Earth

Dirty White Gold: new documentary-in-the-making unpicks cotton

Leah Borromeo talks about her film Dirty White Gold at Stoke Newington Literary Festival

Written by Sonja Todd

Life Is Precious sign from Dirty White Gold
Roadside sign in India, from the film's trailer

Dirty White Gold is Leah Borromeo's film about cotton. It exposes a whole crop of problems with our clothes by unspooling high street supply chains right back to cotton seeds. Even what you think is a sweatshop-free t-shirt unravels to reveal a thread supplier using child labour, or a farmer in such heavy debt he's killed himself. These cotton-to-coffin suicides are destroying Indian farming families.


Dirty White Gold
Blood on the maps: film poster design by Peter Kennard @at_earth

Dirty White Gold “goes right the way back to seeds,” says Leah. “It's a Saturday night date film.” Ha ha.

We're here on a sunny Sunday afternoon as part of the Stoke Newington Literary Festival,… read more

Recent Articles

An interview with Jonny Gordon-Farleigh, editor of STIR magazine

We find out more about the man behind STIR - an online and print magazine that questions our current status quo. Plus a special discount offer for all Amelia’s Magazine readers.

Written by Amelia Gregory

STIR Vol.1 cover by Bec Young.
New magazine STIR carries the strap line ANGER. ANALYSIS. ACTION. For anyone disillusioned with the current state of affairs it’s a must read collection of …

The Purple Book: Sensuality & Symbolism in Contemporary Art & Illustration – Review

A selection of carefully curated contemporary illustrators explore sensuality and desire in this gorgeous book, published in June by Laurence King.

Written by Amelia Gregory

The latest offering from preeminent art publisher Laurence King is a huge purple and pink tome put together by two leading thinkers in the graphic design world. Angharad Lewis was …

Pinned it! Made it! Pinterest Party Review: Create a Mexican Day of the Dead Flower Crown

Why not get your craft on at a Pinterest Party? The Pinned it! Made it! ladies are on hand to guide you through your crafting dreams, once a month at Hackney Downs Studios.

Written by Amelia Gregory

If like me, you are a Pinterest fan, you no doubt spend more happy hours avidly collecting crafting ideas than actually creating them. Which is why the concept of Pinterest …

New for 2013: Amelia’s Award will launch the career of a talented Graduate Designer Maker

I have teamed up with Secret Emporium to bring you the inaugural Amelia's Award, which offers a spot worth £495 in the Secret Emporium tent at Wilderness Festival this summer, plus loads of promotion for your new brand!

Written by Amelia Gregory

Calling all soon to be design graduates: read on to find out about my new collaboration with the brilliant Secret Emporium, a curatorial umbrella which supports and promotes independent creators …

Liberate Tate presents All Rise at Tate Modern

The latest Liberate Tate intervention focused on the trial of BP over the Deepwater Horizon disaster that happened in the Gulf of Mexico back in 2010.

Written by Amelia Gregory

Last week Liberate Tate presented their latest performance All Rise at Tate Modern. Each day three performers entered the galleries to whisper the official transcript of the current BP trial …

Snarfle is One: Celebrating Baby, Motherhood and Work

I've been a mother for a year now, and my life creating Amelia's Magazine has irrevocably changed. I wouldn't change it for the world... featuring lots of beautiful illustrations

Written by Amelia Gregory

Snarfle by Kirbi Fagan.
A few weeks ago my baby Snarfle celebrated his first birthday, so now seems like a good opportunity to look back on my first year as a …

Tips and reasons to use Real Nappies and review of BumGenius and TotsBots Cloth Diapers

Thinking of using Real Nappies? Aka Cloth Diapers? But not sure where to start? Let me demystify the process for you by sharing what I have learned. Be warned: this blog contains references to POOP.

Written by Amelia Gregory

We are in the middle of Real Nappy Week so now is a fortuitiously good time to talk about my decision to use non-disposable nappies, or Real Nappies (aka Cloth …

An Interview with Kathy Shenoy, Creative Director of Ethical Design Shop Shake the Dust

Forging links between up-and-coming British designers and ethical producers in Southern Africa, Shake the Dust merges sustainability with great design.

Written by Jessica Cook

Kathy Shenoy by Louise Smith
Shake the Dust, is an online shop which sells everything from wooden heart-shaped pendants to fluoro vases. Creating relationships between emerging British designers and ethical producers, …

Easter 2013: Illustrated

Pagan symbols of Easter are celebrated by illustrators in this blog to celebrate the (hopeful) arrival of spring.

Written by Amelia Gregory

Easter by Daniel Alexander.
I don’t know about you but this feels like the least Eastery Easter for many years: normally the weather is becoming properly spring-like and the daffodils are …

Christmas Gift Ideas 2012: Best Books for Friends & Family

In my final Christmas round up I bring you a great selection of books: dip into this for those last minute gift ideas. Go on, the shops are still open, you've got time.

Written by Amelia Gregory

It’s here! For my final round up of gift ideas I take a look at a selection of books to give your loved ones for Christmas. You’re sure to find …

Christmas Gift Ideas 2012: Best Design Gifts For Women

A plethora of last minute gift ideas from fashion to stationery to the best screenprint ever for the feminist in your life...

Written by Amelia Gregory

The Elisalex dress from By Hand London.
Looking for some last minute gift ideas to please the lady who loves good design, handmade goods and occasionally creating her own? Well go …

Christmas Gift Ideas 2012: Best for Natural Skincare and Beauty

Look no further: here's my round up of gift suggestions from the best ethical and natural skincare and beauty brands around...

Written by Amelia Gregory

Trevarno Organic Skin Products by Alice Jamieson.
Don’t forget, gift buyers, that it’s always nice to feel a bit pampered on special occasions, nudge nudge wink wink. Which is why I’m …

Christmas Gift Ideas 2012: Best Design Gifts For Men

Stuck for ideas? Here's the perfect selection of gifts for men who love design. And women...

Written by Amelia Gregory

In Love With iphone cover by Bianca Green.
Most men love a bit of gadget based frippery, and there is an almost endless choice of iphone decor out there. Amidst the …

The 2012 Inaugural Lush Prize Awards Dinner: £250,000 towards the end of Animal Testing

On Thursday 15th November 2012 Lush held their first ever awards for people and organisations fighting against unnecessary animal testing. Inspiring stuff!

Written by Amelia Gregory

Anti Animal Testing by James McCourt.
On Thursday 15th November Lush held their inaugural Lush Prize at a warehouse venue in the heart of Shoreditch, and I was there. During the …

Ena Salon Review: a new haircut thanks to Mothers Meeting

Last week I had my hair cut by the charming Jonathan at the family run Ena Salon in Holborn, with Snarfle in tow.

Written by Amelia Gregory

I’ve never really been one to pamper myself (I didn’t cut my hair AT ALL for at least five years, and styling products stay woefully untouched on the bathroom shelf) …

EDE Knitwear: An interview with Ellie Jauncey

EDE knitwear is lovingly designed by Ellie Jauncey and handmade by a team of Herefordshire based knitters.

Written by Amelia Gregory

EDE men’s moss jumper by Claire Corstorphine.
EDE was founded in 2009 by Ellie Jauncey. Having studied Textiles at Manchester Metropolitan University and specialising in Knitwear she moved to London and …

Kate Sibley Jewellery by Polly Stopforth thumbnail

An Interview with Jewellery Designer Kate Sibley, talking about her ‘Future Jewellery’ Collection

London based designer Kate Sibley, of design studio Sibley Grove, talks us through her new bold and sustainable jewellery collection created with beautifully folded stone paper.

Written by Maria Papadimitriou

Kate Sibley Jewellery by Laura Griffin
When I first looked at images of Kate Sibley’s stone ‘paper’ Future Jewellery I was reminded of a gorgeous book I fell in love with …

London 2012 Paralympics Games Illustrated

A celebration of Paralympics athletes in illustrations. Just don't call them inspiring...

Written by Amelia Gregory

Ellie Simmonds by Daniel Castrogiovanni.
Much has been written of the Paralympics: with the press dwelling on life stories of ‘inspiring’ athletes and the athletes in turn pleading with fans to …

David Bramwell introduces his upcoming book to be published with Unbound: No.9 Bus to Utopia

Crowd funded publishing company Unbound will be publishing David Bramwell's new book No.9 Bus to Utopia, an entertaining look at different communities across the world.

Written by Amelia Gregory

I first heard David Bramwell talk about his upcoming book No.9 Bus to Utopia at Wilderness Festival last summer, where he spoke engagingly about his adventures whilst searching for happiness …

Older Entries