Over the past few years and even more so since the economic crisis, it has become far more fashionable for fashion to be ethical and sustainable.  Livia Firth showcased this at the Oscars by wearing a dress made completely from recycled dresses.

In fact the recession as we know has brought about a huge surge in thrift and up-cycling. Though, I love fast fashion and the idea of being able to pop to the high street and grab a bargain for a Friday night out it doesn’t come close to buying a really well made item that you can care for and use time and time again.

As we have become more aware of our impact on the environment, so too have we become aware of how humans are often affected in our pursuit of style, I’m thinking here about blood diamonds and child labour. So, along with the great environmentally friendly fashion brands that are out there, there is also a great range of designers and manufacturers taking into account human rights.

Often, as we know, these items can be expensive and hard to afford on a small budget especially during a recession when money may be better spent elsewhere. So, the wonderful people at Tesco, yes the supermarket, are to launch a range of ethical jewellery called ‘This is Africa.’

The ‘This is Africa’ range consists of 16 pieces produced in an African co-operative. The range is made from largely recycled materials; brass is reclaimed and ‘upcycled’ through a traditional casting process, with glass components recycled from drinking bottles. They will only be available to buy online from http://www.clothingattesco.com. Now we have ethical and affordable, I for one will be buying it in bulk.