Organic products

ORGANIC BIKINI
Thursday, May 8
Organic and sustainably made swimwear has been fairly difficult to find until now, with most bikinis and swimsuits made from obscure, synthetic materials. But all that is changing, as designers are using more eco friendly and recycled materials in their swimwear collections.

Hemp, organic cotton and recycled polymers are just some of the new materials being explored at the moment, with some interesting results.

Aaron Chang's stylish, sexy swimwear is made from 100% re fashioned plastic bottles. You'd never guess it looking at some of the designs, which would go down a storm on the beach with their alluring shapes and pretty, nature inspired prints. If the bikinis are a bit too hot for you to handle, there's also a cool, beach cover up range, featuring layers of floaty organic cotton. The range is now available in Urban Outfitters.

The Solar Powered bikini

With this sexy and rather cyber goth beach number, you can charge up your phone, ipod, camera and other essential holiday gadgets while you sunbathe. It even comes with a USB drinks cooler that once plugged in, will act as a chiller for your can of organic lemonade! This 'bright' idea is from American designer Andrew Schneider.

By Nature organic cotton bikini

In flattering, tan enhancing chocolate brown, this organic cotton bikini from By Nature is a classic style that you'll be able to wear year after year. It's dyed with low impact dyes certified by Ecocert, and its manufacturer is certified fairtrade by IFAT. It's also a good value buy at £32.95

By hippyshopper.com

THE LATEST ORGANIC SWIMWEAR NEWS, FROM THE ORGANIC HOME

ORGANIC VALLEY MEETINGS
Organic Valley Cooperative has honored Veterinarian Dr. Paul Detloff with the group's highest honor, the Ray Hass Organic Pioneer Award. Dr. Detloff serves as Organic Valley's resident doctor of veterinary medicine, educating the co-op's farmer members and retail and consumer partners on the importance of organics in herd health through presentations, farm visits and workshops. For the past five years, Organic Valley has recognized a deserving farmer with the award, named for the late Ray Hass, one of its founding farmers. The award was presented during the organization's annual meeting in April.

'Organic Valley is incredibly grateful for Dr. Detloff's invaluable contributions to both our co-op and the entire organic industry,' said George Siemon, chief executive officer for Organic Valley. 'His pioneering efforts in organic livestock treatment have shaped the industry and helped transitioning farmers, including hundreds of our own members, understand the shift in approach to herd health required for successful, sustainable organic production.'

Dr. Dettloff has spent the last 15 years of his 36 year veterinary career specializing in sustainable and organic/biological treatment of dairy and beef cattle, sheep and goats. He has researched and developed treatment protocols for many natural remedies, botanicals and homeopathic medicines. He also is author of the book Alternative Treatments for Ruminant Animals and the owner of Dr. Paul's brand of tinctures and herd health products.

In addition to its 20th anniversary, Organic Valley celebrated its top dairy producers by recognizing more than 300 of them with the co-op's Dairy Quality Awards. The coop also held a silent auction that raised more than $9,400 for the Art Wedig Fund, a disaster relief fund for organic farmers.

By wisconsinagconnection.com

THE LATEST ORGANIC VALLEY NEWS, FROM THE ORGANIC HOME

ORGANIC WEDDINGS
Blue Strawberry, the leading society wedding and party caterer, has launched its Organic Weddings Service in the UK. In line with the ever growing consumer demand for organic, locally grown food, Blue Strawberry is recognising a new wedding trend for brides and grooms and party hosts in general, asking for organic, locally grown, sustainable weddings and parties.

Blue Strawberry, owned by founder Molly Ronan, is well known for organising beautiful weddings all over the country. Reflecting Molly's own values of healthy living, Blue Strawberry helps organise the whole wedding using fresh organic food sourced from the British Isles, advising on custom made invitations printed on recycled card, place cards using ideas such as local pebbles or leaves and suggesting seasonal flowers specially grown for the occasion from organic growers. Blue Strawberry also works locally with the bride’s preferred organic producers.

'Demand for organic wedding food has increased enormously over the last year,' says Molly. 'We decided to set up Blue Strawberry’s Organic Wedding service for people who are keen to have an environmentally friendly wedding day. We advise them to keep the mood seasonal and try to base everything around the colours and textures of the season; cool whites and creams in the summer with fragrant lavenders and voluptuous roses; harvest feasts in the autumn with colours of gold and burnt orange and organza fabrics to rich red velvet and shiny metallics at Christmas with scents of spices.'

'In terms of the organic food we use, we source our dairy products from Dorset, our organic meat from Scotland and the South of England and tap into local growers for our fruit and vegetables. In this way, we are able to reduce food miles as well as serve guests the freshest and most delicious organic ingredients available.'

As part of the whole eco friendly wedding service, Blue Strawberry can also organise the recycling of leftover food, either by approaching a local organic farmer or by pre-arrangement to a local charity, as well as liaising with local councils to provide recycling bins.

Molly continues, 'At a recent wedding in London's Chelsea Physic Garden, we displayed the table plan on a washing line, clipping guests' names onto recycled garden string with wooden pegs. Whilst the environment is a serious business, we like to keep a sense of fun!'

For more information, visit Bluestrawberry.co.uk.

By easier.com

THE LATEST ORGANIC WEDDING NEWS, FROM THE ORGANIC HOME

ORGANIC FASHION
Join us in London, UK for a unique seminar on sustainable fashion in Europe! This seminar, especially organized for brands and retailers, is the perfect opportunity to learn the fundamentals on organic and sustainable fashion, or take your knowledge further. It promises to be a session packed with information and interesting speakers from companies such as Marks&Spencer, adidas, Ecotextile News, Dystar and many others.

June 9:
The Fundamentals

Everything you need to get started.
For those just starting in their organization.

You will:

1. Get an overview of the market for sustainable fashion.
2. Learn how leading brands develop their business case and strategy.
3. Hear how to develop a sustainability strategy.
4. Understand how to build a successful organic cotton program.
5. Calculate your cotton footprint and learn about different cotton options.
6. Get insight in different social systems in the supply chain and hear case studies.
7. Get your bearings on labeling and certification and traceability for your products.

June 10:

Taking Your Organic and Sustainable Programs Further

Interactive, in depth workshop sessions to answer questions, provide
possible solutions, and help brands and retailers take new action in their
organization. For those who have been working on organic and sustainable
textiles in their business for a year or longer.

You will:

1. Get latest knowledge about the sustainable consumer in Europe.
2. Learn about green materials from brands and an expert panel.
3. Get to practice and really understand Track and Trace in your supply chain.
4. Interact and discuss in depth about Labeling and Certification; bring your key questions!
5. Understand what social compliance means to your suppliers and how you can help.
6. Hear and discuss the latest on environmentally friendly dyeing and finishing.


Location
London College of Fashion
Room: Rootstein Hopkins West Space & Centre Space
20 John Princes Street
London, W1G 0BJ, United Kingdom
+44 20 75147552
www.fashion.arts.ac.uk

Fees
General
€ 395. per day
€ 650. discount rate for attending both days

Small Brands/Retailers
(2 million euro turnover; 10 seats available at this rate on first come, first served basis)

€ 250. per day
€ 450. discount rate for attending both days
If you want to apply for a small brand fee, please contact Nany Kusuma
at nany.kusuma@made-by.nl or call at +31 20 5230661

Reserve your place now
there are only 50 places available!

For more information please contact:
Organic Exchange in Europe at europe@organicexchange.com
or Nany Kusuma
Email: nany.kusuma@made-by.nl
Phone: +31 20 5230661

Supported by
Solidaridad and ICCO

About Organic Exchange
Organic Exchange is a 501(C)(3) charitable organization committed to expanding organic agriculture, with a specific focus on increasing the production and use of organically grown fibers such as cotton.

Our long term goal is to grow the amount of certified organic land farmed for fiber production by 50% per year. Achieving this goal will allow us to have a positive, significant, visible and measurable impact on the world..

To support these efforts, we bring together brands and retailers with their business partners, farmers and key stakeholders to learn about the social and environmental benefits of organic agriculture, and to develop new business models and tools that support greater use of organic inputs. In addition, we raise consumer awareness about the value of organic farming and the availability of products containing organic cotton.

We create solutions which improve environmental quality, enhance the livelihoods of farmers, increase profitability for innovative brands and their business partners and expand consumer choice.

About MADE-BY

What does MADE-BY wish to achieve?

MADE-BY wants to expand the market for clothing manufactured in a sustainable manner.

1. By helping fashion brands clean up their production process.
2. By developing socially responsible production chains worldwide.
3. By giving consumers a wide choice among fashion products made with respect for
people and planet.

How will MADE-BY do that?

Blue button. MADE-BY is an umbrella label used by fashion brands and retailers to show consumers that their clothes are okay, i.e. that they are produced in a sustainable manner. The brands affiliated to MADE-BY use organic cotton and work with sewing factories that have a social code of conduct. MADE-BY is the first fashion initiative to focus on environmental and working conditions throughout the entire production chain. The MADE-BY brands can be identified by means of a blue button. If you see one, you will know that brand produces its collection in a people and environmentfriendly manner.

Organic Exchange www.organicexchange.org

MADE-BY www.made-by.nl

By cosmoworlds.com

THE LATEST ORGANIC TEXTILES NEWS, FROM THE ORGANIC HOME