Welcome to Citizen Femme’s December 2024 Sustainable Edit, showcasing the sustainable collectives on our radar this month.
Including an award-winning family hotel in the Dolomites, sustainably sourced Australian Merino wool knitwear, and a farm-to-fork restaurant located on Chelsea’s iconic King’s Road, these are a few of the names making a positive change this December.
FASHION
With designs that can be traced directly back to a small community of suppliers and Australian wool producers, Iris & Wool are passionate about supporting their local industry. A commitment that has recently led to them being awarded the internationally recognised Woolmark certification mark, a deserved accolade for their ongoing sustainability efforts. Each item is designed with longevity in mind, foregoing trends in favour of limited production runs and a timeless aesthetic. From cotton and wool mix slip dresses – perfect for the Australian summer – to cashmere-feel cable knits for cooler climes, be sure to bookmark for effortless knitwear that won’t impact the planet.
BEAUTY
Skin Matters
Located in the leafy neighbourhood of Holland Park, Skin Matters is a tranquil and nurturing oasis for skin treatments founded by award-winning facialist Joanne Evans. Honing in on her experience from previous pop-ups in the Tribeca and Sag Harbour areas of New York, Joanne set about creating an intimate and homely environment with a very different feel to that of your typical white-walled clinic. Furniture is second-hand from vintage shops on the Goldborne and Harrow Road, or belonged to her late-mother, who sadly passed away while Joanne was opening Skin Matters. Walls are insulated with recycled paper, paint is non-toxic, the towels and mitts are organic and everything is washed with chemical-free detergents. An in-store recycling initiative for empty packaging gives back £1 to each client against future purchases and the empties are then sent off to be made into playgrounds and other surfaces. Joanne’s first skincare product, Calming Gel, has been formulated with over 30 years of practical skin expertise and is free from oils, waxes, petroleum and parabens.
STAY
Sonnwies Dolomites
Deep within the Dolomites, in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the South Tyrol mountain range, Sonnwies is the ideal retreat for discerning families looking for a sustainable, yet luxury, family holiday. The hotel’s outstanding location in nature sets it apart, something the Hinteregger family recognise and work hard to preserve and protect. The on-site organic farm helps teach young guests the importance of nature through targeted activities, such as encouraging children to fetch their breakfast eggs from the chickens in the morning, feeding the cows, and helping to churn butter for the restaurant. Great emphasis is placed on working with local and regional suppliers, as well as making every effort to employ staff from the village or neighbouring communities. Food here is exceptional, with a focus on regional and seasonal produce that, where possible, is from the hotel’s own organic culinary garden and farm. Guests can expect to enjoy homemade farm butter, freshly baked bread and wild herb salad bowls every evening, before tucking into decadent five-course dinners that showcase the region’s delicious Alpine and Mediterranean cuisine.
JEWELLERY
Ottoman Hands
Since the brand’s launch in 2010, Ottoman Hands has been on a mission to create timeless, sustainable jewellery that doesn’t cost the earth. Adopting sustainable practices from the outset, recycled metals are used throughout and production runs are limited to avoid unnecessary waste. The name, Ottoman Hands, was inspired by the artisans who help to create the brand’s unique jewellery. Recycled brass jewellery is handmade in a small workshop in the heart of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, while the recycled sterling silver collection is crafted by independent suppliers in India. Packaging is plastic-free, 100 per cent recyclable and biodegradable, and to reduce the recent carbon-footprint impact from Black Friday sales, one mangrove tree will be planted – in either Madagascar, Mozambique or Kenya via the Eden Reforestation Project – for every order placed.
EAT
Rabbit British Bistro
Under the helm of the Gladwin Brothers, Rabbit British Bistro relaunched in October this year, a decade after it first flung open its doors in 2014. Celebrating ten years of culinary innovation, this new chapter looks towards an even more sustainable future, with a fresh redesign and exciting new menu offering. The reimagined Rabbit British Bistro boasts a striking French-café-style façade, with it’s striped awning and impossible-to-miss green paintwork it’s an enticing (and must-visit) pit-stop after an afternoon spent shopping on the King’s Road. The refit has made use of the old leather from previous benches across new seating, replacement flooring comes from reclaimed wood, while the upholstery is made with all recycled materials. The new menu celebrates the very best of British food, championing wild, foraged and locally sourced ingredients that are reflective of the season. Produce is sourced from independent farms that use minimal intervention and a biodynamic approach, while fish is line-caught on British day-boats. The kitchen operates a zero-waste, nose-to-tail approach that helps keeps dishes sustainable and exciting. Don’t miss the mushroom marmite eclairs with confit egg yolk, seriously moreish partridge ‘popcorn’, or the duck breast cooked to perfection on the open-fire Robata grill – which adds a theatrical element to the bistro’s already incredibly charming and intimate dining atmosphere.
Lead image: SONNWIES
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