JOCELYN WHIPPLE might not be someone you may have heard of, but if you are in the ethical fashion business you would have certainly been exposed to her hand at some point. Heard of a little something called "The Green Carpet Challenge" with Livia Firth? Well Jocelyn is one of the key experts behind this initiative, and possesses an array of roles--ethical stylist, ethical fashion buyer and consultant, blogger, and the list goes on. With her ethical fashion agency, ELEMENT 23, it seemed as though there was nothing Jocelyn didn't know about the sometimes confusing world of ethical and 'eco' fashion. Going by this alone, you can imagine why someone so petite would leave such a large impression on The Conscience Collective. So, we sat down with Jocelyn at one of her events--this was part of another ethical initiative she is involved in called PureThread--and spoke with her about the 'eco' fashion industry in the UK, how it all came to be, and advice she has for small ethical brands as we get 2013 rolling.

FACECUP is the brainchild of hairstylist, design enthusiast, fashionisto, and my dear friend Tommaso Dall'Osso.  I met Tommaso in a New York Salon some years ago, where we started our friendship over a midnight cake fight and prosecco. Since then, his career has been growing in New York and now in Milano, where he has re-relocated to further develop his artistry. So, imagine my surprise when he informed me that he was starting a business, which combined fashion, design, health, 'eco-chic', the salon experience and a good cup of Italian coffee, I had to have him elaborate on this concept. What does coffee and hair have to do with each other? Then imagine my bigger shock when he announced that he would be moving to Seoul for a few months (or so...)? I needed to pry and find out what was going on in the life of someone who I see as up-and-coming in the Milano scene, and what his motivations were for this coffee brand, which has such a unique place within the coffee and fashion industries. 

FACECUP is a stylishly branded Italian coffee for everyone. It is meant to make the consumer feel empowered through it's sheer sexiness, and its overall eco-chic philosophy. "Facecup is meant to make you smile," Tommaso reiterates as I ask him where he sees the brand evolving. It frames its business ethos on the fusion and balance of opposites, especially when it relates to cultural disparities, whilst maintaining an environmental and Fair Trade stance. The latter is projected holistically through as they offer Joana Carvalho's Eco-Kit for Coffee, which is a made from biopolymer, non-polluting, biodegradable materials produced from a single injection mold and contains a saucer, cup with handle and spoon. The coffees and teas draw on his teams' cultural backgrounds and experiences across five continents, which is epitomised in the very nature of the branding. With names like Giorgio to describe a very Italian coffee, or God Shave the Queen to represent his Ceylon English Breakfast Tea, these drinks not only reference pop culture and comedic wordplay, but also promotes a healthy lifestyle through the added vitamins that promote internal and external rejuvenation.

What follows is an interview with the CEO & Founder of FACECUP, Tommaso Dall'Osso.