Anielina Organic Maternity Underwear

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Calling all Yummy Mummies! Anielina, a new range of beautiful organic lingerie for pregnancy and breastfeeding has arrived.

Anielina’s Collections are specifically designed to fit perfectly for pregnancy and breastfeeding blending comfort and support with charm and feminity.

Anielina‘s is the brainchild of French designer Agnes Stoclet who strives to create feminine designs with gorgeous high quality materials. Her attention to details transforms maternity and nursing underwear into sexy, comfortable and practical lingerie perfect for style conscious new mums and mums-to-be.

Pregnancy is a very precious time where it is important to keep your baby away from chemicals and toxins. Anielina’s products are made from organic cotton which is free from nasty chemicals. Organic cotton is softer and healthier than conventional cotton.

Anielina‘s Collections include bras with matching knickers and matching camisoles available in 2 different designs “Divine” and “Marquise”.

Individual prices range from £15.95 to £38.95

In Season – Chargrilled Asparagus, Courgettes and Halloumi

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This recipe comes via the Droolfactor and is adapted from Ottolenghi, The Cookbook.

What can I say… the picture speaks for itself. Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 150g cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 10 asparagus spears
  • 1 large courgettes
  • 150g halloumi, sliced about 2cm thick
  • course sea salt and black pepper
  • olive oil

 

Basil Dressing

    • 50ml olive oil
    • 1 garlic clove
    • 25 basil leaves
    • a pinch of salt
    • 1/4 tsp black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 170C/Gas Mark 3. Mix the tomatoes with some olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Spread them out on baking tray lined with baking parchment, skin side down. Roast in oven for about 30 minutes or until semi-dried. Remove from oven, leave to cool.

2. Trim asparagus, blanch in boiling water for about 2 minutes. Drain and set aside. Slice courgettes thinly lengthwise, toss both veggies in olive oil, salt and pepper. Heat griddle pan on high heat, grill the vegetables and get nice char marks on all sides. Remove, leave to cool.

3. Grill halloumi cheese on griddle pan for about a minute on each side.

4. Make the basil dressing but blitzing all the ingredients together. Any extra dressing can be kept in the fridge for other salads. (I used the while lot!)

5. Assemble the vegetables in layers, drizzle with as much basil oil as you like.

Walk to School Week 2012

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Walk to School Week 2012 will take place next week between 21-25th May.

The event is part of national charity Living Streets’ Great British Walking Challenge, taking place throughout May – when thousands of people will be walking to school, work, or around their neighbourhoods.

Last year over 1 million children in over 4000 schools ditched the school run as part of Walk to School Week. This year, Walk to School are challenging classrooms to embark upon a virtual journey from Lands End to John O’Groats as Strider’s Walking Challenge.

Everyone can help bring the week to life in the classroom, with the help of  Walk to School free assembly and lesson plan resources, created especially for Walk to School Week 2012. These are all linked to the theme of Strider’s Walking Challenge – lots of small steps can make a big difference!

Walk to School is a national campaign that was launched in 1995 with a simple aim – to encourage all parents and children to make walking to school part of their daily routine. We now have over 6,400 schools and 1.6 million children taking part.

Walking to school is good for you and your child to get exercise. Exercise will improve your child’s concentration and help you keep fit. It’s great to spend time together and chat. And it will save you money. here are a few statistics from Walk to School website:

  • The number of children travelling to school by car over the past 20 years has doubled. (Dept for Transport)
  • 4 out of 10 boys and 6 out of 10 girls do not carry out the recommended minimum of one hour a day of physical activity. (National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2000)
  • Short-term and even superficial exposure to natural areas through brief walks have been found to have positive effects on mood, reducing feelings of anger and anxiety. (Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2003)
  • Driving the average school run for a year costs over £400. (Figure is based on approved mileage rates from the Inland Revenue)

WWF Living Planet Report 2012

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So how is the natural world coping with our ever-growing demand for resources?

The latest WWF’s Living Planet Report 2012 shows that we’re putting huge pressure on wildlife – and threatening our own future well-being.

The report, which measures the health of 9,014 populations of more than 2,600 species, reveals a 30% decline in the health of species since 1970. And it shows that we’re consuming 50% more natural resources globally than our planet can sustainably produce.

Freshwater creatures in the tropics have seen the worst declines, of around 70%, while tropical species as a whole have seen populations tumble by 60% since 1970.

In Asia, tiger numbers have fallen 70% in just 30 years.

Here in the UK, we’re not making enough progress to control how much we consume. Since the last report’s country-by-country analysis in 2010, the UK’s position has worsened. We’re now the 27th largest per capita consumer.

The report also identifies stark differences in what’s happening in high and low income countries. The ecological footprint (how much natural resources people use) of a high-income country such as the USA is currently five times greater than that of a low-income country such as Indonesia. And yet, the report shows that declines in wildlife are highest in low-income countries.

David Nussbaum, CEO of WWF-UK, says: “ If we continue to use up our planet’s resources faster than it can replace them, soon we’ll have exploited every available corner of the Earth.”

The LPR report is published every two years, and is produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Global Footprint Network.

Who Made Your Pants on “The Ethical Dragons’ Den “

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Who Made Your Pants
Are Who Made Your Pants the world’s most ethical pants?

When the Virgin tycoon, Sir Richard Branson, launched a competition last year to “screw business as usual”, he was looking for ideas from around the world dedicated to being a “force for good”. The competition attracted more than 500 innovative and socially responsible entries from around the world. Who Made Your Pants made the cut.

The winner Raise5, a Toronto-based social fundraising platform that allows people to donate services to help seed non-profits, was announced yesterday .

Even thought they did not win Who Made Your Pants we feel they deserve a special mention. Who Made Your Pants bring together two things: “amazing pants and amazing women”. The company buys end-of-season fabrics from big underwear companies and creates new pairs of pants. The women-run factory in Southampton trains employees in sewing, English, finance and leadership. About 80 per cent of the women are refugees from Afghanistan, Somalia and Sudan, with the rest part-timers born in the UK.

Click here to view the whole range of Who Made Your Pants. We also have a complete range of organic underwear here.

Source: The Independent and The Huffington Post

Colin Leslie Ethical Bamboo Glasses

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Loveable Rogues may not have won Britain’s Got Talent 2012, but they certainly shown some eco style. Pictured here on ITV “This Morning” singer T’e Eugene is wearing Colin Leslie Bamboo glasses.

The Eco Unit.T wide eyed collection is one of Colin Leslie Fastest selling styles. And is 100% eco related…

In bright colours of red or white. With polished black frames or tortoise shell finishes. And the contrasting colour of the natural bamboo wooden temple arms. The frame has a raised area over the eyes and temple which is hi-lighted in colour. Gradient uv400 lenses to match frame colour.
The Eco Unit.T collection is made from recycled acetate frames. Which basically are unsold frames that have been ground down and injected into new styles. Designed by Colin Leslie. Reducing Landfills


Every Design has the unique element of Bamboo that has been handcrafted individually. The bamboo is organically sourced and grown, on plantations. Which are solely used for the purpose of production. And no wild bamboo is used so protecting the environment.


And finally the draw string eye wear pouches are made from recycled drinking water bottles. Which have been melted down and produced into a fabric, soft enough to clean lenses. Which also reduces landfills.

RRP are £125 ..
Please check colinleslieeyewear.co.uk and enjoy 20% off on all glasses using discount code is 2012FF

In Season: British Asparagus & Smoked Salmon with Ginger Soy Dressing

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In England the asparagus season is short from May to June. So let’s make the best of it.

Here is a Dean Edwards recipe taken from British Asparagus website.

The website is well worth a visit with lots of helpful information and plenty more delicious recipes.

Cooking time: 8 minutes
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • Oil for frying
  • 50ml dry sherry
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 bundles British asparagus
  • 200g smoked salmon slices
  • Fresh coriander to serve
  • 1 red chilli sliced
  • 1 lime cut into wedges

Method

1. Fry the ginger and garlic in a little oil for 2-3 minutes then add the sherry and soy. Once the mixture has reduced slightly leave to cool for a few minutes.

2. Trim the ends of the asparagus and coat with a little oil, cook on a pre-heated griddle pan for 4-5 minutes turning until cooked through but still retaining some bite.

3. Cut the smoked salmon into 2 cm thick strips and wrap around the asparagus spears, drizzle over the soy dressing and garnish with some chilli and coriander leaves. Serve with a wedge of lime.

World Fair Trade Day

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The World Fair Trade Day is an initiative of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) that takes place on 12 May 2012.

It is a worldwide festival of events celebrating Fair Trade as a tangible contribution to the fight against poverty, climate change and the economic crisis that has the greatest impact on the world’s most vulnerable populations.

A third of the world’s population lives on less than two dollars a day. The global crisis confirms the need for a fair and sustainable economy locally and globally. Trade must benefit the most vulnerable and deliver sustainable livelihoods by developing opportunities for small and disadvantaged producers.

Millions of producers and traders, business and policy makers, supporting organizations and volunteers have contributed to the substantial growth of Fair Trade.

Click here to see some of our fair trade brands such as Nkuku, Piccalilly, Little Green Radicals, Life is Not Fair but my Knickers Are, Animal Tails

Bamboo Underwear by Calum Best

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Bamboo Underwear is in the spotlight as Calum Best launched his new eco-underwear range in Manchester – on the same street where his football legend father George Best once had his own fashion store.

Best has developed the range of men’s and women’s underwear using  bamboo which he says is “luxurious yet hardwearing – perfect for the play hard lifestyle.” And, in a nod to his infamous reputation as a playboy, he says it is inspired by both his transatlantic upbringing in California and London, with elements of “relaxed beach-living and part private members’ club”.
He added: “Initially it was going to be just a range of men’s underwear, but I have a lot of female followers on Twitter and they were saying they wanted the range too so it made sense to launch that too.”

Read more here

Pictures of the Manchester Fashion Show can be seen here

A Guide to Bra Styles

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organic bra
We try to offer an extensive range of organic bras. However, choosing a bra can be complicated.

Many styles are available to fit different breast shapes and sizes as well as to suit different type of clothing.

Of course finding the right bra starts by getting the right size. Often larger breasted women wear bras that are too small for them and smaller breasted women wear bras that are too large. Check out our measurement guide here

If you are wondering which style of bra to get, here is a guide to the most popular styles inspired from www.allaboutbras.co.uk
Conventional Bra: this is the most common bra around. Available as padded or unpadded, no wire or underwired, it suits all types of breast. It generally offers good support and comfort as it is made of two cups for the breasts held by supportive straps. Great for everyday wear it is an essential piece to any wardrobe.

Backless Bra:  A backless bra designed to be worn with eveningwear, this type of bra usually has clear, see-through straps or has a very low back. Some bras feature backs of diamante chains.

Balconette Bra: A balconette bra is a more revealing version of a demi bra. Creates dramatic uplift and cleavage, suited to smaller and medium bust sizes. Usually underwired.

Corbeille Bra: A corbeille bra gives a very feminine cuts while offering great support. A “corbeille” balconette can also accomodate larger breasts than a simple balconette shape. Usually underwired.

Balcony Bra: A full cup bra offering support for mid to larger cup sizes. Usually underwired.

Bandeau/Strapless: A strapless bra has no shoulder straps, and is especially designed to wear with evening gowns and other sleeveless tops/dresses.

Demi Bra: A demi bra is a low-cut bra that’s designed to enhance the cleavage of smaller busts. Perfect for wearing under low cut dresses or tops.

Nursing Bra: Designed with extra-support for breast-feeding mums. The cups can easily be ‘dropped down’ from the rest of the bra to feed the baby.

Padded Bra: Padded bras have some type of padding lining the cups, and are ideal for smaller to mid sizes. Graduated padding is thicker at the base of the cups and creates a natural looking silhouette as well as the appearance of increased cleavage.

Push Up Bra: A push-up bra uses padding and wires to push the breasts up, thus enhancing the cleavage and giving a fuller look.

Racer Back Bra: A racer back bra has straps joined together in the middle of the back, which prevents them from slipping down the shoulders. This style of back is most often found on sports bras.

Soft Bra: A soft bra offers minimum support and is therefore better suited to smaller/firmer breast. A soft-cup bra uses elastic under the cups for support, as opposed to wire.

Sports Bra: A sports bra is specially designed to cut down and eliminate bounce for use in any activity that involves a lot of movement. The cotton-lined cups are high at the front and sides for support, and they have a comfort under band. Most have a racer back for further support.

Strapless/Bandeau Bra: A strapless bra has no shoulder straps, and is especially designed to wear with evening gowns and other sleeveless tops/dresses.

Triangle Bra: A triangle bra has triangle shaped cups, which offer the perfect amount of coverage/support for petite to average figures. Triangle bras may be padded or lined but generally do not have under wires, and most have thin straps.

Unpadded Bra: unpadded bras are designed to fit the natural cup shape. They generally offers less support than the padded version but are found by some women to be more comfortable.

View our full range of  organic bras here