We talk to Julie Masureik of The heartfelt project to find out more…

Company:The heartfelt project
Location: Makapanstad, South Africa

Tell us a bit about yourself and your business
Heartfelt was started when Martha Letsoalo’s son Emanuel died unjustly in prison two years ago. Martha worked for my parents in South Africa and brought me up. She is like a mother to me and we both grieved Emanuel’s death.

It made me realize that as a black woman from a rural community in South Africa you don’t have a voice.

There is so much heartache happening to women just like Martha that nobody knows about. Issues like unemployment, AIDS, poverty, TB, abuse and crime cause sadness amongst so many families.

I started Heartfelt as a way for Martha to heal her broken heart and somehow to start healing the hearts of the people who were suffering around her. It truly has been a labour of love.

What or who inspires you?
Martha. She is an incredibly strong woman who has achieved so much in her life through hard work and determination.

I’m inspired by people who live with all their heart. Mahatma Ghandi once said ‘be the change you want to see in the world’.

What do you enjoy most about running your business?
I enjoy seeing the difference Heartfelt is making to the women who work there. They are being empowered by their work and are really proud to be part of it. There are now 10 women at the project.

I also love receiving messages from our customers when they receive their orders. It inspires us all to carry on.

What is the most challenging aspect?
Education. Trying to educate the ladies about consumers and how the business is run.

What do you feel you bring to an ethical wedding?
Well lots of love, that’s for sure. The Heartfelt philosophy is to give out to the world what you want to get back - so our hearts are filled with love.

Our products are not only beautifully hand-sewn but they are also totally unique and make a huge difference to the lives of the women who make them.

How do you see the wedding industry changing over the next five years (if at all)?
I feel that the wedding industry at the moment has taken the whole emphasis off what a wedding really is about - love. It has become greedy.

I believe that more and more couples will start realising this and that the whole industry will start gearing towards ethical weddings where people will tailor-make their special day, feeling less guilty about the money that they spend because they are sharing the love.

I think people are going back to that ‘homemade’ feel - where it really is about the bride and groom and their values.

Find out more about The heartfelt project - ethical wedding favours

“Imagine clutching a beautiful bouquet of flowers that were grown especially for your big day.

That’s what I’m looking forward to in June 2009 when I get married in Suffolk.  My flowers are all coming from my Granddad’s greenhouse, a local flower grower or the fields near to my parent’s house.

I’m hugely concerned about the carbon emissions, water usage and pollution caused by flower growing and transporting. For me, knowing where my wedding flowers have come from and how they’ve been grown is really important.  And besides my day job is to promote eco-travel in the UK and Ireland, so making sure my wedding stays clean and green is a no-brainer!

The best thing about ecologically sourced flowers is that I don’t feel limited in any way for choice.  It’s a real opportunity to think creatively about our flowers and arrangements.  So I’m looking at lisianthus, delphiniums and chrysanthemums for the bouquets which can all be grown in Suffolk for a June bloom.

For winter weddings, why not try a touch of holly or explore some barks, stems and evergreens. We’re planning to create fabulous green arrangements using ivy that grows in abundance in the local lanes. The ivy wreaths will look great in our barn venue and will cost very little.

In any case, buying flowers in season will save you money. You just need to get permission from the local farmer or council to pick wildflowers or shrubs. We’ll also be ‘growing’ our wedding favours using seeds, tiny pots and Granddad’s green house.

For additional decoration, Mum and I are going to learn the craft of willow weaving to create standing sculptures for the barn entrance. 

I’m convinced that the combination of a personal touch and seasonal flowers from Suffolk is going to inspire my family and friends. It really puts your guests in touch with the local landscape particularly if they are not from the area.  Giving them something to take home and continue to grow is also a beautiful reminder of the day.”

Are you considering a green wedding but don’t think you’re going to find a “green” gown that fits your style? Hemp not your thing? Organic cotton or bamboo doesn’t fit the bill either? Maybe you think that eco-friendly gowns don’t fit into your image of wearing high fashion.

Don’t worry you can still go green and wear high fashion… by wearing a beautiful bridal gown from another era.

Are you a gal that loves the styles from eras long gone? The glamour of vintage fashion, gowns from the golden age of Hollywood. Well, did you know that vintage gowns are a very green option?

Why, you may ask?

They are so vintageously green because no new resources are needed to create them. The greenest choices are the ones that require no energy or new resources to create- a vintage gown fits that definition perfectly.

A touch of history

Vintage gowns have become very popular in recent years, not just because of the massive movement towards going green but a renewed interest in the beauty and style of the past has emerged. Many celebrities have donned vintage gowns for red carpet events and for their own weddings.

Just imagine all the styles and elegant fashions you can choose from. The quiet elegance or flapper styles of the 20s, the understated beauty of the 30s, the glamour of the 50s, and the psychedelic fun of the 60s and 70s. Maybe you wish to go back even farther in time to romantic Edwardian or Victorian fashions.

Do your homework

To research vintage fashions and styles of wedding gowns two fabulous books are Vintage Wedding- Simple Ideas for Creating a Romantic Vintage Wedding by Daniela Turudich and Accessorizing the Bride-Vintage Wedding Finery through the Decades by Norma Shephard.

These books will help you see what kinds of dresses were popular during different decades. That way when you start looking for a vintage bridal gown you’ll have a better idea of what to search for.

So where can you find vintage gowns? You never know you may find a gem at a local thrift store, consignment shop, or antique store. You might even be lucky enough to have a vintage clothing retailer in your town.

Online vintage

If not, there’s always eBay and a host of online retailers that specialize in vintage gowns. Two well known online retailers are VintageWedding.com and VintageVixen.com. If you are in the UK check out VintageDress.co.uk.

How to find that vintage gown

Be careful when shopping for vintage gowns, especially if you purchase from an online retailer.

1. First of all make sure the gown is not a reproduction but an actual vintage gown. Several popular stores offer vintage “style” dresses. They are not real vintage gowns. That means they are not green. New materials and resources were used to create them.

2. Also be sure that you get a gown that is wearable. Some real vintage gowns are so old and fragile they cannot be worn, at least not without a lot of expensive and time consuming restoration which only a very qualified seamstress could accomplish.

3. Ask for full disclosure of the gown’s condition. Any stains, rips, or tears? Do the zippers, buttons, snaps, etc all work properly? Is anything missing? Is the elastic in good condition?

4. Ask for plenty of good quality photos so you can examine the gown you are considering.

5. Another big issue with vintage gowns is sizing. Sizes have changed over the years. You’ll want to ask for measurements of any gowns you are considering. Get accurate measurements of yourself and an item of clothing that fits you well and compare them.

6. Ask the retailer about refund policies and get insurance on anything shipped to you.

7. The last thing to consider when purchasing a vintage wedding dress is undergarments. You’ll want to know what kinds of undergarments were worn with that specific style of dress. Some styles may require a corset or a hoop skirt.

One of the greatest things about going vintage is you can centre your whole wedding theme around the era of your gown. Think flapper 20s, 50s retro, 80s glam, or the restrained elegance of Victorian times.

You’ll see that going totally vintageous can be a lot of fun in addition to being so very trendy and green.

About the author

Wenona Napolitano is the author of ‘The Everything Green Wedding Book’ out in December 2008. To pre-order your copy go to The Everything Green Wedding Blog.

If you tied or are going to tie the knot in a gorgeous shade of green, Wenona would love to chat with you via email for future features.

Get in touch with Wenona at everythinggreenweddings@yahoo.com - and I’m sure she’d be happy to give you a few going green tips too!

Let me explain…

The couple in question are very laid back, no fuss kind of people. So for a start there were no fancy invites; our summons to a mysterious party at the end of August came by email, as did the eventual revelation that it would be a wedding celebration, and all the venue, timing details and so on. So it was pretty much a paper-free wedding!

The ceremony (which we didn’t attend) was just for a handful of family and friends at the register office in their hometown. The bride wore a blue dress that could easily be worn again, and the groom a smart suit. Witnesses were in (presumably hired) nautical outfits to add a touch of the surreal to the occasion!

The evening do took place in a bar in the same town and was a relaxed, low key but crazy affair with everyone required to come in music-themed fancy dress.

This gave the couple the chance to entertain a whole host of stars with no expensive personal appearance fees! Among the assorted guests were Amy Winehouse, Ginger Spice, Abba, Morrissey and Slash.

After some wardrobe emptying antics the day before the wedding, I plumped for Bjork - hair twisted in knots, a vintage dress I’d been waiting for a chance to wear, coupled with a fluffy cardigan and boots; while my husband made an admittedly poor effort as Chris Martin from Coldplay - black jacket (charity shop purchase - quite smart, he’s since worn it to work!), black t-shirt and black trousers, plus random bits of tape on his fingers and photo of Chris Martin to prove his identity!

Eddie van Halen - or the Groom as he’s otherwise known - proudly entered the bar with his Bride, appearing for one night only as Eleanor of the Chippettes, the female version of The Chipmunks!

Entertainment was provided by a thrash metal band (friends of the bride and groom) - and the happy couple danced merrily to a metal version of one of Abba’s greatest hits. Aww bless!

Parents, friends and Waitrose provided platters of good grub and everyone tucked in mightily with very little wasted.

The couple had honeymooned in Paris the week before the wedding (they like to do things differently!) so just went for a posh meal to celebrate after the event.

There were no favours and no fuss and the carbon emissions must have been considerably less than your average white wedding.

All in all, it just goes to show what can be achieved with a small budget, a sense of fun, a bit of imagination and a bunch of friends. Certainly a wedding to remember!

Name: Ruth Singer
Location: Leicester, Midlands

Tell us a bit about yourself and your business
I’m a designer-maker specialising in working with eco and recycled fabrics. I mainly create bespoke fabrics for interiors, but also run a small bridal accessories business because I enjoy it so much.

I have been sewing since childhood and have always loved making clothes, bags, scarves, cushions and corsages for myself and my friends.

In 2005 I decided to set up in business designing and making for a living, after several years of working in museums. And I am having a great time!

I have exhibited all over the UK including at some very prestigious shows. My work has also been shown in New York Design Week in 2007 and I have had my work published in several national newspapers and magazines including the Guardian and Elle Decoration.

I have recently finished writing my first book, ‘Sew It Up: a modern manual of practical and decorative sewing techniques’ which is out in October.

My second is in progress now and is all about sewing in a more green way by recycling and using organic fabrics without sacrificing style.

What or who inspires you?
Since I was tiny I have loved clothes, visiting costume museums with my nose pressed up to the glass admiring 18th and 19th century dresses.

I was lucky enough to work in museums for several years and did a lot of independent study of textile history and now my work is almost entirely inspired by old sewing techniques and the work of early couture designers which I have studied, tweaked and developed into my own style.

What do you enjoy most about running your business?
Sewing all day listening to Radio 4 is about perfect for me!

I love designing and making new things all the time, so bespoke bridalwear and accessories is a lot of fun to do.

What is the most challenging aspect of your work?
Doing anything other than just designing and sewing all day! There is so much more to a designer’s work than just designing and it really gets in the way. I don’t much enjoy marketing, particularly PR work - it’s hard to sell yourself all the time!

How do you see the wedding industry changing over the next five years (if at all)?
I think the ethical weddings market is growing, which is fantastic to see. I also think, and indeed hope, that there will be a growing interest in recycling wedding clothes and customising vintage and second hand dresses.

It can be a very wasteful industry - as you all know! - so anything I can do to stop the waste by giving an old frock a new lease of life is a good thing!

Find out more about Ruth Singer Bridal - eco & recycled bridal accessories

After all, you’re here at Ethical Weddings, you’re thinking about the impact your wedding will have on the planet and other people, you’re not going to let your wallet drop open just because someone whispers ‘colour coordinated table runners’.

But sometimes, all this staying sane can become a bit of a strain.  This is a huge commitment you’re about to make, after all, and the enormity is going to affect you at some point, whether this manifests itself as crying over non-organic eggs (yep, hand up, that was me!) or snapping when someone suggests a 4×4 to get you to the church in time.

The best people to go to in these situations are not always your nearest and dearest…near and dear as they are… but rather those who are (or have been) in the same boat as you - the brides-to-be, and the brides-who’ve-been. 

Plenty of you have worked this out already which is why we see you chatting away on the forums; but sometimes, it’s good to meet up face-to-face and have a proper old chinwag about it all.

Brighton brides group - 15 September

To make this a bit easier to do, we’ve set up a little group that will be meeting in Brighton first of all on Monday 15 September.

The idea is just to talk about any questions you have or dilemmas you’ve run up against, and to share ideas and advice within a small group of likeminded brides (but if any grooms are interested in this kind of group, do let us know as you’d be very welcome!).

If you can make it down to Brighton on 15 September (you don’t have to be from Brighton) we’d love to see you there. You can find the details below.

And if you aren’t able to get to Brighton but like the idea of a meeting of brides, let us know and we’ll try to link you up with other green brides in your area!

When: Monday 15 September at 7.30pm
Where: Mama Oshun’s - see map
How much? FREE!
Contact: Katie - katie@ethicalweddings.com

If you are interested in coming along just drop us an email at katie@ethicalweddings.com. We would love to meet you!

Katie, Lou & Lesley

Katie is Director of Ethical Weddings - the online ethical & green wedding magazine and planning resource: www.ethicalweddings.com  

Lesley is the Founder of Getting Married from the Inside Out and offers personal coaching for the wedding journey: www.gettingmarriedinsideout.co.uk  

Lou is an Ethical Fashion Stylist who trained at the London College of Fashion. Lou helps people to reflect what’s inside on the outside: www.ethicalstylist.co.uk  

For more details see the Ethical Weddings Events page

Alternatively, if you prefer, we will put the 10% into the School Fees Account for the children of the fruit factory employees. The minimum order for weddings to benefit from this offer is £60.

A Fruto del Espiritu experience for every budget!

If you want to go all out on your wedding day, Fruto del Espiritu can arrange for their professional Mixologist to create the drinks, offering your guests both captivating cocktails and entertainment at the same time!

And to celebrate that special day, why not opt for a cocktail (alcoholic or non-alcoholic - both are equally exquisite!) that’s been designed just for you - with all your favourite fruits and flavours.

If you fancy, exotic fruit canapés can also be supplied - or even an excellent Colombian trio of musicians!

DIY drinks

If you’re working to a smaller budget, Fruto del Espiritu can provide you with drinks recipes so that you can make up your own delicious cocktails by the jug, from as little as 40p per cocktail for unique non-alcoholic, cocktails that truly make a difference.

Find out more about Fruto del Espiritu and their exotic fruit cocktails

At the same time, they’re making a real difference back in Colombia. Read on to find out how…

Name: Rutie Stranack

Tell us a bit about yourself and your business
Having lived in Colombia for 18 months, I loved visiting the juice bars to try out all the incredible exotic fruits, and I realised that many of them - if they were known and available in the UK - could provide a viable and sustainable alternative for Colombian farmers.

Fruto del Espiritu was set up as a non-dividend company, with all profits dedicated to reinvestment in ethical projects within the Colombian exotic fruit industry.

We sell exotic fruit purees - Mango, Guava, Pineapple, Lulo (tastes like gooseberry or kiwi), Mora (Andean Blackberry) and Maracuyá (Passionfruit). These are ideal for fruit punches and cocktails (non-alcoholic as well as alcoholic), desserts and sweet and sour dishes.

All profits are being invested in financing a dried fruit product, processed by women victims of forced displacement (see photo below).

Our Lulo, Mora and Maracuyá are in leading cocktail bars, such as the Dorchester Hotel. We also have many Aficionado Customers, who take a Colombian fruit juice as one of their Five-a-Day, a commitment which finances the school matriculation fees of the young people whose parents work at our supplier’s factory.

What or who inspires you?
The two people I know personally who most inspire me are Nancy Centeno and Aura Amelia Abril.
Nancy is director of IMC, a charity which takes care of children at high risk, many psychologically damaged by violence, abuse, neglect or displacement.

Aura Amelia Abril, a town councillor, was displaced by an illegal armed group and her family had to leave her home for the capital Bogota and start over from scratch.

Turning her pain into courage, as illustrated on this online video, she has set up Fundamujer to help displaced women when they arrive in Bogota empty-handed and traumatised.

I admire every Colombian who has put their life at risk to stand up for justice and peace.

What do you enjoy most about running your business?
I most enjoy being able to do what I most passionately believe in. I love the moments when a teenager comes to grips with the fact that money spent on cocaine is financing kidnappings, massacres and landmines - when they present their very own Colombian cocktail recipes, with a really cool name and announce how much money from each drink is going to feed a child in Colombia; or when the factory employees’ children write their messages of hope and inspiration for young people in the UK.

What is the most challenging aspect?
The most challenging aspect is being met with apathy, indifference or cynicism.

What do you feel you bring to an ethical wedding?
While the bride and groom are drinking to the happiest day of their lives and a bright future, the drink they are holding is part of a transformation offering hope to displaced families.

For all those who appreciate creativity, artistry and passion, hand-crafted cocktails offer a unique personal touch - these fruits are perfect for Mojitos!

With a professional Mixologist creating the drinks, you can offer your guests both luxurious drinks and entertainment at the same time.

The Mixologist can also offer a service for stag and hen parties with the highest quality drinks, including exquisite non-alcoholic drinks as well as classics with a Latin twist and new contemporary style drinks - or a cocktail created especially to the specific tastes of the bride, groom or couple.

Exotic fruit canapés can also be supplied - even an excellent Colombian trio of musicians. If the budget is not quite as lavish, drinks recipes can also be supplied for mak ing up very simple but delicious cocktails by the jug, from as little as 40p per cocktail for unique non-alcoholic, ethical cocktails.

How do you see the wedding industry changing over the next five years (if at all)?
Couples want to create their special day in a personalised way that reflects their values and priorities and may very gently give food for thought to their guests. The trend is away from consumerism, and more importance on the significance and meaning of each aspect of the event.

With the internet enabling smaller, specialist companies to offer alternatives, every choice can make a difference, not just for the couple and their guests, but for those on the other side of the planet, to whom our solidarity and custom makes such a difference.

One bride, when recently asked about how all the arrangements were going for her wedding, said: “what I am most looking forward to is the marriage.”

Our company supplies for weddings, but our dream is that Colombian fruit will be part of the celebrations on other special occasions or part of a healthy lifestyle - while turning around the lives of others.

Find out more about Fruto del Espiritu - exotic fruit from Colombia For more about the story behind the company, email info@fruto.co.uk for details.

With the recent announcement that the wedding list company Wrapit has gone into administration, most of their customers will be extremely worried and other engaged couples would be forgiven for rejecting online wedding services altogether.

Fairgift napkins

“It would be terrible if Wrapit’s announcement damaged the whole industry” says Brian Walmsley, founder of the fair trade wedding list service, Fairgift.

“The internet is the perfect place for couples to set up a wedding list” adds Brian, “They can ensure they get the gifts they really want and it is extremely convenient, especially for guests coming from a long distance away. Moreover, so long as people use a credit card and some common sense, it is perfectly safe & secure to shop online.”

Wrapit customers should remember that so long as items between £100 and £30,000 were purchased with a credit card, they are entitled to a full refund if the goods are not received within the time promised. Many credit & debit card companies also offer protection beyond this, so customers should call their card company to enquire & arrange the refund.

For the couples with the wedding list, this means that the money will be refunded to their guests - so they will need to find an alternative wedding list service and ask their guests to shop again.

How to move your list to Fairgift

Fairgift will help any couple move their wedding list at the last minute, plus will send a free handmade rose petal wedding journal to any existing Wrapit customer who makes the switch. Simply email info@fairgift.co.uk and set up a new list at http://www.fairtradegiftlsit.co.uk

Fair trade handmade rose petal wedding journal

A wedding list service with a difference

Fairgift is a social enterprise that partners with artists & craftspeople across the world to create a wide range of beautiful, original & ethically sourced homeware.

Everything is fair trade so each item enables the producers in Africa, Asia & Latin America to build a future for their families and their communities. Like the Cotton Co-operativesof Mali& Burkina Faso who, thanks to the Fairtrade premium they have received, have been able tobuild a health centre and who’s cotton has created stylish bedding, towels & bathrobes.

“As well as being fair trade, the products are also outstanding quality”, says Brian “The Fairgift range is made by skilled artisans who have a real stake in what they are doing, which is a great way to work together to ensure superior quality.”

Moreover, the products are predominantly handmade in small quantities, so your gift or wedding list is highly original. No normal high street brands here!

All Fairgift profits are reinvested back into growing sales of fair trade products and the remainder donated to the development charity, Traidcraft Exchange.

Fair trade hammock

Unlike Wrapit, Fairgift partners with just 45 fair trade producer groups and does this without the heavy overheads of a retail network: just one showroom near Henley-on-Thames and a warehouse in Cornwall.

Five tips to ensure online security

1. Use a credit card for purchasing any item between £100 and £30,000
2. Make sure that the web address of the page starts https:// before you enter any personal information or payment details. The ’s’ stands for ’secure’. There should also be a small padlock that appears in the bottom of your screen.
3. Always print out a copy of your order and a copy of the acknowledgement that you should receive.
4. Always check your bank statements carefully if you purchase something on the Internet.
5. You should never be asked to tell anyone your card’s PIN number - even if they claim to be from your bank or the police. Never send your PIN number to anyone over the Internet.

Get further information about Fairgift, or telephone 0870 803 3226

To see products in person visit the Fairgift showroom near Henley on Thames - about 45 minutes west of London off the M4 or M40. To make an appointment, simply email Fairgift at info@fairgift.co.uk with contact details, your event date and preferred dates/times to visit.

More ethical, green and charity wedding gift lists

If you’re looking for a gift list with a difference, Ethical Weddings has plenty of options for you - browse our selection of ethical, green and charity wedding gift lists.

And little wonder when you see what a beautiful setting the old (still working!) mill makes. Greg at Gants Mill has put together a little video of some of their summer weddings this year so that you can almost imagine you were there…

Midsummer celebrations

And that’s not all they’ve been up to. On Saturday 21 June they held a Midsummer Night’s Charity Ball for 110 guests raising a whopping £3,079.55 for the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.

It was a super swish black tie event, with Greg himself (on vocals, guitar and piano) providing the music and friends who got everyone dancing!

Volunteers from the charity manned the bar admirably and a scrummy feast came courtesy of The Olive Bowl of Gillingham at extremely generous rates which meant more money for the cause.

A charity auction helped to raise about a third of the money with many wonderful gifts donated including:

• A painting from life by a local artist, Dominic Berry
• A freshwater pearl necklace donated by Purely Pearls, the business of the mother of the first bride to be married at Gants Mill

Many of those who were invited but couldn’t make it on the night also sent donations.

The local community was fully behind the event and guests included Justin Robinson, Mayor of Bruton and Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council and Tim Carroll, Leader of South Somerset District Council.

With the party also serving as a big thank you to everyone who helped get the Gants Mill Weddings business off the ground, a jolly good time was had by all!

2009 weddings

So back to the weddings… if you like the look of Gants Mill, the best plan would be to get hold of Greg now, because 2009 summer Saturdays are going faster than you can say ‘Gants Mill green weddings’!

Take care,

Katie
Chat about green wedding venues and more in the Ethical Weddings Forum