Vivienne Westwood's Ethical Fashion Africa Project

Vivienne Westwood has just launched her Ethical Fashion Africa Collection a collaboration with International Trade Center and Yoox. The collection which has been designed exclusively for Yoox will be available from both her own website and the Yoox website and  features a selection of handbags and keyholders in Vivienne Westwood's signature style with a taste of Africa. The bags are made in Nairobi using recyled materials including roadside advertisement banners and safari tents.

The interesting thing about this collection is that whilst it was launched at a party held with the glamorous backdrop of  Pitti Immagine in Florence it is about much more than luxury and glamour. Vivienne Westwood has always done things her own way and this project is no different. She wanted to send a bold and innovative message that is all about giving women the power to make a difference for themselves by teaching them precious skills. She actually travelled to Nairobi in Kenya to teach the African women  how to use locally-sourced, recycled materials to produce fashionable bags and accessories. The result is not only a fabulous collection but also the learning of new skills that will help these women to live sustainably both now and in the future.

This amazing initiative has also been documented and made into a film by photography legend Juergen Teller.

I am a big fan of Vivienne Westwood anyway but this collection is great, it looks lovely and sends a really postive message. Having such an influential designer getting involved in the ethical fashion industry in this way can only be a good thing. Perhaps other designers will follow suit.

My favourite is definitely the last. What do you think?

You can check out the whole collection and video here.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

Weekly Shopping and Goodies - Handbag Special

picture from Shopping and Info

The Fashionable Housewife dishes on the Miche Handbag that is growing in popularity. It's the interchangeable purse with changeable shells to suit your every mood!

A Few Goody Gumdrops is giving away a fabulous must-have beige patterned skin clutch from Aspinal of London. Enter to Win!

Bags, Bling & Beauty features not one, not two, but THREE Tory Burch Bags.

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy cannot get enough of cross-body bags for Spring!

Fashion Cents encourages you to throw some social consciousness in your bag -- eco friendly AND fashionable handbag options from Matt & Nat.

Fashion Fille is seriously digging this awesome handcuff clutch!
http://www.fashionfille.com/2010/01/you-really-could-wear-handcuffs.html leexlee33

Fashion Hippo loves Marc by Marc Jacobs New Q Groovee Bag Win It Now!

Quinta Trends introduces Tot-a-Lot, fashion for baby twins.

Shopping and Info loves this Marc Jacobs cross body bag.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com dishes out their favorites bags for 2010 for every budget!

Style Eyes tells why she loves the no nonense style of an old school satchel

StyleMaven says Oh-la-la, I'm in L-O-V-E to Lanvin's lovely Amalia Shoulder bags!

The Bare Skinny gives Marc Jacobs "Stam" handbag options for every budget.

TheFind Blog is giving away a gorgeous classic leather "Paris" satchel handbag from Aspinal of London, CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway now!

Old School Satchel

The best stuff in life always stays in fashion or at least comes back often. I suppose fashion is a bit like natural selection, some stuff falls by the wayside and some stuff just keeps on going. When it comes to the Old School satchels, they are sturdy, practical and usually made from a good quality of leather. Their no nonense design also fits great with the nineties trends that are coming back in including minimalism and grunge.

This satchel by Renewal from Urban Outfitters is a real gem. I love the practicality, the chunky look and the colour. It has a lovely chunky closure and even pen holders inside. Renewal makes limited edition items that have been created from a collaboration of carefully sourced vintage trims, buttons and surplus or recycled textiles so not only is it a gorgeous option for a handbag in a kind of nostalgic way, it is also ethical and eco friendly.

How heavy is your handbag?

Oversized handbags are right on trend at the moment. Those who carry large handbags usually manage to fill them with all sorts of daily essentials including gadgets, make up, phone, baby stuff, even a laptop. But the ever growing weight of our handbags can likened in some cases to the weight carried by a hod carrier, have you ever though about how mush stress this puts on our backs, necks, joints and shoulders.

You will probably carry your favourite oversized handbag every where with you causing a constant and ongoing stress from the weight of the bag. Bad posture is a problem amongst those carrying heavy bags as they lean the opposite way to compensate for the weight of the bag. As the body is a whole and interconnected system, strain in one area can also lead to problems in another area. Heavy handbags can cause back, neck, shoulder and joint pain, muscle spasms, sprains and even headaches.

A report in April this year by The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress published on Medical News Today warned that the carrying of heavy handbags can have significant health risks. Gerard W. Clum, D.C., president of Life Chiropractic College in West Hayward, Calif. recommends using a bag with two shoulder straps or pulling a carrying case with wheels.

I love the idea of this new collection of leather bags with wheels by Tiffany Anisette. Perfect for travelling, carting my laptop around, an every day hand bag and filling with baby essentials. Tiffany is a professional massage therapist and the handbag was concieved after she noticed so many clients suffering from back, neck and shoulder problems due to their heavy handbags.

I love having a luxurious handbag and this is the perfect practical and stylish solution. They are available in department store in the US or from http://www.tiffanyanisette.com/.

Top picture - Katie Holmes with Hermes - from http://frankiequitefrankly.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-like-big-bags-and-i-cannot-lie.html