Thursday 16 May 2013

New finds

I went along to Home - Pulse this week, the Home & Gift Fair held at Earls Court and found these interesting...

Just Trade - co-founder Laura Cave set up the company in 2006 based on providing a route to market for Zoe Creations, a jewellery project based in the shanty towns of Lima, Peru. 




They work together to create ranges that are commercial for the European market and help and develop the skills of the artisans. Its just great that the creativity of two worlds come together to make such beautiful product. 

These bird necklaces are so sweet and carved out of a nut! The collection derives from a collaboration with a bunch of guys in Ecuador - The Sosote Fair Trade Project. Read about it briefly below and their website. Very clever and such detail. What a celebration of traditional art fused with contemporary design!



The boys select a Tagua nut which is as close to the desired finished shape as possible, the nut is then formed using a variety of sanding processes and polished to achieve a smooth surface.  The eyes are made by drilling into the nut and filling the hole with ground up Tagua shell, then sealed with varnish.

I was then treated to a cleansing wash sampled on my hand from Ruby Red. I chatted to Mike, the co-owner, and what a lovely chap he is! We were both extolling the virtues of travelling to South East Asia as they, like me, took time out to enjoy the other side of the world for 18 months and it too was fruitful for them! 
All their products are made from plant ingredients, free from harsh chemicals, SLS, parabens, sulphates, petrochemicals, synthetic perfumes and dyes and are never tested on Animals - sounds good to me!
This body cleanser left my skin so soft and contains Lime, Mandarin, Coriander and Cedarwood. Loved the fact they they have incorporated coriander - a very Eastern influence. I've found my love and use of coriander has grown ten fold since experiencing it so much in Asian dishes.....yummy!!

And finally, the very wonderfully quirky and of-the-now, Andrea Garland. Her website is so lively, it makes ya wanna buy it alllll

The scents are so delightful, chamomile and oak, palma rosa, rosehip and lavender, lemon balm and cedar wood - a veritable aromotherapy feast!



Her Beauty Products are all handmade from scratch, in Hackney, London. All her ingredients are natural, sourced from ethical suppliers and as many as possible are organic. 

Her packaging design is very unique in that there are watercolour paintings to appreciate on every product and her clever use of vintage tins and glass containers allows for a more ethical and green approach to skincare. 



She has even included lip balm filled jewellery!



Annnnnd, they offer a refill service to ensure your packaging is continually re-used. Get in!!

It was so refreshing to get an organic and natural brand experience that supports the environment, the natural world and us as human beings! Hear hear to sustainability!

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