Area Code: In Shoreditch this Christmas

Shoreditch

When you throw around words like "trendy", "hip" and "ultimate cool", you expect something pretty special. We've rounded up a few of the unmissable delights of London's creative hub, including art, fashion and drinks. Ladies and Gents— welcome to Shoreditch!

Image credit: www.thestageshoreditch.com

Lara Intimates is the love child of friends Cindy and Faith. They created the company after discovering how poor conditions were for workers in the lingerie industry, particularly in China. Garments by Lara Intimates are "made of material that would have otherwise gone to landfill", reducing waste produced by the fast fashion obsession, which applies to lingerie too. Based normally in Soho, the brand is holding a pop-up shop in Shoreditch on the 8th of December— and as they say on their website, "pants make nice gifts". We're sold!

Image credit: Lara Intimates

Blitz: a vintage-lover's dream. Possibly Europe's biggest vintage shop, Blitz is described in the New York Times as "a contemporary art exhibition". Stuffed with hand-picked garments to drool over, we wouldn't miss this one for the world! 

Aida is a boutique store that we love and is like minded to us offering a very stylish selection of everything from socks to stationary. With a huge range of clothing and homeware to choose from, where better to go for Christmas gifts other than us (obviously)? Heck, where better to go to treat yourself?!

Image credit: Cosy Mag

You've pounded the streets for hours and now it's basically dark (and probably drizzling), and all you want is to sit down and boast about your fantastic purchases over a drink. Best classy Shoreditch bar?

Nightjar is a speakeasy-style bar, described as "sexy AF" by one visitor on its website. It's wildly popular (for good reason!) so you're advised to book a table. Team our gorgeous Carly dress with an oversized jacket for some laid-back vibes for the occasion!

Vida Bakery, a cute cafe for the working lunchbreak or to get someone a little sweet treat thats vegan and lovely! 

Who can resist a good cupcake? Not us! We've tried these and they're delicious. Drop and sit down, take a moment to savour the goodness... We recommend the Cookie cupcake!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Sustainable Christmas

Happy Sustainable Christmas!

It’s a well-known fact that we all enjoy indulging ourselves a little more than usual at Christmas – whether it be by buying our loved ones more gifts planned, treating yourself while Christmas shopping (cos that shizzle is exhausting!), or having to unzip your jeans after dinner. But spoiling ourselves this season does not mean we need to spoil our planet too.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy a sustainable Christmas this year. Challenge accepted? 

1) Sustainable Christmas Trees

Christmas is a massive tree brushing the ceiling of your living room, adorned with glittery baubles and lights and memories of Christmases past, right? Doesn't have to be! Why not try an artificial tree for a more Sustainable Christmas – these can be bought from most shops and last on average up to 20 years.

Not only that, but they come in all shapes and sizes – for example, there is the classic artificial tree, but also more unconventional trees such as this stunning steel tree above. Stick it away in the loft when January rolls around and re-use every year!

Another option for a sustainable Christmas tree would be to rent one! Yes, you read that right. There are now companies all over the UK, such as Forever Green, Christmas Tree Rentals, or Living Christmas who specialise in growing Christmas trees in pots. You simply order yours, they deliver it and you water it every day. Then, come January, the company comes to pick it back up and look after it all year until it gets rented again the following Christmas. The benefit of this is that trees are not simply being planted to be chopped right down again come Christmas time. Here at M&M, we think renting Christmas trees is a pretty great idea and will certainly be renting ours from now on!

2) Eco-friendly decorations

There is nothing prettier than an autumnal wreath on the front door at Christmas time and our friends at Fleur de Rue in Stroud Town Centre are selling the most stunning wreaths that would look amazing in any home this winter!

Why not pop down to their stall and have a little nosey for yourself at their beautiful pieces?

3) Recycle your tree!

You do not have to rent a tree or buy a fake one to be sustainable this Christmas. Make sure to recycle your tree when Christmastime is over and ensure you're not contributing to the 90% that end up in a landfill. For advice on recycling your tree, simply call your local council.

4) Send e-cards

Not in the mood to handwrite hundreds of Christmas cards this year? No worries – check out how to create an e-card and then email them to your recipients. The process takes minutes and all your cards can be sent at the same time – saving you time and effort, which means more time to get into the Christmas spirit with your family and save trees in the process! Win-win! Or a voucher from us, now what's not to love! 

5) Why not try a Vegan Christmas dinner?

The Vegan Food and Living website has some incredible Christmas meals and snacks to try. What's to stop you from updating your Christmas dinner, whilst still allowing for tradition? Check them out now for stunning and simple recipes such as Vegan Christmas Pie and Vegan Tofu “Egg” Nog and enjoy a sustainable Christmas dinner.

6) Eat your leftovers!

Boxing Day's leftover-sandwiches are a great part of the season's culinary offerings. Ensure to make your Christmas leftovers last and avoid throwing away good food this Christmas instead of binning your food remains. Books such as Love Your Leftovers from Friends of The Earth are a great way of doing this, but failing that, it might be an idea to donate your leftovers to your local homeless shelter. For some, it may be the only Christmas dinner they will get this year and you will be helping to cut down on global food waste whilst making someone feel loved. Is that not what Christmas is all about?!

However you choose to spend Christmas this year, we hope this has been of some help to you in having a more sustainable Christmas! All of us at M&M would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year and thank you for all your support this year.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Party Season Edition- Longer Nights, Party Lights

Longer Nights = Party Lights! 

Since the clocks have gone forward, we've been watching the night falling quicker and quicker. You could respond to this one of two ways: go to bed at 5pm; or you could take advantage of the longer nights and go wild 'til the early hours. Here at M&M, we're in favour of a 70-30 split between partying all night and going to bed at 5pm. So we've got a few special party pieces together to tickle your fancy. Whether your a day bird or a night owl, dressing up a bit in these colder days makes everyone feel a little bit more sparkly inside!

Cocktails, dinner, book club— wherever you're heading of an evening, these styles will have you sorted. Check out our specially selected range of going-out stuff!

Cocktails, dinner, the club— wherever you're heading of an evening, these styles will have you sorted. Check out our specially selected range of going-out stuff!

Dress? Check. Statement jewellery? Check. Sassy shoes? Look below! Like, wow, we have you covered. Get them here!

Allow us to explain: it is winter, but it's also strappy season, honest! You can layer over them, accentuate them, do what you like with them. Get our beautiful Lila dress here. 

More straps! How about teaming our lovely Emily dress with a silver long-sleeved top underneath for the chillier days? Heck, make it sparkly! A belt made of fairy lights, perhaps? Other similar and equally delectable dresses include ravishing Ruth and dynamic Delia. 

Oh hi, Kate! (She just dropped in for some milk. She's diggin' the strappy look too). 

All that's left to say is YAY! Yes, it's winter, but it's also party prime-time. And we're not settling for dreary and dull in the sartorial section when there are goodies like the ones above, all ready to go! 

If you piece something killer together, please comment or tag us in a pic! We'd love to see what you're wearing. 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Prezzie Panic? Gifts With Low Environmental Impact and High Wow-Factor!

What's Under the Tree For Me?

If you're having trouble deciding what to put under the tree or into stockings this year, look no further! We're here to help you get your prezzie panic under control, although it's still early days yet. But I'm sure you don't need reminding that the early bird catches the worm!

Hoogly's Vanilla Chai— the ideal Winter Warmer!

We've teamed up with lovely brew company Hoogly Tea who make ethically sourced, fairly traded and Soil Association certified tea (try saying that three times fast!). Their super-cute tea cubes make the perfect stocking filler, with 5 biodegradable teabags in each. They also come in bigger sizes, with 15 teabags. Check out the list of their yummy teas here. 

Lola's Apothecary has your Christmas relaxation covered

Close your eyes and imagine the smell of fresh oranges, cloves, cinnamon, that concentrated Christmas smell. Now imagine stepping into a hot bath with candles around, being enveloped in that scent... The Inner Light Ritual Orange Patisserie beauty set promises a bath that "feels like hugs and cakes", while the luscious oil and fragrant candle included in the set are the perfect gifts for those who could do with a little R+R at the end of Christmas Day (who wouldn't?!). To top it off, they have a teeny little pot of local honey and tea to go with it! We're sold. This way to Blissville.

Presenting the Ana boot: keeping ankles safe from Jack Frost 

How about something to kick up leaves in, or crunch through frost in? Check out Bourgeois Boheme's Ana boot: a great example of BB's excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail, made from eco-friendly vegan leather and suede. PVC-free materials and natural latex also feature in this stylish, versatile shoe, perfect for pretty much any time of year. This is a gift with serious staying power and superb quality. Grab a pair here! 

Now, we know, she doesn't look so ready for Winter here, but our lovely Lilly skirt can totally handle anything you throw at her. Dress up with a jumper, tuck in a long-sleeved shirt, wrap yourself in fairy lights—whatever takes your fancy. We like to think of it as an easy essential, to wear to the bar, dinner, or ice skating. Take a look here.

We hope this post gives you a bit of Christmas treasure-hunting inspiration. Good luck; go forth and shop!

Sincerely, Madia & Matilda

Women and Empowerment

Women

This week we're talking about women and empowerment! The issues of social equality, including economic, marital and historical, have been debated for hundreds of years. Many books have been written about women and their place in society. So what's the latest?

Well, it's become a bit of a free-for-all. Thanks to the internet we can share our views far and wide under the protection of the UK Human Rights act of 1998, which says that "everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions". But the overwhelming feeling at the moment is, of course, that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities in every area of society. This in itself might not seem too difficult in theory. However, another aspect of this feeling is that women and men deserve equal respect and be treated as equals. In practise this has been shown to be slightly more tricky.


    Photo credit -Tonight Josephine 

Anyway. We're not here to discuss politics (or are we?). We're focusing on women in power, women in business and women who don't give a flying squirrel what anybody thinks of them while they get on with their lives.

Allow us to introduce Serena, Michelle, Emma and Suki!

Photo credit - Stuff.co.nz

Serena Williams

A powerhouse of epic proportion and a keen advocate for equal pay and rights for women and people of colour, Williams has for a long time been kicking ass. This happens on the court and off it, and for this reason she totally belongs on this list. 

In an essay called 'How Black Women Can Close the Pay Gap', Williams acknowledged that "growing up, I was told I couldn't accomplish my dreams because I was a woman and, more so, because of the colour of my skin". She goes on to speak about the "cycles of poverty, discrimination and sexism" endemic to Western society today, and urges that reversing this will take "dedicated action" by "all of us", including men and women "of all colours, races and creeds". Click here for the full essay.

Photo credit - Newsweek

Michelle Obama

What an inspiration! She's been ranked as the 13th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, but this doesn't begin to describe Michelle Obama's enormous efforts to do good in the world. She's unafraid to address the challenging, complex issues faced by society today, and especially by women and girls.

In her speech during Campaign Week 2016, just before Donald Trump was elected President, she mentioned her work with Let Girls Learn, saying "I wanted [the girls present] to understand that the measure of any society is how it treats its women and girls". Let Girls Learn is an education initiative "led by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)" and created by Michelle. To read the full transcript of her New Hampshire speech, which emphasises the importance of women's autonomy and power today, click here. 

Photo credit - wikipedia

Emma Thompson

This legend of British cinema has won basically every award going, including two Oscars, two Golden Globes and three BAFTAs. She has no time for sexist rubbish, and certainly no problem talking about it. Thompson has been quick to defend and applaud the women who have spoken out against Harvey Weinstein in the recent scandal, saying "I spent my 20s trying to get old men’s tongues out of my mouth". It's a gruesome image that fits an equally horrifying situation. 

Alongside her vow to "always speak up" on such issues, Thompson has dedicated a lot of effort and money to foundations such as the Refugee Council and the Helen Bamber Foundation. The former charity works with refugees and other people seeking asylum in the UK, offering "practical support and advice". More about the Refugee Council here. The Helen Bamber Foundation works with "people who have experienced extreme human cruelty, such as torture and human trafficking". More about their work here.


Suki Waterhouse 
Avid fan of Madia & Matilda, actress and model now turned singer Suki Waterhouse is a multifaceted wonder woman, with own accessories label as well. The label, co-created with best friend and business partner, Poppy Jamie, provides proof that when the sisterhood comes together, great things can be created! Find out more about their work here. We hope to see Suki in some of our designs in the future. 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

AW17— The Playlist

Turn It Up!

The days are darker, colder — and longer. So don't be sad, dance like mad! We at Madia & Matilda list 8 crazy good tunes we can't live without. Always on in the studio, these tracks get us through the day (they double-team with coffee). 

Cranes in the Sky by Solange

This track has an amazing atmosphere to it: calm and completely lush

Bourbon by Gallant

A tune. Gallant has the most incredibly elastic voice. You'll probably find yourself wondering "How the heck did he get up there?!" And then you'll listen to the rest of the album (it's the bomb) and realise that the man's basically a genius

Underwater by Porches
Simultaneously danceable and chillable, this is a versatile track with a moody bassline and 80s styling. The whole this is brought sharply up to date with spacey synths and a very sexy beat

Jungle by Tash Sultana
Aussie Tash plays all the instruments on this number. She also produces and writes her music, and has the sassiest, most gorgeously cheeky voice ever

Stay Awake, Wait For Me by Jessie Ware
A mellow, soulful tune with lyrics about that feeling of being with and without someone at the same time. It's a meditative and cosy without drowning in its own sentimentality. A good one for nights in

Silence by THEY.
Edgy and trappy, this is R&B at its most seductive: it's slightly eerie, it's not got any of the aggression of commercial rap, and it's perfect as a background to pretty much anything

Don't Want to Feel It All by White Lies
White Lies are ridiculously catchy and this track is no exception, being great for driving (or anything else really). Don't let the synths fool you, it's not as cheesy as it sounds at first

Birch Tree by Foals
This is one of the most underrated tracks from their 2015 album (when's the next one coming out please?). Its trademark opening riffs and bouncy beat make it a great one for Autumn

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Who's Number One?!

Looking After Number One 

Lots of people brush it off as silly, weird or irrelevant, but self care is actually really important for your physical and mental health! It could also affect the people around you, probably more than you realise.

We're all about keeping that feeling of being a child about to run into the sea!

It can be hard to justify a bit of "me time" these days, am I right? You're supposed to be rushing around the racetrack of life at the same speed as everyone else— and you sure as heck don't want to fall behind. Self care is about noticing this kind of frantic energy and the effect it has on you, and gently teaching yourself some new thought patterns. 

We're aware that this is an alien concept for a lot of people. Everyone's aware of the national British stereotype: "stiff upper lip, old pal! Just keep going! Have another cuppa!" However, quite aside from the Brits' tea philosophy, the mind is amazingly versatile and can be used as a powerful tool for change. There are around 100 billion neurons in the human brain (cats have around 300 million). 

Positive Affirmations

Ever heard of Louise Hay? She's the mastermind behind the idea of positive affirmations, a handy little way of injecting a positive mental boost into your life. She said “I have come to this planet to learn to love myself more, and to share that love with all those around me”. The woman was am-HAY-zing, truly. 

Louise has a lot to say about self love and the effect it has not just on you, but on those around you. Here are some affirmations to try out:

• I forgive myself for not being perfect.
• I honour who I am.
• I release all negative thoughts of the past and all worries about the future.
• Loving others is easy when I love and accept myself.
• I love and approve of myself.

There are lots of ways you can practice affirmations. You could think them, write them down or speak them. You could even try saying them to yourself in the mirror ("ooh, who's this lovely sexy person?"). The point is to rewire you brain slowly with positive thoughts. This creates new neural pathways which are kind of like new guitar strings: the more you use them, the easier they are to play.

A lot of us tend to recognise issues in our personal lives and choose to ignore them. Some of us don't recognise our issues at all. Obviously it's hard to begin looking at resolving these issues if you don't know they're there, but we've listed a couple of common areas where things can go boobies-up if you're careful. 

Sleep

Sleep is really important. REALLY important! You just can't argue: it's been scientifically proven again and again. According to the NHS, getting enough sleep can:

• Boost your immune system. When you're really tired, your body tends to decide that it's going to spend more energy on keeping you upright than fighting the flu.
• Have a positive impact on your mental health. Lack of sleep has been known to increase the risk of anxiety and depression.
• Raise your game (and potentially other things as well) in the bedroom. Sleep debt can result in an unhelpful apathetic attitude when you just want to have some fun. Not very cool. 

Has that convinced you yet?! Click here for more on sleep and health. 

Talking About How You're Feeling

It isn't soppy, it isn't over-emotional, it isn't stupid. Talking about your feelings important and could help your overall mental health, plus improving your relationships with people you trust.

You don't have to do the sit-down-and-have-a-serious-chat thing. You could write how you're feeling in a journal; pick up your instrument (or learn a new one) and howl your heart out; talk to your dog (cats, despite bad rep, can be sympathetic); splash some paint about; get some exercise; or sew, like we do (not if you're really frustrated-- can end in tears). 

At the end of the day it doesn't matter how pent-up emotion comes out, it's just important that it does. Sometimes we're not aware of just how much something is eating away at our happiness until we suddenly start crying. Usually, unsurprisingly, it's because we've been too busy to stop, reflect and listen to ourselves if something's not right. Or even worse, we just don't want to. THIS ENDS NOW, PEOPLE!

'Orange Is the New Black' star Dascha Polanco on Self Love

Dascha Polanco from Orange is the New Black is an inspirational Instagrammer. She likes to write about self love, self acceptance and self esteem, often using the tags #selflovery and #ismellgood. Speaking to Girl Talk HQ (but everyone should hear this), Polanco talked about how "there’s a time where you have the decision to make yourself happy". She understands the importance of recognising a situation where you need to put yourself first. This is relevant to everybody, not just celebrities! In turn, Polanco says Angelina Jolie is someone she looks up to "as a philanthropist", and someone who owns her own life. Read the rest of the article here.

So you see, lovely reader... 

Self care isn't a stupid. It's looking after yourself so you can be the best possible version of you.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda