Best Friend Day

Happy Best Friend Day.

Today is our opportunity to celebrate that one special person in our lives who has always been there for us. Although, every day with the two of you is best friends day, today it's official! Why not celebrate your awesome friendship! With a gift for you and a gift for them! Code: BESTFRIEND

When it comes to your #bestie, no one knows you better. You're practically connected at the hip and you wouldn't have it any other way. 

Looking for ways to celebrate? But not sure what it means by, National Best Friends Day? It's not that you're going do anything more eventful than usual, but it's as good a reason as any to buy your most favourite person a small token that's says 'I got you girl' — just because or make a plan to spend some time with your best friend, if you haven't already! 

Here are a few ideas on things to do for Best friend day. Grab brunch, see a movie together, or catch up over Skype. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you thank them for all the wonderful times you've had together!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Volunteer Week

We believe in supporting others and that by volunteering your time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone or something other than, or in addition to, close relatives. This shows, great strength as volunteering is much more than anything you can put a value on, as you personally have made choice, to freely help individual for however long you choose too.

This can include formal activity undertaken through public, private and voluntary organisations as well as informal community participation and social action. Everyone has the right to volunteer and volunteering can have significant benefits for individuals and organisations.

Therefore, in order to celebrate the difference volunteers make. We will be promoting Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June with the hashtag #iwill 
Add this to your diary! 

http://volunteersweek.org/post/157488869533/volunteers-week-2017-you-make-the-difference-1-7

Volunteering, makes a difference!
As an independent small business we know only too well, volunteers can help. You might not get paid but it isn’t just a one-way relationship; you can also gain a whole host of things by volunteering such as developing new skills or using your existing ones, adding new experiences to your CV, building confidence and self-esteem, meeting new people, giving something back and having fun! Whatever your background, work experience, gender or age, you will have a skill that someone needs.  No matter how busy you are there will be something that you can do. 

We have collated a wide range of volunteering sites and opportunities to showcase, the range of volunteering opportunities on offer and so we also hope that it helps to inspire people to find out more about opportunities locally, take part and try volunteering for the first time.


http://www.creategloucestershire.co.uk/news/2016/12/7/creative-fashion-design-internships-with-madia-and-matilda-in-stroud

Scottland - http://www.volunteerscotland.net/
UK - https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/
USA - https://vfp.org/
Global - https://globalvolunteers.org/

or find out more about policy for volunteering here
https://www.ncvo.org.uk/ncvo-volunteering/i-want-to-volunteer

How we support those, who support us. we are making it easy for them to make that difference and we thank them for it? It’s the combination of support, training and encouragement that enables our volunteers to make this difference that they can take away with them and enable them to gain transferable skills for the future.


#iwill make a difference

Make a difference today, visit http://volunteersweek.org/post/157488869533/volunteers-week-2017-you-make-the-difference-1-7

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Style - Bank Holiday Style

The bank holiday is here, the skies are blue, Summer is on the horizon; we've got a cocktail in hand, and not planning to move from our deck chairs.. 

Kelia - Cotton Vest Top

and yet when the weather changes so abruptly, we've got something for every occasion, however, if you are still unsure of what to wear. When in doubt? Instagram. A quick scroll through our feeds for inspiration and we're ready to hit the park or riverside with friends or family, a picnic basket in hand and some speakers.

Rosie - Shorts

Take a look at our 5 top picks below or check out our youtube video

Miranda - V-Neck Dress

Tess - Dress

Miracle - Top

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Bank Holiday - Movies

With another Bank Holiday on the horizon we’ve been planning things to do.  Especially for a gloomier day, or  for those days where you just want to curl up with a good film; Beauty and the beast, Hidden Figures, Trolls or Guardian of the Galaxy.

For a great day out in London, visits the open-air screenings at the luna cinema - start from June right to October so there’s plenty of time to see something. Why not check out the Luna Cinema for listings across the UK and there are plenty of options for families too.

Another option for films and tv shows, right from your laptop is the streaming giant Netflix, launching another strong list of tv series this month, including a new season of its hit original series Orange Is the New Black.

Netflix is also adding some excellent films. you can watch Dear John. If you prefer a psychological thriller, Side Effects.

    

What ever you choose to do, have a fantastic bank holiday.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Why Madia & Matilda have an epic Sale

We are Sustainable British Fashion.

Made and created in the Cotswolds Gloucestershire, in Great Britain. At the end of each season (2 per year - being that we only design in a slow fashion manner) and for special events, Madia & Matilda has a sale. It is important to us, as an ethical fashion business, to find ways to encourage more conscious way of shopping, and supporting the work and livelihood of our producers. The Madia & Matilda sale is much more than a chance to clear out the rails, but also away of  Helping to reduce waste; plus you can always grab a great bargain, even if we do say so our selves.

 Find out more about our processes, ethos and care information 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Health & Wellness - Perfect Pear Treat

Being that it is Vegetarian week (16th - 22nd May) - We thought we would share with you our health tip for a mouth-watering vegan pear smoothie a fresh Spring snack, that's an easy treat for all.

Check out our recipe below:

Tangy Pear-Mango Smoothie

• 1/2 lemon, peeled
• 1 mango
• ½ Pear
• 2 cups fresh baby spinach (or other leafy green -  Kale)
• Almond butter
• 1/2 cup water or Almond milk

Calories: 224 | Fat: 2.1g (grams) Protein: 4.6g | Carbs: 61g | Calcium: 15% | Vitamin A: 113% | Vitamin C: 238%


Directions:

Chop up all fruit and veg and roughly chop, cutting off the stem and bottom from the pears 
Add into a blender along with the almond butter or water, kale and almond milk
Blend and serve up!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Sheer is back and were all over it!

Nothing says wedding season, than a delicate lace or sheer dress, classic refined style that is timeless and needs no introduction.  

The longer the better, (like our Akeyla dress) just because it's spring does not mean we need show too much skin; even though we are losing the coat and opting for a lighter fabric.

 Paired with a necklace (Lily flo jewellery) or heels, you'll make a statement that set you apart form the crowd, with out upstaging the bride; like our Muse Bella Hadid. 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Factfile - Caring for Lace

Here is how to care for your delicate lace garments

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

4 Years of M & M - BIRTHDAY

Thanks for shopping! Following and supporting us over the years! Madia & Matilda turned 4 this week and we thought we'd share our appreciation by adding free UK delivery for the rest of the Month.

Having accomplished so much through development and working or collaborating with most influential businesses around and an education team who are shaping the future of fashion and  presenting  in Empire Casino, St Martin's in Fields and for London fashion week we feel ultimately #blessed for the fantastic opportunities we have had on our journey so far.

Shalize Nicholas, started the brand with the vision of making a difference in fashion contributing to a less wasteful world and we are grateful to have grown, with a new HQ and shop this year and the development of ShopUnique; which adheres to our principles, a

of other sustainable sustainable solutions. Handmade, local production and local crafts, sustainable materials or upcycling. We are now in working in conjunction with Thread Count a sustainable initiative from the University of Gloucestershire

 for Sustainable Fashion.

Going forwards, we look forward to what is to come and hope that you will be with us all the way! 

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Youtube

#madiamatilda 

@Madia & Matilda 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Thread Counts - We need to talk about clothes

Thread Counts Maker’s Day

Thread Counts’ first event extends debate around the exhibition We Need To Talk About Clothes. 

The day is open to anyone interested in fashion and textiles, making (of all kinds), and sustainable and ethical design. 

Tickets are free and include lunch. 

Tickets available from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/thread-counts-makers-day-tickets-32358766943?aff=es2

10:00 – Tea and coffee

10:30 – Opening and Thread Counts launch talk (Margaret McDonough)

11:00 – WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT CLOTHES exhibition tour, and panel discussion

Panel

Kate Cole, (Waste Minimisation Officer, Gloucestershire Joint Waste Team)

Jamie Perry (Love Your Clothes) tbc

Alex Ryan (Associate Director of Sustainability, University of Gloucestershire)

12:30 – Lunch (provided)

13:30 – Maker’s Spaces: Mary Jane Baxter introduction

A series of workshops will continue the theme of the value of making, with workshops to 

enable both beginner and intermediate makers to try out their skills.

15:30-16:30 – Madia & Matilda Open debate around both the value of making and sustainability within fashion and textiles.

Thread Counts is a collaboration between Hardwick Gallery, Atelier (Stroud)

and Fashion Design at the University of Gloucestershire for sustainable textile futures.

Happy Easter, hope to see you there!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda