We heart H&M. It's cheap(ish), kooky, and collaborates with top designers, most recently Jimmy Choo and Sonia Rykiel, creating cheaper ranges for us to get our eager paws on.
But just when we thought the store had done all it could to get us in it's good books, it's gone that step further, announcing a range of ethical ventures.

First up is it's collection of floral and feminine fashion made from sustainable materials including organic and fair trade cotton. However, we hope this collection doesn't backfire like it's last ones where the chain was accused of using contaminated cotton for it's organic ranges.
Ann-Sofie Johansson, Head of Design at H&M said: "We are extremely proud of our Garden Collection for women, which has organic and recycled materials in every single garment.

"The mix of floral prints and khaki classics works brilliantly for day to evening wear."

Continuing the ethical traill the store will also launch its first ever range of skin care with certified organic ingredients. The range of everyday essentials includes shower gel, body scrub, body lotion, hand cream and lip balm, all of which are based on natural, organic ingredients and certified by Ecocert - Europe's biggest certification body for organic and natural cosmetics.

We think a little bit of ethical spending may be in order here.

Plastic bottles aren't exactly what we would call fashionable, but add an iconic designer into the mix and you'll get something pretty special.

Dame Vivienne Westwood has paired up with SIGG, the makers of the original Swiss reusable aluminium bottle, to build awareness around the unnecessary waste and harm that is caused to the environment by purchasing and throwing away plastic.

And the strange, but kooky relationship between the two has created a limited series of design bottles.

The three Limited Edition Vivienne Westwood bottles will be launched later on in 2010 and will coincide with the main fashion shows in June and September.

These limited editions will be exclusively available to invited guests and backstage at the shows, as well as a few available in selected stores.

Get drinking ladies. It's good for fashion and the environment.

We didn't think there was anything better than an eco-friendly pair of shoes.

That was until we heard about Melissa's and Jean Paul Gaultier's plastic collaboration. The Brazillian footwear label, best known for its partnership with Vivienne Westwood has announced a new range of footwear with Mr Gaultier, which includes a recyclable 10cm plastic stiletto.

The JEAN PAUL GAULTIER X MELISSA stilleto, which launches in June comes in black, beige, lime and tangerine and will cost £160.

Wear your heart on your feet and step into Valentines day in creative style with Converse's new collection. The retro footwear designer has launched RED RED LOVE, which includes a range of heart adorned trainers sporting a "I heart ........." logo.

The idea is you fill in the blank with whatever it is you love with a waterproof fabric pen.
And if you think that sounds good then you'll be even more pleased to hear that proceeds from this creative range go to fight AIDS in Africa.

We think we may have to buy more than one of these pairs as we just can't decide what it is we love the most (yes, we know, any excuse).

We're going down the charity and ethical fashion route today and next on our list of companies doing good deeds is Asos.

The online shop has launched Asos Africa, a clothing and accessories collection that has been designed, sourced and produced by community groups in Africa.

The range has some gorgeous pieces of clothing including funky jumpsuits and blazers all crafted using traditional African techniques.

And if that wasn't enough to get you rushing to your PC, all the workers are also given training and fair pay.

Another famous figure has put their designing hat on for charity and this time it's Dita Von Teese. The burlesque dancer has teamed up with Moschino to create a luxurious eye mask with 30% of the proceeds from each one going to amfAR, a charity that funds AIDS Research.

The handy sleeping accessory is made out of silk-satin with a spotted lack overlay and pictures of eyelashes we can only dream about as well as the words 'Dita for Moschino' in rhinestones.

We think its a perfect way to look good while you're sleeping, and a great way to shut out any light or disturbances. We just wish someone would think about creating some designer earplugs to match.

Buy the mask exclusively from Moschino now for £100.

We're more than used to hearing about celebrities designing clothes and accessories for different stores, but we get really excited when they're doing it for charity.

Stepping in to this category is Scarlett Johansson who has designed a bag for Mango and all profits raised will go directly to Oxfam to help victims of the Haiti earthquake.

Of her collaboration with the store she currently models for, Scarlett said: 'I'm thrilled to be collaborating with Mango to promote conscious consumerism and to benefit Oxfam's Haiti Earthquake Response Fund. By purchasing this bag, you are helping to provide life saving assistance like clean water to the people of Haiti.'

The bag, which will be sold in Mango stores for £16.90, has the message 'Helping the people of Haiti', plus the actress's signature beside a print depicting an ancient map of the country.

We'll be bagging ourselves one of these as soon as they hit the shelves in March.

t's February, and that means only one thing; the shops and the internet are gearing up for the biggest love event of the year. If like us, you have no idea what to get your other half then why not go for something that you can both enjoy as well as easing your conscious at the same time?

"Life is Not Fair but my Knickers Are" is the latest range of Fairtrade nightwear and underwear by By Nature and each piece in the range has been designed by and made from certified Fairtrade cotton.

Not only is the collection gorgeous and reasonably priced but it's also doing a lot to help saves lives in developing countries.

According to By Nature, two billion people - a third of humanity - survive on less than $2 a day. Unfair trade rules keep them in poverty, but they face the global challenges of food shortages and climate change too. Fairtrade certification gives developing world producers more control of their own lives, by getting a better deal for the work that they do.

We know we'll feel a warmth in our hearts at helping someone this Valentines day and if you want to keep this feeling for that little bit longer than why not visit our eco friendly website Hippy Shopper, to get more ideas for valentine's ethical gifts this year.

Buy the underwear now from Fashion-Conscienceor By Nature. Prices range from £10 to £25.

Click on the picture below to begin the gallery.

We love it when charity and fashion comes together and today we haven't been short of these stories.

First off was the annual Fashion for Relief event, to help victims of the Haiti earthquake followed by bears created by designers to help blind teenagers get a feel of fashion. And now we've just caught wind of Radley's collaboration with the British Heart Foundation.

The bag company and charity are launching the Handbag Amnesty meaning that from the 1st February you can donate an unwanted bag at any of Radley's stores or via the website.

Bags collected by Radley will be sent to the British Heart Foundation's shops around the UK - all of which are crying out for quality donated stock.

And not only will you be easing your conscious but your credit card bill too. With every bag donated you'll get £30 off any new Radley bag of your choice over £150.

While we're all becoming more eco-conscious when it comes to our clothing it seems H&M is taking one step forward and two steps back.

The highstreet store, which in the past has been criticised for it's lack of ethical values, has found itself back in the firing line with claims that it's certified-organic cotton clothing has been contaminated with genetically modified cotton from India.

According to German independent lab Impetus, roughly a third of cotton samples tested contained genetically modified cotton. This was traced back to India, which is responsible for more than half of the global supply of organic cotton which is used by H&M.

Although we can't blame H&M entirely for this as the chain hasn't actually commissioned this cotton, Monika Buening of the Federal ConSumer Affairs Agency, has said H&M should have monitored their supply carefully.

"The fashion chains were not vigilant enough," she told the German edition of the Financial Times.

A spokeswoman from H&M agreed that GM cotton could have slipped into the label's organic collections. She said the high street store was investigating the matter.

Does this stop you from wanting to buy the company's organic range? Let us know by leaving your comments below.

[via The Financial Times, Germany]

Valentines day is looming in the background and many of us will be out buying a range of lingerie to impress our other halves on the official day of romance.

Although we'll be bringing you lingerie galleries and reviews next week in the lead up to the day we couldn't wait to tell you about Rigby and Peller's new range.

The company has just announced that it is now stocking its first organic cotton line by Huit with the Biotiful Range.

This cotton is grown according to organic farming principles respecting the environment and does not involve any processes harmful to humans and the planet. Natural, breathable, softer and more comfortable, this material is naturally hypoallergenic, making it perfect for sensitive skins.

To respect both the skin and the environment, the ecological dye used is entirely biodegradable and is guaranteed non-toxic.

And the packaging is also consistent with the line as it includes recycled paper tags and huit hangers made of recyclable plastic.

Nicky Clayton, head of buying at Rigby & Peller, said: "This is a beautiful range with impeccable environment & ethical credentials. The cotton is incredibly soft on the skin and so is the perfect everyday range."

We're all shocked and saddened by the events taking place in Haiti at the moment, and like many have donated as much as we can to the relief efforts.

However, we know more can always be done so we're thrilled that fashion companies are beginning to take the initiative and donate some profits to help the victims of the earthquakes.

One brand to do this is Tateossian who has said it will donate 10% of all the sales from its chunky and gold jewellery lines to Rapid UK who are currently helping the thousands of people who's lives have been destroyed by the earthquake.

We think its a perfect excuse to get online and start buying now.

The Beckhams are rarely out of the media spotlight.

Victoria always makes a fashion story, and David, well lets be honest who wouldn't want to hear about him at every opportunity?

However, this time we really think the couple deserve a spot on the fashion news pages.

The duo are designing a range of t-shirts for this years Sports Relief.
And it seems as though the whole family has got involved, not only will each t-shirt feature the Beckhams for Sport Relief logo it will also have a combination of the footprints of each family member, and one style features a picture of David showcasing his football skills.

At leat £5 from the T-shirts, which will be sold at Sainsbury's and TK Maxx, for £9.99, will go to charity.

Do you want celebrity shoes at an ethical price? If the answers yes then you'll love this new range by Beyond Skin.

The brand, which has been favoured by celebs such as Cheryl Cole and Natalie Portman, has just launched a new collection, which will be sold at the newly opened Anthropologie store in London's Regent Street.

The new collection of ballet pumps are made from vintage fabric, sourced from the charity Traid Remade, they may be tad expensive at £68 a pair but with only around 10 versions of each design made, we think it's definitely worth it.

And ladies who like their shoes with a bit of height are also in luck. The company will be launching a range of evening styles and a range made from recycled bottle tops in March.

We'll see you at the tills.

Emma Watson's not been off our fashion radar this month with ad campaign shots and backstage videos for Burberry coming out in drips and drabs over the past few weeks.

However, this time she's back on our pages for creative and modelling reasons. Sneak previews of her awaited ethical collection for People Tree have hit the online stands and at first look we can say these togs, modelled by Emma, are looking fashionable and comfortable.

The collection, which was announced back in September last year, is claimed to be 100% ethical with fair trade groups using organic cotton to make the clothes by hand. Apparently the work put into the range also helps improve the lives of disadvantaged workers in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.

And we also love the logos, which include quirky phrases such as "Don't panic, I'm organic."

We can't wait to see the rest of the pictures but until then we want to hear from you. Is this just another celebrity designer trying to get onto the fashion bandwagon?
Take a look at the two pictures and let us know what you think by leaving your comments below.

[Via The Times]