fashionably and sustainably.

For example Ivywake pride themselves on the fact that their t-shirts are made using:

Renewable wind energy
o Very eco-friendly
Fair wear Foundation
o No child labour
o No forced labour
o Safe and healthy working conditions
o Legal labour contracts
o Payment of living wage
o No discrimination against employees
o No excessive hours of work
Closed loop dyeing system
o Water is recycled in closed loop system
o Dyed with GOTS approved chemicals
Organic cotton

Through this process their t-shirts have:
• Reduced their carbon footprint by 90%
• Each T shirt saves 7 kilograms of CO2e
• CO2e (total carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gases.
Then in their packaging, their mailing bags are made out of a material called Coex that is recyclable, they are also working on getting their latest product that is also biodegradable.

Their viewpoint is their packaging is to only use the essentials. The reason for this is because no matter how good it is for the environment to recycle, nothing is ever as good as simply not producing it. Therefore we have not added any swing tags to their clothing.

When purchasing an Ivywake garment you are not just purchasing clothing, you are investing in creating a sustainable future.

A high performance suit for a high performance car – Hawes & Curtis X Alfa Romeo

Founded in 1913 by Ralph Hawes and George Frederick Curtis, Hawes & Curtis, has developed into the quintessentially British brand specialising in fine tailoring and accessories for both men and women. The brand is built upon the promise of exceptional quality, innovation and outstanding value.

A Jermyn Street shirtmaker for more than 100 years, Hawes & Curtis opened its first store in the Piccadilly Arcade and is known for having introduced the backless evening waistcoat and the Windsor collar.

So when Italian automotive marque Alfa Romeo approached them with the idea of partnering with them to produce a tailoring first in an all-weather suit, the perfect style solution for a ‘heat-wave’ or rainy day, essentially, the Great British Summer.

This innovative and fashion-forward concept suit takes inspiration from the automaker’s renowned Italian heritage and the marque’s Alfa Giulietta design and technology, combining to showcase the perfect balance of innovation and fashionable design.

Inspiration behind the exterior of the high-performance suit stemmed from the Giulietta’s unique D.N.A driving mode selector, which allows drivers to seamlessly adapt the car’s driving capability to handle all weather conditions, just like the suit itself.

Applying that notion to the suit required integration of a luxurious Italian wool – taken from Hawes & Curtis’ 1913 premium collection made in Italy – combined with a water resistant finish applied to the fabric itself. Moreover, for even greater comfort, mesh lining inside the suit regulates the warmth of the body ensuring the wearer could sport the luxury ensemble during a UK ‘heat-wave’ or thundery downpour.

Inside the suit the Giulietta’s distinctive, standout design features are clearly on show thanks to the delicate inclusion of a honeycomb grille mesh lining, a bespoke print on the sleeve lining and the stylish red contrast stitching. Resulting in a suit designed to meet the needs of the modern professional.

Master of your own Time – DESIGN YOUR OWN SWATCH, OWN YOUR DESIGN – SWATCH X YOU

Everyone knows a Swatch when they see one. and for over 30 years, Swatch has been creating some of the world’s most innovative timepieces. They have always created fun, innovative watches and now it’s YOUR turn !!! With the new made-to-measure concept Swatch X You series, Swatch fans can play the part of a budding watch designer themselves.

Customers can create their own signature Swatch in just five easy steps either online or in-store. Featuring pre-designed watch heads, straps, loops and pins, the process makes watchmaking a snap.
1) select a Gent or New Gent case size,
2) them follow this by selecting a watch head.
3) choose both sections of the silicone strap at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock – from solid mint green to racy red stripes, there’s an option to tickle everyone’s fancy.
4) Finish off each unique look with a loop. Can’t get enough?
5) Add a pin or an extra loop; with images including a birthday cake, flying heart and wedding bands, favorite events are all covered, making Swatch X You the perfect personalized gift.
By simply tagging #swatchXme on social media, newfound designers can launch their creations worldwide. Showing off an individual style has never been easier than with Swatch X You! So Unleash your creativity, show off your style. Create your Swatch. Own your design.

One of France’s best kept secrets is out – La Roche Posay

 

La Roche-Posay is a brand that is suitable for everyone in the family from the eldest to the very youngest. With over 30 years of research experience in sensitive skin and work with dermatologists all over the world, it is committed to a caring for sensitive skin, creating clinically demonstrated high tolerance and efficacious skincare. Whether you have very reactive and allergic skin, are prone to acne, eczema or rosacea.

The story of La Roche-Posay dates back well more than 30 years in fact it begins amid the ripples of the purest natural thermal water in the picturesque French village (La Roche-Posay). Local folklore that surrounds this magical spring speaks of the water’s healing powers as far back as the 13thcentury. The first written record of its powers emerged in the 1600’s, with none other than Napoleon recognising its health benefits, ordaining the construction of a thermal hospital at the source in the early 1800’s. A thermal centre dedicated to dermatology has been recognised by medical authorities for over 100 years.

The creation of La Roche-Posay Laboratoire and the birth of its philosophy and product range was in 1975. It’s now sold and prescribed in over 50 countries and recommended by more than 25,000 dermatologists worldwide.

La Roche-Posay products work to keep their formulas as simple as possible, in order to be kind to sensitive skin. Wherever possible, formulas are free from parabens, fragrance, and soap. In addition, all La Roche-Posay products are formulated with the soothing and softening La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water – naturally rich in antioxidant Selenium, a trace element with remarkable antioxidant properties,. Its virtues have been demonstrated in clinical trials conducted in collaboration with teams of dermatologists – with regards treating sensitive or irritated skin, it immediately soothes the skin and calms irritations.

Such key products within the wider ranges which men particularly might find useful are the Effaclar 3-step Anti-Blemish System. An award winning, simple System, which provides a complete skincare routine for oily, acne-prone skin.
Or the Cicaplast Blume B5 Soothing Repairing Balm. A multi-purpose repairing balm that soothes, protects and repairs the whole family’s delicate skin, ideal for a post shave moisturiser.

Or you may fall in love with the Toleriane Uktra Overnight Care which is specifically formulated for sensitive, reactive skin, prone to dryness, tightness, redness, itchiness or burning. A formula proven to soothe, hydrate and reduce skin sensitivity night after night, so no matter what the rigours of the daily toil may through at you, this will help you.

Do your bit for the planet – Elvis & Kresse

Sustainability and ethical consumerism are key topics in the world of Fashion at the moment, as simply we can’t carry on consuming clothes at the current rate we are for much longer. Think about it, the world’s population is increasing and we have a certain amount of space we can use to grow necessary crops, wheat cotton, barley etc. Farmers face the dilemma of, do they grow to supply the raw materials for clothing or for food ?

In turn more and more clothing brands are faced with having to become increasingly sustainable and in doing so ethical, which many of them are finding difficult. It’s hard to find brands that are truly ethical, sustainable and innovative all at the same time.

One such brand that are working hard to be fulfilling all three of these areas is Elvis & Kresse who create interesting lifestyle accessories by re-engineering seemingly useless wastes and combining them with traditional craftsmanship. In 2005 they launched their pioneering Fire-Hose range, made from de-commissioned British fire brigade hoses; after a distinguished career fighting fires and saving lives they were otherwise destined for landfill.


The instant Elvis & Kresse met with the London Fire Brigade they fell in love with their old hose. After they scrubbed away the soot and grease that builds up from 25 years of active duty and discovered a truly remarkable, truly green textile.

All Elvis & Kresse products are hand-made and unique. The hose itself is weathered and marked, the ridges and grooves of a long life are self- evident. Some pieces may bear the printed details of the company that originally made the hose.

Fire-hose was just the beginning, with so much to save, they have grown by creating solutions for unwanted, unloved materials. Every effort is made to transform these materials into pieces they hope their customer will cherish.

Raw materials used in the Elvis & Kresse range are rescued from post consumer or industrial waste. They collect from across the UK and 50% of profits are donated to the Fire Fighters Charity.

Although fire hoses were their first love, Elvis & Kresse reclaim a host of other materials including leather, printing blankets, coffee sacks, military-grade parachute silk, tea sacks and shoe boxes. So for example, most unroasted, green coffee is imported in 60kg jute or hessian sacks. Once the coffee beans arrive at their roastery, the often highly decorated, biodegradable sacks are disposed of. Whereas this brand re-use this material for various purposes, even down to individual strands for the string on our swing tags. Or when you’ve bought a pair of shoes and said “don’t wrap them, I’ll wear them”, the shoe box will more than likely have been thrown away (hopefully recycled). They collect these unwanted shoe boxes, flatten them and use the material to make our packaging and labels.

Elvis & Kresse make honest, genuine, practical pieces; from the belt you leave on your favourite jeans to the bag you can’t leave home without.