Wind-up toys: Ecotronic show us how to ditch the batteries
It’s really important for kids to understand about the environment and what better place to start than with their toys? The use of batteries in toys is widespread and so common that many of us don’t even question it. Batteries when finished with, however, can have some negative environmental effects, so it’s best to avoid them where we can. Batteries contain nasty chemicals that can be hazardous when leaked or if the batteries end up on a landfill site. There is also the fact that batteries are fiddly and costly, plus there’s nothing more annoying for child and parent alike than when they run out and you have no replacement batteries or screwdriver to hand.
Green minded toy companies such as Ecotronic have made use of simple but effective wind up technology for toys. Wind up technology is so simple that it’s a wonder we invented the battery at all. From useful radios and torches to really exciting toys such as rockets and cars, toy companies such as Ecotronic are employing wind up technology to make them go. All kids have to do is wind up their toys to make them work. These toys still function in all the ways we would expect; they make noises, flash lights and race along, but the bonus is they can be wound up anywhere, at any time. Not only is it environmentally friendly, but it’s also highly convenient.
Buying kids wind-up toys allows parents an excellent opportunity to explain about the environmental damage caused by everyday objects and shows them that toys can still be fun when using alternative means of energy. There’s a good range of wind-up toys available on the market and many of them, including those produced by Ecotronic, also come in sustainable packaging, making them the ultimate ‘eco-toy’.
Getting creative with leather coats for a big fashion splash
A leather coat is for life, right? It can be if you want it to be. You can treat yourself to a gorgeous leather classic that’ll be a wardrobe staple for a lifetime, thick and luxurious, beautifully made to last and last. But you can also track down the bargain of the century and take it right over the top for this season’s hottest fashion looks… and it won’t cost you a fortune.
As usual it’s the lovely Gok Wan who’s trailblazing on behalf of cash-strapped Brits, dedicated to helping us create fashion show-stoppers for next to nothing. With his help thousands of us are settling down to pep up our wardrobes for a fun and funky autumn and winter 2011-2012. So take a leaf out of his book and make a start with a cheap leather coat. Shopping online is the fastest and most efficient way to find low cost leather wear, so you don’t even have to leave your armchair. There’s a vast choice of styles and colours at remarkably keen prices.
Now you’ve got your basic leather coat, you’re ready to take it in a new direction. First, fur. Fake fur is cheap and fun. Real fur collars from second hand shop or boot fair coats look stunning stapled or glued to an ordinary black leather coat.
Steam Punk is always fun and it’s easy to create a classic leather coat a la Mad Max using cheap lengths of chain, sold by the metre at most DIY stores and coming in gold, silver, shiny and matt, coated and copper finishes. Spend time hunting for found objects like old brooches, cogs and wheels from clocks and watches, mother of pearl buttons and strips of leather.
Mosey off and create leather coats that cowboys would be proud of, creating your own leather or suede fringes by cutting strips from an old leather jacket or buying suede from a craft shop. Replace the buttons with something more interesting, either vintage buttons or scarlet velvet ribbon ties. Decorate your leather coat with Tulip or Pebeo craft paints, both of which stick fast through thick and thin and are brilliant for artistic types to draw with. Or paint the back of your coat using waterproof paints like oils or craft paint; reproduce your favourite album or magazine cover, celebrity portrait, abstract pattern or just hurl gloss paint at it to create Jackson Pollock-like splashes. Distress it using sandpaper. Draw on it with spirit-based felt pens, amazingly effective, permanent and rain proof. The world is your creative oyster this season!
Our love affair with leather jackets takes the fashion world by storm again
How long have leather jackets been in fashion? Practically forever. On a very basic level humans have worn leather to stay warm and dry for millennia. We were probably wearing it millions of years ago when we roamed Africa hunting and gathering. No wonder it’s still hitting the catwalk year on year without a break.
Perhaps there’s something about leather that hits a primitive nerve. We know deep inside that it’s the best material for warmth. It protects our skin from injury – which is why bikers wear it. Without a leather jacket many a biker would have lost the skin on their arms and back coming off at high speed on a hard tarmac road.
It’s 100% natural too. That wonderful new leather smell resonates at a surprisingly deep level. The essence of leather is even used in men’s perfumes and colognes. And in furniture outlets too, to encourage buying.
So what’s hot off the fashion pages for autumn and winter 2011 and 2012? Top selling leather jackets for men include the wonderfully distressed, pre-wrinkled short zipped jacket with loads of pockets, available in lovely warm browns, greys and tans as well as classic black. The biker jacket holds its own for another season. And there’s the hottest buy for 2011, the men’s leather bomber jacket. Whatever your favourite style make sure your new purchase fits correctly, feel s right across the shoulder area and has enough chest room. Go for a special tailor made custom jacket if you’re not the standard shape and size – it’s surprisingly good value.
Leather jackets for women are a big hit this season too. Quality shows so make a decision based on style and craftsmanship. Other than that the world is your fashion oyster… pick a leather blazer in a lovely, soft toffee brown nappa, a long black leather gothic coat on prime cowhide to keep every inch of you covered and warm from top to toe or classic zipped jackets and bomber jackets in unusual jewel –like colours to cheer you up when you’re freezing your bits off outside!
Male or female, this season’s leather outerwear deserves careful thought. Make sure you buy a jacket that’s big enough to wear over a woolly jumper or several layers of clothing without a squeeze. Some experts say we’re in for another severe winter in Britain and others are predicting snow in October. In which case a leather jacket becomes less a practical, stylish piece of clothing and more a potential life saver! Teamed with leather trousers you’ll look the part, stay cosy and be the envy of your mates whatever the winter weather throws at us this year.
Leather biker jackets boast almost 100 years of practical styling
Leather biker jackets are a firm favourite with men and women right now. But they’re not new. In fact the good old leather biker jacket has been around for almost a century.
Specifically designed biker jackets first appeared in the USA after the first world war, when motorbikes were first starting to make a big impression on consumers. Early motorcyclists soon realised that cotton, wool and the other fabrics of the day didn’t provide much protection against the injuries that can happen when you fall off your bike. But thick cow leather doesn’t break or tear even when you skid across the road in it. It protects you from cuts, grazes and bruising, acting very much as a second skin.
Fashion house Schott, established way back in 1913, were an early mens leather biker jackets manufacturer. Their first was released in 1928 to great acclaim by the motorbiking community. In those days a pursuit for the rich, Schott’s biking leathers were a prestige item selling for five dollars fifty at New York’s first Harley Davidson outlet. By the 1940s motorbikes were a common sight, more affordable, and Harley decided to buy out men’s and womens leather biker jackets manufacturers Cycle Champ and Cycle Queen to meet a fast-increasing customer demand.
At first a purely practical item, the Harley brand brought leather biker jackets into the limelight. An increasing number of film stars adopted them, which made them a fashion item for thousands of ordinary men and women whether or not they rode a bike. The biker jacket had arrived! 1950s rebellious teenage culture epitomised the garment in 1953 when Brando wore a classic biker bomber jacket in The Wild One. Some US schools banned the leather jacket for fear it encouraged antisocial behaviour… a bit like a latterday hoodie. And James Dean’s 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause sealed the biker jacket’s fate as a high style item forever.
If you’re older, you’ll probably still think of leather biker jackets as highly studded garments will long leather tassels and endless zips, chiselled from heavy, stiff leather. But today’s classic leather biker jackets for women and men is cleaner cut, streamlined and crafted in the finest and softest quality nappa leather. Then there’s the designer leather biker jacket, in a class of its own with exciting design themes and styles ranging from military to pilot to haute couture and exotic, unusual and eccentric ‘off the wall’ versions. Whatever your choice, you’re onto a style winner that looks like it has another 100 years ahead of it.
Celtic Jewellery – As Popular Now as Ever
Whenever you are looking for jewellery that has an interesting history, try Celtic Jewellery. Some styles continue to come back, even centuries later, because they are easily adaptable.
Bracelets, rings, and necklaces designed by the Celts centuries ago, can now be found with a contemporary look. The rest of this article will be concerned with the many types of Celtic jewellery that people are choosing to wear.
Many rings that you see today that are Celtic in design will have the famous Celtic knot which originated from Ireland. The representation expressed with the Celtic knot is that of time unending. Often used in conjunction with a wedding ritual, this Celtic ring is typically exchanged between those that are getting married. Those that wear the Celtic knot may do so for various reasons of their own. This is a very old symbol, and you can find examples of it dating back at least as far as the 8th Century in the famous Book of Kells. Celtic knots can be found in jewellery that’s quite inexpensive, as well as in higher priced gold or silver jewellery. You may have not heard of the triskele, but this is a very old Celtic spiral design that’s used in many jewellery pieces. This symbol makes for very distinctive jewellery, and wearing one as a necklace can make a nice impression. As symbols are difficult to adequately describe, if you’re not familiar with the triskele, do a search online and look at some images. In keeping with the Celtic fascination with symbols of infinity, such as the Celtic knot, the triskele expresses this idea of a never-ending line. This is a symbol that dates back to distant antiquity in Europe, to the pre-Celtic period. Yet it’s been thoroughly assimilated into Celtic symbolism over the years. If you’re drawn to tribal or mystical designs in your jewellery, this would be perfect for you.
Bracelets are a type of jewellery that can be one of the best ways to show off Celtic designs. Many Celtic designs, such as knots, are ideal as a bracelet, so it appears that the knot work is encircling your arm or wrist. You can also find many bracelets using patterns such as serpents, birds and flowers done in the Celtic style. Celtic bracelets are often made of silver, though you can find them in any type of metal you may prefer. So if you want to adorn your wrist with a traditional Celtic symbol, why not get a bracelet in this style?
Celtic jewellery can be a way to wear your heritage on your body, though you can enjoy this type of jewellery no matter what your background. You can find that ideal Celtic style ring, necklace or brooch if you search for it. Of course, that also means you should do some shopping around to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable seller. Aside from looking at jewellery, you can also get inspired by researching Celtic symbols and artwork, which is the inspiration behind much of the jewellery.
If you are looking for the perfect ethical jewellery, try Green Tulip for a great range of ethical gifts.
Shop for a Comfortable, Stylish, Designer Leather Blazer
Now is the time of year to shop for a comfortable, stylish, designer leather blazer. So far, in the United Kingdom this year, it’s been a very hot, dry spring, and now the seasons are changing. This season, leather is the right choice for style and comfort for every occasion. Here’s something to consider. Are the summer evenings really all that warm that you don’t need a little something to cover up? That’s unusual. We are hot under the sun’s rays … but sunset usually leaves us feeling a little cool.
Avoid the problems that come with having a coat that’s too heavy to carry with you comfortably or too thin and light to keep you comfortably warm. You can always depend on leather. You’ll look great and feel comfortable in breathable, versatile leather.
Men can’t go wrong investing in a designer black leather blazer that will form the centrepiece of the wardrobe and provide excellent service for many years to come. A nice men’s leather blazer is a perfect garment for all occasions. You can toss it on over your uniform after a football match or wear it with an everyday outfit for a night on the town.
This year, leather blazers for the ladies are all the rage. Don’t destroy your look by covering it up with a big old coat! Put on a designer leather blazer on cool nights instead! Choose a stylish designer leather blazer over your old woolly sweater if you really want to make a good impression. Leather is both casual and sophisticated. It all depends on how you accessorize. Pair it with a 1950s pencil skirt for an Audrey Hepburn effect or combine it with a simple elegant dress, a pair of jeans, or even shorts. Perfect for this year.
There are two styles to choose from in luxurious, soft leather: 2 button and 3 button. Play it safe with a single breasted style or go all out with a tremendously stylish double breasted designer leather blazer. As the centrepiece of your wardrobe, you can’t go wrong with a classic designer leather blazer that will serve you well for many, many years to come and eventually attain heirloom quality. Really stand out in an edgy, designer, leather blazer that will make you feel great about yourself this season. No matter your preference, it is always less expensive to shop online. It’s the optimal way to locate a great deal. Even living in the capital, you won’t have all these choices on your local main street. So start surfing!
Ethical shopping continues to take off… despite the economy!
It’s nice to know that no matter how sad and slow the UK economy looks, ethical shopping is still on the increase. So what’s going on? Logic might predict that the credit crunch would kill ethical buying stone dead. But in fact green spending grew a massive 18% between 2009 and 2010.
The UK ethical goods market was worth just over forty three billion pounds in 2009, up from just over £36 billion in 2007. And strong growth continues despite a small but steady steady fall in household spending. The annual Ethical Consumerism Report showed, in late 2010, that Fairtrade sales were up 64%. RSPCA ‘Freedom Food’ sales trebled. And ethical banking experienced strong growth in an otherwise troubled market.
Consumers spent 27% more on ethically produced food and drink. 42% more free range eggs were sold in 2009 than in 2007. 34% more free range chicken sold in past years and sales of sustainable fish sales climbed 154%.
The list goes on. The ethical personal products sector grew by a huge 29% to hit a total of almost two billion pounds. Ethical clothes are another biggie, with sales up 72 per cent. And ethically produced cosmetics sales increased by just over a third to £486 million.
Ethical home goods, including appliances, showed a steady growth of 8% over the past two years and ethical finance, helped by consumer mistrust of traditional banking, shot up 23%. As the CEO of one of the UK’s oldest and best respected ethical finance providers, Co-operative Financial Services, said, “… the growth in ethical consumerism continues to outstrip the market as a whole.”
Which is good news for us. Great news for you, the consumer. Excellent news for the future of the human race. And even better news for the planet as a whole. The tide appears to be turning dramatically as more and more of us take the future into our own hands. So make the most of your considerable consumer power and keep the ethical fires burning!