If you are looking for unusual T shirts produced by a company with ethical standards then try I Dress Myself.
An independent screen printing business established in 2006, they hand print limited edition shirts (posters and bags) from the heart of Nottingham and ship world-wide.
Designed by a small selection of artists (many local to the city), and printed on organic cotton, using water based inks, I Dress Myself have found an interesting sector of the market for themselves. They have clear ethical principals, print using ecologically sound materials, bank ethically and produce some stunning, and unique designs.
I just received Peter Conway’s Dead Rabbit T shirt as a gift from an inspired member of my family. A limited edition of 200, the quality is impressive, the design hilarious and I know that I now belong to a very exclusive ‘club’ of 200 people around the world who have something special which supports ethical standards and inspiring artists. Great present!
With the festive season just over the horizon this might be the place to source some unique quality gifts online. They package their products in recycled materials and have an easy to use website where you can view their entire collection. More details at www.idressmyself.co.uk
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Ethical (Art) T Shirts
Ethical Candles
One of the great things about this time of year is the fact that you can light candles to add mood to your home. If you are uncomfortable about buying those blocks of cheap tea-lights from major retailers, you might like to think about ethical ones.
How about hand-made soy wax tea lights which are non-toxic, GM-Free and don’t use materials from deforested rainforests?
Most ‘normal’ candles are made using paraffin, a by-product of crude oil, and many people are concerned about the environmental impact of oil based processes and products. Soy wax, on the other hand, is made from soy beans - a renewable resource.
HapiBean, based in Watford, is offering a selection of ethical tea-lights which you can order online. Have a look at
http://www.hapibean.co.uk/ where you will also find an interesting section of the comparison between paraffin and soy wax.
Might be just the thing for your ethical seasonal decorations.
Selling Green and Fairtrade
If you are in the Newark-on-Trent area of the UK there is a new shop which which has been built on eco and ethical standards to sell Fairtrade, Green and Organic products.
Fair and Green is a small independent ethical shop situated in Newark, Notts. They stock a wide range of Fair Trade, organic, and environmentally friendly products and prides themselves on their having ethical values.
Their eco products are either recycled (e.g. Remarkable Stationery), organic, from sustainable sources (e.g. Ethletic shoes made using FSC latex), or environmentally friendly (e.g. cleaning products).
And, apart form their selection of products they are green in other areas;
They uses electricity from Good-Energy which is made from 100% renewable resources.
Their shop insurance if from CIS which is more ethical than many others.
They don’t encourage use of plastic bags and use recycled paper for their stationery.
They travel to work by public transport and only use a care when they really have to.
Even their website is powered by solar energy!
They might not be just around the corner for many EcoList readers but their website is packed full of useful information as well as highlighting their various products.
Visit: www.fairandgreenshop.co.uk
Be my Eco Valentine?
It is almost here and there will be a lot of people wondering how to show their loved ones just how much they love them without buying them some redundant, over-wrapped heart shaped ‘token’.
Nigel’s Eco Store has a collection of Valentine gifts which might just help out. They range from Hemp Knickers to organic aphrodisiacs. Have a look and see if there is anything which takes your ‘fancy’. You could, always, just tell your loved one how much you love them!
www.nigelsecostore.com
Featured Book of the Week
It's hard being 'ethical'. Where to shop? What to buy?
Help is at hand with the "How to Be an Ethical Shopper" book by Melissa Corkhill. Or, to give it its rather 'snappy' title: How to Be an Ethical Shopper: The Practical Guide to Buying What You Believe in (Living Essentials): The Practical Guide to Buying What You Believe in (Living Essentials)
Corkhill is editor of the Green Parent magazine so knows a thing or two about ethical issues relating to food, toys, holidays, household items and the like. It has just been published and provides a practical and timely guide. Help yourself with the ethical 'struggle' and take a look at some of Corkhill's advice.
