I went shoe shopping the other day. I’m not much of a shoe person (hello nail polish, and dresses) but for some reason, my last three purchases have been shoes. Must be the changing weather. Goodbye boots, hello gorgeous, colourful, fun summer wear. Now we’ve just got to wait for those May showers to turn […]
Latest Posts from The Blue Patch Blog
Happy feet: Sustainable British-made shoes for children.
in Blue Patch Business Tags #buylocal british business British design British made ethical fashion Fashion Independent UK makers Made in britain Sustainable British Made UK artisans and designers
What we learned from asking our fashion brands about sustainability.
in Sustainable Living Tags circular economy ethical fashion Fashion Made in britain Sustainability sustainable sustainable and ethical products Sustainable British Made sustainable business Sustainable living Sustainable Makers
The 24th of April marked the 6th anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse, and the subsequent push towards greater transparency and sustainability in the fashion industry. This week, marked as Fashion Revolution Week encourages consumers to take action by asking brands #whomademyclothes? Blue Patch works with brands who make and manufacture in the UK, […]
Travel essentials from the British Isles.
in Sustainable Living
I love a good holiday, don’t you? Some of my time this last month was taken up by planning a rather exciting holiday later in the spring, and given that it’s April, we have our sights set on warmer weather and forays away. A holiday requires a lot of planning. Sure you can toss some […]
Whitworth Art Gallery hosts Blue Patch’s ‘travelling’ Department Store!
in Blue Patch Events, Out and About, Power Of Positive Shopping Tags #BStore19 Alistair Hudson British made ethical business John Ruskin Manchester University Pop up Reno social enterprise Sustainability The Whitworth Art Gallery Travelling Sustainable Department Store William Morris
Blue Patch’s ‘travelling’ Sustainable Department Store popped up at the Whitworth, Manchester University’s award winning museum. Blue Patch were lucky to coincided with Whitworth Director Alistair Hudson’s radically refreshing vision for the ‘Useful Museum’ (listen to Alistair here). The Useful Museum got off to a flying start with the Reno residency, led by Linda Brogan. Everyone […]
Goodnight, sleep tight: Creating a beautiful bed.
in Blue Patch Business Tags Blue Patch blog british business gifts give good gifts Home furnishings Independent UK makers sustainable and ethical products Sustainable Makers UK artisans and designers
It’s important to have a good night’s sleep. A good night’s sleep will often fix most problems. You’ll wake up relaxed, refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Plus it’s great for your skin. The key to a good night’s sleep isn’t just one thing. We recommend creating a comfortable and beautiful environment that will […]
Growing a sustainable food garden : from mud to spud!
in Gardening, Sustainable Living Tags biodiversity biodynamics circular economy conservation food growing Gardening organics
A gardening journal: no 1. By Jane Blue Patch HQ has a wonderful garden. If you live in a big city, you know what an utter luxury a garden can be. Flowers in the spring, barbecues on lazy summer evenings, the odd bit of herbs to sprinkle and the list can go on. Being the […]
Like a Boss: tips for female entrepreneurs & business owners
in Blue Patch Business, Small Business Tips + Tricks Tags Advice for small businesses female entrepreneur female leaders girlboss small business sustainable business women in business
A report published by the FSB has several interesting statistics about women in business. The contribution of women owned business to the UK economy has been estimated to be approximately £105 bn, with an increase of 40% since 2012. The number of women owning businesses and employing people in their own businesses has also increased significantly. […]
In with Spring, out with dust
in Blue Patch Business, Sustainable Living Tags eco-cleaning Independent UK makers Made in britain Natural products Spring Cleaning Sustainability sustainable sustainable and ethical products UK artisans and designers
It’s spring! Or so we hope… I’ve been transitioning in between clothing types this week, moving away from my warm wool coat to lighter garb. It’s delightful to not be weighted down by 20 layers of fabric. Spring is synonymous with the shedding of layers (unless we’re talking about trees), and part of that includes […]
The Sustainable Department Store comes to the Whitworth, Manchester
in Blue Patch Events, Power Of Positive Shopping Tags #BStore19 Blue Patch pops up Department Store Ethical british brands Manchester Manchester University Northern Powerhouse sustainable shopping The Whitworth Art Gallery
The Original Sustainable Department Store at The University of Manchester The Whitworth Our Blue Patch store is ‘on tour’ showcasing wonderful products made in Britain by forward-thinking entrepreneurs, revealing the processes behind the brands and giving visitors the chance to browse and buy gorgeous things, rarely available on the High St. The store will open on March […]
Love is in the air
in Small Business Tips + Tricks Tags Advice for small businesses british business Business Independent UK makers Made in britain Sustainable Makers
Love it, hate it or simply ignore it, it’s still Valentine’s Day today. Traditionally, a day for lovers, we’ve decided that it should also be a day for small business owners. So here are three oh-so-important ways to express love if you’re a small business owner. Ready? Love yourself Small business owners are so susceptible […]