"It's the little things in life we take for granted and the little things that can make all the difference - hence the name, The Little Things."
The Little Things UK held our first ever outreach on Wednesday 31st October 2018, I was wearing leopard print leggings and matching ears. We had 4 service users, 3 of who still come to us regularly 4 years later.
We've provided the unbelievable number of people in London that are living on the streets or in poverty, with hot home cooked meals, hot drinks, sleeping bags, clothes, toiletries, haircuts, drug and alcohol recovery support and most importantly a safe environment where they don't feel so alone in such a big city.
Just before the Coronavirus Pandemic our average number of service users was around 40. It was a very chilled atmosphere, lots of chit chat with service users coming as they please, helping themselves to biscuits.
When the country went into Lockdown we decided that we'd carry on holding our outreach. Without getting into politics, the people that needed help the most were thought of last.
I remember that first Wednesday after "Lockdown", one of our regular service users said to me -
"you came for us, no one would've blamed you if you didn't, but you came" - I nearly burst into tears, but instead just gave him a shepherds pie.
We altered the way we ran the outreach, asking services users to queue, providing extra food and goody bag and holding additional outreaches on Saturdays and Mondays.
We were told that during the pandemic only 30 organisations continued their outreaches in London, we were one of those 30. We saw the number of service user soar from 40 to around 160.
Over our four years we've been very lucky to build partnerships with Selfridges, Shoreditch Fire Station, Paul the Veg Man, Verry Kerry, Edmonton Rotary and charities including Hand on Heart and Toiletries for the Streets.
We have a team of volunteers that cook on a six week rotation, we're very proud that we're renowned for our good quality food and that we provide a choice of dishes. We also have volunteers that are hands on every Wednesday at the outreach, this includes former service users and teenagers that have come from care and war torn countries.
We've put people up in hotels over Christmas, helped two people gain employment, made untold solid friendships and sadly lost three of our service users and paid for one service user to have his dog put to sleep.
We've held multiple successful fundraisers, we've rented a lock up,
purchased a van, and on 31st March 2022 we became a registered charity!!
When I sit back and reflect on everything we've achieved over the last four years, I'll be honest, it blows me away. Our team our dedicated, compassionate, non judgemental and I know we make a difference to the people that have been neglected and need a bit of extra love and support - we're a 'consistent' for people that face alot of uncertainty in their lives.
People often ask what the drive behind The Little Things is and why we started it. For me it's very simple - why wouldn't we help the people that need it the most? People face hardships in life, and it's the right thing to do to give them a helping hand.
When I was thinking of the logo for The Little Things, I was adamant I wanted a lotus flower, because of what it represents in some religions. It signifies strength and purity and that beauty can rise from murky waters. I see our outreach as the lotus flower in dingy old London. I choose the purple in remembrance of my Nan, she always put others before herself and was everything a good human should be.
- Tilly - Founder of the Little things
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We made it people!
We made it through 2020 & 2021 and that most certainly deserves celebration, for we all know the trials we’ve had to face.
What a ride, hey?
Our new year’s resolutions this time surely include ticking off many of those things that have been sitting on our bucket lists for too long, but mostly doing all kinds of normal activities we weren’t allowed to do over those 2 long (and bizarre) years.
Imagining a normal night out with friends or a dinner at a fabulous restaurant feels wow & somewhat wild now!
Conceivably, our resolutions this year also feature some smaller actions that had always been taken for granted or deemed unworthy of an official list, such as “call Grandma more”, “be nicer to people”, “appreciate family time”, alongside the usual “go to the gym”, “lose some weight”, “eat better” and so on.
2022 is the chance to put everything into perspective and actually achieve those resolutions by changing the only factor that has been holding us back this whole time: some good, old fashioned, self love.
Self love is a very simple concept that can be deceptive and mistaken for narcissism, self indulgence or just being overly cheesy filling diaries with random, self-absorbed quotes.
While citations can indeed be inspirational at times, the notion of self love has been around for millennia, stirring disdain from those who perceive it as selfishness and disregard for other people’s needs and feelings.
The definition that could perhaps put an end to the misunderstanding would be this:
don’t break your own heart
The idea behind this showy phrase is to try and treat ourselves as we would the love of our life. We would never ever intentionally hurt our partner, our parents, our friends, our children.
And yet, truly loving someone is massive work, isn’t it?
It requires a combination of nourishment, patience, forgiveness, willingness to connect, pep talks, healing, understanding, gratefulness, wound licking and open-mindedness.
Not an easy task.
The whole point is: if we’re willing to do all of this for someone else, can’t we use the same strength it takes to achieve the heights of love and apply the same concept to ourselves?
Putting “me” first has nothing to do with egotism but rather with being nice to our minds, souls and bodies so that we can, as a consequence, better receive and give to others.
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune are so many in the course of one’s life that adding self-inflicted suffering truly doesn’t make any sense.
Instead of only paying attention to our inner critic we should make some mental space for that beautiful healing voice that lives hidden in the back of our minds which can - and should- remind us that mistakes happen, we are made to evolve, we deserve a pat on the back for a job well done (or for a bad day for that matter!) and not everything is our fault.
Mastering such a mindset isn’t easy at first because we are all stuck inside protective iron boxes that prevent us from connecting with that tiny sensitive part that just deserves to be loved.
Only when that part is reached can we really unleash, uncork, unlock our full potential and enjoy being who we are at full power: this seems to be the only sensible thing to do.
Adopting this perspective grants a huge boost, a gentle yet firm push towards gratefulness and self love.
Yes, we all have tons of regrets, a guilty conscience over something we did, a sentence we wish we could take back (and the list goes on and on, I know), but instead of focussing on what a horrible human being we have been, our attention should shift to condonation and clemency, the same two concepts we surely apply when it comes to our loved ones.
Look back at your mistakes, say that you understand, forgive that person and take a step forward.
This is nice and all, but where can one actually start?
Picture your daily or weekly calendar… are you featured anywhere in there? Can you find an activity, task or reward that is solely for you? Have you planned something to show yourself that you care?
No? Well, it’s time to squeeze in something that makes you happy because you deserve it, you’re amazing, you’re doing an excellent job at this thing called life.
If we don’t learn to tell ourselves that we are worth it, we’ll never fully embrace the conviction that we qualify for love, forgiveness, empathy and joy. But we do.
Journaling, for instance, can provide clarity and has been shown to reduce anxiety, depression, tension and many other forms of mental distress that have a negative impact on relationships, productivity, physical health and overall confidence.
You can start with jotting down whatever is swirling in your head that is causing you to worry or sinking your confidence. Putting thoughts on paper will help you distance yourself from any negative ideas and looking at them from a more detached stance and perhaps a different perspective.
You can then build up from this, upgrading to simple considerations such as things you like about yourself, your morals and values, easy and yet rewarding goals you are working towards, the last time you were nice to someone and how that made you feel.
Taking 5 minutes out of your daily routine to write down simple concepts will contribute enormously to your overall well being.
If this seems too herculean to you or you simply lack the confidence (yet!) to externalise your inner thoughts, you could consider working on your existing agenda and at the end of the day concentrate on things that you did for yourself.
Instead of obsessing over tomorrow’s timetable and how daunting it is, add in today’s timeline those 2 minutes you spent looking out of the window just breathing, or when you raised your gaze from the phone, how nicely that jumper fitted you and even that much deserved shower you had.
Remembering to fill that part in our daily calendar serves both as a gratification and an encouragement to continue doing so. Win win!
Noticing these teeny tiny deeds will make nonsensical, hectic timetables look like they belong to a purposeful, balanced person and, in the case you find yourself out of work in these months, it will help you get out of that slump, uplift your mood and build up productivity.
These are just the first baby steps that can put you on a path that leads to self love: emotional, mental and physical movement are your reward, not a punishment.
One thing always, always, always follows the other and you’ll be galloping towards a happier you in no time: a self compassion and acceptance running engine is bound to take you to the Moon and back. On the other hand, self loathing and harsh criticism will only seize you up.
Learning how to self love is not an easy task but it’s definitely worth the endeavour because it pays off in confidence, self-esteem, determination, appreciation, mindfulness, clarity, fitness… is it me or one possessing those qualities could face any given challenge?
It is not about creating even higher standards or expectations for ourselves, nor meeting those set up by others: only you can know what is truly right for you and that is ok.
Sometimes, showing the middle finger is the greatest act of self love.
Written by Elena Donadon
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What’s not to love?
For starters… a pandemic, right?
Things are going to be a tad different this year and we won’t probably be able to hold big family gatherings, let alone celebrating New Year’s Eve with tons of friends… but does this inevitably mean that Christmas time is not going to be great?
By all means, no.
If we stop for a second and think about what this festivity actually means we might be reminded that it shouldn’t be about crazy shopping sprees and presents related performance anxiety, but rather about the core values that truly represent the ideal society we would all like to belong to.
While it might be virtually impossible to completely detach from consumerism, there are ways to support local shops and businesses (which have taken a huge blow in this 2020), to save some money and to exchange presents in a responsible, sensible and original way.
How?
Here come 7 ideas to help you out with the task, watching the penny and being eco-friendly!
1 Ethical homemade treats
Christmas is about food and it is quite fair to say that the amount of cooking in each household grows exponentially during the festivities.
So, while you’re at it, why not cook and bake some extra servings to be handed out to family and friends?
If you get your groceries at a farmers market, you’ll get amazingly fresh produce that will allow you to prepare healthy and delicious jams, biscuits and preserves whilst helping out local producers and reducing your carbon footprint.
How’s that for an ethical Christmas?
You also get to reuse old jars, declutter your pantry and create a teeny tiny circular recycling system between you and your loved ones.
Repurposed items are a gift that keeps on gifting!
2 Propagated plants
It is a fact well known that plants have many superpowers such as purifying the air and transforming our homes in greener, healthier and more pleasant environments.
These key factors have indeed a great impact on our mood, productivity and overall well-being, so why not give a little piece of that to our family members and dearest friends?
Most of the indoors plants we already own are incredibly easy to propagate with cuttings that just need to be placed in water (Pothos, Rosemary, Philodendron, Tradescantia, Papyr) or by root division (ZZ Plant, Peace Lily, Snake Plant, Ferns) to be repotted in new soil.
Donating a little piece of green joy shows that we care about others and their welfare, in the hopes that one day their little cutting will become a whole new mother plant ready to be propagated again. Talk about the circle of life, uh?
3 Sustainable wooden toys
While the little ones might really appreciate our baked treats, the thing that really makes them happy at Christmas is unwrapping the toys left by Santa.
Can consumerism be avoided when tasked with the mission of thinking about kids’ presents?
It sure can, if we think about the toys that countless generations have been passing down for decades: wooden trains, blocks, animals, stacking items, dolls can really boost a child’s imagination and creativity while developing their sense of touch and intelligence.
If that is not enough, let’s ask ourselves this simple question: in a world that is tragically polluted and contaminated, do we really want our kids to play with plastic and synthetic objects?
4 Local experience
In times like the one that we are currently living on, travelling abroad has dramatically slid down the bucket list but even if this brings us great sadness for lost opportunities, it also provides us with the chance to reconsider and appreciate what is right in front of our nose.
No matter where we live, there are plenty of activities that can be done that have always been discarded because “they’re just there and I can do it whenever I want”.
How many museum trips, exhibitions, guided walking tours, teaching farms have we overlooked?
Wouldn’t it be great to give tickets as presents so that our loved ones can take a break and nurture themselves with some culture, experiences and new memories while helping out the local economy?
5 Train vouchers
Depending on where we live, some of us commute by train and some of us spend endless hours trapped in cars stuck in traffic.
We all know someone who is tragically stressed about one of those two ways of living and a simple gesture can help alleviate the pain connected to this crazy, hectic lifestyle.
The first thing that we could do for our public transportation depending friends, would be buying a subscription for them so that we could at least help them save some money to make that time a little bit more enjoyable.
For those subjected to road rage, a train voucher to be used on a weekend getaway could help them get away from the steering wheel for a couple of days and let their hair loose.
In both cases we would be also helping out the environment, taking cars off the streets thus reducing CO2 emissions.
Isn’t that great?
6 Ethical clothes
I hear you, I hear you and you are right… sometimes clothes do make people truly happy and we shouldn’t deprive ourselves for the sake of sustainability.
However… How many horrid scarves have you received over the years? How many itchy pairs of socks? How many poor quality pyjamas? How many of those clothes have ended up in the garbage?
The smartest choice is investing in quality items that were produced using natural fibers by companies which really care about the environment and their workers paying fair wages.
Not only those products don’t play a part in the toxic fast-fashion industry model, but they are also superior in terms of quality, design and overall feeling on the body.
Choosing clothes such as these also means giving something unique that has not been mass produced and is worn by millions of people to those who have a special place in your heart.
No brainer!
7 Rescue pets
At some point in our lives we’ve all wanted a pet and you probably know some kids who are currently plaguing their parents requesting a kitten or a puppy.
There are millions of abandoned cats and dogs all over the world looking for a house and human friends to cheer up: if Christmas is about caring, being charitable and re-centering our souls we could also take into consideration the domesticated species which cohabit the planet with us.
Animals teach children responsibility and keep company to those who are feeling alone or going through a rough period, at the ridiculous cost of nothing.
Adopting a new family member will bring joy and a breath of fresh air in every household: information about local shelters can be easily found on the internet
So, are you ready for a more frugal and yet richer Christmas this year?
I bet you are. And while you’re wrapping the amazing presents you have made yourself or responsibility purchased, don’t forget to reuse materials that you already have to surprise everyone with original gift wraps!
Elena Donadon
]]>Sansevieria aka Snake Plant aka Mother in law’s tongue
While the name doesn’t sound too promising and reassuring, Sansevierias have been shown to be fantastic allies if placed to live on our bed stands.
Why? Not only do they remove nasty toxins (benzene, xylene, formaldehyde) from the air, but they really work their magic at night, when they absorb carbon dioxide (the same CO2 responsible for climate change) and convert it in oxygen to be released while you’re sleeping and breathing deeply.
What do they want in return? Minimal care is required as they do not like direct sunlight and can rot when overwatered so you can basically forget they exist and feed them on a monthly basis. But remind yourself to say thanks when you go to sleep!
Zamioculcas Zamiifolia aka ZZ Plant
ZZ plants are among the most resilient plants we can host in our homes as they can tolerate low lighting settings as well as brighter locations and don’t require a very specific watering calendar because their rhizomes store the water they need allowing them to survive to long draughts.
ZZ plants are the perfect match for the most inexperienced gardeners as they remove xylene, toluene and benzene from the air and can be completely ignored and placed in each corner of the house.
Their dark green leaves are just a joy to be looked at and their resistance can truly lift up the spirits of all the black thumbs out there.
Pothos aka neverending propagation plant
This trailing vine can grow so long it's honestly ridiculous and it’s a welcome addition to any room of your house as it can be put in big pots, tiny cups, water filled jars, hanging baskets, repurposed cans… you name it.
Pothos can be propagated forever (prune a 4 inches stem below a node and place in water), don’t need any care at all (water when the three top inches have dried out) and perform well in all conditions.
Pothos is an immortal beast that will endure any kind of mistreatment and will continue to grow and purify the air in your house getting rid of carbon monoxide, benzene and formaldehyde.
As an added benefit, Pothos creates humidity around it which can be extremely important during the colder months when the heating systems are on and air gets drier favouring the spread of viruses and sore throats.
It’s also perfect for offices and cubicles as they tolerate low light settings and will always forgive your forgetfulness.
Chlorophytum comosum aka Spider Plant
Spider Plant is another species that keeps on giving and as others mentioned before can remove dangerous pollutants from the air with the extra special perk of being able to absorb ozone and nitrogen dioxide while releasing oxygen. Yay, lungs! Its long, luscious leaves are most indicated for those who are looking for an immediate tropical vibe but aren’t ready to experiment with more difficult plants.
Spider Plants can be neglected and do well in all lighting conditions except for direct sunlight and once ready they will make babies (spiderettes) that enhance their beauty and can be transferred in new pots when ready to leave their mamas.
Spathiphyllum aka Peace Lily
This tropical is not only one the most elegant plants you could ever grow in your house, but is a champion when it comes to removing trichloroethylene from the air. What’s that? It’s a chemical present in paint, glue and lacquer so basically what your furniture is covered in.
It can also eliminate ammonia and airborne mould, a major contributor to asthma and allergies. Peace Lilies do well in lower lighting locations and, because they are such divas, you’ll unequivocally know when it’s time to water them as they’ll dramatically lower their dark green leaves and pretend to be dying.
If kept moist (not damp) they’ll avoid the drama and contribute to your well being.
Taking care of a plant can be a rewarding journey and a powerful reminder of what Nature can do for us when we just pause a minute and reflect upon the fact that all living creatures belong to this most amazing eco-system called Earth.
Living in an urban jungle can conspicuously increase our physical and mental health while transforming even the tiniest flat in a home worth going back to.
Ready to paint that black thumb of yours with a nice coat of green?
Elena Donadon
]]>We have all been bitten by the Green-Eyed Monster at some point or another, especially during the lockdown months when we would have gladly enjoyed that fabulous spring in our private outdoors, possibly tending to our vegetable garden thus avoiding going to buy food in full deep-sea diver gear.
What if there was a way to grow vegetables inside our homes at the amazingly cheap price of absolutely nothing?
What if by doing so we could also reduce our impact on the planet and take the next step towards a more sustainable lifestyle?
What if we could adorn our kitchens with beautiful greenery and eat what we want without leaving the house?
Well, all of the above is not only possible but also fun, relaxing and rewarding.
Toolkit Ugh, but I don’t have any gardening supplies!
I hear you, I hear you, but you don’t need them, because all it’s required you already own (Yay! More saving!):
- Vegetable scraps
- Water
- Cute, but also horrid clean glass containers and old saucers
- Soil (not always!)
Easy peasy projects
1 Green onions are for sure the fastest and easiest vegetable to regrow and a good starting point for all of the brown thumbs out there.
After you’ve used the green part, simply submerge the base (2 inches let’s say) in a glass with water and watch them miraculously regrow in a matter of 2 to 7 days.
Done. Yes. You’re welcome.
Trick: place the container where it gets loads of sunlight and change the water daily.
2 Lettuce is a gift that keeps on giving and all it wants is for you to place the bottom in a glass with some water, let the sun do its trick and wait for new leaves to appear. Once some teeny roots have also made their appearance, you can place the heart in a small pot with some soil. Ta-dah!
Trick: mist the leaves once or twice a week to provide additional moisture.
3 Potatoes are so versatile it’s frankly ridiculous and as a bonus they are also easy to grow. Get one of those poor forgotten sprouted potatoes from that dark corner of your cupboard and carefully cut a chunk with one or two eyes. Each of them can become a whole new potato!
Let them dry overnight, plant them in soil and enjoy your brand new plant in two weeks (and a few months for a whole potato, Nature is not on steroids).
Trick: the sprouts should be facing up when you plant them. Let those eyes look at you!
Tad bit less easy projects
1 Basil makes everything taste and smell like a Mediterranean summer day so why not transform a part of your kitchen in an odorous propagation station?
Cut off a stem from your full grown plant and remove the bottom leaves, place in water and watch roots grow to a couple of inches before transferring to soil.
You can follow the same procedure with cilantro!
Trick: leave in a bright location but avoid direct sunlight, basil can be fussy!
2 I see you, throwing away those carrot tops! Stop that wastage at once, soak the tops in a saucer with water for a week or so, place on a sunny windowsill and then transfer to soil when roots appear. The tops won’t produce a new carrot, but the greens are perfect for making a pesto and to garnish your salads.
Trick: if you place many carrot tops in one pot you’ll get a beautiful fern-like plant!
3 Celery is only waiting for you to give it some tlc to regrow from its butt. Make sure you place the base in a saucer with some warm water and lots of sun kissing and you’ll see some leaves growing up from the central part. After a week you can plant it in your pot covering it completely except for the tips of the new leaves. Water it and enjoy new stalks!
Trick: keep on watering to ensure full growth!
Trying to go pro projects
1 Pineapple can be regrown anywhere, so moving to the Tropics is not actually part of the project. Sorry about that.
Twist the leaves off the top of the pineapple and remove the lower ones to expose the stem. Submerge the stem in a glass of water (already looking cute!) and let it work its magic for more or less 3 weeks in a bright location. Once roots start to appear, you can pot the pineapple head and water it frequently. It takes a few years to actually get a fruit, but in the meantime you can add a fabulous house plant to your collection!
Trick: avoid direct sunlight because Pineapples like a humid environment.
2 Avocado pits can indeed grow back and generate a whole new tree, who would’ve thought?
Make sure you understand which part of the pit is the top and which one is the bottom and by using toothpicks create a scaffold around the pit to hold it on top of a glass filled with water (it goes without saying, its butt should be submerged). After 2 months some roots will appear, as well as a crack on the top from which a brand new branch will sprout.
When it’s about 6 inches tall, cut it a bit to encourage regrowth. Once it’s tall again, cu… no, just kidding, plant it and water frequently. Yes, you just made a tree.
Trick: keep the soil moist and remember that avocados have a love affair with sunlight.
3 Mushrooms are little clever miracles, that offer sooo much we haven't even begun to tap into, so can you imagine being able to grow them in your own home? You can plant your favourite mushroom stalks in a mix of soil and coffee grounds and ensure they live in a moist environment.
I’m going to level with you, there is some luck involved, but after a few weeks they’ll either start growing or rot. But you can always give it another go!
Trick: remember that mushrooms grow naturally in a very low light environment, so make sure you place them in a quite dark, humid corner of your house.
The world of fresh, organic produce is now yours for the taking, so grow it like you mean it!
Elena Donadon
]]>At the same time a resurgence of the dear old, but often forgotten community spirit made us all feel that we were in it together and that through our common endeavours we would have come out victorious. We all behaved well, listened to the experts, helped others in need and smiled from our balconies.
As we speak, a new lockdown is looming and new restrictions are being put in place to prevent the worst from happening again so this is the time to reflect upon some of the things we shoulda/coulda/woulda learned last time around.
1 Essential goods aka toilet-rolls frenzy
Remember making fun of those people building fallout shelters during the Cold War who were stashing on beans, canned soups, torches, water and anything with the “durable” label on it? Those fools, scared out of their wits of an atomic bomb that no one actually had ever wanted to drop.
Well, it turns out that half of a century later our primal survival instinct kicked in again, but we, the educated and modern people of the 21st century, are terribly afraid of running out of toilet paper.
Our predecessors were concerned about hunger in the midst of a nuclear disaster
whereas we have proven to be brave enough to risk our immune systems to buy as many toilet rolls as possible. One could argue that during the first wave of the pandemic many people were eating more veggies because now I have the time to cook them but it is doubtful that the improved fibre intake would have meant a shortage of toilet rolls on a global scale.
And yet, people scuffled (hi there social distancing!), knives were produced, hair pulling was all the rage. Next time around, let’s avoid stockpiling and focus on what really matters in times of need, which brings us to the next point.
2 Food is not a toy
Back in April, yeast production was on the brink of collapse.
Wannabe bakers of the world united on the sacred mission of posting on Instagram and other social media loaves of bread and pizza crusts, never mind the consequences on the industry that produces it and the waste that was being generated but the aspiring chefs. While it is absolutely true that avoiding pre-packaged foods and giving home cooking a go is the best thing we can do for the planet and our personal finances, emptying shelves of precious items that we don’t even know how to properly use really doesn’t make any sense.
Some people stockpiled on food leaving others in need to bite the dust coming off of their trolleys wheels and gorged on homemade meals as if civilisation was about to end.
Replenishing supplies and posting the products of our efforts became the new n°1 sport worldwide, only to forget about this primary urge to healthily feed our families as soon as restrictions were lifted and restaurants could reopen, which, by all means, was a great thing for the economy.
Nobody really stopped to think about what food was being bought, at what cost and how those newly found good habits could propel our economies towards a more sustainable existence.
Back to wasting, eating junk food and giving this abundance of sustenance we’re blessed to have for granted.
If something similar to a lockdown should ever knock on our doors again, it might be wise to be mindful of what we have, what others need and what really matters.
3 Environmental come back (with a bounce back)
We’ve all seen the videos, we’ve all marvelled at the pictures (look, the Himalayas!), we’ve all breathed cleaner air from our balconies and rejoiced because singing birds were suddenly audible again.
Jellyfish in Venice canals, boars roaming residential neighbourhoods, dolphins at empty ports… we must have all recognised at one point or another that we are the virus making the planet ill and that the Earth would be a much happier place if things on our part would just slow down a little (a lot).
Thanks to reduced transport and demand of fossil fuels, compared to April 2019, global carbon emissions were down by 17% this year, allowing the planet to literally breathe a sigh of relief.
It was only a glimpse of the Eden that this planet is supposed to be and a beautiful, crystal clear lesson that reminded us that we are part of the environment, not its master or creator.
At the same time, more waste was generated during lockdown, as many companies encouraged consumers to buy single-packaged goods, recycling was suspended or reduced in many parts of the world, inorganic waste went sky-high thanks to take away food containers and of course, millions of single-use masks and hand sanitiser gel bottles.
Now that the economy is open for business and people can travel or simply go to work, we are almost back at the same level of pollution, not to mention that the reduced capacity of public transport demanded by social distancing is leading people to drive their own cars everywhere.
It seems that wildlife at our doorsteps was a phenomenon of little or no consequence at all in our collective mind, as if we were not just one species among billions of others that needs clean air, unpolluted water and healthy food to survive.
4 Another ugly face of fast fashion
Surely it didn’t take a global pandemic to realise how bad the fast fashion industry really is for the environment and how this ridiculous and frivolous induced need of buying something new every week has turned us in clothes hoarders.
It is well known where those poor quality items are made and the cost that cheap,
pollutant, unethical materials are billing to the planet.
All the shops were closed, shipments were halted and even if big retailers pushed
massive online sales, all the supply chain was stopped which resulted in an enormous, unwanted stockpile.
In the lucky part of the world, some people came to the conclusion that buying more clothes during lockdown was useless, some others had to face financial instability and took care of more essential needs.
In the other part of the world, already exploited workers were laid off, factories were permanently shut down and little or no severance pay was given.
While we were fighting over toilet rolls other much less fortunate people were wondering how they were going to be able to feed their families and pay their bills. It was not a matter of giving something up for a few months, rather a question of survival.
Going forward, consumers have the power to make choices and demand change,
remembering that no man is an island and every action taken has massive consequences on a global scale.
5 Self care & we’re in it together
Back in spring, doctors, nurses and health workers became the new superheroes and rightly so: they risked their lives to make sure the toll didn’t end up being abysmal.
To match their efforts, people rediscovered a community spirit that many thought lost, whether in a philosophical or practical way with mutual aid groups, groceries for the less fortunate and family services of any kind.
While the 2020 superheroes were out there, most of us were safe inside where a new reality hit us straight in the face.
Rest assured, family members confined in small flats were constantly bumping into each other, struggling to redefine what was once a clear line between work or school and time spent at home, but even under those circumstances the majority of us found a different way to connect with our inner selves and our loved ones.
Relationships were rekindled thanks to technology that allows us to see people living in different continents, drinks were had on Zoom, board games were played on Skype, yoga and fitness classes were held on live Facebook.
Some of the pressure connected with our hectic lifestyle was lifted off our backs and the most precious gift for all living creatures was bestowed on us: time.
Time to read, time to observe, time to think, time to exercise, time to clean, time to cook, time to play, time to finish that tv-series, time to sleep, time to get bored even.
The time that many reserve everyday for just being spiteful, nasty or narcissistic almost disappeared, because everyone was on the same boat and feeling a sense of belonging was more important than shading someone online.
Guess what, we’re back at it. One of the most asked questions during the first wave of the pandemic was “when are we going to get back to our normal life?”.
All things considered, if there is one lesson to be learned from Covid 19, is that the old normal should stay in the past and new, purer and gentler normal should take its place.
Elena Donadon
]]>As you all know here at Verry Kerry sustainability is at the forefront of everything that we do. Including weddings! Wouldn’t we all love for this most magical day to also be good for our planet and local communities? The Green Bride Guide states that the average wedding produces 400 lbs of garbage and 63 tons of CO2. With an estimated 2.5 million weddings per year, that is about 1 billion lbs of trash and as many emissions as approximately 4 people would produce in a year, in just one single day. Isn’t that just so unnecessary? Even though you might not want to be worrying about this on your wedding day there are some really simple steps that you can take to have a more sustainable wedding that also helps your local community! Basically, we have done the worrying for you. We have compiled a list of some simple steps that you can take to make sure that things are done ethically and sustainably without being too much of a hassle on your big day.
We all want to say that little thank you to our guests, and leave them with a memory that will make them smile. A lovely way to do that (whilst still staying sustainable and eco friendly) is by gifting a small succulent or other potted plant. You could also make a nice jam or condiment and put it in upcycled little jars or bake a little sweet treat together with your loved one. I recently went to a wedding where the couple had made the most incredible hot sauce. Everytime that I use it I think back to their beautiful day. How cute is that!?
I’ll be the first one to put my hands up and say that I love good stationary. I’m the type of person who likes going in to stationary shops. I know, I know, it’s weird. But the best thing is - you can still have beautiful invitations and place cards but keep it sustainable by using paper made from recycled materials. Seed paper is also an incredible option and did you know that it can even sprout if you plant it in soil? AMAZING. Or like in our Verry Kerry Fabric Notebooks: Elephant Poo Paper! Re-cycled and tree-free, doesn’t get much better!
Being a bit of a foodie, this is a big one for me! But there really are so many great ways to be eco friendly and sustainable yet still get great food at your wedding. Try to look for caterers that use not only organic and fairtrade products but also locally grown produce that is in season! You’ll get delicious food whilst also supporting local farmers. A great option is to put different delicious dishes on each table for your guests to help themselves from. It gets everyone mingling more, passing each other lovely delights and really coming together at the table with a much more relaxed wonderful vibe. And obviously Vegan and cruelty free is not only outrageously interesting and delicious, but thoughtful for our planet too.
And what about all those leftovers? If you can’t finish them yourselves, don’t let it all go to waste, try to find a local charity to give them to!
The same goes for beverages- look for local vineyards and breweries to avoid having to fly things from across the globe. In the UK we have some incredible wineries but if on a budget you can even make your own Elderflower wine. Check out Lyme Bay Winery to find out how to make your own wine.
Whether you’ve envisioned it your whole life or you’ve only just started thinking about it now, wedding cakes have become like a centerpiece for the whole wedding. And of course you want it to be beautiful, delicious, and cruelty free. But how do we make it eco friendly? You may be seeing a common theme but I’m gonna say it again: In season, local and organic! They’re going to be your 3 best friends. And why not try a vegan cake whilst you’re at it? If you’re London based our friends over at Cupcakes and Shhht make beautiful bespoke vegan cakes that you should definitely check out.
What is a wedding without beautiful bouquets and floral arrangements? Our main piece of advice is to consider local florists and gardeners and maybe even choose potted plants over bouquets as your decoration. Most importantly though- don’t throw it all away! Let your guests bring them home (potential 2 birds with 1 stone as wedding favours) or find somewhere local to gift them to, maybe there’s a nursing home nearby that would love some flowers?
This is the big one for us here at Verry Kerry. Making sure that what you wear doesn’t only make you feel beautiful but also makes you feel great about where your clothes come from. Our bridal kimonos are made with the best sustainable materials and we ensure that all workers involved in the production are treated fairly, with respect and appreciation.
When choosing a wedding dress and all the clothing for your bridal party, try to research local bespoke designers and talk to them about the materials being used. If you live in and around London, look no further than the ultra talented Christina Sesay from Sesay Bridalwear. Not only can she create absolutely anything you could possibly dream up, with her over 25 years experience, she is also the nicest lady you'll ever meet. Her attention to detail, and impeccable skill across endless creative techniques is quite literally awe inspiring. And what's even more remarkable is how affordable she is, accommodating many budgets and time frames. If you have an idea in your head of your perfect wedding dress, give her a call - taking the stress out of the big day starts there!
There are so many great products out there these days so why not choose brands that are cruelty free and ethically & sustainably made? If you’re looking for great skincare then the lovely Sofia Latif has an incredible range of products. Our favourite is her signature face oil which would be perfect to apply the night before your wedding to nourish and hydrate your skin. She uses recyclable (and beautiful) packaging, the ethos is all about transparency so you know exactly what you’re putting on your skin AND they don’t test on animals. What’s not to love? You’d also be supporting a great small brand rather than buying from yet another huge, mainstream, eco destroying company. Another incredible option is Arbonne. They do beautiful Vegan, sustainable plant based Skin care & Make Up and have been making people happy for 40 years! They work on a franchise type basis so you’ll be helping individuals make a living while helping the environment and animals at the same time. Please contact Amy Bremner for more info :) If you have a professional Make Up Artist coming round to help you out on the day, then do some research into someone that use these types of products or talk to them about your desire to be eco-friendly. Am sure they would be happy to accomodate. And if not, ditch them!
Now how can my bling be eco-friendly you might ask? There are plenty of jewellery designers out there who use recycled metals and gemstones and who value great working conditions across the board for everyone who’s part of the production. Also look for designers who can create beautiful bespoke jewellery suiting your every need. Like East London based jewellery designer Magpies Loot! You can also look for beautiful vintage rings! Who knows- maybe there’s a secret family heirloom hiding somewhere…
Sometimes staying close to home can be just as amazing! And it also supports the economy of your own country and countrymen & women while reducing your carbon footprint at the same time. There are endless wonderful locations all over the UK where you can go. Feather Down have an amazing array of special Glamping sites all over the UK and are focussed on nature, the environment, the land and buying local. All things we need to support! If you are looking for something a little bit different that will connect you to you, and those around you, check out Rise & Shine. They offer alcohol and drug free retreat/festivals/raves that blow your mind and leave you feeling inspired and changed for the better. Incredible Dj’s, dancing in the woods, yoga, meditation, lake swimming and amazing vegan food and energy boosting natural drinks. From experience - everyone should try this! It’s WOW.
Whilst you’re having all the fun try avoiding plastic straws, plastic cups, plastic gimmicky type decorations that are packed in unnecessary plastic, and strive towards using reusable/paper materials wherever possible (no balloons/plastic bunting). There are so many paper decorations/confetti and fabric bunting available out there now, so it is very easy to achieve. You could even make your own games as unfortunately a lot of the store bought ones use plastic! And if you’re in need of those perfect matching hen party kimonos - you know where to look! ;)
I hope you’ve enjoyed our little guide to a more sustainable wedding. If you have other great ideas/suggestions we would love to hear them!
Let’s Make a positive impact instead.
Black Friday is looming, and once again we won’t be taking part. We’ll be boycotting it as ever and turning it into something positive and Inspiring! Heavy discounts, fast fashion and undervaluing goods, that create ludicrous frenzies, is something that we just don’t believe in.
Previous years we have donated 20& of our sales during Black Friday to the amazing group Streets Kitchen, who directly touch the lives of those living rough on the street in London, without fail every single day. We managed to buy thousands of warm thermal socks and menstrual pads for those less fortunate over the years.
This year we are going back to Kerry’s beloved Motherland ‘Africa’ and are collaborating with one of our wonderful Verry Kerry friends Kikora : Street Children in Maralal. A wonderful project started by the inspiring Giorgia Zanin, which aims to improve the impoverished conditions of the children living on the street and rehabilitate them with their families in Maralal (North Kenya).
We’re Taking These Awesome Kids To The BEACH!
Growing up in and never stepping outside of their remote town of Maralal, they have never seen the sea, heard the waves, felt the sand beneath their toes or been to a big city.
We will be donating 20% of our sales over Black Friday to fund this once in a lifetime exciting travel experience, injecting joy and inspiration into the lives of these kids who haven’t had the best start in life. And giving them a taste of travel and the joy of seeing and discovering something new. The core passion and inspiration behind Verry Kerry.
It’s incredible to speak to the founder Giorgia Zanin about her project, and no one can explain what it’s all about better than her:
“The children who stay with us at Kikora have gone through way too much in their life and they are still so young… abuse, violence, abandonment, negligence, both in the street and at home. When we welcome them in our center, our main aim is to help them heal their soul and stand again in order to grow up as strong and loving adults able not only to manage their life but to bring joy and hope to their family and community. Despite what they have endured, we believe that with the right help they can transform their sufferance into the power that will make the adults who will make a better tomorrow.
Most of these children have never left the small town where they were born, they have no idea what the world looks like out of those hills. Sometimes we walk to a dam nearby and when they see some houses at the horizon they ask if that is Nairobi, yet we just walked 15 minutes from home and Nairobi is 400 Km away! Definitely none of them have ever seen the ocean, they cannot imagine how much water is in the sea or the sounds of the waves… yet all this is there, in their own country! (Oh I am already imagining their surprised faces when they will first see it, I can’t wait!!) We want them to find an inspiration, and this trip could be that inspiration, that moment that they will never forget and will remind them that if they really work hard to leave the street life forever and set their mind on their objectives their dreams will become true. And I am happy that (Verry) Kerry decided to support me in this idea because, beside myself, she is one of the few people I know that passed the age of 25 and yet did not stop on believing that dreams eventually do become true if we want it!” - Giorgia Zanin
“Kikora is not a Children’s home but a rescue and rehabilitation centre, meaning we do not stay with the children until they are adults but we help them to be welcomed back in their family. While with us they go through an intense program of healing and counseling. In the meantime our social workers look for their family and try to identify a responsible guardian (not always their parents so we also look among all other family members close and far). Once the guardian is found, he or she will be accompanied through a preparation to welcome back the child. When both the child and family are ready, their child is brought back home and we visit him for a long time until we are sure he is totally fine.
The entire process requires an intense amount of time, care and effort : so why do we do it? We do it because we believe that each child deserves a family and a chance. Families too deserve a chance to learn how to handle and care for their kids.
From 2015 to date we have reached out to more than 70 kids in Maralal and continue to each day. None of which would be possible without our incredible local team giving their dedication and love, creating magic every day. “ - Giorgia Zanin
Black Friday is destructive to our planet and promotes the opposite of sustainable living. Fast fashion and cheap junk is having negative effects both socially and on the environment. Over-consumption has been normalised and it’s time we turn this around and create a future where climate change, the sea of plastic, loss of habitat and species, as well as blatant disregard for human wellbeing is no longer a thing. Together we can. Let’s turn BLACK friday into BRIGHT Friday. A time of kindness and giving.
If you want to donate directly to Kikora click here!
Will you join us?
]]>When it comes to being ethically conscious, our minds are often crowded with a large number of images, unchecked facts and ideas that lead us to a general sense of discomfort and, for the most part, inadequacy.
Concepts such as climate change, footprint, organic materials, slow fashion, becoming a vegetarian, finding out what tofu really is, and why we should eat so many seeds, ultimately send us spiraling into awkwardness.
In a world populated by 7 billion humans (and counting), and as populations and their demands increase, the idea of continuous growth must give way to a more conscious use of the environment, but this can only be brought about by a dramatic change in the attitude of the human race.
It is not just the matter of the ice cap melting and its huge impact on polar bears (but seriously, who doesn’t want to save polar bears?), it is also about choosing a side: are we rooting for a better world for us and our children, or for the other, dreadful scenario?
When the chips are down, are we really willing to do nothing at all, or are we brave enough to take a stand, albeit in a small way?
Personally, I choose the latter, because the alternative is hard to fathom.
But where should one start?
There is one thing that all of us do, at least once a day, every single day: we buy something. Whether it’s a piece of clothing, some food or an object that we don’t really need, we purchase on an ongoing basis, mostly never considering what are we spending our money on. What we buy, we vote for in life. It really is that simple.
Shopping ethically means considering mainly five things: Human & Animal Rights, carbon footprint, profit to the artisan, locally sourced materials and impact on the environment.
You may think that there are no options out there that align with your values, and yet it’s not all doom and gloom: if you educate yourself on notions like sustainable wardrobe and fair trade you might play your part in saving those polar bears after all.
Fashion is the mirror of history - King Louis XIV of France
Clothes! We all love clothes, right?
There’s nothing better or more deeply satisfying than being able to finally buy that garment we coveted for months.
Likewise, we all loooove buying tons of t-shirts, skirts, dresses, jeans that we don’t actually need simply because they are cheap or for the reason that we are trying to keep up with the latest trend we saw in a magazine.
Every day, before we head out from our homes, we perform the old ritual of getting dressed, undertaking the somewhat silly task of conforming to what’s in season.
We couldn’t possibly wear that shirt and pants from last month… dark salmon and saddle brown are so-not-trendy this week, amirite?
However, did you know that fashion is the second most polluting industry? Or that synthetic clothes take decades to decompose?
Are you aware that, more often than you can imagine, the fashion industry is responsible for workers exploitation and child labor?
All this should come as no surprise but let’s admit it: in a fast-paced world we cannot be bothered with label reading, so we buy in bulk and never deeply consider the consequences of our actions.
Faster growth and higher living standards are the presupposed benefits of globalization, but it is rather acknowledged that these betterments are very unequally distributed around the globe.
Clothing items, exactly like produce, are being sold like disposable goods, fueling the machine of consumption as never before.
In order to manufacture billions of clothes in the fastest way possible, the fashion industry is using a growing number of natural resources, depleting fossil fuels to produce textiles, drying water reserves to grow cotton and endangering extremely fragile ecosystems.
It is utterly important to realise that our collective choices are what could make or break our beloved planet Earth.
This is where the notion of sustainable wardrobe comes to our aid: it is possible to manufacture, sell and buy garments created with consideration to their environmental and social impact.
The Slow Fashion Movement intends to oppose fast fashion, pointing out its polluting behaviour, shabby workmanship and gratuitous consumerism.
Take a hard look at your closet: do you absolutely need everything in there? How many items have you worn in the past 6 months?
What about that pink faux fur… Now that you really think about it, was it really a wise purchase?
And that pile of cheap t-shirts? I bet half of them came out of the washing machine completely ruined.
So, what should one do? Don’t sink into despair: it’s just a matter of picking up some new habits and accepting the fact that less really is more.
Here are 6 simple tips to help you achieve a more sustainable wardrobe.
Yes, you heard me.
We spend our hard-earned money on nonessential articles instead of focusing on what we actually need. In point of fact our wardrobes are full. Some of them may explode.
Do we honestly need to purchase another pair of jeans, come hell or high water, when we already have a dozen pair of them?
To be completely honest, this is not your fault. The Fast Fashion movement would have us believe that we need to incessantly update our wardrobe in order to stay on trend and never miss on the constant release of new products.
New collections shine through shop windows too many times a year, while until recently there were only two of them, Spring-Summer, & Autumn-Winter. Now we have early spring, summer, late summer, sale early autumn', autumn, late autumn, early winter, winter, late winter, sale - yikes!
Instead of buying versatile clothing that can be worn all year round, we are pressured to purchase whatever is new on the market, but guess what? That up-to-the-minute item is not going to be so fashionable next year.
Stop the madness and make your credit card AND the planet smile.
“But I thought you said I should shop less!”
Yes, and I definitely meant that.
However, although purchasing quality clothing may demand a bigger financial investment, it will save you time and money on the long run.
What’s the point of buying dozens of £5 tees if you have to throw them away after their second wash?
Poorly made clothing doesn’t last and invariably ends in the garbage dump, where it takes years to decompose.
It has become quite clear to me that spending more on clothes that respect the environment, the artisan who made them and are of the highest quality possible is the safer, smarter bet.
Besides, who doesn’t love a beautiful, unique, maybe ethnic garment handmade by a craftsman?
Choosing natural fibers such as organic cotton, tencel, bamboo and hemp is an efficient way to lighten our carbon footprint.
Cotton crops consume immeasurable water resources and the textile industry uses pesticides and herbicides to grow them.
On the other hand, synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon and so on, undergo extensive chemical processing and are treated with acetone, caustic soda and sulphuric acid (just to mention but a few) to survive regular washing and frequent wearing.
Research shows that a very high percentage of the microfibers rinsed off of our clothes in the washing machine, stream directly into the oceans, massively contributing to their growing pollution.
When a clothing manufacturer does not state what a product is made of (or it just says silky...), then it is most likely polyester.
As you wouldn’t eat something farmed with chemicals that could cause you to get sick, you shouldn’t wear items that may cause cancer and pollute the environment in the process of being made.
Buying and wearing organic clothes will make your life healthier. Give it a try.
As I already stressed before, we don’t need our closets to occupy more room than an oil tanker.
In the same regard, it’s not necessary to follow every trend thrown at us by fashion companies and magazines: we are perfectly capable of defining our personal style on our own, thank you!
Classic, timeless, basic pieces are everything we need to build a phenomenal wardrobe that will be wearable and fashionable 10 years from now.
Pieces that never go out of style are unquestionably the easier to match in endless combinations and will help you switch from formal to casual in a heartbeat.
Invest in some beautiful blouses, a tailored blazer, a good pair of jeans, a little black dress, some good quality white tops, a nice scarf, a beautiful kimono and some good kaftans … all these items have unmatched versatility.
Foundation pieces are your best friends, especially when you want to add some trendier, cheaper items.
Oh no! Your favourite shirt is now too big for you, thanks to all that better eating... Well, don’t toss it aside and by all means don’t throw it away! Consider having a tailor alter it for you instead.
The same goes for broken zippers, tiny holes in your socks, lost buttons: learn to mend your clothes and save money in the process.
There are tons of DIY videos and blog posts on how to turn a t-shirt into a dress, a scarf into a bag and so on. Don’t be lazy.
If you were to find yourself terribly scared of needles, just go back to point 5 >> Well-made clothes will not require mending.
Sadly, our furry friends get such a raw deal in the world of fashion as well as meat. Animals skinned alive to protect the fur & ££, ducks and geese being plucked alive for feather down jackets, duvets & pillows, rabbits for angora, and did you know silk worms were boiled alive for silk? Unless you find ethical silk which is a much longer process and therefore more expensive. All this cruelty for something decorative? Really? Sadly yes.
Wool is another industry that is revealing a cruel and nasty process, based on time being money – when we speed things up to meet demand, the animal inevitably suffers.
We are not living in the dark ages anymore. Lets educate ourselves, ask questions, face the reality, and if we don’t like what we see, as tempting or as cute as that furry ‘whatever’ may be, say no. Don’t vote for it with your money.
It really is that simple. Animal friendly alternatives are out there. Lets seek them out, and support kindness over cruelty.
Discarding old clothes is a waste, even when they are too damaged to be repaired.
For instance, you could use them as cleaning rags and never buy them new.
Secondly, don’t dispose of textiles in the garbage because they can be recycled exactly like plastic and glass, regardless of their condition.
Old clothes buried in landfills can contaminate groundwater and never end their polluting cycle.
Charities and nonprofit organizations collect garments and textiles providing work in the recycling field: you can easily find the nearest one with a quick internet search.
It is manifest that the most eco-friendly piece of clothing is the one that already exists.
Whether you are a vintage-freak or simply a beginner in the green movement, this is the most fun and easy way to start.
You can check out thrift stores, flea-markets, consignment stores, even Ebay! Lower price point for you, less pollution for Mother Nature.
]]>A heartfelt THANK YOU for your help! We will be donating 600 pairs of socks! In addition, our friends at Streets Kitchen told us that sanitary products for women are always in demand, so we have added over 1000 sanitary towels ;) A fantastic Result!
Our Black Friday initiative was also mentioned in the Evening Standard and it was great to see that more and more consumers and businesses are starting to shift their mindset.
Verry Kerry is a small brand & we are really proud of feeling we are encouraging positive change. Money and profit shouldn’t always be everything.
We'll now deliver the socks to Jon and his Streets Kitchen team and help them distribute them, on their weekly outreach nights in Camden & Hackney.
]]>Christmas; a time for giving and kindness... or.. errr, not? Black Friday marks the start of the Christmas shopping period and is unfortunately a somewhat terrifying, opportunistic, self gain initiative that fuels our throwaway culture, and is frankly quite shameful. We could all think of a million other more worthy, relevant causes on our doorsteps worldwide that could really benefit from this absurd amount of publicity, attention, focus, energy and money. So why don’t we?
Nothing says First World madness like Black Friday, a term originally created by Philadelphia police officers who couldn’t properly do their jobs the day after Thanksgiving and were forced to deal with flocks of people invading the city in order to watch the annual Army-Navy football game. So what did our consumeristic society turn this into? A global shopping spree that makes us all go nuts. Genius!
Reversing the trend possible, and also necessary if we want to contribute to the war against senseless mass production and endless waste that is destroying the planet.
Do we really need another piece of plastic in our homes?
Must we really buy something only because it’s cheap?
Is it really worth our while spending a day fighting over poorly made items of clothing? Surely we can do better than that?!
Let’s all stop to consider how much energy (artificial and natural) has been spent and will be spent on that day in order to allow us, the privileged, to purchase ‘things’ that we don’t really need.
Meaningful alternatives are within reach and will leave us satisfied and surely happier than another object we have been fooled to be believe we need. And now.
There are endless worthy, important, support needing causes on our doorsteps, all over the world.
We would like to instigate a thoughtful, kind and inspiring focus to this shopping period in the lead up to Christmas, seeing all brands taking part in donating something, anything, to someone or something less fortunate and show our human and community spirit. We should be promoting kindness, peace and compassion, not greed, self gain and disregard for our environment.
It’s cold out there. Really really cold. And so many, for so many different reasons, are sleeping rough, on the streets, without a warm home to call theirs.
One day, reading through some articles, we discovered that one of the most needed and least donated garments to homeless people, are warm, thick socks. And this got us thinking…
We won't be taking part.
Instead we will donate 20% of all orders made from Friday 24th to Monday 27th November, to buying warm socks and sanitary products, and, through awesome group Streets Kitchen, will get them to where they are needed.
A little can go a long way! We should all do our bit, whatever we can, to help those around us.
We in the First World pride ourselves with words like civilisation, democracy and culture but more often than not we forget all of our values in the name of the latest trend or the overrated, useless object, ending up exploiting natural resources, damaging and hurting people in less fortunate countries and not taking care of each other.
This year we can start changing the future.
Let’s change Black Friday. Let’s make it colourful. Meaningful, kind and inspiring.
]]>Summer is over and while we strenuously try to hold on to our hard-obtained tans, a horrible thought starts creeping into our minds: winter is coming.
What saved us last year from being judged as anti-social, senile and sad couch-potatoes was the never-so-appreciated gift that Denmark decided to bestow on us: Hygge.
All of the sudden, drinking gallons of hot tea while laying on a soft carpet wearing organic loungewear, has become all the rage and perfectly acceptable.
Tak Danmark!
Being comfy, judgement free, surrounded by our families and rocking a kimono dressing gown all Sunday long, no pressures or question asked… we were all in, right?
Apparently, someone has decided that Hygge is over and it looks like we should all go back to our stressful lives and unhealthy habits.
Who doesn’t want to go out for a drink when it’s -20° C and smog is everywhere?
Come on, people!
This rather unappealing idea has a lot of us considering going into hibernation until spring, but for those who would like to keep some semblance of a human being and are in need of lifestyle advice, the solution is already here.
Scandinavia is a gift that keeps on giving, my friends.
Lagom is a Swedish, simple everyday philosophy which easily translates in “just the right amount” and even if some misguided people look at it as a cause for self-denial and frustration , it seems to be the main reason behind Sweden’s success as a modern, egalitarian, advanced country.
The whole concept revolves around the idea of toning down our needs and using what we have in the right amount: not too much, not too little of anything.
Why wasting tons of food when cooking a simple dinner? Why using so much water for our baths? Why keeping the volume so high?
Lagom is a healthy balance of needs and their satisfaction that can change our lives and as a bonus the planet itself. Pain free and all year-long, simple as that.
Remember little Goldilocks and the three bears? Baby Bear’s bed, food and chair were just perfect: not too hard, not too soft; not too hot, not too cold; not too big, not too small.
That’s what we need too, a balanced life to share with others in order to be happier, healthier and overall better human beings.
Dramatic changes are not what this philosophy requires of you (unless you’re living like a crazy person, eating junk food all week long, littering the world with your leftovers while at the same time having two hours long showers and buying synthetic clothes): think affordable, think sustainable.
Buy LED bulbs, and while you’re at it, switch off the light when nobody’s in the room.
Turn off that television and that computer if you’re not using them: stand by mode doesn’t mean free or cheap power.
The same goes with running taps and half-empty washing-machines: we all enjoy singing Beyonce during teeth-brushing or shaving time, but letting all of that water go to waste is a sin that shouldn’t end up in our Lagomer criminal record.
Organize your fridge and reuse leftovers to create new dishes but if you’re not there yet, try cooking the right amount of food instead of a royal gala sized menù.
Reuse, upcycle, recycle.
Don’t get rid of your Hygge chillaxing purchases, because that would be a capital offence: your clothes come from sustainable companies and are cruelty free ( to humans and animals).
Consider cycling and oh-my-god walking to work to make sure that the only footprints you leave on the planet are those on a sandy beach during your summer holidays.
Reduce your impact on the planet (and your bank account) by doing all of the above and while you may not magically grow one of those wonderful scandinavian blond heads of hair, you will be part of a movement which is striving towards a beautiful goal.
Unlike others, this isn’t a trend to be flaunted on social networks, it’s a lifestyle that could effectively change your life.
Because Lagom är bäst, “enough is as good as a feast”.
]]>On a personal level, nothing gets me going like the prospect of a new travel, even if it’s just within a 100 mile radius, for the simple reason that I will be lucky enough to see and experience something new.
As the history of our species clearly proves, we are travellers by nature, eternally longing for knowledge and eager to discover new places and cultures.
More than two thousands years have passed since Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the Earth and it is pretty safe to say that almost every inch of the planet has been scoured and mapped; in fact we are arousing our interest in exploring other planets.
Surely we cannot all call ourselves Columbus or Sir Walter Raleigh… in reality not everyone loves climbing mountains or hiking in the desert, and going on a holiday generally means resting our weary limbs on the sand with an adult beverage in our hands.
Either way, when embarking on a trip our choices and behaviours have a large impact on the planet, and it is essential to assess our options in order to organise the perfect, ethical vacation.
Responsible tourism doesn’t mean setting out on a 70’s hippie revival, giving up on soap and growing a beard, but nor does it mean spending a lot of money to book a fancy green tree house in a remote forest far from civilization.
Travelling in an ethical way is more about envisioning yourself as a part of the world community and being willing to respect and help the places you are visiting and all the living creatures which inhabit that country.
Evaluating what is ethical and what is not can be hard because there might be some blurred lines and confusion here and there, but there are some behaviours that should definitely be avoided and condemned, such as irresponsible wild-life watching, animal, adult and child exploitation, cruise liners, canned hunting, anything that involves polluting or littering, cultural insensitivity… the list is endless.
Good reasoning and common sense are our best allies to defeat ignorance, disrespect, pollution, water waste and last but not least, our own prejudices.
Here are 6 simple tips to help you become a more ethical traveller:
It is no mystery that the environmental impact of aviation is massive and it’s dangerously contributing to climate change: the CO2 released by the burning fuel of an airplane can last in the air for centuries and since aircraft emissions are projected to triple in the next 30 years (http://tinyurl.com/zwbpjwu), we should at least consider, where possible, other means of transport.
It is imperative that we limit our carbon footprint, therefore… do you really need to book a flight for a minor trip within the country? Is it absolutely necessary to get on a plane in order to visit your parents?
More than that, what about your commute? Could you possibly switch your traffic jammed car journey, to a stress-free train or bus ride? Or better still,to a bicycle?
Naturally we cannot give up flying entirely (how does one get to Australia?), but the only responsible choice is to fly less and above all, to make it count.
It goes without saying that walking and cycling are the best ways of travelling without harming the environment, so when on vacation why not use your legs instead of sitting in a rented car: you may discover things you would never learn while leaning on your seat, staring at your phone.
Tourism is a great source of employment in the Western World as much as it is (or even more so) in the other parts of the planet and consequently choosing how and where to spend our money is one of the key factors for being responsible tourists.
What’s the point of travelling all the way to Jamaica if we are letting some big foreign company hotel or holiday resort make all the profit?
Locally owned inns, b&bs and hotels are the preferable option because the men and women who have worked hard to build their activities are the ones that will truly benefit from our visit to their country.
The same goes for restaurants, bars and shops in general if we want to make sure that our travel makes a difference and helps improve the locals’ quality of life.
Being a sustainable traveller means being a sensitive customer who cares about social equality, bearing in mind that a little can go a long way.
Let’s face it: more often than not, back at home, we squander money on a fancy ethnic restaurant probably owned by a bloke named Jack. Instead it’s time to eat real traditional food in locally owned businesses. Try to visit as many restaurants as you can in order to spread your money equally and contributing to the economic growth.
Likewise, why buy bric-a-brac and plastic pieces of junk at the airport or at the mall when you can purchase wonderful handicrafts made by local artisans?
Furthermore, don’t buy products made at the expense of endangered species (plant and animal), these are not the kind of souvenirs you want to take home with you.
Supporting the community which is hosting us and contributing to the economy is certainly the best way to give back.
For us Westerners bargaining can either be a nuisance or greatly entertaining,but when doing so we should always remember that it isn’t a game : we must learn to bargain fairly.
Hammering out a deal in a market without keeping in mind the reality of the local currency is not going to help anyone except ourselves; while we save one or two inconsequential pennies the counterpart might lose a considerable sum.
Being a responsible traveller means respecting the income of the locals and their way of earning money, never forgetting that when we travel abroad we always take advantage of the local soft currency.
A lot of traders, depending on the country, will actually expect you to bargain and they might even try to charge you a little more because they know that you, in comparison to them, can afford to spend some extra cash here and there. It is your right to friendly wrangle with your mischievous partner, but you should be able to compromise a beneficial deal for both parties involved.
Besides, there is no point in trying to make Ebenezer Scrooge proud!
Language can be a dividing barrier and first and foremost, a difficult wall to climb.
Tackling Swahili or Punjabi (but also French, Dutch or Japanese for that matter!) is daunting but it shouldn’t prevent us from at least trying.
Learning one or two simple phrases can take us a long way in regards of getting the best out of our hard-earned and well deserved vacation: a simple thank you and a smile are powerful weapons.
Whist on your trip, instead of getting frustrated with the lack of communication and the mounting pile of misunderstandings, you can prevent anything bad from happening with some useful courtesy phrases.
At the same time, open your eyes and ears, carefully listen to the people you’re speaking to at the market, on a safari, on the top of a mountain.
Let me tell you, ignorance is not bliss.
Wouldn’t you prefer, when in your own country, that tourists and visitors tried to speak your language?
We expect everybody in the world to speak English, but what about the other 6000 languages out there?
Surely we can’t get mad at an old lady in China for not understanding our thick accent, can we?
Again, ignorance is a no-no.
Bookshops, libraries, the internet, travel agencies… It’s essential and imperative to learn as much as possible about the country you are going to visit before your departure.
Being respectful of other’s people culture, customs, traditions and taboos is fundamental when travelling abroad and will help us see things under a new perspective.
Before anything else we should remember that we are guests and in that capacity we need to behave responsibly and respectfully, be polite and enjoy our hosts different mindsets: only by doing so we will enrich our experience.
If we are visiting churches, temples or other places of worship, we should ensure we are informed beforehand whether there is a particular dress-code to respect.
Also, smoking and drinking alcohol may not be accepted in a particular region or country. While it would be wonderful to travel in a completely peaceful, open-minded and liberal world, some countries unfortunately are not, and we must respect their different values and beliefs. In this regard, LGBT travellers (sadly) should be extra careful to avoid troubles with locals and law enforcement.
Try to get along with everyone and don’t exasperate difficult situations, respect elderly people and always ask before taking a picture because it may not be permitted or appreciated. Someone could also ask you to pay a small fee, but it’s up to you whether you take the picture of not.
When it comes to beggars and to begging children in particular, the debate is rife.
Sending a child to beg on the streets is a violation of his or her rights and they should not be encouraged to engage in that upsetting behaviour. On the other hand, they need to survive.
Of course, seeing a child begging on the street breaks our hearts, but if we really wish to do something to improve their condition we should enquire about local charities or NGOs operating in that territory.
You wouldn’t travel thousands of miles to a beautiful, exotic destination only to litter and trash the place, would you?
In addition to the assumed basic notion of cleaning up after yourself, another thing to take into account is the possible shortage of water supply in the remote destination of your choosing, as well as the precarious conditions of that particular natural habitat.
Don’t let tap water run incessantly, take shorter showers, don’t overuse tools powered by electricity: as we are well aware of, producing power and distributing water can take a toll on the environment.
Be respectful of wildlife, strongly refuse any opportunity of taking a picture with an elephant or a chained monkey: encouraging any kind of abuse towards animals, who are kept in unnatural circumstances and forced to interact with humans means tolerating unethical behaviours.
Carefully choose a tour operator with a responsible policy on wildlife preservation and never engage in dangerous activities while in the proximity of animals.
I know, I would like to pet a lion cub too… But trust me, his mother wouldn’t be pleased and nor your surgeon!
Now that you know all about being a responsible tourist, are you ready to pack your bag and leave for an adventure?
Yes! But where to?
Ethical Traveler (http://ethicaltraveler.org/), a famous non profit organization, can help you choose your next destination without forgetting human rights and the preservation of the environment.
Here is their list, in alphabetical order.
Cabo Verde, Dominica, Grenada, Micronesia, Mongolia, Panama, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uruguay.
U.S. News & World Report also suggests, for your 2017 vacation, these other beautiful countries:
Canada, Norway, Aruba, Mongolia, Bhutan, Costa Rica and Colombia.
http://travel.usnews.com/gallery/8-ethical-travel-destinations-to-visit-in-2017/
But hey… before embarking on an international flight, are you sure you have visited every square inch of your own country? All those beautiful cities, villages, museums, landscapes, mountains, beaches, hills… all reachable, all amazing and oh-so-close.
Know thyself.
]]>The Mayor of London is running a crowdfund initiative to transform an uninspiring space in London, into a rejuvenated one, that the whole community can benefit from. Verry Kerry is sponsoring the idea of Globe town Market getting much needed facelift, to inspire and unite this awesome community in East London.
As a business based in East London we want to always do our bit to support and improve the community we live in and interact with. This week we'd love to introduce you to a new project idea we just launched for crowdfunding: To transform the very uninspiring globe town market square, into a wonderful, colourful, greener space & creative hub, for all the community to engage with, inspire the local school kids and community to take pride in their area, improve behaviour, and celebrate cultural diversity. Together we can make this area an inspiring, exciting & happy one, that we can all benefit from. An innovative platform for creative, environmental, cultural & social celebration and engagement.
Tower Hamlets is full of awesomeness! Awesome people, cultures, families … and yet, this central square, that so many of us pass through, feels a little like the end of the world. It is quite honestly depressing… and that is a feeling shared by all of the community. Let’s do something about it! Lets all get involved - let’s come together, no matter where we are from, to make this change that will benefit us all. We can become united on this project … rather than going about our lives separately …. I believe it will bring magic to our already fantastic neighbourhood!
All the school children that gather there after school, buy their snacks, and throw their rubbish directly on the floor, despite all the bins provided. Their attitude is quite uninspired, and I get it! Why wouldn’t it be? I believe, if we all chip in to make this space amazing, we will all feel a sense of ownership, community spirit and achievement, which will undoubtedly improve community pride, attitude and behaviour.
Is there anything more uplifting and awe inspiring than a roof of colourful umbrellas? I promise! And they provide, not only a total joy to look at, but some shelter from the sun and rain. Woo! That in mind, I want to create and install a canopy of fixed colourful umbrellas between the existing lamp posts that frame the square.
I would love the kids from surrounding schools to get involved and write messages/words of things they love about Bethnal Green and hang them from the umbrellas. Some artificial grass underneath will create a lovely park feeling, without the fuss. And let’s not forget the fairy lights! Who doesn’t love fairy lights? Solar powered fairy lights throughout will provide extra lighting at night, improve safety as well as being stunning to look at. Overall, it will inject some much needed colour & excitement into the dull square and inspire those that use it, to look after it, keep it clean and show pride and respect for their community.
Urban gardens are totally awesome and completely necessary! They improve air quality and provide much needed practical education in growing and maintaining vegetation, and the importance and benefits of this in every community. My vision is to create a live garden climbing along the walls using sturdy, durable plants, with a self irrigation system. This will not only look beautiful, but improve air quality, insect & bird life and education on the importance of plants in our lives. I aim to put more planters and trees around the square, including air cleaning plants, and involving and engaging all the local school children, families and community to get involved and take ownership of the space.
What we'll deliver:
The walls of sturdy and durable climbing plants will provide much needed greenery to the space, together with the other trees and "air cleaning plants" on the ground.Additionally the wall's structure will be realised in recycled plastic bottles, providing the truly unique opportunity for local schools and the community to be involved in its creation.
The Eastend was once famous for its thriving local markets. Fast forward not so many years and only 2 hero traders remain in Morpeth Square. Revitalizing the space and its popularity would attract back a long missed part of the Eastend heart
The project exists to serve the community and it would offer amazing opportunities to get local children and residents involved in its creation, as well as becoming a focal point for upcycling, recycling, clean up and gardening workshops. Endless creative art & music projects can be hosted here, as well as mini festivals, community street picnics, language exchange events, small business support & empowerment groups, free yoga and well being practices, historical talks, and much much more. The space would become an innovative, dynamic hub representing a move forward towards environmental education, greener spaces, community togetherness, creative expression and the celebration of cultural diversity.
The project would inject life back to a space that once was supporting the local community to become a creative, inspirational hub for locals to express themselves and highlight local talent, and learn skills. Street gatherings/picnics/parties could be held here, encouraging the locals to bring a dish from their cultures to share with everyone, even exchange the basics in languages, break down those barriers, make learning about one another fun, and bring the community together. Celebrate different cultural events from the many varying backgrounds in the area. It would be wonderful to have historians come and talk about the history of bethnal green, important dates, key people and circumstances that have shaped the area. Some photographic plaques of years ago on display in the square, could provide wonderful insight into the history of the area, providing education of our heritage, and improving relations and respect for the area.
We Need all the help we can get to make this space a wonderful place for all the community!
Here's a link to the project, please do share it, pledge whatever you can and
Let’s make change happen!
]]>On the 24th of April 2013 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a factory packed with 5,000 workers producing garments for many well-known western brands, collapsed and killed 1,129 people, injuring more than 2,500 others.
]]>On the anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster, we want to show our support for the Fashion Revolution Movement, and take you on a little behind-the-scenes tour of who makes your Verry Kerry clothes.
Fashion revolution is a global movement calling for greater transparency, sustainability and ethics in the fashion industry.
Let's ignite a revolution to radically change the way our clothes are sourced, produced and purchased.
Verry Kerry was born with the intention to give back to less fortunate people and we could never have accepted to exploit someone in the process.
So...Who Makes our clothes?
It all starts with high quality fabric, and earth friendly, AZO-free dyes, all brought together by exceptional craftsmanship
Our designs are mostly digitally or screen printed by hand, with earth friendly inks, in a wonderful, family-run factory in New Delhi, that has been doing this for over 25years. Occasionally we also use surplus, end of production, fabrics.
The printed textiles are then brought to life by a team of talented pattern cutters & tailors, in another factory in Delhi.
The working conditions are excellent: spacious and ventilated spaces with modern equipment. A friendly, smile-filled environment where you can hear laughter, music and general peer support, with regular breaks, promotions, self-improvement opportunities and a lovely team feeling.
The owner, now a good friend, often buys lunches for the whole factory, particularly on special celebrations, like Holi & Diwali, to reward the excellent team work. Most of his key team have been with him since the beginning, which is rare in a usually high turnover industry.
This is a real testament to him and the workplace he has created.
I spend most of my time there when in India and it is my home away from home.
We make a point to avoid animal derived materials and polyester in our clothing as well as plastic in our packaging. Our pieces are sent out in recycled brown, unbleached, paper mailing-bags and/or with fairtrade tote-bags that can be re-used. We also keep the amount of printed material to the very minimum.
When I started Verry Kerry, awareness about wrong practices in fashion wasn’t as widespread as today but I knew that I didn’t want to create just another clothing brand. It is of course an ongoing journey, where we strive to constantly learn, improve and stand up for our values.
We believe ethical clothing must be a contender in the race and that the key is in re-educating ourselves.
The impact the clothing industry has on the environment is something we must all stop turning a blind eye to. Our planet is ours, and we should all be doing our bit to protect it.
Do you want to take part?
YOU CAN!
HERE'S WHAT TO DO
]]>So, we take shortcuts: we might have learnt some of them from our families, some others from magazines and maybe there are one or two which came out of our own imagination.
Either way, they are absolutely necessary and prevent us from crawling in a dark corner wishing the world would just stop spinning for a second.
Unfortunately, while trying to save ourselves from the madness out there, we sometimes forget about the environment, our pockets and above all, our personal health.
It’s easier to buy an unhealthy candy bar in the first supermarket available on our way to work than preparing something the night before, right?
Why lose those precious and vital 5 seconds picking up a tote bag for our groceries when they are going to give us one plastic bag at the store?
Let me tell you, our time is valuable and shouldn’t be wasted and yet instead of organizing and making the best out of something we might already have at disposal in our homes, we add another chore to our crazy routine.
Here are some hacks that are going to help you save time and money, be healthier and, of course, more ethical, all without transforming in an old wacky hippie still scratching Woodstock’s mud from his back.
A crazy amount of beauty products contain unpronounceable chemicals and hormone disruptors that can really mess with our health and enhance the chances of getting cancer.
Try reading the label on your deodorant: how many ingredients is it made of?
Dozens, I bet. But why? Are we really sooo nasty that we need an entire shipment of chemicals to cover our nauseating scent?
Next time you finish your deodorant, try making your own instead of running out at 6 in the morning to buy a new one and avoid smelling bad in that super important meeting with your boss: all you need is 3 minutes and 3 ingredients you already have in your pantry.
Take a bowl and mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda (a natural antibacterial), two tablespoons of cornflour (which can naturally thicken eeeeverything) and 3 tablespoons of coconut oil (antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-you-name-it, really).
Mix all the ingredients until you get a paste and store it a mason jar or an old container with a lid of some kind: if properly kept one batch will last you up to three months.
All you have to do is pick up some paste with your fingers and gently rub it on your skin: no stains on your clothes, no chemicals on your body, no pollution, no money given to big companies.
As a bonus, if you’re into aromatherapy, put some drops of one essential oil of your choosing in the mix: lavender armpits will soon be a trend, I’m sure.
All the ladies out there will definitely agree with me when I say that one of greatest inventions of the human mind is dry shampoo: it makes our hair smell great, feel clean and puffed up.
No water wastage, no time lost and eventually longer lasting clean hair.
Yet, I’m reading the label of an old bottle in front of me and let me quote some words: alcohol, dicocoylethyl hydroxyethylmonium methosulfate and stearalkalonium hectorite (wow, that was a mouthful even to write).
Plus, it has a nice “DANGER” sign on it. Thank you, no thank you.
But, it’s already late in the morning, you have to get on that train and your hair is greasy as hell… clear omen for disaster.
Simply open your bathroom cabinet and grab that baby powder bottle: have no fear and distribute some of the product with your fingers on the greasy areas, gently rub it and then brush it away. Ta-daa!
Same effect, no muss no fuss.
If you are a brunette and are worried about some white powder on your luscious brown hair (and you really shouldn’t), try using cocoa powder: it serves the same purpose and will leave you smelling like chocolate all day.
I guess men won’t prefer blondes any longer.
It’s time to pull out that poor box of baking soda from under the sink and to give it a prominent position on your shelves because baking soda really is a miracle maker in all departments.
You can unclog your drain, refresh, clean and deodorize pretty much anything in the world but it is truly unbeatable when it comes to cleaning carpets.
Carpets are great and make our homes look comfier and well-decorated but if you have pets or young children running around the house you know that they can become breeding ground for bacteria, colonies of crumbs and God knows what else, the Germ Capital and other disgusting things.
Say your adorable offspring or your sweet dog have just decided to throw up on the rug or spill something… after having removed the (yuk!) solid parts, instead of wasting money, energy and time going to dry-cleaner, just distribute some baking soda on the interested area, let it work its magic for fifteen minutes and simply use your vacuum cleaner to remove it.
If you add an essential oil to the powder before sprinkling it on the carpet you’ll get an even better result.
If you’re not already growing your herbs (rosemary, thyme, basil, sage…) you are probably forced to buy huge quantities that are not going to last very long, even when properly stored in the fridge.
We all know that fresh herbs can improve the flavour of any dish by a thousand, from a simple plate of pasta to an elaborate main course, consequently they should never be M.I.A. in our kitchens.
Next time you purchase those beautiful fresh herbs, chop them all into pieces, mix them, put them in an empty ice cube tray and fill each compartment with extra virgin olive oil which has the magical power of preserving them even better than your refrigerator.
Once the cubes are set, you can pop the right amount out of the fridge every time you need it, without rushing to the store and wasting money.
All you have to do is put the cubes in a pan and build up from there: for this particular reason, this hack works perfectly with sauteéd vegetables (who has the time to chop all of that stuff every time?) and even sauces.
No more excuses for ordering junk food!
First and foremost, bear with me… if you’re looking for a green, sustainable and eco-friendly way to dry your laundry I must urge you to use what Mother Nature is already giving us for free: sun and fresh air.
At least during spring and summer time, let the sun dry your clothes and help the planet save some energy.
Undeniably this process can take days come winter time, especially for those of us who live in rainy regions and for this reason we resort to the dryer, but not in the smarter way.
If you want to cut the time by several minutes and use less energy, all you have to do is to put a clean, dry towel in the machine when you load it with your wet laundry.
The towel will absorb the moisture letting each item dry out faster than usual and of course, if you’re dealing with a larger load of laundry you might want to throw in an extra towel.
To further cut time in the drying process and obtain even better results, take the towel out after fifteen or twenty minutes because by doing so you will be literally pulling out the moisture from the machine.
No energy wastage, faster results, and no, you don’t have to dry the towel in the dryer: just hang it near a source of heat, it will surely be ready for your next laundry-time.
Sadly, plastic is everywhere and we can’t seem to get rid of it.
Every year over 300 million tons of plastic waste is produced (more than 70% of which is not currently being recycled) and 10-20 millions tons end up straight in the oceans, endangering marine life and subsequently our health.
It is practically impossible to lead a plastic-free existence but there are numerous things than can be done by each and every one of us to at least diminish the crazy wastage.
We can buy organic unique clothing, avoid processed food, make our own cleaning supplies and beauty products and, as I’m about to show you, cut the usage of plastic bags and food packaging film.
Our good friend Mr Towel comes to our aid once again, drastically reducing our usage of polluting plastic: rather than wrapping your freshly bought produce in plastic bags and disposable film, gently package cucumber, zucchini, carrots and so on in a damp towel or cloth to make them last longer in your fridge.
Be aware that when it comes to lettuce greens, the towel should be dry and tied at the ends, or the produce will go to waste.
Vegetables don’t need plastic, they only need our love for the planet.
]]>We all need to sleep, therefore we might think that catching some zzzs is the real human aggregator, but the reality seems to be totally different: it turns out that people around the world rest and conceive sleep in very different ways and let me tell you, some of these habits may sound literally crazy.
I’m not talking about our personal, kooky nightly routines such as removing the silly amount of pillows every night only to rebuild the mountain the next morning for all eternity, wearing a different dressing gown every night or 25 year old loungewear, nor even telling ourselves that those teddy bears and the sheets still look cute even if they’re faded and now look like ketchup stains.
Intuitively, different cultures must carry on different routines and have diverse conception regarding napping (siesta, anyone?), but some of these are, to say the least, truly peculiar.
I know, when heading for the sack everything’s fair game (including your grandma’s bonnet) as long as you’re comfortable, everything is loose-fitting and the blankets are soft and warm.
You just close your tired eyes and everything goes black until morning in a never ending cycle of day and nights, right?
Well, not so fast.
Imagine falling asleep during a very important meeting with investors, lawyers, bankers and all those white collar professionals… what a nightmare (pun intended!)... and probably the end of your career.
You have probably been burning the midnight oil all week, preparing for that big presentation and your body decided to shut down, exhausted.
It appears that in Japan, you would be commended for it, as a sign of your commitment to the job and most of all, your willingness to kill yourself with work.
Inemuri is a very common practise in Japan, and a perfectly acceptable behaviour in offices and on public transportation as it isn’t socially perceived as a sign of laziness, but a temporary break from the performance of one’s duties: it is not a nap, it is inemuri.
Evidently it’s better to shut your eyes for 10 minutes while on the job than going to bed early, losing all those hours of good old-fashioned work. Showing exhaustion is the incontrovertible proof of you being a Stakhanovite.
So, next time your boss scolds you for napping at your desk, just tell him or her that you are inemuriing and see if you can get away with it!
Ah, the gentle breeze coming from a fan, lightly caressing you during those hot summer nights...so cooling, helping you sleep.
Helping you die, you mean!
It is a “fact” well known in South Korea that sleeping with a fan will ultimately kill you
and while we might (should) dismiss this notion as a urban myth (there is no scientific evidence whatsoever supporting fan death, I checked, I promise) many Koreans strongly believe that it is indeed true, and lethal.
According to the lore, sleeping with a fan behind closed doors leads to suffocation and hypothermia and is especially dangerous for children, older people and those who sleep drunk.
Most fans in South Korea are equipped with timers to automatically turn the machine off after a period of time and the commercials are pretty specific, promoting fans for babies that turn off “even after mom falls asleep”.
Every summer korean newspapers report at least one or two fan-related deaths and rest assured, there is no lacking of conspiracy theories here, promoting the idea that fan death has been “invented” by the Government in the 70s, to save energy during the summer.
I think we can all agree that sleeping with a fan directed at your face all night is not going to do you any favours, but it is very unlikely to kill you.
But, better safe than sorry, get an oscillating one or open a window a crack just in case.
Are you sick and tired of waking up in the morning and finding your hair looking like a giant tangly nest, a perfect copycat of Edward Scissorhands?
Invest in a taka makura and sleep like geisha!
As Arthur Golden says in Memoirs of a Geisha, “…a young apprentice geisha must learn a new way of sleeping after her hair is styled for the first time. She doesn’t use an ordinary pillow any longer, but a taka-makura... It’s not so much a pillow as a cradle for the base of the neck. Most are padded with a bag of wheat chaff, but still they’re not much better than putting your neck on a stone.”
Geishas used to have they’re extraordinary updos made only once a week, so all that work couldn’t go to waste just for the sake of a good night’s sleep: rice was spread on the floor around their heads and consequently if one girl happened to wake up with grains on her face she hadn’t been doing her job properly and probably paid the consequences of that scandalous behaviour. (Oh. My. Gosh)
So ladies, if you want to keep your curls or your perfectly coiffed chignon intact, grab a log and use that as a neck-supporting pillow.
I’m sure you will be pleased with the results, as will be the ibuprofen industry and the Order of the Physiotherapists.
You have just been caught stealing a chicken from your neighbour and the whole village is looking at you while you’re been hauled to trial: right at that moment, you fall asleep.
Crazy? Not according to the Balinese, who have developed the ability to instantly go into “hibernation” in particularly stressful situation.
Carol Worthman, the director of the Laboratory for Comparative Human Biology at Emory University, has found out that fear sleep is a cultural acquisition on the Indonesian Island of Bali, a practise that diminishes the power of a fearful experience and allows you to wake up feeling more relaxed and less anxious.
Apparently, conquering your fears is just a snooze ahead, so the next time the police stops you with a busted headlight or your mother finds out what it is you have really been doing with the money she lent you, try to fall asleep as fast as you can and scream “Cultural acquisition!” when you wake up in front of the judge.
It is safe to say that Scandinavians have come a long way since being known as vikings aka barbaric pillagers with long beards and huge axes: nowadays they live in what could be defined some of the most democratic and advanced countries of all Europe.
But old habits die hard and letting the harsh elements mould you into a real man or woman seems the way to go across Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
Buggies and strollers are parked and lined outside cafès while parents enjoy a warm beverage on the inside, because it is commonly believed that fresh air will keep winter bugs away, even if fresh air means -10ºC.
This daily practise is carried on in kindergartens and day-care centers too, where afternoon naps take place on the outside: toddlers are wrapped in wool and thermic blankets and left resting in the arctic air, no doubt making their viking DNA work its magic.
This habit has been going on for generations and Scandinavians all seem to agree that a little bit of fresh air never killed anyone, stressing that it is certainly healthier to sleep in the cold than in a room with other 30 babies passing diseases to one another.
That being said, don’t call the police when you see a stroller outside a restaurant in Copenhagen, or you might face the wrath of Odin.
The idea of a good night’s sleep made of 8 hours is quite recent and has in fact been around only for a little more than a century, while our ancestors used to sleep in a way that seems quite bizarre.
Professor Roger Ekirch of Virginia Tech researched hundreds of documents and eventually found out that people used to sleep twice per night, hitting the hay (literally!) two hours after dusk, sleeping for three or four hours, waking up in the middle of the night and returning to bed a couple of hours later until morning.
Evidence shows that our ancestors used those hours to do a number things, including reading, praying, playing cards or visiting the neighbours.
Using those hours for having sex was obviously a common practice too and it was even advised by doctors as it was believed to be the better time for conceiving a baby!
The habit of sleeping twice per night eventually disappeared due to the discovery of electricity, street lighting and an overall change in the collective lifestyle, but some scientists affirm we should have continued this practice, asserting that this is the way our bodies are designed to rest.
While we are now trained to sleep at least 8 hours in a row (and that is somehow NEVER enough), I rather like the idea of making more use of our precious hours and think our ancestors were onto something! Hmmm… perhaps we all need to start re-training….
So, it turns out that our little strange habits are not that crazy after all, huh?
But what about yours? Let us know in the comments section and we might have a brand new list of weird sleeping habits!
]]>"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" - Hippocrates
The debate about ethical eating has been going on for quite a long time and these days, when it comes to food, tensions run high.
In Part 1 we explored some simple ways to improve our shopping habits, and in Part 2 of this guide we will try and give you 6 simple suggestions to eating more consciously.
As the WWF Living Planet Report explains, food makes up 28% of our ecological footprint, therefore it is at least necessary to address the elephant in the room: we need to moderate our appetite and we need to do it now.
I’m not suggesting to go on a diet, I am throwing spotlight on the well-know fact that the Western World eats too many calories a day and has a colossal problem with portions.
While we eat our gargantuan servings, the rest of the world is left with our crumbles. Starving, not having a table to sit down at.
It’s not just a matter of quantity but it’s also a matter of quality, for most of the time the food we ingest is poorly produced and generally bad for our health.
Gulping down junk food (I mean… it must be called “junk” food for a reason, right?) and sugar loaded beverages cannot possibly be good for our bodies and minds.
In order to manufacture this completely over exaggerated amount of food, the human species is literally exploiting every natural resource on the planet, almost never considering the environmental impact of both agriculture and meat production.
Pesticides, fertilizers, greenhouse gases, deforestation, pollution, biodiversity destruction, exploitive labor practices, animal rights… you name it.
All of the above should be taken into account when deciding what to buy and what to eat.
So far as possible, everyone should be aware of the impact of their choices, in regards of what they put in their mouths and the consequences our planet will be suffering.
Embarking on a new journey can be scaring and confusing, but more often than not amazing surprises and discoveries are just around the corner: there are millions of delicious meals that can be prepared without harming the Earth and all of its creatures, people included.
Plus, eating healthily will make you stronger and smarter. Win win!
Here are 6 simple tips to help you go on a sustainable diet
There are a number of different reasons to choose your local farmers’ market instead of buying your groceries at the supermarket, but since we should also be talking about our tastebuds, let me start with this one: everything tastes (and looks) better.
Forget those watery tomatoes and flavorless apples: small farmers pick their produce at the peak of ripeness, delivering fresh, delicious ingredients on your table.
In the painful case you have somehow lost your sense of taste, you might want to consider these other factors: local farms provide work for local men and women; non-industrial agriculture uses less (or none whatsoever) pesticides diminishing environmental pollution; a significant amount of fossil fuel is being used to ship vegetables across the world, while family farms distribute their products in the nearby areas; you always know where the produce comes from and finally, everything is more nutritious and salutary.
For all of you sceptics out there, my opening statement will be the following: in season produce costs significantly less. Purchasing the right vegetables in the appropriate time of the year, will save you a lot of money. And I mean a lot.
Seasonal produce is harvested in abundance and doesn’t require long periods of travelling of storage, hence the lower price.
It doesn’t contribute to pollution because it is right there for the picking: what’s the point of buying oranges in june, when they shouldn’t be available in the first place?
Where are those oranges coming from and what did it take to grow them?
Mother Nature knows best and as a matter of fact the right food is up for grabs exactly when we need it: for example fruits rich in vitamin C are at our disposal in the colder months, while foods such as cucumbers are gathered in summer, just in time to hydrate us during the hottest days of the year.
So you started buying your veggies at the local farmers’ market and are thoughtfully checking the seasonality of the produce, but it’s winter and there are no tomatoes to be found.
I know, I love tomatoes too. Winter is sad.
Oppositely from our ancestors who lived in caves, we do have the knowledge and the technology to preserve our food for long periods of time, so it is perfectly possible to stock our pantries with canned, dried goods of our making and freeze something that might not be available in the upcoming months. Winter doesn’t have to be that sad.
All it takes is a little time and some planning, but this course of action will allow you to enjoy off-season foods, save a lot of money and put a stop to all of that abhorrent waste, which takes me to my next point… don’t throw away your leftovers, reuse them to cook something else or simply freeze them and eat them later. They might even taste better!
In the event that your freezer is already full, you should ask yourself if you really need all that ice and more importantly if you happen to buy too much stuff at a time.
Try to cook only the right amount of food to avoid any waste and to do so review your portions and watch the expiry dates carefully, preventing sad discards.
We mustn’t squander the opportunity to treat the food we buy and consume with respect.
This is a trend that has been rightfully spreading around the globe for some time now and represents one of those practices that are both good for our health and for the environment.
There is no denying that having a product in our garden is the better option when it comes to determining the healthier solution for our nourishment, meanwhile helping the planet and ultimately our bank account.
Not all of us are blessed with a wide garden, but there is a good chance that our house has a small terrace or at least a balcony: you can start small with just a plant or two.
Try placing a flower pot with some tomato seeds on a sunny balcony or the top leafy part of a pineapple in a glass full of water to get your own fruits! Rosemary, sage and thyme are unbelievably easy to grow and maintain, even indoors.
Having the chance to watch your food grow it’s a privilege and a deeply satisfying feeling that can make you feel part of the environment in a good way.
After all, the human species has been growing crops for over 11.000 years… don’t try to tell me that you are not as capable as a hairy guy from the Neolithic.
Better yet than buying organic groceries at the farmers’ market, growing our own food costs next to nothing and allows us to steer clear of any doubts about its provenance.
We should have some sort of control on food production and all it takes is some soil and the sun.
High consumption of red meat may increase the risk of cancer among other diseases and in the Western World our crazy diet imposes bigger portions than anywhere else in the planet.
The time has come to show some personal restraint: eating a portion of meat with every single meal will not do any favours to our health or the environment.
The veil has been lifted and it is commonly recognized that livestock is responsible for a great part of greenhouse gas emissions, it takes billions of gallons of water to be raised and is contributing to deforestation.
As the Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations has clearly stated, gas emissions are directly linked to climate change and you can learn all about it in this extensive report.
Proteins are fundamental to our well-being, but this is no reason to have a steak or a burger at lunch and dinner till hell freezes over, whereas we could enjoy some other, delicious options.
Scientific evidence clearly shows that eating red meat once or twice a week is the maximum amount our bodies can safely process, so I urge you to give those steak knives a rest.
Once again, when purchasing meat, it is preferable to choose local suppliers rather than supermarkets because not even “naturally raised” eggs and meats perfectly lined up on the counters are totally safe and cruelty-free.
Even supposing that those chickens haven’t been fed antibiotics, it doesn’t mean that they haven’t been raised in ridiculously small barnyards or that they had eyes.
Yes, eyes.
Choosing to buy your meat directly from a farmer means getting a higher quality, safer product, sustainably raised and humanely treated.
If it didn’t exist when your grandmother was a little girl, don’t eat it.
If you’re not sure of what your beloved granny used to eat… if it comes wrapped in plastic and it’s not a whole ingredient, you probably shouldn’t eat it.
Researches such as the one lead by Brazil’s University of São Paulo show how processed food is generally high in trans fats, low in both fibers and nutrients, filled with artificial ingredients, high in sugar and guess what… addictive.
(You can read all about it here: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/3/e009892 http://tinyurl.com/zssy24m)
Not only is it unhealthful, but it also takes a massive waste of natural resources to be produced and transported around the globe, coming from an industrial system that is bad news for the planet.
All that packaging inevitably ends up in landfills, contributing to poisoning the soil, the air and the water.
When given the opportunity, it is safer to choose foods which are ingredients, not unsustainable chemically prepared meals, wrapped in plastic and coming from God knows where.
Dealing with different values can be testing, because we don’t all share what we think is wrong and right: it may depend on our culture, on our religious beliefs or on the country we were born and bred.
Many people in the world are vegetarians or vegans for a number of different reasons and daily choose not to eat meat or any animal products at all: some people deem unethical to treat certain animals as pets and others as food, while others make a political or a health-related choice.
At any rate, it is possible to survive without eating meat so my suggestion is to take a look at all those different recipes and styles of eating: most of us aren’t familiar with quinoa, spelt, flax seed or even the dreaded tofu and yet we are bypassing the opportunity to enrichen our diets with great, divers nutrients.
Breaking the mould isn’t easy and I am not saying that you should go vegan, I’m merely suggesting that if you are trying to eat in an eco-friendly way, great help can come from different types of cuisine.
Say that you have already consumed your recommended two portions of red meat this week… Try lentils or chickpeas meatballs instead of purchasing another burger.
Bake your own butterfree ginger biscuits. Have an aperitif with your sun-dried tomatoes.
It is possible to eat and live without harming the planet, all we need to do is look at the options.
Still not convinced?Test your footprint!
]]>On Black Friday, we decided to donate 20% of all orders to buying warm thick socks for homeless people and thank you to your support we delivered 500 pairs to our friends at Streetskitchen.
Meeting the absolute legend that is John was the most inspiring of all encounters. He runs the aweomse non profit organisation Streets Kitchen and, among others, has the mammoth task of organising donations of food and goods and hand delivers them without fail, on their outreach evenings. John has been selflessly doing this for 30 years! Together with Heather and another absolute remarkable human being, Janie, who runs Refugee Community Kitchen, they provide a warm nourishing and absolutely delicious meal to anyone who is hungry.
“Food is a distribution of wealth. We all need to eat, and when we are so hungry, it is all we can focus on. We can’t think about the next thing, getting a shelter, job, or doing the right thing for our kids or anyone else. Everyone deserves a hot warm meal. And I don’t discriminate. If people who are clearly not homeless come up for a free meal, I don’t mind. I just insist that they pass on the kindness to others.” Janie
Wow. Janie makes all of these amazing delicious meals herself through donated food in her kitchen and takes them currently to three main outreach points - Camden, Euston and Hackney. Three times a week from 7pm-9pm.
John makes sure there is Hot tea, coffee, hot chocolate and any chocolates and sweet treats for all (a special thanks for the chocolate goes to Ian and his Socksandchocks initiative). He packs a shopping trolley full of hot water thermoses, folding tables, all the bits, and, along with volunteers, carries suitcases full of donated gloves, beanies, jackets, jumpers (socks!) and sanitary pads to hand out.
But more than all of this, he talks to everyone, makes everyone feel worthy, valued and important, and is evidently loved by everyone he meets.
I met some of the most incredible people! And realised that my little contribution went a really long way. I made friends with many of the homeless, found them new wardrobes and had many a laugh and chat. Something my new friend Ray ( a little ray of sunshine) says he really misses. He said the biggest struggle was finding people who are happy to make the time to have a good old natter. “Everyone on the street always ask you for something. But no one really wants to have a chat” Ray.
I would urge anyone to please donate any food or clothing to www.streetskitchen.com and refugeecommunitykitchen - and if you feel like doing something truly amazing that will give you buzz money can’t buy - help out and volunteer.
There is no bureaucracy, no red tape - just kind, generous people directly feeding, clothing and supporting our less fortunate friends. ‘Solidarity not charity’ - incredible.
Thank you for this unforgettable, most humbling of experiences.
]]>Can you see rainbows, unicorns, giant hearts and fountains of chocolate?...Be careful not to morph into a full blown fondue!
However, some of us perceive this festivity as pesky and above all intentionally designed to make us suffer, run in circles, spend ludicrous amounts of money, get frustrated, pick the wrong gift and feel so so so sorry for ourselves.
Why hasn’t she called me?... Why has he picked THAT restaurant? I hate that restaurant!... I was hoping this year she would forget about this stupid day!... What the hell am I gonna give it to him this year?... I hope she likes these (no doubt palm oil riddled) chocolates I bought literally 30 seconds ago…
UGH! What a nightmare. If we stop for a second and really think about it, none of that makes any sense to anyone, and yet every year we all feel duty-bound to at least acknowledge the bloody thing in case our significant other has planned something special or, worst case scenario, is expecting us to.
Even though I may sound spinstery, I must make my case: buying tons of flowers, teddy bears and chocolates cannot possibly be the human kind’s main activity on february 14th.
This year, let’s make it different. This year, let’s forget all those cheesy and wasteful traditions and give ourselves and our partners a truly special, cozy, comforting and why not, hot night.
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Valentine’s Day is an elegant night out made to wear special outfits, but who said all that fancy shmancy is the way to go on this day?
If it’s about you&me, why in the world are we supposed to spend a fortune on new high heels and suits? Why should we freeze to death queuing up outside of a restaurant or bar? Why do we even have to go out of the house? Aren’t our homes our love nests?
Can’t our special night be spent on a sea of pillows and glorify the immense pleasure of wearing beautiful comfy loungewear, (pssst.. try a kimono for the wow factor!) setting the tone for endless exotic (& even erotic!) possibilities.
As unconventional as it sounds, transforming a sitting room doesn’t require a mammoth effort and stimulates your creativity… that being said, a nice set of candles and some pillows will do the trick. Let’s just reconsider the empowering freedom of loungewear and how romantic a night in could be.
So we’re staying home, but we’ve still got to eat. Should we order pizza?
Of course not! We’ve got you covered on the food and pressies as well. We have partnered up with our friend Louise from Poppy & the Bees to bring you some delicious recipes, full of fantastic nutrients & cruelty free. An easy, homemade menu, spicy as you want it to be, colourful and wonderful for your health.
Download the menu from Poppy & the bees.
You won’t need any special equipment or fancy kitchen tools in order to prepare the best romantic meal of your life. Only a little bit of planning and a nice refreshing trip to your local farmers market.
While you’re there, instead of buying flowers, go for a plant! It’ll last longer and you will get to enjoy the enormously satisfying feeling of growing your own greenery or even harvesting your very own crop!
Louise has some fantastic grow-your-own know-how, and as Spring is around the corner, you could be giving (and receiving) a present that really does keep on giving.
As we all know, right next to flowers in the classic spectrum, is chocolate. But trying to find an ethical variety free from palm oil or animal products can be quite tricky. Go the extra mile, I promise your taste buds will thank you. Check out Booja Booja, MooFree Chocolates and Divine Chocolate.
For those of you who can't really give up on the idea of going out for a special meal,surely you would want to know that you are giving your money to someone that takes sustainability seriously. The Sustainable Restaurant Association has developed a sustainability framework and a rating system that can help you find places near you.
If you are in London though, here are our personal suggestions:
Wild food cafe, a plant-based eatery and wellbeing oasis that wants to re-connect people with sustainable sources of delicious and nutritious food. There is a special event for Valentine’s Day: “An aphrodisiac, exclusive botanical connoisseur feast to tantalise your taste buds and take you and your Beloved on a journey of sensual plant-based textures”. You can get tickets here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wild-valentines-dinner-tickets-30883946716. In addition to eating amazing food, you can also get your significant other a useful gift like a sustainable cooking class, retreat or a wellbeing course) yes puh-lease!
Fed by Water where traditional italian cuisine meets vegan on a mission to make you re-discover the importance of purity in water.
Andina a Peruvian picanteria where only sustainable produce and organic food can enter the kitchen’s door, and where your mouth will experience new sensations.
Eating and loving (you choose the order!) are the two most amazing things on Earth, and consequently their combination can only lead to perfection, joy and seduction: and what an added bonus that you and your partner will be eating without harming the planet.
Best Valentine’s day ever.
Some of you will still rightfully prefer to spend the night out or to leave the house after your incredible dinner, but if you’re into the couchy-comfy vibe there may be an unexpected alternative to all those noisy, crowded clubs.
What about a live concert in somebody’s living room?
Sofar Sounds (“Songs From A Room”) is a programme founded 8 years ago in London that organizes intimate gigs in over 300 cities around the world. The line up of different artists is disclosed only the day before the performance, making it always a nice surprise. But you need to be quick, places are limited and you need to apply for tickets.
The underlining here is to respect both the music and the artists: you will be encouraged to turn off your phone, listen quietly and truly enjoy fantastic music in a stranger’s living room. It cannot possibly get more intimate and magical than that! Oh no wait...you can also sign up as a host...and get the music directly in your living room!
How’s that for a different night?
Hating Valentine’s Day has become as obnoxious as the festivity itself… therefore we should at least try and spice it up by celebrating on our own terms.
Being romantic doesn’t necessarily mean being cheesy and lovey-dovey, but above all it shouldn’t be something pre-arranged by 100 hundred years of unethical consumerism that harms the planet and makes all the singles out there fall into a pit of despair and self loathing.
If you do happen to be single, channel all that love into friends, family, animals and you! We always need more practice at loving ourselves.. well some of us anyway! ;) Love and kindness is always well received… even from a stranger. You could always paint a “free-hugs” sign for some extra love at the corner of your street, or find volunteer opportunities in your neighbourhood and do something good for others: love comes in all forms, and we should celebrate each and everyone of them.
Have you been struck by inspiration? Tell us what you’re planning for Valentine’s Day and how you’re going to spend this wonderful night!
]]>"How do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions?" In one of TED's most popular talks, with over 28M views, Simon Sinek explains his simple yet powerful model for inspirational leaders. Watch the video
Fancy a little weekend getaway? Here are 20 fabulous ideas for the stunning Autumn season both in the UK & abroad. See more
]]>We had an amazing year at Verry Kerry and we couldn't have done it without you. I am forever grateful from the bottom of my heart, for all of your wonderful and continual support, so a verry big THANK YOU.
This year we hope to bring you more of the creative and beautifully made things you love, to collaborate with more like minded kind people and brands, and travel to more inspiring places, spreading the signature Verry Kerry contagious happiness. :)
We aim to deepen our support for world projects and communities in our mission to build a brand that champions sustainability and a more fair and ethical society, whilst bringing more smiles to more faces and creating unique and smile inspiring clothes and accessories.
I sincerely wish you an incredibly exciting, inspiring, adventurous, kind and peaceful 2016.
Kerry & the Verry Kerry team X
]]>Green, organic, fairtrade, vegan, sustainable, recycled, reusable etc etc… It might be hard (and incorrect) to exactly define what constitutes ethical, as when it comes to doing the “right thing” the approach should be a very personal one. One thing is for sure though, We Vote for what we Buy.
As Father’s Day is approaching fast and we are being bombarded with thousands of emails with gifts of all sorts, we wanted to give you some ethical options to tap into.
Here’s our top 7 picks for ethical gifts that Dad will surely appreciate…(no, there are no ties…)
What’s better than cheering with Dad? Cheering with an organic beer. Planet Organic has a nicely packaged gift box that will hit the mark. £30
Has Dad given in to the trend and loves to keep a (massive) beard? Then we can assure you he is struggling to find a vegan beard set out there. The folks at Mister Maseys have created just that. And who tried it assures it is great. £28
(Thanks to Ethical Dan for the tip)
For all the active dads out there it’s time to stop using that old smelly bag to go the gym, swimming pool or take for your weekend away. Get him one of these travel bags and he will be thankful. Leather free, super cool and beautifully hand made. £79
Ah, the great British Gardens… They do need looking after though… Burgon & Ball crafts beautiful and stylish tools made in Britain to do just that. We love this RHS Endorsed Bypass Secateurs (£17.95). Add the Eco Gardening for Everyone book (£8.95) and a verry summery pineapple fabric covered notebook (£15) for the perfect ethical gardening gift set.
The fellows at Sir Plus came up with the brilliant idea to reuse surplus shirting material for their boxer shorts creations. The result is an impressive range of great quality cotton undies. And as they are local we are very happy to give them a shout out.
If you know he likes to impress his friends with a nice bottle, then we might have just found this unmissable gift:
Produced by the award-winning microdistiller Ian Hart, this vodka from the Sacred company is made on Highgate Hill in London and it was certified organic by the Soil Association in 2009. £29.15
Organic single malt, certified by the Soil Association, from Loch Lomond distillery! A limited release from 2013 bottled at 48% abv. £47.83
For the bicycle lovers there’s a whole range of accessories
From the cufflinks handmade from recycled bike chains. £30
To the stuff for the pros like the vulcanised natural rubber and organic cotton top saddle cambium. £105
]]>A little behind the scenes from SS16 Collection Shoot with Laura Coleman
]]>Since the beginning, Verry Kerry has been passionate about giving back to less fortunate communities, with a core vision of building a brand that would champion sustainability, and a more fair and ethical society whilst creating unique, and smile inspiring clothes and accessories.
Today, the clothing industry faces several accusations related to its creation of waste both during the manufacturing process as well as the so-called post consumer waste, mainly fueled by the poisoned throwaway culture created by the cheap, fast fashion industry.
Finding ways of recycling textile waste as an alternative to landfill disposal is an ecological problem on which the industry is already working, however “it is estimated that more than 1 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year in the UK alone. At least 50% of the textiles we throw away are recyclable, however, the proportion of textile wastes reused or recycled annually in the UK is only around 25%”.[1]
The main problem is that “existing cotton recycling methods make poor-quality fibers, and there is no efficient way to recycle garments of mixed materials, so the vast majority of clothes end up in landfill”.[2]
For us it has always been important to create versatile pieces that did not follow “one-season” fashion trends and that customers could get many uses out of year after year. At the same time we have made a commitment to try and eliminate waste from production as much as possible and have been looking at different ways to achieve this.
Have you ever wondered what happens to all the off-cut fabric that is left over after the manufacturing process?
We did. And for this reason we have set out on a journey with our friends at
NGO Swechha in Delhi, that create really beautiful, exceptionally made pieces combining our leftover fabric off-cuts with other upcycled materials to give them a second, vibrant life.
Swechha is dedicated to making a visible difference to the Environment- both Physical and Social- by upcycling waste and creating employment for people from marginalized sections of society, engaging them in production and sales. They also do wonderful things working with the youth of Delhi through adolescent empowerment programmes supported by EMpower. Guided outings, events, music and lessons are all part of the project with adolescents regularly attending the sessions on themes of identity, social efficacy and resourcefulness. Youth leaders continue to inspire the younger ones and the community.
The Swechha Workshop, where the magic happens.
Children enjoying the benefits of the empowerment programs.
They (re)use pretty much anything for their creations: tyre tubes, juice cartons, milk packets, beer cans, chips packets. Nothing is wasted. So... what for many is just waste, for us became a great opportunity to expand our collections, whilst supporting local communities and helping India (Delhi in particular) tackle a huge environmental problem.
The Inca Beam & Stitch bag and our pretty Napkins were the first pieces made by re-using these fabrics, but we are now proud to introduce a brand new collection of accessories: pouches, wallets, fabric covered notebooks and a really awesome weekend bag.
Our beautiful upcycled accessories.
They not only make perfect Christmas presents, but part of the proceedings will go to two other causes we care dearly about: Malambo Grass Roots in Zambia and The Kikora Maralal project in Kenya
We are extremely proud to collaborate with such an awesome organisation as Swechha and will continue to do all we can to tackle the enormous waste issues we face in creating lots of new exciting upcycled pieces in the future.
How can you help?
A great starting point is avoiding aggressive washing methods and choosing washing liquids/powders that contain little or no phosphate which are harmful for the environment. We recommend giving soap berries (also known as soap nuts) a try, which are a great option as they are highly-effective and gentle at the same time. You can find them at http://www.soapnuts.co.uk/
If you want to know more or would like to share your story/knowledge on the matter, we would love for you to leave a comment below.
Citations:
[1]http://www.ethicalfashionforum.com/the-issues/recycling
[2] http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/08/25/us-fashion-recycling-h-m-idUKKCN0QT2AO20150825
Other references:
http://www.omicsgroup.org/journals/recycling-of-textiles-in-india-2165-8064.S2-003.php?aid=26503
Meandering from one heart thumpingly loud sound system to the next, feeling so liberated and free, dancing in the streets like no one cares .. because no one does, the smell of delicious bbq infiltrating your nostrils, the sound of the drums and bands resonating through your body, the colour and spectacle of the incredible costumes of the parade, and seeing the smiles of seriously happy people … it really is an utterly awesome experience.
I used to live on Westbourne Park Road and each year at the end of August, while peering out of our window, we were blessed with the most almighty explosion of colour, music, people and … chicken carcases.
We were totally immersed in the energy and buzz that is the glorious and infamous Notting Hill Carnival and every time, it would fill me with the same butterfly rush in my stomach. There is something about big crowds building and coming together, especially in such happy circumstances, that can overwhelm me with emotion - and this gathering is no exception.
With more than 2 million attendees, Notting Hill carnival promises to be 10 times bigger than Glastonbury, and did you know that even the legendary Pink Floyd played one of their first gigs at the original festival?! Despite reputation, Carnival has a very low crime rate, no more than Sunday Football!
Here are our tips to get you carnival ready…
The tube is still the best way to get to the carnival, although stations will be busy little bees. Make sure you carry some water with you and check which stations are open before travelling on tfl.co.uk. You can also stay super savvy and in the know if you follow @tfltravelalerts on Twitter for live, immediate and reliable updates over the weekend.
Get your party spirit on: carnival is all about the people, the music, the colour, the food and the attitude - you won’t be able to wipe the smile off your face. Get lost in the awesomeness and Enjoy!
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Here’s what I think...
My top 5 things to do this long weekend.
]]>Pack a picnic, some instruments, bubble machine, bunting, great beats and some friends, and pile onto any green space and enjoy! Canal side is a bonus and you may even know a friend (like me) with a dinghy for the extra exhilarating boat rides! (trust me, it really is VERRY exciting!). And I wouldn’t have any outdoor gathering without my Cool Bar keeping drinks cold as well as being a useful table. Light, practical and extremely awesome.
Wales is incredibly beautiful and really not far! For those who love the outdoors, you can try surfing, coasteering, hiking, sea kayaking, horse riding, and even cliff jumping for the more daring! Weekend packages cost £225 and include :
2 nights at the 5 Star Preseli Venture Eco Lodge • home cooked food Friday evening meal to lunch on Sunday • 2 half day adventures plus the coastal Hike • all specialist equipment and qualified guides • minibus transport for all activities • train station transfers
Visit preseliventure and get adventurous!
I'm verry lucky to live quite close to this glorious market, and with my passion and love for flowers and plants, it really is little slice of floral heaven. (My minature banana tree is still going strong and is a reminder of my Zambian and Australian upbringing :) You find yourself quite easily and suddenly wanting everything and inspired to be a (balcony in my case) landscape designer! As well as the flowers & plants, it is the atmosphere that is so electric, humble and groovy, with other little unique shops dotted around and quaint deliciousness hidden in cobbled pockets. There is always some wonderful live jazz music filling the air with an effortless cool vibe, as well as the intense scent of flowers and the characterful 'chant of the barrow boys “Everthin’ a fiver”.
The vibrant and iconic Brick Lane (where I first started trading at the upmarket) is just down the road and well worth the visit, so there is plenty to see, taste, smell for the day, and loads of oh-so-funky bars and hang outs for the evening. And lets not forget the famous Indian restaurants that you must try at least once in your life, and the iconic Beigel Shop & bakery open 24 hours (you'll see the queue) - An absolute East End institution.
If you haven’t already, you should try the dining experience at Dans Les Noir. It is a unique sensorial, social and human experience where guests dine in total darkness and are guided and served by the blind and visually impaired.
This is an amazing opportunity to realise how lucky we are to have our sight and how we manage without it .. for a few hours. I encourage anyone to push their boundaries and challenge any potential fear of the unknown. We are quite capable beings and you will be surprised how quickly you adjust. Such a worthwhile experience for so many reasons, but mostly, to realise how fortunate we are to be able to walk out of there and see again. And how much we take it for granted. I remember it felt like I was floating as there was no roof or ground that you could see - only black. What I missed most was all the different shades and types of light that we see - soft, dappled, bright, dim, ambient, flickering, sharp, cool, warm, coloured ... seeing really is such a miracle and joy. Trying to guess what you are eating is certainly tricky! (all delicious of course). You think you know ... but then nothing is certain without your eyes. Utterly fascinating. I loved every minute of this truly incredible experience!
Another fabulous find is the exotic Archipelago in London.
A feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds, it is filled to the brim with interesting, exotic artifacts and treasures from around the world, and is cosy, intimate, excting and delicious. And to top it off had amazing service. A truly unique dinner that I didn't want to end!
Discover an uncharted culinary adventure as you experience many wild and wonderful tastes and cultures. “ We take pride in our exotic ingredients like crocodile, kangaroo, zebra and bison, and celebrate the traditional with chicken and fish as well as inspired vegetarian options. Our aim is to broaden culinary knowledge and experience, to celebrate diversity, and to show that the unfamiliar can be exciting, delicious and very good for you. All our ingredients are organic, free range and are either farmed or are part of a nationally recognised culling programme. We use nothing that has been irresponsibly taken from the wild.
(be grateful we have fresh clean water), curl up on the sofa wrapped in a kimono dressing gown and ...
Open a bottle of prosecco (bubbles are always welcome!). If you have the time to try and make something new, I would highly recommend Poppy and the Bee’s Mushroom Gyoza- Little Samurai Dumplings of Deliciousness, or if relaxing is of the essence, order something totally delicious from Deliveroo. Get amazing food from an incredible selection of local restaurants delivered super fast, hassle free and still warm! What's not to like?!
Whatever you do this long weekend, remember to smile ... because afterall, happiness is contagious! :)
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