recognise a socially aware lifestyle magazine FOR MEN AND WOMEN www.recognisemagazine.com
ISSUE TWO MAY/JUNE 2010 £3
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ON CHARITY, CHERYL COLE AND THE FUTURE OF THE PLANET FASHION
CELEBRITIES
BEAUTY
GADGETS
MOTORING
FOOD
HEALTH
TRAVEL
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RECOGNISE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief: Derick Fearon Editor: Cleo Davis Features Editor: Gwyneth Harrison Features Writer: Rebecca Banks Art Director: Zuki Turner Fashion and Celebrity Director: Shyla Hassan Fashion Assistant: Danny Higgins Editorial Assistants: Clodagh Dunne, Jess Neale, Nikki Osman, Nadine Truong Design Assistant: Loui Bowes Director of Photography: Catherine Harbour Sub Editor: Louis Pattison
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Contributors: Andy Akinwolere, Nadia Chanelle, James Counsell, Justino Esteves, Becki Fox, Amy Harker, Danny Higgins, Tui McLean, Trevor Nelson, Andrea Sangster, Kasam Shaffi, Kristina Theodoris, Ryan Varga-Clark, Enzo Volpe Contributing Photographers: Alan Duncan, Stefano Galli, Catherine Harbour, CARLOS LUMIERE, Neil Raja, Ewelina Stechnij, Gideon Thomas, Camilla Treharne Styling: Cuki & Zleo Stylistic Duo, Shyla Hassan, DanNY Higgins, NATALIE HUBBARD Make-up and Grooming: KIYO IGARASHI, Atushi Ninomija, Elkie Phillips, Julia Wilson
recognise verb (ACCEPT) e rec - og - nise / rek. g.naiz /
1° To accept that something is true or important 2° To show appreciation of 3° To acknowledge or treat as valid
Public Relations: Xavier Barnett, Talia McKenzie PR Coordinator: Tui Mclean Interns: Wahiba Ahmed, Christina Bragg, Nik Hobbs, Richard Obe Models: Wing Lock, Ulla Lauska, Berthold Rothas Publishing Director: JATIN LODHIA Operations Manager: Ashley Amakoh Communications and Distribution Manager: Jody Silveston Advertising Manager: Ryan Perring Production Manager: DAVID CARLTON
RECOGNISE INTERACTIVE
recognise magazine noun (A SOCIALLY AWARE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE)
rec - og e - nise • mag- a - zine / rek. g.naiz • mæg.əzin / 1° We’re not about forcing change. We’re about raising awareness. 2° We’re not about guilt. We’re about information. 3° We’re not about giving up the things we love. We’re about alternatives.
Online Designer: Loui Bowes Digital Interactive Development: Crystal Magic Studio
Special thanks to: Stine Brogaard, Julia Craik Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™, Just St James, Alexander King, The Premises Studios Website: www.recognisemagazine.com Blog: http://recognisemag.blogspot.com/ Twitter: @RECOGNISEmag
Recognise is published by Savkam Media Limited 35 Hawley Crescent, The Brewery, London, NW1 8NP
For subscriptions: subscriptions@recognisemagazine.com
Welcome to the second issue of recognise magazine (AN APPRECIATION OF BRITISH TALENT)
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We’re casting our eyes close to home to give some of our British celebs the RECOGNISE seal of approval, as well as ticking off some of those who could do a whole lot better….
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Jamie oliver
Robbie Williams
The celebrity chef and avid campaigner has just won the prestigious TED Prize for 2010. The award, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design is given to some of the world’s most influential “thinkers and do-ers.” Jamie, who set up the Ministry of Food and Jamie’s School Dinners campaigns, used his speech to hit back at the food giants for profiting from obesity.
The Take That heartthrob once earned £1 million to sing for one hour to 300 guests at a birthday party, and donated all the money to charity. He is a UNICEF Ambassador, and is a supporter of their Unite against AIDS campaign. The Angels singer also sang on the recent charity single for Haiti. We applaud him.
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Emma Watson The Harry Potter actress and style icon has launched a collection in collaboration with ethical fashion label People Tree. The designs are aimed at 16 to 24 year olds, bringing fairtrade fashion to the younger generation. The brainy Burberry model is acting as creative advisor, injecting her personal style into the range. “I was excited by the idea of using fashion as a tool to alleviate poverty and knew it was something I could help make a difference with,” she said.
Not so good: Jenson Button
The F1 champion Jenson Button has been voted ‘the most polluting celebrity motorist in Britain’ according to a list compiled by the City Car Club. The speedy driver, who owns an excessive 11 cars, has an average CO2 emission of 383.1g/km. His 250mph Bugatti Veyron alone puts out a massive 547g/km CO2.
Donna Air
Sting
Donna has teamed up with the Organic Milk Cooperative to promote the organic way of life. “I’ve always cared about what is in the food I eat but this becomes even more important when you have a baby and only want what’s best for them.”
The original green activist and lover of the environment set up the charity ‘The Rainforest Foundation’ to help protect them— but the bad news is that the Rainforest Foundation was rated one of New York’s worst charities by an American charity watchdog, Charity Navigator, after discovering only 41 percent of the money raised by their 2006 Carnegie Hall concert actually went to programmes dedicated to saving the rainforest. Not only that but he recently pocketed between £1m and £2m to perform for the daughter of Uzbekistan’s despotic dictator Islam Karimov, who alongside his horrific record on human rights has also siphoned off the Aral Sea on which is country sits to irrigate his remote cotton fields, causing it lose 80% of its volume. Not quite the behaviour we would expect, Sting…
Alexa Chung The stunning TV presenter and fashion icon Alexa is a charity supporter of causes such as Terrence Higgins Trust, World AIDS Day, Friends of the Earth’s “The Big Ask”, Product Red, Greenpeace and Attitude is Everything. She was an Oxfam brand ambassador for ethical fashion and continues to work with them. Her creativity to design also led to the launch of a range of jewellery for the fair trade organisation Made Boutique.
The X Factor sensation is now planning on creating her own ethical fashion clothing and accessories line. She loves to wear Stella McCartney’s animal free designs and says she is trying to make things happen as soon as she can. “It’s a challenge mostly with shoes as I don’t wear any leather and am very ethical about what I wear,” she told Vogue.com. Leona is also a supporter of PETA and says she would love to do a campaign for them in the future. “I’d definitely look to do something if it was done tastefully and for the plight of animals everywhere around the world.”
Ricky Gervais Funnyman Gervais is a dedicated charity supporter and was among the celebrities involved in a new initiative to raise money for The Prostate Cancer Charity. The online retailer manbagcompany.com let celebrities design and customise one of its exclusive Messenger bags. The collection was then auctioned online with all proceeds going to the charity. The comedian and actor is also a dedicated supporter of animal rights and has spoken out against bull fighting and fox hunting. Gervais also signed the Chrysler 300 Eco Style car for Stars For A Cause during the 67th annual Golden Globe Awards this year.
ERIN O’CONNOR This supermodel with a heart has long been a supporter of ethical fashion and is a spokeswoman for Traid. Erin recently took a trip to India to back a group of women that have cut out the middleman in the fight for fair wages in the garment industry. The Rajiv Nagar Embroidery Centres, an initiative from SEWA (All India Federation of Self-Employed Women’s Associations) have contracts directly with Monsoon, Next, H&M and Gap to avoid gross exploitation by businessmen, which has forced some of the lowest wages in the industry onto the highly skilled women that supply the British high streets. Erin is working to publicise the project to British retailers.
Whilst we applaud her anti-fur stance, the pencil-thin fashionista’s wardrobe is not as cruelty free as we would like; her handbag collection is home to a rumoured 100 Birkin bags by the luxury French brand Hermes, worth over a cool £1 million. Many of Posh’s collection are made from crocodile skin from the Australian saltwater animal, famed for providing the best and most expensive skin. Hermes’ use of crocodile skin helps to bump up the average price of one of their bags to an eye-watering £30,000 but it’s the way in which the skin is farmed that has got us crying. Using stolen eggs the crocs are bred in crowded pens that bear no resemblance to their natural habitat and fed on a diet of beef and chicken to fatten them up. Then at the age of three they are cruelly killed and skinned. Seems a high price to pay for a handbag to us.
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Victoria Beckham Leona Lewis
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M·A·C COSMETICS The make-up giant has been raising funds for 16 years to support men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS across the globe. Spring 2010 sees the launch of two new limited edition VIVA GLAM shades of lipstick and lipglass, with every single penny from each sale going to the M·A·C Aids Fund. Props too for getting two of our favourite ladies onboard to promote the new colours – Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper.
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EEL SKIN You might associate eel skin handbags with the crocodile skin breeding industry, but it is actually more ethical than you may think. In South Korea, there is a large consumption of these sea snakes, but their skin is a by-product and gets discarded. With the help from designers such as London-based Claire Watt-Smith (www.bobelle. com) - who uses the supple and tough material for her handbags, purses and accessories - more and more designers are recognising this ethical material.
GREEN & BLACKS Green & Blacks aim to change its entire food and beverage range worldwide to fair-trade by the end of next year, which will make it the world’s leading fair-trade chocolate manufacturer. Guilt free indulgences… we like!
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MCDONALDS Although the fast food chain has been under constant scrutiny for unethical practices, it has finally decided to clean up its act. McDonald’s is currently pouring thousands of pounds into investigating a lot of ‘hot air’ surrounding their beef. They plan to carry out a three-year project to study methane emissions from cattle on 350 farms throughout Britain. Flatulent livestock are responsible for 4% of the UK’s carbon emissions. Believe it or not, this gas is 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse agent.
HERTZ / NISSAN We’re loving Hertz car rentals. Not only do they already offer a ‘Green Collection’ in some European markets, which offer vehicles with CO2 outputs of less than 140g/km and are more fuel efficient, but they’ve just announced a partnership with Nissan to bring the new electric, zeroemission Nissan LEAF to car rental locations in the US and Europe in early 2011. The hatchback seats five adults, has a range of around 100 miles and will go on sale in Japan, the US and Europe later on this year. ROBIN HOOD TAX ‘Turning a crisis for the banks into an opportunity for the world,’ this campaign led by director Richard Curtis is backed by Gordon Brown, actor Bill Nighy, Oxfam and UNICEF. The tax would work by taking about 0.05% from speculative banking transactions, which could raise hundreds of billions of pounds every year to help fight global poverty and climate change as well as for schools and healthcare in the UK. While not without its detractors the campaign has gained a significant amount of public support since its launch.
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THE United states government The superpower is still allowing animal testing for cosmetics. The EU is strides ahead of America, with a ban on testing and sales coming into effect last year. With American and Canadian businesses depending on sales of their products in the EU, the companies that are still undertaking this cruel practice will have to get their act together and find alternatives for product testing. Or better still, the US government can follow in the footsteps of its European friends and ban it altogether.
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CATHERINE ZETA JONES Zeta Jones has topped a recent poll for all the wrong reasons. She has just been named PETA’s worst dressed celebrity of 2010, following the likes of Madonna and Aretha Franklin. Zeta Jones has been pictured in a ‘murderous ensemble’ of fur coat and a crocodile bag. There’s absolutely no need to wear dead animals when there are heaps of faux alternatives out there.
RYANAIR Ryanair has been ranked in the bottom ten of 581 firms in an ethical survey. The survey, which placed the airline 575th, looks at the environmental performance and corporate social responsibility of firms. Swiss company Covalence criticised Ryanair’s CO2 emissions, working conditions and lack of environmental initiatives. The budget airline charges £40 if you forget to print your boarding pass and charges £1 per minute for telephone assistance.
TESCO We can’t believe Tesco is still using sweatshops in Bangladesh to produce clothes. Come on, if other companies can manage, so can you. The people making their garments are being paid a pittance to work in horrendous conditions. According to War on Want, which runs the Love Fashion Hate Sweatshops campaign, the women working across four factories are earning as little as 7p per hour for up to 80-hour weeks. LAMBORGHINI The Environmental Protection Agency revealed the Lamborghini Murcielago to be the most environmentally unfriendly car for 2010. This monstrosity does a paltry eight miles to the gallon in the city and doesn’t fare much better on the motorway, getting just 13 miles. We urge you to leave these cars in the showroom and pick up a more friendly set of wheels; which, for all you super car fans out there, could be the Ferarri F430. The Italian car giant unveiled a biofuel concept version of the F430 Spider back in 2008 and they’re planning to have a hybrid version ready for sale by 2015.
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Singing in the
Raeburn In 1836, Charles Macintosh invented a method for combining rubber with fabric, which was used in the first modern raincoats. The raincoat can be notoriously unethical; once finished with, the plastic material will take forever to biograde. That’s where Christopher Raeburn comes in. A British designer whose work was recognised by The Ethical Fashion Forum competition, securing him a place at London Fashion Week, Raeburn has come up with an eco friendly alternative. We love his revolutionary raincoat designs made from recycled parachutes. You can really take flight in the super stylish ethical outerwear. The sleek, bright tailoring is a must-have for being caught in an April shower and for kitting out your wardrobe for festival season. His stuff is all about good design produced in England. However the ethical aspect of recycling old materials such as parachutes was actually “a happy accident”. His decision to use the particular fabric was a creative choice as his intention is to produce clothing that is functional and will last.
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The coats start from £295 for the red and white cropped parachute parka and £430 for the yellow and white Mac. Slightly pricey but almost certainly worth it if it keeps you dry.
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Available from Browns Fashion For more info visit www.christopherraeburn.com
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DKNY is launching a perfume that will do more than just make you smell nice. Pure DKNY is created using vanilla sourced from a CARE project in Uganda. By partnering up with CARE, DKNY not only use some of the best vanilla available but also help to ensure that the charity can continue to support women in Uganda by educating them and enabling them to provide for their families. The New York fashion house has gone one step further by ensuring that the perfume’s packaging is 100% recyclable. This is one company that is smelling of roses… and vanilla.
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Available in 100ml (£60), 50ml (£44) and 30ml (£32) from www.dkny.com and all good retailers.
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AND THE AWARD GOES TO... The real heroes of the planet stepped into the limelight on the same day as the Oscars with the announcement of the Eco Veggie Awards 2010, honouring the legends within the green, Fair Trade and veggie circles – the people, organisations and products that are dedicated to making a difference. “The Eco Veggie Awards honour the real heroes, not the actors. This is not make-believe, this is real life,” says awards organiser Tim Barford from Bristol-based hemp firm Yaoh. “We aim to focus on the positive, not the negative, it’s the only way forward to achieve solutions, and for this reason we are honouring some of the brightest and biggest achievers on the planet.” Categories include Best Campaigners, with Sea Shepherd, Greenpeace and Viva! amongst the nominees. Other categories include Best Veggie Product, Best Fashion and Best Beauty Product. The awards are voted for by the public, with voting running from 8 March up until midnight 29 May. The winners of the ten categories will be announced on Sunday 30 May at The Bristol Eco Veggie Fayre sponsored by RECOGNISE MAGAZINE. Following the huge success of the Eco Veggie Awards in Reading and Brighton earlier this year, RECOGNISE MAGAZINE is really excited about sponsoring Bristol’s Eco Veggie Fayre, to celebrate the Eco Oscars. Bristol is set for a huge night out this summer as UK Hip Hop artist Roots Manuva headlines the Fayre, which takes place on Saturday 29 May in the famous Lloyds Amphitheatre.
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The festival will attract over 15,000 people at what could be Bristol’s biggest outdoor audience this year – and plenty more are visiting during the weekend as the event spans both The Waterfront Square and the Millennium Square as well as The Amphitheatre, with an array of over 100 Fair Trade, eco friendly and veggie friendly stalls and caterers. A paradise for anyone interested in their personal well-being, the health of the planet, the welfare of animals and the environment, and— of course—in having fun.
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The festival runs over two days (29-30 May) and features several stages, local talent competitions, an art exhibition, theatre and entertainment but it is the arrival of Roots Manuva that will really set the town alight. ‘It’s just the party Bristol wanted, and at £6 a day in advance for adults, and £3 for kids and OAPs, it’s at a price everyone can afford’ says Tim. ‘Roots Manuva is huge in Bristol and we are already experiencing heavy demand for tickets, it looks like it could be a sell-out. Let’s give the people what they really want – which is top quality dance acts at a sensible price, with excellent facilities too. Sorted.’ Perfect for all ages, for anyone who wants to make a difference, or just to learn more, this festival is well worth a visit. The show opens 11am – 11pm Saturday 29 May, and from 11am – 9pm Sunday 30 May. Tickets are on sale in advance from www.yaoh.co.uk/catalog More information about this event from Tim Barford on 0117 9239053 info@yaoh.co.uk The show is organised by Yaoh and sponsored by Recognise Magazine, Beanie’s Health Foods, Bute Island, The Spark, Vitamix, Activeg, Natural Balance, Cook Vegetarian and Viva!
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There is something very big happening on this planet that is very real, very present
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Be the Judge of…
Piers Morgan We asked the Britain’s Got Talent star to turn his judging skills to his celebrity peers and why he refuses to fly in Simon Cowell’s private plane.
Piers Morgan is a funny sort of celebrity – the sort who, like Marmite, you either love or hate. He’s a well-known public figure, but what for? He’s not a singer, actor, politician or comedian. Probably, you first became aware of him as a controversial tabloid editor – he worked on the News Of The World from 1994, before moving to the Daily Mirror in 1995, which he helmed until his resignation in 2004. His fame has only grown since, though. He gave us some great TV time as a reality TV show judge – who could forget his Simon Cowell-esque remarks as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent? And currently, of course, there’s his new incarnation on ITV primetime, where he’s turned his had to Parkinson-style celebrity interviewer on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories. Celebs have been pouring their hearts out to uncle Piers and up to four million Saturday night viewers for three series, now, and our host hasn’t lost his tabloid nose for a story, demonstrating a sure ability to get his A-list interviewees to divulge just that little bit more than their agent agreed to, earning him plenty of tabloid inches and a jolly good pat on the back from the general public in the process.
interview: CLEO DAVIS
A much-anticipated show was the recent interview with Gordon Brown, in which Piers got the Prime Minister to open up about the death of his newborn daughter in 2002. “He welled up,” says Piers. “I mean, he didn’t break down in tears but it was a very emotional moment in the room and I felt very sorry for him and I think anyone who didn’t show emotion when talking about the death of their child would be quite strange.” Filling the sensitive interviewer shoes, he also manages to make us laugh with stunts such as ‘marrying’ Paris Hilton in Vegas. He has even dished out marital advise to Cheryl against Ashley. “I did keep warning her about him, saying ‘He’s not the guy for you Cheryl, you should be with someone more six foot one, called Piers…’” Aww, we’ll have you Piers. We like Piers because he tells it like it is. He’s not scared to steer away from the press release. With such a wealth in celebrity interest, we thought it was time to put Mr Know It All into the swivel chair of RECOGNISE questioning, starting with his thoughts on celebrities endorsing charities. Is this stuff for real? “I feel uncomfortable sometimes about the motives of celebrities and some charity work I see going on. I regard anything that Madonna does with deep cynicism. There are people out there who literally view charitable work, from what I can see, as a fashion accessory.” Recognise
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he moment I realised I was famous was at the Shutters hotel in Santa Monica. The hotel had booked me into the Presidential suite. The last occupant of the residential suite was Bill Clinton and I remember myself and Celia thinking ‘This is more like it!’”
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ON YOUR LYCRA David Walliams: He’s not a ladeeee, he’s a proper gentleman. We get under the Lycra words: REBECCA BANKS of one of Britain’s funniest men... There’s nothing the Brits do better than unite for a good cause, from Children in Need to Live Aid to the recent Haiti charity appeal. Sport Relief has been one of the biggest examples of this in recent years, with celebrities engaging in some unbelievable challenges and the whole country getting behind them. Who can forget David Walliams and his (successful) mission to swim the channel? Or last year when music and TV personalities such as Cheryl Cole and Chris Moyles climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, raising more than £3.3million? It’s not just celebrities either, the whole country has been in action, either by taking part in their own fundraisers, or by joining one of the 1, 3 or 6-mile runs that took place across the UK. The Sport Relief 2010 Weekend took place from 19-21 March, and raised almost £30 million for Sport Relief causes. David Walliams has been one of Sport Relief’s most dedicated supporters over the last few years, eager to take part in increasingly mammoth challenges. Four years ago he put in nine months of training to swim the 35km English Channel, which he successfully crossed in 10 hours and 34 minutes, raising over £1 million and picking up a special BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award for his feat. Two years later he joined James Cracknell for another swim, this time the 19km Strait of Gibraltar. This year, he rallied the troops for a non-stop relay cycle from John O’Groats to Lands End.
So just what makes the Little Britain star keep stripping to the Lycra? “I have no choice. I do what I’m told. I must be insane! Seriously, I’ve seen what the money raised through Sport Relief can do and it really does make a difference. That’s what keeps you going through the tough journeys. We’ll hopefully raise a million pounds.” The big-hearted comedian visited a homeless refuge in India earlier this year and saw first hand some of the thousands of suffering people. He explained, “There was a shelter the Indian government put up but it was only a tarpaulin tent. The kids are filthy. Babies are lying on the ground with no nappies on. Disease is rife, there are no toilets. There is no running water. I just didn’t understand that there were so many people homeless in India. It’s really heartbreaking. What have I got to moan about really? Oh God, paparazzi photographs? Little things that wind you up, like the milk going off. Then you come here and see some people boiling up a chicken foot in a filthy tub and you realise how ridiculous we can be.” But he also saw the difference that Sport Relief funds can make to these communities. “The project educating them is just so useful because then they have a chance at a life that is going to be better. One of the most moving things is that although people are living in desperate situations, they are not desperate. The still have joy in their lives, they still have human spirit. It has not ruined their lives to the point where they cannot smile any more.” Back to the cycling, David explained some of his worries ahead of the challenge. “My biggest concern was that I’m not really built for cycling because I’m kind of heavy. I’m good in the water. I’m like a whale, best when I’m submerged!” But, unlike his underwater adventures, this time he had some mates on hand! “I think this was a bit more fun. There was more camaraderie because there were seven of us all taking part so that was actually kind of exciting.” We also wanted to know why David seems to have a special affinity with skin-tight and revealing outfits? “You never really think these things through. When I was swimming the Channel I didn’t think through that everyone would see me in my Speedos, covered in grease. I don’t think some people have ever recovered from that sight. This time people had to see me in Lycra, which was probably equally appalling, so I apologise for that.” It would have been laughs-a-plenty on the 1000 mile non-stop relay cycle from John O’Groats to Lands End with the group made up of David Walliams, Jimmy Carr, Davina McCall, Patrick Kielty, Fearne Cotton, Miranda Hart and Russell Howard. The super seven battled blizzards, mountain peaks and temperatures of -15 degrees Celsius, crossing the finish line after 82 hours and raising over £1.3 million.
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Eddie Izzard
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The comedian completed an awe-inspiring 43 marathons in 51 days in September. He covered more than 1110 miles of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland during the challenge and suffered lost toenails, a damaged ankle ligament and countless blisters. He had to bandage his feet before each run and take daily ice baths to stop his legs from swelling. An inspiration.
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Robbie Williams
Helen Skelton
Recipient of the Brits Outstanding Achievement Award this year, Robbie released ‘Morning Sun’, the official Sport Relief song, with all profits going to the charity. It’s Robster’s second philanthropic single of the year, as he was also involved in ‘Everybody Hurts’, the record that brought together many of today’s top artists to raise money for the Helping Haiti cause.
You might not have heard of this Blue Peter presenter, but she took on one of the most extraordinary feats attempted for Sport Relief ever. The 27-year-old swapped sticky-back plastic and felt tips for a six-week trip in a kayak as she achieved the incredible accolade of becoming the first woman to kayak 2010 miles down the forbidding Amazon river. She set two world records along the way, recording the longest solo journey by kayak and the longest distance travelled in a kayak in 24 hours by a woman.
James Corden Smithy took on the role of Britain’s number one sports coach for a series of sketches he filmed for the Sport Relief TV special. He led Jenson Button to his F1 world title, coached Tom Daley in the swimming pool, gave some cricketing tips to Andrew Flintoff, had a word or two with Andy Murray and massaged David Beckham back to fitness. National treasure James also hosted part of the live show with Davina McCall and took on the six-mile Sport Relief run.
Lawrence Dallaglio England rugby hero Lawrence swapped balls for bikes in February when he cycled 2800km from Rome to Murrayfield, via Paris, Twickenham, Cardiff and Dublin. The 26 day marathon saw him joined by 200 fundraising cyclists and took in each international rugby ground on the way to coincide with the 6 Nations Tournament. The group arrived at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on 13 March, just in time for the Scotland v England match.
Christine Bleakley The host of BBC1’s The One Show decided there would be no better challenge for her than to go where David Walliams had gone before her, but this time above the water. First-time waterskier took to the English Channel for the Thomson Sport Relief Water Ski Challenge. She completed the feat in the freezing cold, treacherous waters in just one hour and 40 minutes, and only fell in eight times.
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Denim doesn’t have to stop at your average pair of regular fits. We look at the brands that have restyled the working fabric into contemporary pieces while managing to stick their ethical promises.
TOPMAN black washed denim shirt £28 www.topman.co.uk
RIVER ISLAND navy desert boot £44.99 www.riverisland.com
HEADS UP
PACHACUTI
fair trade ee fleck fedora £3 9.90 www.pac hacuti.co .uk
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capri coff
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TOPMAN red chinos £26 www.topman.co.uk
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KUYICHI northcliff tee £50 and hooded blue jacket £118 both made from recycled PET water bottles (recycled polyeser) Daytime organic cotton blue jeans £120 www.kuyichi.com
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him: jacket: CHRISTOPHER RAEBURN from BROWNS FOCUS, £295 ribbed organic vest top: PARK VOGEL, £81 shorts: TOP MAN, £30 bracelet: STYLIST’S OWN shoes: MODEL’S OWN
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her: shorts: TOPSHOP, £30 cardigan: BEYOND RETRO, £15 broach: ERICKSON BEAMON, £354 origami Shoes: BEATRIX ONG, £368 skirt worn as vest: TOPSHOP, £25
Shape Up photography: Ewelina Stechnij
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Soft structuring and subtle shades are the easiest way to look casually smart this spring
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v neck jumper: AMERICAN APPAREL, £51 jacket: BEYOND RETRO, £18 jeans: MONKEY GENES, £39.99 pumps: G STAR, £85
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coat dress: EVA EVANOVICH, £510 enamel bangle: ERICKSON BEAMON, £510 shoes: HEATHER BLAKE, £505
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blouse: JACOB KIMMIE, £826 skirt: BEYOND RETRO, £15 bangle: ERICKSON BEAMON, £384 shoes: HEATHER BLAKE, £490
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shirt: AMERICAN APPAREL, £15 tie: BEYOND RETRO, £7
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FOOT BATHS WITH A VIEW OF THE SNOW ROOM
“I’M SURE THE FROZEN PEAS ARE HERE SOMEWHERE” THE SNOW PARADISE ROOM K WEST’S PLUNGE POOL ALTERNATIVE
EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS OF A SAUNA AND STEAM ROOM IN THE SPA’S SANARIUM
HAVE A WEST IN THE SPA’S LOUNGE AREA
“The veteran spa goers rub snow all over their body and sometimes roll around in it,” said the lady showing me around the £2 million makeover spa in the basement of West London’s luxury K West hotel. I was intrigued to know what snow she was on about. K Spa has introduced the first “Snow Paradise” to the capital. Developed by the German spa specialists, Klafs, this unique Finnish experience invites guests to freeze their way to good health in a cooling oasis of serenity in the finest natural powder snow. At a tingling -15ºC, The Snow Paradise is reminiscent of a winter-white snowdrift. For a freezing to steaming experience, alternate between the saunas and steam rooms. The sudden and extreme change in temperature stimulates the body’s circulation, and is also beneficial for the immune system. It felt slightly odd to walk into what felt like night time in Narnia in my swimming costume but, you get used to the cold. Unlike a sudden shock you get from a plunge pool, this is more of a gradual cool to freezing experience, which makes running (don’t slip) into the steam room much more satisfying. I went alone but I advise first timers to go with a friend, as I have to be honest, it was a little scary. Plus, snowball fights in the middle of summer are quite novel. K West doesn’t show off its environmental policy with huge solar panels stuck on the roof or candles lighting up the dining room, no. They do it in a subtle stylish manner that one would not pick up unless it was brought to their attention. For example, the sheer layered luxurious curtains hanging gracefully in reception are there to lighten the load on the air conditioning. Unknown to guests, the ovens are turned off in the afternoon (unheard of in the hotel trade) and cleaning staff are told to put in a bit of elbow grease rather than given an armful of bright coloured chemicalbased products. Their proudest achievement is energy saving with a saving of 28% in the past five months.
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West London’s music and media hotel gets a chilling renovation words: CLEO DAVIS
A day membership to the spa includes full use of the Hydrotherapy Pool, Snow Paradise, sanarium, herbal steam room, sauna, experience showers, footbaths, and two fitness studios, and will be priced at £50 per adult, or £65 with lunch, and £25 for guests staying at K West. K West Hotel & Spa, Richmond Way, London W14 0AX. A two-minute walk from Shepherd’s Bush central line tube station. For reservations: +44 (0)20 8008 6600 or visit www.k-west.co.uk
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We are proud to say that after a little hunting and researching and experiencing a few nosedamaging herbal scents, we have found a company that has achieved a wearable organiccertified perfume. Les Fleurs perfumes use certified organic bach flower essences and organic corn alcohol (unlike most other brands who use much cheaper alternatives). They claim many reports of people suffering from allergies to perfumes who could wear their products.
The first to bring us pro-biotics in anti ageing, now Nude has had a makeover of its own. The Nude brand is one of the big names within the ethical beauty industry and now their packaging reflects their stance. The new boxes are streamlined, completely biodegradable and printed with non-toxic inks, so as to be completely aligned with the Nude ethos. Check out the new designs at www.nudeskincare.com
The unisex fragrances are great in times of stress as they are supposed to bring feelings of harmony and wellbeing, thanks to the blend of organic Bach Flower essences. Be prepared for top notes of Vervain and Clematis; heart notes of Wild Rose and Honeysuckle and base notes of Pine, Oak and Crab Apple. Prices start from £44.50 for 50ml bottle and £59.50 for 100ml bottle. See the whole Les Fleurs collecion at www.lesfleursdebach.co.uk or sample the scents in store at Fortnum and Mason, 181 Piccadilly, W1J www.fortnumandmason.com
Giving waste
the Boot
Over 57 million packs of facial wipes are sold in the UK every year and around 1.4 billion of those wipes are thrown away. If these were laid end to end they would circle the planet seven times! To stop clogging up the landfills the clever people at Boots Botanics have made two of their best selling wipes out of biodegradable and compostable material, so they’re as kind to the environment as they are to your skin. Wipe away any green guilt with The Botanics Quick Fix Wipes (£3.49) and Botanics Sensitive Wipes (£3.49) available exclusively in Boots stores nationwide.
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Is it all getting a bit much? It’s not quite holiday season yet so we got Andrea Sangster, director of The Stress Management Society to offer some advice to address your stress. • Cut out the caffeine – If you’re stressed, stop drinking coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant that prompts the body to produce cortisol, a substance designed to put you in a state of high alert. So a cup of coffee is only ever going to pump you up, never relax you. Switch to decaff or, even better, good old water. • Get active – Stress makes the body produce adrenaline which for thousands of years has prepared man for ‘fight or flight’ situations. But high adrenalin is not healthy for the human body over the long term. Exercise is the perfect way to burn off the excess, whilst also producing serotonin – the happy hormone – which will help improve your mood. So when tension mounts get to the gym, go for a run or take a brisk walk. • Chill out – Choose a stress-reduction method you like and use it daily. For convenience try self-hypnosis or creative visualisation – very powerful methods that can be done discreetly anywhere. Get a free audio download by registering on the factsheet page at http://www.stress.org.uk. Or think up a self-affirming mantra to repeat to yourself whenever you feel tense (eg ‘I deserve calm in my life’, or ‘I have a choice in every situation’). • Hit the sack – Sleep is essential to rest your body and mind. Are you getting enough? If you need an alarm to drag you to consciousness in the morning, the answer is no. What’s more, you’ve been deprived for so long that you’ve forgotten how fantastic it feels to wake up naturally, fully rested. Challenge yourself to go to bed every night for a week at 10pm and see how much better you feel. For more advice on stress management, including a free guide, visit The Stress Management Society at www.stress.org.uk.
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FACE FACTS! photography: CAMILLA TREHARNE
Organic and natural make-up products have a stigma of being faint and wishy-washy in the pigment department. But we know better. We reveal the four essentials that laugh in the face of all parabenpacked products.
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Not only will this lead to the changing face of the oceans but it will also have an impact on our future dinner plates. Did you know that by the year 2048, you might not be able to get your weekly portion of cod and chips due to warnings of the world running out of fish? But with more and more fisheries adopting sustainable fishing practices, all is not lost. By buying your fish and chips from recognised sustainable outlets, you can help preserve the future of the noble British chippy. We’ve compiled a list of the fish shops that are making waves with their ethical and sustainable practices. Be sure to check out your nearest plaice...
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Imagine a Friday night without fish. Chips and chips could get pretty bland and carbocidal. The fish and chip combo is one of Britain’s staple take away dishes. But the sad truth is overfishing has led to a serious deficit, even among the more highly populated fish, like cod and haddock.
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NORTH The Townhead cafe – Biggar, Scotland 187 High Street, Biggar, ML12 6DJ +44 (0)1899 221 001 Winner of the much coveted Chip Shop of the Year award for 2008, The Townhead has drawn floods of people to the small Scottish town of Biggar. The cafe has also earned eco accolades by sourcing sustainable fish off the Shetlands and ensuring ethical conduct at every level of the supply chain. “If fishermen did as they wanted like to they used to do, there would be nothing left for our customers in ten or 15 years. Although sustainable policies cost us more now, it is definitely worth it in the long run.” Cod and chips: £5.10
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Colman’s – South Shields, Newcastle 182 - 186 Ocean Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England, NE33 2JQ +44 (0)1914 561 202 The multi award winning favourite of the north, Colman’s serves wild fish from sustainable fishing grounds, bought locally. The fish is cooked using vegetable oil free from additives and all waste oil is collected and turned into bio fuel. They also use fresh potatoes, prepared daily and the chips are thick-cut for lower oil absorbency. Prices are reasonable and in addition to the classics they also offer seafood favourites such as mussels, lobster and scallops. “It’s not only important for our industry but also for the future of the planet. We’ve seen a huge decline in fish stocks over the years but since we’ve started using sustainable methods, numbers have started to come back.” Cod and chips: £5.30
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Thornton fisheries – Lancashire 11 Victoria Road East, Thornton, FY5 5HT +44 (0)1253 858 668 With sustainable suppliers, five varieties of fish to choose from and prices quite literally cheap as chips, it’s not hard to see why Thorntons has won so many awards. Fish are caught from protected regions within Norway, Iceland and Scotland and served according to season. They even offer a gluten free alternative to their classic dishes once a month. “We believe it’s important to preserve the future of fish stocks, as well as the fish shop industry.” Cod and chips: £4.05
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D Fecci & sons – Tenby, Wales Oxford House, Lower Frog Street, Tenby, Pembrokeshire SA70 7HS +44 (0)1834 842 484 Fecci & sons has become part of the Tenby tourist trail and with fish fresh from local Milford Haven and chips made from Pembrokeshire potatoes, it is a Welsh staple. Having served the Tenby residents for 75 years, they choose to buy their fish from
sustainable sources to ensure their future success. “It’s our intention to remain here for a few years yet and we want to ensure the fish stocks are still there for our children and our children’s children.” Cod and chips: £4.55
SOUTH EAST McDermott’s – Surrey 5, 6 & 7 The Forestdale Shopping Centre Featherbed Lane, Croydon, Surrey CR0 9AS +44 (0)20 8651 1440 McDermott’s prides itself on being one of the most upmarket fish and chip shops in the UK. Fish is delivered daily, from sustainable sources and fresh from Billingsgate market. While you pay more for the restaurant setting, prices are not unreasonable and they also serve king size portions. Cod and chips: £6.50
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SOUTH WEST Steins – Padstow, Cornwall 10 Middle Street, South Quay, Padstow, Cornwall, PL28 8AP +44 (0)1841 532 700 Part of celebrity chef Rick Stein’s Padstow empire, Stein’s serves good quality, locally sourced food, with the majority of fish coming from St Ives. Whilst prices are slightly higher, the variety of fish is bigger than most, with offerings including lemon sole, monkfish and sea bream and with the option of having it fried, battered or grilled. Cod and chips: £6.55
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The Fish Shed – Topsham, Devon Darts Farm, Topsham, Exeter, Devon, EX3 0QH +44 (0)1392 878 200 The Fish Shed is a highly rated fishmonger, with the promise of knowing who caught each fish and exactly where it came from. All fish is caught locally from Lyme Bay and goes from water to plate within 12 hours. They will also cook your fish according to taste; with the option of having it grilled. Cod and chips: £5.50
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Daniel’s Fish and Chips – Weymouth, Dorset 159 Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 0JX +44 (0)1305 787 720 With three branches in the southwest, Daniel’s is a firm seaside favourite, with a whole host of ethical policies from boat to box. All fish is sourced from quotas ensuring its traceability right back to the boat it was caught on and the company also supports research into new fishing technology to develop more ethical fishing methods and sustain marine life. Their selection of fish is limited to the classics but low prices ensure value for money. Cod and chips: £4.85
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Once the favoured destination of culture vultures, now Germany’s first city is attracting a new breed of tourist with its organic cafes, eco-discounts and conscious hotels. We went to check out Berlin through the eyes of an eco tourist... words: NADIA CHANELLE illustration: LOUI BOWES
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city heaving with history and thriving day and night, Berlin is home to some of the most outstanding historical sites, unforgettable art and 72-hour parties. Divided into twelve boroughs, the city is at once chic, edgy, opulent and avantgarde, and therefore boasts something to float even the most outlandish of boats. Listed eighth in 2009’s The European Green City Index, the German capital hit the headlines last year when a brothel in Penzlauer Berg began offering clients ‘eco discounts’ for arriving by bike or bus. While I cannot advocate this offer, there’s no reason why visitors to Berlin should not chip in to make a difference. Let’s face it: you won’t offset the carbon emissions of your flight, but pack an ethical approach and it’s a step towards a clearer conscience and clearer skies.
WHERE TO STAY: The Circus Hotel Located in the Mitte district, literally meaning ‘middle’, the Circus Hotel is the perfect location for those who want to scope out the city’s best attractions. At only a 15-20 minute walk to Alexanderplatz, Berlin’s main square, and less than a five minute walk to the closest U-Bahn, visitors will truly hold the key to the city. When those legs get weary, and trust me they will, arriving back at this spotless, minimalistic haven is nothing short of a breath of fresh air. Each room is individually designed with eclectic wallpaper and contemporary furniture, all popping with quirky vintage finds that add to the wooden floors and bright paints. Berlin may be regarded as an epicentre of fun but this hotel is serious about its ethical approach, supporting small, local companies and focussing strongly on the fair treatment of their staff. Solar Voltaic panels in the roof generate electricity for the hotel and it also buys ‘Green Electricity’, which is 100 per cent made from C02-free alternative energies. As if you needed another reason to visit, by keeping its resources down the hotel can keep its prices down, leaving you with more money to spend on currywurst.
building is one that cannot be missed. Destroyed over time by fire and war, the roof has now been replaced by a glass dome with two interlacing paths that allows access to the very top of the dome. The outstanding architecture, that primarily uses glass and mirrors, represents a transparency in today’s government that was not present during the Second World War and so allows the public to look down upon politicians in session. It is extremely moving to witness this landmark in Berlin’s quest to make peace with its past. The transparent dome also creates solar power and is a great source of natural light, helping the Reichstag top the tables as the greenest parliament building worldwide. Top tip: go at sunset. There are less people waiting to get in and the view is unbelievable. Whoever said a great sunset was synonymous with a beach has not seen one from this exceptional feat of architecture. Platz der Republik 1, 10577 Berlin-Tiergarten, Tel. +49 (0)30 2273 2152 www.berlin.de
THE REICHSTAG DOME AT SUNSET
Rosenthaler Strasse 1, 10119 Berlin, Tel: +49 (0)30 2000 3939 www.circus-berlin.de
ADVENTURE: Sandeman’s New Europe walking tour From the Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie, this walking tour is so enlightening and comprehensive that it is hard to believe it is free. The idea behind it is that both local and expatriate Berlin-enthusiasts take tourists on an extensive guide around the city on the premise that you only tip how much you think the tour was worth at its conclusion. And you’ll probably empty your pockets. With guides ranging from students to sociologists to philosophers, they will show you many of the city’s key sites while divulging a history so volatile, it will be hard to believe urban myths are in fact true and legends are in fact lies. Ditch the bus and boat tours, the walking tours are better for both you and the environment. Plus, it makes a much bigger impact when you’re told chilling tales about Hitler and realise you have unknowingly been stood atop his bunker. Sandeman’s New Berlin Tours, Tel: +49 (0)30 5105 0030 www.newberlintours.com
SEE: The Reichstag Redesigned by award-winning architect Norman Foster, whose company is responsible for “The Gherkin” building in London, Germany’s parliamentary
NIBBLE: Hanswurst Cafe This vegan, organic café is the perfect place to sample Berlin’s steadily growing alternative cuisine. Its sumptuous array of healthy, delicious meals include panfried seitan medallions served with a sweet potato-carrot puree or savory red curry with chili mint yoghurt. With a motto of “intelligent: yes, intellectual: nope”, the café moves to dispel both pretentiousness and prejudices surrounding an ethical lifestyle and is therefore so welcoming it is sure to make any tourist feel like a resident. Plus, the arts and crafts corner supports friends’ bands, labels and magazines, allowing you to witness first-hand the famed Penzlauer Berg art scene. The visit also gives you the opportunity to witness this former East German province’s interesting mixture of gentrified areas and bohemian pockets, which boast historical buildings luckily left standing by the war and one-of-a-kind boutiques. Dunckerstrasse 2a,10437 Berlin, Tel: +39 (0)30 4171 7822 www.hanswurstcafe.com
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Miami is best known as a sophisticated international city where celebrities flock to revel in its glitzy party scene. A list divas, fashionistas and movie icons have all graced the golden sands of the beaches and languished in hip hotels, upping the glamour quota of a city where all that glitters probably is gold... words: AMY HARKER
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owever, there is a totally different side to Miami that might not spring to mind immediately. Just a short journey from the craziness of South Beach lies an altogether more naturally wild destination. Here there are no heaving parties, no scantily clad roller-bladers and the only late nighters pulled will be those spent watching the stars, of the astronomical variety. A peerless and wondrous environment — Florida Everglades and Biscayne National Parks draw more than a million visitors each year to explore Florida’s breathtaking wilderness. For travellers who would just as soon paddle a canoe down a silent waterway as ride a jet ski in Biscayne Bay, a walk on the wild side is in order. Whether it’s a bicycle ride along back roads or a hike to a pond where wading birds gather, matchless opportunities to get back to nature exist mere minutes from civilisation. Here, cameras click not for divas and movie stars, but for more than 300 varieties of birds and glorious sunsets over the River of Grass.
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Covering 1.5 million acres, the Everglades National Park is the third largest in the US National Parks system. The park is home to sawgrass prairies, mangrove swamps, subtropical jungles and warm glassy waters, as well as to a rare community of plants and endangered animals. If you are lucky you will catch a glimpse of massive manatees, serene dolphins, and increasingly rare sea turtles. All around you will see iguanas of varying colours and sizes, who roam the land like it’s still the age of the dinosaurs, while up above you can witness over 300 species of birds. Of the more hair-raising animals you might come across it’s wise to keep a beady eye out for both gators and crocs, as the combination of fresh, salt and brackish waters makes Florida Bay the only place on earth where alligators and crocodiles — and in this case, the rare American crocodile — live together. The best way to be at one with Miami’s glorious nature is to spend a night or two backcountry camping in the Everglades. During this time you can spend
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Florida Bay WELCOMES BOTH alligators and crocodiles
your days paddling through almost 100 miles of Wilderness Waterway, often without seeing another soul before spending the night camping out on a remote chickee, a raised platform campsite accessible only by water (you must reserve and get a permit with 24hrs notice). En route to the Everglades it is worth taking a self guided drive through the Redlands, a paradise of freshfrom-the-farm produce, where you can spend a whole day tickling your taste buds with exotic fruits and vegetables that are the basis for what has come to be known as “Floribbean” cuisine. Alternatively, take just two wheels with you and cycle through the back roads, being sure to stop at legendary spots such as Robert is Here, where for 40 years, Robert has offered guava, lychee, mango and other exotic tropical fruit lime pie. Burr’s Berry Farm also serves up delicious fruit shakes and Knauss Berry Farm is home to the best ever sickly sweet, all American cinnamon rolls. Another great detour is the Fruit and Spice Park, a one-of-a-kind 35-acre tropical botanical garden with more than 500 varieties of fruit, nut and spice trees. BISCAYNE BAY
STRICTLY COME DANCING CONTESTANT GOT CRABBY AFTER GETTING DISQUALIFIED FOR DANCING ON MORE THAN TWO LEGS
Miami’s other famous National Park is Biscayne, where 95% of its 173,000 acres is under water, meaning it’s teeming with sea life and exotic sea plants. Only a five minute drive from downtown Miami, it is a peaceful paradise and is the backdrop for a wide range of eco-activities such as hammock walks, bike rides and kayak, snorkel and canoe trips. Any one of these activities will get you up close and personal with nature and if you time it right you can enjoy glorious sun rises or sunsets. Within the park boundaries you will find the glassy turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay, the longest stretch of mangrove forest left on Florida’s east coast. There are also living coral reefs to observe and 40 of the northernmost Florida Keys. Between April and September there are good opportunities to witness the sea turtle release programme at Crandon Park. Just on the edge of Biscayne Bay is the 450acre Deering Estate, home to an abundance of natural and archaeological resources, including forests of hardwood hammocks, globally endangered pine rockland, mangroves, salt marshes and rare and native plants. Nature here includes the elusive gray fox or the spotted skunk, which you won’t want to get angry!
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The Tesla Roadster is the only motorway-friendly 100% electric car, and it’s pretty sexy too. RECOGNISE drafted in MOBO award-winning DJ and TV presenter Trevor Nelson (MBE don’t you know) to get to grips with the car that is paving the way for the future of eco motoring.
words: REBECCA BANKS photography: NEIL RAJA
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esla is an American brand and its Roadster sports car epitomises everything that we’re about here at Recognise - it’s seriously stylish and environmentally friendly. This is a car that’s doing something no other vehicle on the road is at the moment so we wanted to put it to the test. As a man who likes his cars we called on the services of Trevor Nelson to put the Tesla through its paces for us. Recognise was one of the first magazines to get its hands on the new right-hand drive version, although the day we picked it up it had just been dropped back by the BBC, and it was very dirty indeed! The Roadster has been around for a couple of years now, with the righthand drive only arriving in the UK in February. It has a sleek and sporty body and racy interior features to give you a true sports car feel. But the most impressive thing about the Tesla is the technology that has been developed to achieve what no other manufacturer has managed so far. Besides its impressive performance, which takes the car from 0-60mph in just 3.6s, this car is more practical than many electric offerings on the market, with a range of over 240 miles when driven conservatively. So, what does Trevor look for in a car? “When I buy a car I like a combination of speed, performance and comfort,” he says. “A Tourer has always been my favourite kind and over the last few years I’ve driven Jaguars and Range Rovers. I’ve also got a classic Mercedes, which is built in a touring way. I like to be really comfortable in a car and I like a good performance.” The Tesla has a restricted speed limit of 130mph, no power steering and three performance settings, ranging from maximum performance to maximum efficiency. After a day out in the car, Trevor was impressed with the performance. “I’d never driven an electric or even a hybrid before this and I didn’t expect an electric car to have this performance – it was a shock. Technologically it’s brilliant and it’s like someone has put a legal concept car on the road. It’s very easy to drive which is a big plus, I love the pick up, the acceleration is unreal and it’s astoundingly quick. I love the burst of acceleration and it’s very smooth for a sports car. The lack of power steering is actually not an issue, it feels how it should be and I can take the little bumps with no issue. I’ve driven some really powerful cars, which have been brilliant, but you don’t have to do much work. You know you’re in a lively car in the Tesla and there’s quite a nice balance between the work you do and enjoying the ride. I’d love to take it on a race track to really see how it goes.” Contrary to popular belief, the car is not totally silent, although you don’t get the throaty roar that you would normally associate with a sports car. Does Trevor miss the engine sound? “I used to drive an early edition of the Jaguar XKR which had a real whining engine, so I’m kind of used to that sound when the engine picks up, but the whine is definitely something you have to get used to. This car is a bit windy at speed, it’s very pleasant in town and actually quite sedate, but on the motorway the wind noise is very noisy and for some people they wouldn’t want that for a couple of hours on the motorway. For that reason I’d use it as a summer car.” Down to details, and Trevor was impressed with the fitted as-standard iPod/ iPhone dock and sound system (for all you music lovers, this test drive took place to the soundtrack of Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3 album), making the car functional. Boot space was also approved as Trevor-friendly. “I DJ a fair bit and the boot is big enough to hold all my equipment. More importantly though, it holds my golf clubs! There are a few things in the interior that need
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The electric scooter and classic bicycle go wheel-to-wheel in the hunt for the best transport method for spring. We take a closer look at the pedals and power buttons to weigh up the pros and cons…
The Electric Scooter is part of the “HELLO!” (Honda Electric mobility Loop) products shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last October. By linking solar panels that supply electricity with battery electric vehicles that emit zero CO2 in use, Honda envisions the lowcarbon society of the near future.
You don’t have to move a muscle for it to whizz you from A to B (well, unless you happen upon a corner).
Nothing spices up the morning commute more than a sneaky back flip. Well, it looks easy enough (see Razor’s website www. razorextreme.co.uk).
Over 120 million electric bikes and scooters are on the road in China, making them the most popular choice after cars and public transport (many more and maybe the locals can stop wearing those pollution masks). The feeling of triumph as you effortlessly sail past queues of traffic can never be underestimated.
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Much more affordable than its petrol-fueled counterpart. So you can take your partner out for a slap-up meal with the difference (we’re not just here to help with your transport conundrums).
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With electric scooter sales set to explode in the UK, you can become an instant trend setter. Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone where you heard it.
The top speed of the average electric scooter is 12mph. Sounds good right? But you could cycle faster… With a charge time of 12 hours to give you just 45 minutes of running, this isn’t going to get you very far. Or you might find yourself pushing it home. The lack of noise is a double-edged sword. Great if you’re sneaking to that secret rendezvous, not so great as you’re almost undetectable to drivers in their noisy cars.
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If you cycle moderately for 30 minutes you’ll burn off around 300 calories. You’d have to drive a car for over two and a half hours to burn off the same amount. Air conditioning also comes as standard. Cycling is a great way to keep fit, shape up for the summer and shed those spare tyres. You’re also reducing the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Cycles are affordable and widely available. So you’ll not only be saving the world, but your precious time and money as well. Everyone in Amsterdam rides bikes and they can’t smile enough. It must be all that cycling, right? Who knows, you might actually enjoy cycling, which can lead to offroad mountain biking, road racing or even following in the tire marks of David Walliams and Laurence Dallagio and cycling for charity. (Page 42)
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Although reflective stripes and glow in the dark cycling shorts may keep you safer on the road, they’re hazardous for the wardrobe. Your boss is likely to frown upon the drowned rat/sweaty, out of breath look. Maybe not the best mode of transport for getting to an important meeting. Punctures are a constant pest and with no road recovery service for cycles, the fear of being stranded on the side of the road in the pouring rain is likely to be responsible for many a sleepless night. It’s a nuisance, but you might want to take a road safety course – it’ll come in very useful when negotiating bendy buses and blissfully unaware car drivers.
Gold Bike crystal edition by Aurumania; one of ten limited edition hand built bikes. Plated with 24 carat gold and adorned with more than 600 Swarovski crystals. The Rolls Royce of the bike world will cost you a staggering 80,000 euros and be delivered to you anywhere in the world via White Glove Service; just a suggestion. Or realistically, nip to your local Evans Cycles and then onto Halfords for some gold spray paint.
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For all of you diehard iPhone fans, now you too can do your bit. The new Novothink Surge is both a hardwearing case and a fully functional solar charger. With inbuilt solar panels, the Surge will continually provide your iPhone with power until it is fully charged. The case also has a USB connection for conventional charging but in theory your iPhone should never lose power. To calculate how much sun you’ll need to power your iPhone, visit www.novothink.com/solar-planner. There is also a Surge available for the iPod touch.
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Price: $79.95 (approx £52.00)
So now you’ve decided to invest in a solar powered charger, you need the perfect little gadget to do the job. The Freeloader Pico comes with both solar capabilities and a USB connection for charging emergencies and connects to most of the major phones on the market, as well as iPods and GPS. It takes ten hours to charge up from direct sunlight and 30 minutes to transfer the power to your device but its size (it fits in the palm of your hand) and stylish exterior (it could be mistaken for an MP3 player), ensure that you can carry it with you everywhere should your favourite toy run out of juice. A full charge will provide life to your phone for 35 hours, to your ipod for 14 hours and a GPS for 1 hour. Price £16.99 www.ethicalsuperstore.com
Use the daylight to brighten up night-time darkness with solar fairy lights; a BBQ party essential. Simply install the solar fairy lights and solar panel and away you go.
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Price: £39.99 www.solarcentre.co.uk
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THE FACTS The earth receives more energy from the sun in just one hour than the world uses in a whole year.
Price: £29.95 www.ethicalsuperstore.com
When it comes to music players, it’s safe to say that most of us would barely look twice at a product not made by Apple. But if you’re serious about making some planet-friendly changes to your lifestyle, switching to a more eco-friendly music device is one small step you can take. And with a respectable 4GM memory and a stylish exterior, the Toucan MP4 player is certainly a reasonable candidate. The integrated solar panel means you can charge it up in both natural and artificial light, eliminating the need for chargers altogether. So next time the battery dies during your favourite tune, a bit of sunbathing with put you back in business. Price: £99.49 www.ecogadgets.com
Although it is mostly grey and overcast, the UK receives slightly more than half of the solar energy received at the equator and around 65-70% of the sun that Spain gets. Solar generation does not produce electricity at night, which is a particular problem in high northern and southern latitude countries; energy demand is highest in winter, while availability of solar energy is lowest. This could be overcome by buying power from countries closer to the equator during winter months. Globally, solar generation is the fastest growing source of energy, seeing an annual average growth of 35% over the past few years. Japan, Europe, China, US and India are the major growing investors in solar energy.
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Now that the sun is out we’re officially in summer-time mode. And while the sun is busy charging up all your amazing solar powered products, why not cool off with this solar powered mini desk fan from the ethical superstore. The perfect eco-friendly antidote to long hot desk-bound days.
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HOME GROWN With Stella McCartney and Colin Firth as two of their biggest fans, it’s easy to see how Farm Designs has rocketed to success…
words: TUI MCLEAN photo: ALAN DUNCAN
COAT STAND £800 GUY BROWN
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FRIC FLOOR LAMP £520 GILES MILLER coat hanger £95 for 3 jna sebastian he
Hanging back
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COne head chair £600 GUY BROWN
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0 PIG £20 WN GUY BRO
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small table £150 alexena cayless
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GRENADE SA LT AND PEP PER £50 sebastian h ejna
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HIP FLASK £ 45 alexena ca yless
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Farm Designs formed whilst the members were still at Loughborough University’s School of Art and Design, and it was during their final year that they began working closely with one another producing final major projects. They tell me their course tutors soon picked up on their developing relationship “which wasn’t difficult to see, we were always first in the studio in the morning, and didn’t leave until the building was being shut for the evening”, and they were encouraged to continue with the venture after graduation.
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Farm always carefully considers the source of their materials used, and the environmental impacts these have. Whenever possible they use eco friendly sources, such as timber from sustainable forests, recycling products or objects or simply using materials that can be recycled. Recognise magazine caught up with the Farmers whilst they took a quick break from their current exhibition at the Design Museum. So why the name? The name Farm was something we saw to be quite British. This has an obvious importance in our classical sometimes witty British products. The idea of cultivating our ideas then served to set the name in stone. What materials inspire you? Inspiration often comes from the process of a material rather than simply the material itself. The recent commission for the Design Museum, for instance,
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Farm Designs has exploded onto the design scene with an almighty bang. Made up of four members — Sebastian Hejna, Giles Miller, Alexena Cayless and Guy Brown — these ‘Farmers’ could not have been further from what I was expecting when I first heard about them. Quintessentially British? Yes. Welly-clad eccentrics? No. These edgy Londonites are currently taking over furniture fashion with their fresh take on conventional furniture.
ALEXENA CAYLESS
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ADIO ON SKATEBOARD: “This is pretty retro.” psyco stik complete skateboard: Vision Street Wear £129.99
JAMES ON UNICYCLE: “I thought you weren’t going to make me look daft! I’ll fall into the canal on this.”
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16” unicycle: MISSION CYCLES £70
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OUR KIDS Love Music, Hate Racism supporters Kid British got the 10:45 train from Manchester to test out wheely alternative ways of getting around.
interview: CLEO DAVIS photography: STEFANO GALLI
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JAMES ON SCOOTER: “I RECKON I could pick up some speed on this but it’s a bit bulky for a city scooter.” boardwalk scooter: MISSION CYCLES £70-£140
ADIO ON BMX TRIKE: “I like this bmx style trike. i might ride it back up to manchester with james on the back.” BMX trike: MISSION CYCLES £488
R: Can you sum your music up in three words? Adio: The only way I could do it is indie, hip-hop and ska.
Who or what is do you get your inspiration from? James: I don’t know, I think being from Manchester you always have that at the back of your mind because there are a lot of great artists that have come from there. It’s also the everyday surroundings of Manchester as an inspiration. The only people who inspire me really - as cheesy as it sounds - are the guys in my band because, if someone brings a good song, that’s my competition. I’ve got to bring a good song as well. Or it doesn’t get used.
Do you ever have any arguments about it? Adio: Everyday. We’re like brothers so we know we have to just move on. Usually it goes to the majority, you might not like something but if it’s three against one, then get on with it.
What does success mean to you? Adio: These days a lot people get into music for fame, a lot of people want to get famous. We don’t. I have being in music since I was young so if I can earn a living out of what I love to do and I let people hear it, then that to me is success. We’re not out there to try and be like ‘oh look at us’. If something like that comes then we won’t shy away from success in the form, but we not trying to be in everyone’s faces, if you like what we’re doing then you’ll get on board with it, and if you don’t, then fair dos. (James) We don’t want to make music that we don’t enjoy because if you don’t, you’ve got to walk down the street knowing you made that crap song.
There’s no one with more power in the band? James: No, no one, anyone who thinks that gets a little smack on the bum!
Tell me about the message in your songs James: It’s not political, it’s more like social commentary – we only talk about
Who is the main songwriter? Adio: All of us. It depends on certain songs – different people will obviously have the first idea and then after that everyone else will put their little bit ... like knights at the round table we debate.
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Down-to-earth boys from indie hip-hop band Kid British took some time out to speak to Cleo Davis at Recognise HQ about their music, singing for charity and what they would do if X Factor ever had a ‘Kid British Night’. The Mancunian boys even got transport savvy with this summer must-have skateboards, scooters and bikes.
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Y R O T C E DIR Abel and Cole www.abelandcole.co.uk
Freeloader Pico www.ethicalsuperstore.com
Nike Brasil www.selfridges.com
Ada Zanditon www.beyondthevalleystore.com
Free range chicken breast www.tesco.com
Nude www.nudeskincare.com
American Apparel www.americanapparel.net
From Somewhere www.fromsomewhere.co.uk
Novothink Surge www.novothink.com
Asda Organic www.asda.com
Funky Little Darlings www.ecocentric.co.uk
Origins www.origins.co.uk
ASuitThatFits.com www.asuitthatfits.com
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Organic Glam www.theorganicpharmacy.com
ASOS www.asos.com
Heather Blake www.heatherblake.co.uk
Organic Pharmacy www.theorganicpharmacy.com
Bare Escentuals www.bareescentuals.co.uk
Inika www.inikacosmetics.co.uk
Oxfam www.oxfam.org 01865 473 727
Bare Minerals www.debenhams.com
Ivana Basilotta www.ivanabasilotta.co.uk
People Tree www.peopletree.co.uk
Beyond Retro www.beyondretro.com 020 7729 9001
Jacob Kimmie www.jacobkimmie.com
Prophetik http://prophetik.mybisi.com
Jamie Jewellery www.jamie.uk.com
Puma www.pumaphone.com
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Junky Styling www.junkystyling.com
Sainsburys Organic www.sainsburys.co.uk
Kayu www.kayudesign.com
Sika www.sikadesigns.co.uk
The Kind Life www.amazon.com
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Kuyichi www.kuyichi.com
Swarovski Crystallized
Kyoku www.kyokuformen.com
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Les Fleurs www.lesfleursdebach.co.uk
Tara Smith www.tesco.com
Lu Flux www.luflux.com
Tara Starlet www.tarastarlet.com
MADE www.made.co.uk
Terra Plana www.terraplana.com
Mark Liu www.stique.com
Tesco Organic www.tesco.com
Merle O’Grady www.kabiri.co.uk
Tesla www.teslamotors.com
Beyond Skin www.beyondskin.co.uk Beatrix Ong www.beatrixong.com The Body Shop www.thebodyshop.co.uk Boots Botanics www.boots.com Christopher Raeburn www.brownsfashion.com Citizen www.citizenwatch.com Cowshed www.cowshedonline.com Creative Recreation www.harveynichols.com Dagmar www.houseofdagmar.se Dermalogica www.dermalogica.co.uk DKNY www.dkny.com EJF www.ejfoundation.org/shop Minimarket www.minimarket.se Erickson Beamon www.brownsfashion.com 020 7259 0202 Eva Evanovich www.notonthehighstreet.com
Minna www.minna.co.uk
Tom Mahon www.englishcut.com +44 1228 561 700 Topman www.topman.com 0844 984 0265
Monkey Genes www.monkeegenes.co.uk +44 1629 636 260
Topshop www.topshop.com 0844 984 0264
Neal’s Yard www.nealsyardremedies.com
Toucan www.ecogadgets.com
Nina Dolcetti www.ninadolcetti.com
Where www.fashion-conscience.com
Farm www.farmdesigns.co.uk
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Feroz Akbar +65 6423 0377
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Fortnum and Mason www.fortnumandmason.com
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