Christmas cards that Plant Trees and save bees from extinction!

This Christmas, send cards to loved ones that show you also care about our planet.

Each 100% recycled card from 1 Tree Cards comes with the planting of 1 tree in an area of mass deforestation. Inside, the receiver is greeted by a token telling them that '1 tree has been planted for you'. This token is embedded with seeds and can be grown into beautiful bee friendly flowersThis design is taken from our Leaf Moments collection and shows a beautiful festive scene carved out of a leaf image from the Suffolk countryside.

The humble greeting card has now been given an eco makeover that spreads joy to bees and the environment too, thanks to 1 Tree Cards which is on a mission to help save the bees with their 3-in-1 eco greeting cards that send love, plant trees and grow bee-friendly flowers.

When opening a 1 Tree Cards (printed with vegan inks on 100% recycled card), the receiver is greeted with a flower seed token infused with seeds that can be grown into bee-friendly flowers.

A box of Tree Planting Eco Christmas Cards from 1 Tree Cards.  Each box has 10 cards inside; each plants 1 tree and include a seed token that grows into bee friendly flowers. This box is called 'Tree Wishes' and has 2 cards of 5 designs each depicting a single tree with a winter companion.

Co-founder Becky Kijima says: “Bees are a keystone species (who pollinate our food supply) so without them, our ecosystem could cease to exist altogether. We wanted to raise awareness and give people a tangible way to help feed declining bee populations. What better time to do this than when someone’s already full of positive vibes from receiving a card?”

With more people wanting to help save the planet, these Eco cards have been a huge hit since launching last Summer with their growing number of almost 100 stockists, according to 1 Tree Cards.

Sustainability to loom large at PERFORMANCE DAYS, Munich, Germany.

PERFORMANCE DAYS, November 13 – 14 2019, Munich, Germany.


Across industries around the world, the issue of sustainability and the exploitation of resources and environmental pollution caused by the textile industry, specifically in the areas of water consumption, use of harmful chemicals, and CO2 emissions continue to be of much concern. This is the reason why the trade fair for functional fabrics and accessories, PERFORMANCE DAYS, is dedicated to the topic of sustainability and as they have done so for several years now, according to the fair’s top executive.  


Sustainability is a duty of the textile industry and PERFORMANCE DAYS is the engine, said Marco Weichert, head of Performance Days, who said "Sustainability is expected … It is much more than simply using recycled fibres and fabrics. PERFORMANCE DAYS was early to showcase this on a broad scale. We have accompanied the sustainable developments in the industry for many seasons, but even more, we provided the impulse in various directions for sustainability research and development." 


Marketing manager Lena Weimer added: "Our FOCUS TOPICS will focus innovative fibre and fabric producers to pursue developments in this field. Whether recycled fibres, recyclable materials, the important topics of biodegradability, water conservation or the use of natural fibres for functional fabrics – we show all possible textile aspects of sustainability for the industry."


Only sustainable materials will be presented in the curated PERFORMANCE FORUM, so visitors to the trade fair can gain an overview of all aspects of sustainability on the FOCUS TOPIC WALL which will feature a range of qualities, including Recycled fibres, Natural fibres from renewable resources, Recycling qualities, Biodegradables or compostables, Microplastics, Product life cycles, Water conservation, Energy savings, Reduce CO2 emissions and Reduce chemicals. 

TINTEX’s cutting edge colour technology will debut in Munich.  
COLORAU® was created with a Portuguese consortium
 constituted by premium realities and gives life to responsibly 
colored fabrics with antimicrobial properties, 
using natural dyes extracted from different types 
of natural plants resources 
that do not use salt in the production.

From TINTEX Textiles of Portugal will be its “WEME” collection - featuring new fabrics made from a mix of new generation of fibres that enhance free movement such as REFIBRA™ by Lenzing, Q-NOVA® by Fulgar and the unique GRS certified premium stretch ROICA™ EF.  There is also the “ECOPERFORMER” collection developed with Confetil and part of the CO.LAB project, a collaborative smart platform and research-lab aiming to create a new way of making fashion smart presented by C.L.A.S.S. 


TINTEX will feature in Performance Days its cutting-edge color technology which received the Sustainable Solution award in the May 2019 edition of Techtextil.  COLORAU® uses only compounds of natural origin such as thyme, boldo, peppermint, chestnut and gambier in the production of functional and sustainable textiles in a variety of fibers such as cotton, lyocell and wool. An eco-efficient and low temperature surface treatment improves the affinity between the textile substrate and these natural compounds. The technology features a selection of “performing” extracts for appropriate color fastness to light and washing as well as color durability and antimicrobial functionality.

"AGAIN" by PIAVE MAITEX with ROICA™ EF

Also exhibiting at Performance Days will be a selection of fabrics made in ROICA ™ Premium Stretch Fiber designed for everyday life by Asahi Kasei of Japan, which stated that many leading fabric manufacturers and well-known sportswear and active clothing brands in Europe are using the ROICA Eco-Smart™ family of innovations.  From Italy the exhibiting companies are CIFRA S.p.A. showing performing developments, MAGLIFICIO RIPA S.p.A. presenting new intimate, beachwear, athleisure and sportswear developments, M.I.T.I. S.p.A. showcasing innovative stretch warp knitted fabrics for high performance sports; and Piave Maitex S.r.l.; Piave Maitex S.r.l. (IT), booth C13 / hall C1, presents their fabric collection “AGAIN”, a new smart and technically advanced line of highly performing jerseys.


In addition, from France, the Payen group will be introducing an aerodynamic fabric and a Gradual Compression fabric made with ROICA Resistance™ family’s yarns, which stand out for cutting-edge protection stretch functions, to bring performance to a new level.  SOFILETA will present innovative warp & weft knitted materials developed with ROICA™ V550 & ROICA™ EF blended with post-consumer recycled Polyester and recycled Polyamide, as well as blends with Amni® Soul Eco from Solvay.

Sports brand Under Armour is Exclusive Technical Spacewear partner of Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic Partners with Under Armour to Unveil the World’s First Exclusive Spacewear System for Private Astronauts as Virgin heads toward commercial operations in 2020.

Virgin Galactic CEO Richard Branson and models showing the full range of Spacewear system 

collaboratively designed with sportswear brand Under Armour.

The new spacewear system follows this mantra, informing fabric choice, structure and fit.  Temperature management, for example, is regulated by performance fibers and knit density, mapped to the body to provide perfect warmth and moisture management, while preventing overheating or chilling. 

Photo from Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic photo.

Virgin Galactic and Under Armour unveiled the collaboratively designed Spacewear system in New York two weeks ago for Virgin Galactic astronauts, comprising a base layer, spacesuit, footwear, training suit and Limited Edition astronaut jacket.  It is the first such collection ever created specifically for private astronauts.

As every element of the Virgin Galactic customer journey is designed to enrich the profound and transformative qualities of the human spaceflight experience, according to the CEOs of both companies, the design of astronaut apparel requires a unique combination of comfort and utility matched by the ultimate focus on unique, life-changing customer experience. 

“Virgin Galactic gave us an exciting challenge to build the world’s first commercial spacesuit,” said Kevin Plank, founder and CEO of Under Armour. “Innovation is at the core of everything we do and our team delivered a unique twist on the classic spacesuit utilizing both existing and new UA technologies to define space gear for the future.  It is an incredible opportunity to showcase our key performance innovations in space at the highest level and continue to push the limits of human performance.”

From the initial brief through to final fabrication, the suit design concepts were defined through inputs from a wide variety of experts, including doctors, astronaut trainers, pilots, apparel and footwear designers, engineers and Future Astronaut customers, to fully understand and address all requirements.   

Safety is Virgin Galactic’s North Star and underlined the choice of materials and other key design considerations. Richard Branson said: “Spacesuits are a part of the iconography of the first space age; our visual impressions of human spaceflight and what astronauts wear are inextricably linked. Requirements for astronaut spacewear as we enter the second space age are evolving, but the design challenge has not diminished. We were delighted when Kevin and Under Armour stepped up to this task and they have surpassed our expectations. I love the way the spacewear looks and I love the way it feels. I also love the fact that the next time I put it on, I will be on my way to space.”

Environmental responsibility was central to this year’s edition of Decorex International

This year’s edition of Decorex International was held for the first time at Olympia in Kensington, right in the heart of London.  The 42% edition’s more centralised location may have been the reason why attendance number saw a 10% rise across the four-day spectacle.   

VIP room - Legacy Lounge.  

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

The fair acknowledged the importance of finding new and innovative ways to focus on the environment. And to demonstrate this, the VIP room – Legacy Lounge, was created by UK interior design studio, Harding & Read whose team worked closely with suppliers, including Vinterior, Matthew Cox, Christopher Howe, British Standard and Farrow & Ball, to encourage a conscious approach to consumption. Mindful of the lifecycle of furniture and fixtures, the studio chose vintage and reclaimed pieces where possible.

Each and every piece that featured in the Lounge was given the opportunity to find a new home after the show, with an online auction that raised £14,300 for Emmaus – the charity working to end  homelessness.  

Jennifer Manners' Malibu rug made from recycled plastic.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

Alongside inspiring new ways for brands to think about their environmental impact, Decorex also celebrated those that are already going above and beyond to be sustainable.

Jennifer Manners' range of home products.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

This year’s Decorex Awards were the ideal opportunity, with the introduction of a new ‘Best Sustainable Product’ prize. Judges Henry Prideaux, interior designer, and Irene Gunter of interior architecture practice Gunter & Co, gave the accolade to Jennifer Manners, whose eponymous rug brand has released two new designs made from 100% recycled plastic.  

Photo of Bar area in Decorex by Lucia Carpio.

Similarly, this year’s bar design celebrated the very best of biophilic design in the interior space. Created by set designer, Paula May Evans, in collaboration with Cameron Landscapes and Gardens, the bar connected visitors with nature through distinct areas - the Amazonian Jungle Garden, the Abandoned Desert Garden, the English Country Garden and the Urban Industrial Garden.

Photo by Lucia Carpio

More than 400 of the world’s top design talents showcased everything from hand-painted wallpapers and printed fabrics to bespoke furniture and conceptual lighting at the fair held from October 6 to 9.  Visitors could preview the latest launches from leading brands including Arte International, Hästens, Beaumont & Fletcher, Bert Frank, Dedar, Devon & Devon, Ferreira de Sá, Lincrusta, Nicholas Haslam, Officine Gullo, Rose Uniacke, Tom Faulkner, Thibaut, Vaughan and Villaverde. 

While physical store profit margins more than halve in eight years in the UK, ‘Store of The Future’ flagship opens at Selfridges, London

Newly published data report that UK retailers are suffering from diminishing profit margins drawing concern for the UK overall economy, at a time that retailers are gearing for Christmas sales, even without complications of a general election.  However, those retailers, especially fashion brands, that are focused on the value, convenience and luxury segments remain generally resilient, compared to the struggles of mid-market operators.

Strategic partnership and in-store pop-ups give shoppers new physical retail experiences at a time when retailers

are faced with increased challenges presented by online shopping, growing operating costs and inflexible leases.

Photo by Lucia Carpio taken at London's Harvey Nichols during a recent pop-up shop launch.

The new study has found that store margins for the top UK retailers “have dropped from 8.8% in 2009/10 to 4.1% in 2017/18.” According to new data published by global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), in partnership with Retail Economics, store-based profit margins have plunged, faced with growing operating costs, inflexible leases and the rise of online shopping, thus leading to the steepest decline in shoppers’ footfall,  and resulting in a wave of store closures, while demand for UK retail space is at its lowest since 2007.

Richard Fleming, Managing Director and Head of Restructuring Europe, A&M, said a new era of retail is emerging, which means "new opportunities exist for forward-thinking incumbents, entrepreneurs and investors."

Despite the challenges in the sector, UK retailers are being urged to continue to invest in their in-store shopping experience, as bricks-and-mortar shops are expected to account for 65% of retail sales over the next five years.  And while the rise of online shopping has threatened the future of in-store shopping, the study found that 25% of Millennials and Gen Z continue to visit a flagship shopping destination at least once a week - more than their older counterparts, with 45-54-year-olds saying they visit on average just once every six months.

In London, luxury department store Selfridges has long been admired by its ability to strike a balance between offering desirable lifestyle goods and leisure through strategic partnership that gives unique experiences to its shoppers.  One of its newest additions is to have Smartech, an experience-led tech concept store, open a new flagship in the lower ground floor of Selfridges on London’s Oxford Street, within its tech-products section.
Smartech is a new “tech playground” where more than 80 carefully curated cutting-edge innovation pieces are on show to give visitors unique lifestyle experiences.  

Photos above and right by Lucia Carpio.

Fronted by exclusive robotics, IoT, smart art, FemTech, snaps-taking spectacles and the very latest in Deep Tech, it’s said to be the largest and most experiential shop-in-shop at the iconic London department store. 

Smartech is a concept store, designed with 

discovery in mind, created for people to have fun,

diving into a future filled with surprises 

Above, visitors engaging with Waterlight Graffiti, a surface made up 

of thousands of LEDs that are illuminated 

by contact with water, allowing the user to treat it as an electrical canvas.
Photo from Smartech. 

Dubbed by the Financial Times as “The Store of The Future”, Smartech is billed as "a window onto what the world’s creating, bringing life to a new era of ground-breaking makers, creators and start-ups."

Covering 200sqm, Smartech introduces a state-of-the-art store designed by renowned British designer, Robert Storey – previously of Prada, Hermes and Off-White. 

Smartech aims to open your mind to what culture, tech, art and sustainability will look like in the not-so-distant future. Incorporating contemporary and sustainable influences, Smartech’s innovation space “showcases a new design identity, embodying a never-before-seen mixed reality of tech and futurism combined with modernity,” according to founder Jacov Nachtailer.
He said, " Everybody is talking about innovation, but you don’t have a physical space to try, discover and buy. People come to Selfridges to discover, which is why they’re the perfect partner for Smartech, to amaze and amuse their customers with the world’s latest innovations.”

 

From MAKR SHAKER - bar-tending robots serving visitors' favourite cocktails in Smartech, Selfridges.

Photo by Lucia carpio

“As the digital revolution continues to transform everything from politics to pop music, we want give people who create things a platform to tell their story and shine light on new ideas. Pushing the boundaries of where tech, art and creation collide has been a driving force behind our success,” said Nathalie Bernce, CEO of Smartech.
Smartech has been turning the retail game on its head, with huge success, experiencing an aggressive global growth over the past three years and over 143% above target year on year,  In addition to Selfridges, Smartech concept stores are also found in high-end department stores around the world including Paris, Milan, Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Zurich and Copenhagen, with another 10 stores opening within the next 12 months.

Advanced fabric developments lead through innovation and smart technology

Consumers are increasingly aware that fast fashion can lead to unnecessary wastage and thus can do more harm to the environment, and thus there is growing demand for high-quality textiles and well-made clothing that have a long service life and can remain in use for much longer.  

Modern fabrics now often carry special smart properties boosted by new technology and qualities such as water- and dirt-repelling functions, which help to preserve the environment and cut down on the use of resources.  

Under the patronage of UN Climate Change and in keeping with the Paris Agreement, many leading companies in the global fashion sector are tackling the effects of the fashion industry on the climate along the entire value added chain and signed the UN Charter for Climate Action.

At Premiere Vision Paris (September 17 - 19 2019), textiles with eco credentials were abound to meet the increasing demand for qualities that are environmentally correct while also integrate performance and technology with fashion trends.

US company drirelease® is a global technology company pioneering in performance and comfort textile solutions.  Its functional fabrics have qualities such as wicking, fast drying, cooling and protection benefits, with wide-ranging application, from leisure to high-performance, fashion and sportswear, as well as sleepwear and intimate fashion.  Their technology is also available in a wide range of classic and fashion-forward blends, from classic cotton to merino wool that never feels damp against the skin.  There is machine-washable silk for summer cool and winter warmth, easy-care natural linen, soft smooth acetate or Lyocell, E.C.O. (Environmentally Correct Origins) with BCI, Organic cotton and/or recycled polyester.  

Portuguese company TIMTEX introduces natural based, smart and responsible innovative fabrics such as their Naturally Advanced fabrics enhanced by the new non-salt Colorau ®  Natural dye process.  In their new collection there is a new range made from a mix of new generation fibres that enhance free movement such as REFIBRA ™ by Lenzing, Q-NOVA ®  by Fulgar and the unique GRS certified premium stretch ROICA  ™ EF.  

Meanwhile, Swiss textile maker Schoeller Textil continuously observe its responsibility to humans and the environment by manufacturing products that are compatible to sustainable climate protection by taking part in the Energy Agency of the Swiss Private Sector programme to actively reduce carbon emissions and optimise energy efficiently.  Its ecological portfolio of products that focus on sustainability includes upcycled products, such as its ECONYL ®  yarn, as well as 100% recycled, recyclable wear2wear woven and knitted fabrics or bio technologies based on sustainable raw materials.  

The ECONYL ®  Reclaiming Programme from Aquafil SPA reduces the quality of waste material occurring worldwide by collecting regenerative resources from waste disposal sites and the oceans and returning them to the production cycle.  

Photos by Lucia Carpio.

Sustainable bio-based Naia™ textile products showcased at Premiere Vision Paris in September

Sustainability and smart technology today go hand in hand when it comes to textile and clothing developments that are created to be kind to our environment, and this is one of the main highlights at Premiere Vision Paris held in September 2019, in the Smart Creation, a dedicated space at the international textile and materials trade fair, eco-friendly creations from a wide range of brands and producers promoted their new developments from yarns to finished products made by combining values combining creativity, innovation and sustainability.

One of the companies featured in this segment, and which also took up its own stand was Eastman, the maker of bio-based Naia™ cellulosic yarn made from sustainably sourced wood pulp.
Launched at PV 2018, Naia™ was celebrating one year of continuous innovation with new partnerships, products and sustainability certifications, offering a viable eco-conscious choice of materials for sustainable fashion in alignment with the industry’s shift toward the circular economy. 

“Inspired designers are now transforming a yarn that originates from nature into luxurious, soft and easy-to-care-for fabrics and fashion,” said Ruth Farrell, global marketing director of Textiles for Eastman. “Mills are delivering a wider option of Naia™ fabrics, and those fabrics are more accessible than ever before. It’s an exciting time to be fully delivering on the promise of sustainable textiles.”

Naia™  displayed at Premiere Vision Paris a selection of fashions from the Grand Final Fashion Show of the 2019 Redress Design Award in Hong Kong held on September 5, 2019.

Eastman Naia was the Gold Sponsor of the sustainable fashion design competition.

Naia brought a wide range of new eco-friendly developments to the Premiere Vision Paris show in September 2019 which showed inherent softness and lustre while being demonstrating versatility and easy-care.  

Highlights included Eastman Naia™ bamboo blend from Burmod in Turkey, wrinkle-resistant textured glossy knit from Textivision in Mexico (shown in picture above), shimmering satin woven silk blend with jacquard structure from Manifatture Bianchi in Italy (as shown in picture below), and an open mesh warp knit with a metallic appearance and deceptively soft hand from Bella Fabrics in the USA.  
The fabrics combines the richness of nature with comfort, said Ms Farrell, making them ideal for womenswear, intimate apparel and linings.

Naia™ cellulosic yarn is made with sustainably sourced wood and offers full traceability from tree to yarn's. 

According to Eastman, in developing the yarn, the company considers the entire lifecycle, from responsible sourcing to end-of-life disposal. FSC® Mix certified Naia™ cellulosic yarn is Eastman’s latest product advance in the sustainable fibers category. Eastman has aligned its entire forestry supply chain with Forest Stewardship Council® sourcing standards, including controlled wood procedures. Naia™ is also certified as biodegradable in fresh water and soil environments and is compostable in industrial settings, having received the OK Biodegradable and OK Compost conformity marks from TÜV AUSTRIA.

Made by Eastman in the USA in accordance with the highest safety, social and environmental standards, Naia™ is responsibly sourced from sustainably managed pine and eucalyptus plantations, ensuring no deforestation. Eastman holds FSC® and PEFC™ Chain of Custody certification, and all wood pulp suppliers have FSC® and/or PEFC™ Chain of Custody as well. Naia™ cellulosic yarn is produced in a safe, closed-loop process where solvents are recycled back into the system for reuse. Naia™ has an optimized, low-impact manufacturing process with a low tree-to-yarn carbon and water footprint. Naia™ has a third-party reviewed life cycle assessment compliant with ISO 14044 and is ranked on the Higg Materials Sustainability Index.