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In conversation with interior designer Oliver Heath
Published 16 June 2021Oliver is Founder of Oliver Heath Design Ltd, an architectural and interior design practicefocussed on delivering health & wellbeing in the built environment through evidence-basedhuman centred design. Oliver’s work stimulates the adoption of happier, healthier places to liveand work through his projects as designer, writer, and TV presenter. Since 1998 he has presented on numerous […]
In conversation with art and furniture makers Nafisi Studio
Published 2 June 2021Nafisi Studio is a British luxury bespoke art furniture and sculpture studio in Horsham run by an innovative husband and wife team. All pieces are handmade, incorporating progressive concepts with heritage craftsmanship. Kate and Abdollah became inspired to be artists who work together in their studio, combining concepts between furniture and art while exploring innovative […]
In conversation with Glasgow lifestyle store, Hoos
Published 19 May 2021Hoos is a design and lifestyle store located in Glasgow’s West End. Pop in to discover a unique curation of goods from iconic Nordic design houses to handmade, Scottish wares, as well as beautiful things from across the UK. They love simple and functional design that stands the test of time, so each product that […]
In conversation with artisan perfumery 4160 Tuesdays
Published 5 May 20214160 Tuesdays is a London-based artisan perfumery that creates perfumes and home fragrances along with running courses to teach people how to make and improve their own scents. Founded in 2012 by Sarah McCartney, 4160 Tuesdays create small batches of interesting scents that are inspired by people, places or moments. If you’re willing to step […]
What does Positive Shopping mean for conscious consumers?
Published 31 March 2021As shopping habits move from the real to the virtual world, small businesses in the UK and Ireland must adopt more sustainable practices. This includes introducing the idea of positive shopping to the conscious consumer. The changing face of the high street The most recent hit to the high street is the announcement of 8 […]
How to persuade people to shop sustainably
Published 5 March 2021What motivates eco-friendly, ethical or sustainable choices in everyday living? New research suggests that the memory of the pride that followed on from an environmentally friendly decision or a conscious choice is likely to be a far better motivator than guilt while making future green choices. For example, consumers were more likely to buy an […]
Gift ideas for Christmas
Published 5 December 2020Sometimes the holiday season goes by so fast that if you blink you might miss it. Food, family and gifts – done and dusted. In the UK, things are a little hazier. The holidays seem like a personal choice that work around school holidays, work schedules, the switching on of the lights on Oxford Street […]
This is the Circular Economy: CE Week 2020
Published 29 May 2020Forget business as usual. Right now we’re experiencing a different kind of economy – one that includes clean air and bird song. We’ve been enjoying the simple pleasures of a walk in the park or taking the bike for a spin, baking bread and quality time with the family. When patterns break, it allows a […]
Guest Post: Necessity is the mother of invention
Published 20 April 2020This year’s not really turning out how I expected – and that’s putting it quite mildly. 2019 was a big year for me. I celebrated a big milestone birthday with a blowout party and some lifetime travel adventures. I sailed boats and rode horses. I learnt new skills and gained new qualifications. I decimated my […]
Why a giant soap emporia that does hair and offers facials is a great idea.
Published 5 March 2020I have a long-standing love affair with Lush. Can you blame me? Entering a Lush location is like stepping into a world of colourful, quirkily-named skincare products that look and smell good enough to eat. Plus the brand is well known for being at the forefront of sustainability in regards to packaging, animal testing, sourcing ethically […]
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 […]
The coolest CAT in town: How a visit to the Centre of Alternative Technology turned my climate-apathy around
Published 29 January 2020I admit it. I have been guilty……of climate nihilism. I’ve found myself turning down the volume on the news or sometimes looking the other way. It was all too unbearable, out of my hands and I was less than optimistic about the state of the world. That is, until I went to CAT. Sorry to […]
Let’s talk about eco houses: Insuring a non-standard home in the UK
Published 22 January 2020A few weeks ago there was a news article about a new zero carbon neighbourhood in South Wales getting the green light for construction. Homes in this neighbourhood will be built to generate more energy than they use, replacing energy drawn from the grids during times like cold snaps with clean energy during leaner months. Exciting, […]
Why the ethical fashion sector in the UK struggles to grow
Published 2 January 2020A recently published article in the Guardian celebrates ethical spending in the UK hitting a record high, swelling to reach over £41 billion. Consumables take the largest portion, with energy, home and personal products scooping up significant portions of the rest. The industry that has had the most tussles with ethical issues however, the one […]
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 […]
Mud to Spud: A spoon full of soil
Published 26 May 2019A gardening journal: No. 2 by Jane Our Blue Patch garden in Dulwich is undergoing a renaissance after years of neglect. The project begun in March (link) with elbow grease, weeding and hard pruning. Then April arrived along with 4 fabulous ex-display Plughole Planters donated by Blue Patch member and award winning green entrepreneur Morgan […]
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, […]
Beyond Fashion Revolution week: Practical actions for sustainable consumers and brands
Published 27 April 2018This week, the eyes of the ethical and sustainable world have been fixed on Fashion Revolution Week, a campaign and a movement created in order to promote greater transparency within the fashion industry. It brings awareness about the appalling conditions that fast fashion is made in, the poor compensation that is paid to workers and […]
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 […]
Fairtrade and You
Published 26 February 2018Feb 26th to March 11th is Fairtrade Fortnight, a campaign geared towards increasing awareness about the provenance of Fairtrade items (primarily food) and the plight of millions of people who do not receive fair compensation for food grown. During this two week period, there are several ways you can gain awareness about Fairtrade. 1. Read […]
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. […]
An abundance of love for the planet
Published 6 February 2018This Valentine’s we’ve decided that with the help of our Friends of Blue Patch we’ll be sharing an abundance of love for the planet by investing in renewable energy! This is super exciting for us because it’s a big part of our mission and vision. You see, Blue Patch is a social enterprise, funded by our member’s […]
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 […]
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, […]
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