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NEW ZEALAND – Somewhere beneath that long white cloud lies a positively fertile field of sustainable fashion talent. Favourite of New Zealand born actress Anna Paquin, STARFISH is one of the country’s leading forces in green fashion with several boutiques across New Zealand stocking the best in local and international eco-designers as well as the label’s own striking collections of classic styles with dramatic and feminine twists.

Made 100% on shore in New Zealand from the best in sustainable fabrics, Starfish is also the first fashion label to present a completely eco collection at New Zealand Fashion Week – right down to the girl’s knickers!

Peppermint, The Global Issue, Issue 6

If you’re interested in leading a greener, cheaper and more sustainable life in New Zealand then check out this positive guide by journalist and TV presenter Francesca Price – $39.99.

In it Francesca covers the ethical issues in a wide range of everyday subjects including shopping, parenting, food, building and renovating, holidays and community life.

Each chapter includes interviews with well known Kiwis who are looking for greener options in life including: David Trubridge who talks about his approach to furniture design; Kay Baxter who shares her wisdom on gardening and self-sufficient living; and Starfish’s very own Laurie Foon who tells of her determination to make fashion more sustainable.

A great feature of this book is the inclusion of websites and details for recommended suppliers, enabling instant access to more information. There are also full-colour photographs throughout making this an attractive and inspirational guide.

Buying fairtrade products makes a real difference for the producers in the developing countries from which they originate. It means a better future for the workers, their families and communities by providing a fair income for a job well done.

To celebrate all thing fairtrade, come into Starfish during the fortnight for the following deals and events:

‘COTTON’ PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION: faces, lives & realities normally hidden or forgotten by the clothing industry – All proceeds go to the Wichi Art School for under-privileged children in Varanassi, India;
10% OFF KOWTOW – Fairtrade organic cotton clothing;
10% OFF DESCENDANT – Fairtrade organic denim (wgtn only);
OXFAM COFFEE BREAK (Fri 14 May) – Come in and enjoy a cup or PEOPLES COFFEE. All proceeds go to Oxfam;
OXFAM KEEPCUPS – Purchase your own barista friendly reusable coffee cup. All proceeds go to Oxfam;
VEJA FAIRTRADE TRAINERS – New season colours and styles.

25 Nuffield Street, Newmarket. Ph: (09) 522 5094.

Starfish is thrilled to bring a full range of sustainable fashion to Auckland for the month of May, opening a pop-up-store in Newmarket.

On the racks will be an extensive selection from the winter 2010 collection BRAVE NEW WORLD, as well as a range of other labels and footwear that offer both ladies & gents style with an ethical edge including:
Kowtow fairtrade garments, Descendant organic denim and Veja fairtrade trainers.

Last month creative design students from Massey University in Wellington spent three frantic days dreaming up ways to save the planet – with a new take on the humble glass milk bottle coming out on top.

The students’ projects were submitted to the “Eco-Innovations” design competition set up by Earth Hour to highlight the critical thinking and creative practices that can lead us down the path to a more sustainable future.

Yesterday a panel of expert judges including photographer Anne Noble, architect Ian Athfield, and fashion designer Laurie Foon decided the winners from nearly 20 entries.

The winning entry, titled “No Frills, Just Refills” is a social and product innovation that revisits the old fashioned refillable glass milk bottle. Karl Thiart, 4th year design student from the winning team said, “By changing the way we purchase milk at our local supermarket we could cut back the carbon emissions of plastic bottle production and transport miles. We designed a self-service milk station that brings glass bottles that are 100% reusable and recyclable back into supermarkets, and is fun to use.”

Laurie Foon, whose company Starfish focuses on sustainable products said, “This design solution brings the ideas of sustainable purchasing to the mainstream and revisits the nostalgia of the beloved milk bottle. A perfect, efficient solution for the inefficient daily cycle we have currently – our family would use it – when can we start?”

WWF’s Executive Director Chris Howe concluded: “Eco-innovations is a hugely exciting and important initiative because it calls on New Zealand’s young creative minds to offer solutions for a more sustainable future.  We really hope some of these designs one day see the light of day and that the exposure for these young designers helps set them on a path to successful careers in as sustainable business innovators.”

Visit www.wwf.org.nz/earth_hour/eco_design_competiton/ to view the winning designs and all shortlisted entries.