Shopping

Bamboo knitted cardigan, £109, by Bitte Kai, at Pottasium

10 of the best ethical retailers
By Nature
This online store sells eco fashion from lesser-known labels – sexy womenswear from Corsican designer Machja and trés chic organic and fairly traded baby clothes from French label La Queue de Chat (the cat’s tail).
Best buy Organic cotton Sienna tank top, available from mid-April, £29.95.
By Nature (0845 456 7689/www.bynature.co.uk).

Edun
Edun (www.edun.ie) is a collaboration between Bono, his wife Ali Hewson and New York designer denim brand Rogan. The result is a collection that promotes employment in the developing world. Available at selected London stockists, including Matches and Harvey Nichols.
Best buy Cotton Casey dress, £120.
Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1 (020 7235 5000/www.harveynichols.com). Knightsbrdge tube. Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 12noon-6pm.
Matches, 60-64 Ledbury Rd, W11 (020 7221 0255/www.matchesfashion.com). Westbourne Park tube. Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12noon-6pm.
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Ecobtq
Specialising in sustainable fashion and accessories, this online boutique sells clothing from labels Ciel and Pearl Lowe, proving ethical and sexy are not mutually exclusive. The best part is that £3.50 from all orders over £5 goes to one of their three chosen charities – Oxfam, Friends of the Earth or the World Wildlife Fund.
Best buy Vintage-effect Ciel organic cotton bra, £34.
Ecobtq (www.ecobtq.com).

Equa
This fair trade and organic boutique is an Islington favourite. It brings together beautiful clothes from about 20 different ethical designers, including Bishopston Trading and From Somewhere.
Best buy Debbie Little dress made from 1950s parachute silk, £245.
Equa, 28 Camden Passage, Islington, N1 (020 7359 0955/www.equaclothing.com). Angel tube. Open Mon 12noon-6pm, Tues 11am-6pm, Wed-Fri 11am-6.30pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

Gossypium
This predominantly online retailer sells a large range of ethically produced goods including underwear, dresses, smocks, tops and also ranges for men and babies.
Best buy Pants to Poverty briefs, £9.
Gossypium (0870 859 953/www.gossypium.co.uk).

Hug
The baby clothes from Hug’s Little Green Radicals range are emblazoned with slogans like ‘Give Peas a Chance’ and ‘Stop the Wailing’. Organic cotton and use of environmentally friendly dyes are better for the skin and the Fairtrade aspect is better for the conscience. Items can be found at Equa and Shoon.
Best buy ‘I recycle my tantrums’ playsuit, £12.
Hug (0845 1301 525/www.hug.co.uk).
Shoon, 94 Marylebone High St, W1U (020 7487 3001/www.shoon.com). Baker Street tube/rail. Open Mon-Sat 10am-6.30pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

Katharine Hamnett
T-shirts from the high priestess of protest slogans include ‘Clean up or die’ and ‘Worldwide nuclear ban now’. Ethically made in India from organic cotton, she also uses environmentally friendly printing inks. There’s a plain version in a selection of colours as well for the days you feel less militant.
Best buy Plain white t-shirt, £30.
www.katharinehamnett.com

Bag by WAS, £139, made from recycled billboards

Potassium
This stylish lifestyle boutique has a commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability. Head there to find interesting labels such as Bitte Kai Rand which makes beautiful silky tops and dresses from bamboo, vegan handbags from Matt and Nat and bags made from recycled billboards by New Zealand company WAS . Potassium is offering a deal on its organic cotton, fairly traded T-shirts; normally £12, Time Out readers can get three for £30. Quote ‘Time Out’ at the time of purchase in-store. Men’s T-shirts available now, women’s will be in stock from May.
Best buy Bitte Kai Rand bamboo halter dress, £125.
Potassium, 2 Seymour Place, W1 (020 7723 7800/www.potassiumstore.co.uk). Marble Arch tube. Open Mon-Sat 11am-7pm.

People Tree
Working with 70 fair trade groups in 20 developing countries and a strict eco policy, this company one of the most ethically sound out there. It sells online and through a few London stores including Equa (see above) and their Topshop collaboration can be found in the Oxford Circus flagship store.
Best buy Grey cotton tunic top, £35
People Tree (0845 450 4595/www. peopletree.co.uk).
Topshop, Oxford Circus, 216 Oxford St, W1 (020 7636 7700/ www.topshop.com) Oxford Circus tube. Open Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-8.30pm, Sun 11.30am-6pm.

Terra Plana
When you make the effort to source ethically produced clothes you need the shoes to match. Terra Plana produces fashionable shoes from vegetable-tanned and chrome-free leathers – these are kinder to the environment and to the factory workers. Other eco plus-points are that they are made (at least in part) from recycled materials, are locally sourced and are lightweight to help reduce the energy required for transportation.
Best buy Juniper high heel in tan, £95.
Terra Plana, 64 Neal St, Covent Garden, WC2H (020 7379 5959/www.terraplana.com). Covent Garden tube. Open Mon-Wed 10am-7pm, Thur 10am-7.30pm, Fri-Sat 1-am-7pm, Sun 12am-6pm.