Naomi is the woman behind NV London-Calcutta, the home of beautiful bags & scarves, all hand made under fair conditions in Calcutta. NV London-Calcutta work with leather, canvas & silk.
FAVOURITE GREEN / ETHICAL ACTIVITY?
Walking. Who needs London Transport? You'd be surprised how quickly you can get from A to B, it's good for you and I find I do some of my best thinking while pounding the pavements and parks.
BEST ETHICAL BUY?
I am currently lusting after Fifi Bijoux's beautiful 'Little Bird' gold pendant. I really admire her sense of style and the way she does business.
WHAT GREEN/ETHICAL PRODUCTS ARE YOU WAITING TO SEE DESIGNED?
More well-designed and finished - and classic yet contemporary - clothing and accessories. That's not to say there aren't many, many brands doing just that but I think we still have a way to go before ethical fashion can really crack the mainstream and shrug off its hessian sack image of the masses once and for all.
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL ETHICAL/GREEN DILEMMA?
The dishwasher. I KNOW I shouldn't but it's just soo convenient.... I'm riddled with guilt and have become a world leader in turning off the lights, heating and electrical appliances as soon as I'm done to try and compensate.
WHERE/WHO DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?
Everywhere. My travels around India are always inspirational, the colours, culture and eclectic mix of everything life has to offer in the strangest of places always makes me look at things from a different perspective but I am constantly influenced by my life closer to home, interpretations of trends I see on the street, the wealth of glossies and output from my favourite designers, but also from architecture, music, clever use of the media and, of course, nature.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE IS FOR ETHICAL FASHION?
Bright and full of possibilities. I think the desire for honest, transparent business practice on the part of the consumer, coupled with a huge ground swell in companies providing well-designed, well-finished ethical product will mean the industry will continue to grow at the wildfire pace it seems to be picking up. It surely can't be too long before the ethical fashion brands take their well-deserved and long-awaited place on the high street, giving consumers the choice and ease of purchase that perhaps isn't currently so readily available. A trailblazer like Ascension is leading the way with its flagship London store, making the break from being a solely online retailer to high street presence that showcases not only their own line collections, but also cherry picks the best of the other ethical fashion brands out there and gives them a direct route to consumers.
THE LAST GREEN THING I DID WAS.. Organise a clothes swapping party. Now, some of my favourite pieces in the wardrobe are my friends cast-offs! You would be amazed how something that you thought was a good idea at the time but that actually makes you looks like a lump, makes your friend look like a svelte goddess and visa versa. I can't imagine how much money I would have had to have spent to buy all my 'new' clothes from the shops, not to mention the fact that it was a fantastic evening of socialising with the girls.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ONE PIECE OF ETHICAL/GREEN ADVICE TO GIVE ETHICS GIRLS? Take time to think about the purchases you make. Many companies can dress up some really fairly unethical aspects of their business in green goddess clothing! Try to understand the whole story behind the products you buy, where you can. Think logically, can you really buy an ethical all leather hand-bag for under £20? The cost of the raw materials and fair labour conditions couldn't have possibly been any less. And lastly, don't subscribe to throwaway fashion. Invest in pieces that will stand the test of time rather than become outdated and unused in a matter of months.
Written by Julia Nelson
Fashion & Lifestyle Editor
Check out the collection of Bags & Scarves from NV London Calcutta in the Ethics Girls Shop
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