People Tree are the award winning pioneer in Sustainable and Fair Trade fashion and sell exclusive clothing that is both beautiful and ethical.

We’re launching our Summer Sale on Friday 18 June with some amazing savings:

 Ivy Vest Top Was £12 now £8 SAVE 50%

Pom Pom Brooch – was £8 now £6 SAVE 20%

Esme Kids Polo Dress was £14 now £8 SAVE 42%

Daisy Gathered Dress was £40 now £25 SAVE 37%

Oval necklace and earrings was £12 and £35 now £10 and £25  SAVE UP TO 29%

James V neck cardigan was £38 now £28 SAVE 26%

Plus Goody Bags!   Containing £100 worth of People Tree products!  Now only £30!

People Tree is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

With more and more people working from home, the market for home office furniture has been booming.  Buying a desk for your home is certainly not as straightforward as purchasing for the traditional workplace – the furniture will often be situated within the heart of your home where a modern workstation may not compliment your room scheme.  With space at a premium and many rooms having dual functions, it is essential that when ‘not at work’ your desk space can be enjoyed for its own beauty and be useful within the room.

One viable alternative is to look towards solid wood furniture, designed with the same functionality as a modern work station, but with a natural beauty which fits into your home more discreetly, allowing you to use the room and the furniture itself for other purposes when not working from home.  Here are some useful key points to consider when making your choice:

• Size and space – If a room is used as an office as well as another function (guest room, music room), do consider the space that you are willing to allocate to your work station.  If space is tight, try to opt for a petite office desk and clever storage options.
• Storage options - remember that working from home often entails more than just a laptop on a desk, there is also your printer, paperwork, files and other work paraphernalia to be housed.  Look to purchase complementing furniture such as bookcases, filing cabinets and other storage options to keep your work area functional and allow your office clutter to be stored out of sight once the working day is over.
• Finish and style – as mentioned, it’s not always attractive to have an ultra-modern work station sitting in prime position within your home.  There are lots of great alternatives on the market today, including traditional style and solid wood desks, filing cabinets & bookcases which may be more appropriate for the style of your home. 

Finally, remember that this is a purchase for your home and is furniture that will hopefully be with you for many years.  A few extra pounds of investment on a high quality product now could save you money in the long run… cheapest is not always the best!

See all Myakka’s Home Office range here.   See all of our furniture, textiles and accessories at www.myakka.co.uk

Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Kilims are flat woven rugs made with a combination of jute, wool and cotton.  The origins of kilim rugs are unknown but there are different examples of these rugs across most of Asia and the Balkans with the earliest date back to the fourth or fifth century.  Being flat woven, kilims differ in appearance to the traditional pile that we are used to seeing in carpets and wool rugs.  For this reason they are quite thin, but due to the closeness of the weave and quality of materials, make for very durable floor coverings.

More recently, kilim rugs have been woven with a mix of 70% jute and 30% wool, but as the global demand for jute increases as an environmentally sound material, there has been a move away from jute and an increase in the levels of cotton and wool used in the weave.  The resulting closer weave which is produced in a 80% wool – 20% cotton kilim makes the finished product softer, more durable and kinder under foot.  The use of cotton and wool has the added benefit of the dyes being more readily absorbed which gives a much richer and vibrant colour within the woven, geometric design.

Many kilim rugs on the market today are made in India, often within small cottage industries.  The wool comes from the Bikaneer region of India which borders Pakistan, which is carefully hand spun, washed and hand dyed with traditional natural dyes before being woven into the geometric patterns which are so inherent of kilims.  More traditionally, the different symbols had specific meanings and reflected long life, fertility and family; however modern versions focus less on symbolic meaning and are more aesthetic appeal.  Depending on the size of the kilim, the craftsmen work either alone on the loom or in pairs and the work is often fitted within farming commitments, which can often make the supply a little unpredictable!  Once completed, the rugs are transported by any means possible (foot, bike, cart, etc) to the main warehouse, where they are given a final QC check and packed for shipping to the UK. 

At Myakka, we pride ourselves of offering an extensive range of both wool and jute kilims, in an array of sizes, all sourced through recognised fair trade channels. 

See all of our Kilim rugs, furniture and accessories at www.myakka.co.uk

Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

We all have the constant problem of where to store all of our bits and pieces. Fortunately we have come up with a list of our top ten space saving storage solutions. For any room in the house and for storing anything form keys to blankets we have the perfect storage solution for your home and all is fair trade, hardwood sheesham or acacia and all made to the highest standard in India  you really cant go wrong. 

1. Mallani Large Console Table –perfect for the hallway, always a place to put your house keys
2. Khimsar Stoarge Coffee Table – for all your TV paraphernalia and lounge goodies
3. Thakat Blanket Boxes – for anything and everything!
4. Mallani Glazed Dresser – perfect for displaying and hiding bits away
5. Elephant Cupboard – as decorative and it is useful
6. Khimsar Corner TV Unit – for your TV, digi box, DVDs…
7. Binary Box – with a deep box and useful drawer
8. Thakat Trunk Table – Can store a  massive amount and it’s a coffee table
9. Mallani Corner Bookcase – tucks neatly in the corner to store your books and ornaments
10. Mallani Storage Seat – take a seat in your hall and tuck your shoes away

See all of these items and more clever storage ideas at www.myakka.co.uk.

With all these ideas and many more clever ways of tidying your clutter away you can create the perfect sanctuary in your home.

Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Virtually every modern appliance we use runs on electricity, but the biggest consumer is the refrigerator. Fridges and freezers are found in almost every single home in the country, and they collectively use over £1.2 billion worth of electricity each year. Refrigerators require so much energy because they’re always switched on – which is unavoidable – but there are several things you can do to reduce the energy consumption of your fridge-freezer:

Try to keep it as full as possible, without overcrowding. Your fridge or freezer will operate more efficiently the more it has inside it, because keeping air cold uses more energy than refrigerating food.

When placing food inside your fridge or freezer, allow it to cool down naturally first. The less work your fridge-freezer has to do, the less energy it will use.

Don’t leave the door open when taking food out. The longer the door is open, the more cold air escapes, and the more energy is needed to reduce the temperature again once the door is closed.

Make sure you don’t have the temperature turned down too low. Refrigerators shouldn’t be set any lower than 36-38 degrees, while freezers should only be on 0-5 degrees.

If your freezer requires manual defrosting, then make sure you defrost it regularly. The more ice your freezer has in it, the more energy it is using – if the ice around the inside is more than 1cm thick, you need to defrost it.

If you are thawing food from the freezer, put it inside the fridge. This helps keep the fridge cool without using energy to do it.

Make sure your fridge-freezer has plenty of room around it for air to circulate, and keep it away from any external sources of heat, including direct sunlight.

Check the condenser coils for dust – this reduces their efficiency, so if they are dusty, turn the fridge-freezer off and give them a quick clean.

Make sure that the seals on the door are working properly. If you have condensation on the outside of your fridge-freezer, that’s a sure sign that you need to get the seals replaced.

If you are looking to buy a new fridge or freezer, make sure you get one that is marked with the Energy Star – the global indicator of energy efficiency.

Follow these tips, and not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, you’ll reduce your energy bill as well!

Panasonic currently tops our energy efficient chart for thier side by side Fridge Freezers and washing machines too. Look around sust-it to find the best deals on the most efficient Fridge Freezers.

Sust-it is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Ethical companies rely on people being willing to pay more to support a progressive idea, be it fair trade, sustainability or a green business. Assuming that most consumers know what these concepts mean, are they willing to pay more to support them, or will price always be the decisive factor?

With the mood of the country being dominated by talk of cuts in public spending and increases in taxes, and job security still very much at the forefront of many people’s minds, companies specialising in cheap are enjoying a boost in popularity.

Primark is the prime example, if you will excuse the pun; the brown paper bag with the letters ‘PRIMARK’ printed across it dominates the cities of the UK at the moment. Primark’s whole appeal is price. They are arguably the cheapest high street clothing brand. They have also been linked to UK sweatshops, with the BBC exposing a supplier to Primark with workers on 12-hour shifts at £3.50 an hour. As Neil Kearney of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation is quoted as saying in the BBC article, “There’s no such thing as cheap clothing, somebody has to pay and in this case it’s the workers in Manchester”.

The report linking Primark and UK sweatshops came out in January 2009, yet the company has since enjoyed continuous growth throughout the UK. The link between cheap clothing and underpaid producers has been made and is well publicised, yet consumers do not seem to care enough to pay that little bit more and shop elsewhere.

There is simply no way that ethical businesses, such as the By Hand fair trade shop, can compete on price. Supermarkets sell silver earrings for a couple of pound a pair, bags can be bought for as little as a few pounds. Although the cheap prices can sometimes be explained by economies of scale – by the sheer quantity sold by the big players – more often than not the prices are cheap because the producers are forced into selling their goods for far lower prices than they are worth, or because the products are made in factories in countries such as Indonesia and China where workers work 12+ hour shifts, have no rights and are paid a pittance.

There is a reason products are cheap: exploitation. But do consumers care?

By Hand is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

The Word Cup kicked off on Friday with a breathtaking visual spectacular at the opening ceremony in South Africa. Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium rang out to the sound of music and cheering as the 19^th edition of the FIFA tournament roared into life.

An array of 1,581 artists entertained the crowd with a sequence of African inspired themes. After an aerial display by the South African air force followed by a group of drummers and dancers performed a Welcome to Africa song that included an introduction to all 10 of tournament’s venues. And who could miss the giant dung beetle showing off it’s football skills.

Musicians and artists from the other African finalist countries also had their chance to perform in a joint sequence with R&B star R Kelly singing the ceremony’s show piece song, Sign of a Victory.

The opening ceremony concluded with a display of flags from the 176 competing member countries that failed to qualify, surrounding those who did, with voices of children sounding out the names f all the 32 qualifiers and then uniting to form a human version of the official tournament logo.

Local South Africans believe their team, known as Bafana Bafana could lift the trophy – their secret weapon – the vuvuzela.

Sharon Brooke – www.urban-africa.co.uk

Urban Africa is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

La Confluencia nestles in a remote Andean valley within the 150,000 acre Rio Azul Protected Wilderness Area. The lodge serves as a base for visiting six nearby trekking refuges as well as other adventure sports. Evenings are shared together, around the fireplace, on the upstairs deck overlooking the river, or relaxing after the day’s activities at the spa area enjoying the wood-fired hot tubs and sauna. Accommodations are limited to seven rooms, most of which share bath facilities in order to maximize environmental efficiency. All meals are prepared with organic products from the Confluencia farm – vegetables, fresh milk, eggs, meats, and hearty breads from whole grains harvested and stone-ground here at the farm. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2855.htm

Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

A new report by the Literacy Trust shows just how much we are failing to read to our children. Once upon a time stories that inspire children on the road to literacy. The encouragement parents can give to encourage to children to read and improve their literacy skills is immense. And it starts with reading bedtime stories.

Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust said “Children who read above the expected level for their age are more likely to have books of their own; 80 per cent of high-achievers have books of their own, while only 58 per cent who read below their expected level do so.  Children who aren’t encouraged to read by their mother are three times more likely to say “reading is boring” than those who are encouraged to read a lot. And children are twice as likely to read outside of class if they are encouraged to read by their mother or father.”

Research has repeatedly shown that the most accurate predictor of a pupil’s achievement is not parental income or social status but the extent to which parents create a home environment that encourages learning. The literacy trust survey shows that two in 10 young people don’t get any encouragement to read at all from their mother and four in 10 don’t get support from their father. A significant number of parents are either unconvinced of the benefits of supporting their child’s literacy, don’t prioritise it or don’t have the skills to do so.

The National Literacy Trust is determined to increase opportunities for parents to support their children’s reading. This month they have launched their Tell Me A Story campaign to raise awareness of the importance of family literacy.
One in six children in the UK grows up unable to read or write to a minimum standard.  Literacy is not simply an issue for developing nations it is also the UK’s most pressing educational challenge.

Dads fail to read bedtime stories

Bedtime stories are being abandoned

Keen 2 Learn is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

We have converted a barn into a six bedroom [all ensuite] holiday home. We combine all the creature comforts you need with solar heating and environmentally friendly products. Guests receive a complimentary welcome pack including a selection from our own organic range. Maddocks Farm Organics produces award winning organic salads and salad bags using fantastic seasonal leaves, herbs, wild foragings and edible flowers. We aim to dispel the myth that salad is boring by using a combination of conventional, unconventional, wild and downright strange ingredients. The farm nestles in the beautiful Devon countryside near Kentisbeare, the gateway to the Blackdown Hills and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2854.htm

Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more