Can you look grand but still be green? MAXINE GORDON reports on ethical occasion wear.

WHEN you are hunting for that perfect outfit for the races or a wedding, how often do you stop to think about the ethical credentials of the clothes?

Fair trade, sustainable and eco-fashion is now a big bucks industry, giving environmentally conscious fashionistas the opportunity to look good with a clean conscience.

Maude & Tommy in Grape Lane flies the flag for the movement in York. The quirky boutique is owned by Anne McCrickard, who stocks an eclectic mix of clothing and accessories for women.

This spring, Anne is launching "styling sessions": a complimentary 60-minute personal guide on how to update your look – and an introduction to some of the unusual fashion labels stocked at the boutique.

It also affords the perfect opportunity for anyone searching for an outfit for a special occasion, such as a head-turning look for the races. It's timely too, with the York racing season kicking off next week with the Dante Festival at Knavesmire from May 13 to 15.

As our fashion shoot shows, ethical clothing has come a long way from the days of tie-dyes T-shirts and fringed skirts.

Designers and manufacturers use some of the finest fabrics, from silk and cotton to linen and wool, in an array of striking designs – guaranteed to help you stand out from the crowd at a wedding or on race day.

Anne explains: "Our occasion wear tends to be not structured, but very beautiful. It's for women who want to look stylish and elegant in a more individual way."

Another bonus, adds Anne, is that because the pieces are a bit less formal, they can often be worn many times again.

Maude & Tommy stocks several labels unique to York. Privatsachen hails from Germany, where it produces pretty, deconstructed silk dresses in naturally-dyed colours. "The styles are really comfortable to wear and deceptively flattering," says Anne.

Zuza Bart is the work of a Polish designer who specialises in fine linen knitwear, while Blank uses fabric offcuts and intricate hand-sewn embroidery in its collection, which includes colourful coats and scarves.

The boutique also stocks popular brand People Tree, including its collaboratory pieces with Orla Kiely. One of her dresses would be ideal for any grand day out.

Accessories are available too, including oversized straw hats from Madagascar that can be moulded into a variety of shapes. The hats are responsibly sourced and come in a variety of colours. Best of all, they can be folded for easy packing.

Jewellery completes an outfit, and there are some stand-out pieces at the boutique, each with a feel-good story behind it. Some of the most colourful pieces are made from the tagua nut, a dried seed from the tagua palm tree, which grows in the tropical rainforests of South America.

For something more ornate, Lotusfeet fits the bill. This family business works with co-operatives in the Philippines, generating sustainable incomes, fair wages and safeguarding health and safety standards. The necklaces feature clusters of stones, some semi-precious, in a rainbow of colours.

A more delicate offering comes in the shape of crochet silver lace jewellery from Just Trade, made by workers in a shanty town in Peru.

There are some pretty, vintage-style bags, from Etnika, which are fair trade and come from India.

Anne said ethical shopping was the ultimate in feel-good fashion. "When you wear these pieces, you know you are supporting other people in the world: the makers, the artisans. You are helping them educate their children.

"You have to trade, but you want to do it in the best way possible."

Ultimately, says Anne, you have to love the clothes. And with labels like these, that's not hard. She says: "It's not about earnestness, it's about gorgeousness - and being careful about where you get your gorgeousness from."

To book a "Styling Session" at Maude & Tommy, telephone 01904 675987.

Check out race day dates in Yorkshire at goracing.co.uk


Thanks:

Photographer: Mike Nowill

Hair and make up: Kirsten Riddleton

Models: Rowen Ford and Rebecca Jade King