Go Green Team! 10th July Green Britain Day is almost here...

10th July 2009 - "Green Britain Day" marks the launch of Team Green Britain. The aim is to have London leading the world on climate change by 2012. Whether you're an eco-beginner or an eco-warrior, you can get involved.

And we will be doing our bit by hosting a special ‘Pure Design Team’ and would love it if you joined us. In fact we are also looking for a great team name so please email us your ideas. ‘Eco Angels’ is the current winner! We’ll be having a ‘swishing party or two’ (swopping clothes) as I have my eye on Victoria Pendleton’s fabulous Wayne Hemingway dress! Watch a video on Victoria and Wayne Hemmingway on our YouTube Favourites. We will also be getting involved in lots of green activities and sharing everything we learn about how to lead a greener life with you. It's also a great way to meet like-minded people, so don't be shy - get involved and help us make the most of our team!

As part of my personal commitment to a greener life I am turning veggie for a week in the run up to Green Britain Day. Which is no mean feat for a BBQ and bacon butty loving girl!

Did you know The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation has estimated that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions? And I recently read in The Guardian that vegetarians are less likely to develop cancer than meat eaters; so hopefully my week will do my body some good too. And as I tend to do all the cooking, my husband (who is Dutch - which equals carnivore) will involuntarily be vegging out with me. So that's two people living a greener life already!

If you do want to get involved all you have to do is first sign up on the Green Team website, and let us know that you'd like to be part of our team by dropping us an email, or by subscribing to our newsletter and opting in to receive our news and updates and to be a member of our Green Team when prompted. Subscribe now!

In a few weeks time we will be in touch with more information about the team and how you can get more involved.

And as a wider member of Team Green Britain, you'll also get the opportunity to win a day at the London 2012 games....

Go Green, Go Team!

Celebrity Eco Chic! Cameron Diaz models EaKo's Firehose Belt

Cameron Diaz was photographed in US Vogue by Mario Testino wearing EaKo's firehose belt.



Lead singer Jarvis from Phoenix Rose wears EaKo's Big yellow...

Coming Soon: New Work by Sustain Ceramics

We have exciting news! Sustain Ceramics have a new collection of home accessories about to launch at Pure Design and its' divine! Crafted by Sarah Jerath, the innovative ceramicist behind Sustain Ceramics, the range of pots and ceramic bottles are beautiful in their simplicity and rich mocha and light cream colours. They look like they would be perfectly at home in an exclusive beach house in Maine New England, they really are very eco chic....

All handcrafted by Sarah in her eco friendly studio in Yorkshire - Sustain Ceramics is award winning in its use of recycled materials.

We will be launching Sarah's newest collection in our Newsletter and including 'an offer you can't refuse', so if you like what you see, don't miss out - sign up now. As a member you also get loads of other fabulous offers, including a birthday gift, and you will hear about all our new products and designers before anyone else!

Sarah also holds a very special place in our heart as she was our first eco designer to join the Pure Design eco family and we are delighted to see that she is making new, and still very fabulous earth friendly work.

Here are a few preview piccies...

Your chance to win! Faux Boa Bracelet by eco jeweller Ann Ellis

Become a Pure Design member before the end of June and Refer-a-Friend and be entered into our prize draw to win contemporary eco jewellery by our newest eco designer Ann Ellis.

Not a Pure Design member yet? Subscribe now. As well as great prize draws and exclusive member discounts, as a member you will be the first to hear about our new designers and products available in store.

Already a member then don’t miss your chance to win! Refer us to a friend now. Remember to tell your friends to name you as their referee when they sign up.

This range of Ann's eco jewellery includes necklaces, bracelets and earrings from just £25.00 available exclusively from Pure Design. And this competition is a great chance to start your summer eco jewellery collection for free!

Ann Ellis is an award winning eco designer and member of the Society of Designer Craftsmen. Her colourful and contemporary jewellery is crafted from recycled plastic bags. Eye-catching and light and comfortable to wear, Ann has transformed the infamous plastic bag into an affordable and coveted eco fashion style statement. What a star!

BEST FASHION PRODUCT – Awarded to Cherchbi’s silk printed scarves

Our congratulations to Adam Atkinson, who has been awarded BEST FASHION PRODUCT by a prestigious design panel at PULSE London trade show. Adam is the very talented designer behind Cherchbi’s, a British Made luxury ethical and eco accessories range. Cherchbi’s range includes fabulous quality leather men's belts and regionally iconic solid brass ‘ram’, ‘ivy’ and ‘fern’ key fobs, and of course his glorious silk scarves.

Organiser’s of the London trade fair PULSE 2009, Clarion Retail, sourced a broad range of industry experts to judge the 2009 awards. The judges for this year were Katie Law (Evening Standard) for Best Home Product and Best Gift Product; Janet Fitch (Journalist and jewellery consultant) for Best Fashion Product; Nigel Carrier (creative director, Clarion Retail) for Best Dressed Stand; Michelle Alger (furniture and lighting buyer, Liberty) for the Liberty Award to Best Newcomer; and Poul Madsen (founder, normann copenhagen) for the Best New Product in Launchpad.

Janet Fitch, journalist and jewellery consultant said of Adam’s scarves “This product is beautifully designed, authentic, eco-friendly and had a vintage look with a modern take and they are unisex too!”

Adams range is available from Pure Design, all belts and key fobs come gift wrapped in a presentation box. Adam is also extending his range with new belts and scarves available from Pure Design soon...

A little bit more about Cherchbi….

Cherchbi appears in the Domesday Book describing the town of Kendal on the edge of the English Lake District, the company's home. It is an ancient English word meaning 'by the church'. The company was born out of a fascination with Britain's design and manufacturing heritage, and in reaction to the quality and environmental impact of mass produced goods. All goods are entirely manufactured in Britain. Each item displays craftsmanship and detail reflecting its individual inspirations. The materials used are natural. Many are sourced locally and they are all sustainable, recyclable or biodegradable.

Don't miss out! Sale Ends Sunday 31st May

A great chance to nab some fabulous environmentally friendly gifts and eco fashion bargains this weekend. Don't miss out!

Pick up some of our bestsellers for less including Stella Corrall's Recycled Vinyl Coasters were £16.50, now a steal at £13.20 for a set of six! EaKo's fabulous fire-hose accessories including their slider belt was £25.00, now £ 20.00, and Tamasyn Gambell's fabulous organic cotton scarves were £35.00 now £28.00!

As our products are exclusive and many are limited editions it is first come first serve. So don't hang about, bag yourself some designer accessories right now...

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Images: Stella Corral Recycled Vinyl Coasters, EaKo Fire Hose Slider Belt and Tamasyn Gambell's Organic Cotton Scarf.

Elaine's 'Swish' new eco wardrobe!

I am a swishing convert! I went to my first ever swishing party this Friday and thought it was fabulous! Always having been a fan of charity shops since my mum worked in the Good As New Boutique in Singapore, I have considered myself a bit of an expert when it comes to sniffing out second hand bargains, and I am amazed I have only just discovered the fulfilling and surprising world of swishing!

For those of you who haven't heard of swishing or who aren't quite sure what it's all about...it's an informal but organized get together/event where everyone brings at least one item of quality to 'swish' which basically means to swop. And yes it does have to be a quality item. There wasn't anyone checking through the bag of goodies I brought to swish and vetting them - but it's just not part of the spirit of swishing to bring rubbish along. One of the ladies whose cute Rasco designer clip on earrings I swished up summarized it perfectly in that swishing makes you feel really good. As well as finding amazing goodies for free that you can take home, you do also get a real buzz from seeing someone else’s eyes light up when they spot the shoes you brought along. E-baying just isn't as much fun.

Need I mention the fact that over 1 million tonnes of clothing ends up in UK landfills every year - and swishing can help you cut your contribution to that in half! So if you are looking to revamp your wardrobe and cut your carbon footprint this is a great way to start.

For my first swishing experience, I took along a two pairs of shoes that I had only worn a handful of times. One pair that just didn't suit me at all, and the other pair were too big. If you are a woman reading this post, I am certain you don't need to ask why I bought them in the first place as you have no doubt done exactly the same at some stage - they looked great in the shop! And both were snapped up by eager swishers, so somewhere someone is wearing them with pride. And I now have space on my shoe rack for my swished treasures: a pair of silver Kenneth Coles and gorgeous and environmentally friendly Terra Plana pumps. I also found a great pair of Gingham clip-on earrings that turned out to be by New York designer 'Rasco'. Result!

I did almost mistakenly swish my Cacharel perfume away, that I had forgotten was in the bottom of my carrier bag, and had to disappoint the organizers slightly who had thought it was a very cute swishing gesture - woops! I did however take along lots of pretty belts and necklaces as well as the shoes that didn't fit me - so hopefully I contributed as much to the evening as I gained.



The swishing party I went to was the first ever accessories swishing party, organized by Futerra's Helen Spoor, and although the organizers said they were nervous about handbags being brought into the competitive environment, the evening turned out to be a real success.

I also met some great people, like-minded and all embracing a new and fun way to be stylish and sustainable. All in all it was a great evening and not only do I intend to keep in touch with some of the new friends I made, I plan to host some swishing parties of my own - so ladies of Richmond and Kingston, get rooting through those wardrobes and get ready for a summer of Swish!

For more details about swishing visit www.swishing.org