This weekend we’ve visited a design marked here in Gothenburg, where we discovered Linn Bjelkne and Design for life. I really like her simple and ingenious idea to remake old winebottles into candlesticks, glasses and vases. (image Design for Life)
Today we’ve started the day with a visit to a thrift store. Note to self: don’t bring the entire family to an extremely crowded thrift store… But even so we managed to find these kids chairs for just 20 crowns each. Perfect for Ester’s room. Finding second hand stuff for the kids is pretty easy and much more fun (not to mention cheaper) than buying new stuff.
Yesterday I also did a little bit of “new”, but still sustainable, shopping. One pair of fair trade/organic cotton jeans from Imps & Elfs (half off at a local kids store!) for Eowyn. And then we ordered a new spring jacket for her, also half off (here) and also organic, from Blå Tomat:
Most of Eowyn’s and Ester’s clothes are second hand but sometimes it’s nice to buy something new for them. And there are so many organic/ecological kids clothes brands popping up that it’s quite easy.
(last image via Blå Tomat)
Last winther I searched all over for ecological and warm shoes, without any luck. Recently I found these beak boots, via UnderbaraClara. They’re cool, ecological, look comfy, and according to Clara, they’re also warm. Perhaps next year?
(image UnderbaraClara)
About a year ago Pop boutique opened up a shop here in Gothenburg. They sell vintage furniture, ceramics and vintage clothing as well as their own clothing label Pop, which, according to their web site, is made with ethics in mind and, in some cases, from recycled fabrics.
The other day I went in and found a dress for the wedding we’re going to in a couple of weeks. I like wearing dresses, but it should be casual dresses preferably combined with something even more casual, like sneakers. But I’m not so bold as to wear sneakers to a wedding (hence the Swedish hasbeens). :) Therefore I was quite happy to find a dress that I feel pretty yet comfortable in that still works for weddings (which is the only semi-formal events I go to these days). And it was a bargain as well!
I’ve longed for a pair of Swedish Hasbeens for some time now, and this week I finally made my order. After much hesitation I decided to go for a pair of “Peep toe high”, in bright red. We’re invited to a wedding this spring and I never have any nice shoes to wear to such occations, since I usually only wear really comfortable sneakers or ballerina shoes. These we’ll be perfect and they’re are not too high so I can still walk in them. Now, all I need is a dress that goes with the shoes! :-)
(image via Swedish Hasbeens)
Today we’ve been for a walk in Linnéstaden here in Gothenburg. We visited a couple of vintage/second hand stores in search of a mirror for our hallway. Not until the last shop, Once upon a time, we found one. I’ll have to show you later. But it was something along the lines of this one (from Fine Little Day):
The shop was a pleasant surprise, not only did they have some really cool vintage interior design details, but also a good selection of ecological fasion. Must visit again!
(image Fine little day)
It makes me really happy that there are so many brands of cool, ecological children clothes popping up! The Zigzag jumpsuites from Organics for kids are way cool. I wouldn’t mind dressing myself as well in that pattern (albeit not in a jumpsuit…). I really must look into ecological adult fashion more, so that I also can be cool and sustainable. :)
(image via Oiidesign)
I really like illustrator Lisa Jones’ prints, for example this one, Night Owls:
Or Town:
Both are printed on recycled paper and both prints are also available as a kitchen towls made of fairtrade ecological cotton.
(images Lisa Jones)
It’s been really cold this winther, so I’ve been on the hunt for new pair of boots that are both warm, comfortable, ecological/sustainable and that look fairly nice (of course). Pretty impossible to find as it turned out. Does any of you know of any warm and sustainable shoes/boots? I could hardly find any winther boots that are made in a sustainable way. Well, in the end I took the easy, and probably most sustainable, way out; I decided to re-use what I already have, a pair of warm wool-socks (and, for those really cold days, an old pair of hiking boots):
This spring however, I will definitely get me a pair of fair trade/ecological sneakers from Veja:
