It is that time of year again when the Human Rights Watch film festival makes it's way to London.  Starting on the 21st of March and ending on the 30th London cinemas such as the Curzon and Ritzy show an array of topical films concentrating on the issues of Human Rights.  I went last year and saw two amazing features, first a documentary about the homeless in LA's Skid Row, and second a film about Kenyan education, and the fight of an 80 year old villager fighting to get his first grade education.  Through clicking on the picture above you can see what films are showing over the 10 days.  As I will be flying out half way through the run I have only managed to book two viewings however I am super excited at seeing Even the Rain, a story about the politics of water in South America and The Price of Sex a documentary regarding the issue of Human trafficking for sex services.  I really encourage you  if you are in the area or in any of the cities that the festival travels too, as they are all informative and engaging.  They even have a selection of talks too with some of the people involved with the films.  Seriously.  Go.

Here is the trailer for Even the Rain for you to check out:

Lame title to a blog post I know, I apologize.  However I was trying to find something to convey the substance attached to the work of Parisian artist 'JR', and that his work isn't just your plain and standard visual offering.  The more I read about him and consumed all his work via, photos, videos and articles the more my heart danced and my stomach pulsed.  What an affect that is, but it is all true.  The thing is, behind every image and every exhibition, there is a point, there is a cause...and that is what is inspiring.

I would probably have to admit that my ultimate career desire in life would to be an Ethical and Fair trade stylist, and boutique  owner.  Saying that too, it is not only in apparel that I would want to exercise this in but in all stages and contributions.  So I was thinking about ethical and organic skin care.

I have read numerous scary stories about the chemicals being absorbed into our systems from skin scare products alone, one stat stated that in one year alone the average woman would absorbed up to 5lbs of chemicals from make up.  Eeeeeek!  So with the want of killing two birds with one stone, one actually building and maintaining a good skincare routine and two, being more consumer aware in terms of the products ethical standards AND chemical stances, I looked around to see what was out there.  When I did, I found, RMS Beauty.

Snow is currently falling in London town, and boy oh boy is it cold.  As a self professed Spring/Summer girl my Winter wardrobe is none to be desired.  Slightly verging on the Farmer Chic bandwagon and then receiving a stern warning from my Country native bestfriend to not even go there I was left a little confused, directionless and headed straight for the trusty t'interweb.  My search led to me find and finally read up on...

THE NORTH CIRCULAR

The future of fashion is green, ethically produced in all means; whether it's in the porduction methods right down to the material being harvested.  One thing for sure is that ethical fashion is LOOKING better and becoming fashionably and visually more attractive.

The Ethical Fashion Forum is a fantastic network that link suppliers, production houses, designers and stores that all come under the umbrella of Ethical Fashion.  With a rich database of poeple connected to the network it gives spotlight tho these companies in the hopes to spread awareness of the products out there.  Joining the network gives you access to pictures, videos and blogs all regarding to the latest of what is going on the industry, and there is so much!

When visiting www.ethicalfashionforum.com you can sign up to visit events put on to promote this even more so, whether it be talks or work shops.  Attached to the forum is also a Magazine that will be sent out to members and also a yearly EXPO, which I went to recently... 

Model, Actress, Good Will embassador and Mother Liya Kebede launched a childrens wear line LemLem, last year.  With it's success growing this year sees it crossing over to include a women's line too.

LemLem is a brand of clothing that originates from Liya's homeland, Ethiopia.  After a visit home she became aware of the decline of the hand weaving industry that was so traditionally popular in the past, in a want of more Western based industry.  Not wanting to see this happen Liya created LemLem as a means to increase the demand for local cotton and traditionally weaved products, creating a market for them to be sold abroad in the west.  What sarted with pretty dresses and shirts for children has extended to dresses, scarves and ties for women too.

Sold in select boutiques and found on Net-a-Porter and Liberties London the line has proven popular with both the fashion and ethical conscious.  Employment opportunities are being created in the small village in Ethiopia that the manufacturing is based.  This is such a beautiful way in my opinion to promote the viability and opportunities to base industry in Africa, concentrating in timeless quality and design.

Click on the link below to see the shoot of the new season's lookbook with a quick interview with the stunning Liya!

Hermione Granger, has swapped the wand for the catwalk as seen in her starring campaigns for British fashion force Burberry.  However, young Actress Emma Watson is still not content with her dip into the field of fashion but has actually dove in, to the world deeper and collaborated with ethical clothing boutique People Tree to produce a new collection, that not only is youthfully stylish but ethically made too.

Late Feb 2010 will see the launch of her collection which can already be viewed at The People Tree website (www.peopletreeyouth.co.uk) Looks reflect a British sensibility with a colour palette straight from the Union Jack, with even printed Tees with the flag emblazoned on the front.  With slight touches of Red, there is colour in the pieces but the base is mostly comprised of greys, navy blues and white.  The collection screams Emma’s style, a college student and a national treasure she is able to mix the two looks to make them wearable and not ‘costumey’.  Have a look at some of the products.  There are clothes for both girls and guys, with the boys’ collection being quite comprehensive.

Though ultimately not my style there are a few sweaters that I like the look of, I like the idea of increasing the volume of ethically made clothes to my wardrobe.  The clothes are not ethical purely due to the use of organic cotton and non toxic dyes, but they were manufactured in disadvantaged communities in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, bringing business and sustainable employment.  There are more younger people who are consciously aware of their buying choices, and how things deemed quite materialistic and consuming can be purchased in ways that are not causing negative effects to either the environment of people.  Fashion Model Lily Cole too has set up an ethical Wool line called the North Circular, and Natalie Portman headed up a line of Vegan shoes for Te Casan.  The future is ethical fashion, are you ready to support it?

You know when you have one of those days when you look at friends, your friendship circle and even the people you are acquaintances with and just take stock in how they play in your lives.  Sure we have those friends that maybe we wish we could do without for some reason or another, or that random that you know enough for them to be on your BB list but never actually talk to, but I am sure the majority of the people you would choose to surround yourself with, carry out your life with are people you love and enrich you in some way or another.  My tight group of friends are people that I adore, BUT this post isn't even about them...

I have a friend I met over a year ago through Church, we would spot each other around at certain events, hang out and talk about wanting to mix creative talents and careers with humanitarian work.  After a few months she moved to Uni to Wales and we spoke less, then last week out of the blue comes an email and she tells me about all the things she has been doing and...its AMAZING!!!

While studying her Architecture course she, with a couple of friends founded a non-profit called:
ORKIDSTUDIO
What Orkidstudio actually is, is an non-profit humanitarian design organization that focus on helping young people and communities, through innovative and sustainable architecture, art and design.  They work alongside communities in developing countries to design sustainable infrastructure as well as holding classes and workshop for the children in the villages.  They are also developing ideas of creating transient shelters for places that experience sudden physical and political disasters.
Please check out their website and see how you can help, even just by spreading awareness.  www.orkidstudio.co.uk

I am actually so blessed to have people around me that inspire me in what they do in helping the poor and needy.  Using skills that they have, and used so commonly in Western world to benefit those with less services available to them.  It spurs me on in persevering with what I want to achieve through The Bamboo District and I am glad I have people in my life I can learn from.

Nat x