A Spring Fair with a difference is taking place at a Beijing school this weekend.

The “Clean and Green” Spring Fair at Hyde Academy on Saturday May 26 focuses on the low waste and environmental issues which are increasingly important to Beijing families. As well as the usual games, face painting, and live music, there are stalls from some of our favorite local green businesses.

The Bulk House offer waste reduction products such as stainless steel straws and reusable bags. Everard + Wang repurpose odds and ends into edgy fashionable jewelry, while of course Farm to Neighbors Farmers Market brings fresh vegetables from local farms. And a portion of the profits go to ICVS, who provide shelter and veterinary services for abandoned animals.

Clean and Green Spring Fair, 10am – 2pm, Saturday May 26. Hyde Academy, 9, An Fu Street, Houshayu, Shunyi District. 北京市顺义区后沙峪安富街9号

About a month ago now, my good friend from the US came over to my house with her son for a playdate. She flew through the door in a flash of colour and style, wearing an off-the-shoulder shirt I instantly admired and commented on. “I know,” she said, “Don’t you love it?” Then she started talking about Meijile.

Bamboo Shirt Collection

Meijile has been around in Beijing as a small clothing brand for the past three years but I hadn’t really explored their work. I’d heard of them and seen their displays at a few craft sales, but I admittedly haven’t taken enough time with my wardrobe in the past four years thanks to kids and/or the convenience of a favourite pair of jeans and a hoodie. But when my friend breezed through my door with those wide eyes of self-love, I thought: “I need some of that!”

The Founders: Dani & Kicki

美极了－ “meijile” — So Beautiful! or How Beautiful! — is a great name for a clothing shop. Maybe it seems rather confident, but if you’ve actually seen these clothes and judged them for yourself, you can tell that they’re made with great care and quality control. The fabrics are beautiful, the stitching is solid, their styles are fun and unique.

When I looked into it further, I discovered that the owners, Kicki and Dani, have been exploring the environmental impacts of the fashion industry and have committed to using leftover fabrics for things like interesting jewelry, covering buttons, creating unique linings on children’s pants, etc. They also don’t use plastic packaging, which in itself is a miracle here in China where even the smallest of products suffer in their individually wrapped, smothering plastic.

Last Lined Pants Collection for Kids

I asked my friend for the designer’s WeChat contact and she passed it on. Then I texted and asked them about the style of shirt I had set my eye on. I got a response right away. Then she even sent me a garment by courier and I sent her the money through WeChat wallet. What a treat to put on this gorgeous shirt today. I feel fancy and pampered: by me!

For more information about Meijile and their wide array of kids and adult clothes, please visit their website (needs VPN!).

Photos Courtesy of Kicki of Meijile and Ember Swift

The representatives are meeting to discuss questions such as: “Will billions of dollars of aid pledged in the Copenhagen Accord be honored? Will China, the world’s biggest polluter, step forward as an unlikely climate hero? Will the multiple "gigatonne gap" between safe levels of atmospheric CO2 and pledged reductions finally be acknowledged?”

It’s almost been a year since Copenhagen, notes a recent ABC article. During this period, we’ve seen both the physical and political impacts of climate change, as environmental disasters around the world have been accompanied by a range of significant political shifts.

The political outcomes on climate, however, have been mixed. President Obama failed to get climate legislation through the US senate, despite a sharp increase in renewable energy investment globally, including most notably in China. Australia has a new Prime Minister, a new Minister for Climate Change, a new Climate Change Committee, as well as a renewed call to set a price on carbon emissions.

Meanwhile, at the grassroots level, commentators have observed a growing sense of urgency across the world on climate change – people are now prepared to take real action.

So, what’s the bottom line? “There has been progress since Copenhagen. Perhaps not as far as many would have liked. But we’ve moved forward,” says the ABC article. “Further, the ingredients are there for strong international action. Tianjin is an opportunity to pick up the UN process and take steps towards the treaty that is needed.”

China’s urban landfills are expected to reach capacity by 2020.

The goal of The Great Green Race (GGR) is to "increase public awareness surrounding consumption and waste management issues", as well as "empowering individual city residents to contribute toward creative solutions that address these problems."

Additionally, The GGR will contribute towards a community “Trash Art Sculpting” at the 10/10/10 Beijing Climate Party! All teams will contribute waste collected from the competition to create a sculpture for public display, spreading a message to the community about the value of sorting and re-using “trash”.

Go here for details on the routes and rules of the race. Registration is required if you are interested to join.