London’s greenest hotel has fabulous river views and cutting-edge energy-saving features.

In 2012, much international attention will be focused on London with the Olympic Games and all its attendant activities and events, including the cultural programme. If you want an eco-bed to lay your head on, the Rafayel may not be not central, but it won’t dent your wallet as dramatically as the hottest tickets to the athletics finals will.

Right on the south bank of the River Thames, this hotel offers a ringside seat for the historic 1,000-boat flotilla, which will go past as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary) celebrations in June - one of London’s other major events of 2012.

Among the hotel’s eco-features are a no-plastic policy, LED lighting, efficient air-conditioning and ventilation, and rainwater harvesting and recycling. It’s estimated that its carbon footprint is 20% less than other hotels of similar size; guests can check out their own consumption, thanks to the energy monitoring system (can you manage an A grade?). You are also offered digital versions of newspapers, thereby cutting down on waste paper.

Most of the 65 guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows looking over the river in this modern steel, glass and timber building. Design is space-age contemporary, with some rooms offering jetlag recovery light treatment – handy if you’re fresh off a transatlantic flight and suffering. Wood is synthetic and leather recycled, while mini-bars have only organic and fair-trade goodies.

While views are premium, the hotel’s location is not ideal, so it helpfully provides a shuttle service to the closest underground station, which is well-connected with central London; if you’re more of a water-baby, then river taxis can speed you eastwards towards the Olympic action in Stratford.

In addition to the Spa, which offers Asian treatments; brasserie,  champagne bar, and a riverside roof terrace restaurant on the 17th floor; sweet hankerings will be satisfied by the bakery from New York’s “Princess of Patisserie” Michelle Husseri, with her colorful, creative cupcakes. There’s even a florist – everything you need to put together an impromptu birthday celebration should the need arise.

Rates from $169 including tax, fabulous river views and pre-Olympic and Jubilee buzz..

Rapanui and the U.K.’s Met have partnered to call attention to the weather.

It’s raining, it’s pouring and the old man is snoring, and oftentimes so are we when it comes to being inspired by weather forecasts that are random in accuracy. Enter the U.K.’s Met Office, the international authority on climate change research, as well as national weather service, and brothers Mart and Rob Drake-Knight, the founders of Rapanui.

“At Rapanui we think that it’s not that people don’t care about climate and the environment, it’s just that they don’t know where to start when it comes to organic, ethical or low carbon alternatives,” says Mart Drake-Knight, co-founder of Rapanui “Our brand is about making eco fashion cool and accessible. We were delighted when we were invited to design these Met Office t-shirts.  I think as well as being a nod to the Met Office’s heritage and expertise, we managed to add a bit of ‘Britishness’ and humour to capture the spirit of ‘the weather’ as a subject.”

The collaboration was designed to bring new audiences to the Met Office who might have an appreciation for not only daily weather, but why severe weather and climate change happen. Climate change is defined by The Met as “The term climate change usually refers to man-made changes that have occurred since the early 1900s.”

Luke Green from the Met Office says: “Weather fascinates everybody and these t-shirts provide a fun way of reaching new audiences about the work the Met Office does. The collaboration with Rapanui to design and produce these t-shirts is hopefully the first step in developing new partnerships to promote our brand.”

The organic cotton t-shirts are £24.95.

Brands like Rapanui represent an ethical and sustainable shift from mainstream fashion and are not only made from natural organic fabrics, but in a  factory that depends upon the wind to power it.

You couldn’t ask for a more perfect collaboration.

A major piece of the puzzle that has to happen in order for sustainable living to become mainstream is consumer awareness. And blogs like this are doing a fantastic job at raising our level of awareness and knowledge to make smarter purchasing and behavioral choices. However, another important component to this going mainstream, is government involvement – whether that be guidelines, legislation or the willingness to collaborate with corporations and non-profits.

When the government steps in and creates guidelines and standards for an industry – ones that are built with the help of the corporations who are leaders in that very industry – then that is where real change begins to happen. And it is important that we as consumers recognize this.

At the Ethical Sourcing Forum in NYC this past spring, I had the opportunity to witness such collaborative discussions taking place between government, corporations and NGOs. It was exciting to be a part of those conversations and to recognize that this really is the future of business. We can all learn a great deal from each other.

But when it comes to government involvement, there are only a few countries leading the way. The United Kingdom is by far the global leader in this regard. (A little side fact: according to Harold Tillman, Chair of the British Fashion Council, the U.K. fashion industry is the country’s second largest employer).

Most of us are familiar with the success stories of household U.K. brands Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and Marks & Spencer. Lesser known however, is the U.K. government’s commitment to sustainable fashion, and to the creation of guidelines and standards that the rest of the world can learn from.

One example is the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) that produced the Green Claims in 2003. Widely used by U.K. apparel brands, retailers and manufacturers, it was created to help businesses make clear and accurate environmental claims, so as to not confuse or misinform consumers.

But more impressive is DEFRA’s Sustainable Clothing Action Plan, last updated in February 2010. The Plan is a collaborative effort between several organizations such as The British Fashion Council, MADE-BY, Oxfam, Ethical Fashion Forum, WRAP and Forum for the Future, just to name a few. Together this group identified five key areas for improvement within sustainable fashion that address consumer trends and behavior, media and education, market drivers and traceability along the supply chain.

And it doesn’t end there…

In case you are wondering, no I’m not English. But I am a huge fan of what they are doing. They seem to have it all figured out. Or at least more figured out than most.

The U.K. was also the first country to offer a Masters in Sustainable Fashion through the London College of Fashion. Many important industry events come out of the UK such as Fashion Fusion Expo, Esthetica and the RE: Fashion Awards to name a few. And most recently, the British Fashion Council is spearheading a campaign that will create tax incentives for fashion businesses to work in a more sustainable way, and striving to make eco fashion more affordable and accessible to consumers.

Other countries are much slower to adapt policies and standards, and some might even say that despite years of lobbying, their efforts fall on deaf ears. Canadian Jon Cloud of The Organic Cotton Company, has dedicated his life to organic production. He is fed up that the government refuses to deal with organic standards and that certification organizations, whose standards he feels are weak, are picking up the ball and running with it.

Cloud belonged to the now defunct organic cotton activist group COATS (Canadian Organic Apparel & Textile Standards) who together formed a set of organic standards a few years ago, which were then presented to the federal government. “More than 125,000 people have lost their job in the last five to six years in textiles” states Cloud. “Everything has moved offshore and we really need to pay attention to this. We need standards in Canada that lend integrity to the product in order to make it viable for regional trade”.

Despite Canada’s reluctance to take action on the organic standard, they, along with the U.S. and Japan have chosen to address the labeling of clothing that is being marketed as sustainable.

Canada’s Competition Bureau first announced its legislation of the mislabeling of rayon as bamboo in March 2009, and then later enforced it in August. Considering the large number of bamboo textile suppliers and retailers in Canada, the government worked in partnership with the Retail Council of Canada and the Canadian Apparel Federation to facilitate the compliance process.

On the heels of Canada’s legislation, the United States stepped up enforcement when the Federal Trade Commission laid charges on four bamboo clothing businesses in 2009 who were making false marketing claims that their product was environmentally friendly. And earlier this year the FTC sent warning letters to Wal-Mart, Target and Kmart on the same topic.

Over to Asia, the Japanese government has recently issued a series of guidelines for the labeling of organic cotton products, out of a response to the growing concern over inconsistencies that lead to misunderstandings and confusion over the production, distribution and consumption of organic cotton products. Labels must now comply with the Household Goods Quality Labeling Act and should indicate the percentage of organic cotton content of the product as a whole if the product is labeled as organic cotton.

As consumers, we rely on our government to help us distinguish right from wrong. The good from the bad. And now more than ever, we lack trust in corporations. We are increasingly becoming skeptical of loosely backed environmental claims. And while many fashion businesses are not being held accountable for their actions, or how they market their product to us, through continued awareness, government standards, and collaboration, this will change. And we can look to the U.K. as a benchmark for this change.

Image: UK in Italy

Ah, the teeth-gnashing angst of being single when it seems as if everyone around you is coupled up on Valentine’s Day. Considering how hard it can be to meet people with similar interests, it’s tempting to make a date with the couch, the remote and a pint of soy ice cream.

But singles in one British town will have a reason to get out and gab with their fellow bachelors and bachelorettes on Valentine’s Day – in nature, no less, planting trees in an underprivileged community.

A program called Trees for Cities is holding a tree-planting speed-dating charity event at Sunnybrow Park in Manchester, recruiting single volunteers to spend a Sunday wielding shovels and gardening as they plant 3,000 new trees and maybe even meet someone special in the process.

Not only will the speed-dating singles be providing a haven for wildlife and increasing biodiversity in the park, they’ll be adding to the health and vitality of city residents by providing a beautiful, relaxing green space.

Even if they don’t make a match, the day won’t be a total wash. Participants will be helping out the environment and a community in need. Isn’t that a greater gift than sweets and jewelry? Tree therapy for singles on V-Day – perhaps it will catch on.

Image: Alex Indigo

If it’s possible to lust after vintage linens, then I’m a lech! I have a closet in my dressing room specifically for storing my little secret. Included is an amazing collection of embroidered pillowcases and dishtowels my Grandma Zelda made back in the day at her lake house in Wisconsin. I also have various quilts and blankets amassed over the years, some I continue to use when forced to go downstairs to watch TV when I cannot sleep at night.

I’m always happy to stumble upon old cotton and linen treasures, either at secondhand stores or at websites like the charming Re-Found Objects, a UK source for all kinds of home goods picked up by collectors with savvy eyes.

Among the goodies that fed my linen habit are these vintage silk memento pillows, fabricated of souvenir scarves featuring scenes of Parisian cafes and London pubs, from £35.00.

In addition to the time-traveled cushions, I discovered old Welsh woven blankets and reversible printed cotton Scottish quilts, £85.00 that are so much better than anything new.

I like to wrap myself around the notion that these cozy textiles come with experience. Just think about the far away friends who found comfort in them in years past.

The UK is in the grip of the coldest winter in years and in recent weeks heavy snowfalls have blanketed much of the country. Even London had about a foot of the white stuff last week – the heaviest snowfall in two decades – and there’s no sign of it warming up any time soon. Meanwhile, in North America, you’re set for another six weeks of winter – at least according to Punxsutawney Phil.

Why not rug up with one of these beautiful artisanal woolen scarves? The wool is sourced from Britain, the yarns are spun in a specialist wool mill in Cornwall and then woven by artisan weavers in Wales. The company, Blacker Designs, started in 1991 and uses traditional methods on a commercial scale.

From the website:

Wool and other natural fibres are sustainable, high performance raw materials providing warmth, insulation and comfort. We believe it is wrong to use oil-based or high energy alternatives, particularly when such a wonderful resource is finding it difficult to pay its way.

When good design is used, these fibres can be turned into classic, elegant and hard-wearing products that reward those who value and care for them. We believe in creating things to last.

The company recycles most of the waste it produces and tries to keep the remainder to a minimum. By buying British wool, they are supporting local farmers and thus helping to protect the UK countryside from encroaching urbanization.

The scarves come in three main yarns – alpaca, Shetland and Jacob wool with mohair – and some of the special edition scarves also contain Tussah silk (which means the silkworms are not killed). The company claims that all the scarves are soft to the skin and you can either go for natural greys and browns, or bright candy-colours instead. They also have a lovely range of throws and blankets – and knitting yarns for the craft enthusiast.

Stepney Green Park, London

Meet Sammy Wilson. He believes that mankind is not to blame for global warming. Which, in itself, isn’t a big deal. After all, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. There are many people around the world who also share this view. But Sammy Wilson is Northern Ireland’s environment minister. And as such, he is in a position to influence peoples actions and reactions to environmental issues. So his recent denouncement of a British climate change ad as “insidious propaganda” and subsequent banning of the ad from being broadcast in Northern Ireland is a real concern.

According to Wilson, the Act on CO2 ads, aimed at promoting people to reduce their use of electricity and fossil fuels by doing simple things such as turning off their lights, were not only misleading but also dangerous. Wilson suggested that they gave people the false impression that “by turning off the standby light on their TV, they could save the world from melting glaciers and being submerged in 40 feet of water.”

Now before you start thinking that Wilson’s thinking is Northern Ireland’s thinking, know that Wilson’s action is not supported by either his own party nor the other coalition parties that make up the Northern Ireland government.

This isn’t the first time that Sammy Wilson has been in the limelight since becoming the environment minister last year and somehow I don’t think it will be the last time.

(source)

Image: James Jordan

My grandest fantasy as a young girl included leading a life like Chris Evert or Gabriella Sabatini, which for an 8-year-old mostly meant wearing cute tennis skirts and being on TV. Although I have a great tennis game today (if I do say so myself), playing pro quickly lost its allure as my life took its creative twists and turns.

One of those turns found me thinking about opening a small store in my hometown, filled with luxurious handmade, artsy and hard to find stuff. Then the online shopping trend took off and I moved on.

Although my dream job has finally found me, if I was to twist and turn yet again I’d open that small store and imagine it would have the same look and feel as Radici.

This UK-based online store sells handcrafted and eco-friendly wares for the home, the baby, him and her, as well as computers and iPods. Not just any wares, mind you, but sweet, special and stylish things that make great gifts for the hard-to-find person in your life.

The site itself has a warm, welcoming attitude, and the owners, Fiona and Jenneth, are clever and passionate about their mission. It shows. Another member of the Radici team writes the blog, featuring “just some beautiful things”¦” as well as great design finds and fun facts.

To whet your appetite, here are just a few of the shop’s offerings:

The Ceramic Basket Bowl (5.9″ in diameter) is made with eco-friendly ceramic and a non-toxic finish. It’s companion, the Tiny Ceramic Bowl (3.3″ in diameter), is also trés adorable. Available for $50 and $34, respectively.

Shoppers in the UK are now being charged for using plastic bags, so the reusable Urban Shopper ($96), handmade using recycled sails, is a must-have.

Check out the Pebble Journal ($34), another handmade item that’s made of wool felt and acid-free paper.

I could go on”¦but at the moment, shipping is restricted to the UK and Northern Ireland only. So you lucky folks across the pond, start shopping for your favorites and I’ll just keep hoping they change that shipping policy, and quick.