On Sunday I was at the Victoria and Albert Museum to chair an event called the Ethical High Street. It was a fantastic success and my panellists Designer, Katharine E Hamnett, founder of People Tree, Safia Minney, Research Fellow at Central St Martin’s Mo Tomaney, and broadcaster and journalist Lucy Siegle writer of the Guardian’s ethical column were a joy to work with.

I regretted not being able to take notes really, but as the chair you have to drive the debate so you gotta be focussed.

CNN were there to record the ‘Swish Party,’ (the new way to update your wardrobes by swapping your clothes with others), and there were lots of other workshops to stimulate our creative juices.

But first things first!

I wasn’t sure what to wear to the event, not because I was stuck for inspiration, but more from an ethical standpoint, I wanted to make sure I was sympathetically dressed. It did make me realise I don’t have anywhere near enough ethically sourced clothing.

So I resolved to address that in the near future. I did however make sure I was at least engaging with the subject.

Let me see now, my top was made from an old Paul Smith Jacket which I recycled into a fitted top courtesy of Junky Styling, My bag below, by Nahoui Ollin was made from recycled bar codes that had been painstakingly woven into a very durable origami like fabric by Mexican women, and my shoes by All Black were made in England by British designers (which counts for something in a manufacturing culture where everything is made in China).

I added to that my favourite cardigan from Reiss which is al least 5 years old and my French connection trousers which although not the current high waisted style are a perfect slouch trouser and very comfy for events such as these.

And off I trotted. There was a lot to learn, so much that I am deligthed to learn it will be on podcast on the V&A site soon.

I came away with a special thought that had been planted by Lucy Siegle to be going on with, which is if boycotting brands who do little to improve conditions for workers, gave way to engaging with the brand in the way that I described the Ethical Pest approach a few blogs ago, then that could be much more effective.

I’ll let you know how my search for a more ethical wardrobe is going.

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