Monday 20 January 2014

Spotlight on Stroud Town

 









Spotlight on Stroud Town

Home to Madia & Matilda HQ, Stroud town is a Beautiful market town, centred in the middle of five valleys. Madia & Matilda decided it was time to shine a light on favourite haunts and shops to visit.

Duffle Vintage outfitters
Offering menswear, womenswear and soft vintage furnishings. Duffle Vintage outfitters, is a part of Stroud’s vintage lovers community.

Withey’s yard and Mills Cafe
Withey’s Yard, hidden haunts with a small collection of shops and organic food cafe’s, like Mills Cafe serving delicious treats, or Yards Ahead for the avid sewer, stocks fabrics patterns and Curtains supplies.

Walkers Bakery
As one of Stroud’s longest standing Bakeries, established 53 years ago. Walkers, captures the historical spirit of Stroud town with fresh Bread, buns and sandwiches, the choice is vast and it’s no wonder people keep coming back.

Stroud Subscription Rooms
Stroud Subscription Rooms is a perfect outing destination, with the tourist information and regular events, classes being held at the Subscription Rooms. 
 
Kendrick St Gallery
For the crafty, a fantastic art supply shop, with everything from acrylic paints to canvases and oil paint. You'll never be in short supply.
Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Thursday 9 January 2014

“half-arsed ethics" Sustainable Fashion

“half-arsed ethics" Sustainable Fashion

Susanna Lau ‘Susie Bubble’ Style Bubble article on “half-arsed ethics" has stirred up feelings of why I started this label, Madia & Matilda. For so long practices within the industry, have been environmentally-unfriendly, unsavoury practices that simple do not look at the little person; primarily for monetary reasons.
Prompting me to design upcycled and sustainable clothing from unloved garments and left over remnants, using up things that people have disregarded as not beautiful or useful; due to a lack to knowledge or regard to the severity of consumption. I wished to conquer this by upcycling and making the garments in house; leading to a less wasteful world.
Having previously, worked for the high street retailers; suppliers and design houses. I felt like not enough was being done to stop our wasteful society, I wanted to branch out and design ethical fashion, which I knew where the chain started. I ran with the assumption that if one change could have a knock on effect, to how we view sustainability and ethics, perhaps there would be more change. Buying sustainable or vintage does not have to be buying worn hand me downs. If carefully selected and creatively made it can be something beautiful, precious; a unique piece to cherish and keep forever, making the longevity of a garment live on.
Finally someone in the industry has seen what the effects of labour practices in fashion production is doing, Change is coming and its coming now. Eco fashion has had a stigma for so long, however I completely agree with Susie view, ‘it’s the fashion houses that should be offering an eco collections. Not the eco-clothing offering fashion.’
To stop the problem, it has to be stopped at the source, though knowing where your clothes are made. However, that does not mean to stop shopping at high street shop all together, just to make better choices within the industry and from ethical retailers. Making better choices will lead to a more sustainable industry.
Through this ideology thus Madia & Matilda was born.
Sincerely Madia & Matilda