Blood, Sweat and Tees.

I am the first to admit that shopping is a keen interest of mine. Nothing really compares to browsing the rails with your friends and picking out that perfect outfit that you know will make you feel a million bucks. But lately I have become even more aware that my self indulgence could very easily be perpetuating one of the most abominable crimes of our day; human slavery. The majority of my high street favourites all source their clothing from off-shore sweatshops that violate labour rights and keep the world's poor firmly in their poverty. Some argue that sweatshops do not use slaves but actually pay their workers and provide them a means of an income. But this is not always the case and the majority of sweatshops have such horrifying working conditions, low pay and long hours that their workers are most definitely not 'better off'.

The problem is, for us all the way in Australia, our continual consumption of these goods unfortunately fund this exploitation and affirm that it can continue to go on. So what can we do about it?

Well ...

The most practical tip would be to get ethical-fashion savvy and keep an eye out for an ECA label (Ethical Clothing Australia) on your purchases. This means that the product was made in Australia and the company adheres to fair working conditions. For a list of these companies click here.

Another thing would be to make some noise about it, write to these companies, boycott the worst offenders and give your money to some of the great new ethical-fashion company's that you can find on my previous posts

My response, inspired by my Saturday morning trip to Glebe Markets, is to make it myself! After seeing some stunning jewelery and very cute clothing I may just have to get out the sewing machine and get a little creative! However, it could be disastrous ... just watch this space!

Just a walk in the park!

As part of my goal to be fit and healthy in 2011 I have (so far) walked every morning in the park just up from my apartment. With Ipod in hand and a beautiful sunrise in view it is the perfect way to start my day! However last week I was given a little gift! At Colour I recieved a T-Shirt and water bottle that were to make my new walking ensemble not just cute but attached to a purpose!
Written across the back of my tee it says 'walk for freedom' and the idea is to walk not just for health but also for others. This looks like sponsored walks where you get your girlfriends together and walk with a cause in mind and raise money so that others can live in freedom. So now, my morning walks have something new added to them and I walk not only for my health but so I can then walk for others.

This is my very cute friend Robyn and yesterday we were hanging in the park and went for a little walk. Soon we'll be doing a sponsored walk to raise money for a cause. In the mean time I'm getting up early and enjoying the view, water bottle in hand!

Des Fleurs

I love Fleur Wood’s collection.

It’s hyper-girly, floral, lacey and well just beautiful. What’s even better is that she has an amazing buisness perspective where personal integrity is prioritized over company profit. No animal products are used in the making of her clothes and a percentage of her profit goes to charities, mainly in India.

So check her out here and pick up some of her cute and ethical pieces for the fall!

'We're facebook friends'

This video by TEDx explains how social networking has enabled thousands of Egyptians to voice their fustration and unhappiness under the regime. Beforehand the fear of their dictatorship kept most people silent. When they realised 'I am not alone in these feelings' they were able to start thinking of ways to voice these fustrations in the public sphere. They're virtual friendship became a powerful and real community that opposed publicly the regime and brought change.

One of the most impressive parts is how they had no leader, it was they're unity that lead them to all do something and start a revolution. Who would of thought that adding someone on facebook could lead to a whole country being turned upside down!