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

Blogger Feature

Meet Florence! The fairy-like blogger living in - we are totally obsessed with this little cutie's style and her amazing photos! We caught up with Florence to chat about her influences, beauty secrets and the inspirations behind the styles Florence has selected from the Madia & Matilda Summer 17 collection.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

I'm Flo, I'm a student, fashion addict and a total dessert-lover. I also have an adorable dog who's 10 years old so he's practically an old man.

How long have you been Blogging for? 

I started in 2010, so it has been over 7 years since I've started blogging. It's one of my passions because it helped me make friends when I'm down and lonely. Also it has brought me closer to many other bloggers out there. I've also learned a lot about fashion trends and what's good and bad. 

Is there anything specific that inspired your Madia & Matilda photoshoot?

I always take my shots against a white background, which fits the Madia & Matilda brand very well. Your style is simplistic, elegant and minimal, with a feminine, gentle twist. I tried to get this feeling across in my photos. 

Which is your favourite Madia & Matilda piece of our Summer 17 collection? 

I adore the Rache Denim Dress- it's so pretty and simplistic. It just screams "classy"! 

Beauty secrets... 

Sleep well, eat well and exercise! I also use lots of moisturizer as I have dry skin. Sunscreen helps! 

If you can take us to your hometown for a day, where will you take us to? 

I'd take you to the street markets down in the busiest parts of town, near Mong Kok. It has got the best street food you'll ever eat! 

Follow you at... florathefish 

on Instagram! Or check out my website at

http://www.fantailflo.com/2017/06/luxury-sustainable-fashion-madia.html

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Tartan - tastic

Simone - Chequered Print Wrap-Skirt

Here at Madia & Matilda, you might have guessed by our products that we are a definite fan of Tartan!

However, you might have missed some of our killer Tartan pieces, so here's a little reminder to refresh your memory this Spring.

                                                       Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Jessie Trouser

Lucinda - Wrap Skirt

NEWS - London Fashion Week Debut

AW17 SHOWCASE

Classy, quintessentially classic, contemporary and clean-cut... next season's style is one to watch out for.

We geared up and got ourselves down to Chelsea last week for the release of our next season's clothing and we are delighted to let you in on a little sneak peek!

Elmira getting ready to shine

The girls arrived to our location in the lovely area of Old Church Street, Chelsea at Haute Elan for an early start to get their hair and make-up done.

It's the little things

Our fab make up friend, Chloe Versaci doing Danielle's make-up pre-shoot.

The lovely Linn having a giggle with Chloe.

Economic, social and environmental sustainability is something that is very important to us here at Madia & Matilda. Our new collection initiative is designed for simple-living.

The girls wore LilyFlo Jewellery, which you can find in our curated brands, accentuating their looks and with a little cuddle and gal time before taking to the stage.

Shardarae and Elmira pulling off our AW Collection effortlessly.

Linn wearing one of our next season daily looks.

Oriana showing off our new dress collection.

Wanting a more classy look? Danielle shows us how it's done in this new top and skirt combo.

Oriana still slaying in Lilyflo's new season minimalist, urban-geometric pieces whilst having a little sit down mid-shoot.

Is it even a showcase if we don't include a classic black and white behind the scenes?

Life isn't perfect but your outfit can be.

From left: Danielle Esprit, Shardarae P, Linn B. Saeb, Oriana Findlay, Véronica McBeal, Elmira Panjavi.

 Designer & Director Shalize Nicholas, Jewellery - Lily Flo - Designer Diana Sherling, Photographer  Rosalind Rosalind Alcazar & Claire Dytham, MUA Chloe Versaci, Showroom Haute Elan

Pre-order the new collection in August.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Countdown to Christmas - Day 12 - Style A day

Shalize Nicholas – Designer and Founder at Madia& Matilda:

Founder and designer of Madia & Matilda itself is the inspiration for today’s style.

Shalize Nicholas create exclusive womens clothing that are timeless effortless and works in manor that reduces waste in her fashion studio in Gloucestershire

Jessie Trouser & Ines Skirt

"There’s nothing I loves more than small elements of throwback fashion in a delicate minimalist design. I have always been drawn to simple contemporary classics, that represents timelessness; which is why I have chosen these styles ” 

Carrie Blouse & Ellen trouser

"For workwear my choices are more practical, with subtle details, beautiful fabrics and for special occasions an elegant dress"

 

  Shan Blouse & Abbie 2



We hope you have enjoyed our coundown to Christmas
Celebrating the achievements of a select few, coupled with inspirations and influencers of 2016. This year really has been a year full of ups and downs

Wishing  you a wonderful Christmas and New Year 

                    Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Countdown to Christmas - Day 9 - Style A Day

Natalie Kay Smith – Responsible Fashion Blogger:

For today’s style steal, we thought we would focus on +Natalie Smith from Sustainably Chic a sustainable fashion blogger that is living proof that Fashion Can Exist Responsibly. Over the years we have got to know Natalie and her zest for fashion.

Here, are our favourite day time looks for Natalie; Natasha Jersey Top or the Eloise-Dungaree-Dress, as Natalie loves a day dress or a jersey top.

As Natalie is not one to worry about trying something a little different, we have selected with our Kalani silk-lined jacket and Fahra Velvet Dress;

For New Years eve, Mary A-Line Skater Dress, is Natalie down to a 't' and is now available in Sale 

It’s simple style and beauty can be dressed up with a good ethically produced coat and heels, or dressed down in a simple cardi and boots. It’s all up to you, but whatever you choose, make sure you put your own spin on it with a conscious outlook – you could be someone else’s ethical style inspiration

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Thoughts on value

Have you ever wondered why there is often such a big price difference between your average high street garment and a seemingly similar product from a sustainable brand?

People often say sustainable/eco fashion is too expensive, but is it? Or is fast fashion the costly one?

It depends how you measure it. Yes you can purchase a top for £15- £20 from a big high street brand, wear it a couple of times, throw it away, and as a consumer it hasn’t cost you much. However, it’s easy to forget that garment was made by a human being and the amount of labour and energy that goes into it staggering. For example, to turn a piece of cotton into a garment, first it must be planted, harvested, taken to a factory to be processed and spun into yarn. Then it’s taken to another factory, woven into cloth, sent to a dye mill, dyed and finished. Then it is sold to a manufacturer who must create an original design and pattern, test for fit and performance, cut and make the garment, ship and then market it, all before reaching the customer. People are involved for its whole journey, people who deserve a fair price for their labour. But unfortunately, to produce a garment with all of those processes involved and still sell it for a price we are willing to pay; someone along the line is missing out. 

The sad truth is what we class, as a reasonable, average price, is in fact, artificially low. These cheap prices shouldn’t be the norm; they are wrong, not the more ‘expensive’ eco brands. They are the ones causing costly damage to the earth and to the workers. For fashion to be sustainable it’s not meant to be fast, throw away and cheap. We’ve been trained to buy quantity over quality. Somewhere along the way we’ve lost sight of what is best for us and the environment.

This is where sustainable fashion comes in, as it tries to change perceptions of what is expensive and go back to valuing the right things. 

Sustainable fashion tends to be more expensive due to a number of factors:

Time – As a small brand it takes time to create new and original designs from scratch, develop a pattern and manufacture in a smaller environment.

Fair trade- It is cheaper to employ people abroad to make clothes, where minimum wages are a lot less than here in the UK. For example, an employer in China only has to pay their garment worker 60p an hour, whereas in the UK the minimum wage is £6.70. When buying from a sustainable clothing company that manufactures their clothes in the UK, you know the workers have been paid a fair wage for their labour.

Economies of sale- It’s cheaper to produce mass quantities of clothing if you are a large company. Small scale companies have to pay more to produce smaller quantities.

Quality – Finally, when buying from a sustainable brand, the garments have longer life spans and are well made.

To find out more about our thoughts on value, check out our youtube 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

e::  info@madiamatilda.co.uk       w::  www.madiamatilda.co.uk/