Fairtrade Fortnight The Big Swap

Today sees the start of Fairtrade Fortnight and this year the theme is The Big Swap. People are encouraged to switch to fair trade products and register their swap on the website, to count towards the target of one million and one swaps during the campaign. The website contains useful information on how fair trade products benefit those involved in their production and suggests categories of product where the switch can be made, from coffee to cosmetics.

Vintage - recycling in style

With fashion fads changing so quickly, the timeless appeal of vintage clothes gives them a longevity that today's clothing just can't match. But finding good quality vintage pieces can be difficult; most of us don't have the time to scour the fleamarkets in search of a bargain and vintage retailers are relatively rare. But buying online can be risky, as you're never quite sure what you're getting.

I'm impressed by online vintage retailer Love Miss Daisy. The clothes are gorgeous, condition is both categorised and supported by individual comments about any blemishes, and actual measurements are provided instead of just the size on the label. Vintage clothing is great from an environmental point of view, as it gives new life to garments that would otherwise end up in landfill. And it's the perfect choice for individualists who don't want to run into somebody else wearing the same outfit to the same event.