Showing posts with label sustainability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainability. Show all posts

Wednesday 30 January 2019

Is Fashion Week Ever Sustainable?



Fashion week - Why Madia & Matilda is against fast fashion



What is slow fashion?

In recent years we have seen a wave of change wash over the fashion industry. Consumers and companies alike have become more aware of the effects of fast fashion on workers and our environment.

Slow fashion is how we approach and raise awareness to the way fashion is produced – taking the time to consider the processes and resources. The term Slow Fashion came about quite organically. It was coined by Kate Fletcher of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion. Slow fashion is necessary to save our environment as well as workforce welfare. In 2018, brands such as H&M reportedly burnt 12 tonnes of unsold garments despite launching their Garment Collecting programme – a global initiative to prevent customers’ unwanted items from going to landfill.

The slow fashion movement has been increasing exponentially in recent years as consumers demand higher sustainability and ethical standards.




Why we only design collections every 2 seasons

Here at Madia & Matilda, we pride ourselves on our sustainability and ethical ethos towards fashion. We only use fabrics that are end of roll, end of line or recycled from previous garments. Our items are designed and produced in house without the need for a factory or cheap labour. In order to keep our sustainable promise we only produce collections twice a year for spring/summer and autumn/winter. By producing biannually we are able to invest more time and money into our designs and quality, thus creating items that are ethically sound and adhere to our high standards.




Why we don’t participate in fashion week

Madia & Matilda consciously chooses not to participate in fashion week so as not to support the fast fashion trend. Many fashion weeks and catwalks feature garments that are produced quickly and cheaply to capture the most recent fashion trends. Not only does fashion week inspire fast fashion production but it also encourages consumers to buy into trend fads that only last a few months.




Charity fashion shows

Instead, at Madia & Matilda we dedicate our time and energy to producing eco-friendly garments that can form the basis of any wardrobe. Rather than partaking in mainstream fashion week catwalks, we only feature ourselves in charity catwalks. This year see our brand join the Durham University Charity Fashion Show - The UK’s largest student fundraiser and the biggest event in Durham’s social calendar. This year the fashion event is supporting the Environmental Justice Foundation, a charity who works at the forefront of global environmental politics to secure the rights of climate refugees and the future of our planet. If you want to attend the event you can find more information about the event here.

Madia & Matilda have also featured in many other charity fashion events including St Martins in the fields, Empire Casino London and Brighton Fashion Week.















Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Wednesday 23 January 2019

National Pie Day - Our Recommendations

Happy National Pie Day!


We've made a list of our favourite pie places in Gloucestershire.

1. The Weighbridge Inn, Minchinhampton

Famous for their '2in1 Pie', The Weighbridge Inn is situated in the beautiful Cotswolds. If you're looking for a meal to remember, look no further than their '2in1 pie'. This dish has remained on the menu for over forty years and combines all the elements of your dish into one bowl.
Visit their website here.


2. The Stable, Cheltenham

If you're looking for a more modern take on the traditional pie, why not visit The Stable? Positioned in the centre of the spa town, and set over two stories of listed Cheltenham, this dining experience adds grandeur to your pie.
Visit their website here


3. Royal Oak, Burford

The Royal Oak is a harming country pub in Burford, Oxfordshire. Serving up delicious food as well as plentiful pies, this establishment is sure to hit the spot.
Visit their website here.


4. The Crown & Tuns, Deddington

Known locally as the 'pie pub', The Crown & Tuns is tucked away in the Cotswolds town of Deddington. Every dish on their menu is homemade, freshly baked to order and cooked with locally sourced ingredients.
Visit their website here.


5. The Kings Arms, Stow-on-the-Wold

Nestled away in the Cotswolds town of Stow-on-the-Wold, The Kings Arms is the epitome of charm and character. For a traditional pie and pub experience make sure to seek out this quirky eatery.
Visit their website here.















Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Saturday 19 January 2019

National Popcorn Day - Our Top TV Picks for 2019

Happy National Popcorn Day!

To celebrate national popcorn day we’ve compiled a list of TV and movies to look out for in 2019.
With 2018’s best TV and Film picks firmly behind us, it’s time to see what 2019 has in store for our screens this year. 


5 Movies coming to theatres soon 

1. Little Women 


The story of four sisters coming of age during the aftermath of the civil war. Directed by Greta Gerwig, this is the eighteenth adaptation of the original novel written by Louisa May Alcott. Featuring Meryl Streep, Emma Watson Timothee Chalamet, and Saorise Ronan, the film is set for screens near you in December 2019.
To find out more about this film click here.


2. Lion King – Life Action 

Directed by Jon Favreau, The Lion King live action remake features a star-studded cast - with Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, James earl Jones and Beyonce playing the role of some of the major characters. Look out for this Disney remake this July.

To find out more about this film click here.




3. Toy Story 4 

The third sequel to the original Toy Story movie i set for release in June 2019. Following your favourite toys, Woody and the gang are joined by new toy Forky and discover just how big the world can be for a toy.To find out more about this film click here.



4. The Goldfinch 

Join Theodore Decker as he starts a new life with a wealthy upper east side family after his mother is tragically killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This film  is set to hit cinemas in October 2019.

To find out more about this film click here.



5. Rocketman 

Rocketman is a British musical drama film based on the life of Elton John. The film is directed by Dexter Fletcher and written by Lee Hall, and stars the likes of Taron Egerton and Jamie Bell and Richard Madden. The film follows John's early life as a student at the Royal Academy of Music, through to his successful music career.

The film premieres in May 2019.

To find out more about this film click here.



5 TV series making a comeback in 2019

1. The Crown – Season 3 


Based on an award-winning play, "The Audience", this royal drama showcases the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times. Featuring a fabulous cast of Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Olivia Coleman and Helena Bonham Carter - this show is in its third series and a must watch this year!

To find out more about this show click here.



2. Game of Thrones – Season 8

The eighth and final season of this fantasy drama is set to hit our screens this April. Unlike previous seasons, season 8 is made up of six episodes. If you've been obsessed with the last 7 seasons, you definitely don't want to miss this one!

To find out more about this show click here.



3. Peaky Blinders – Season 5 


Peaky Blinders enjoyed one of its most successful seasons last year and the new one promises to deliver. This period drama sees the return of all your favourite actors including Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Sophie Rundle and Helen McCrory.

To find out more about this show click here.


4. Killing Eve – Season 2 


2018 saw the world go crazy for season 1 of Killing Eve. Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh have been boosted into the limelight with everyone trying to get a sneak peak or spoiler for season 2. Killing Eve is an eight-part adaptation of the Codename Villanelle novella series from English author Luke Jennings. If you loved season 1, season 2 will not disappoint - keep an eye out in April.

To find out more about this show click here.



5. Stranger Things – Season 3 


Top rated sci-fi drama, Stranger Things, is back and better than before. Bring back your favourite characters Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Joyce (Winona Ryder), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin). The show is believed to drop in July 2019.

To find out more about this show click here.




























Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Sunday 13 January 2019

Wardrobe Detox





New Year New Wardrobe




The New Year is the perfect time to detox your cluttered wardrobe. 

We’ve got 5 top tips to help you curate a more conscious closet. 




1. Categorise 
  • Items you love and wear often
  • Items you like but aren’t 100% about
  • Items that no longer fit or you don’t like
  • Damaged or unwearable



2. Do you really need that many of the same thing?

  • Get rid of what is looking past its best
  • Be decisive and only keep what you actually wear



3. How many times have you worn it in the last year?

  • If the answer is less than 4 (and it’s not an occasion piece) then it’s time to part ways



4. Does it fit properly?

  • Get rid of the clothes in your wardrobe that don’t fit and make you feel fabulous



5. Educate yourself

  • Know where your clothes come from, where they are made, the materials used. Watch some documentaries about ‘fast fashion’, we recommend The True Cost on Netflix. Click here to watch.



Detoxing your wardrobe can be a daunting task but it’s completely worth it in the end. Take your time to look at each garment in your wardrobe before you categorise it, this way you can be certain you are doing the job properly instead of holding onto items you know you’ll never wear.

When decluttered your closet try and piece together outfits as you go so that you know all the items in your wardrobe go together. This will also make it easier in the mornings when you can’t decide what to wear.

Once you’ve finished the mammoth task of clearing up, you can begin to sort out the items you’re getting rid of. Make two piles – one for donation/selling and one for recycling made up of items that are no longer wearable.

Why not try selling some of your unwanted items on an app such as depop. Alternatively, you could always donate any unwanted clothing to local charities.

If you need help detoxing your wardrobe this year why not let us help with our stylist solutions. Ask in store, email or call us to find out more.












Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Saturday 22 December 2018

Movie & Shows to Binge Watch this Christmas

Movies & Shows to binge watch this Christmas



If you’re looking for some movies or TV shows to binge watch this Christmas but you’re fed up of the usual cheesy Christmas movies – look no further! We’ve compiled a list of our favourite TV shows and movies that are perfect for a duvet day!



The True Cost Film

We recently attended an event for this film to support and promote sustainable fashion. Revealing the secrets of fast fashion and shedding a light on our true environmental impact, this film is sure to enlighten you this Christmas.

Watch it here.


Small Foot

A fun animated tale that turns the traditional story of Bigfoot on its head. Migo, the friendly Yeti faces banishment from his snowy village when he finds a Human. “Migo embarks on an epic journey to find the mysterious creature that can put him back in good graces with his simple community”.

Click here for more information.


The Good Place

Eleanor Shellstrop is surprised to find herself in the good place in the afterlife. Upon realising that she isn’t supposed to be there, Eleanor enlists the help of her new found friends and frenemies to shed her old way of life in hopes of finding a new one in the afterlife.

Watch it here.


Hollywood Darlings

“In this improvised comedy, real-life friends, Jodie Sweetin, Christine Lakin and Beverley Mitchell, play exaggerated versions of themselves in their current lives navigating the ups and downs of living in Hollywood. The actresses support one another as they tackle marriage, parenting and reviving their acting careers”.

Watch it here.


Great News

Every workplace is like a family. For Katie, this gets all too real when her mum is employed as an intern. “That's just scratching the surface of this slightly offbeat team” made up of old school news anchor Chuck, millennial Portia, executive producer Greg and laid back video editor Justin. Despite their malfunctioning relationships, it doesn’t stop them doing what they do best – breaking the news.

Watch it here.


Welcome to the Jungle

“Beck is a tight-lipped bounty hunter who doesn't like to use a gun and accepts any job without asking questions. When Beck's employer, Walker, sends him to the Amazon to locate Walker's cocky son, Travis, Beck discovers a population controlled by a tyrannical treasure hunter. To survive, Beck and Travis must work together, without their affections for a mysterious rebel getting in the way”.

Watch it here.


Passengers

“On a routine journey through space to a new home, two passengers, sleeping in suspended animation, are awakened 90 years too early when their ship malfunctions. As Jim and Aurora face living the rest of their lives on board, they begin to fall for each other, unable to deny their intense attraction until they discover the ship is in grave danger. With the lives of 5,000 sleeping passengers at stake, only Jim and Aurora can save them all”.

Watch it here.


The Grinch

The 2018 remake of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a modern animated tale perfect for the Christmas holidays. “When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter, the disgruntled Grinch realizes there is one way to gain peace and quiet. With help from Max, the green grump hatches a scheme to pose as Santa Claus, steal Christmas and silence the Whos' holiday cheer once and for all”.

Click here for information.


Let us know what your favourite movies and shows to binge watch are!












Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Monday 10 December 2018

Plastic-Free Tips & Tricks

Plastic-Free Tips & Tricks

We’re dreaming of a green Christmas…

Christmas is one of those holidays where there is plenty of excess and wastage. From gift wrap and decorations to party plates and cutlery. Our aim this Christmas is to help you celebrate in the most sustainable way possible.

Sustainable Decorations


Making your own Christmas decorations is not only a great family activity but it could also save you money as well as the planet. We’ve got two easy DIY Christmas decorations for you to try out!

Whether you’re changing the colour scheme of your tree or just looking to add some sparkle, why not update your existing Christmas baubles this year?
A simple way to spruce up your decorations is to add some glitter. You can either paint the entire bauble and dip it in glitter. Use gold, silver, red or green glitter or any colour that matches your theme. Alternatively, you could go for a more subtle approach by painting the glue in a festive shape. From snowflakes and stars to trees and phrases – this DIY works with any pattern or shape and brings the sparkle back to your decorations again.
If you want to create something interesting and unique to your Christmas tree this year, why not try making these cute felt ornaments?

For this DIY you will need:A sewing needle
Coloured felt
Matching thread
A ribbon to hang the decoration with
A pair of scissors
A few pins

To begin making this craft you’ll need to make yourself a template of the design you want to create, or you can find one online. Start by cutting out the template pieces and laying them on top of the felt, making sure to cut out your pieces in the correct colours. Next Cut your ribbon to around 12cm long. Once, you have all of your pieces cut out you can assemble what your ornament will looks like by layering your pieces to form the design. Sandwich the ribbon in between two pieces of felt to create the loop for hanging. Attach the ribbon, in a loop, to the inside of one of your pieces with a few stitches. Now Sew along the edges of each pieces of felt to attach them all together, making sure to use corresponding coloured thread. To make the ornament double sided – make a copy of the pieces you made earlier and sew both designs back to back. Then, you’re all done and ready to decorate your tree!
If you want to follow a pictorial to help you make these ornaments, we found this great one by Laura Howard – click here to read it.

Plastic-free Wrapping Paper



Sadly, most wrapping papers cannot be recycled because of the printed pattern on them so this year we have found some eco-friendly, sustainable wrapping paper to ensure your Christmas is as sustainable as possible. 
  1. Hobby craft sells eco wrapping paper for just £3.00 a roll. Printed on eco brown paper these rolls of wrapping paper are much more easily recycled than most paper. Order online or check in your local store to see what they have in stock.
    Click here to shop.
  2. Re-wrapped is a fantastic eco-friendly business, it was “founded in 2011 and specialises in designing and producing a range of top-quality wrapping paper and other products, made solely from 100% recycled paper.”
    Click here to shop.
  3. Happywrap specialises in reusable fabric gift wrap. The perfect way to wrap your eco-friendly gifts this Christmas to minimise your waste. Shop a variety of sizes in different pattern and colours and keep them to wrap presents again and again.
    Click here to shop.

Sustainable Crackers


Christmas crackers can contain a lot of plastic and aren’t always recyclable. As one of the most essential parts of any festive celebration, we thought we’d show you how to make this Christmas tradition as sustainable as possible.

If you haven’t got time to make your own or just don’t want the fuss of finding gifts and jokes to go inside, we’ve found some crackers you can buy in supermarkets and high street shops that have little waste.

  1. Our first shop bought crackers are from Hotel Chocolat. Each mini cracker has a gourmet chocolate hiding inside and even has space on the outside for writing your guests names on. We can’t be 100% sure that the card cracker is recyclable (make sure you check the label before buying!) but they certainly have less waste than a regular cracker with all of the plastic gifts inside.
    Click here to buy.
  2. The second option we have found for you is reusable crackers. Keep This Cracker, run by Bea Thackeray, is a sustainable way to celebrate Christmas whilst also reducing your waste too. These crackers come flat packed for you to fill with personalised gifts for all the family – to reuse them next year simply replace the ‘snap’ and they're ready for festive fun all over again. Better still, the packaging they are shipped in is 100% recyclable too.
    Click here to buy.


Bulk Buying





If you have a large family or lots of friends to celebrate with this Christmas, why reduce your waste and shop more sustainably whilst also saving yourself some pennies. Buy in bulk can be an excellent way of stocking up for Christmas, whether you buy food, gifts or decorations, wholesales can be great value for money as well as eco-friendly by saving on the individual wrapping.

We’ve compiled a list of our favourite wholesales for this Christmas.

  1. In recent years, there has been a rise in supporting small businesses so why not bulk buy from a small brand? We love Etsy for this as it supports a number of small brands, most of which are sustainable or eco-friendly too. This is a great way of buying lots of gifts and getting your Christmas shopping done in record time!
    Click here to explore Etsy bulk buying.
  2. If you’re looking for Christmas cards this year look no further than Tree Free greetings. They stock a wide range of greeting cards as well as gifts including drinkware, stationery, magnets, playing cards and much more. Great for bulk buying eco greetings cards as well as small gifts that are perfect for your reusable crackers!
    Click here to shop.
    Shop their sister brand for more Christmas gifts for all the family! http://www.somdiff.com/
  3. If you're looking for gifts to fill your Christmas crackers or stocking fillers Shared Earth has you covered. Offering a wide range of recycled gifts, including ranges made with recycled crayons, bike chains, circuit boards, tyres, glass, metal & many other creatively recycled products.
    Click here to shop.
  4. Wrapping presents can be difficult and although gift boxes are pretty and useful, they're not always sustainable. We’ve found a brand who solves this problem – Fold-A-Box. Their flatpack boxes are beautiful and made with a natural Kraft finish – perfect for all your present wrapping problems this Christmas!
    Click here to shop.











Sincerely Madia & Matilda