Best known for founding the Green Carpet Challenge, Livia Firth has now launched a collection of her own designs including this necklace made from recycled gold and silver.

Celebrity designed fashion lines may be the bane of the sustainable style industry (and for trained designers, a supreme annoyance) but a new clothing collection by green queen, Livia Firth, continues to put the undeniable power of a famous name to good use.

After launching a handcrafted jewelry line this past spring, Livia Firth Designs recently announced their 5-piece fashion collection for fall. Described by Firth as “fundamentals for every woman’s wardrobe,” the line features a versatile LBD made from organic wool with a vegetable-tanned recycled leather obi belt, two versions of a 30s-inspired cloche hat, a butterfly-emblazoned woven wrap and a hand-crafted gold and silver butterfly necklace.

Livia Firth modeling the collection’s organic-wool little black dress, which is lined in cruelty-free silk and comes with a recycled-leather belt.

According to the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph, Firth elaborates on her choice to limit her offering to a 5 piece collection,” It is the beginning of building a sustainable cupboard, which can slowly fill with good quality, classical pieces with a twist which are produced keeping in mind the ecological impact and social justice implications.”

The butterfly-emblazoned pashmina wrap is the stunning result of a collaboration with the Panchachuli Women Weavers development program, which produces a luxury line of woven accessories and facilitates economic and social independence for women in the Indian Himalayas. 

The pieces will be available this September on Firth’s shop-within-shop on Internet giant’s YOOX’s eco-friendly initiative Yooxygen. Having recently closed her west London store, Eco Age, to focus on e-commerce, the collection will join a selection of clothes and accessories from other eco-friendly brands curated by Firth for their style and sustainability.

The pair of woolen cloche hats are made by Pachacuti, the U.K’s organic and  fair-trade-certified milliner. 

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Celebrate the first blush of spring by leaving dark winter clothes behind and opting for soft hues of pink.

At first blush, it seems like spring is here to stay. Before we bring out those summer whites, let’s go through a transition period where we leave those dark solids of winter behind and instead opt for different hues of pink. There is no right or wrong, every shade of pink is equally on trend this spring. Combine your pinks with other pinks or soft beige hues for that sweet spring look that we are all so craving right now.

Hewn Ring with Ruby by Dawes Design
Jennifer Dawes’ exquisite jewelry combines her love of ancient civilizations with current cultural influences to make pieces that are modern with a distinct heirloom quality. All pieces are handmade to order at Dawes’ studio in rural Sonoma County, California. Available in 18k yellow, white or rose gold.
$1,950.00, Green With Glamour

Cosí Nero Quasi Blue Short Jumpsuit
Part of eco-fashionista Livia Firth‘s selection for shopping site Yoox, this jumpsuit by Italian designer Federica Martin Wedard sneakily looks like just a pretty dress from the front. When seen from the back, you realize it, indeed, has legs. It’s made from 100% organic cotton bio-satin and decorated with hand-painted brush strokes.
$648, Yoox

Angle Tee by Indigenous Designs
This tee by Indigenous Designs is fairly made in Peru from 100% organic cotton jersey and dyed using low impact dyes. The delicious raspberry pink color makes it the perfect match for a pair of pale pink shorts (see below). The flattering V-detail in the front gives it a twist that is part super hero part vamp. We like.
$53, Indigenous Designs

Balance Heels by Olsen Haus
One thing you don’t want to do is finish off your blushy outfit with a black pair of heels, it’s way too harsh and takes away from the soft look we’re going for. Instead, opt for a pair of nude heels like these vegan beauties from Olsen Haus. The silver strap creates a nice contrast with the cork heel without demanding too much attention.
On sale for $90, Mission Savvy

The Short Short by IOU Project
A pair of pale pink shorts is definitely a must-have this summer. The IOU Project produces unique, handmade apparel based on fabrics handwoven in India. Each IOU garment has a QR code, which you can scan to find out more about the artisans who made these shorts – probably one of the few times when transparency is a good thing when it comes to shorts.
Approx. $87.50, IOU Project

Zoya Nail Polish in Jessika
Nail polish is without a doubt one of the biggest trends right now and it’s a really fun and easy way to pull an outfit together. Just make sure you reach for the non-toxic stuff, like this nail polish from Zoya. This hue is called Jessika and is a flattering girly pink nude that’s both professional and adorable.
$8, Zoya

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For a weekend at Hotel Chateau D’Orfeuillete in France, fill your bag with French basics that are both très sexy and très eco.

When packing for a weekend stay at Hotel Chateau D’Orfeuillete in France, channel classic French style by bringing staples that are both très sexy and sustainable. Be inspired by the XIX Century (that’s 19th, for those of you who don’t read roman numerals) environment and the hotel’s modern decor featuring bright pops of color like purple and pink.

Jamie Joseph Small Rose Cut Indian Ruby Earrings
Hand-cut facets in these earrings highlight the beauty and gorgeous color of these Indian Ruby stones. The elegant wisteria prong setting, as well as the earwires, is made from 14K reclaimed gold. Hand-crafted in Seattle, Washington.
$610, Juno & Jove

Misericordia Romance Dress
This midnight blue dress from French eco-label Misericordia is the perfect travel companion. It’s simple and elegant, features flattering draping and a plunging neckline. Wear it with high heeled pumps for a romantic dinner or pair it with pants for a more casual look. Made from 100% modal at the Misericordia workshop in Peru.
Approx. $156, Misericordia

Necklace by Joanna Cave
This necklace by British jewelry designer Joanna Cave strikes the same balance between Marie Antoinette-style glamour and modern design as the Chateau itself. It’s made from gold-plated recycled silver, using traditional techniques.
$149, Yoox

Scotch Naturals Water-based Nail Polish in Queen Of Scots-Regal Shimmering Violet
Nail polish is the perfect way to add a pop of color to any outfit, and this rich purple shade will surely match that furniture in your room. Scotch Naturals make a non-toxic, eco-chic alternative to those yucky solvent-based nail polish.
$14.99, FutureNatural

Charini Soft Bra & High Waist Brief
If this is a romantic weekend (which most getaways to French chateaus tend to be), sexy lingerie is a must-pack. Sri Lankan designer Charini does not use elastics, plastics, harmful dying or metal in her eco-collection. Each piece is crafted from luxury reclaimed materials by local artisans who use traditional Sri Lankan techniques to produce hand woven silks and trims.
Bra, $214,86 & Brief, $161.15, Asos

Arlington Satchel by Lost Property of London
Lost Property of London designer Katy Bell takes abandoned fabrics and lovingly transforms them into practical and stylish upcycled bags. This satchel is made from soft grain leather and reclaimed fairtrade coffee sacks.
Approx. $318, Lost Property of London

Camilla Norrback Zeta Platform Pumps
This pump by Swedish eco-designer Camilla Norrback is a nod to that classic Chanel version — a French fashion staple. Made from natural and non-polluting vegetable-dyed leather, these also have a recycled rubber sole.
Approx. $298, Camilla Norrback

Carmina Campus Wallet
This fun, colorful wallet his been made from different colored pieces of upcycled leather, sourced from unused samples. It’s made in Italy and, like all Carmina Campus designs, it’s one-of-a-kind. Each piece  comes with a label that explains the technique used and the time it took to create it.
$216, Yoox

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Collaborations for environment and sustainability abound this summer.

Despite contributing to a whole lot of fast fashion, the fashion collaboration phenomenon is far from losing any steam. Teaming designers with retailers like Missoni for Target and the hot off-the-press announcement of Versace for H&M, has even hardened ethical fashion editors like us tempted. Seems like everyone is getting in on the hard-to-resist concept. Happily, that also includes a new wave of partnerships between high profile brands and environmental causes.

Cult beauty brand, Crème de la Mer lined up with ocean saving charity Oceana to raise awareness for World’s Ocean Day on June 8th. In conjunction with a special launch of a blue line limited edition jar of their celebrated algae rich moisturizing cream, the company contributed $200,000 to the charity and produced a mesmerizing film, The Seven Seas Sound Mix. Described as “an ambient journey showing seven remarkable people muse about their love for the sea in a sensory compilation that focuses on sustainability, ocean awareness and the infinite beauty of the sea,” the film is an effective appeal to preserve the world’s endangered oceans.

Outspoken and visionary, Dame Vivienne Westwood has long looked out for the environment as part of her personal manifesto. Announcing last week a second collaboration with the International Trade Center and their Ethical Fashion Africa Project, her latest range of brightly colored bags and accessories will now be widely available on the YOOX site. A short film directed by Juergen Teller that premiered in Florence showed Vivienne teaching her skills to locals in Nairobi. In her inimitable way, she announced that the sales from these bags go towards helping impoverished Africans, but the making of them provides work “not charity.”

Asos, the online fashion brand that is slowly but surely establishing itself as the web’s most expansive fashion presence announces their second Asos Africa collection this month. The first, launched earlier this year was made by small producer groups in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa and is dedicated to creating jobs in underprivileged communities there. Sure to be a hit after Michelle Obama was spotted this week wearing a sleeveless print cotton shirt from the line, if you don’t believe in the “Obama effect” just ask J.Crew.

Emerging style icon, Kate Middleton is well known for her love of mass market retailers or what the British call “high street” chains. One of her favorites, Whistles, has just has launched its first capsule eco collection in conjunction with Ciel, the award-winning, sustainable label. The collection is comprised of eight beach wear pieces in prints inspired by heritage brand Liberty. Whether you like her style or not, she is fast becoming one of the worlds most photographed women.  If she were to decide to wear one of those pieces during her visit to Los Angeles next week, she’d be having an ethical “effect” all her own.

Image: viviennewestwood.co.uk, Kate Middleton in The Telegraph

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