Vanessa Langley
Jan10th 2009There is no doubt that ethical clothing has come a very long way since the 60's swinging bell bottoms and kaftans. Nowadays it is possible to dress from head to toe in gorgeous designer offerings with a clear conscience, if you know where to shop and have the disposable income to cope with the ethically made and fairly traded price tag.
For those of us restricted to a budget more fitting to Florence and Fred than Katherine Hamnett, it is frustrating to suppress our genetic programming to look good, when all around us, our less compassionate colleagues seem to be intent on landing a part in the next instalment of Sex in the City.
Dress agencies are having the hardest time of all trying to survive yet they probably offer the best service.
 istockphotos.com
They have a really good selection of Nearly New, often designer, fashion, You can try items on and they don't have the charity shop niff. The success of Charity shops, Ebay and End of season shops like TK Maxx, as well as their less prominent positions, have forced many to close.
Kim Merison has owned Encore in Worthing for over 9 years. She prides herself on having a good range of clients from fashion savvy teenagers from college to stylish working mums and even glamorous Grans. Especially proud of her extensive hat collection and designer accessories, Kim has kept a boutique feel about her business and is optimistic about the future. All garments are priced really well (you can pick up a ball gown for about £45.00) and coupled with the friendly and professional service its is probably my favourite option of the second had choices. Well worth checking out.
Encore 11 Broadwater street West Worthing BN14 9BT 01903 238591
Always in Vogue 1 The Old Mill, River Rd, Storrington – 01903 883192
Redesign Shops
Traid
Traid (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) was set up in 1999 with the intent of taking some of the better quality, 900,000 annually discarded garments, and re marketing them through their high street shops. Profits are channelled into various environment and fair trade projects around the world. In 2000 TraidRemade was launched with the assistance of Red or Dead's Wayne Hemingway, to make use of damaged designer goods by revamping and creating a bespoke garment. The Brighton outlet is located close to the Lanes, TRAID Brighton caters to the young, fashionable crowd in the seaside city. Specialises in vintage and TRAID remade.
39 Duke Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1AG
Tel: 01273 746 346
www.traid.org.uk
Red Mutha
 Red Mutha Clothes Show
Check out their website at www.redmutha.com or visit the store at
92 Trafalgar Street, North Laine Brighton BN1 4ER
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