Conscious Living: 3 independent brands to check out this month.

How June is here already blows my mind. The garden is both delighting and frustrating at the same time but with the warmer days comes inspiration and ideas. But wherever I go the conversation always comes back to how hard things are feeling at the moment. I feel like I’m seeing a closing down post from my favourite brands/small businesses most weeks.

Now, more than ever, we have to stand up for what we want to see in the world - small, hardworking businesses making ends meet (because even that feels like a pipe dream for some at the moment) and for those that care about our environment, the people who make our products and keeping traditional craft and art alive.

In this new series of posts where every month I’ll highlight a small business I’ve come across in the hope that it will inspire you to spend money where it matters but also where it feels to you too.

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Hoogly.

I am a serious tea lover. But not the builders kind - you can keep your brown, milky brew thanks! Give me a good quality herbal tea anytime. Over the years I’ve tried so many and I know what I like. I find the teabags you can buy in the supermarkets too wishy washy and instead often turn to my own kitchen garden to make a pot. But when that can’t happen because it’s out of season or I’m not at home a brand I come back to every time is Hoogly. Headed up by Danish tea enthusaist Tina Gloggenheiser - Hoogly is a brand that was born out of Tina’s desire to bring something a little Nordic to my old hometown Brighton. The teabags are fully biodegradable, fair-trade and ethically sourced. The taste of the tea is sublime and my personal fave is the Chill Out Mint with a close second being the Chamomile with the oh so satisfying touch of rose which is just so calming.

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Handford Made.

Claire-Marie makes all of her small batch balms, candles and creams from a shepherds hut in her garden mostly with botanicals she’s grown in her own garden and with other ingredients sourced very locally. A fierce advocate for a plastic free life Claire-Marie puts meticulous thought into everything she makes. The balms make a perfect gift and the candles and so lovely, burning evenly and mad with fad free scents and instead just lovely aromas to fill your home with a bit of joy.

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Aarven.

I spotted some of Arrven’s incense in a shop while on a short trip to Wales - I’m so glad I picked up a pack as I don’t usually like incense but just earlier that day I’d been having a chat about Holy Basil (Tulsi) so the Tulsi scent caught my eye. Now I am thoroughly enjoying burning one of these mid morning to revitalise me at home. But then out of curiosity I looked up Aarven and fell in love with all they do - everything is carefully sourced and fairtrade. The sales of the incense itself supports deaf and blind artisans in India and I am so here for that. The colourful homewares and gorgeous jewellery are all very unique. A business very worthy of your support. Check out Aarven here.

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