Kate’s clothes or my clothes?.

The Kate Moss collection at Topshop has brought Philip Green more media exposure than even he expected and will net him a profit even after her reported £3M signing fee is paid.

However a quick calculation will show that he has paid more for her designer name than the cost of the goods themselves estimated to be somewhat nearer £2M.

Amongst the articles, have been those about the ethics of her clothing production and I for one know it is only possible to work like that if current cotton, stitching and transport prices stay as they, are leaving out the true environmental and social costs.

But I, who know what the true life of a cotton farmer is like, as well as the high risk and chaos of the clothing industry, will not knock Philip Green for his adventure.

He has done the honest thing and offered the wandering girl who has put a pretty face on other peoples brands something of her own - her name her face and even an office have all come together for her at last thanks to Philip.

No my question is more about the state of our self image – why do we have to pay so much to get a look – do we know so little about how to dress that we only feel comfortable looking like someone else?

If we really do want to see a fairer trading system we must start by getting a little braver with our dressing habits. We must understand the fabrics and more about how to love and care about our clothing. The people of Lewes who patronise our local shop Gossypium know what they want and they vote with their wallets.

Time for more of us to start to do the same. There is only 1 Kate Moss and 60 Million British citizens. Where are you all ?

Kate’s clothes or my clothes?.

The Kate Moss collection at Topshop has brought Philip Green more media exposure than even he expected and will net him a profit even after her reported £3M signing fee is paid.

However a quick calculation will show that he has paid more for her designer name than the cost of the goods themselves estimated to be somewhat nearer £2M.

Amongst the articles, have been those about the ethics of her clothing production and I for one know it is only possible to work like that if current cotton, stitching and transport prices stay as they, are leaving out the true environmental and social costs.

But I, who know what the true life of a cotton farmer is like, as well as the high risk and chaos of the clothing industry, will not knock Philip Green for his adventure.

He has done the honest thing and offered the wandering girl who has put a pretty face on other peoples brands something of her own - her name her face and even an office have all come together for her at last thanks to Philip.

No my question is more about the state of our self image – why do we have to pay so much to get a look – do we know so little about how to dress that we only feel comfortable looking like someone else?

If we really do want to see a fairer trading system we must start by getting a little braver with our dressing habits. We must understand the fabrics and more about how to love and care about our clothing. The people of Lewes who patronise our local shop Gossypium know what they want and they vote with their wallets.

Time for more of us to start to do the same. There is only 1 Kate Moss and 60 Million British citizens. Where are you all ?

Green is not Black

We will spare you from reading the fashion press this month as it has gone a bit too far especially when fashion journalists start talking about organic pigs we know there is something wrong.

How can fashion be ethical anyway ?
It is like trying to clean up the arms or oil industry !
Fashion at it worst: a bunch of anorexic, cocaine addicted models trying to make you buy what you really do not need.

This is not what we are about we do not want Gossypium to be part of it.

Times have changed, a few years ago when we started Gossypium we used to be seen as hippies that could not even open a bank account because our last address was in India and now because they want our votes and our money we are important in their eyes again.

Editors used to put the phone down on us because it was not on their agenda but now that Political leaders have got wind powered light bulbs it is good to be green and ethical and they are calling us.

Sorry but we want more, green is not the new black, there is too much rubbish still being said and done, the problems are not being solved.



Too many cotton farmers are still committing suicide.

Too much Oil has been pumped to make your nice fleeces George.

Too many people are dying to protect your oil resources in Iraq Tony.

The only green they know is the colour of the $$$$$$$ .