Time To Be Liv....

Ever since the 'Great British Sewing Bee' I have had plans to make myself a spectacular new wardrobe (or rather the contents of said wardrobe).  There is one incy wincy flaw in my cunning plan.  Alas, my sewing 'skills', like my knitting 'skills' (or indeed my ability to assemble a flatpack should I ever wish to make that wardrobe) are non-existent.  My brother has the DIY gene. He only has to glance at one of those Home Makeover programmes and he can rustle himself up a set of wooden stairs, a welsh dresser, a fireplace. Whilst I, on the other hand, can't even be trusted with a row of cross-stitch.  Even the simple "make this at home" instructions of the Great British Sewing Bee were completely over my head ("sew the what to the where now?").   I take comfort in the fact that I must possess some other skill, but unless you count my X-Man type ability to blow up electrical equipment, this is still waiting to make a grand entrance. 

This is where Liv clothing comes to the rescue.  Their entire range is made with such loving care and attention, it is as good as handmade (well if the hand happens to be mine, much, much better).  The recent disaster in the Bangladesh clothing factory has also made me greatly reflect on the true price tag of our clothing choices:

"You have to take responsibility to make sure that the workers you are using are not risking their lives so that we can have £2 t-shirts on our high street." Sam Maher CCC (Clean Clothes Campaign)

Liv is a Fairtrade Foundation Licensee, regularly visiting all parts of their supply chain to ensure the following standards are met:

1. Employment is freely chosen, human rights respected and living wages paid
2. Employee rights are respected with no discrimination of any sort practiced
3. Working conditions are safe and hygienic, with regular work made available
4. There is no child labour

Clichéd I know, but every drop in the consumer ocean really does count. As individuals we have terrific power to bring about change - the biro philosophy "BIC" (well actually "Believe in Change", nothing to do with pens.. I have such a grasshopper mind!).

Fortunately change, fairness and style go hand in hand at Liv (hmmmm that makes three hands, which is not so attractive, but I know what meant when I started the sentence...)

Now is an excellent time to try out Liv clothing, they are running a competition to win any garment from the SS13* Ray of Light collection - details are on the Liv facebook page

"Simply like our page, continue to share the love with some of your besties and then head on over to www.livlovestyle.wordpress.com and enter by signing-up using your email address. The winner will be chosen at random from the email addresses received. Full T&Cs are detailed on the link"

* For ages I thought this meant "Space Station 13" and couldn't really see an astronaut theme to the garments, but then someone entirely more sensible (my cat) pointed out this might be Spring/Summer 2013...darn that cat has brains!

My favourite pieces from the range are:

Fern top (pictured in Cream, but also available in Denim and Jet) .  It is super comfortable, stylish and makes me think I'm wearing a leaf (in a good way, it has beautiful patterns...ok forget the leaf comment, it is gorgeous!)

Island top (pictured in Coral, but also available in  Ocean Blue)

"A nod to the 80s, this slouchy split sleeve top is a lesson in relaxed style"

Ok, I admit I did attempt to put my head through an arm hole initially, but it is a great summer top, I love it.

Check out the entire range online and don't forget to enter and share the competition!