Ethical t-shirts for all

The low down on ethical t-shirts

This weeks BLOG is from Certton, producer of Australian Made Organic Cotton T-shirts and Fabrics.

 

When we first started Australia had no organic cotton farmers so we set about sourcing the best quality organic cotton t-shirts in the world. Nick, one of the founding directors had worked with Patagonia for a couple of years in the US and was immediately hooked by the quality of their garments and the truth that they sold. Patagonia had played a major role in pioneering organic cotton when in 1996 they agreed to only source organic cotton for their established sportswear brand. They established a separate division Beneficial Ts to help educate consumers and worked hand in hand with organic cotton farmers to build the industry. In 2004 we placed our first order with Beneficial Ts and became their official Australian distributor.

In 2005 we met with our first Australian organic cotton farmer. We purchased a stockpile of his certified Australian grown organic cotton and developed and launched ‘Certton’ our own brand of high quality Australian made top organic cotton t-shirts & fabrics.

Our purpose is simple. Provide the workers at our Sydney factory with a safe, clean & enjoyable working environment, pay them a fair wage, supply them with our high quality Australian made fabric, knitted from certified organic cotton and our t-shirts will be the best in the world.

Certton offer t-shirts for the individual but are also fantastic for companies or groups wishing to use Organic t-shirts for a marketing tool, and the friendly Certton team can organise everything including design and printing of the shirts!

Visit Certton at www.certton.com.au and find out more about there ethical t-shirts.




The CleanLife t-shirts are made in Australia from 100% Organic Cotton by Certton. To order CleanLife t-shirts, click here.




ARE YOU A FASHION DESIGNER IN THE MAKING?

If you think you have a great idea for an eco t-shirt design, Todae (www.todae.com.au) want to hear about it, visit their website to see what is currently on offer by clicking here and tell them what you think!

Happy green T hunting!

Green judgement

I think by now most people have conceded that GREEN IS GOOD. There is now literally hundreds of millions of people worldwide (and possibly billions) of people who are in their own way - trying to make a difference for our environments sake. While some of us haven given up our 'day jobs' and previous professions to do this, many more are making their own mark simply by the way they live.

The GREEN INDUSTRY as a whole involves a very good bunch of people, most of whom genuinely want to make a difference and while some are exceedingly good entrepreneurs who are making good money, others are purely altruistic in their endeavours and if at the end of the month, they have enough to pay the bills and enjoy a glass of organic wine, then all is well.

Importantly ONE IS NOT BETTER THAN THE OTHER, they are just different. The company that makes good money, may both in their consumption and philanthropic ventures, give a large amount back to the cause. They may also inspire other individuals to follow suit. The company that is happy just to have enough to get by, in effect is doing the same thing, in a different way.

I write this because on visiting our local farmers market the other day my husband made the comment, that he often feels that some 'hardcore greenies' are judging us. They look at our clothes, that while often sustainable, fair trade and organic or second hand (or very old but very well maintained!), are also semi-fashionable, and assume that we are 'the enemy'. On this particular day the case in point was our daughter who was wearing an adorable cotton hoodie that just happened to be pink and red and have pom poms on it. It was a gift from a family member, and she did look very cute, yet instead of being looked upon with JOY and LOVE as all children should, there was a small group of individuals that had nothing but scorn for us.

I find this hard to take, as I truly believe that we all have our own shade of green. While I absolutely commend those hard core greenies who do spend days up trees, and consume very very little that just isn't my thing. We all know we should never judge another until we have walked in his shoes, that this is very very true in the case of green credentials.
I found it frustrating that these people who know nothing about us, what we do or how we live, assume we are 'evil consumers' and label us in an instant. Of course it only worried me for a moment and then I did what all good YIPPY's would do and treated myself to an Organic, Fair Trade Coffee! (NB: a yippy is a cross between a yuppy and a hippy, who is more likely to be found sipping an organic latte from a reusable SIGG mug, than protesting on the front line).

In the past I must admit I have been guilty of looking at city slickers in huge 4WDs and designer sunnies as they drop their children at school, with some disdain. In reality, we shouldn't judge, as that 4WD may be climate friendly (that is it's emissions may have been offset), or perhaps it is actually a Lexus hybrid. That family may also purchase 100% renewable energy for their home, eat organically and choose to holiday in the countryside rather than overseas, which are all good green choices. There is also the possibility that they are from the country and do need a 4WD!

An example that comes to mind is at our Christmas holiday last year. Every year we spend two weeks at a local island (Rottnest). While our daughter usually wears cloth nappies, we decided that given our accommodation has no laundry sink or washing facilities, it may be best to go with eco-disposables. Unfortunately the nappies were not quite the right size and after one day of using them, poor Lilian had a graze and was unable to wear them any longer. After another day of just using terry towelling (which meant two hourly changes all night long), I finally realised that I would have to buy a different brand. The problem??This lovely little island that we were on has one shop and one pharmacy, both of which only stock conventional nappies. So finally I purchased some 'conventional' nappies, and as I walked back to our accommodation, I realised that if I had seen someone like me just weeks before, carrying a big pack of nappies, I would have thought, what a shame they are not using cloth or eco-disposable nappies, and perhaps a very small part of me, may have thought that they were not such a green citizen. However taking this one action out of context is unfair and I realise now that I have been guilty of that.

So while each and every one of us has a moral responsibility to do our bit, perhaps we should all try to stop ourselves from passing judgement for green reasons.

The fellow next to you at the checkout may be carrying a plastic bag, we don't know why, but it is very possible that he lives in a self sufficient house, produces his own food and donates a large amount to green causes. Perhaps someone delivered something to him in the bag and he has been using it ever since!!

So if you are going to create a story about your fellow humans as you people watch, make it a positive one, it really can make the world a better place.

Gina (yes my daughter has some cute clothes but I am still pretty green) Cacho

Healthy and Green Book Ideas

I love to read...
but must admit that it can be hard to find the time, so as of about six weeks ago, Tony and I gave up TV during the week. Not only have we read more, eaten better and spent more time actually talking we have actually quite unexpectedly spent less!

Hopefully some of you are getting some time to read too, so here are just a few of the books I have read recently, that may (or may not) take your fancy.

'The Green Gardener' by Josh Byrne, if you are even remotely interested in gardening, or even just looking at a bit of greenery, this book is a great read. The lovely Mr Byrne is a Perth boy, but my liking for this book goes well beyond his local roots. The book goes through all the essentials like water saving techniques and tips, native plants, growing your own food, maintaining local habitats, composting and more. Josh's love for the subject is palpable, and the book has even inspired me to actually help Tony with our increasingly sustainable little garden, rather than just chat to him, with our daughter on my hip as he works away!

'The Food Revolution' by John Robbins is not for the light hearted, and I must put a disclaimer here, it is written by a fairly hard core vegetarian, who just happens to be the son of one of the founders of Baskin and Robbins ice cream. It is a well researched and referenced yet highly captivating acccount of in the authors words 'how your diet can help save your life and the world'. While I LOVE this book (an have for years) many won't, but if you want to challenge your ideas on the way we eat and learn a huge amount in the process, I highly recommend it. One of the thought provoking sections in the book comments on recalls the tale of a Cardiac Surgeon who was thought to be 'radical' and 'too severe' for putting his clients on a vegan diet and exercise program before opting for Cardiac surgery. There was outcry from other surgeons who thought his methods, harsh and cruel. It is strange really as I would have thought having major open heart surgery was a little more radical than having to change your diet!!! It must be noted, his results were very very good, with only a small proportion of patients eventually requiring surgery.

G-magazine
If you want some interesting green reading, but are not ready to commit your self to a book, G mag is a great option. Some parts light and fluffy, some parts hard green, all parts interesting, it is a really good monthly publication to have on your coffee table. You'll get a good variety of info all in the one neat mag.

Happy Reading

Gina

Healing ideas from Nature's Symphony

This weeks BLOG comes from Connie Vella, Founder of Nature's Symphony, Bach Flower Practitioner and Holistic Counsellor (AHHA accredited).


Nature’s Symphony began when I became aware of toxic ingredients found in the formulations of today’s commercial hair and body care products and its negative side effects on one’s well-being.

After having suffered from chronic painful mouth ulcers and a very itchy, inflamed scalp from using commercial hair care products, I decided to make my own healthy brew and one month later after using my formula, my mouth ulcers cleared completely and so did the itchiness and scalp inflammation leaving my hair with a healthy shine. To my formula I have added one of the Bach flower remedies essences making my product unique for its cleansing, purifying and healing properties.

To add to our products, I have just included a new Eco friendly line of Soy Wax Candles. They support the environment by keeping our planet clean and free from toxic fumes which Paraffin candles give out when lit.

To formulate these cruelty free alternative products, to make them available to the health conscious Consumer and for them to enjoy their benefits and educate others about the dangers of toxic ingredients and to get a positive feedback from consumers, in relation to their well being, fulfils one of my wish to help others in maintaining good health and to help mother earth in keeping a cleaner planet with our latest addition of Eco-friendly soy wax candles.

We use recyclable packaging whenever possible as we recognise the importance of keeping a clean planet.


It is better to light just one little candle
Than to stumble in the dark.
All you need is a tiny spark To light up the world.

If we'd all support Mother Earth by supporting a cleaner planet,
A wonderful dawn Of a new day we'd see . .

And if everyone lit Just one Eco-friendly candle,
What a cleaner and bright world It would be,
For us, for our children, and their children's . .


To learn more about our products or to order any of these Eco-friendly products you can do so on line by visiting www.earthquest.com.au

Eco Luxury - Fashion and Conscience

This weeks BLOG entry is from Charlene O'Brien, director of ECO LOGIKA, who proves that luxurious fashion, needn't cost the earth.

The label ECO LOGIKA® est. 2002, stylish resort wear specialises in combining fashion and conscience, using natural and environmentally friendly textiles. Its strong values denote a well made product with minimal impact on the environment. Hand crafted, stylish, ultra feminine for women using quality natural fibres, botanical dyes, eco yarns and textiles such as sustainable silks, certified organic merino wool, certified organic cotton/hemp, environmentally friendly linen, recycled remnants and recycled denim.

After graduating from the London College of Fashion in the mid 80’s, Charlene O’Brien established her own fashion label ECO LOGIKA®. She is an international eco textile designer who combines raw organic fibres, hand spun silks, recycled remnant, organic Australian merino wool and luxurious sustainable silks, fused with various constructive and embellished techniques by hand and by machine.

Recently re-located to a studio in the Kelmscott hills, Western Australia, Charlene’s goal is to practice low impact environmental production by creating her atelier, a pure and safe workplace using solar energy, rainwater, handcraft skills and techniques, carefully collected botanicals from her dyers garden for hand solar dyeing. Charlene launched her new eco luxury signature label at the Ethical Fashion Show, Paris, October 2007. Selected as one of 80 designers world wide, she successfully marketed her eco luxury label to a high end Parisian galerie.“My ultimate aim is to create clothes that are comfortable to wear” commented Charlene. “My mandate is that they must be good for both the person, meaning that they are free of any harmful dyes and chemicals, as well as good for the environment and economies.”

Charlene’s fairly traded recycled denim label, est. 1997, uses an innovative yarn from recycled denim fibre, which is hand knitted and crocheted by a Vietnamese co-operative. Charlene, who lived in Vietnam for six months during which time she put her young son into a Vietnamese school, said denim is one of the world’s most produced textiles, despite the fact that cotton is prone to high chemical and pesticide usage.

“Research proved denim waste from jeans manufacturers becomes a landfill problem because it doesn’t biodegrade when it hits the dump,” she said. “By collecting denim offs-cuts from factories we prevent more chemical usage and landfill by creating products from the waste. The off-cuts are shredded back into a fibre and then re-spun into a yarn. The yarn is then transported to Vietnam where it is used to create clothing and accessories.

“One of my major goals is to support fair trade practices. This provides self empowerment to small global communities with appropriate hand skills. Our Vietnamese community workers are paid fairly and this encourages the emergence of micro businesses where women take responsibility for themselves and therefore the knock on effect is that poverty within these communities is diminished, if not eradicated.”

Charlene’s focus on developing products on a sustainable level using recycled or organic resources means, she said, that ECO LOGIKA® is an Australian fashion label with a conscious. “For people who are passionate about a designer range of products that are natural, organic, recycled and hand made, and if you care about the environment and humanity, you share the tierra ecologia vision,” she said.

Charlene designs a wide range of products including;

Recycled denim - shawls – Hand crafted 100% cotton recycled denim
Eco logika® - Ladies wear - Coats, Jackets, Skirts, Dresses, Pants, Tops, T shirts, Menswear - Shirts, T shirts, Jeans
Charlene O’Brien - eco luxury signature range – Dresses, Skirts, Tops

Visit http://www.tierraecologia.com/

Paint, kids, babies and nesting....

Got the nesting instinct?


Bauwerk colour has created a new range of natural paint colours for children's rooms, which allows kids to draw on their walls with chalk , just a like a giant chalkboard. So unleash your inner child , its easy and safer for kids , chalk just wipes off ready for the next round of fun.


BAUWERK Paints are giving the phrase freshly painted a new meaning:
Paint produced using abundant resources, without toxic by-products, free from harmful substances, technically brilliant, greenhouse gas free, carbon neutral and user friendly.


The nesting instinct may be a natural urge, but many of the products and materials used by expectant parents to create a nursery or children's room can be a danger to the health of babies and young children. This is a critical time to consider the impacts of chemical pollution and to take the time to create a healthy space for your little ones.


Babies are at greatest risk from chemical exposures because their skin absorbs up to three times the amount of chemical absorbed by an adult.Babies and young children breathe twice as much air as adults, so they have greater exposure to chemicals from the air.


Visit www.bauwerk.com.au for more details.

Natural Woman Network

Natural Woman Network


Dawn Burke (left) and Wendy Dumaresq (right)

The following blog is from Wendy Dumaresq, owner and founder of Rad Pads and the Natural Woman Network.

The Natural Woman Network are giving away two yearly memberships valued at $50 each. The membership gives you benefits such as discounts on products and a $20 gift voucher.

Just answer the question ;

What is it that you think Mothers need or want most to live a happy and healthy lives?

"Once upon a time, there was a woman - a rather frazzled one, a bit worn at the edges from child-bearing and bringing home the bacon. One day she was sitting in the gentle autumn sun having just had a meditate.

Out of nowhere (or everywhere?) appeared an angelic like form to her left.

'Now this is interesting' the woman thought, 'where did that come from?'
The 'being' took this woman (who we shall call Wendy) by the hand and they walked to the top of a mountain and looked down upon our world.

What Wendy saw there was quite unsettling.

There was not a single green tree, shrub or blade of grass. No water was to be seen - no bird or animal life or human life. The 'being' said - 'Your task is to help heal the earth..."
Well, Wendy freaked out, this was indeed rather a large task after all.
However the 'being' picked up on her distress and said, "you do not have to do this, but if you do, you will be given the resources and help you need..."

Wendy thought 'what have I got to lose', and accepted the task. After all she has been asking for a while what the next step was for her.

Just goes to show, we need to be careful what we ask for!
Not long after this, Wendy took over the business Rad-Pads, cloth menstrual pads, continued her Herbal medicine practice, and has now launched "Natural Woman Network", a private company with the slogan 'Earth Conscious, Health conscious'.

If you would like to join us on our quest to contribute to a cleaner, greener world full of happy, healthy people, please go to our website http://www.naturalwomannetwork.com.au and become a member of the NWN, or become a facilitator, or have access to our products and services among
other things or just keep telling this story! It is all true. "

So tell us your stories and win!!