literallynataly - Tumblr blog

[literallynataly]

5 Ways to Help Wildlife this Spring

[literallynataly]

4 Ways to Encourage Imaginative Play?

[literallynataly]

The Sustainable Fabric You Feel Good in and Good About Have you noticed that when you dress up, even just a little bit, you get a surge of energy?

[literallynataly]

Hannah Sophia England | 4-way Reversible Dress for a Sustainable Wardrobe

Hannah Sophia England | 4-way Reversible Dress for a Sustainable Wardrobe

How many times do you wear a dress before putting it in the back of your closet and forgetting about it altogether?

Even though there is currently a slow move away from the “wear-it-once” culture, research has it that dresses are still the most likely pieces of clothing to be bought for a one-off event only to then be discarded.

Sustainable luxury brand Hannah Sophia Englandis striving to solve…

[literallynataly]

Kindom: Respectful to Indigenous Craft

Kindom: Respectful to Indigenous Craft

KINDOM is an an online boutique offering a collection of thoughtfully-made products produced using sustainable, natural, reclaimed, and indigenous materials. Staying true to the concept of slow fashion, each collection is limited and exclusive, due to the finite materials the brand receives for its production line.

Claire from KINDOMreached out to me about their beautiful new collection made…

[literallynataly]

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” sang Marilyn Monroe, and countless women have since wished to be accessorised by this sparkling gem. But with growing awareness of the exploitative diamond mining industry amongst millennials, younger consumers appear to be slowly turning their backs on the stone, moving on to eco-friendly alternatives. You can read more about the atrocities of the diamond mining industry in an older post HERE.

There is such a wide variety of great sustainable and eco-friendly brands out there who have taken a stand against unethical sourcing of materials. Whether it is by using up-cycled materials or by contributing to local communities in other ways, these brands are putting transparency and consciousness on the table. I have rounded up 5 of them for your pick of ethically-made accessories and jewellery to accompany your outfits all year round!

Little By Little Jewellery

Little By Little Jewellery is an ethical jewellery brand that advocates a transparent and responsible supply chain. Inspired by the natural beauty found in food, each piece of jewellery is lovingly made from gold, silver and touches of enamel. The jewellery is designed in the UK and crafted by a well-established jewellery producer in Lima, Peru. Since its establishment, the factory has employed people with no prior technical experience and trained them in jewellery production.

Working with international charity Action Against Hunger, each sale by Little By Little Jewellery comes with a donation to cover three days’ food supply to nurse an acutely malnourished child. Action Against Hunger works in nearly 50 countries around the world to carry out lifesaving programmes in nutrition, food security, water, sanitation and hygiene.

The Apple Pip Stud Earrings that I am wearing have been beautifully made using 24 carat gold plated Peruvian silver and navy enamel. As seen in the photo, the earrings can be worn in two different ways. The simple pip studs can be worn by themselves or together with the navy and gold rounds. They make a great day-to-night statement piece!

These lovely earrings can be bought HERE and retail at £65. While you are there, make sure to check out the two other brilliant collections by this brand!

SAYA DESIGNS

SAYA Designs is a hair accessories brand that makes whimsical handcrafted pieces from recycled wood. The brand’s founder, Victoria, was inspired by a deep love for nature and a growing awareness of environmental issues, in particular deforestation. When I met her a few weeks ago in Oxford, she discussed her desire to reflect the stories behind objects used in the manufacturing process.

For example, while searching for ways to sustainably source wood for her designs, Victoria came across Made & Wayan, wood sculptors who dig up and recycle root wood from old commercial plantations across Indonesia. These roots are left behind by large-scale tree harvesters and take hundreds of years to decompose, adding little value to the soil. SAYA Designs uses this material, which would otherwise simply waste away.

Each SAYA Hairpiece is inspired by the rich flora and fauna of Indonesia, where Victoria has lived. These stunning pieces are hand carved by skilled Balinese artisans, with whom Victoria regularly keeps in touch and whom she visits every year. The pieces are then finished with natural wax and oils. The artisans have flexible work conditions with Victoria and receive a fair pay.

SAYA hairpins are the ideal sustainable alternative to common plastic and elastic hair accessories. Each piece can be worn in various ways, with lots of different hairstyle options for every day of the week! You can check out some tutorials for fun ways that you can wear your SAYA Designs HERE.

Did I also mention that SAYA Designs also plant trees for every purchase? Having met Victoria, I was truly inspired by her commitment to ethical manufacturing and drive for sustainable companies to be well-informed on key issues.

The Taro hairpiece that I am wearing can be purchased HERE (in rose wood and golden tamarind)  and retails at £33.

ISA/III Oc S.A.S

ISA/III Oc S.A.S was founded by Isabel Ortiz Cárdenas in Bogotá, Colombia. Fascinated by  the diversities of cultures in Colombia, she decided to embark on a journey to capture her colourful roots into urban handbags. Preserving rural tradition and its high quality in her designs, Isabel has nevertheless found a way to create a new look that fits well in urban settings.

Isabel´s aim is to create a simple product, a valuable long-lasting handcrafted piece that reflects beauty and quality. Her designs do not follow trends, but rather offer a product that captures histories and traditions of her country.

Her lovely pieces are going to be shown in an exhibition honouring fashion and design in New York at the Museum of Art and Design on 7 and 8 November this year. So if you are around you definitely must go check it out!

You can see more from the amazing ISA/III Oc S.A.S collection HERE.

Baume Watches 

Baume Watches, which belongs to the Richemont Group, creates modern, mindfully designed, entirely customisable, unisex watches that are both sustainable and vegan. The watches have interchangeable straps and are made from cork, cotton, line, recycled PET and alcantara. This stunning watch is such an exciting addition to the industry and hopefully will pave an ethical way that more timepiece brands will follow. With their drive to transform the watch making industry into a circular economy, Baume Watches have proven that you can create a luxurious time piece without the use of leather or precious stones.

By adopting a made-to-order approach, Baume minimises its environmental footprint. Upcycled from multiple materials, these iconic watches illustrate the brand’s commitment to mindful design, demonstrating that is indeed possible to reinvent waste into a beautiful, highly durable products while also cutting CO2 emissions and having a positive impact for the sake of the planet.

Head HERE to customise your own Baum watch! Prices start at £430.

Laura Elizabeth Jewelry 

Laura Elizabeth Jewelry is a sustainable jewellery brand from America inspired by nature. Every piece in the collection represents snippets from personal stories and life experiences that have affected Laura, the brand’s designer.

The pieces are handmade in the United States or through fair trade artisans in India. You can find out where a piece was made by looking for the location symbol on the product’s page. The pieces are made from recycled metals and plated with either gold or silver, with many pieces cast in an ethical and eco-friendly factory in Los Angeles without the use of harsh chemicals.

You can wear the Lady Luck and Marni necklaces by themselves or paired up with other jewellery. I would personally pair them up as I think they look stunning together! You can buy both necklaces HERE.

This post was sponsored by multiple brands, each of which products I tested myself and absolutely love. As always – all content, suggestions, and opinions are all my own. 

5 Sustainable Jewellery and Accessories Brands You Will Absolutely Love "Diamonds are a girl's best friend" sang Marilyn Monroe, and countless women have since wished to be accessorised by this sparkling gem.

[literallynataly]

Lou Black + Acurrator: The Cruelty Free Sister Brands to Look Out for This Fall

Lou Black + Acurrator: The Cruelty Free Sister Brands to Look Out for This Fall

If you are on the lookout for beautiful timeless garments to add to your fall capsule wardrobe look no further! Sister brands Lou Black and Acurrator are London-based cruelty free brands with personality-defining pieces.

These brands aim to produce fashion that is easy on the eyes and the environment. Although not yet 100% sustainble, Lou Black and Acurrator have so far incorporated organic…

[literallynataly]

BYEM: Sustainable Fashion with Scandinavian Heritage

BYEM: Sustainable Fashion with Scandinavian Heritage

BYEM is a London-based clothing brand born out of the desire to unite timeless style with ethics and sustainability. Their collection is for a modern woman who wants to simplify her wardrobe; the designs, influenced by Scandinavian heritage, is a mix of minimalism, bold shapes, textures and classic aesthetic.

BYEM was founded in 2016 by Emilia. After spending most of her life down the fast…

[literallynataly]

Cosy is a word that is used in this house on a regular basis. If you are Scandinavian or in my case, married to one, the word practically gets engrained into your vocabulary. The word cosy literally means “comfort, warmth, and relaxation” – a state of being that is necessary in order to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Having visited quite a few Swedish homes over the years I have noticed that they often have a few things in common, in that they are – light, airy, and filled with plants. As Sweden has around 6 cold and dark months per year, Swedes tend to fill their home with green plants, a colour that come Autumn, they don’t get to see for a very long time. Having lived in tropical weather for most of my life, the weather in England to me has been nothing short of gloomy. So when we got around to re-decorating our home this Summer (and had our carpets replaced with wooden floors) I decided to embrace the word cosy and bring a warm, yet light and green feeling into our home. From light coloured furniture and wooden pieces, to the ongoing additions of plants, we have slowly been getting our home and state of mind ready for the dark months ahead.

MID-MORNING FIKA 

HANGING BASKET: PIXIE’S MAGIC HOOK | COFFEE: PERCOL | WOOL BLANKET: KLIPPAN | DALA HORSE: GRANNAS

  Since becoming pregnant I have come to appreciate slow mornings, giving myself space and time to start my day. I found that since beginning my morning slowly my stress levels have gone down and productivity throughout the day has gone up. Slowing down makes it possible for you to be more present in your own life, and gives you the ability to better connect with the world around you.

We decided to place a hanging rack within reach to our bed in preparation for the busy and sleepless months ahead. We were given a hand-crafted hanging basket from Pixie’s Magic Hook, a perfect storage space for all things you need within arms reach. At the moment it stores a book, our reading glasses, and a night light; but something tells me that in the very near future it will be storing all things baby! The rack also holds a beautifully crafted woolen blanket from Klippan for those cold nights ahead, which quite frankly could not come soon enough.

As far as pregnancy goes I have cut down massively on the amount of coffee that I consume, and have been mostly sticking to the occasional Matcha or Chai Latte which have a much lower caffeine content. I did however indulge in a mid-morning fika last week when I received coffee from Percol, a fair-trade coffee company from London. Fika is a wonderful Swedish tradition which quite literally translates to “taking a break” – one which usually includes several cups of coffee (in my case one cup) and lots of baked goods.

COSY LIVING SPACE

CROCHET PLANT POT COVER: PIXIE’S MAGIC HOOK | FACE PILLOW: BLÄSTA HENRIËT |GEOMETRIC PILLOW: HETTY + SAM | CERAMIC MILK BOTTLE: HELEN REBECCA

  Creating a comfortable and inviting living space in our home was my number one priority as it is the area where we spend most of our evenings together. For my bookworm husband, a cosy reading space was a must (the only arguments we ever have are about the amount of books he purchases on a monthly basis). I decided to put this little corner together using the second-hand chair and footstool which we purchased a few years back and accent it with a contemporary geometric pillow from ethical.market which is fairly made by Hetty + Sam.  The hand-crafted milk bottle ceramic vase also from ethical.market and made by Helen Rebecca fit beautifully with the accents of the pillow.

Our green storage corner which very much brightens up the room has both a fern plant and a palm plant (a great plant choice to purify the air in your home). Our lovely little fern sits snug in a hand-crochet pot plant cover from Pixie’s Magic Hook. A wonderful sustainable addition to the home, made from recycled cotton rope this plant cover can also be used as a small storage space.

The couch, my favourite hang out spot at the moment (there is some major couch potatoing going on as I am nearing my due date – less than three weeks to go, eek!) has been given the addition of a large eco-friendly linen pillow from ethical.market which has been screen-printed in the north of Sweden by Blästa Henriët.

PERSONAL CARE AND WELLBEING

SKINCARE TRIO: SEASCAPE | SMALL BALM: MOA | CANDLE: HOME OF JUNIPER | TOWEL & ROBE: THE MADDISON COLLECTION

  Personal care and well being has become such a part of my life since becoming pregnant. Sure, I of course lived as healthy as I could prior to pregnancy too but once you have another person to consider in the equation when it comes to your body and state of mind everything changes.

I have been very weary about the products that I have been using on my body for the past 8 months, I have barely worn any make up, and have cut down on the amount of skin products that I have been using – mainly sticking to natural oils such as coconut oil to soothe my skin and soften my hair. I have however been given a few pregnancy safe products from Seascape which I tried out and absolutely loved. You can read more about my review on these products HERE.  A product which I am also very much looking forward to using this Autumn/Winter is an MOA organic multipurpose healing balm given to me by Home of Juniper an online retailer with a focus on conscious consumerism. This balm can be used for pretty much anything from chapped skin to soothing a cold.

I have never given much thought to the towels we bought for our home. These were products that in my mind were solely used to dry ones skin without a second thought as to what brand they come from. I can now tell you that my mind has changed once coming across  The Maddison Collection who’s soft and luxurious towels and bathrobes far exceeded my expectations. I have come to appreciate that ones home is their sacred space that needs to be invested in. It was something that I took for granted whilst living in a warmer climate, as most of my time was spent outdoors. But having lived in the UK for a few years now, where the winter is not so pleasant, suddenly every space and product in my home gained importance.

And of course no room can have a warm and relaxing atmosphere without lighting a candle. As someone who loves candles I have made sure to place some in every room of the house, they do wonders to cosy up a room on those colder Autumn nights and I very much look forward to using the stag candle from Home of Juniper.

[ THE ETHICAL AND ECO COMPANIES BEHIND THIS STORY ]

– PIXIE’ MAGIC HOOK – 

ABOUT: Pixie’s Magic Hook is an online collection of eco-friendly crochet home decor. Handcrafted in the UK by Tunde Balaz, her beautiful creations have a diverse range of uses. Tunde started this small business out of her love for crochet but also as a way to support her three children whilst taking care of them at home. As all of her items are hand-crafted they can be colour customised to suit your home aesthetic.

HOME SPACE: Mid-Morning Fika & Cosy Reading Corner

PRODUCTS:

Crochet Storage Basket Deep storage basket, made of 100% recycled cotton rope. Ideal desk, nursery, bathroom storage, plantpot cover.

Hanging Storage Basket Ideal storage in nurseries and kids’ bedrooms, great for storing nappies, soft toys or pyjamas.

WHERE TO BUY: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Pixiesmagichook

  – ETHICAL.MARKET –

ABOUT: ethical.market is a UK based online retailer with a selection of ethical brands who care about the impact of their supply chain and believe in full transparency. This great retailer was co-founded in 2013 by Raquel, after learning about the hidden costs of cheap clothing and the terrible toll taken on workers in developing countries. ethical.market place stock a range of affordable and design led products by talented independent designers which show that one does not need to compromise on their aesthetic in order to shop ethically.

HOME SPACE: Cosy Reading Corner

PRODUCTS:

Hetty + Sam Duck Egg & Copper Green Geometric 100% Cotton Cushion A modern, contemporary cushion featuring a green and copper geometric design fairly made using eco-friendly ink.

Blästa Henriët Large Eco-Friendly Cushion with Linen A cushion with natural linen responsibly hand screen-printed in Northern Sweden using eco-friendly inks and carefully crafted by hand in South West London.

Helen Rebecca Ceramics Milk Bottle Ceramic Vase with Landscape Painting  Porcelain milk bottle shaped vase cast  from vintage milk bottles fairly handcrafted in the UK.

WHERE TO BUY: https://ethical.market/

  – THE MADDISON COLLECTION –

ABOUT: The Maddison Collection is a an sustainable luxury homeware company that produced bathrobes, towels and cotton accessories which are enjoyed worldwide in homes as well as luxury hotels and spas. This brand’s mission is to protect and improve the environment, promote workplace wellness and support clean water rights. They do this by ensuring that all of their luxury good products are manufactured ethically and sustainability and through social impact partnerships. You can read more about their green manufacturing practices HERE.

The Maddison Collection has been awarded the Butterfly Mark, sponsored by Positive Luxury, in recognition of their commitment to social and environmental sustainability. You can head over to Positive Luxury’s website to find out all of this brand’s positive actions.

HOME SPACE: Personal Care and Wellbeing

PRODUCTS:

Bordado Towels – Environmental designed, this trimmed in universally appealing grey, towel is made using soft, luxurious, lightweight and 100% cotton. Generously sized so wrap it up, bathing rituals completed!

Bordado Hooded Bath Robe – Hooded Bathrobe – 100% combed cotton with beautiful millennial grey trim. For every bathrobe sold a ceramic water filter is gifted directly to one Haitian or Dominican family.

WHERE TO BUY: https://themadisoncollection.com/

  – SEASCAPE –

ABOUT: Seascape is a sustainable natural bath and body brand, with all ingredients sourced from he beautiful island of Jersey in the Channel Islands. Their soothing products are free from parabens, silicones, SLS, petroleum, artificial colours and artificial fragrances. Seascape does not test on animals and all of their products are suitable for vegetarians. Their bottles and packaging are also recyclable.

Seascape has been awarded the Butterfly Mark, sponsored by Positive Luxury, in recognition of their commitment to social and environmental sustainability. You can head over to Positive Luxury’s website to find out all of this brand’s positive actions.

You can read more about the wonders of Seascape products in a previous post HERE.

HOME SPACE: Personal Care and Wellbeing

PRODUCTS:

Unwind Lotion body Lotion containing 100% natural essential oils of Jersey Lavender to soothe and relax and exotic Ylang Ylang to balance the mind and ease tension.

Soothe Body Mist Containing 100% natural essential oils of Jersey Lavender to relax and calm the mind, mandarin to rejuvenate the senses, and a selection of other essential oils to delicately fragrance and refresh.

Soothe Sleep Oil 100% natural essential oil of Lavender to relax and calm, as well as other essential oils to balance the mind and deliver a gentle fragrance. Use on pulse points for a relaxing good night’s sleep.

WHERE TO BUY: www.seascapeuk.com

  – KLIPPAN –

ABOUT: As a family business which started in Sweden in 1879, Klippan has become a leader in home textiles. This brand offers unique products such as blankets, throws, cushions, table linen and home decoration made out of pure fibres. In order to manage production and fully control the quality of their products, all of their blankets and throws are made in their own factory. All lamb’s wool  used in their products comes from New Zealand and can be traced back to the individual sheep farmer. In this way the brand can ensure high quality whilst being eco-friendly. For the last few years Klippan has also been able to offer throws and blankets made of wool from farmers running sheep breeding using ecological principals (eco wool). You can read more about their eco wool HERE.

HOME SPACE: Mid-Morning Fika

PRODUCTS: Wool Blanket a mix of marino and lambs wool blanket to keep you warm and cosy through the colder months.

WHERE TO BUY: www.scandinaviandesigncenter.com

  – HOME OF JUNIPER –

ABOUT: Home of Juniper is an only retailer for the home and gift giving, with the focus on conscientious consumerism. They treasure the stories behind the products they sell, and research the companies and individuals that they work with. This great retailer are proud to support British designers and makers, while also support ethical craftsmanship from further afield!

HOME SPACE: Personal Care and Wellbeing

PRODUCTS: 

MOA Apothecary Balm made in England organic multipurpose healing balm that is great to prep for the fall with temperatures dropping. moisture chapped skin and lips

Gold Stag Candle  made ethically in the UK by family run company with at least 10% from the purchase of each bee candle will go to BBCT. A British charity, they help protect and research our lovely bees.

WHERE TO BUY: www.homeofjuniper.co.uk

DISCOUNT CODE: use “nataly20” for 20% off entire shop until the 25th of September.

  – PERCOL COFFEE –

ABOUT: Percol is a fairtrade coffee company based in London ; this company believes in good coffee from seed to cup. Providing people with a good cup of coffee is important to the people behind this company, but so is making sure that the people and environments that grow our coffee are supported, respected and protected. This company was the first ground coffee on shelf to bear the Fairtrade mark as well as the first coffee brand to use single origin and single estate beans leading to more awareness about the provenance and characteristics of different coffees. Since then, they have also chosen to support the Rainforest Alliance, Soil Association and, of course, our own initiatives too.

Sign their petition to make coffee cups recyclable HERE.

HOME SPACE: Mid-Morning Fika

PRODUCTS: Barista Gold – a classic instant coffee that is smooth and bright!

WHERE TO BUY: Tesco, Ocado, Waitrose, and more!

  – GRANNAS – 

ABOUT: Handcrafted traditional Swedish wooden horses produced hand-crafted by this company since 1922. The horses can be bought online or you can visit their lovely factory in Nusnäs. It is absolutely worth the visit! (my husband and I drove there prior to our wedding to have horses made as wedding favours).

HOME SPACE: Mid-Morning Fika

PRODUCTS: Dala Horse – hand-crafted wooden horses painted with traditional Kurbits technique. These little horses make for a great addition to the home.

WHERE TO BUY: www.grannas.com

  This post was sponsored by multiple brands, each of which I myself selected for this collaboration. As always – the story, all content, experiences, suggestions, and opinions are all my own. 

A Light Sustainable Living Space for a Cosy Autumn Cosy is a word that is used in this house on a regular basis. If you are Scandinavian or in my case, married to one, the word practically gets engrained into your vocabulary.

[literallynataly]

Seascape: Natural Pregnancy Safe Skincare Products Made in the UK

Seascape: Natural Pregnancy Safe Skincare Products Made in the UK

Pregnancy is such an important time to give your skin some TLC! All those raging hormones can throw everything off balance for good (amazing lustrous hair) or bad (horrendous acne). More importantly as the skin on your bump grows and stretches it tends to become dry and itchy, which can be extremely uncomfortable – especially when wearing tighter fitting clothes. There are many different types of…

[literallynataly]

Baby Björklund Coming this Autumn

Baby Björklund Coming this Autumn

If you have wondered why I have been a bit absent the past few months, it’s because I have never been so sick in my life! Extreme morning sickness (in my case all day sickness) was a real struggle in the first trimester and part of the second trimester. Looking at my phone (or any screen) made me nauseous, talking would exhaust me, walking down a busy street would make me queasy, even my…

[literallynataly]

Lola's Apothecary: Romantic Natural Beauty and Wellness

Lola’s Apothecary: Romantic Natural Beauty and Wellness

Lola’s Apothecaryis an award-winning natural beauty and wellness brand with hand made products from the English countryside. At the heart of Lola’s Apothecary is a vision of beauty and grace, a holistic lifestyle enhanced by moments of sensory indulgence, and couture beauty products with fine fragrances and natural skincare. Their mission is to bring the sophistication and elegance of luxury…

[literallynataly]

Aura-Soma Pegasus: Eco-Friendly Mood Elevating Perfumes

Aura-Soma Pegasus is an eco-luxury perfume company that combines visual and non-visual energies of colour, essential oils and herbal extracts to evoke a beautiful aroma that lightens the wearer’s mood. By using purely natural and organic oils extracted from flowers and other plants, as well as alcohol made from grain that has been certified organic by the Soil Association, Aura-Soma Pegasus has…

[literallynataly]

Slave to Fashion: Modern Slavery in the Fashion Industry I received the book 'Slave to Fashion' in December and took it with me on my trip to the USA over the holidays.

[literallynataly]

Climate Change – Is Winter Ever Coming? A few days ago, it felt as if every corner I turned seemed to be the focus of the warm summer heat lingering in the air.

[literallynataly]

Our Ocean is Choking on Plastic A few weeks ago I read an article on BBC called “Dirty Laundry: Are your clothes polluting the ocean?

[literallynataly]

Cerimani: Luxury Jewellery Crafted with Purpose

Cerimani is an ethical art-deco luxury jewellery brand that invests in impoverished communities in Thailand.  Their wonderful collections are ethically crafted with conflict -free traceable gemstones and precious metals. Each Cerimani purchase is a tribute to the craftsmen and provides water and educational opportunities to their villages. Cerimani pledges to work closely with the Karen…