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Unexpected gifts for an unexpected year
Published 3 February 2021When it comes to Valentine’s Day, or any occasion really, I much prefer unexpected gifts. There’s something intrinsically enticing about an unexpected gift. Butterflies of anticipation dancing through curious fingers. A flickering trail of desire urging you to discover what lies within. Then that tiny frisson of delight sparked by an elusive something that you […]
The colour of spring: sustainable home decor, clothing, lifestyle and the outdoors
Published 24 February 2020What colour is spring to you? Some will dive straight into summer with those bright oranges and blazing blues. Others will choose pastels. I prefer my springs to be muted versions of bright favourites. A slow awakening rather than jumping headfirst into the heat of things. Might tell you a lot about me as a […]
10 ideas for sustainable stocking fillers made in the UK
Published 2 December 2019Stocking fillers are a wonderful extra little surprise. Yeah there’s a gift or three under the tree for you, prettily wrapped. Still, it’s fun reaching into a stocking to pull out tiny little treasures.If you’re racking your brains for stuff to put into stockings, here are some ideas from us. 1. Squeaky clean and smells […]
We’re totally crackers about these ethical Christmas crackers
Published 21 November 2019We’ve been on the hunt for eco friendly, sustainable Christmas crackers that are made here in the UK. I think that one of the most fun things about a very British Christmas are definitely the crackers. A small gift, a joke, a crown and you can be Queen (or King) for the day, along with […]
Tis’ (almost) the season: 6 non-traditional British advent calendars
Published 12 November 2019Have you started playing Christmas music yet? I haven’t. For me, Christmas begins with the advent season and leads up to a day spent with family, good food, drinks, full spirits and lots of fun. I love a good advent calendar. Mind you, my favourites are the ones with adult beverages but I do like […]
Making waves: British brands creating cool things from recycled marine plastic
Published 28 October 2019A few days ago American Express announced a complete revamp of its classic Green Card. Following a long list of the benefits of owning an Amex Green card comes the revelation that the card is designed using reclaimed ocean plastic collected from beaches by Parlay for the Oceans. Coca Cola too has been in the […]
Look who won! Blue Patch Awards 2019
Published 5 October 2019A great time was had by all at the Blue Patch Sustainable Business Awards. Conversation and wine flowed at the Art Workers’ Guild, 6, Queen Square, London WC1. The Guild, founded in 1884 by architects and designers, included members of the Arts & Crafts Movement, making it the perfect place for welcoming our Award winners […]
London Design Fair 2019
Published 27 September 2019Sustainable furniture, ceramics, glass and textiles, all made in Britain… London Design Fair was a huge success this year, our stand was an exhibition highlight and Blue Patch became a ‘superbrand’ too! Here’s Blue Patch featured on CGTN Le Journal. Our stand attracted visitors interested in sustainable and British made products – especially those keen […]
Blue Patch exhibits thirteen sustainable British brands at London Design Fair 2019
Published 5 September 2019We are delighted to announce that we will be exhibiting thirteen of our most exceptional sustainable brands at London Design Fair this year. The event will take place from the 19th to the 22nd of September 2019 at the Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch London as part of the iconic London Design Festival. Click to […]
Top tips for applying to the Blue Patch sustainable business awards + more
Published 15 July 2019The Blue Patch Awards are now in their 4th year. When we launched in 2016, there were very few awards for the ethical and sustainable sector. Subsequent years, however, brought an influx of awards specifically targeted towards sustainable and ethical businesses, and especially small businesses. We think this is wonderful! Why apply to business awards? […]
What we learned from asking our fashion brands about sustainability.
Published 25 April 2019The 24th of April marked the 6th anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse, and the subsequent push towards greater transparency and sustainability in the fashion industry. This week, marked as Fashion Revolution Week encourages consumers to take action by asking brands #whomademyclothes? Blue Patch works with brands who make and manufacture in the UK, […]
In with Spring, out with dust
Published 1 March 2019It’s spring! Or so we hope… I’ve been transitioning in between clothing types this week, moving away from my warm wool coat to lighter garb. It’s delightful to not be weighted down by 20 layers of fabric. Spring is synonymous with the shedding of layers (unless we’re talking about trees), and part of that includes […]
Love is in the air
Published 13 February 2019Love it, hate it or simply ignore it, it’s still Valentine’s Day today. Traditionally, a day for lovers, we’ve decided that it should also be a day for small business owners. So here are three oh-so-important ways to express love if you’re a small business owner. Ready? Love yourself Small business owners are so susceptible […]
Picture this : a Sustainable Department Store in Shoreditch
Published 23 December 2018What a wonderful week! Recounted by Jane. Monday 10th Dec. Team Blue Patch; the irrepressible Preeti, Natalia and Lee, plus Britney, Cameron and Holly worked alongside Blue Patch members, assembling flatpack furniture, excavating products from a sea of cardboard boxes and ‘merchandising’ like it was going out of fashion. Out of fashion? It’s the swansong […]
Guest Post by Crown Northampton
Published 29 October 2018Do you love a good pair of shoes? Take a look behind the scenes of a shoemaking company that is quintessentially English, preserving old traditions in manufacturing while adding that modern touch. As one of the last remaining active shoe factories in England, our brand, Crown Northampton has a deep understanding of English made and […]
The Original Sustainable Department Store comes to Shoreditch
Published 2 October 2018Welcome to a fun packed week of sustainable shopping, free talks, workshops, socialising… Blue Patch’s store will be sparkling with beautiful, ethically made products, creative workshops, breakfast talks, pamper nights, bubbly drinks, delicious cakes and late night shopping to 9pm. Buy organic wellbeing products, Fair Trade jewellery, ethical fashion, designer lighting, handmade furniture, ceramics, gifts and toys. […]
It might as well be Spring
Published 1 April 2018Now that Easter’s been and gone, it might as well be spring. This weekend has been so very springlike. A bit of sun, a bit of rain. Has anyone seen any Daffodils yet? Those are my favourite sign of spring. Last year we wrote this blog about garden products. To add to that list, and in honour […]
Something old, something new: A guest blog by Jan Knibbs
Published 13 February 2018Did anyone get engaged recently? Whether you are frantically planning your wedding, or simply keeping an eye out for ideas, here are a few ways in which you can incorporate some of your family history into your wedding dress. Intrigued? Read on. We live in an age of mass production, surrounded by a throw-away society. […]
Guest Post: Interiors trends for 2018
Published 5 February 2018Got the itch to redecorate? Take a look at Zoe Murphy’s interior predictions for 2018 to keep on top of trends for the home. Whilst the fast moving world of fashion can sweep away what went before, in interiors we tend to build on existing trends. Partly this is practical. Who wants to repaint their walls […]
Curing those Blue Monday blues
Published 14 January 2018It has come to my attention that Monday, the 15th of January is Blue Monday. Incase you didn’t know what Blue Monday was, it’s supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. Apparently there’s a mathematical formula behind it with several contributing factors including motivation levels, time since christmas and the weather! I’ve […]
Guest Blog: Ethical Business in a Post-Brexit World
Published 9 January 2018One of the conversations we have had multiple times in the last year is the effect of Brexit on small businesses. It’s a complex issue with many facets to consider, and with many unintended consequences stemming from it. Today we’re featuring a guest blog by What Daisy Did who shed a light on the effect of Brexit on their business, […]
A touch of June to your Jan
Published 6 January 2018Did you know that January is named after Janus, the god of gateways and that Janus could look in both directions, back at the old year and forward towards the new year at the same time? Hindsight and foresight both 20/20 for this guy, right? However, as far as we’re concerned, December is as cold as January, […]
Better latte than never: The need for circular economy solutions
Published 6 January 2018There’s no worse place to throw your coffee cup than into a general waste bin. Why? There is a very, very small percentage of those cups that actually get recycled. In the past day, there has been a lot of discussion around the subject of the proposed 25p charge on disposable cups. What do you think? Good? […]
BluePatch on the ETA blog
Published 7 December 2017We were featured on the ETA blog in their brilliant blogpost titled Christmas shopping that delights family, friends and the planet. “Websites such as Blue Patch offer a different shopping experience – putting customers, communities and the environment first with a colourful catalogue of products and services with a sustainability edge. They have ethical fashion, ethically designed furniture, […]
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