Home Section

The past year or so has been hard with isolation but it’s finally being fully lifted. Some of you are probably fed up at looking at the same things for months on end, or even eating the same products. So, why not try something new or even redecorate? So, we at Madia & Matilda have decided to show off some of the new products we now have in our Home Section. 

Homeware

Candle Holder?

It’s nearing the chilly seasons, where the pretty coloured leaves fall and the days become shorter. Candles happen to appear the most during this time of year. Perfect for sustainable homes. 

Candle Holder

Barleycup Coffee?

This coffee brand is a natural choice for those who like tea and coffee but are trying to cut down on their caffeine intake. Made from roasted cereal grains such as barley, rye and chicory. Barleycup drinks are free from caffeine and contain no artificial additives. It’s also a part of our sustainable and organic food choices. Feel free to take a look at the options we have in store. 

Barleycup Caramel

Chocolate?

Here at Madia & Matilda, we do a wide range of foods, including sweet treats.

For example our range of Booja Booja Chocolate Truffles! This delicious vegan and organic treat is a must have! Personally I’d recommend the Almond Salted Caramel one. Chocolate Truffles with chewy, gooey, sea salted caramel and roasted Italian almond swoons, sounds good, no? 

Salted Caramel

Fitted Bed Sheets?

Buying new bedding is always a good feeling, especially when it’s put onto your bed and you sleep in it. The feeling is euphoric in a way, wouldn’t you say so? So, how about taking a look at our luxurious, Egyptian cotton bed sheets, in 4 different sizes and multiple vibrant colours! 

Fitted Sheets

Wooden Dinnerware?

Every household has some form of dinnerware, and it’s mostly made of ceramic materials such as glass, porcelain, bone china and many other options. Ever felt like changing it up, besides the patterns or colours? 

We have a great fit for those sustainable homes. Why not take a look at our Wooden Dinnerware? Perfect for your dining table! Available in 5 different sizes and shapes. 

Wooden Dinnerware

Above is only a small selection of a big, wide range of home appliances and goodies that we have within our store. If you’re interested in anything or would like to take a look at what else we have to offer then please feel free to follow the link below! 

https://www.madiamatilda.co.uk/allclothing-madiamatilda/search%3Fkeyword%3Dhome

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Living More Sustainably in Autumn

During Autumn the daylight becomes shorter and the temperatures are lower. Due to this you may find yourself turning on more lights within your home and keeping the heaters on for longer. It’s typical for us to do that but let’s keep in mind that being sustainable is relevant all year round.

So, here are some tips on exactly that! 

Sustainable Matters

Unplugging
Saving energy is the most common way of staying sustainable. During this time of the year the energy price will go up due to the amount of sources you will end up using to keep warm. Just unplug the things you aren't using, especially the electronic devices. Chargers could be plugged in and still draw power, even if the device isn’t on charge. Bringing up the electric bill and wasting energy. So, we suggest unplugging chargers and all electronics when not in use.

Keeping Cosy

We all want to keep cosy. This can also link into your energy bills, as we tend to gravitate towards putting the heating on as mentioned previously. So, maybe it’s time to start looking into something that would be of use and would also avoid rising bills but also keep you nice and comfortable. Below are just a few examples:

• Insulation - This isn’t something you usually think about during the warmer weather but can be a big help any time, especially during the colder seasons. Adding insulation to rooms, behind wall heaters and in the ceilings will help with both cold and hot weather. It lowers your energy bill as the temperature within your home will remain the same. So, no need for heaters being constantly on.

• Thermal Curtains - Thermal curtains, or thicker ones, can help insulate your windows by preventing the cold air from looming in and keeping the warmth inside. Having them drawn closed during the night will provide extra insulation.

• Door Draft Stoppers - Ever notice how most doors tend to have gaps, especially near the bottom? Well those little areas tend to let out the warm air you want to keep and let in the cold breeze. A door draft stopper is made specifically to be laid at the bottom of the doors to cover up those locations and to keep the chilly air out. I’d highly suggest investing in one. However, if you don’t have the money you could also just use a thick blanket, one you preferably don’t use, and put that near the bottom of the door. It works just as efficiently!  Door Draft Stoppers are Uber sustainable, you could make one like we do with off cuts of old materials, if you're up for the sewing challenge

Garden Work

We know it’s colder out and it seems cosier to sit at home curled up in blankets, with a nice warm drink and watching a movie or two but taking the time to move around daily and getting fresh air will help you during the cooler months. 

If you have a garden, spend some time getting it ready for the upcoming seasons. Autumn is the perfect time to plant many trees. Doing it around this time will give them enough time to develop a root system, deep within the ground, over the winter months, reducing their water needs during spring. 

Composting

If you didn’t know, there are a lot of things that you could use to create compost, especially during Autumn. Those pumpkins you use during Halloween? Instead of just throwing them away, you could roast the seeds and make a delicious snack! Pumpkin seeds are highly nutritious, containing fibre and essential nutrients such as magnesium and zinc. The rest of the pumpkin will compost down quite quickly, however if the pumpkin is on the thick side, then it will take a little longer to break down. So, it’s suggested you cut it into pieces if you want it to rot down quicker or disappear into the bulk of the compost. 

Now, Autumn is known for it’s falling leaves. Most people will add the fallen leaves to their garden chores by raking, bagging and throwing the leaves away. Adding to the waste piles. What most don’t know is that fallen leaves are good for your lawn. Dead leaves are part of the life cycle for plants and soil. Leaves are basically free compost from mother nature! Leaving leaf piles can cause the grass below to die, so it’s recommended to gather the leaves and then distribute them evenly throughout your garden. Leaves help a lot more than you think and can insulate the soil throughout the winter, protecting the life that thrives within the dirt below. 

Gardening

Long-Term Clothing

This is an overall good idea when purchasing clothing. You want to make sure it lasts and can be suitable for other weather types, or just to keep aside for Autumn without having to buy new clothing each year. You could even go through your current clothes that fit the season and upcycle them. Repair them in other words or if you don’t have the experience to do it yourself, you could always bring it into the Madia & Matilda store. We upcycle clothing too, and if you have a specific idea for how you want your clothes to look then we’d be glad to listen. 

Upcycle

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

New in Autumn

Autumn is approaching faster than any of us anticipated. This means your summer wear won’t be appropriate for the upcoming weather. Which is why you’re here! Looking for something new and suitable for Autumn’s breeze.

If this is your first time discovering Madia & Matilda, we are a brand dedicated to producing sustainable garments. We are focused on zero waste, hand crafted, ethical women's wear. With that in mind you are just in time for their new product arrivals.

New In Store

The Lounge Suit

Lounge wear has become a popular outfit choice over the Covid years. It’s cosy inside and outside the house. Perfect for running those daily duties! So, why not try it out? This lounge suit is comfortable, breathable and ideal for the upcoming weather change.

Lounge Suit 

Slim Cut Trousers

Shorts are just not enough to keep you warm. So, it’s time to ditch them and bring out some trousers. How about checking out these essential ankle length slim fit trousers. Designed to fit your body type! It’s also a great essential.

Slim Cut Trousers

Polo Neck Polo neck tops and sweaters have always been in fashion during this time of the year. So, how about you check out our simple jersey top, with long sleeves and a ruched polo neck. A choice for day-to-day wear.

Polo Neck Top

Cotton Coats

During this season, the first thing people tend to gravitate towards are coats. We now have a new range of up-cycled wool coals

In recent years the coat in fashion seems to be Puffer Coats or Jackets. The coats and jackets are usually padded, filled with down feathers. The outer layer is usually synthetic fiber such as nylon or polyester. Now, that’s not very Eco-friendly. You can come across ethical coats; therefore we would suggest researching and considering the best option; why not try out coats that are made with organic cotton, lyocell or soy fabric.

Organic Cotton Jacket

Jumpers/Sweaters

Jumpers are traditionally made out of wool but can also now be made up of cotton, synthetic fibres, or any combinations of what has been mentioned. Ignore the synthetic fibre and you’ve got yourself some non polluting jumpers!

Wool is one of the oldest high-performing, sustainable materials around. It has several reliable attributes, such as: rapidly renewable, biodegradable, recyclable and can be produced organically. So, a good old woolly jumper doesn’t seem to go out of fashion during this time of the year.

Got any old jumpers lying about? Here's a suggestion! How about fixing them up? Repairing old jumpers, or even combining two into one. Recycling is becoming apart of everyone's daily life, so why not give it a go with worn out clothes.

Over-sized Sweater

If you liked what you read and found it interesting why not check out our site. We have many more choices in our store. Along with some new items coming soon!

https://www.madiamatilda.co.uk/

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

How to recycle and repurpose beauty packaging:

Over 120 billion units of plastic are produced by and for the beauty industry every year of which 79% are dumped into landfill sites. A recycling revolution is now underway to increase the amount of plastics that are eventually recycled above the current 9%. Not all beauty packaging is inherently recyclable, however, which may cause conventional recycling centres to deny them. All beauty packaging can be disposed of in ways which cause less environmental damage, as no product by nature should be destined for landfill:

Beauty Products

Household recycling centres:

Recycling centres accept clean, empty glass and plastic/PET bottles, aerosols and inherently recyclable (often cardboard) packaging. Plastic lids can be recycled but not plastic pumps or trigger heads. Once clean, pumps may potentially be re-used within other liquid or cream-based products. Be cautious to not pour large amount of liquid or cream cosmetics down the sink, as the chemical/artificial ingredients may pollute water supplies. Instead, be sure to use each product maximally before disposing of it.

 

Recyclable Products

Recycling programmes:

The organisation TerraCycle gas partnered with cosmetic brands (namely Garnier) to provide a free recycling programme for mascara, lipstick, makeup palettes, sheet masks and roll-on deodorants. Empty beauty products can be taken to their allocated drop-off points where they are then re-purposed and/or recycled. Empty bottles of branded products may also be accepted the likes of Kiehls, L’Occitane and The Body Shop, in exchange for recycling rewards, freebies and discounts. TerraCycle has also partnered with the dental hygiene brand Colgate to provide recycling drop-off points for empty toothbrush and toothpastes.

 

A TerraCycle Zero Waste Box can be ordered online and delivered to your door, at a low price. The box is to be filled with clean beauty empties (including:  shampoo bottles and caps, conditioner bottles and caps, hair gel tubes and caps, non-pressurised hair spray bottles, hair paste plastic jars and caps, lip balm tubes, face soap dispensers and tubes, lotion bottles, lotion tubes, lotion dispensers and jars, non-pressurised shaving foam tubes, lip gloss tubes, mascara tubes, eye liner pencils and cases, eye shadow tubes, concealer tubes and sticks) and sent back to the company’s address for recycling.

 

Makeup Products

Upcycling:

There are various creative ways to re-purpose empty packaging. Once clean, empty glass and plastic bottles can be used to create flower jars, jewellery boxes and makeup holders. Empty spray bottles may be filled with water to refresh plants or essential oils for room sprays. Dry, clean mascara wands may also be used again as brow spoolies or an entirely new mascara brush.

Curated Brands 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

How to have a more sustainable summer:

Leah - Wrap Top

Throughout the summer, an abundance of time is spent in nature. Although the sunshine offers positive physical and mental health benefits, action must be taken to prevent an unhealthy rise in global surface temperatures. A sustainable summer can be achieved, by engaging in easy zero-waste habits and participating in enjoyable activities.

 

Paper Straws - Home

1.      Always carry a re-usable bottle

Over 7.7 billion plastic bottles are used, within the UK each year [Water UK, 2018]. Single-use plastics accumulate either in landfill where they release greenhouse gases as they decompose or within marine environments where they are ingested by/cause harm to life underwater. Approximately 340 million plastic bottles would be saved by an individual, by carrying a refillable water bottle. Therefore, as temperatures rise, a refillable water bottle is essential for remaining hydrated without harming the planet.

 

2.      Eat seasonal fruit and vegetables

Over one third of fresh products is imported from climate-vulnerable countries into the UK. Transporting fresh produce thousands of miles across the world generates a mass volume of greenhouse gases which accelerate global warming. Seasonal fruit and vegetables grown locally are fresher, healthier, more tasty and have a lower carbon footprint that others imported out-of-season.

 

Accessories - Curated Brands 

3.      Purchase reef-safe sun protection

Conventional sun-creams often contain oxybenzone, octocrylene and octinoxate which disrupt hormones and eventually enter oceans once washed of human skin. over 14,000 tons of toxic sunscreen enter the ocean each year; bleaching coral reefs and poisoning marine life [Molvar, 2018]. When purchasing sun protection, look for reef-safe formulas that do not contain oxybenzone, octocrylene and octinoxate.

 

4.        Ditch the car; walk, run or cycle in the sunshine

The transport industry consumes the largest amount of carbon (through petroleum) and emits the highest volume of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Travelling by foot or by bike generates zero carbon emissions and therefore are two simple forms of climate activism. Walking and cycling are also proven to have physical and psychological health benefits which may be noticed with only 30 minutes of either being performed 5 days a week.

 

5.      Ditch or thrift summer trends

New fashion trends emerge with the launch of spring/summer collections. Each year, the same products re-enter stores in new colours or slightly-altered silhouettes. As the fashion industry was coined the second most polluting, refusing to engage in short-lived trends will help to reduce the volume of low-quality, disposable garments eventually entering landfill. The key to a gorgeous and sustainable summer wardrobe, it to re-wear and love items already in your wardrobe. However, if you do fancy purchasing something new for the season, shop at ethical boutiques (including Madia & Matilda) or second-hand stores.

 

Mel - Tunic Dress

6.      Dry clothing naturally/ on the line

Drying clothing outside requires zero energy and will prevent fabric damages occurring within a tumble-drying machine. If you do not have access to an outdoors space, clothing may be hung inside on (bathroom/ bedroom/kitchen) rails above a towel.

 

7.      Plan a staycation

Aviation is the most carbon-intensive, polluting mode of transport. If you are in need of break from your daily routine, discover and travel to new places within your local or nearby areas. As well as saving time and potentially money, staycations save a significant amount of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.

 

Imogen - Top

8.      Unplug, go outside and enjoy the sunshine

A digital detox is proven to improve sleep, decrease stress/anxiety levels and enhance cognitive functions. As well as improving your mental health and supplementing you with vitamin D, switching off and unplugging technology will reduce energy consumption.  

 

 

References:

Water UK. (2018). National Refill Day. Available at: https://www.water.org.uk/news-item/national-refill-day/

Molvar, K. (2018). ‘Is Your Sunscreen Bad for the Planet? Here’s How to Choose an Ocean-Safe Formula’, August 14, Vogue. Available at: https://www.vogue.com/article/reef-safe-sunscreens-oxybenzone-free-sea-turtles-environment-stream2sea

 Sincerely Madia & Matilda

8 social media accounts to follow

 

Since the global pandemic, the digital world has become used more over the last few months than ever before. Popular social media apps such as Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter are booming. We thought since we are all on social media at the moment, we have come up with some great sustainable accounts that you can follow and browse their useful content. 

Instagram: 

@besmacc 

Besma is a lifestyle blogger who is inspired by sustainable fashion and living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. She shares great posts about sustainable brands and tips.

@mrspress

Clare Press is the first sustainability editor at Vogue magazine and always has sustainable fashion go to's and information that is useful for eco-friendly fashion.

@Dominiquedrakeford 

Dominique is known for her blog series and sustainable style and culture which she promotes and explores on her Instagram page.

Twitter: 

@sustaincities

Sustainable Cities Collective is a sustainable community for leaders of urban and metropolitan areas, providing resources for people who connected to sustainable development.

@greenbiztweets

Green Biz tweets are known for being a Twitter account that is based on green ideas and shares these with the public to inspire and educate.

@sustainbrands

Sustainable Brands focus on tweeting about inspiring brands to lean towards sustainability to encourage an eco-friendly future in fashion and lifestyle.

TikTok:

Tik Tok has become increasingly popular since the global pandemic came about, it is a quick and easy way to access social media posts.

@acteevism 

Megan McSherry is known for being one of the first sustainable TikTokers, she advocates for change and works in sustainable campaigns, she uses her platform to educate people on how to become conscious consumers.

@stan

Tristan Detwiler utilises his platform to talk about and promote upcycling of clothing, sharing his story, and inspiring others.

Pinterest boards to follow

Restitchstance 

They show where to shop for eco & ethical fashion, educating readers on what fast fashion is and what fair trade and ethical clothing means for us as consumers.

Splendid Moon | All About Sustainability 

They show us where to buy sustainable kitchen and home products, working on getting rid of plastic and harmful materials in the house.

Going Zero Waste: eco-friendly lifestyle tips, recipes, and DIYs 

This board is great for giving general, daily life, and sustainable living tips such as what you should stop buying and begin making and products that have zero waste to buy and use in your home. 

Images from: https://pixabay.com/images/search/tik%20tok/

Sincerely Madia & Matilda 

Style Spotlight - Linen

If lightweight linen doesn't already feature in your warm-weather wardrobe, it's time to embrace its airy charms. An easy-to-wear staple with a little touch of luxury, a linen top works from the office to weekend brunch, season after season. Our chic and simple collection is a cut above the rest...

This season our carefully curated selection of contemporary and timeless 

pieces are perfectly paired 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda