Joah Love is a lifestyle brand that specializes in fine children’s apparel that’s fashion-forward, yet comfy for little ones and practical for parents. The seeds for Joah Love were planted more than a decade ago when designer, Ahyoung Kim and photographer, Joy Marie Smallwood first met. After several years successfully pursuing separate careers the two finally made the collaboration official and started Joah Love in 2007.  Kids fashion mag Earnshaw’s recently named Joah Love one of the nations’s hottest-selling new kids brand. (nice one ladies xx)

Joy Marie Smallwood and Ahyoung Kim

Besides being quite an edgy brand for kids, the range is made with comfort in mind and each piece is made with buttery soft fabrice, and treated with extra love to make them even yummier!

In addition to their ever popular range, Joah Love also helps to fight the injustice around the world and is working with OmniPeace by donating the profits from their special OmniPeace tees for kids. OmniPeace has quite the celebrity following with grown ups and children.

Heidi Klum's daughter Leni wearing a Joah Love OmniPeace tee

Beberavi is a mission driven company designing exquisite, hand-knit clothing for infants and children. While using only the softest and most luxurious yarns, the collection represents true quality in both product and purpose. Beberavi, which means “baby’s delight,” was started in 2004 by Supermodel, and mother of 2, Siamanda Chege, a native of Kenya, as she felt compelled to give back to her community in a truly sustainable way.

The company employs 100 women from rural villages in Kenya, devastated by the HIV/AIDS virus and high unemployment. By providing jobs, exceptional working conditions, and above average wages, Beberavi is literally helping to transform whole communities. This New York based company’s products are hand knitted and crocheted from the finest Italian Yarns. The wool line of sweaters and blankets are made from 100% extra fine merino wool and the cotton products are from combed Egyptian cotton – beautiful quality AND all their products are manufactured in Kenya. Every purchase we make helps them help others. Sounds easy.

In addition, a percentage of Beberavi’s revenue goes back into the community through the Patrick Chege Orphanage – currently providing a home and future to 25 children. (www.chegeorphans.com)

and here the the gorgeous children from The Patrick Chege Memorial Orphanage

thredUP, the premier peer-to-peer online clothing exchange, recently announced the launch of its much-anticipated service for kids clothing. thredUP kids is the place for America’s busiest families to conveniently exchange kids clothing online.

The service aims to bring a new level of affordability, convenience and eco-consciousness to a highly fragmented, billion-dollar market for second-hand children’s clothing.  thredUP kids is designed to help parents easily swap clothes their kids have outgrown for great new items that fit. thredUP’s best-in-class interface allows parents to exchange with their closest friends or with a national network of parents – all from the convenience of home.

thredUP kids combines the best features of some of the most popular sites on the web: Like Netflix, parents can queue up a box of gently used clothes to receive.  Then, similar to eBay, members build virtual boxes of clothing to exchange. Finally, like StubHub, thredUP enables, coordinates and manages the exchanges.  The marketplace facilitates exact matches, ensures quality and remedies the lack of coordination that plagues offline clothing swaps. The service is a complete end-to-end solution for busy parents.

“Children grow out of clothes every 3-6 months, having worn outfits only a couple of times,” said James Reinhart, Chief Knitwit of thredUP.  “Currently parents are spending upwards of $20,000 on kids clothing by the time their child is 17.  And they’re retiring some 1,400 items! We’ve found that many ’swap, buy, sell’ sites are not that enticing to busy parents. They are just too much work. thredUP is all about convenience.”

The kids service launches on the heels of the popular men’s and women’s shirt-swapping site, which went live in October 2009.  While this service already has 10,000 members, the team anticipates that thredUP kids will be an even bigger hit in the hand-me-down market.

“The initial feedback has been tremendous,” said Oliver Lubin, Chief Design Knitwit. “In the first two weeks of a private beta launch we have over 1,500 excited parents signed-up to start swapping. Members seem to love the intuitive interface and overall thredUP experience.”

The service launches invite-only today. For more information about thredUP kids visit: thredUP.com

Not exactly a clothing or trend related topic, but definitely something that should be “in fashion”!

One Sponsor Helping One Child: The Beginning of a Lifelong Friendship.

Children International’s mission is to help children living in dire poverty. Through the generosity of contributors, they provide needy children with a variety of programs and services to meet their basic needs, enhance their self-esteem and raise their physical and educational levels in a meaningful, lasting way.
Since 1936, Children International has been providing assistance to children and families struggling in terrible poverty.

Today, through the Children International® Sponsorship Program, they help children in 11 countries – Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, the Philippines, the United States and Zambia.

With your support, they can continue to help poor children grow up healthy and educated.

www.children.org

Supermodel / actress and World Health Organisation’s Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Liya Kebede discovered that traditional weavers in her native country of Ethiopia were losing their jobs due to a decline in local demand for their goods and wanted to do something about it. Recognizing the beauty, quality and historic significance of their work, Liya started Lemlem in 2007 as a way to inspire economic independence in her native country and to preserve the art of weaving

Today, Lemlem, which means to flourish or bloom in Amharic, is thriving.

Denise Richards & Lola

On Sunday June 13th many celebrities & their little ones, including Tea Leoni, David Duchovny, Jaime Pressly, Denise Richards and Ali Landry channeled their inner artists at the 77kids by American Eagle Denim Decorating booth at the safari-themed 21st annual Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation “A Time For Heroes” Celebrity Picnic. The star-studded event boasted a special live performance by Jesse McCartney and interactive activities throughout the day.

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation funds critical research, launches global health programs and is an advocate for children’s health, all in the fight against HIV/AIDS and to give hope to the children and families living with this global disease.

This summer, 77kids by American Eagle, will open their first stand alone retail stores across the country and expand the line to include baby.

Tea Leoni and Madelaine

Jaime Pressly and her son Dezi

Jenna Dewan

Photo source: Wire Image/Michael Buckner.

Calling AIDS “humanity’s biggest enemy,” Natalia Vodianova has joined the fight.

The supermodel, 28, fronts the all new (BUGABOO)RED campaign — launched today in honor of Mother’s Day — and says it is the love she feels for her three children  which compelled her to help.

“[Motherhood] changes your life,” she admits. “You become more aware and responsible. When you have children, it is heartbreaking to see other children suffering.

In lending her time, Vodianova becomes just the latest celebrity mum to assist Bugaboo in its effort to stamp out AIDS in Africa. Since last fall the Dutch stroller maker has been contributing 1% of all profits to The Global Fund, which serves as the largest international financial provider for programs which combat malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS.

The “wonderful, intelligent collaboration” is one Vodianova says she is proud to be a part of.

“I was keen to work with Bugaboo as they feel passionately about helping mothers and babies around the world and this is a powerful message to tell on Mother’s Day,” Vodianova explains. “I don’t get involved with every charity that comes my way. (BUGABOO)RED is particularly worthwhile.”

Vodianova says she will celebrate today at home with Lucas Alexander, 8, Neva, 4, and Viktor, 2½. “My oldest son is very sensitive, while my youngest son is the cheeky one,” she reveals. “My daughter is a princess who gets away with everything.”

The trio — Vodianova’s children with husband Justin Portman — “always make me little cards and cakes, and give me gifts,” she says. ”They’re so excited and it’s very touching.”

– Reporting by Oliver Bennett for (BUGABOO)RED

Source: People.com

The Leakey Collection and Zulugrass concept was born out of need.  A devastating drought in Kenya in 2001 forced the men to  leave behind the  women and children, so they could take the  surviving cattle far up country  in search of grazing land. As a result, the Leakey’s found themselves supporting as many as 100 Maasai families by giving them money for food, school fees, medical expenses and housing. This was not sustainable for either party and the Leakeys knew they had to find another way.

What transpired has become a successful business and philanthropic endeavor for the Leakeys and the  Massai people. The Leakey Collection’s Zulugrass jewelry provides handmade accessories and offers a sustainable way of life for the nomadic people of Kenya. Not only are the Massai women paid for their work and given the flexibility they need to maintain their jobs, 5% of profits go back to supporting infrastructure in the Rift Valley of Kenya

Our favorite item in the collection is the Friendship Bracelet: Two identical 7″ ZuluSport bracelets are connected with a raffia tie. Best friends should cut the raffia together, each make a wish, and show their commitment to friendship, as well as to women across the globe!

Traditional, contemporary and sophisticated, these are the main characteristics of the Rose&Bleu brand. Focusing on children’s wear for 0 -8 year olds, Nathalie Rifka & Patricia Germanoso’s company, based in Sao Paulo Brazil has grown in popularity very quickly and can be found throughout the world. The pieces are very classic and simple, which makes them perfect to match with other pieces in your child’s wardrobe. The scarf shown above is a must have, and an item you could make into a family heirloom.

Since its inception, Rose&Bleu felt it important to support and work with underprivileged women, with part of the collection, particularly the crochet pieces, made by disadvantaged mothers and girls throughout Brazil.

Glance at a recent copy of Vogue, any of 2009’s best-dressed lists or front row at the shows, and one fact is unmistakable: the fashion world just can’t get enough of Harry Potter star Emma Watson. She may have grown up in a Hogwarts uniform, but she’s blossomed into everyone’s favourite British starlet and looks set to spend her 20s dressed top-to-toe in Burberry and Chanel (she has contracts with both brands).

Frankly we wouldn’t blame Miss Watson if she chose to spend her Harry Potter afterlife as a full-time clotheshorse, but instead she has chosen to flex her considerable fashion flair creating a range for the ethical clothing brand People Tree. This is in between studying English literature at America’s Brown University and filming the final Harry Potter movie.

It’s a savvy move by Emma – People Tree has some serious fashion cred, having teamed up with designers Richard Nicoll and Thakoon (a favourite of both Michelle Obama and Anna Wintour), and never before has clothing with a conscience felt quite so on trend.

But before you roll your eyes at the thought of yet another pretty celebrity face putting her name and a few hours’ work to an of-the-moment brand, believe us, this really is a collaboration of creativity rather than convenience. The People Tree team tell us that they were wowed by Emma’s commitment to the project: ‘I was amazed at how many hours Emma put into this collection,’ explains founder of the brand Safia Minney.

‘We’d often go to her home in the evening after she finished filming to go through ideas, or she’d come to the studio laden with her own artwork – it was extremely impressive.’

The aim was to create a range for teenagers that appealed to their consciences as well as their sense of cool. ‘We’re not asking for the sympathy vote,’ says Safia. ‘Our designs need to hold up against the high street but also have that level of quality and integrity that you just don’t get from fast fashion.

Emma may not be your average teenager – I’ve not come across many 19-year-olds who have a work ethic like hers – but her eye for what teenagers want has been invaluable and it shows in the range. She got all her friends involved in the ideas process and was serious about getting everything right.’

The Daily Mail visited the brochure shoot for Emma’s spring/summer People Tree collection to chat to her and give you an exclusive preview of the range and a glimpse behind the scenes. You can almost smell the summer…

You’ve done acting, modelling, and now you’re designing. Is this the future for Emma Watson?

Oh, I don’t have any plans to be a designer. I’m doing this range because I really care about fair-trade and ethical fashion. I’m so pleased that I got involved, but I don’t want to take all the credit for being the designer because I haven’t trained as a designer or even gone to art college – in fact, I had no idea about the amount of work involved at the outset!

So this is not an Emma Watson clothing line?

I didn’t want this collection to be all about me. This is not a celebrity endorsement, it is about creating something that is genuinely a great idea and about making a difference through fashion.

The aim was to create a range for teenagers that appealed to their consciences as well as their sense of cool. ‘We’re not asking for the sympathy vote,’ says Safia. ‘Our designs need to hold up against the high street but also have that level of quality and integrity that you just don’t get from fast fashion.

Emma may not be your average teenager – I’ve not come across many 19-year-olds who have a work ethic like hers – but her eye for what teenagers want has been invaluable and it shows in the range. She got all her friends involved in the ideas process and was serious about getting everything right.’

We visited the brochure shoot for Emma’s spring/summer People Tree collection to chat to her and give you an exclusive preview of the range and a glimpse behind the scenes. You can almost smell the summer…

You’ve done acting, modelling, and now you’re designing. Is this the future for Emma Watson?

Oh, I don’t have any plans to be a designer. I’m doing this range because I really care about fair-trade and ethical fashion. I’m so pleased that I got involved, but I don’t want to take all the credit for being the designer because I haven’t trained as a designer or even gone to art college – in fact, I had no idea about the amount of work involved at the outset!

So this is not an Emma Watson clothing line?

I didn’t want this collection to be all about me. This is not a celebrity endorsement, it is about creating something that is genuinely a great idea and about making a difference through fashion.

How did the collaboration come about?

It was all because my friend, Alex Nicholls, was wearing this great People Tree T-shirt one day, which I liked. He then told me all about the company – he knows Safia and said that I should meet her. He set up an introduction and Safia and I just clicked. A couple of weeks later she got in touch with the idea of a teen range – they were doing older ranges and baby clothes but nothing in between – and asked if I’d like to help put it together. I said yes straight away.

Wise move, People Tree – every teen wants to dress like you!

I am very interested in fashion and I’ve been working a lot in the fashion world recently – it’s such an influential industry, so I knew that trying to help people, trying to alleviate poverty through a fashion line, could work. Fashion is a great way to empower people and give them skills; rather than give cash to charity you can help people by buying the clothes they make and supporting things they take pride in. It’s that simple.

Where did you get your design inspiration for the range?

I went through my summer wardrobe and thought, ‘If I filtered this
so that it was just the very basics, what would I want to keep?’ The answer was cotton vests, easy T-shirt dresses, nice scarves to accessorise with and some lovely linen pieces. For the boys’ range I’ve done hoodies, which I know they’ll love. The clothes are very British, which is why we shot them in an English country garden – it’s all very strawberries and cream and tennis.

We particularly like the T-shirts printed with slogans such as ‘I’m not toxic’ and ‘Please don’t panic, I’m organic’.

I was keen not to preach – you don’t want to be too serious or heavy. I also came up with a daisy print which I’m really proud of – it’s fun and messy. I just wanted to make clothes that are wearable, cool and easy.

What is your favourite part of the collection?

I would wear all the clothes, which are made in Bangladesh, India and Nepal, and there is also some amazing jewellery – especially a necklace made from recycled sweet wrappers, which is made in Bangladesh. It comes in a box also made of sweet wrappers. Brilliant!

It must have been a fast learning curve for you, being on the design side of things for the first time…

It was such fun going through all the Pantone colour books with Safia, but yes, I had to learn quickly – the colours on the page don’t always look the same on the fabrics, so you have to be patient. It’s a case of learning as you go along, and it’s all massively time consuming! When we did the first set of samples some of them looked great but others needed altering a lot.
If the reaction on the shoot is anything to go by, these clothes are going to be out of stock long before spring is here!

I really enjoyed the shoot. All the models are friends of mine: my housemate Sophie, my brother Alex. I basically called in favours – a lot of the crew are friends too. They are all super-talented, so I am very lucky that they were prepared to help out. I asked Andrea Carter-Bowman to do the photos as I just love her work, and she’s young. So this really is a collection for young people put together by young people. And I’m so proud of it – it’s exactly how I intended it to look.

You are something of a fashionista, but were you completely new to fair-trade fashion?

The first time I heard about fair trade was during a geography coursework project, and I remember thinking, ‘Why isn’t everything fair trade?’ Everyone knows about fair-trade bananas and coffee, but of course anything can be fair trade. Fair-trade fashion costs a bit more but allows those who make it to earn a decent living; to be able to take care of their families and live with dignity.

But do you think it is possible to enjoy high-street fashion and also support fair trade?

It’s important to differentiate between fast fashion, which is made very quickly for a very small price, and fair-trade fashion. So if you buy a T-shirt for £2, you just have to do the maths and work our how much the person who made it is being paid.

How realistic is it that the Primark generation will buy into this range and concept?

It sounds like a cliché, but we are the future. The earth is ours and will be our children’s, and I think that more than any other generation we are aware of environmental and humanitarian issues. That’s why it’s so great that People Tree is doing something aimed at people of my age – because we do care and we will buy with a conscience. I hope that more companies will follow.

To get some mini People Tree tees Check out  peopletree.co.uk

Source: The Daily Mail