CAN you be fashionable and have a social conscience?

That is among the questions set to be asked at a series of debates on ethical fashion in Oxford next month.

Talks from March 9 to 11 will also consider the impact of the Fairtrade movement, which tries to offer Third World producers a better deal.

“How to be an ethical consumer” and “Can luxury goods be ethical?” will be debated at Oxford Brookes University, the Botanic Garden and the Malmaison Hotel.

Speakers will include fashion consultant Veronica Crespi and ethical fashion blogger Pamela Ravasio.

Feng Ho, who has organised the talks on behalf of the city’s O3 Gallery, said: “It’s purpose is to provoke and educate.

“I find it extremely challenging to convince people that ethical fashion is a good thing.”

Abingdon and Witney College student Elise Goodson tried on one of Miss Ho’s designs, made from organic cotton and bamboo based fabrics.

The 19-year-old Witney resident said: “I did an ethical fashion show last year and I thought it was really good and interesting to learn how the clothes are made of things that are all around us.”

Tickets are £5 and £4 concessions and are available from o3gallery.co.uk or 01865 246131.