Monkee Genes Turn Green

For my outfit this week I've chosen my favourite new colour of the Monkee Genes Organic Sateen range - the Olive Green Skinny Trouser. This colour is new and fresh and will see you into the new season when it arrives.

Here I've teamed it with the People Tree Holly Ruffle Top (available in blue stripe or red stripe) which is made from hand woven cotton in India. I don't think this outfit would be complete without a pair of retro trainers like our Veja Trainers. Here I've picked the White / Red Veja, but you have a choice of many different colours from our website. The look is finished with fair trade brass accessories from Just Trade - the Single Hoop Earrings and the Brass Bracelet.

Total cost of outfit: £194.00

From New York to London Fashion Weeks, Equa celebrates international ethical fashion

It's a fantastically exciting time to be in ethical fashion as September heralds the international catwalk season and, with it, a showcase of the very best ethical fashion and beauty across the globe.

Over the space of six weeks Fashion Weeks in New York, Paris, Milan and London will seduce, excite and entertain us with the shapes, styles, colours and fabrics we'll be wearing for Spring Summer 2010.

Of course, ethical fashion is about enduring style over seasonal fast fashion, but its still vital for ethical fashion designers, especially those we stock at Equa, to stay in touch with what influential design giants like Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and emerging talents like Luella, Christopher Kane and Danielle Scutt are up to. After all, what these visionaries create now we will all want to wear in seasons to come, just the most ethical versions we can find!

Equa will be at London Fashion Week from tomorrow onwards, spotting the most gorgeous collections and exciting fashion stories, and of course doing a thorough edit of the best of Estethica, the ethical zone which now features over 30 ethical collections.

Meanwhile, we're also inspired by Paris and New York's Ethical Fashion Shows, both of which are hotbeds for new talent. Find out more about these on Greenmystyle.com. Click here for Paris and here for New York.

At Equa we're having our very own celebration of international ethical fashion & beauty. We stock ranges from across the world, here are some of our favourites:

From Europe

Alchemist
Alchemist, pictured left, is a label for women who want to look feminine without being too girly. With a focus on perfect tailoring, the Dutch brand is certified by Made-By, which means you can track production back to its source.

Veja
A best-seller for us, there seems to be no shortage of fans for French ethical trainer brand Veja. To make their trainers Veja uses organic cotton canvas from Fair Trade cooperatives in Brazil, natural latex from the Amazon Rain Forest which requires no tree felling, and 'ecological leather' which Veja developed in 2003 which is chrome-free and tanned with organic compounds only.

From the UK

Annie Greenabelle
Who doesn't love Annie Greenabelle (pictured right and top). Using end of roll fabrics and Fair Trade Foundation certified organic cotton, her cute dresses appeal to the girl in all of us.

Enamore
Lingerie to feel exquisitely sexy in, and all ethically produced, much from vintage fabrics. A guilt-free Agent Provocateur if you like!

Beyond Skin
Pioneers in ethical footwear, Beyond Skin uses environmentally friendly fabrics such as hemp, organic cotton and recycled bottle tops, to create collections that are stylish and wearable across seasons.

From the US

Whish
Another new arrival in store and online this season, Whish is a range of bath products that are paraben-free, sulfate-free, TEA and DEA-free as well as petrochemical-free and use all natural and organic ingredients. We feel a pampering session coming on!

Stewart + Brown
Quintessential quality casualwear in organic cotton, Mongolian cashmere and sustainable fabrics such as hemp and Tencel from this American design duo. The pointelle cotton vests are popular all year round. Great for layering.

Veja Taua Trainers - New for SS09

Just when I thought I couldn't love any trainers more than the Veja Volley's we get in the new Veja Taua for Summer 2009... This style is so cute and perfect for hot summer days with a sun dress - what about teaming these 'Sun Yellow' Taua with the fab Annie Greenabelle Floral Shirt Dress that we've also just had delivered... can I justify another pair of trainers?

Ethical Holiday Wardrobe

I’m about to go off on a two week city holiday and as it’s my honeymoon I’ve been planning my wardrobe very carefully. Being the buyer at Equa I have great access to a wonderful collection of ethical labels and this season I’ve been spoilt for choice over what to choose from.

The most obvious thing that I needed for a city holiday was a great pair of tailored jeans, especially in Rome and Paris where everyone is so well dressed. My favourite jeans are my Del Forte Calla’s. I have two pairs, one in this season’s Cielo wash, and the other in the Black Out from two seasons ago (and with my careful cool washing with my eco balls the black is still beautifully black).

With that I need some classic separates and where better to look than Stewart Brown and Annie Greenabelle. My Annie Greenabelle Polkadot Blazer is a must and this Annie Greenabelle Grandpa Blouse is perfect for chic casual when wearing with jeans, and this season’s StewartBrown tees are as ever perfect for everyday wear.

As it will be early May I will still need jackets and I’ll be taking my Sika Rain Coat from three seasons ago (click here for Sika’s new season Mac), and my favourite new season purchase - the Kuyichi Leiko Jacket.

Obviously I wanted some spring dresses to wander around my two favourite cities in. I have many dresses from past season from Edun, Annie Greenabelle and Alchemist, but I just couldn’t resist the Amana Eleanora Dress. Wearing it with leggings and ballet pumps makes it a great day dress, and then with heels and sheer tights it can take me to dinner and dancing.

Shoes was something I needed to think about carefully, I needed something for all that walking we’re going to be doing so my Veja Grey/Black trainers are definitely in the holiday bag. For a more tailored look I have a great pair of Terra Plana boots that have a small 1” heel (from a past season) and some great La Lesso Ballet Pumps.

With all that in my suitcase I’m hoping that my romantic notion of overnight train travel won’t be ruined by my new husband complaining about having to lug it around! Wishful thinking? We’ll see!

Penny x