I love leather! Leather shoes, bags, clothes (I am still holding out for THE perfect leather jacket)! The smell, the feel, the look, the flexibility, the natural history of the material, everything about leather speaks to me. I love the history of leather--my fiance's grandfather was a tanner--and the fact that leather pieces still exist from my great relatives is even more motivation for me to love it. So you could imagine my anxiety when I was asked about my position on leather by a Vegan friend, and now having to present this after Emma H.'s moving post towards her version of going Vegan.

Within ethical fashion, there always seems to be a blurred line as to where Leather fits in--for me the main arguments circumnavigate around sustainability and the animal cruelty movement within Western societies. On the one hand it is argued that leather is a by-product of a larger industry where all of the parts are used. On the other, vegans and vegetarians argue that leather is a by-product of a barbaric process which results in the killing of animals, not to mention the inhumane overcrowded conditions in which alot of Western meat are raised. 

For Vegan Faux Leather, another argument is made as to whether this is really a more ethical (or rather 'eco') and sustainable material. Yes, it is made from synthetic materials, but the process by which it is made is deemed as environmentally unfriendly in the long-run, especially those made from petroleum and other compounds--such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). There is also the factor of the amount of energy that goes into processing and manipulating such fibres into a leather-looking material. In addition, vegan leather is not as long lasting as real leather. I want something that is not only ethical through process, but sustainable through use. I want the "natural" texture, that doesn't remind me of plastic, and something that is breathable and has the imperfections and unique qualities that real leather has. Is it really better to use Vegan 'Leather' that has a limited lifespan, over real leather that is meant to last past my own? And is the whole point to be just animal friendly? Or should we look at the whole picture of sustainability and environmental impacts?

We're starting the holidays off with our ETHICAL CHRISTMAS GIFTLISTS FOR HER. As Emma and I have so much we wish to share, we decided to do this a bit differently. We've both made our own lists, with what we're hoping to find under the Christmas Tree this year and what we would gift to our female friends and family. Here are my lists for the season. Deciding the gifts to give is half the fun, and with so many unbelievable ethical options there's no excuse not to give responsibly this Christmas.

To Shop for these items select the correlating numbers for more information

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20

Photos edited by Graphic Designer - Alicia Hope

Selina Cheong S/S 13 Collection

SELINA CHEONG greeted me at her door in a second-hand Gharani Strok Dress, which matched her personality to the T. It was bohemian, yet chic, and told of an easiness that one covets in a friend. I first met Selina Cheong at Ecoluxe's Showroom during London Fashion Week S/S'13, whilst perusing the plethora of ethical designers and their merchandise. They were luxurious, elegant, and fun all at the same time, with a serious craftsmanship to be reckoned with.
She offered me some green tea before taking a tour of her home, which was a juxtaposition between modern fixtures and vintage and repurposed accents. Her house, which she owns with her partner, is filled with repurposed items, from the old newspapers that once insulated the walls and floors which are now works of art, to the beautiful stain glass window which now reflects a spectrum of colourful rays into the house. Even her rug told a story of her consideration for the objects she surrounds herself with--a vegetable tanned Persian rug, which left me wanting one of my very own. After showing me the other repurposed and upcycled items in her home, we walked up another flight of stairs to her home studio for an initial look around and a chat about what led her into designing luxury bags.

Taken by Stacy H. [iPhone]

As we talked about her bags, she took me through her current and previous collections, which did not disappoint. She even took out a light metallic piece of leather, which she revealed was vintage Chanel that she found in a warehouse in France. I found myself drawn to all of them as her bags range from work suitable to party perfect. The range of leathers--ranging in the most striking colours and textures--did not hurt as well, which gave her consumers a variety as well as a chance to have a bespoke bag.

Now, I was in her studio drinking her tea and exchanging stories about our other halves. We found shared interests in many things, which momentarily made me forget why I was really there. The Interview. What follows is further insight into Selina Cheong's world as a luxury bag designer, her sustainable ethos, which makes her bags aesthetically and ethically pleasing, and what inspires this small business owner to keep on pushing towards a more sustainable way of approaching fashion and accessories.