Cecilia Hammarborg

Swedish designer Cecilia Hammarborg has recently created an entirely London-Made collection of beautifully printed and immaculately tailored pieces. This brand is the ultimate fusion of classic construction and modern design. The designer skilfully brings a bit of fairytale to life, and into any wardrobe, with the best of British manufacturing. Thereby subtly reducing the carbon footprint.

Outsider

Inspired by fashion but designed to be classic, wearable and beautiful, Outsider garments can be worn and loved season after season. Good clothes do not go out of fashion. The designer is inspired by the items that have been in our wardrobes for years - because true style is timeless, not transient and throwaway. Outsider’s versatile day-to-evening pieces are made to the highest quality, designed to last and be loved. Outsider is passionate about using alternative and sustainable fibres.

Lula Dot

Lula Dot is a company which aims to upcycle London's waste into lasting beauty. Lula Dot’s latest projects have dealt with the problem of waste. The designer Lucy has tackled this by reusing waste to create beautiful products, but has also tried to create products which encourage emotional attachment and therefore increase a product's durability. Lucy works with a range of materials and objects to create lights, jewellery and furniture.

MINT

MINT is a new event in Amsterdam, part of the established tradeshow Modefabriek. It combines tradeshow and event, fashion and lifestyle. MINT has a dream. A vision for the future of fashion: great style, made with respect for people and our environment. It is called forward fashion. MINT hopes to inspire towards a fashion scene that is both happening and harmless.

Forward fashion labels

And we couldn't agree more! We are very proud to be already offering a lot of MINT's forward fashion labels! Studio JUX and Monkee Genes for example have been with us from the very beginning. And also the French label L'Herbe Rouge and Underprotection where introduced in the Netherlands in our store. Also Dutch designer labels Elsien Gringhuis, MLY and STAT fashion are part of MINT.

Popping up @ OPTIONS!

Expect a buzzing selection of these labels and more at the MINT meets Charlie + Mary pop-up store. We also invited Swanfield collective, an inspiring travelling boutique from London. And we're very happy to be located in OPTIONS! That cool new concept store @ the Damrak. On Jan 21 and 22 only!

Shopping @ Options

OPTIONS! is a 230 m² shop where you can find a special mix of products; exciting designs from foreign countries to collaborations with local producers. In a spacious outlet Dutch and international designers alongside AMFI students share pride of place on the biggest Flat Table, designed by architect Jo Nagasaka (a past collaborator on the LLove Hotel). Florianne Eshuis sourced an extensive range of products from Dutch ceramics to Peruvian Alpaca wool garments, hand-printed notebooks from Berlin and products developed uniquely for OPTIONS!

Sleeping @ The Exchange

OPTIONS! is part of The Exchange hotel. Are you planning a visit to Amsterdam? We can certainly recommend this hotel. Hotel "The Exchange" is a hotel with a special love for fashion. Students of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute dressed the rooms like models on the catwalk. The result: a hotel where architecture meets fashion. The hotel has 61 rooms, ranging from 1 to 5 stars to suit every budget.

Breakfast @ Stock

In STOCK, which is also part of The Exchange hotel you can enjoy :"breakfast" the whole day. Fresh croissants and good coffee, although there's wine in the fridge and delicious salads as well. Lots of organic and natural products and an inspiring atmosphere, Yummie!

As we always like to team up with great and inspiring initiatives we will be popping up in OPTIONS!'s basement in a few weeks time....stay tuned!

]]> Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:25:23 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/finalegreenfashioncompetition2

Studio JUX, L'Herbe Rouge and STAT to the finals

We are so proud that in the first category three of our labels are selected. Studio JUX, L'Herbe Rouge and STAT fashion. These are the jury comments:

Studio JUX

Jury comments: “This brand clearly addresses biodiversity issues in the fashion industry and provides a very good overview of materials used, related certifications and sourcing locations. The designs are modern, and simple but interesting enough not to bore. The playful and colourful designs are striking.” The jury believe that this company can have a true impact on the communication of green labels and a that it has a thorough understanding of biodiversity and sustainability in general, the business plan even included a Life cycle analysis of CO2 emissions. “The business plan reads that the brand means ‘Fun’ in German. We would not be surprised if it means ‘Sustainable’ in Nepalese.”

L’Herbe Rouge

Jury comments: “L’Herbe Rouge shows a clear understanding of the impacts of materials and processes on biodiversity. The designs are both refreshing and sober. Clothes are clean cut and minimalistic and are made of recycled yarn and organic cotton. The pieces are well connected and the brand already has a good track record. The knowledge of biodiversity is translated into the right decisions on design and materials, of which the dyes from organic grapes should definitely be mentioned!”

STAT Divisions

Jury comments: “STAT Division has a very beautiful philosophy and its designs are characterized by Feminine, nautical and sporty elements. Important to note is the use of luxurious fabrics and the avoidance of haberdasheries. The brand has a clear vision of sustainability and biodiversity. The concept of biodiversity is well understood and explained, biodiversity-friendly choices are clear and the plan is easy to read.”

At the finale of The Green Fashion Competition the 8 finalists will show three outfits on the catwalk during Amsterdam Fashion Week 25-29 January 2012. We're very excited!

Mitte and Prenz Lauerberg

You can spend days in the areas Mitte, with all it's lovely and unique boutiques, and the more raw Prenz Lauerberg, only. Here's just a few tips. But trust me there's much more to discover in these Berlin areas, and beyond! The best way to discover Berlin is by bike.

Lots of Vintage

The Humana vintage stores don't look overly tempting but the offer certainly is. From 50's to 80's styling and for affordable vintage prices. Every day the stores are restocked and none of the items stay in store longer than 4 weeks. Especially the Humana shop at Prenzlauer Berg is highly recommended. This outlet stocks the most funky items.
Made in Berlin offers 3 stories first class vintage fashion from 30's to 90's styling for men and women on the Friedrichstr. 114A.

Markets

Straße des 17. Juni (Flea market)
This is Berlin's best-known and classiest outdoor market. Check out this market for antiques and handicrafts, including furniture, jewelry, pictures and clothes. Sat. / Sun. 10am - 5pm.
Flea Market Arkonaplatz
A haven for fans of Sixties and Seventies items in Berlin's Mitte district. Sundays only, 10am - 5pm. And cute little cafes with absolutely delicious homemade cakes all around, yummie!

Drinks and bites

We just loved St Oberholz. Two flours full of youngsters mostly with their laptops + Lots, no loads of delicious food and drinks, organic and freshly made = a very relaxed atmosphere. And this is just one of many more relaxed hang out places in Berlin!

More pictures of this amazing night: HERE ]]> Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:32:42 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/charliemarylondon

Swanfield on tour

You can find our collections in the Swanfield pop-up in the Pacific Social Club in Hackney. Since 2008, Swanfield has exhibited in Shoreditch, Soho and Hoxton, showcasing local independent fashion designers and artists. And now a bit of Charlie + Mary from Amsterdam as well!

Meet your scarf @ Broadway market

And our "Meet Your Scarf" can be found @ one of our favourite shops in London, 69B at Broadway market! 69b showcases contemporary designers and brands that are engaging in sustainability.

GREEN with a touch of humour

The Sustainability Week of AMFI –Amsterdam Fashion Institute- from 7 to 11 November dealt with environmental issues and generated products of 200 students. They are bundled in an online magazine, which was released last Monday the 14th of November.
Beyond Tree Hugging is a one-off digital magazine created by fifteen 2nd year AMFI-students about fashion and sustainability. It shows a different way of looking at the green topic, less serious and with a touch of humour. Exactly how we like it!

Click HERE to download and to read Beyond Tree Hugging!

Mint makes us look forward to Modefabriek 2012

It's been a while sice we looked forward to "De Modefabriek", the Dutch fashion trade show. Honestly, as a young buyer looking for cool ethical fashion labels, this tradeshow did not have a lot of cool stuff to offer. Untill NOW, because now there's MINT. The MINT teaser at the last edition of Modefabriek last July was very promising. And at the next edition MINT will present a lot of our favourite labels and more, which makes us look forward to visiting the Modefabriek next January already!

Happening & Harmless

Initiators of MINT Marieke Eyskoot (founder of ethical fashion expertise agency Talking dress) and Willa Stoutenbeek ('W.Green' Associate Partner and founder of the "Green" part of Spice PR) will present 20 innovative and inspiring fashion- and five lifestyle labels of the future. Mint hopes to inspire the fashion industry to be "Happening" as well as "Harmless". We're sure MINT fair will show a lot of people from the fashion industry that there is no reason to give in on style when going for ethical and sustainable fashion.

MINT going downtown with Charlie + Mary

MINT will not only be presented in the RAI in Amsterdam during the Modefabriek but this great initiative is popping up downtown as well- together with us! We will host a MINT worthy Charlie + Mary pop-up store at a fantastic new location in central Amsterdam. Can't wait!

Launch Meet your scarf

A little ice-age

Wool

Organic wool

1 + 1 = 2

Garments made from Fairtrade cotton are not necessarily Fairtrade garments

Auditing the entire supply chain

An ambitious plan

Nobody is perfect

The scarf is not perfect

Gotta keep up the good work

Polyester

Innovation: Recycled polyester

Or not so fantastic

What's the verdict?

Launch of Vega magzine

Not only for veggies

Lemonade me!

'Alles klar' in ecoShowroom

Kunsthaus Tacheles

'Life isn't over just yet..'

Crossing India

Fair working conditions

A good gut feeling

Every fashion item has a story

Cut, Make & Trim

Weaving factory

Certifications

The cotton fields

Fairtrade premiums

Sharing knowledge

Farmer cooperation

Organic pesticides

Knowledge is power

To see is to believe

My top 3 musthaves are:

AMSTERDAM INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK//DOWNTOWN Exposition Marlien Kulsdom @ The Charlie + Mary conceptstore JUlY 9-16 | Opening hours: Mon 1pm-6pm, Tue-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm]]> Tue, 05 Jul 2011 10:54:53 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/interviewMLY
1. What is your position within your brand?
My name is Emily Hermans and I´m the owner of the brand MLY

2. How did you come up with the concept of your brand?
The concept of MLY is to create, slow fashion, high quality products, working with beautiful materials and produce sustainable. I create my collection with the materials as the source. And I make woman feel unique and beautiful and comfortable at the same time.

]]> Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:34:22 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/meetyourscarf-2 The scarf will be packed in a sustainable re-usable gift box. The lid of the box will be usable as scarf-hanger, how cool is that!
The shops we are showing the scarf to, all love it. Which means you will be able to MEET YOUR SCARF in several stores from the coming December holiday season.
First we will go to India to visit the cotton fields, where the organic and Fairtrade cotton is grown, the factories where the ginning, spinning and dyeing is taking place and the factory where the scarf is being sewn together. We will meet the people who make the scarf and we will get to know the scarf better and better!

]]> Mon, 09 May 2011 10:21:04 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/londonshopping3
Broadway market and 69B
Make sure to visit Broadway market in Hackney on saturday morning. Lots of delicious coffees,cakes and more deliciousness here but also vintage and the new cool store with sustainable fashion labels 69B. In 69B you will find some of our favorite labels such as Camilla Norrback and Monkee Genes, but the owner of the store also has her own line and other unique and upcoming ethical fashion brands are stocked in this stylish store at Broadway market.

When you walk around the area of Broadway market you will find vintage and designer markets all around. Every single one of them has a good vibe and there is always delicious coffees and bites available.

When you want to chill out a bit you can bring along your take away coffee and settle down in London fields, the big park at the end of Broadway market and watch the good looking people striking down in the green fields.

1. What is your position within your brand?
Partner and responsible for sales and marketing

2. How did you come up with the concept of your brand?
Our designer came up with the idea and has always wanted to make sustainable fashion... We brainstormed on several different ways to attack the market and now Underprotection is a reality.

3. What is your brands’ main goal?
We want to show that it's possible to make fashionable and sustainable underwear/loungewear to an affordable price, without compromising on quality, shape and finish.

4. What makes working in the eco-fashion industry so cool?
That you get the chance to make a difference, and support the only right thing which is green and sustainable fashion

5. How many people in total are working for your brand?
3 in Underprotection and then our PR agency

6. Do you have any certifications according to fabrics or fair trade working conditions?
No not yet.... We are striving to get a fair trade certificate within the end of 2012

7. In which countries do you produce your collections?
India, Turkey and China

]]> Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:51:43 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/tearoomdelights.com This is my 7th week in this lovely Charlie + Mary shop and I want to tell you more about our tearoom. At the big table that’s the heart of the tearoom you can drink delicious organic coffee, fresh juices and eat homemade cake!

Want a good cup of coffee? Bocca coffee is an Amsterdam based company. What started as a hobby ended up being a professional company! The distillery is in the Amsterdam neighborhood the Jordan. Because Bocca has the whole coffee making process in their own control they can offer better quality coffee. The beans are grown in Ethiopia and Kenya from biological projects.

Or do you prefer a nice hot cup of tea? Mr. Jones is a refreshingly different tea company. They only produce tea that contains no added artificial coloring and preservatives. Mr. Jones tea has some special flavors and interesting names! For example: Hotel D’amour. This is traditional black tea with natural rose petals. If you really like the tea, you can buy a beautiful designed tea box with Mr. Jones tea and bring some home.

Need vitamins or something sparkling? Olmenhorst juices are made from apples and pears that are biological harvested on the Olmenhorst orchard. Bionade is a refreshing sparkling drink that is made from natural raw materials and is organic quality. The lychee flavor is so refreshing! Earth water is ‘’good’’ water, all the proceeds go to projects to create clean drinking water for everyone!

Craving more for a snack? Tyrrells potato chips are fresh made on the Tyrrell country farm. This gorgeous farm is located on the Herefordshire fields in Great Britain. From the seed of the potato to the baking of the chips, the company is in control. With flavors like: lightly sea salted, Sweet chili & red pepper and cheddar & chives you will find a flavor that you will love!

More in for a cookie? John Altman is all about spreading love for cookies! A couple of friends met John Altman in San Francisco. This hippy man was walking on the beach with fresh baked cookies. After tasting these cookies the guys where sold. They asked if they could take the cookies to their house. ‘’Sure dude spread the love’’ he said. After inviting the guys for a baking session at John’s house, they where so crazy about the cookies that they decided to’’ spread the love’’ worldwide.

Last but definately not least are Charlie’s homemade cakes and pies! A couple of times a month Charlie creates a cake masterpiece in the shop! Be here quick if you want a piece of Charlie’s goodness, because it’s delicious!

Tired from shopping and strolling around? If you just want a quick coffee or a juice, have an afternoon with some friends with our chips or groovy cookies or maybe a cold fruity drink, You are welcome in our cozy tearoom!

Lots of love
Maartje ]]> Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:20:59 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/mohair.com But, let’s not talk about that now. For a little while, her new website is online,trendtablet.com. On this page she tells all about new upcoming trends, talents and inspiring findings. And, if you don’t believe in trends forecasting, you still should have a look because of the beautiful inspiring topics she tells about.
For me, as a fashion student trends are one of the most important issue’s. And especially for sustainable fashion trend predictions are very inspiring. There is a lot going on in the sustainable textile world. On the the trend tablet Li Edelkoort tells us about Mohair. Mohair is a woolen fabric from the Angora goat, already used for many many years. Li Edelkoort shows us the possibilities of Mohair, and while reading her article, I found out that it’s sustainable. Goats are the perfect species for wool production because they can perfectly live in very fragile landscapes. So no fertilizers are used to stimulate the growth of a specific crop. The wool itself is one of the most sustainable fabrics. Mohair is very durable and will last for years and years. The fibers are white colored without any bleaching. Mohair is a perfect fabric for natural dying because it absorbs pigments extremely well. Mohair is a fabric from the past but most of all, a fabric from the future.

]]> Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:58:24 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/chatouiinterview

]]> Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:01:11 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/sustainableunderprotection Last summer we met the amazing people from the young Danish company Underprotection, which is founded in 2010. This label creates the most beautiful underwear styles for men and women, ethically made in India from sustainable materials like bamboo, soy and organic cotton. An increasing part of the Underprotection styles are herbal dyed as well.
We are absolutely thrilled that from now on we can offer a stylish sustainable wardrobe from top to bottom. What a great start of this Spring!

]]> Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:19:34 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/biking In Google maps you can choose how you want to take you route. By car, public transportation or by foot. Now the smart minds at Google created a new sustainable way to get from A to B, by bike!
You can choose the bike directions button. This will automatically search all the bike routes there are in that city. If you what to be sportive, or you simply what to be outside rather than in an train or tram, this option is perfect! The appearance of the map will change to show you which streets are good for biking. The map will show the streets with a bike lane and streets with no motor vehicles, also the dashed green streets are recommended for bikers.
The only problem is that this ‘’green’’ option in the directions section is only available for united states cities for now. Not to worry though : Coming soon to the rest of the world!

]]> Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:12:00 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/lherberouge.com I'm Thibaud Decroo, Founder of L'Herbe Rouge

2.How did you come up with the concept of your brand?
I was son of a director of fashion trademarks. I was immersed from childhood in the world of fashion and start designing. Born in 1969, I am married and father of two little girls. Graduated from a master of Business with a specialization in fashion, I have experience over 15 years in fashion. By being in contact with many factories, i have discovered the social and environmental conditions of work and was interested in sustainable development, especially on the issue of the fair and organic African cotton. In 2008, L´Herbe Rouge integrates the incubator for business development in Africa (IDEA) attached to the United Nations Industry Development Organization (UNIDO). L´Herbe Rouge is raising awareness about the African cotton and includes the exchange views platform EKI EKO of Helvetas. It consolidates its network of knowledge and suppliers by creating a channel between Africa and Europe.

]]> Sat, 05 Mar 2011 12:35:55 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/interviews.com
Lots of Love,
Maartje

]]> Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:25:09 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/shoppingtipsAntwerp
The first thing(when you travel by train) you’ll see is Antwerp central station. It took almost 10 years to create this incredible architecture masterpiece. When you walk out of the station you immediately feel the atmosphere of the city. You must be tired of the train trip, why not start your trip with an nice organic cup of coffee at Café nation. This cafe is close to the central station. The staff here is very friendly and helpful. Here you will find a lot of locals.
Then on to my favorite part: shopping! You can choose to go on the main street : the Meir. But bare in mind that you have all these shops in Holland as well. Antwerp has more to offer than that! This city is not called fashion captial of the Benelux for nothing. Vintage, designers, little boutiques. You name it, you can find it here.

Some good sustainable shopping:
Vintage heaven: T2/ think twice- this may look like and regular shop, but this is a very good vintage shop. Maybe the best in town. It’s really affordable and they make a good selection vintage clothing.
Today is a good day- a very big variety of brands that are Eco friendly and sustainable. Lovely atmosphere in the store.
jutka & riska- this shop sells one-of-a kind vintage clothing. The accessories are very nice and inexpensive.
RA- this is a shop/gallery and café in one. This uber hip shop carries young fashion designs from all over the world. Most of the designers are graduates from the royal academy of fine arts for Antwerp. The owner is a graduate from the fashion academy. Every now and then they change the gallery into another world filled with art and poetry. You can drink and eat something as well! A must visit.

After all that shopping you must be hungry! In Antwerp there’s a big ‘’good food’’ offer.
Ekki- is a ‘’good fast-food’’ concept store with only good food. Most of the food they serve have the BIO label. Meals are super fresh and affordable. If you what a quick and easy healthy meal this is the place to be.
Lombardia- very famous, best vegan restaurant of Belgium. Moby and Eliza Doolittle are fans. Here you can eat delicious vegan sandwiches and have super fresh juices.

Another must visit is the Fashion Museum (MoMu). 2 times a year there’s a new and totally different exhibition. The one prettier than the other. Every time you walk out with a WOW feeling. The building itself is worth visiting alone. On the top level there’s the fashion academy. If you don’t have time to visit the exhibition you can visit the free gallery in the central hall of the museum. There you can see works of the fashion design students. Also visit the bookstore left of the entrance. This bookstore has every fashion book you can think of. I can spend hours in that store just browsing around in the books.

Fun streets to walk: Kammenstraat- very hip fashionable street with a variety of vintage and designer shops.
Groendalstraat ,korten gasthuisstraat,schrijnwerkersstraat: These 3 little streets are filled with cute stores and ‘’fast good food’’ shops.
Lombardenvest, steenhouwersvest: Great atmosphere! If you’re walking on the steenhouwervest take bio croissant to-go from ‘’Het dagelijks brood’’ They are freshly made, and really good!
Hoogstreet: this street is filled with typical Belgium shops. If your craving Belgium fries go to ‘’frituur #1’’ on the corner of the oude koornamarkt and the hoogstreet. Take the Belgium mayonnaise, you never want the regular!

]]> Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:50:32 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/buyingknowledge.com
On Tuesday we went to a very nice showroom in the North of Amsterdam and we picked a very nice collection for you the coming winter, that is 2011/2012. And the best part is that all the pieces are made of 100% organic cotton. Knowledge Cotton Apparel, also known as Knowledge, is a Danish clothing brand. The day after the visit of the showroom I told a friend of mine about my experience. She asked me what organic cotton was? And I realized that I didn’t completely knew it myself.

At first it all starts with soil. To produce organic cotton the soil cannot be treated with fertilizer but only with natural compost. This is extremely important for the health of drinking water. The soil must be regularly used for different crops, to prevent depletion. A second aspect are the chemical pesticides. Californian non-Organic cotton fields use 3,45 million kg of pesticides every year. Fields must be free of synthetically derived chemicals for three years in order to achieve Organic certification.

Knowledge Cotton Apparel is one of the companies that owns an Organic certification. The cool part is that they produce very nice clothes as well. To see the new collection you have to wait a little while. And to be honest, I don’t think you’re in the mood already to buy a new winter wardrobe. I can tell you some of the pieces are typical Knowledge pieces, but we also selected some unexpected pieces for you. So stay tuned,

Lots of Love,
Willem

]]> Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:46:45 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/3Dprinting
Sadly the leaflet informed me wrong because most the speakers were talking about the beauty of love. And this was exactly the topic that I intended to avoid. But well, after a couple of wines I got more and more into the Valentine’s mood. Guess I do love Valentine’s Day, more than I want to.

One of presentations was given by an industrial design student. Her name is Josien Pieters and she designed the reality-check-ring. The ring is made of three different parts, which you can wear separately. The first part is a butterfly, symbolizing the butterflies you feel when you are engaged. The second part is a cage, which can be placed over the butterfly, four those who are married. The last part is a plier, which symbolizes the possibilities of being free again after getting divorced. A funny idea right, but why do I want to share this with you? This ring is completely 3D-printed.

The presentation made me curious about the phenomenon called “3-D printing”. Freedom of Creation is a 3-D print and design company located in Amsterdam. They explained me why 3-D printing is the future. At the moment the materials used in 3-D prints aren’t sustainable itself. So what makes 3-D printing sustainable?

Nowadays we live in a throwaway society. Products are produced in a large amount for the mass, without personal identity. This automatically means that the value of products for individuals will decrease and the waste will increase. 3-D printed products have automatically more value, because they are personally designed. Consumers aren’t limited to the range of products in store. Besides that, all products are digitally designed. So you actually already made your purchase before anything has been produced. This automatically leads to a decrease of waste and overproduction.

A second point refers to my blog about sustainability. 3-D printers can be placed all over the world, on every corner of the street basically. Products don’t need to be shipped to other parts of the world by boat or plane but can be digitally send. A very good example of local production I would say. This is not only good for the environment but has ethical benefits as well. If everything will be locally produced, the jobs in the countries itself will increase and there will be less unfair production in the world to put it in a short way. The negative side of this point is that local production will take the labor in undeveloped countries away. This is a different but interesting discussion as well.

Lots of Love,
Willem

]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:32:37 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/ethicalshoppingapp
But yesterday I discovered something more interesting. The Ethical Company Organization developed a very interesting app. The application shows perfectly which companies are ethical companies and which are not. The app lists over seven hundred companies under seven main sections, from Food & Drinks to Fashion.

The companies are judged by “environment”, “animals”, ”people” and “other” aspects. Here is an example. Imagine you want to buy some new soap. First select Health & Beauty, afterwards you select Soap. The app first will give a summary of all the large soap brands. It told me that for instance that Lush is an Ethical Company, the Bodyshop and Nivea score average and companies like Dove and Palmolive store very bad. The application also gives information on which aspects the companies failed and on which aspects they have a good score.

The application gives a compact but relevant advice to customers. Just what a customer like me needs. About a month ago I bought a new digital camera, a Kodak digital camera to be more precisely. I wasn’t aware of what kind of company Kodak is, and it didn’t came up to me to check the ethical background of the company. A minute ago I checked my Smartphone and the application told me that Kodad actually scores very bad. Practically on human rights and Political domination the company isn’t an ethical company. Companies like Fuji and BenQ instead score good and are ethical brands.

Lots of people complain about the lack of information companies give to us. It is not clear for the customers, which companies are ethical and which are not. People haven’t much time to sort out all this information. This application is easy to use, gives enough information and gives the opportunity to compare different companies on different aspects.

There is one minus about this app. It is made for Britain. Some brands that show up in the app are not sold in the Netherlands. Luckily most of the brands are sold all over Europe. More information about the application on http://www.ethical-company-organisation.org/.

Lots of Love,
Willem

]]> Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:35:08 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/sustainability
I can imagine you’re wondering what the link with sustainability is. What really inspired me during this project is the fact that all of the inspiration came from a local region. I made me start thinking about the term sustainability. Something can be produced in a sustainable way in let’s say China. But this same product will be transported to Holland in an environmentally damaging way. Is this product still sustainable? Transportation by boat is more eco-friendly then by plane. But still freighters need fossil fuels to get themselves from A to B. MLY is a brand by Emily Hermans. She has her own factory in Eindhoven. Her pieces are sold at Charlie + Mary and are locally produced. Some of her garments contain Viscose instead of the more eco-friendly Lyocell for example. But because it’s locally produced Charlie + Mary do chose to sell MLY. And also because she is always looking for more sustainable options.

This automatically brings me to another question, is sustainability only related to the environment? In fact, sustainability is the capacity to endure. So what if a production stimulates the local economy? This means that the local population is able to keep on living their lives and develop themselves. For example Studio JUX is a fair trade brand which is sold in the Charlie + Mary store. They help the local economy of Nepal in a fair way. Veja is another brand sold at Charlie + Mary. They produce in a fair way with eco materials in Brazil. MLY, Veja and Studio Jux are all sustainable and fair but have other criteria.

I think sustainability is a broad term that can cover many fair produced products. Of course the best solution would be if products are made with sustainable materials in a fair trade way to stimulate other local economies. These products should to be transported to the rest of the world by sustainable fuels. In others words: being fair to the environment and population at the same time. I know this is not completely achievable yet but I think it’s a good final destination.

]]> Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:10:02 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/maartje-1
When I was 10 years old this crazy obsession started. I dragged(still do) my mom to all the fashion exhibitions. I don’t care if it is in Amsterdam or Antwerp, I have to see all those beautiful outfits and couture dresses. About 3 years ago I started to realize that the fashion industry was consuming so much, that the natural sources are going to run out very soon. I learned that you have alternative ways to make fabrics. And that people that make clothes don’t have to be exploited. When I buy an new outfit I wonder where it’s made and if the people who make it have a good workspace and so on…. . lets put it this way, I think a lot! That the eco-fashion is still so un-known is a mystery to me. There are so many hip and young labels that made fair clothing. When I tell people I work at Charlie +Mary, which is an eco-fashion store, they all think of old, not hip clothing and the Dutch term: geiten wollen sokken (Goatwoolsocks, so not hip). They have to see the store for themselves!
Where I see my self in 10 years? Then I will work and live in a beautiful country and work in the fashion or art industry. But for now I’m proud to say, that I’m the first Charlie+Mary intern. I hope to learn even more when it comes to eco-fashion and sustainability. I will be in the lovely shop 4 days a week , so maybe I get to meet you!

Lots of Love,
Maartje

]]> Wed, 09 Feb 2011 10:20:38 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/wildfolded1 Koosje Ruijgrok and Tessa Teixeira de Mattos. The models where wearing items from the Charlie + Mary store combined with very cool accessories created by this creative duo especially for this edition of Kamervragen.

These girls showed that there is no need to give in on style when you are going for sustainable fashion! The WILD FOLDED objects they created for the Green Fashion Show where inspired on their love for animals and their beautiful appearance. Fish skins, fur and the feathers of colorful birds where the inspiration for this series of accessories. The fragmented shapes made out of paper give these textures a new appearance, which brings the worlds of exclusivity, sustainability and architectonic geometry together.

Tessa Teixeira de Mattos (Amsterdam, 1983) graduated from her fashion design studies at the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht, in 2005. Very soon after her graduation she tended towards the theater world. She works as a stylist for theater, tv- and film productions and does free work within this frame.

After her Art history studies and a master in Restoration of Book&Paper Koosje Ruijgrok (1978, Amsterdam) works as artist/designer, making illustrations, paintings and other visual work.

Come and see the WILD/FOLDED collection of Tessa Teixera de Mattos and Koosje Ruijgrok in our store. Their ubercool accessories will be exhibited at Charlie + Mary the coming weeks.

]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:45:59 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/interviewadidi
After seeing the exposition I had a look at the website of this duo. On their pages, there was a little explanation about this project. Re-inventing the fashion values was one of the goals of the project. Adrian told me that this was the perfect opportunity to mix both professions. Gidi mainly photographs fashion, and Adrian focuses more on capturing nature in still lives. This gives also an explanation for the location of the exposition. As Charlie + Mary is A place where fashion meets nature.

“We wanted to present the fusion of nature and fashion, a mix of our styles, that’s how we got to eco-fashion, ”

So who is Gidi? If you look at her work, you will see that she doesn’t just photograph pretty girls in beautiful surroundings. Gidi is a fashion photographer that is fascinated by contrasts. Her work doesn’t always reflect a connection with nature; still this aspect shows up frequently. In the future Gidi wants to develop her vision on the contrast between hard and soft. Fashion is definitely something, which she will continue with. But there are chances that she will do more and more projects with some other focus.

Gidi: “I’m always looking for contrasts between the model and the environment”

So who is Adrian? If it’s about style of photography Adrian is actually the opposite of Gidi. You can describe him as a still live photographer, fascinated about the malleability of nature. Every still live is handcrafted. In his work you will often see a contrast between technology and nature. His graduation project was about how biotechnology affected nature.

Adrian: “My work is a mix, of an installation and an captured image”.

The exposition showed perfectly the result of combining these two styles. You could see a perfect mixture of Adrian and Gidi. What really interests me is that a new style is created. They both didn’t want to take the subject of eco-fashion to heavy. Still the photographs tell a story or even make a little statement. Hip and honest but not too serious.

I asked them how they felt about eco-fashion and the future of it as I am interested in the future of eco-fashion, and how others feel about this. We all want eco fashion to become mainstream. But is this a danger for the existence of innovative stores like Charlie + Mary? The answer is actually pretty simple. Not as they stay innovative.

Art Rotterdam will organize an auction called “Ongekend”.. One piece of the Niburu project will be sold during Ongekend. Gidi and Adrian have plans for a second project together. For more information I would like to inform you about their website: www.adidi.nl.

Lots of love,
Willem

]]> Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:04:25 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/AIFWshowelsiengringhuis Elsien Gringhuis was not only the winner of The Green Fashion Competition last Thursday. She also had her own Fashion show during Amsterdam International Fashion Week yesterday. We absolutely loved the designs passing by on the catwalk! Gringhuis' style is minimalistic with straight lines. She used black and white and beautiful water colors for her collection. And have a look at the beautiful and amazing shoulder parts of her designs.
Elsien Gringhuis is a "green" designer, which makes us love her even more! Sustainability is very important to her. Where she can, she uses sustainable materials and production methods, and she designs her collections to last for a very long time. Materials she uses for her designs are for example organic cotton, linen and hand painted silks.
Gringhuis will be working on an extension of her collection called "Basic Ones", which will be a more wearable and affordable translation of the designs we have seen on the catwalk. So we might be able to buy our own ELsien Gringhuis soon!

]]> Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:05:15 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/finalegreenfashioncompetition The Green Fashion Competition. This show was the finale of this project, initiated by Amsterdam International Fashion Week and the Dutch ministry of agriculture, which has been running for a while now to inspire up and coming designers to go green and help the most talented "green" designers a few steps forward.
One of our favorite designers Elsien Gringhuis came out as the winner of the Green Fashion Competition. We absolutely agree with this outcome as she shows that high fashion and sustainability go hand in hand. Congrats to Elsien Gringhuis! We hope to see a lot more from her in the future. The good news is we already can coming Sunday, as she also has her own catwalk show during Amsterdam International Fashion Week.
The second price went to OAT shoes, a brand-new initiative in shoe design combining biodegradable materials and attractive style which leave no mark on the environment when you throw them out. Bury them in garden, woods or compost and nature will gobble them right up! An absolutely amazing development, very high cool factor!
Other designs on the catwalk, which we absolutely loved where those of Winde Rienstra and Non by Kim.

]]> Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:01:43 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/ApeNotMice Ape Not Mice, we love them! You might spot some Charlie + Mary items on their beautiful singer Diede. Great styling by Emily Hermans.

]]> Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:26:40 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/willematkamervragen Kamervragen” at de Stadsshouwburg, Charlie + Mary presented a business case. They asked people from many different backgrounds how they felt about eco-fashion and the way this should be communicated to the costumers.
During “Kamervragen” we were split up in six groups. Six questions were subdivided to every group. I decided to focus myself on one specific question; Is it important to communicate eco, and if so, how?. Other questions ranged from how eco can become a unique selling point for early adaptors to what the role for big companies to enlarge the awareness of eco fashion is.
To my opinion it’s good to tell the world that you are eco. At least, as long as being eco is not something apparently. I think it is important that you don’t present Eco as a period, with an end and a beginning, like they do in fairytales. This does not represent our thoughts about the future of eco-fashion. I hope, together with you, that eco fashion is the future without any end. So I think that eco fashion needs some kind of mystery with an open end. It has to be presented as a new era, where everything is still open to happen.
The evening ended with a short but inspiring fashion show. I am always interested in the power of fashion shows. I think it’s the underlying statement that fascinates people. During this fashion show there was one thing that really caught my eye. The Charlie + Mary outfits looked great, but there was something else. The models wore jewelry by Tessa Teixera de Mattos and Koosje Ruijgrok, made of paper. I hear you thinking “Not really special”, but the cool thing was that the paper was printed with pictures of fur and snakeskin. I think that these kind of underlying statements really rock a fashion show. It was a great inspiring night. If I haven’t seen you there, I hope to meet you soon during one of the Charlie + Mary events.

Lots of Love, Willem

]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:50:44 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/willem Why me? First of all, I learn about fashion everyday. Now, being in the second year of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, one of the things I realized is that creating an own fashion identity is one of the most important things. If you want to be different than the rest, it is important to have the ability to add something to the fashion industry. The main goal blogging for Charlie + Mary is to inform you about all the cool developments in this industry. At the same time it will help me to show and develop my identity.
Second of all, you can’t become friends with everyone. To become someone’s friend you need to have some points of agreement or a shared passion. I very much appreciate it, if my friends know what they want in life and go for it. To me Charlie and Mary have all these ingredients for a fruitful friendship. Charlie and Mary adopted sustainability as a core value and not something they do from a marketing point of view. I believe that it’s about time that more and more companies in The Netherlands adopt sustainability as a core value, like they do for example in Switzerland or Japan. I am proud to say that I am now writing for a store that dares to only sell sustainable fashion.
At the moment I am at my dad’s place. He lives in the "outback" of the Netherlands. Not having a car, nor a mobile phone my dad is the ultimate sustainable hero. He and I get along very well but in the past we had a lot of fights about the fact that I came home with a new pair of jeans every week. My dad is against everything that has to do with mass consumption. So when I invented Vintage for myself he had nothing to be mad of anymore.
Now that I have been living on my own for more then a year and learning about everything that has to do with fashion, I realized that sustainable fashion has really become one of my interests. And that it’s not something I do to keep my dad satisfied, or because it happens to be a trend in fashion at the moment.
In the future I will write about what is happening in the sustainable fashion world, about the activities around Charlie and Mary and about cool fashion facts and books. Everything you will read on this website is written from a personal view. So don’t hesitate to think something different and to share this with me and the rest.

Lots of Love, Willem

]]> Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:32:08 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/AmsterdamFashionWeekJan2011-3 At Charlie + Mary we're gonna kick off the Fashion Week with presenting a case about the image of Eco fashion at a special fashion edition of Kamervragen coming Thursday Jan 20th, in the Stadsschouwburg. After the discussions regarding this matter there will be a spectacular GREEN FASHION SHOW organized by young artists Tessa Teixera de Mattos and Koosje Ruijgrok, showing fashion items from the Charlie + Mary store.
On Friday Jan 21th we will open the exposition ROOTS by photography duo Gidi van Maarseveen and Adrian Woods which show the merger of fashion and nature and Eco fashion being a clothing style to be proud of with a metropolitan lifestyle. This exposition is part of the AIFW-Downtown program and can be visited untill Saturday Jan 29th.
On Jan 27th the Grand Finale of The Green Fashion Competion will take place in the "Machinegebouw" in the Westergas area. All finalists will show their work on the catwalk and the winner of this competition will be announced.
One of our favourite Dutch designers Elsien Gringhuis will show her Autumn/Winter 2011-2012 collection on the catwalk on January 30th. Where possible she makes use of sustainable materials for her collections which are produced in the Netherlands.
Keep an eye on our weblog and facebook page for news and pictures of these Eco fashionable happenings during Amsterdam International Fashion Week.

]]> Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:56:01 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/downtown Amsterdam International Fashion Week exposition ROOTS is taking place in the Charlie + Mary Conceptstore. This exposition takes you along on a journey to the roots of fashion.

The roots of the natural world are extending to the world of fashion. Contemporary developments in fashion are closing the gap between sustainable products beneficial for the environment and a clothing style to be proud of with a metropolitan lifestyle. Recently the parasitical relationship between fashion and nature is finally growing into a symbiosis. Gidi van Maarseveen and Adrian Woods show the merger of the two at the Roots exhibition opening the 21st of january at the sustainable concept store 'Charlie + Mary' in Amsterdam. Their unique combination of fashion and still life photography shows an intriguing and contemporary view on the subject.

Charlie + Mary Conceptstore | Sat Jan 22nd 10:00 - 17:00, Mon Jan 24th 13:00 - 18:00, Tue Jan 25th 10:00 - 18:00, Wed Jan 26th 10:00 - 18:00, Thu Jan 27th 10:00 - 18:00, Fri Jan 28th 10:00 - 18:00, Sat Jan 29th 10:00 - 17:00 | Free entrance

]]> Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:20:34 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/sustainableshoppingtips HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1. Check the websites of the labels you're buying from and learn about the story behind the brand. Most brands who have it in their DNA to create fair + eco friendly Fashion will mention this on their website
2. Stores like ours already made a pre-selection for you and picked out the coolest Fair + Eco friendly labels
3. Shop for vintage, recycling is very sustainable! And vintage items certainly have a story behind them and are unique!
4. Check the labels of the garments when you are shopping. There might be a label of an organization the brand is committed to, which monitors working conditions and material use. Examples are Clean&Unqiue, Fair Wear Foundation and Max Havelaar.
5. If you're not sure always ask the salespeople in the store to the background of the garment
6. Swap your clothes. You will find more and more swapping parties where you might score some really cool items just by handing in some garments you never wear anyway
7. Love every piece you buy! Better buy one outstanding piece you will love forever than 3 fast fashion items which will end up in the back of your wardrobe very soon
8. Take good care of your garments. Wash at a low temperature and do not put your garments in the drycleaner and if it's not necessary skip the ironing

]]> Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:19:28 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/xmas ]]> Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:45:32 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/kamervragen
The next edition of KamerVragen will be about the image of Eco Fashion. There will also be a spectacular Fashion Show. The Green Fashion Show is taking place just before Amsterdam International Fashion Week starts. We definitely think that in the Netherlands we could still pay some more attention to Eco fashion, especially during Fashion Week.

There is a limited number of available places for KamerVragen, please subscribe via www.kamer-vragen.nl if you would like to attend this fashionable edition in de Stadsshouwburg in Amsterdam.

]]> Tue, 21 Dec 2010 11:34:49 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/londonshopping2 blog about London for more shopping tips!

Borough Market

Borough Market is a food market with a variety of fresh, organic and quality food. It's a haven for anybody who cares about the quality and provenance of the food they eat. Borough Market is set beneath the railway viaducts, which gives it all an industrial feel. In the market area you can also find some really nice stores. For example Neal's Yard remedies with Organic and Natural Health&Skin care products. And the Rabot Estate where it's all about chocolate, used in Sweet and Savory drinks, bites and dishes! A bit further down in this area you can find Bermondsey street. With a Terra Plana store and a really nice coffee place called Bermondsey Street Coffee.

Brixton Market

For a colourful and bustling market go to Brixton Market. You will find a nice mixture of fruit and veggie stalls, shops with halal meats, the cutest coffee places and second hand clothing. We loved Rosie's Deli cafe and found some cool vintage at Strong Look . But there is a lot more, It's a great place to wander around! Enjoy a delicious organic coffee and cake in one of the lovely cafes.

Directions: Brixton Tube Station and then Rock straight down to Electric Avenue.

Sunday Up Market and Old Spitalfields Market

]]> Fri, 26 Nov 2010 19:05:45 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/freefashionchallenge Free Fashion Challenge.

]]> Fri, 29 Oct 2010 09:21:30 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/strawberyearthwonderland Strawberry Earth Wonderland. Strawberry Earth organized Wonderland as they felt there was not much to offer in this eco fashion field in the Netherlands yet. Well they were right, we missed this and we need these kind of events! This first edition of Strawberry Earth Wonderland was sold out and a huge success, Wonderland attracted over 900 visitors! The two fashion shows proved there is no need to give in on style when making the switch to sustainable fashion, the opposite is true! There were inspirational workshops and interviews with eco and fair fashion experts, a Fashion Blogger Camp and superb live music performances from The Amplifetes and Style of Eye. We're already looking forward to the next Wonderland!

Strawberry Earth Wonderland from Spiral Move on Vimeo.

Fashion Show Urban Fairytales from marieke vinck on Vimeo.

]]> Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:04:33 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/howies Howies came up with an eco friendly, innovative and fun way to give jeans a lighter look and feel: wash in surf! The Howies jeans have been washed in nothing more than pure deep sea salt to give them a lighter look and feel. No silly stuff like chemicals, bleach or enzymes are used and no blasting them with sand to lighten the colour (as well as being harmful for people and planet: those methods can often weaken the fabric and are dangerous for the people put up with the job of giving the fabric this treatment). Instead these jeans are washed in pure deep sea water. The coarse microscopic granules of salt gently aggitate the fabric and slowly remove some of the indigo dye, giving them a lighter colour and a softer, slightly worn feel, without affecting the strength of the fabric. Keep up the good work Howies!

]]> Fri, 24 Sep 2010 09:05:32 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/localbeauty "Lokale Schoonheid" event. Here you will be able to enjoy fashion shows ,delicious local and organic food, workshops etc. All companies at the festival work with organic and fair trade products. Our brands Neurotica, l'Herbe rouge, Monkee Genes and Charlie + Mary will be represented on the catwalk. Coming sunday is a day to spoil yourself!

]]> Fri, 24 Sep 2010 08:41:12 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/sustainableluxury Hiphonest blogger Annouk Post invites visitors of the Elle Inside Design Event this week into her world of sustainable luxury. The Lloyd hotel is the stunning main location of Elle Design Week, where you will be suprised with fashion, design, bites and art. Sustainability in the fashion and design industry is a complex issue according to Annouk Post. To provide the visitors of Elle Design Week with more understanding in several fields of sustainability in fashion and design she developed the exposition: "Sustainable Luxury". She invites the visitors in her room which breathes the new values of Eco Luxury. As blogger Annouk always tells a virtual story. With this exposition she aims to trigger all senses. The most important values to Annouk are how real a product is and the personal story behind the product. Annouk's target is to create awearness by inspiring people with the range of sustainable products selected by her. And we're sure you will be inspired by visiting Annouk's room with cupboard bed covered with organic blankets and checking out what's in her suitcase and handbag! You might even find some eco fashion from the Charlie + Mary store in her wardrobe.

            ]]> Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:48:50 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/enrolmentgreenfashioncompetition WEBSITE. Out of all of the enrolments, AIFW will choose the 40 most talented entrepreneurs (or entrepreneurial groups) to participate with the competition. Each will be invited to participate in two workshops given by pioneers in the (sustainable) fashion industry and will be provided with a copy of ‘The Green Fashion Manual’ – a specially developed manual that illustrates how fashion can be connected to biodiversity.

The Green Fashion Shoot from Holly Syrett on Vimeo.

When: Sunday October 17th/ Where: Club Trouw, Amsterdam/ What time: 16.00u-00.00u/ Tickets: 6 euro available @ Charlie + Mary or online via TrouwAmsterdam
]]> Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:27:43 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/MLY_aifw_jul2010 MLY collection for Spring/Summer 2011. The collection is inspired on water and water adventures and is called "Waterworld". This was the third time Emily Hermans showed her collection in the Westerliefde during Amsterdam International Fashion Week. And again the show was fantastic. The collection, the location, the music (a band with one of the models singing) and the atmosphere where great and so well balanced. And of course we spotted some great MLY pieces in fantastic water colours and bright red. This collection Emily developed more woven pieces where before her collections only consisted out of knitted items. Emily Hermans is known for her "knit couture" but we must say her woven pieces really add to her new collection. We would have to wait untill next Spring to be able to buy these great items. But these pictures already give us a sneak preview!

]]> Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/lauchgreenfashioncompetition The Green Fashion Competition . As it is the year of Biodiversity AIFW and the Dutch ministry of Agriculture joined their forces to encourage sustainable development in Fashion.
Fashion and biodiversity have a big impact on each other. Lots of designers use nature as inspiration for their collections and also the choice of materials they can use depends on what raw materials nature has to offer. The other way around the Fashion Industry has a big impact on the earth and her biodiversity. The designer's choice for certain raw materials and the way these raw materials are being developed into fabrics play a very important role in this. The Green Fashion Competition awards the designer who handles these issues best and who can create a sustainable collection out of his or her ideas. At the launch of the Green Fashion Competition Kentroy Yearwood proved with his ‘Rangaku’ collection that sustainable fashion can be everything except boring! Kentroy Yearwood is a pioneer in the field of sustainable fashion and uses materials as silk, organic cotton, linen, wool, recycled paper and denim treated with a natural indigo to create outstanding fashion collections which are being sold worldwide.
What we loved as well was that we spotted a lot of Fair + Eco friendly outfits! Lonneke Engel, international topmodel and one of the judges of the green fashion competition was wearing a beautiful green dress by Kentroy Yearwood for example. And we saw some great pieces by Camilla Norrback, Studio JUX and Satara and a lot of great vintage of course! We believe the Green Fashion Competiotion will definitely help the Netherlands to boost the sustainable fashion movement a bit more.

]]> Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/wkstyling

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:26:33 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/streetlab Streetlab business case presenting fresh ideas about Eco fashion, social media and the future of green design.
Social blogger Ikenna Azuike from Strawberry Earth learned us more about next level blogging which is blogging with a cause. With the Strawberry Earth platform the people from Strawberry Earth try to get people to organize the way they spent. Their goals are to raise awareness and also make a difference in a practical way. On July 4th for example there was a Strawberry Mob where 160 people came along via social media as Twitter and Facebook. Ikenna also revealed a few details about Strawberry Earth's next event: Strawberry Earth Wonderland! This will be an eco fashion and music paradise, what more do we want?!
Eco fashionista Annouk Post from Hiphonest talked about a turning point to eco fashion which is needed with consumers. But also brands are not focused on Eco fashion enough yet. And on a lot of fashion schools not enough attention is being paid to Eco Fashion. Still there is a lot going on in the Netherlands in the field of Eco fashion but according to Annouk this is not well and enough communicated.
There was an inspiring skype session with self proclaimed “ fashion hacktivist” Otto von Busch . He learned us all about "Fashion Hacktivism" which is about user engagement in the Fashion Industry and creating a bigger commitment with the garments we buy. We should reclaim the sewing machine and buy things we can age with. When we buy clothing we really connect with we also want to age with it. We should use the clothing which is in the back of our wardrobes for example and re-create other things out of it or wear them again and maybe in a different way.
]]> Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:36:13 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/sataradress
]]> Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/AIFWDOWNTOWN
AMSTERDAM INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK -DOWNTOWN
JULY 10-17
CHARLIE + MARY CONCEPT STORE

]]> Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:47:26 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/veganaward Food for a Better World Fevent this saturday Lisette Kreischer of Veggierose will be rewarded with the Vegan award. Each year the Vegan award is given to the company with the best vegetable initiative. Tomorrow at 16.00 o'clock the Vegan award will be given to Lisette. During this event, which takes place at De Neude in Utrecht between 11.00 and 17.00 o'clock you will be able to get to know Veggierose and the delicious cupcakes of Rosie and the cupcake factory. Lisette Kreischer, the face of Veggierose, Rosie and the Cupcake Factory en Veggie in Pumps, is known by her books “Veggie in Pumps” and “Ecofabulous koken in alle seizoenen”. Also this year she was rewarded with the Trendwatcher Of The Year award (TWOTY) in the category sustainability. We love the eco fabulous work of Lisette!

]]> Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:00:50 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/byamfi By AMFI Concept store. At the moment the concept "Groeikas" is about getting back to old meanings and focus on sustainable, fair and eco friendly fashion. The concept is visualized by a big tree with items "growing" on it, which are developed according to these principles. The tree is growing into the tree of life; a tree that represents growth, fertility and The Life of mankind. But this can't be done by the tree alone. It needs everything and everybody to help it to do so. And with every drop of energy the roots of the tree will grow deeper into the soil and the branches will reach wider into the sky. Our own Charlie + Mary collections as well as other collections sold in our store are part of the growth of the tree. This concept store is definitely word visiting. You will find the coolest sustainable items in the tree of life!

]]> Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:57:07 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/cleanunique Clean&Unique platform. This is a platform for young upcoming designers in fair and eco friendly fashion. Clean&Unique is part of the Fair Wear Foundation and this organization helps us to audit and monitor the working conditions in our factories. The Fair Wear Foundation works with a multilevel verification method. Each year the Clean&Unique members will individually be asked how we are doing and what progress we are making. Then there is the audit where the factory is visited by a local auditing team which is monitored by the Fair Wear Foundation. The focus is on interviewing the workers, safety and health inspection and document inspection. The most important part coming out of the audit is the corrective action plan. With this plan we can help the factories to improve the working conditions in their factories. It is clearly very important that we monitor if necessary steps are being taken by the factory management and if progress is being made. The Fair Wear Foundation works with local complaints centers where workers can go with their complaints. Also an info sheet in the local language has to be put up in the factories explaining the workers rights. As a Clean&Unique member we work together with our factory towards solutions and focus on a long term relationship with them.

]]> Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:56:21 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/charliemarygerarddoustraatamsterdam

Charlie + Mary, Gerard Doustraat 84, Amsterdam from marieke vinck on Vimeo.

]]> Fri, 28 May 2010 10:43:38 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/DEFF2010 Dutch Environmental Film Festival (DEFF), an annual platform for the best international, environmental films and documentaries. Each year DEFF screens major international and national premieres, hosts inspirational speakers and creative green organization, and organises memorable festival parties with talent from the European DJ and live music scene. DEFF is the only major international film festival in the world that uses 100% of all money raised to make the screening venues eco friendlier. DEFF has grown to become one of Europe's premier environmental film festivals. June 3 and 5 DEFF is taking place at Studio K in Amsterdam and June 4 in Lantaren Venster, Rotterdam. Check out the DEFF Programme and reserve your tickets.

]]> Sat, 08 May 2010 13:24:22 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/fairfashion www.fairfashion.org

]]> Sat, 08 May 2010 12:43:12 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/good-lelystad Good was launched in Lelystad. During this three day event event all kind of sustainable businesses will present their products. If you are looking for sustainable fashion, eco furniture or if you're after information regarding sunboilers or green energy, it is all presented at this fair. There are also mini workshops which you can join, you can make a test ride in a hybride car or taste some delicious organic drinks and bites. The fair is located in Lelystad and ends this Sunday April 23. Don't forget to visit the Charlie+Mary/Solarsenergy stand when you're there!

]]> Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:23:17 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/barefoot_thursday TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what TOMS shoes is all about.

Why shoes?
Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or just getting around, these children are at risk. Walking is often the primary mode of transportation in developing countries. Children can walk for miles to get food, water, shelter and medical help. Wearing shoes literally enables them to walk distances that aren't possible barefoot. Wearing shoes prevents feet from getting cuts and sores on unsafe roads and from contaminated soil. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected. The leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted parasites which penetrate the skin through open sores. Wearing shoes can prevent this and the risk of amputation. Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.

There is one simple solution...SHOES.

]]> Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:04:17 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/earthhour Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:46:37 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/paris_shopping
These where the things I loved ; First of all use the bike system Vélib, instead of the Metro. Take a bike from the first place and drop it at another place for only a few euros a day. Paris is much nicer above ground and it’s better for the environment as well. Go to the neighbourhood Le Marais for the nice atmosphere, inspiring shops, good coffee places and vintage shops like Coiffeur on Rue de Rossiers and King of frip on Rue de Roi Sicilie. Please keep in mind most shops are closed on saturday here because of the Shabat as this a Jewish area. On sunday the streets in Le Marrais are car free and a lot of Paris people are coming here which can make it crowed but nice! In Saint Germain there is a place called Coolin where every two weeks on sunday evening a real cool jazz band is playing the whole night. Go there, have a drink and listen to the English/French jazz songs! Eat a cheap meal here or cross the street for a real French dinner at restaurant Saint-Germain! Near Palais Royal in the 2nd arrondisement you will find Collette on Rue de Saint Honore, a really cool store with books, gadgets and fashion. A great place to wonder around, get inspired and spot the latest trends. Done with window shopping in this area go to Rue Montorgeuil for lunch. It’s a small street with all kind of restaurants. Around lunchtime you will not be the only one down here! On the corner of this street you will find the best vintage store of Paris called the Killiwatch and can definitely not be missed during your visit to Paris.

Hope you will love Paris as much as we do. If you see some eco fashion stores or other great places let us know so we can check it out next time as well!

]]> Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:49:45 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/late-avond-idealen Late avond idealen. The play is about the generation of NOW and takes place at a spectaculair catwalk decor where the public is placed opposite each other. Some hip youngsters are having an After-After party and discuss the meaning of life, their ideals and what to do whith them. In the meantime they are partying and eating junkfood. The play really shows how difficult it can be to have ideals and to also live by them. For us, the generation of NOW it is definitely recognisable and confronting and a lot of fun! The little reminder at the end of the show (which we won't tell) and the goodiebag put some extra sugar to it all. We are nowhere without some critical self-reflection.

]]> Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:38:05 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/camilla_norrback_aifw_jan2010 Camilla Norrback showed her new AW2010-2011 collection. Big shoulders, high waists, lovely squirrels and horses. And a fantastic mens collection! Again we loved it and you will definitely keep finding the Eco luxury brand Camilla Norrback in our store.



pictures by Peter Stigter]]> Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:06:46 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/gooodstuff Gooodstuff is a new Dutch website for consumers with a conscience, connecting all information on the internet regarding sustainability. With a Goood mentality the people from Gooodstuff! emphasize the importance of leading a sustainable lifestyle. On the Gooodstuff! website you will find usable advices for leading a sustainable lifestyle. This advice goes from their offer of products to enhance this lifestyle till the use of sustainable innovations. You can share your own ideas, solutions and experiences regarding sustainability on the Gooodstuff! forum. Gooodstuff! is an initiatiative of the three friends, Dagmar van der Lans (28), Arend Zwaneveld (31) and Paul Bontenbal (31). Keep up the Goood work guys!

]]> Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:38:14 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/MLY MLY will show her new winter collection "Painting Pictures". The show will take place in the exclusive setting of the westerunie in Amsterdam. Emily Hermans will present her new collection in her own personal way. Starting with "the making of" and after the show sufficient possibilities to have a drink and discuss the show. The show will take place Tuesday the 26th of January. There is an afternoon show and a VIP dinner show. For further details you can check the website of Amsterdam International Fashion Week

]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:09:49 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/aifw  Eco Luxury brand Camilla Norrback in the spotlight!

during Swedish Fashion Route Amsterdam 2010

Swedish fashion is taking the world by storm with its simple and clean lines and attention to details. Swedish brands are experiencing great success on domestic as well as on international fashion scenes and are competing with the world’s top labels, selling their items in the most exquisite shops worldwide. Fashion experts are fascinated by the Swedes and their stylish, creative and high end design. Swedish designers are experts on transforming simple clothing into must-haves that have found their way into the wardrobes of fashionistas around the world.

Swedish design in Amsterdam is being celebrated during coming Amsterdam International Fashion Week. Jan 28th Camila Norrback will show her new collection during the Swedish night "Hot design from Cool Sweden".

The Swedish Fashion Route Amsterdam 2010 will take you along 16 different shops selling Swedish top brands. The route will take you to every fashion corner of Amsterdam. From the nine streets to the Museum distrikt, to Oud West and of course to Charlie + Mary in de pijp ;-). We can't wait to show you the eco luxury brand Camilla Norrback who will be in the spotlight the entire week!

Välkommen!

Strawberry Earth Hotel Crash! from Strawberry Earth on Vimeo.

]]> Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:27:54 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/earthcounttee Knowledge Cotton Apparel you can now help to save the world from chemicals and pesticides. The Earth Count tee is made from 100% organic cotton and each tee has a unique number so you can see how far we are with saving the world from more chemicals. Only a specific number of tees is made and when all tees are sold we saved the world from 1000kgs of chemicals and pestcicides. Help saving the world and buy this unique tee in our store or webshop.

charlie + mary fashion show from marieke vinck on Vimeo.

Teaser | The Sewing Machines Must Run from Sacha Post on Vimeo.

Brick lane

This is a great area to spend some time when you’re in London.. Young and hip Londoners are shopping and working on their apple notebooks here. Inspiring vintage stores and stores which stock cool English brands with a focus on ethical production processes are to be found in Brick lane. Great for an organic coffee and delicious pizza is Story Deli. Not to be missed either and next to Story Deli is the place called Cafe1001. Hamburgers from the Barbecue, take away drinks and bites which you can eat at the picknick tables outside or bring inside. In the evening there is a DJ playing funky music. Sometimes there are movie nights or there is a band playing. We totally love the atmosphere. You can take the metro to Liverpool street station and walk to Brick lane from here. You need a map of London.

A lot more touristic but definitely good for shopping and inspiration. Vintage style clothing, antique stores and lots of good organic coffees. A great place to have lunch is Gail’s. If you’r looking for a vintage one of a kind jewelry piece or a second hand Chanel purse this is the place to be! Take the metro to Notting Hill gate and follow the signs into Portobello road.

Alternative, crowded and cool! The most and best vintage shops are to be found here. Also some creative English designers are selling their hand made fashionable pieces in Camden Market. The stores are packed together in old stables, which certainly enhances the atmosphere. It’s young, loud and inspiring! Grab a coctail or beer and hang around here for a while after shopping. Take the metro to Camden Town and follow the crowd.

]]> Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/Reusereuserecycle In New York city Jill Danyelle's personal fashion project fiftyRX3 was a project in style and sustainability. It consisted of a photo documentary of what Jill Danyelle wore everyday for a year, with a goal of averaging fifty percent sustainability. Her principles are simple; to reuse-something not bought new, to reduce-by choosing products made with environmentally friendly production methods and to recycle-making garments from a previously existing item. Jill Danyelle designed the first dress made out of umbrellas. These umbrellas were collected from the streets of NYC. The dress already inspired others to develop better and more sustainable umbrellas. Jill Danyelle also explored the relationship we have with our clothing and how others perceive who we are through what we wear. Promoting and sharing ideas about sustainability in the apparel industry became a big part of project fiftyRX3. We think this is a very interesting project, which shows us there is no need at all to stick to outdated images of green design. Just have a look at the stylish umbrella dress in the picture below!

Also we have to be Sincere. Doing good for 100% is not possible yet. But what we can do already is telling the real story. An example of this is the numbers Studio Jux uses in their garments. These numbers indicate who made the garment we bought and we can meet the maker on the website of Studio Jux. Another S used by Annouk is the S of Slowing down. This is a trend which has already been there in the food industry. Next to Slow food we are getting more into Slow fashion as well. Fast fashion is associated with a lack of quality and not being very sustainable. The S of Secondary makes us think about what happens with our garments or shoes once we wore them. Then there is the S of forgotten Secrets which stands for getting back to old production methods in the fashion industry. Or the S of Sharing which might be the most important S. If we share our thoughts and the information we have we can make a big step forward in this world in transition.

There was only one toiletcard for fifty people, which the supervisor kept. When someone needed to go to the toilet permission had to be asked from the supervisor. Nowadays the minimum wage in textile factories in Bangladesh rose to about €20,- a month. Ninety percent of the companies pays it's workers in time, and cases of physical and sexual harassment decreased in recent years. So some change luckily came already. This is achieved because workers and consumers wanted this Kalpona explained us. In 2006 there was an enormous rise from workers in Bangladesh, as at the same time from the other side consumers where putting pressure on western brands. But more change is still needed Kalpona assures us. And help of consumers is very much needed. Boycotting products from Bangladesh will not help the people in Bangladesh, as 76% of the export products in Bangladesh are garments, Kalpona explained. But it does help if we keep putting pressure on the brands and companies, who buy and produce their products in Bangladesh, to take their responsibility. Kalpona is now telling her story when she is travelling through Europe to inform consumers here about the working circumstances in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh she educates workers regarding their rights and encourages them to join labour parties. We were very much impressed by Kalpona's story and her as a person. Let us all give her a hand and wonder where and how are garments are made when we buy them.

]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/carbonfootprint The UK fashion retail market has claimed the world’s first carbon footprint label for clothing. Continental Clothing, described as an ethical and eco-chic manufacturer, working with Carbon Trust, is launching the world’s first Carbon Reduction Label for textile products. Consumers will for the first time learn about the carbon footprint of their clothing. The label will be displayed on a range of printed T-shirts and sweatshirts, and will inform us of the total lifecycle footprint as well as our own contribution through washing, tumble-drying and ironing.

The label is a great way to give us clear information about the environmental impact of the clothes we own, throughout their entire lifecycle. It will also show how reductions can be achieved through changing our washing, drying and ironing routines. The "footprinting" study has shown that as much as half of the total footprint of clothing can come from our home laundry activities, particularly our tumble-drying, which produces twice the emissions of automatic washing. Avoiding tumble-drying and ironing could reduce the total footprint by as much as one third overall. The project is part of Defra's action plan for sustainable clothing launched at last month's London Fashion Week by Sustainability Minister Lord Hunt.

]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/trendforecast At the last Clean&Unique meeting, which took place last Thursday in Amsterdam, Andrea Wiegman from the trendwatch community Second Sight gave an inspiring presentation. In today's society we are buying certain products with a reason. We want these products to add value to our lifes. There is a shift from the focus on "hunting" to the focus on "attention". Which means that we want to take care of the things which are already there in the world. After a time of only consuming, it is time for a new consciousness regarding non material things in life. We are living in a time, where we have too much of everything. Our waste is piling up, which was very well visualized by the Louis Vuitton garbage bag. We are asking questions and the answer to this is Storytelling. If a brand does not give an answer to these questions we will make up our own story. This symbolizes that it is a time of sharing. The focus is not on "I" but on "We", because together we can shape the future. Authenticity is very important. Companies and brands who are real are appreciated. Status symbols are changing as well. The Green Wheel was for example indicated as a new status symbol. Andrea explained that at the moment it is impossible for trend watchers to predict the future, as there are so many changes going on in the world. This does leave a lot of openings for us to let the brands and companies we buy from know what we expect from them.

]]> Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.charliemary.com/index.php/blog/designjourneys Design Journeys, written by Kate Fletcher, is a great book for everyone who is interested in fashion and sustainability. The book explores sustainability issues in the fashion industry from the design perspective in it’s broadest sense. It offers everyone an insight in what can be done during the whole life cycle of a fashion product to make the process more sustainable. This starts for example by choosing the fabric of the garment in the design process. It ends with the temperature the garment is being washed at and the way the garment is disposed of by it’s end user. The book shows us that there definitely are a lot of ways in which we can integrate environmental and social quality in the design, production and and use of fashion and textiles.