Yes we all LOVE Fashion. And we are starting to learn about the story behind fashion more and more. So let's act to these insights a little bit more in 2011! We're sure you will love fashion even more by the end of 2011. Here are some Sustainable shopping tips.
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

The concept of KamerVragen is to bring young professionals with a divers background together to search for solutions for a sustainable economy. The ideas are visualised by a young artist on the same evening.

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.

Coming sunday September 26th you can spend a day in the beautiful green surroundings of Arnhem at the "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!

Eco fashionista and 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.

           

Last week we went to a very inspiring 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.