While researching her home borough, Hackney based artist Susanna Edwards stumbled across an account documenting when blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield visited Hackney Town Hall to present the prizes for no other than the 'Best Budgerigar & Foreign Bird Competition'. Inspired by her find, Edwards naturally set about booking the exact same venue, kitting herself out as Mansfield and reenacted the legendary fete. Local artists and designers arrived on the sunny afternoon and came equipped with budgie style treats to sell and swap. Everything from finger puppets, cookies and some spakerly jewels from The Tatty Devine girls who also designed the rosettes for the winning birds. Local resident, Charles Smorthit, who came along on the day had attended the original event in 1959 and was thrilled to see it happening all over again. The competition also raised money for All Saints Church. If budgies are your thing and you missed the fete, Photographs from the event are on show at the Tatty Devine gallery space at Brick Lane in June, to form the 'Jayne Amongst the Birds' exhibition along with other budgie paraphernalia from the fete. 'Jayne Amongst the Birds' an exhibition by Susanna Edwards and Luke Stephenson Tatty Devine, 236 Brick Lane, London. E2 7EB. Exhibition - Tatty Devine, 27th June to 17th August, 11am-6pm everyday    |
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May 20, 2008
Limited Edition New York
Buddhist Punk have once again collaborated with a host of the fashion elite for their L.E.N.Y project (Limited Edition New York), with the likes of Angela Missoni, Marc Newson and Melanie Ward creating designs. This T-shirt was my favourite, designed by Olivier Lalanne, editor in chief of Vogue Hommes. The garments are limited edition and net profits go to Al Gore's charity, The Climate Project. The association works to raise awareness on the dramatic effects of global warming and takes actions to persuade citizens and governments of the urgent need to solve this environmental crisis. www.leny-icons.com/partners.php
May 15, 2008
From Printer to Purse
Green is The New Black loves the idea of down-loadable designs. We have a whole section in the book dedicated to Showstudio's down-loadable designer patterns. Our excellent illustrator Kat Heyes also let us upload one her brilliant illustrations onto the blog for you to have a go at making your own t-shirt.
So imagine how exciting it was to find Hermes had uploaded the classic Kelly bag for fashion fans to print out and have a go at making themselves. Admittedly a paper handbag is not going to hold much,(paperclips maybe?) but it certainly fills an evening. Perfect procrastination from other less enticing pastimes such as cleaning, paying the gas bill or talking to mother on the phone.........
Go to http://www.hermes.com 
and choose from a range of designs.
May 10, 2008
Oxfam boutique opens today!
Apre's your morning sesh of Ashtanga yoga, en-route to your organic brunch, fly by the first Oxfam boutique opening today in Westbourne Grove. With one off pieces from the likes of Giles, and ethical labels in designer setting this can only be the brain child of ethical convert Jane Shepherdson....It all too much, I might just move in.
Think I might NEED this dress by Richard Nicoll for People Tree.
May 09, 2008
Jo Wood Organics
After years of touring with her husband Ronnie Woods, Rolling Stones guitarist, Jo Woods swapped the rock and roll lifestyle for a routine of yoga, organic food and green living.
Her hugely successful body-care range, Jo Wood Organics soon followed. A beautiful range of fragrances, body lotions and candles. They smell great particularly The 'Tula' line which is infused with sandalwood and feel wonderful on the skin. each product is priced around £15.
The beauty industry has been saturated with celebrity products, which are not always taken seriously, (does anyone really want to smell like Britney or Jade Goody?) However Jo's range is a more honest example. Having been fanatical about green issues for many years, she has uses her status to campaign for the Soil Association.
Her Book 'Naturally' covers everything you need to know on organic food to green cleaning. For most it might seems like old information. However her familiar voice might reach out to an new audience who previously might not have been interested.
Jo is signing in Fenwick's on Bond st on the 15th of May.
www.jowoodorganics.com
May 07, 2008
Style Will Save Us Again.
Once a month on-line ethical mag, 'Style Will Save Us', drops a nugget of fashionably green info into my inbox. This Month's issue is particularly good. It was great to learn that the popular on-line underwear store Figleaves have collated a 'greenleaves' section. Finding green Knickers can be hard and Green Is The New Black dedicated a whole chapter to ethical undies. But here you can find all the great labels we covered on one website. So whether you need Enamore's fifties bras or Chantelle's sporty briefs or even Johnathon Ashton's Organic rib tights for only £7. Click on http://www.figleaves.com and find it all in one place.
May 06, 2008
If you insist on wearing sandals make them green...
...Or bright red and made from recycled car tyres. Oh well at least its a talking point? hmm.
Get your Blog on....
In this weird world of blogging one gets obsessed with other people blogs. My favourite is Susie Bubble's fashion blog, http://stylebubble.typepad.com/, this girl is a one woman fashion machine, she whacks on 3 posts day while holding down a office job in the city.
However in the ethical fashion stakes its hard to find a non crusty blog that evades the word 'mooncup'. So it was great to find the blog on http://fashionlovespeople.com/, and that they have a link to us! Check the site for green fashion and beauty, where style is as important as the ethical credentials.
Fashionlovespeople have introduced me to the gorgeous American label Mon Petit Oiseau (http://www.monpetitoiseau.com) by English designer Tracey Wilkinson, who worked at Banana Republic and J Crew in New York before setting up her own label which is made in California and from organic cotton.
May 01, 2008
Festival on a Shoe String......
Northern based fine artist Hannah Mackay, is proof that green living is not just a fashion flash in the pan. In her work she collages recycled images with inspiring effects. When she’s not holed up in the studio, Hannah is a self proclaimed festival addict, dividing her time between the smaller 'green' festivals and stewarding for Oxfam at Glastonbury.
Not content with the high admission prices and branding in most of these events, she decided to throw her own festival. Hannah takes five minutes out of her preparations, to enlighten us on The Shoe Tree Fest, which kicks off this Sunday at one in Armstrong Park, Heaton in Newcastle.
'Randomly a patch of trees in the park are covered in old shoes. A 'Shoe Tree Appreciation’ group sprung up on Facebook, so this lead to an idea of holding the Shoe Tree Fest this bank holiday. What started as a few mates in bands playing, and a BBQ, has now snowballed into a full blown festival, with hundreds of people attending, and daily updates on the local radio. We are literally holding a festival on a 'shoe string' no corporate sponsors and free entry.' 
So if you happen to reside near the famous shoe tree, dig out those old plimsolls and swing by Armstrong Park in Heaton, Newcastle this Sunday. Musicians welcome.
For more info check the facebook group 'Shoe tree of Heaton Appreciation Group'.
Image 1-Cowboys, Image2- Dancers.
For more of Hannah's art work go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/hannah_mackay/
Or email the artist on hannahmackay@yahoo.co.uk
April 25, 2008
Hackney's Punk Choir
Green Is The New Black has a wealth of talented contributors. But perhaps one of our favourites are The Cast Off knitting Club and owners of Prick Your Finger Knitting Shop 'A Modern Haberdashery' in London's East End.
The girls feature regularly on our blog, for causing wooly chaos with everything from their Angora rabbit to a knitted wedding. Their latest endeavour is no less crackers.... They have started a Punk Choir.
The first gig is at Victory Pub, Vyner St, E2, Sunday 27th April, 8pm, in aid of a cot death charity, the first song to learn is Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Unfortunately you have missed the first rehearsal, but to find out the next one email, choir@prickyourfinger.com
I found all this on the Prick Your finger's wonderful Blog check daily for inspiration...
http://prickyourfinger.blogspot.com
