2020’s conscious gift guide for fashion lovers
From hand-painted tank tops to completely sustainable high tops, DIY polo necks to popular puffy bags. Here are our favourite sustainable and independent fashion brands of 2020
Em Davies' popular puffy bags. Our favourite is picnic blanket blue! (Image courtesy of Em Davies Shop)
Em Davies Shop
Em Davies Shop is an independent fashion brand with an aim to provide conscious audiences with high-quality original fashion and accessories. From orate shirts to denim bucket hats, each item is handmade with passion. However, it was Em’s limited edition puffy bags that won over the heart of Blue Chip.
“Making the puffy bags has changed my mindset on how to become more sustainable within my clothing. I have a couple of collections coming up where there will be less quantities of each piece. I hope to continue these small collections, using less fabric and making less waste,” Em said.
Em Davies recently dropped another collection of the popular puffy bags over on her Instagram, so head over to her website if you’d like to snag yourself a bag.
A 70s wonderland of Lauren Chivers’ wonderful designs all packaged up (Image courtesy of Lauren Chivers)
Lauren Chivers Studio
Lauren Chivers Studio is THE slow-fashion haven for 70s lovers. Expressing that it’s ‘cool to be kind,’ each passionate product is made-to-order over 3 to 4 weeks and uses zero waste or minimal waste patterns. All excess fabrics that are leftover are then used to create swing tags, scrunchies and matching face masks. Because who wouldn’t want to coordinate their outfit with their face mask?
We adore Lauren’s transparency over on Instagram where she shares illustrations of her upcoming ‘winter bloom’ collection. Keep a close eye on her website to be the first in line for her blooming beautiful garments!
The Epoch London’s floppy bucket hat and matching mask (Image courtesy of The Epoch London)
The Epoch London
Handmade, vegan, natural, sustainable; these are all terms that make our ears prick up with pleasure. They’re also all the qualities of independent London-based brand, The Epoch London, who makes each and every timeless item by hand upon order.
Trinidad is the owner, designer and sole seamstress of the “house of toile,” designing items that represent each contrasting client. “I believe that each piece expresses moods, carries history and memories that can easily be re-lived when wearing the garments again,” she sang.
Try not to get lost in The Epoch London’s narrative designs whilst scouring their latest shop updates via Instagram and online.
Megan H Makes handmade crochet green bandana - the perfect bff accessory (Image courtesy of Megan H Makes)
Megan H Makes
Bristol is a hub of ingenuity and endless seas of colour. It’s also home to the wonderfully talented crochet brand, Megan H Makes. From berets and bandanas to bras and cardis, Megan makes the most exciting crochet clothing around.
Perfect for the modern happy, hippy woman (or anyone that enjoys the liveliness of colour) Megan’s items are inclusive, custom and made to order. There is nothing quite like welcoming in the new year in a bright bucket hat, and there’s nothing wrong with wearing it all year round!
Check out Megan H Makes link tree to find all the different sites she sells her fun fashion on, including Depop and Instagram for custom orders!
Rebekah Peters, identifiable by her black bob and red beret, modelling her own ‘made’ item (Image courtesy of made.REBEKAHPETERS)
made.REBEKAHPETERS
Rebekah Peters (identifiable to her 59k following by her slick black bob and red beret) started out over on Depop. Spending her days recycling vintage clothing for the masses, Rebekah recently made the bold move of opening up a shop featuring her own hand-made, reworked gems titled made.REBEKAHPETERS
Rebekah now turns old bedding and curtains into a series of vibrantly patterned dresses, culottes, plunging jumpsuits and tops. Our favourite HAS to be this Iberis top (unfortunately now sold). But fear not! There are countless gorgeous designs available on both her Depop shop and her ASOS Market Place store. Find both lined on her Instagram account.
Lydia Bolton’s beautiful green stripe asymmetric shoulder dress is a breath of fresh air (Image courtesy of Lydia Bolton)
LYDIA BOLTON
Do you want to look good as well as know that the clothing you buy is DOING good? Well, Lydia Bolton is definitely for you. Featured in Miss Vogue, Grazia and The Face (wow!!) Lydia Bolton makes luxury clothing for women out of unwanted textiles. From beaded mask chains to DIY polo neck kits, from tablecloth wide-leg trousers to the perfect ‘going green’ Christmas bundles. You, just like me, will get lost in a wave of glorious gift ideas.
If you fancy getting your hands on some DIY clothing (or even want to cheat and get it ready-made) check out Lydia Bolton online and on Instagram.
We could lay around in nothing but this unisex Joopsie waistcoat forever (Image courtesy of Joopsie)
JOOPSIE
Joopsie is another one of our favourite crochet brands by innovative craftswoman, Jessie Aoife who’s on a mission to combine more sustainability with hand-made fashion. “Joopsie prides itself on individual designs, both custom and pre-made. Whether you're on the lookout for a treat for yourself, a gift for a lucky family member, colleague, or friend, Joopsie is the place for you.”
Joopsie sells the most adorable beanies as well as gorgeous waistcoats and camis adorned with flowers. What’s wonderful is that majority of Joopsie items are unisex. Jessie is also currently experimenting with new materials for 2021; focusing on becoming less crochet-based and adventuring into painted clothing, up-cycled garments and sewn bags!
Get your hands on a Joopsie custom piece this season, and the next, and the next… Find your perfect item over on Instagram and online.
Just three of J.Meg’s incredible, hand-painted tank tops (Drool) (Image courtesy of J.Meg)
J.Meg
We entered tank top heaven when we came across J.MEG. The infatuating, independent brand based in South Wales was founded by Jess who designs and handmakes each item with unquestionable precision. “Focusing heavily on print and bold colours, each piece is hand-painted and playful, giving every item its individual little quirks.” Each made to order item takes Jess around 2-3 weeks to make and ship to your door.
If we had to choose a favourite item it would 100% be this floral, long sleeve piece! Although unavailable at the moment, you can keep up to date with J.Meg’s next drop via her Instagram and online platform.
“Ooh baby, ooh, say oooh” The one and only, Stevie jumpsuit by Delphi Eva Design (Image courtesy of Delphi Eva Design)
Delphi Eva Design
At first glance, Delphi’s designs look literally too glam to give a damn. Founded in North London in 2020, Delphi actually creates her unique clothing from deadstock fabric. Once the fabric is sourced, it’s up to Delphi alone to design the garments, construct them and even make sure they’re all packaged up beautifully for her customers
On her online site, Delphi notes, “I use vintage 1960’s and 1970’s patterns which I have loved and saved since I was a little girl, always giving every pattern a unique Delphi Eva modern twist.”
Check out her Instagram for a sneak peek of her cosy classics!
The trainers that are completely eco-friendly and pro-planet (and fashionable!) (Image courtesy of Good News London)
Good News London
Good News London sell a huge variety of sustainable trainers in all shapes and sizes. Our favourites are their corduroy low trainers, especially in baby blue. Good News London makes trainers for both men and women and is incredibly transparent online about its sustainable story, making their popular trainers from recycled rubber, organic cotton and a recycled eco-lite footbed.
Working by the motto “when you’re small, you gotta fix what you can,” Good News London vow to continue using fewer processes to make their products; ensuring all materials are eco-friendly and socially progressive, and donating deadstock and faulty shoes to the homeless and refugees in need. What a great brand!
Support Good News London on Instagram and head over to their website to find out more.