ECO-FRIENDLY materials are non-toxic to people and the environment as well as being biodegradable or recyclable. They don’t necessarily have to be natural fibers (produced by plants or animals), some synthetic fibers (produced by humans) can also be considered good for the world. Also, and confusingly, not all natural fibers are eco-friendly. It’s all about their overall impact on people and th...

How do a DJ duo deal with isolation? We asked Amsterdam DJ’s Homecooking - Rey Adrade & Leonidas Diamantis - about how they are staying connected and creative during the current situation. To many people W.F.H. means spending days on end in Zoom meetings. But what does W.F.H. mean to a DJ duo, and how have you managed to stay connected? L: We talk a lot. We analyze records we love, constan...

Aniela Parys is a project based on the revival of sustainable clothing manufacturing, photography, artist collaborations.  From their Barcelona studio they design with a focus on local sourcing and production, and sustainable fabrics. Aniela Parys is also the name of the designer and founder of the brand, we chatted to Aniela to find out a bit more about them. If you had to describe Aniela Pary...

MAKE are a Cardiff based brand taking a unique and imaginative approach to fabric-first, zero-waste design using deadstock materials.  We chatted to founder, Sam Osborne to get to know a bit more about MAKE; where they've come from, the drive behind what they do today, and what the future holds. If you had to describe MAKE in 2 words what would it be? Progressive – Agnostic. What inspired you...

Everyone is handing out tote bags like they are disposable. But what about the impact they make on the world? Making a cotton tote uses up resources like water and energy and puts chemical fertilisers and CO2 into the world. If you look at the lifecycle impact, you would have to use a tote bag 173 times to match the carbon footprint of a plastic bag. (*)  Everyone we know has stacks of surplu...

We've got some tunes to lift your mood at home courtesy of the first PARO Mix Tape from Jack Dolo. It's upbeat, eclectic and brings the good vibes, just like PARO STORE. Have a listen, have a dance and share the love with your mates. Listen on soundcloud: PARO MIX TAPE 01 W/ JACK DOLO

At PARO we love good design. For us, this means awesome products that: 1. You connect with; 2. Have great functionality and aesthetic; 3. Make a positive impact on the world. It’s estimated that the choices made during a product’s design phase dictates more than 80% of its impact on the world. We only stock brands who prioritize reducing this impact in their design process. Some people call thi...

Sustainability has become a bit of a buzzword these days, and is often used without really knowing what it means. As a designer, sustainability is highly nuanced and considered hundreds of times throughout the design and production process - from patterns, to material choices, and where and how to produce. Inevitably this also means making choices and deciding where to focus. There is no “right...

Mia Larsson makes her unique, up-cycled jewelery by hand in her studio in Stockholm. We caught up with her to find out more about her inspiration and process. Mia, your jewellery line is made entirely from recycled, up-cycled and compostable materials - why did you decide to take this approach? I studied for a Master Degree in Arts at the Jewelry Department of Konstfack University of Arts and ...

How often do you know exactly who made the clothes you wear? Well if you receive a Dom Amsterdam bag you can know for sure that it was carefully crafted in Amsterdam by Mohamad. Mohamad is originally from Syria where he worked for 30 years as a tailor for TV stations and commercial partners. And then during the crisis, he worked as a volunteer managing a clothing factory of the Sons of Palestin...

Dom Amsterdam's have set up their entire business model to produce in the most sustainable and ethical way. Materials play a big part in this, and they only use residual materials for the production of their bags. This includes old clothing, curtains and cut-off residues from companies. Huge volumes of textiles are sent to landfill every year - the U.N. estimates that the fashion industry is re...