THE OBSERVER MAGAZINE

A revista do The Observer dedicou a sua última edição à ecologia e produtos éticos, sendo que o shopping, entre outros, incluiu um dos nossos primatas de eleição, o Mr Ape!

The Observer magazine has dedicated its latest issue to ethical matters, and among others, has included our very own Mr Ape in the eco shopping wish list!

ECO DOG

As pets are part of our families, holistic wellbeing and a greener approach to life should certainly be extended to those with paws and hairier bodies.

In a mission to extend our health and eco concerns to Dot and Dário, we got Eco Dog, a gorgeous book on healthy living for canines, filled with upbeat photography and precious advice.

Comprehensive and beautifully done, this guide covers everything one should know when creating the best eco environment for our four-legged friends, from how to shop for and make non-toxic grooming products and eco-friendly pest control, and how to bake organic dog treats, to how to create a canine first aid kit.

As a plus, at the end of the book there's also a resource guide to organizations, publications and products on the subject.

( Written by Lola, Photography by Lola and Álvaro )

ECO CONTENT

We all know that having a chaotic and stressful lifestyle isn't good for you. There's no denying it.
We also know that whenever possible we should eat organic, fairtrade and (in an ideal world we would all be) vegetarian.We're also aware of harmful chemicals in everyday products... Not only the supermarket kind (which besides being in the large majority cruelly tested on animals, are also dangerous chemical cocktails) but also some mainstream luxury natural brands who appear more eco fill their products with parabens and other harmful chemicals.

I've been a vegetarian since i was 15, and having recently turned 30, i'm everyday more aware of what my actions may result in the greater picture.I always take the holistic approach in life, and being an health and beauty junkie, for me it's an absolute must to use products which aren't tested on animals. Then i look for something which is made from natural ingredients, preferably organic, and aren't packed full with the aforementioned chemicals. And at the end the day, i still have to enjoy the product's texture, smell (or lack of it), and the end result on my skin and hair...

Because it's a hard task to pick your favourites from the jumble of ethical and non-ethical brands, Content, in London's Marylebone, is an eco-luxury boutique filled with some of the best all-natural beauty and wellbeing products on offer.The owner, Imelda Burke, has researched for 2 years for brands which are Soil Association Certified, Ecocert approved, carbon neutral, and free of animal testing, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, SLS, synthetic fragrances and further 25 commonly used synthetic chemicals.

Far from the hippie look that unfortunately is often associated with green issues, it's a glamorous black space with beautiful vintage furniture and an array of exquisite brands such as Suki, Ila, Dr Hauschka, Jo Wood Organics, Suzanne aux Bains, Baby Bear Shop, Stem Organics, Pure Potions, John Masters Organics haircare, Tea and Philosophy teas, Postlethwaite's tinctures, Tsi-La 100% natural fragrances, and the delightful nail polish range from Butter London, which is totally free from Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP.

Catering for all the family, you'll find products for the smallest and the most senior members, so shop online or, if in the neighbourhood, drop by. Let's make Earth Day every single day.

CONTENT Beauty Wellbeing at 14 Bulstrode St., Marylebone

( Written by Lola, Photos courtesy of Content )

GREENER COMMUTING

Being green, besides such healthy habits as using recycled paper or saying no to plastic bags, is also the way you go from A to B.
Apart from cycling, walking, or using public transportation, sharing a car is one of the most efficient ways to save the planet.
Zipcar, the worlds' largest network of shared cars, is a great solution for city dwellers who don't wish to own a vehicle: car usage gets reduced by half, fuel consumption decreases, and each one of these cars replaces 20 privately-owned ones.
Available in several US cities such as San Francisco and Chicago, and also London, our wish is that this great concept arrives in other traffic jammed locations.

( Written and Photographed by Álvaro )

NEAT DISPLAY

Having a bicycle and living in a city apartment is not always the easiest thing.
To solve any space problems, british designer Andrew Lang created an ingenious solution for storing bikes: Cycloc.
Wall-mounted, this smart accessory secures almost all models and is available in four colours (white, black, orange and green).
Perfect for storing or simply displaying your beloved two-wheeled vehicle, Cycloc is also great for outdoor use, be it in a garden wall or garage.

( Written by Álvaro, Photo courtesy of Cycloc )

PLAYING HOUSE

When it comes to play time, doll houses are certaintly a must.
Providing hours of good clean fun and stimulating kids' imagination, this great playing accessory is still a childrens' favourite.
With this idea in mind, Kidsonroof created the modern version of the classic doll house: the MobileHome. Made from recyclable cardboard and coming in a lovely turquoise colour, this miniature home has eight rooms, including an attic and a hidding place for your kids toys.
Easy to carry, MobileHome is so lightweight it can taken be everywhere, to kid's delight.

( Written by Álvaro, Photo courtesy of Kidsonroof )

AMERICAN BEAUTY

Kiehl's has been a favourite for many years, and as frequent visitors to its London shops on Monmouth Street and King's Road, we've often wondered when one would open closer to home.

So we were obviously excited when it recently opened a new location in Lisbon, right next to Hermés, and like its London counterparts, it's packed full with its famed lotions and potions such as Creme de Corps, Ultra Facial Moisturizer, Creme with Silk Groom, and the refreshing Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion, which contains menthol and camphor, and was favoured by Andy Warhol who referred to it as 'the blue stuff'.

Besides its wonderful products, cool interiors, nice and helpful staff, delightfully minimal packaging, Harley-Davidson devotion, and a longtime tradition which dates back to 1851, what we love about Kiehl's it that it's fiercely eco-friendly and manages to keep animals out of the lab.

Kiehl's at Rua António Maria Cardoso , nº 39-D, 1200-108 Lisboa

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

TWO WHEELED WONDER

Established in 1972 by Jinbei Yamada, Japanese manufacturer Arrow makes some of the most exquisite bicycles in the world.

Producing only 1000 units per year, the several Arrow designs are available in 18 vibrant colours and can be bought with lots of practical accessories, such as baskets and trolleys.

Besides not putting its logo on the bicycles, Yamada encourages all his clients to assemble their own bike, creating a unique bond between them and the two wheeled wonder.

( Written by Álvaro / Photo courtesy of Arrow )

ABICI BIKES

If you are one of those people who likes to do your errands in town and work out at the same time, the Abici bicycles are the perfect mean of transportation for that. Created by Giuseppe Marcheselli, Stefano Seletti and Cristiano Gozzi, the Abici range is inspired by the classic designs from the fifties and has a retro feel you wouldn't find in today's bikes.

Available in four models (Donna, Uomo, Corsa and Camporella), the Abici bicycles are all about fine details: Brooks saddles and accessories, leather handlebars, woven baskets and well designed metal mudguards, which prevents you from getting dirty while strolling around the city or the country.

( Written by Álvaro / Photos courtesy of Abici )

I'M NOT A PLASTIC BAG

Every once in a while comes an item that makes a stir in the fashion world. More often than not, that item is designed by Anya Hindmarch, a british handbag designer, mother of five, with a keen eye for everything lovely and elegant.
Upon such successes as Be a Bag and the Neeson plaited leather tote, and after a two-year process, Anya Hindmarch launched, along with We Are What We Do, the I’m not a plastic bag, an environmental tote in canvas primarily designed to replace the use of plastic bags in a stylish way.
Being limited edition, 20000 bags were made – 5000 to be sold by Hindmarch, another 5000 by We Are What We Do, and 10000 at Sainsbury’s locations all around the UK.
As fierce long-time Anya fans we’ve pre-ordered ours on her website, and we’re glad we did so because once they hit the shops in the UK, they sold out within the hour.
If you couldn’t purchase the first edition ones don’t despair: there will still be some cream/brown bags available in July at 10CorsoComo in Milan and Brown Thomas in Ireland, and other colour editions throughout the world: cream/navy blue in North America, cream/bottle green in Japan, and cream/grey in South East Asia.

Even for those who don't appreciate this particular bag, just raising awareness to this issue is a truly positive thing.
Because plastic bags contribute greatly for global warming, all of us should take a positive action. Today.
Please read this for more info on the subject.

( Written by Lola / Photographed by Álvaro, Still courtesy of Anya Hindmarch )