Ethical Fashion: Makki Eel Skin Accessories

Ethical Fashion: Makki Eel Skin Accessories

Tuesday, 30 May 2017

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I was first introduced to the British & Italian designed brand, Makki, a few years back at a Pure London trade show. I was instantly drawn to the unusual panelled design and on closer inspection, discovered how buttery soft their accessories were to the touch.

When the lovely PR explained more about the brand my interest suddenly increased - Makki's luxury handbags and accessories are made with using eel skin. I'd never heard of bags being created from eel skin and was very impressed to learn how passionate the team are about sourcing, manufacturing and selling products responsibly.

Eel skin is known for its durability and Makki's beautiful pieces, although designed in the UK, are produced in South Korea. Manipulating eel skin requires a high level of skill as it's very technical, so Makki's manufacturers train for years to be able to master this craft. According to ancient Mythology, carrying Eel Skin brings love, health and prosperity.

Dress: Brand Attic - Slim Purse: Makki (c/o)

My aubergine Makki purse has lasted 3 years and rather surprisingly (to me), is still in incredible condition. The brand recently launched their SS17 collection featuring new styles and vibrant spring/summer shades. I love a good statement piece and while I was browsing the new range, this slim purse in hot pink caught my eye. It's such a vivid colour and I like that it's slimmer than my existing Makki purse. It also gets bonus points for being ultra lightweight, having a zip section and lots of room for cards. 

Eel skin is 2-3 times stronger than cow hide, doesn't hold water marks and is scratch proof. Although I'd class Makki's purses and bags as investment pieces, I genuinely believe they are worth the price tag... It's all about cost per wear! My water bottle has leaked several times over my large zip wallet (dripping wet) and it's never left a mark after drying.

Have you heard of eel skin accessories? What's your purse style? - T

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Simoni Textile Designs: Hand-Woven Accessories

Simoni Textile Designs: Hand-Woven Accessories

Thursday, 31 December 2015

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Here at The Style Rawr, we love discovering new brands! Simoni Textile Designs produce hand-woven accessories using the finest yarns and we can't help but SWOON over her unique pieces. Greek designer Simoni Papaefstathiou hails from Cyprus but studied Textile Design in London, where she now lives. Her impressive designs have gained her a strong following in Cyprus where she has been featured by various publications such as Time Out, and has made several TV appearances.

Now London-based, Simoni Textile Designs has launched onto the UK market and I was recently sent a beautiful metallic clutch to style in an outfit post.

Dress & Shoes: F&F - Clutch: Simoni Textiles (c/o)

It may be New Year's Eve but my night is going to be relatively chilled so I decided to style this clutch with my sparkly shift dress, red fedora and black court shoes. This clutch is the perfect size for me as I like to have a relatively big bag so I can fit everything in!

Beautifully finished with a statement gold leather panel, it was made to the highest standard... I love how special it makes me feel! I'm always drawn to more unique accessories, this is certainly an iconic piece and a great conversation starter.

I believe it's really important to support independent brands and give them the love they deserve, Simoni Textile Designs has a range of scarves, bags, purses, earrings and much more! I have a bit of a weakness for her 'Bohemian Ribbons' collection featuring pieces made from dreamy pastel colours... I adore the wristlet purses.

I'd love it if you would check out their website or Etsy page to view more of their incredible pieces. I've noticed they often post discount codes on their Facebook page, so make sure you like them to keep up-to-date with their latest news and offers.

Which piece is your favourite? How would you style this bag? - T   

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Do you Love Your Clothes? #FashionSalvage

Do you Love Your Clothes? #FashionSalvage

Wednesday, 24 June 2015

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Last week I was invited to the Love Your Clothes 'Fashion Salvage' event held at the Bristol Textile Recyclers' warehouse. I didn't really know what to expect but I had such a fun evening! BTR is the only textile recycler in the south west, they work with schools and charity shops to help recycle clothing and other items.

When the donations come into the BTR factory, the second hand items are sorted into different categories and the reusable pieces are resold. Everything is either recycled or reused, there is zero waste. Apparently they even have one regular customer who purchases all the incredible pieces and resells them on Portobello Road! Many of the second hand textiles are exported abroad which creates trade and commerce, and also provides affordable clothing to underprivileged areas.

Upon arrival we were treated to food and drink and given some more information about the event and the Love Your Clothes campaign. The campaign was created to provide information on how you can care for your clothes including tips on how to repair them, make the most of them by upcycling, and disposing of them to retain their value.

 Some VERY interesting facts for you: 

• The average UK household owns approx £4,000 worth of clothes but around 30% haven't been worn for a year!

• The clothing industry represents the fourth-biggest environmental footprint of any UK industry (after transport, utilities and food). 

• Clothing represents 5% of the carbon footprint of all UK goods and services - roughly 1.5 tonnes of carbon emissions per household each year... The equivalent of jumping in a car and driving 6000 miles from the UK to Mumbai in India! There are roughly 25 million households in the UK, so that’s 25 million trips to Mumbai.

• The waste footprint of clothing is 70kg per household each year. This is the equivalent weight of 100 pairs of jeans per year - again, multiplied by 25 million households.

After the introduction, we were challenged to create an outfit and allowed to sift through the clothing bins for nearly 2 hours (while dodging the cameras from the Made in Bristol channel)! I had so much fun rummaging through all the second hand clothing and found some lovely pieces including an awesome hat (shocker) which I'm sure I'll feature on here soon.

Extending the average life of clothes is the single biggest action we can take to reduce the impact of clothing. Extending active use by just three months would lead to a 5-10% reduction in each of the carbon, water and waste footprints. 

I think this event was a real eye opener for me, I always resell or donate my clothing to charity but in the future I will certainly buy less, and choose more wisely. I won't buy things I don't need. 

***We all need to remember the 3 R's! Reduce (buy less), Reuse (extend your clothing's lifespan) and Recycle (use your old clothing as cleaning rags etc).***

Do you believe in sustainable fashion? Were you surprised by any of these facts?

T - Planning a swap party with my friends!

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Nomads Clothing: Ethical and Fair Trade Fashion

Nomads Clothing: Ethical and Fair Trade Fashion

Thursday, 28 May 2015

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I always enjoy discovering new brands and I was recently introduced to Nomads, an ethical and fair trade clothing company which started in the late 80's! Fair trade fashion makes me feel good on both the inside and the outside, as the styles tend to be beautifully boho and right up my street.

Nomads clothing have a great fair trade policy and if you have a spare 60 seconds, I definitely suggest you give it a quick read through. They regularly visit the factories where their garments are made and are continually increasing their range of organic cotton. Farming organically means no harmful chemicals are used and the land requires less water which promotes sustainable and environmental fashion. If only more companies would ask, "Who made my clothes?"

Dress: Nomads (c/o) - Bracelet: Swarovski - Hat: Local market

I was sent this beautiful tie dye maxi dress to style a few weeks back, it reminds me of a Free People but is a lot more affordable. I'm wearing the smallest size, a size 8, which has a wonderful, loose fit. It is slightly sheer so I've put a nude maxi slip underneath it but I adore the boho shape! I wore it on holiday last week and it the breeze kept catching it which just added to the parachute vibe. The pretty sequin detailing adds a feminine touch and it feels so comfortable on, I wish I could wear it every day.

They also have a fantastic range of maxi skirts which I've just been eyeing up, the prints are so bohemian and the entire collection screams 'global traveller'. I also love that the duo behind the brand met whilst backpacking. I seem to be drawn to brands which were started by fellow globe trotters, their pieces always seem to have an edge and be a little bit more special.

Do you like to support fair trade fashion? Are you a fan of bohemian style?

T - Hoping this dress will be made in white/turquoise!

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