Lifestyle & Home: Personality of the year for Ekobo Bowls

It was the bright colours and beautiful designs of the Ekobo bowels that first caught my attention. Yes, they look great, but to claim a place in my kitchen they need a great personality. So is it all bravado or do these bowls possess depth of character?

On investigation I discovered Ekobo bowls are handmade in Vietnam. The Craftsmen are paid a good wage for their skill and their working conditions are kept to a high standard. The bowls are made of bamboo, (a fast growing, renewable material) which is spiraled together in long thin strips making a beautiful pattern visible on the inside of the bowl, that is then painted on the outside in various vibrant colours.

Beautiful designs, great colours, environmentally friendly, ethical working practices. In my book, Ekobo bowls get personality of the year and definitely a place in my kitchen!

Lydia Vine

We Love: Conran’s Eco House Book

We love Terence Conran's Eco House Book, full of lustworthy houses, beautiful images, ideas and inspiration to create the eco house of your dreams. Now just to start saving...

Design: London Jewellery Week 2010 goes Ethical

As part of London Jewellery Week, Treasure is hosting an exciting jewellery exhibition showcasing collections from Britain’s up and coming jewellery designers. This year the event hopes to raise the profile of the emerging ethical jewellery movement with Essence Ethical Jewellery Pavilion. Essence will act as a platform for eight ethical designers who share the vision that sustainable products do not have to sacrifice design or quality, including collections by Fifi Bijoux, Choo Yilin and Leblas.

The event will also hold a series of debates, presentations and seminars with industry professionals, highlighting the ethical issues faced by the industry and consumers today.

London Jewellery Week takes place from the 7th – 13^th of June 2010 with events across the capital.

Carly Gordon

Lifestyle & Home: Organic Millet Pillow

If you fall into bed only to lie awake sneezing and wheezing, this naturally hypoallergenic pillow could be the answer to a good night’s sleep.

These are tell-tale symptoms of a dust mite allergy, which around 20% of the UK population suffers from. The invisible-to-the-eye creatures love warm areas, making pillows and mattresses popular breeding grounds.

This pillow is filled with organic millet husks, which dust mites and moulds can’t live in. It arrives partially filled, with a heavy brown paper bag of husks in case you want to add more. After a restful first night - I’m one of those with a dust mite allergy - I topped up with extra husks for additional support. (Tip: it's worth doing this over an empty sink, as some of the tiny grains will inevitably miss the cover’s zipped hole).

Those thousands of millet 'beads' make this pillow heavier than standard ones, and the grains really mould around the head and neck, while the organic cotton cover keeps you cool. The result? Lots of good-quality sleep, and a happy husband undisturbed by my snuffling.

For more details see the website which also features organic mattresses, baby blankets, bedding, duvets and pyjamas and all products come with free delivery.

Jane Lee

Lifestyle & Home: FLORENCE & FLORENCE – THE SUMMER OF RE-LOVE

Buying your homeware second hand is the most environmentally sustainable way to kit out your living space and to give it an original feel. Short of making everything yourself, there's no better way to find your own style and lessen your impact on the environment.

Trawling through charity shops, jumble sales and ebay in search of rare and beautiful treasures to breath life into your home can be a breathless, heart-racing hunt with glorious rewards and triumphant victories. A hard-fought bidding race on ebay for that perfect vintage butter dish/tea set/coffee table/whatever, brings a rush of excitement for the seasoned bargain junkie. The thrill of finding a design classic tucked away in a charity shop and bought for a song is a wonderful thing.

But, for many of us, dedicating large chunks of free time to rummaging through old bits and pieces is not an option, or simply may not appeal. Step forward Florence & Florence, a mother and daughter team who search for lovely antique and vintage items for the home, and then 're-love' (i.e. restore) them back to near-perfection. The result is a wonderful selection of one-off beauties to add charm and flair to the kitchen, dining room, and life in general!

Browse the entire selection on the Florence & Florence website.

Sophy Colbert

Forever Fashion: 21 Things I Love at Untold

This fabulous website, Untold, acts as a springboard for up and coming designers, artists and photographers who may otherwise have found it hard to get into the industry. They showcase beautiful textiles, clothing and accessories as well as the offer of creative advice.

One partnership which particularly caught my eye was 21 Things I Love. The two creators , Adrea Carr and Kin Fleary both bought together 21 things that they loved, to draw inspiration for their collections and their passion clearly shows. This charming company uses surplus fabrics and organic materials to form versatile pieces. Each collection is made to order and uses short run production methods to help cut down on waste. Their Collection No 1. Butterfly Effect '09 - Small Things Make a Difference has been inspired by butterflies and the idea of order & chaos. Adorned with ribbons, their designs can be altered by pulling hems and necklines into different shapes, forming unique and contemporary looks.

Each collection has an accompanying t-shirt range which donates 10% of their profits to The Bee Project. This project endeavours to help reverse the demise of the honey bee which has occurred as a result of climate and environmental change.

‘21 Things I Love is an eco-conscious label built on a commitment to quality, sustainable environmental practices, fair exchange and outstanding design. Playful and versatile, 21 Things I Love brings glamour to eco-fashion.’

Exactly what we like to hear!

Poppy Sakulku

Photographs by Julia Mills & styled by Lupe Castro.

Health & Beauty: Green People Organic Mascara

A typical girl, I’m afraid I’m never quite happy with what I’ve been blessed with. At a push I’d probably have to say that my eyelashes are one of my best features and yet I still strive to make them longer, darker and thicker, as I’m sure we all do. Over the years I have tried out many a high street brand and often find that they either make little difference or leave me looking a bit ‘spider legged’ and clumpy.

For the last month however I feel as though maybe this search is over. Green People’s volumising mascara came to me as part of a wondrous goodie bag at the La Luminata launch and has been my make-up staple ever since. As well as making my lashes look positively false on application, being light weight and smudge free it is also gentle on the eyes. Made without synthetic colourants or harsh chemicals and enriched with Organic sweet almond and Shea butter it leaves your lashes feeling soft and silky.

Created as an antidote to the founder’s daughter’s allergies; ‘The Green People Mission is to promote an organic lifestyle and provide high quality, truly organic, natural health and home care formulations. To expand their range of certified organic product and also to support charities with related health and environmental concerns.’ As well as cosmetics, Green People also stock a selection of lovely skin and hair products suitable for men, women and young children.

Photographed without lash inserts...

Poppy Sakulku