(An ad for Beulah, a socially conscious British brand favored by the Duchess of Cambridge.)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, are wrapping up their much-publicized tour to India and Bhutan. As always, Kate’s fashion choices are a favorite topic, and What Kate Wore is a thorough and excellent source for all of the sartorial details of the royal wardrobe, as well as for interesting tidbits from the trip itself. The Duchess’s pieces for this tour are obviously both carefully selected and culturally appropriate, and Kate seems to have moved outside her normal style and is trying brighter colors and bolder patterns, too.
The Duchess dresses like many women and favors a mix of high-end designer pieces combined with “high street” or fast fashion finds from brands like Zara. She is also frequently seen in dresses or suits by Beulah, a British brand working to improve the lives of trafficking victims, and in pieces by Roksanda, a luxury design house with pieces produced mostly in the United Kingdom, France, and Italy.
A few of Kate’s tour pieces have received a lot of attention, especially as Fashion Revolution Week quickly approaches. Earlier this week, Kate wore a dress from Anita Dongre that instantly became popular and crashed the designer’s site with a flood of orders. This article examines more about the popularity of the dress and gives readers a glimpse into the lives of the two seamstresses who worked on the piece, Babita Sabath and Chanda Padol.
For the third day of the tour, Kate wore a long-sleeve maxi dress from a little-known brand called Glamorous, which retails for around $40 at ASOS. I did a bit of research and could not find the origin of this piece, so I have to assume it’s a fast fashion design made in India, Bangladesh, or somewhere similar. The Duchess chose to wear it while she met with children living in a shelter, and I expressed my concerns about the dress in a comment on What Kate Wore. The site has a strict comment policy, and while my thoughts were polite and respectful, my comment was not published. On Tuesday, a fire broke out in a garment factory in Mumbai, and as many as 100 workers were trapped inside. It’s important to remember where our clothing comes from and who makes it, and just because a piece looks culturally appropriate for a specific situation does not, in fact, mean it is. I think this is a relevant conversation worth discussing and I was sad to see my comment censored on such an informative site.
Yesterday, the royal couple arrived in Bhutan, and Kate wore a traditional Bhutanese half-kira, a hand-woven skirt with intricately stitched designs, created by weaver Kelzang Wangmo. She is renowned for her work and has been honored by the Royal Textile Academy. What Kate Wore’s post on the kira is interesting and includes a short video of Wangmo as she reacts happily to news that The Duchess of Cambridge wore her design.
As Orsola de Castro explains in the article mentioned earlier, The Duchess of Cambridge is a “fashion revolutionary in the making.” While she hasn’t fully committed to wearing only ethically made clothing, she recycles and wears her clothing for many years, which is a great way to start on the path to sustainability. I’d love to see more ethical choices appear in Kate’s wardrobe, and I’m grateful that the popularity of her style allows for this discussion to take place.
Fashion Revolution Week begins Monday and you can read more about it here.
I loved wearing statement t-shirts as a teenager in the 1990s, silently rebelling (or, in reality, fitting in) as I walked through the overcrowded halls of my middle and high schools. As I got older, the thought of posting my political beliefs in full view seemed inappropriate, even obnoxious, in the places that I frequent. But as Fashion Revolution Week begins April 18th, I’m thinking more and more about statement tees these days.
(A hemp t-shirt by Superego.)
I’ve worn my clothing inside out to draw attention to the artisans that made it, and I wear ethical clothing every single day. Occasionally, I’m able to spark a conversation when someone asks about a piece, but it doesn’t happen that often in public. Statement tees, always in style, seem like the perfect chance to share a quick image with a bit of information that might stick in someone’s mind.
(People Tree’s Lipstick Tee, designed by Zandra Rhodes, is bound to spark some comments.)
British designer Katharine Hamnett started the political t-shirt trend in the early 1980s, and her pieces were quickly copied and co-opted by different movements (“Frankie Say Relax” was a favorite dupe). She was one of the world’s first truly ethical clothing designers, and you can read more about her in this fascinating 2013 interview. Hamnett was honored by Queen Elizabeth II in 2011, years after wearing a political tee to meet Margaret Thatcher, and in more recent years, she has come under fire for criticizing the policies of former Prime Minister Tony Blair. She is proof that fashion holds a lot of power and influence, and the political t-shirt is Hamnett’s weapon.
(In a bit of Fashion Revolution-related news, clothing retailer H&M has announced a clothing recycling campaign set to begin the week of April 18th. Critics call this corporate greenwashing, and Fashion Revolution has responded.)
(Rosemira Skincare is natural, organic, vegan, and working to become palm-oil free.)
As I continue on my ethical journey, I’ve been researching the ingredients that go into my favorite skincare products. My skin has changed dramatically over the last year, which is a natural part of getting older, and my concerns have shifted from oil and acne control to sensitivity and redness. While browsing Makeup Alley, a great resource for skincare reviews, I read about Rosemira Skincare and became intrigued immediately.
Rosemira began in the kitchen of Mira Herman, whose training as a chiropractor, acupuncturist, nutritionist, massage therapist, and herbalist formed the basis for this brand that is natural, organic, mostly vegan (a few products contain beeswax), and working to become completely palm-oil free. I’ve emailed Mira several times and she is always incredibly responsive and kind. I first contacted Mira at the urging of my fellow ethical writer, Magdalena, an activist for palm oil-free living. Mira easily answered my questions and recommended a few products that would work well for my sensitive skin. I was immediately struck by her genuine desire to help her customers, and I’ve been a supporter ever since.
These are my favorite products in the line, so far. I’ve used each for several months and really enjoy them.
Rosemira’s Unscented Rich Moisturizing Cleanser & Night Cream has become my favorite night-time moisturizer, and I apply it as the final step after washing my face, then applying a serum and a prescription for rosacea. It can also be used as a cleanser and is a wonderful beauty balm. A little goes a long way and I’ve found that it helps to balance and restore my skin’s moisture, especially in the winter.
Mira recommended the Melodic Skin Plus Rosacea Repair Serum to me, and I’ve had great success with it, as well. The “Plus” version is not available on Rosemira’s site yet, but Mira has made it available to her customers with rosacea, and I was able to order a bottle. If you are interested, you can contact her directly for advice. This serum is very calming and reduces redness with one pump.
With my first order, I received a sample of Rosemira’s Sweet Coconut Body Butter and instantly fell in love. I’ve since ordered a larger size jar for myself and as a birthday gift. The body butter is incredibly rich and has the most delicious scent, and I’ve found it useful for removing any bumps that appear on my arms periodically.
I am continuously impressed with the products that I try from Rosemira, and if you are interested in truly natural skincare, start with a sample kit to introduce yourself to the products. You can also contact Mira directly to request more information. Her products are gentle and soothing, and her kindness and care for her customers is evident, too.
