Surf brand Finisterre wins fashion category at Observer Ethical Awards 2008

I know that the third Observer Ethical Awards took place last week (at the Hempel, no less - sponsors Ecover must have come up trumps there?), but wanted to draw attention to the winners of this year's fashion category, as well as the runners up. They were chosen by a seriously illustrious panel of judges, which included Elle MacPherson, Wayne Hemingway, David De Rothschild, Dilys Williams (Director of LCF's Centre for Sustainable Fashion) and Jo Wood...
//// Finisterre:
This under the radar surf brand was set up in 2002 by a guy called Tom Kay, conceived to offer environmentally-aware, affordable and straightforward surf gear. I hadn't come across them before (the team also includes designer Tom Podkolinski and marketing director Ernie Capbert), so checked out the website and they produce waterproofs, bodywarmers and merino wool sweatshirts - basically the gear you need for keeping warm on the beach or out and about, in simple but clever designs. They use recyclable or renewable fibres and reportedly run their operation 'from their surfer caravans in St Agnes'. I have been to St Agnes and I can tell you, if this is the case, they must have a lush lifestyle indeed. I thought it was interesting that they were picked over the two runners up, Izzy Lane and From Somewhere, as Finisterre is much more raw and utilitarian, where the other two are designer labels. It makes sense as, if people are going to try and incoporate ethical purchasing into their everyday lives, there have to be as many options as possible across the market in its broadest sense.
///// Izzy Lane: offers wool and organic cotton separates produced from sustainable sources, in the case of the wool, from sheep ethically reared in the UK. Each range's name is linked to its source, eg. the woold ranges to rare breed sheep such as Wensleydale or Shetland. The garments are reasonably priced, given their provenance and design content, and are classic garments such as cardigans, sweaters, tweed jackets and skirts, but they have been worked in such a way that they are very right, very contemporary. The collection is absolutely spot on for the tweed look which seems set to be very popular this summer; and with festivals and British weather meaning woollies are a must, the stylish jumpers would be perfect to bung in the rucksack (remember: wool is warm even when wet!).
///// From Somewhere: I met Orsola de Castro, one of the founders of this label, at LFW's first ever Estethica event, which Orsola helped curate. She is a woman of clear vision who, back in 1997 and with fellow founder Filippo Ricci, saw that the future lay in sustainable and ethical fashion. Her recycled clothes and ethos were among the first of the current wave to capture popular interest.
... And apart from the fashion category, all the others made interesting reading. Shout out to Ken Livingstone, who won in the politician category - I know that he is a Marmite man, but myself, am loving the things that he did for cyclists and the rest and would have liked to see him complete his projects. Online retailer went to Natural Collection, stockists of an ever-expanding repertoire of ethical products, and Business went to Divine Chocolate, which has been improving its formulas in the decade it has been in business - I tried some samples at the Camden Green Fair and am sure that it is better than it has ever tasted! Will also be checking out bed-maker Warren Evans, who won local retailer - am sure he (if it's a real person) is the same one who advertises in Big Issue all the time?!?