Our luxury list is going green
Luxury beauty, fashion, food and homeware doesn’t have to cost the earth. To tie in with our sustainability-focused content and in support of eco-conscious consumerism, every Tuesday (and the occasional bonus day in between) we’ll be bringing you a new eco-focused, zero-waste, ethically sourced or sustainable product. Guilt-free shopping starts here…
The Country & Town House Responsible Buyers’ Guide
Sustainable Luxury: The Considered Edit
UpCircle
Kaolin Clay Face Mask, £20.99, upcirclebeauty.com
This March, we’re celebrating B Corp Month here at Country & Town House. One of the ways we’re marking the occasion is by putting a spotlight on some of our favourite B Corp brands – such as UpCircle, which announced its certification at the end of 2022. UpCircle is known for upcycling over 20 different by-product ingredients from varied industries – including the argan, tea, juice, date, olive and wood industries – which it uses to create its richly nourishing skincare formulas. You can find out more about the brand from our interview with UpCircle co-founder, Anna Brightman.
Two Drifters
Signature Rum, £40, twodriftersrum.com
It’s nearly time to celebrate the end of a busy working week! We don’t know about you, but we’ll be welcoming the weekend with our feet up and a glass of Two Drifters rum in our hand. The Devon-based brand, which specialises in delicious carbon negative rum, is B Corp certified and run by husband and wife team Gemma and Russ Wakeham. We’ve got our eye on the distillery’s signature blend, a dry rum with notes of French oak, orange peel and muscovado sugar. Delicious.
Anya Hindmarch
Universal Bag, £10, available in Asda and Co-op stores from February and March respectively
Continuing the ‘I Am Not A Plastic Bag’ campaign started 16 years ago by Anya Hindmarch, the British luxury brand is back with new versions of its iconic Universal Bag (an alternative to the single-use plastic bag) to help sway our shopping habits with our favourite food retailers. On this occasion, Hindmarch has teamed up with Asda and Co-op to create a green and blue version of the Universal Bag. The bags will be available to pick up from Asda and Co-op stores in the UK this spring. Find out more about Anya Hindmarch’s ‘This Is Not A Plastic Bag’ campaign here.
Wild Fawn X Burt’s Bees
Beehive Necklace, £96, wildfawnjewellery.com
To celebrate the launch of the new look Beeswax Lip Balm Tin, Burt’s Bees has teamed up with sustainable jewellery brand Wild Fawn and the Bee Friendly Trust. The result? This gorgeous limited-edition Beehive Necklace, inspired by traditional hives, known as skeps. Each piece is made from traceable silver by an all-female team in London with traditional silversmithing techniques. It’s an absolute must-hive.
Needle & Thread
Victoria Ditsy Strapless Ankle Gown in Lilac, £595, needleandthread.com
Butterfly Mark certified fashion label Needle & Thread has just released its Lavender Rose collection as a lead-up to the spring season, made up of pastel hues, delicate ruffles and romantic silhouettes. The brand has always been synonymous with an elegant, feminine aesthetic, which is very in tune with the burgeoning ‘airy styles‘ trend for 2023. But what excites us most about the collection is Needle & Thread’s commitment to using responsibly sourced materials like recycled tulle, upcycled sequins and organic cotton.
Polestar
Polestar 2, from £44,950, polestar.com
Design-focused Swedish car brand Polestar has just unveiled its newest vehicle, an updated version of the classic Polestar 2. Exciting new features include rear-wheel drive (single-motor only), quicker charging, increased driving range of up to 395 miles WLTP, a SmartZone front end previously introduced on the Polestar 3, more driver awareness features and a reduced carbon impact (by 1.1 tonnes) for better sustainability credentials.
‘Typically in the car industry, a facelift introduces superficial visual changes that often destroy the original intention of the car’s design theme,’ said Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath. ‘With the new model year Polestar 2, we rather went below the surface and upgraded substantial tech and mechanical components of the electric drivetrain. This is the best Polestar 2 yet, and with the updated front design with the new SmartZone, the best looking one, too.’
Piper-Heidsieck
Essentiel Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne NV, £62, harveynichols.com
As the first champagne to achieve B Corp accreditation, Piper-Heidsieck is setting an example for how the industry’s Houses are going green for good. Many changes have been made over the years by Piper-Heidsieck in a bid to lessen its environmental impact, from banning the use of synthetic pesticides to converting to 100 percent renewable electricity sources. To celebrate, we’ve selected the House’s stunning champagne, a pure Chardonnay that has been matured on the lees for 40 months before disgorgement, giving it rich, full-bodied and zesty finish. Find out more about Piper-Heidsieck’s B Corp journey here.
Neal’s Yard Remedies
Bee Lovely Hand Cream, £10, nealsyardremedies.com
If, like us, you’re battling dry skin this winter, it’s probably worth investing in some hand cream. Sustainable beauty brand Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Bee Lovely hand cream is a rich blend of fair trade organic honey from Mexico and sun ripened Italian and Mexican oranges, and is super nourishing for skin. This is a hand cream the whole family can use (aged three years and over), and supports the brand’s Bee Lovely campaign; three percent of sales from the Bee Lovely range goes to charities that help protect bees all over the world. Find out more about the work Neal’s Yard Remedies does here.
Goldbergh
Parry Down Softshell Ski Suit in Red, rent from £96.94 for 4 days, hurrcollective.com
Are you ready for ski season? Regardless of whether you’re a regular on the slopes or a first-timer, having the appropriate gear is a must. But rather than shell out on a new pair of salopettes, rent your ski wardrobe for a fraction of the price. We’re a big fan of this red suit from Goldbergh, which you can rent from size UK6 to UK14 on HURR Collective. You’re guaranteed to hit the slopes in style with these.
Polestar x CAKE
Makka Electric Moped, £4,350, additionals.polestar.com
Polestar has once again teamed with fellow Swedish premium electric mobility brand CAKE to release it second limited edition electric moped. The Makka, available in a light sky blue, has a top speed of 45 km/h and two ride modes for extended range or balanced performance. The design differs from the first edition of the Makka (which instantly sold out on its launch in 2021), sporting slim headlights and dampers from Öhlins as well as a detachable rear carrier –allowing for a flexible set-up that allows the owner to swap out boxes, racks, passenger seats and more.
Reformation x Canada Goose
Cypress Vest in Arcade/Lipstick, £550, thereformation.com
When brands collaborate, the results are always exciting. Fashion label Reformation has just announced a new collection with famed outerwear brand Canada Goose, celebrating the ‘style, heritage, and the sustainable innovation present in both brands’. The seven-piece collection, which features parkas, vests and reversible puffers, marks a first for both brands. Combining Reformation’s vintage-inspired womenswear designs with Canada Goose’s outdoor protection technology, the collab is Reformation’s first technical outerwear collection and Canada Goose’s first womenswear-driven campaign. Each item is made using recycled and plant-based fibres, as well as responsibly sourced down certified by the Responsible Down Standard. One of the core messages of the collection is that it is made to last, and meant to be passed down from one generation to the next – with each item having a unique interior lining that includes a ‘Loved By’ label with blank lines where everyone who owns the item can write their name. Boasting funky prints and colours as well as a design guaranteed to keep you toast throughout winter, this is a collaboration that brings together the best of style and technology.
INUIKII
Grape Black Winter Sneakers, £266, inuikii.com
Looking forward to snowy weather and maybe hitting the ski slopes this season? Brave the cold with INUIKII’s new vegan sneakers made with Vegea, a new material created from agro-industrial biomass residues and wine waste sourced in collaboration with Italian wineries. They’re also water resistant (no soggy socks here), snowproof and have anti-slip recycled eco rubber soles.
Cartier
Pebble watch, £150,000-200,000, bonhams.com
This rare and unusual 18ct gold Cartier Pebble watch is headlining Bonhams’ Fine Watches sale on 14 December. It’s being put up for auction by its original owner, and was designed in the Cartier London workshop, circa 1972 – making it an early model. The 35mm watch is a fine example of the styles the London workshops began producing in the swinging Sixties, and showcases pure lines, precise shapes and proportions that are distinctly Cartier. Offered with an estimate of £150,000-200,000.
Prada
Leather Heels (EU36), £86, vestiairecollective.com
When it comes to putting together the perfect party outfit for Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties this festive season, don’t overlook your accessories – and this festive season, make sure you’re armed with the perfect party shoes to dance the night away. We have our eye on these black leather heels from Prada, which come secondhand (but never worn) from resale platform Vestiaire Collection. Smart and stylish, with a preppy edge, these shoes will no doubt see you through office parties, dinner with friends, Christmas celebrations and the NYE countdown without a hitch.
UpCircle
12 Days of Beauty, £99.99, upcirclebeauty.com
Looking for a greener alternative to your advent calendar this Christmas? One of the best-known sustainable beauty brands out there, UpCircle is known for its vegan skincare products packed up in completely recyclable packaging. The plastic negative certified brand recently released its 2022 Christmas calendar, which features a curated selection of its famous hero products. Look out for the golden ticket hidden in just three calendars, which will give you £100 to spend on UpCircle products.
HAYASHI
Large Tote Bag, £50, hayashi-uk.com
New south-coast UK brand HAYASHI is making waves with its 100 percent recyclable, eco-friendly range of everyday, wearable products. Its debut collection, which is made with HAYASHI paper, is a new vegan leather design concept and spans wallets, laptop cases and bags in a range of autumnal colours. Our pick? The large tote, a plant-based design crafted from 80 percent cellulose tree fibres.
Stella McCartney
S-Wave 1 Trainers, £520, stellamccartney.com
British fashion designer Stella McCartney takes her next steps into sustainability with the S-Wave, a new symbol across AW22 lines that indicates the brand’s evolving commitment to circularity, material innovation and conscious decision-making. The first edit to feature the S-Wave includes trainers, bags and ready-to-wear pieces, which are noted as some of the most sustainable items in the brand’s portfolio. The S-Wave 1 trainers, for example, is coined as the brand’s ‘most sustainable trainers to date’ and are crafted from plant-based alternatives to animal leather sourced from grape waste, with a sole made from pre-consumer recycled TPU.
Planthood
Luxury Christmas Feast, £50, planthood.co.uk
Did you know that, on average, we waste around 230,000 tonnes of food around the festive period each year? While we don’t want to miss out on the fun of Christmas, it can go a long way to make more mindful choices when it comes to what we shop. Planthood’s Christmas Box looks to cut down on food waste by packaging up its festive dinners into manageable (but still generous) portions, with vegan dishes like mushroom wellington, confit potato latkes and cauliflower ‘cheese’ made using seasonal ingredients sourced from small scale growers. Planthood also continues to donate 1% of all its sales to environmental charities to aid initiatives that protect nature and boost biodiversity – meaning you can indulge in all you favourite goodies guilt-free this Christmas.
Lignum Surf
Surfboard, £POA, lignumsurf.co.uk
Keen to hit the water? If you’re brave enough to wade into Britain’s freezing waters (for the sake of sport, not the Wim Hof method), then you’ll need to arm yourself with the right equipment. Lignum Surf creates its bespoke surfboards from hand, made from carefully selected and locally sourced wood that has been sealed with environmentally friendly epoxy resin – created to last you a lifetime, and then some. All Lignum boards are certified by The ECOBOARD Project, which promotes reducing carbon footprint, increasing the use (and reuse) of renewable, recycled and up-cycled materials, and reducing toxicity within the surfboard manufacturing process.
Rejina Pyo
Lorena Dress in Metallic Pink (UK6), rent from £70, rotaro.co.uk
Winter is just around the corner, which can only mean one thing: party season. Get glammed up with one of the biggest trends of AW22, metallic fashion, and shine on throughout the celebrations. This is the perfect opportunity to discover your ideal rental wardrobe, keeping things circular and cutting out any unnecessary waste and consumption. Become the best dressed guest with this pink number from Rejina Pyo – larger than life, it’s bound to get heads turning and one or two envious looks from other partygoers.
Reformation
Vintage Lou Vest, £120, thereformation.com
Looking for some statement pieces to add to your winter wardrobe? Keep things circular with Reformation’s new vintage drop, which features a selection of geogeous thrifted items from big name designers like John Galliano, Missoni, D&G and YSL. The focus is on transitional pieces that will carry you from autumn to winter, with the ability to be layered up or dressed down to suit any occasion. The Y2K trend also takes a front seat, with highlights including cargo skirts, leather waistcoats and jackets, bias cut dresses and patchwork jeans in vibrant colours.
LPOL
Dinky Zero-Waste Handbag Textures of Black, £275, lpol.co.uk
Independent London-based design brand LPOL has been campaigning for sustainable practice in the industry since 2009. All of the brand’s accessories are made here in the UK, with local craftsmanship and minimum transportation (and transmissions) in mind. LPOL also creates its products with a zero-waste ethos, as seen with its latest release: a reimaginging of the classic black saddle bag. Saving leather off-cuts and surplus materials from going to landfill, the bag allows the brand to commit to more zero-waste methods in its workshop while creating crowd-favourite designs. The bag itself is also trendlessly classic, meaning you can take it with you through the seasons.
Cartografie
The Whole Studio Collection, £54, cartografiechocolate.com
A highlight of our sustainable chocolate brands roundup, Cartografie was created by The Ritz’s ex-pastry chef Kae Shibata and Masterchef The Professionals – The Rematch 2019 winner Sven-Hanson Britt. The two joined forces during lockdown with the goal of creating chocolate that was sourced from ethically-minded suppliers only. The brand’s cocoa beans are sourced from 20 degrees either side of the equator where they ripen, before being turned into products by Kae and her team at their chocolate studio in London’s City Island. Get a taste of Cartografie with the entire core collection, which includes four boxes of filled handmade chocolates flavoured with unique water-based ganaches, caramels, Scottish sea salt and sourdough bread.
Stella McCartney
Textured Knit Coat in Tangerine, £1,395, stellamccartney.com
With the weather now cooling down as we approach autumn, now’s the best time to invest in some outerwear that can see you through AW22 (and AW23, 24, 25…). Our pick is is this fringed jacket from Stella McCartney, available in a light shade of oat and guaranteed to make a statement wherever you go. And the fringing is only half of the fun; this jacket has some truly vintage features like the wide shirt collar and two-way zip fastening. Perfect for strutting around the city this season.
Annabel’s X The Lost Explorer
Mezcal Espadin, £120, selfridges.com
London members’ club, Annabel’s, has teamed up with The Lost Explorer Mezcal and The Caring Family Foundation to create a limited edition bottle that will help raise funds for the foundation. Released in a run of one thousand, the charity bottle will be raising money to plant 35,000 trees in the rainforest, as part of The Caring Famil Foundation’s goal to plant a million trees by March 2024. The foundation has been working with SOS Amazonia to help reverse the effects of deforestation and equip local communities with sustainable produce and income. The Lost Explorer Mezcal similarly works to protect biodiversity in Oaxaca, planting three new agaves for every one that has been harvested for its mezcal and repurposing waste into fertiliser. Bringing the project together is Annabel’s, which has been working to combat deforestation over the last year and hopes to have planted one million trees in the Brazilian rainforest itself by the end of 2022.
Read more about how Annabel’s new façade highlights the deforestation crisis here
