February 2013
1 post
Eating pancakes. Lots of pancakes. #CookingwithHJ
Today is Shrove Tuesday. It’s reasonably well known that, historically, households would eat up all their ‘fun foods’ (my words, not the social history books’) before a lenten fast begins on Ash Wednesday.
What I found out today, thanks to the BBC, is that the families feasted on the eggs and milk (and the meat and fish) because they are the foods that would go off during...
October 2012
7 posts
#CookingwithHJ - Archive
Some of my older followers will have already seen this, but I saw it by chance earlier this week and thought my active blog should be home to a post written over a year ago, but no less a favourite.
~
June 2011
For some time now, I have been trapped in a sort of long-term ‘Domestic Goddess Internship’; a bastard of a journey, long hours and unpaid - but ultimately, if you make it, a...
The Tavistock Tunic - a review for...
#OrganicCotton #SustainableFashion
Last week, an email from Seasalt appeared in my inbox.
Hello,
A little while ago you purchased some lovely things from Seasalt and if you haven’t already, we’d like to invite you to write a review.
*Rolls up sleeves, rubs hands* Right then.
The item in question was the Tavistock Tunic.
Now, anyone who knows me, knows I love a tunic. I fell...
3 months on: @ArthurandHenry
#SustainableFashion #Menswear
Since Arthur&Henry arrived earlier this summer, my outlook on the direction of ethical menswear has vastly perked up.
I caught up with Clare Lissaman, co-founder of Arthur&Henry, to see how they were getting on.
It’s been an incredibly busy few months for the team, and Clare tells me the response to Arthur&Henry’s launch has been...
The True Cost of Cotton, by @EJFoundation →
#EthicalFashion The Exec. Summary is very, very much worth a read, even if you don’t have time to read the whole (excellent) report.
#SustainableFashion @FinisterreUK and The Cligga...
I should point out now that 1) I am Cornish and 2) I am exceptionally biased towards any labels who are a) ethical and b) based in Cornwall. So it will come as no enormous surprise to find that Finisterre is one of my favourite ethical fashion labels.
[Actually, we could stop there, but I’ve got about 300 words of subjective adoration and coo-ing cocked and ready to spaff all over the page,...
For Sale: World's Most Sustainable Suit
@MandSpress #SustainableFashion -
Way back in the beginnings of the summer, I wrote a fairly verbose post describing (in bullet points, no less) my absolute delight at the news that M&S were launching the World’s Most Sustainable Suit.
At the end of August, M&S posted this rather nice looking graphic, announcing the launch to the wider audience of consumers.
(A snapshot of...
Shwopping - @MandSpress launch Shwop Coat
#SustainableFashion
Earlier in the year, Marks & Spencer (fondly known in my books as ‘Marks & Sparkles’) launched their Shwopping campaign, announcing the splendid Joanna Lumley as their new ambassador, and famous face for the campaign. This was part of M&S’ Plan A - a scheme I have previously championed.
I’ll leave you to do your own (brief) reading if you...
July 2012
9 posts
Ship Shape & Bristol Fashion
#SustainableFashion #Bristol
Back in January, I was commissioned by Aardman Animation’s internal Environment Group to put together a crash course introduction to ‘Ethical Fashion in Bristol’. I enjoyed writing it so much, the original draft is over 2000 words. Here’s the final (thankfully, abbreviated) version.
Bristol is one of Britain’s greenest cities - but what has it...
5 tags
Pants to Poverty - birthday gifts
#SustainableFashion @pantstopoverty
NB: I am definitely not perving on male models in their Fairtrade undercrackers, this is serious fashion journalism. Mostly.
For me, the summer is a busy time of year. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and whining about the weather.
I bloody love Pants to Poverty. Their Pants for Life gift, is literally the gift that keeps on giving.
Buy a Pants for Life...
Sale Picks - Part I
#SustainableFashion
My pick of the #organic womenswear on sale NOW.
Tip: click on the images to be taken to the product page.
Brand: Orla Kiely for People Tree
Fabric: Organic, Fairtrade cotton (100%)
Price: £72 (was £90)
If you’re reading this post, you’re probably fairly familiar with People Tree already. They’re accessible (in price and design), and you’re likely...
6 tags
Arthur & Henry
#SustainableFashion (@ArthurandHenry)
I am chuffing excited about this one, chaps. Bring out the bunting, sound the trumpets and pop on the kettle!
After much anticipation, Arthur & Henry have arrived.
Essentially, for those of you who are time-poor, you can stop reading here and go in the good faith that this shirt is exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
The facts -
The website:...
5 tags
Chic&Seek Showcase: @thechicseeker
#SustainableFashion
Chic&Seek offers a service that is, if not unique, definitely best in class.
Tara Nash-King, founder of Chic&Seek, works with women of London to recycle their wardrobes. But we’re not talking recycling a polyester dress from H&M that’s been put on a hot wash one too many times and sagging a bit around the hem.
Chic&Seek sells pre-loved designerwear. The...
4 tags
M&S: World's most sustainable suit
#SustainableFashion -
I tell you what, I am chuffing excited about the launch of Marks & Spencers’ proclaimed “world’s most sustainable suit.”
Seriously.
The suit is set to be part of Marks & Sparkles’ ‘Saville Row’ suit range, so the price point of the suit (£349) will work in harmony with the rest of the range of finely tailored suits.
A quick run down...
6 tags
Future Fashion: Junky Styling
Wednesday evening, I was in Shoreditch House, clutching my Amstel half feeling extremely underdressed.
I was here, amongst Shoreditch’s finest and best dressed, for Amisha Ghadiali’s seminar series - Future Fashion.
This evening’s guest was Kerry Seager - one of the founding partners of Junky Styling. Amisha led her through an hour’s questions about the brand, their journey and their work.
...
April 2012
3 posts
Zelda. Is it taking over my cognitive assessment...
I would argue that, to an extent, yes.
I am certainly not going to stop playing Ocarina of Time, I have a bloody princess to save (a princess with green eyebrows. I ask you, green) and I’ve been through an emotional roller-coaster*.
Earlier this morning, a friend of mine popped in to see me.
Now. The way in which I see this scenario as something of a Zeldaic** sequence is this:
He...
Easter Polenta Cake #CookingwithHJ
I am spending Easter with my boyfriend’s family. As a sort of offering of thanks for eating their food & bandwidth, I was set on making an Easter polenta cake.
I should say now, that it’s an “Easter” Polenta Cake, solely on the grounds that I made it during an Easter bank holiday. It could be “Christmas”, or ‘Summer Solstice” polenta cake for...
5 tags
And, with that, Lent ends.
#boozefreeTaskis #ginfreeTaskis
I am pleasantly surprised that I managed to avoid alcohol for the entire duration of Lent.
Actually, wait. I would like to account for two occasions in which alcohol entered my body. Once was through red wine gravy, and the other was in the form of beer batter. But frankly, if you’re going to have Toad-in-the-hole, you need to do it properly.
Now, my...
March 2012
1 post
Lenten update
I love it when even your closest friends surprise you with their kindness and sensitivity.
I have, so far, had a successful Lenten fast. I am booze-free.
What has struck me, is how easy it’s been. I wasn’t particularly gin-sodden (all the time) before I started, but I’ve hardly noticed not drinking alcohol.
It’s not had an impact on my socialising (Peartizer is my...
February 2012
7 posts
“HJ, these cheese scones… Did you forget the cheese?”
A pledge - Lent
I am not one to embrace or observe events and holidays of religious calendars. Christmas, to me, is an excuse for the family to hang out and drink port in alarming quantities, and eat my Granny’s roasties by the baking tray-ful.
However, the 40 days and nights of Lent is a good length of time to… Dry Out, and give my immune system to re-group.
So, for lent, I am giving up alcohol....
That @flissquick takes on Chris Brown →
A brilliant letter in @vagendamagazine on Chris Brown at the Grammys this week, by Fliss Quick.
“if a boy punches you in the face, it doesn’t actually mean he likes you”
stress-relief
It’s been shouted at me suggested that I don’t embrace regular “stress-busting” activities.
Given that I live in an area of Bristol where a person with a vagina is not entirely safe to run about the streets in a pair of trainers and very old running shorts after dark, I have taken to home-fitness DVDs (think, “fat lass has a go” - thanks Sarah Millican) and...
January 2012
2 posts
sustainable fashion - finding the definition
Sustainable, ethical, eco, green, recycled, zero-waste, carbon-neutral fashion - whatever you call it - as a concept and industry niche is difficult to define.
This is the closest I’ve got to:
When environmental and social justice during the design, production and distribution process is considered as important as the aesthetic of the product.
Charlie Boots - Bath, Press Release
CHARLIE BOOTS OPENS NEW SHOP IN BATH
Charlie Boots (named after the Bristol designer behind the project) is an edgy, ethically-minded shop on Broad Street, Bath offering clothing, art, accessories and homewares.
Newly opened, and already enjoying a healthy interest from local fashion-seekers, the shop’s ethos focuses on ’conscious design’ and favours sustainable, recycled, upcycled...
