International Women's Day 2019 - Women We Love

For International Women's Day, this year we have compiled a list of influential women that we love. 

Emma Watson 

British actor Emma Watson was appointed UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in July 2014. Watson dedicates her efforts towards the empowerment of young women and girls, and will serve as an advocate for the UN Women’s "HeForShe" campaign in promoting gender equality.



Stacey Dooley

Since 2009, Dooley has made social-issue-themed television documentaries for BBC Three concerning child labour and women in developing countries. Dooley has produce many documentaries and TV shows highlighting the impacts of ‘fast fashion’ and investigating the working conditions people endure in foreign countries to produce garments for companies such as H&M.


Clara Amfo

Clara is a regular presenter on the Radio 1 weekday schedule, she has interviewed the biggest names in the music industry, and presented from some of the most prestigious music festivals and awards ceremonies. Amfo aims to help women have the confidence to break through into the media industry as she was influenced by Lauryn Hill from a young age, a rare example at the time of a dark-skinned black woman whose talent was able to reach a large audience.

Lucy Siegle

Ethical living journalist, Lucy Siegle currently writes for the Guardian covering a range of topics from fashion and the environment to finance and food. Siegle has also recently published a book titled ‘Turning the tide on plastic’, that hopes to end the plastic pandemic and provide tips for long-lasting action.


Helen Clarkson

CEO of The Climate Group, Helen Clarkson, works internationally with leading businesses, states and regions to deliver a world of net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Experienced in the marketing and business industry, she ensures that sustainability is at the forefront of business strategies worldwide.


Kate Brandt

Kate Brandt is the current Google Sustainability Officer, leading Google’s worldwide operations, products and supply chain. Sustainability and cyclical economy are key to Brandt’s work, with her efforts being recognised by Obama in 2014 when he appointed her to serve as the Federal Environmental Executive. 

Susan McPherson

Founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, Susan consults and invests in businesses and start-ups that have social good at their core. With 25+ years of experience in marketing, PR and sustainability communications industry, McPherson ensures that corporations and growing non-profits on how best to partner, build advocacy and drive visibility for their causes and initiatives.


Anita Roddick

Founding member of the Women’s Environmental Network and The Body Shop, Anita Roddick has been an environmental ambassador since the early 80’s. In total The Body Shop had over 700 branches, and Roddick was awarded the 1991 World Vision Award for Development Initiative. 


Dr Shakardokht Jafari

Originating from Afghanistan, Shakar is the Founder and CTO of Trueinvivo Limited, which with support from Innovate UK has developed a radiation detection system for cancer care that aims to save lives, money and offer a better quality of life to patients. In January 2018 Shakar received a prestigious Women’s award from the Afghanistan government and a recent meeting with a director could lead to a film biopic.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Random Acts of Kindness Day 2019

The impacts of fast fashion and how we can change to be kinder to the environment.

We've got 9 simple tips to help you be kinder to the environment.

1. Quality over quantity 

Cheap prices equal cheap materials. Save the environment and yourself some money by buying better quality garments. We’ve all experienced the disappointment of an item falling in holes a couple months after we’ve bought it. Fast fashion is one of the main culprits of environmental damage in the 21st century. The less we invest into fast fashion the quicker brands will improve their garment quality. 

2. Think before you throw
Whether it no longer fits, is stained or has a hole in it, think before you throw. Throwing away your unwanted clothes may not be as environmentally friendly as you first thought. Over £12 million worth of clothes are put in landfill each year in the UK alone. Before you throw, think ‘could this be fixed?’ ‘Could I sell it?’ ‘Can I donate it to a local charity?’ There are many ways clothes can be recycled before they reach the end of the line.

3. Care for your clothes 

Washing our clothes has a significant impact on the environment. 75% to 80% of the damage caused to our clothing comes from the effects of washing and drying. Washing your clothes according to the label can add to your clothes lifespan and save you money in the long run. When you wash your clothing make sure you consider what products you’re using – there are now many eco-friendly washing liquids to help you cut down on your impact on the world. 

4. Buy from sustainable brands 

Many small start-up brands are turning towards sustainability to break into the fashion industry. Admittedly, the offering form sustainable brands is still limited but the more we demand eco-fashion the more will be available. If you’re looking to shop with a sustainable eco-friendly brand, why not check out our website. All of our garments are made from end of line fabrics and upcycled items, and we also alter clothing. 

5. Bring your own bag

To reduce your plastic waste, ensure you bring your own shopping bag wherever you go. Although it may seem quick and easy to grab a plastic bag while you’re shopping, but research suggests that plastic bags release three times the greenhouse gas of reusable bags. If you want to be super eco-friendly why not buy recycled tote bags. Madia & Matilda stocks some amazing printed tote bags from British brand Graphyx which is a sustainable brand using vegetable oil based ink. 

6. Reduce your plastic use

Reducing the amount of plastic you use can have a massive, positive effect on the environment. Start today, by making easy substitutes like plastic bottles to reusable water bottles, plastic straws to paper or metal straws and reusable bags. Keep your take away tubs and Nutella jars, wash them out and use them to store bulk foods or leftovers. These simple swaps are easy to make and could help save the planet. 

7. Don’t be afraid to buy second hand or swap items

Second hand garments are not always worn out or dirty as the media would often have you believe. Second hand items can come from charity shops, websites like eBay and Facebook, or apps such as Depop or Shpock. More often than not, these clothes are hardly worn and are in very good condition. Alternatively, you could do a clothes swap organised through a local event or social media. By participating in a clothes swap you are able to get a feel of what the fabrics and styles are like before you buy. 

8. Buy British

Buying British is key to creating a sustainable shopping industry in the UK (obviously this can apply to any country you live in). Supporting local and British businesses is a great way to be kind to the world too. By buying British you are able to identify exactly where the product is produced and its components are sourced, which often leads to higher quality garments being produced. 

9. Alter and mend to get the most out of your wardrobe

A fallen hem or missing button shouldn’t mean your clothes need to be thrown away. Either learn some basic sewing skills to repair your own clothes or take them to a local tailor for a small fee. Mending or altering garments can increase their lifespan and save you money. If you buy from a clothes swap or second hand shop you can easily tailor them items to fit you and your style for little money.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

International Women's Day 2018

Who Run the World? (Girls and Boys Working in Harmony to Overcome the Toxic Agenda of a Capitalist Patriarchy)

Beyoncé is in the house, yo. Thursday 8th March is International Women's Day (IWD), so we're all about celebrating women. Just like any other day, really! 

Image courtesy of International Women's Day website

It's 100 years since women in Britain were given the vote by King George V on February 6th 1918. This right was afforded to women over the age of 30 who met certain property qualifications, and these conditions were slowly lifted over time until here we are in 2018, skipping merrily to the polling station to cast our hard-earned vote.

No IWD post would be complete without mention of the formidable Suffragettes who fought with incredible bravery to secure their places as valuable and contributing members of British society. Shout out to you, Wonder Women! We tread your path with joy and pride.


Women have made huge progress in the last 100 years. Here are some highlights:

• 1922— Law of Property Act states that husband and wife will inherit property equally
• 1928— All women have voting rights equal to men's
• 1958— Life Peerages Act entitles women to sit in the House of Lords for the first time
• 1967— Abortion Act evolves, allowing doctors to perform the operation if the pregnancy was in any way dangerous. This ruling became increasingly flexible 
• 1974— the Pill becomes widely available through the NHS
• 1976— Race Relations Act makes it illegal to discriminate on grounds of race in employment and education
• 1985— Equal Pay (Amendment) Act entitles women to be paid the same as men who are doing work of equal value
• 1994— After years of serious campaigning by women's organisations, rape in marriage is recognised as a crime
• 2004— Gender Recognition Act allows transgender people to live fully and permanently in their acquired gender to gain legal recognition in that gender

Wow!

So now for a small selection of ladies who are not taking sh*t from anyone. ANYONE. 

Munroe Bergdorf

We'd be surprised if you haven't heard of this amazing woman. She's been making a lot of headlines recently, expressing her views on sexuality and gender, feminism and individuality. She's had a lot of backlash as a result, but has that shut her up? Nah. We love this article, where she talks about the L’Oréal racism scandal. 

Image courtesy of Twitter

Meghan Markle

Meghan's already incurred a lot of buzz. She's passionate about women's welfare and has been an ambassador for UN Women. She holds an extremely influential position, which could be used to do an enormous amount of good for progress in resolving women's issues. We know that so much of this progress is pushed by women everywhere, of all classes, but having someone like Meghan to represent it can be a huge asset to the effort. 

Image courtesy of Royal Central

Lucy Siegle

Lovely Lucy is championing ecological solutions to everyday, problems via her column in The Guardian (we heard she's just left, but you can still read the articles!). She's a big advocate for going plastic free and looking for more ecological sanitary and cleaning products. Lucy is pushing for conscious shopping  (just like we are) and cautious consumerism. Hear hear!

Image courtesy of The True Cost

Sincerely Madia & Matilda