Choose Environment Over Opulence

Shopping might be the last thing on your mind during these hectic times. But the secret to smart shopping is to buy consciously instead of randomly. Shopping should make you feel good without leaving a bad aftertaste. The philanthropically-minded will find plenty of reasons to support the fashion industry this season. Many brands have teamed up with charity organizations to donate proceeds of their luxury products, making them the perfect accessories for every environmentally friendly fashionista.

Bulgari Supports "Save the Children"

To celebrate Bulgari's 125th anniversary, the jewellery label has launched a major fund-raising project to support the "Rewrite the Future" campaign of Save the Children, the largest organisation for the defence of children's rights in over 100 countries. The campaign is committed to provide quality education to 8 million children living in conflict-affected areas within 2010. Bulgari has set a goal to raise € 10 million by the end of 2009 and has introduced a beautiful silver ring specially created for the campaign, featuring the Save the Children logo engraved inside. The ring will go on sale this month until December 2009, at the price of HK$2,600 of which 20% will be donated to the campaign. Celebrities including Ben Stiller, Sting, Julianne Moore and Andy Garcia are already committed to the initiative.

Available at Bulgari stores worldwide and on their e-commerce website active in the US.

Ferragamo's New It Bag

Every brand is offering must-have totes, reaching a point of oversaturation. But Salvatore Ferragamo has found a new way to grab our attention! The Italian brand came up with a line of environmentally friendly handbags. The collection is called Eco Ferragamo and includes five stylish eco bags, made from soft leather, which was tanned with natural products, making the leather biodegradable as well as water-resistant. The dye was created from the tannins in tree bark, and the lining is made from sustainable hand-woven hemp. The bags range from small totes to maxi hobos and come in this lush tobacco brown, lemon yellow and grapefruit pink. The collection hits stores this month as part of Ferragamo's Spring line.

Available at Salvatore Ferragamo stores worldwide.

H&M Goes Eco-Chic this Spring

Never too late to catch on to the hippest trends, H&M is continuing its long-term investment in organic cotton, increasing it another 50% in 2009 compared to the year before. This Spring there are also selected "green" garments made of recycled materials, such as polyester recycled from PET bottles or textile remnants, wool from worn-out woollen garments as well as recycled cotton from fabric remnants in production. The new collection will carry womens- and kidswear, offering a wide selection ranging from jackets, sweaters, suits, skirts, blouses to trousers, socks, underwear and shopping bags. Green is the new black!

Available at H&M stores worldwide.

Jackie Chan in Hermès

In celebration of the Hermès boutique on Canton Road Hong Kong late last year, the French luxury brand has collaborated with Jackie Chan for a new charity project. The limited edition Les Tigreaux scarf (there's only 800 of them, with 400 being in Hong Kong) was printed in support of the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation (JCCF). The highly sought-after scarves are still available. But you have to be fast!

Available at Hermès boutiques worldwide.

John Hardy Plants Bamboo Trees

The Bamboo planting project of Bali based jewellery brand John Hardy is still going strong. Committed to the environment, the luxury label is continuously planting bamboo trees to reforest Nusa Penida, a small island off the coast of Bali. In addition to segregate carbon dioxide, the project has many other benefits. Local families are provided with training in sustainable cultivation of bamboo that will provide them with food and income. For each John Hardy silver Bamboo bracelet purchased, the brand plants a certain amount of bamboo seedlings. Each piece of jewellery is engraved with the number of bamboos planted.

Available at John Hardy in Hong Kong; Parkson in Malaysia; Isetan and Mic in Japan.