T.E.S...P.O

After only a year of collaboration, Katherine Hamnett has decided to pull her 'Choose Love' range from Tesco stores.
It was all Roses and honey in Autumn 2006 with Tesco and fashionista Eco warrior as Lee Rees-Oliviere, head of design, gushes on thier press website 'I am delighted to have secured Katharine Hamnett to design a range of clothing for Tesco' and commenting “Just as more and more people are choosing organic foods, we know our customers are increasingly interested in clothing which is made using environmentally-sustainable processes,” Hanmett ensured that the clothing and its production adhered to the standards set by the International Working Group on Global Organic Textiles so in theory Tesco were improving their ethical credentials.

“Not only is the cotton soft and luxurious to wear but Katharine has created beautiful, stylish clothes – which also give something back to the environment. We expect the collection to have widespread appeal. it will also be affordable because Tesco wants to make organics accessible to all” Suddenly mass consumerism emerged with a conscience. Or so we were lead to believe.
The honeymoon is well and truly over because as October descended upon us Hamnett withdrew from the super store. Tesco's Eco friendly enthusiasm proved to be transparent as Hamnett comments ‘I was initially really excited about the tie-up because I thought we could increase demand for ethical products. But I’ve come to the conclusion that [Tesco] simply wants to appear ethical, rather than make a full commitment to the range. Choose Love is only available in 40 stores and the merchandising is practically non-existent.’

Voicing her political and ethical views really has been a life long mission for Hamnett and yes she smokes and is often spotted with the odd disposable coffee cup but she is committed to her mission. The fact is her reputation as ethical fashionista at large and 31 years of prominence in the fashion industry is down to hard work. Being green isn't just a mentality to adopt to ease a troubled conscience, but it doesn't have to be on epic proportions either. Recycle a can, buy vintage, buy organic, breath in more that you breath out. Remember, every little helps...