Acumé Magazine | Unfolding the Conscious Life - Issue 01/2021

PUBLISHED BY THE COMARCHÉ

ISSUE 01 / 2021

UNFOLDING T HE CONS C IOUS L IFE

FA S H I O N

HOME

BEAUTY

LIFESTYLE

A RT S & T R AV E L

KIDS

V I N TA G E

/ˈækjumən/, /əˈkju:mən/ ACUMEN FLAIR CONTEMPLATION AWARENESS REASSESSMENT COMMON SENSE AMBITION VISION INSIGHT INITIATIVE KNOW-HOW WISDOM CONSCIOUS ACTION ENDURANCE

ISSUE 01/2021

UNFOLDING THE CONSCIOUS LIFE

PUBLISHED BY THE COMARCHÉ THECOMARCHE.COM

Content & Inspiration

CONTENT page 4 EDITORIAL TEAM & CONTRIBUTORS AT LARGE page 6 ADVERTISING & COLLABORATION page 8 EDITOR’S NOTE page 12 BETWEEN SUMMER’S LONGING AND WINTER’S END page 14 SUSTAINABILITY NOTE page 28 ILLUSTRATION BY ESRA CAROLINE RØISE page 32 HOMEBOUND page 34 FIVE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND page 60 TURNING PLASTIC WASTE INTO COVETED WORKS OF ART page 68 CRANES IN THE SKY page 76 HOW TO CHECK IF A BRAND IS GREEN - OR JUST GREENWASHING page 89 COLLAGE BY KUNA RASMUSSEN page 94

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ON THE LAUNCH OF HER NEW EXERCISE PROGRAM ‘CORE ELEGANCE’ page 96 SCANDI SUMMER FASHION page 109 WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW AND CARE ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS page 110 BACK TO BASICS page 114 NATURAL ORGANIC BEAUTY page 128 NOURISH YOUR BODY & KEEP THAT GLOWING SUMMER SHINE page 130 INSIGHTS INTO A BUSINESS MODEL THAT RESPECTS BOTH PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT page 132 NEBULA page 140 10 EASY WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT page 164 TURNING DREAMS INTO CONSCIOUS ACTION page 172 LADY LANDSCAPE page 178

COV E R C RE DITS C R E ATI VE D I R EC TI O N A N N E M A R I E M ONDRU P P H OTO G R A P H E R KAT R INE GØTH H A I R & M A K E U P I SA B E L FJ E LKI N G / @ M A KE U P _ I SA B E L _FJ E L K ING STY L I N G T H E COM ARC HÉ M O D E L V I CTO R I A M E LE N DE Z CRU Z // U N I Q UE M ODE L S PRO D U C TI O N TO M O R ROW M A N AGE M E NT SPEC I A L TH A N KS TO N R E P FO R TH E B E AU TI FU L LOCATION, H AVN E H U SE T I N N O R D H AVN, DENM ARK

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Editorial Team & Contributors at large

Anne Marie Mondrup Editor-in-Chief & Head of Everything Creative

Marie Engberg Head of Everything Sustainable

Valeria Solonari Writer & Content Coordinator

With 20 years of experience working in the field of strategic and creative consulting and artist management within fashion and design, I’m most in my element when facilitating creative visions, digging the extraordinary out of the ordinary – and always aiming for the highest dream of them all.

With two decades of experience within sustainability, communication and design, my work has always been rooted in nature’s principles and engaged with the cultural and creative forces of design & interior.

Urbanite by birth and by heart, I’m a Stockholm-based writer originally from Transylvania. Like most millennial writers who came of age in the era of analog feelings, I began my professional career working in online media for publications like Schön! Magazine, METAL Magazine and Tomorrow’s Journal, among others.

From a very young age, I was driven by a passion to make a difference for people and the world surrounding us.

It’s my profound belief that if you can dream it, you can do it, and if you come from a place of love, you will find that there is a spiritual wisdom in everything. The challenges you face are keys for your personal transformation.

I almost never miss a sunrise and my favourite time of day is wandering the beach at 5 in the morning in the company of my dog.

Having lived and breathed sustainable values since the day I was born, it was a natural step for me to fully dedicate myself to sustainability ever since 2012.

Today, I’m passionately engaged in subjects where environmentalism sits at the center, and it’s my mission to help visionary brands cultivate responsible leadership and integrate sustainability into their own value chains.

I’m in my element when I venture south with my family to eco-friendly must-sees, where I find inspiration and recharge, all while digging deep into culinary green delights or the latest report on sustainability.

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Granddaughter of both a painter and a journalist, I sit comfortably somewhere in between. I am a crafter, a word-based visual person, an articulator and magic-weaver of stories.

I’m most productive after sundown, further stirring the Transylvanian myth. When I’m not brain deep in my keyboard, I’m probably busy elevating my sartorial demeanor or calculating my rising sign.

I always come armed with great playlists and metaphors to spare.

Sandra Serritzlew Fashion Coordinator

Elisabeth Hundahl Contributing Sustainability Consultant

Karoline Egelund Contributing Writer

As a student, I have alternately buried my head deep in the curriculum of communications while still being wildly passionate about fashion, styling and sustainability.

I am a true sustainability nerd. At work as in my spare time, I love researching new sustainable products and materials, discuss sustainability-related topics and everything in between.

I cook a lot of Italian food, debate gender equality with anyone who dares, love reading biographies and drinking gin & tonics, watch a lot of Marvel-movies, cry over talent shows and laugh at babies falling.

I’m excellent at nothing and pretty average at everything.

My favourite time is spent reading books (like The Catcher in the Rye and Little Women), taking long walks (I’m actually training for a long-distance hiking trip at the moment), cooking and hanging out with friends and family.

It’s my dream to work in fashion and support the industry to become more sustainable, while still holding on to the high-end quality of both designs and materials.

I’m thrilled to be part of this new movement with Acumé, and it’s my definite wish that we can turn a sustainable fashion future into the new norm.

I’m also a true globetrotter, but after having lived abroad in three different countries during the past decade, I have finally settled down in Copenhagen.

I love exploring new countries and cultures, and will continue to do so on a less permanent level.

Also, when I’m not working, I enjoy drinking red wine and Espresso Martinis with good friends, playing board games and cooking plant-based food.

All in all, I have a hard time dedicating myself to one thing, because there is too much to see, do and learn in this world.

However, sustainability is one subject that has stuck with me for about ten years now. Slowly and steadily, I’ve ventured further into the depths of it, which my contributions to Acumé Magazine will also reflect.

I look forward to sharing my stories with you!

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Advertising & Collaboration

Join Our Next Issue Acumé Magazine is a bi-annual magazine unfolding the conscious life. Issue II will be out in November 2021.

We do strategic and holistic advertising collaborations that serve a conscious purpose.

For more info please contact Helle Wang.

Helle Wang Head of Advertising & Strategic Brand Partnerships Forever known as the PR & Marketing Woman with a cultivated 28 years experience in the fashion industry, I have worked with some of the most exciting international luxury brands in the world – think Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Loewe and Valentino to name a few. With a solid background in communication, retail marketing and event planning, I always strive to establish bold 360degree strategies and build long-lasting relationships with like-minded people.

As a mother of a 7-year-old daughter, I have become increasingly more conscious about the environment and each of our roles in taking immediate action. I try to apply my mantra of treating people the way you would want to be treated to our Mother Earth as well – care for it and it will take care of you in return.

Call: E-mail:

+45 21 52 44 15 helle@thecomarche.com

Publisher The Comarché Amager Strandvej 224 2300 Copenhagen S Denmark thecomarche.com Acumé Magazine is published bi-annually by The Comarché.

All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means without the publisher’s written permission.

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Contributors & Special Thanks

Photographers

Hair & Makeup

Alexander Andrews, Christian Holzinger, Conscious Design, Febiyan, Katrine Gøth, Kristina Demant, Signe Vilstrup, Wolf Zimmermann

Emilie Preskou, Isabel Fjelking, Kolbrun Ran

Models

Child Models

Astrid Grove, Femke Mølbach Slot, Karoline Egelund, Victor Maurice Hounou, Victoria Melendez Cruz

Elvis, Kaj, Karlie, Vega

Illustrators & Collage Artists

Poets

Esra Caroline Røise, Kuna Rasmussen

Victoria Melendez Cruz

Flower Installation Sidsel Zachariassen

Special Thanks Kildegaard // Kildegaard-tisvildeleje.dk for letting us shoot at your unique and charming location in Tisvildeleje, Denmark.

Line Foged Nielsen // Unique Models for helping us find the very best and charismatic models for our shoots.

NREP for letting us shoot at the beautiful location, Havnehuset in Nordhavn, Denmark.

The Lab for helping us out with lighting equipment, tech info and always a great service.

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PH OTOG RAPH Y T HE CO M ARC HÉ

Editor’s Note

This has been in the making for a long time. The very first issue of Acumé Magazine. After the launch of The Comarché in November 2020, we found the need for a dedicated place where we can explore, dive deep and cultivate the pursuit of environmental responsibility and awareness and navigate the world of the conscious life.

PH OTOG RAPHY K AT RIN E G ØTH & CHRIST IAN HOL ZIN G ER

We know that sustainability is a vast and complex topic, whose pitfalls and challenges will make even the most seasoned sustainability nerds sweat in buckets. Being transparent when it comes to sustainability is a progressive exercise, but there is an eagerness in all of us to embark on this journey and facilitate a growing shift in our consciousness that enables you to make the better choice.

Contrary to mainstream green rhetoric, sustainability is far more than just a product you choose to spend your money on. It is a holistic approach to life – what we eat, where we shop, what we wear, how we live, all these choices have the power to shape the kind of world we want to live in. The consumer capitalism we’ve inherited is neither natural nor necessary, so it comes down to all of us to break down the barriers that stand in the way of sustainable consumption and turn eco-friendly practices into standard and natural threads of everyday life.

Acumé Magazine is also adamant about promoting and instilling a culture of candour, by telling vital stories and bringing expert voices to disseminate knowledge, enhance your awareness, and aid you in making lifestyle choices that are kinder to the planet.

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All change starts with a thought that forms into a dream that ultimately ignites the call for action. Dreams don’t work unless we do. It takes courage to dare to dream and it takes diligence to understand one’s dreams. Acumé will explore what you are dreaming of, as we ourselves have sprung out of a dream. We will pay tribute to the fantastic enthusiasts who, based on a vision to make a difference, have created companies that are at the forefront of a better world. We salute all of you who dare to chase after your goals and challenge the status quo. The revolutionaries who think differently and make a positive impact on the world.

That’s where Acumé stands. Between intention and completion. Between words and deeds.

We want to arouse your interest and curiosity to search deeper and make choices that resonate with your body, mind and soul. It is our ultimate goal to push the sustainability agenda to fit today’s new ambition and truly enable lasting change for future generations. Acumé Magazine will provide you with the inspiration, knowledge and practical tools needed to plant the seeds of a saner, healthier and more sustainable, responsible and conscious life.

It is our goal to strengthen the bonds of community, build bridges of understanding, and support the unity consciousness, as we believe to be stronger together than apart.

Everything that is happening to the world is happening to us. We all feel it, even when we don’t know it. Since all is interconnected, it is each of our responsibility to contribute to the greater good and fulfill our purpose. What do you want your legacy to be? Start to live that intention and join our movement.

Anne Marie Mondrup Editor-in-Chief

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AC UMÉ MAGAZINE

FAS HION

Between Summer’s Longing and Winter’s End CREATIVE DIRECTION ANNE MARIE MONDRUP PHOTOGRAPHER KATRINE GØTH HAIR & MAKEUP EMILIE PRESKOU STYLING THE COMARCHÉ MODEL KAROLINE EGELUND // UNIQUE MODELS PRODUCTION TO MORROW MANAGEMENT SPECIAL THANKS TO KILDEGAARD // KILDEGAARD-TISVILDELEJE.DK FOR ALLOWING US TO USE THEIR BEAUTIFUL PLACE FOR THIS EDITORIAL

K A RO LI N E EG E LU N D & ACU M É M AG A Z I N E

E A R R I N G L E FT P O L AR J E W E L RY E A R R I N G R I G H T RO COP E NHAG E N P E N DA N T RO COP E NHAG E N R I N G S RO COP E NHAG E N THROW E LVANG

E AR R I N G P O LA R J E W E LRY SC A R F TA P I S N O I R JAC K E T E S M É ST U DI O S SK I RT RU E DE TO KYO

D R E SS RU E DE TO KYO SO C KS DE A R DE N I E R

K N I T ES M É STU DIOS A L L J E W E L L E RY RO COP E NHAG E N

K N I T E S MÉ STU DIOS SH I RT E S MÉ STU DIOS SK I RT RU E DE TOK YO SO C KS DEAR DE NIE R SH O E S M O D E L’S OW N

SH IRT E SM É STUDIO S

E ARRI N G P O LA R J E W E LRY B RACE LE T RO CO P E N H AG E N

D R E SS E S M É ST U DI O S SO C KS DE A R DE N I E R

DRES S ESMÉ STUDIOS

D R E SS E S M É STU DIOS J E W E L L E RY RO COP E NHAGE N

D R E S S ES MÉ ST UD IOS P I LLOW LE F T ELVA N G

D RE S S ES MÉ ST UD I O S S OCKS D EA R D EN I E R JE WE LLE RY RO COPEN HAG E N P I LLOW ELVA N G T H ROW ELVA N G

EA R RING S PO LAR JEWELRY S CA RF TA PIS NOIR S WEAT ER ESM É STUDIO S S K I RT RU E DE TO KYO

E A R R I N G S P O LA R J E W E LRY SC A R F TA P I S N O I R SW E ATE R E S M É ST U DI O S SK I RT RU E DE TO KYO

DRE SS ESMÉ ST UD IOS BRACE LE T RO COPEN HAG EN SCARF TAPIS N OIR

SH I RT ES M É STU DIOS SO C KS DE AR DE NIE R

SH I RT E S M É ST UDIOS SK I RT RU E DE TOK YO SO C KS DE A R DE NIE R SH O E S M O DE L’ S OW N

Sustainability Note

To Be or Not To Be...

Sustainable

PH OTOG RAPHY K AT RIN E G ØTH & F EB IYA N

It is our firm belief that no brand ever goes into business actively seeking to greenwash. At the same time, we find it overwhelming that so many brands use sustainability in their communication without backing the claims. Statements like ‘Join Life’, ‘Conscious’ or ‘Committed’ are just part of a complex marketing facelift, but behind many brands’ advertising makeup, there’s little evidence to support their commitment to safeguarding the planet. This practice is not new, however. It has been a dogma of faith for certain companies for years, but as new requirements and regulations are being implemented, consumer protection agencies worldwide are tirelessly working to detect and control these types of strategies.

Denmark’s own, Forbrugerrådet Tænk, has embarked on an exposé mission to uncover those companies and multi-brand platforms that market products or collections as sustainable, without offering explicit description or documentation to support those claims.

Numerous brands end up using the same language to describe sustainability, in turn making it harder for the many well-intentioned brands, which are actually genuine in their sustainable messaging and practices, to compete in that space.

This is why platforms such as The Comarché wants to spotlight game changers and pioneers, big or small, sustainable leaders or rising stars, who are aiming to be fully transparent.

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In this day and age, being one hundred percent sustainable is not really a thing.

Because who is, in fact, 100%?

Sustainability is a journey and it’s all about being as transparent as possible. The Comarché only accepts and promotes brands who are willing to be honest and straightforward and who are willing to put themselves out there. Out in the real world where it takes money, dedication and time to find yourself on a path towards a product or brand that is as sustainable as possible.

In an effort to promote the many layers of sustainability, The Comarché Framework explores sustainability on both company and product level. It exemplifies how a certain brand approaches sustainability and which layers they are actively working within.

HOW IT WORKS We assess the overall approach to sustainability of the brand and provide this knowledge to you with easily understandable graphics. We hope that it will enable you to make an informed choice that matches your own set of values. In addition to this, we explore the lifecycle of each product and look into how sustainability is a key part of the product in all steps of its lifecycle.

We are in no way perfect, and we ourselves will continue to strive for more transparency and consistency in everything we do. We hope we will be able to inspire you.

Marie Engberg

Co-Founder & Head of Everything Sustainable, The Comarché

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AC UMÉ MAGAZINE

UN Goals Brand Ethos Certificates Product Line

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

CORPORATE LEVEL Certified B Corporation

Fair Trade

Cradle to Cradle

Labour Rights Fair Working Conditions We Give Back

Starting from the centre and out, you’re able to spot if a brand is actively working with SDGs and have relevant certifications on brand level. Use the second sphere to find out how they work with Social Sustainability. Next, go through the steps in the third sphere (Product Lifecycle) in order to see which icons stand out for the brand.

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The Comarché Framework The Comarché. All rights reserved. No part of The Comarché Framework may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from The Comarché.

Product lifecycle

THE COMARCHE´ FRAMEWORK

SU STA INABILITY

PRODUCTION

DESIGN Design for Disassembly

Reduced use of Materials

3D Print

Reduced Waste

Long Product Life Cycle

Reduced Energy

Design for Responsible Consumption

Reduced Pollution

CO2 Neutral Design

Reduced use of Chemicals & Toxins

Designed for LED

CO2 Neutral Production

Designed for Recharging

Handmade Country of Origin

MATERIALS & EXTRACTION

Low Energy-Intensive Production

Energy Efficient Material Extraction

PACKAGING

Reduced Waste Sustainable Extraction

Flat-Pack

Sustainable Harvesting

Sustainable Packaging

Reused Materials

DISTRIBUTION

Recycled Materials Upcycled Materials

CO2 Neutral Transportation of Materials

Natural Materials

Energy-Efficient Transportation

Certified Materials Used

Locally Grown

Plentiful Material

USAGE

Durable Material Vegetable Tanned Leather

Education & Training Programme

Water-Based Paint

Repair Option

CO2 Neutral Material Production

Care Guide Provided Refurbish Possible Swappable Components

MATERIAL TRANSPORTATION

Minimize Failure in Use

CO2 Neutral Transportation of Materials

END OF LIFE

Energy-Efficient Transportation Locally Grown

Easily Disassembled Clean Materials - Easy to Reuse Reduced Waste After Use Possible Reuse of Materials Take-Back Programme Deposit on Packaging

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E SRA C ARO LINE RØIS E // I LLU ST RATOR & F E LLOW D R E A M E R

Homebo CREATIVE DIRECTION ANNE MARIE MONDRUP PHOTOGRAPHER SIGNE VILSTRUP // TOMORROW MANAGEMENT HAIR & MAKEUP EMILIE PRESKOU STYLING THE COMARCHÉ MODEL FEMKE MØLBACH SLOT PRODUCTION TOMORROW MANAGEMENT

ound SU IT YOGAM II J E W E L L E RY RO CO PE NHAGE N TH ROW L AG O O N B LUE E LVANG TH ROW N U DE E LVANG VA SE WA B I SAB I NORDIC B OOKS YU M E P I L LOW M U M U TANE P I L LOW L EF T E LVANG Q U I LT J OU QU ILTS

E A R R I N G P O LA R T-SH I RT E S M É TU TU H O SI E RY

J E W E L RY ST UDIOS V I N TAG E V I NTAGE

J E W E L L E RY RO COP E NHAG E N BRA VINTAG E C A R D I G A N E S M É STU DIOS SHORTS YOGAM II SO C KS DE AR DE NIE R

TOP YOGAM II B R AC E L E T RO COP E NHAG E N H O S IERY VINTAG E

E A R R I N G P OL AR J E W E L RY PA N TS ES M É STU DIOS J E W E L L E RY RO COP E NHAG E N

BA N DA N A TA P I S NOIR E A R R I N G P O LA R J E W E L RY SW E ATE R E S M É ST UDIOS C A R D I G A N E S M É ST UDIOS R I N G RO CO P E N H AGE N

BA NDA NA TAPIS NO IR JEW EL L ERY RO CO PENH AG EN D R ES S RU E DE TO KYO

C A R D I G A N E S MÉ STU DIOS SH O RTS YOGAM II SO C KS DEAR DE NIE R

TOP YOGAM II PA N TS ES M É STU DIOS J E W E L L E RY RO COP E NHAG E N B E N C H MATE R DE S IGN

T-S HIRT YOGAM II L EG G ING S YOGAM II J E W E L L E RY RO COP E NHAG E N

T-SH I RT YO G A M I I L EG G I N G S YO G A M I I J E W E L L E RY RO CO P E N H AG E N

BA N DA N A TAP IS NOIR E A R R I N G P O LA R J E W E L RY SW E ATE R E S MÉ STU DIOS C A R D I G A N E S MÉ STU DIOS R I N G RO CO PE NHAG E N PA N TS E S M É STU DIOS C U SH I ON E LVANG TH ROW E LVANG

E A R R I N G P OL AR J E W E L RY R I N G RO COP E NHAG E N SW E ATE R ES M É STU DIOS TI G H TS DE AR DE NIE R

T-SH I RT YO G A M I I L EG G I N G S YO G A M I I J E W E L L E RY RO CO P E N H AG E N B E N C H M AT E R DE S I G N

BA NDANA TAPIS NO IR JEW EL LE RY RO CO PEN HAG EN DRES S RUE DE TO KYO

FE M KE M Ø LBACH S LOT & ACU M É M AG A Z I N E

SU IT YOGAM II

BA NDA NA TAPIS NO IR JEW EL L ERY RO CO PENH AG EN D R ES S RU E DE TO KYO T HROW E LVANG VA S E WA BI SABI NOR DIC

R I N G RO CO P E N H AGE N SW E ATE R E S M É ST UDIOS TI G H TS DE A R DE NIE R

SUIT YOGAM II J E WEL L ERY RO CO PENH AG EN TH ROW L AGOON BLU E ELVA N G TH ROW NUDE ELVANG VA SE WABI SABI NOR DIC B O O KS YUM E P I LLOW MUMUTANE Q U ILT J OU Q UILTS

AC UMÉ MAGAZINE

Five Sustainable Materials that will blow your mind WORDS ELISABETH HUNDAHL PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PEAUX NEUVES, SEBASTIAN COX & NINELA IVANOVA, STELLA MCCARTNEY, HERM ÈS, YUME, WILD STUDIO, SMALLREVOLUTION, EMILIO RICCI GROU P, SUZANNE LEE

Gone are the days when standard materials were Cotton, Nylon and Wool.

On the following pages, you’ll find some of the most innovative and mind blowing sustainable materials out there. Get ready to be surprised!

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BAG P E AU X NE U VE S M AD E F ROM V EG E A LE ATHE R

SU STA INABILITY

Grape Leather There is nothing like a good glass of wine. But have you ever thought about what happens to all the leftovers from the wine industry that don’t make it to the bottle?

Don’t worry, we’re not here to make you feel guilty. We’re here to introduce you to Vegea: an Italian company that turns grape leftovers into vegan leather. Grape leather from Vegea looks and feels like traditional leather from animals but unlike conventional leather, it does not require a lot of water or any heavy metals or toxic chemicals. The remains of the grapes (skins, pulp, seeds and stems) are combined with vegetable oil and water-based polyurethane. Then, the bio-based material is coated onto organic cotton. The result is a leather alternative made from 70% renewable and recycled raw materials. Cheers!

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Mushroom Mycelium If you don’t like mushrooms, it just might be because you haven’t tried them yet in a jacket or dress form. Mushroom mycelium is the vegetative part of fungus. And so much more. The mushroom-based fabric can be tweaked to be enamel and shell-like or as soft as a sponge, depending on the conditions in which the material is grown.

When used correctly, the biodegradable fungal material can be used for anything from clothing to lamps to even wall panels. The material has several advantages: it grows extremely fast, it is remarkably flexible, non-toxic and even waterproof.

Just like Grape Leather, Mushroom Mycelium can also be used as a sustainable, animal-free leather alternative. Very recently, Mycelium has even found its way into some of the world’s most iconic and exclusive fashion brands like Stella McCartney and Hermès.

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M U SH RO O M M YC E L I U M L A M P S S E BA STIA N COX & NINE L A IVA NOVA

AC UMÉ MAGAZINE

BAG HE RM ÈS M ADE BY SY LVA N I A M YC E L I U M L E ATH E R

B U STI E R STE L L A M CC A RTNE Y M AD E F ROM M Y LO M YCE LIUM LE ATHE R

SU STA INABILITY

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Recycled Plastic Many of us have become familiar with recycled plastic in one way or another. However, the Italian company ECOPIXEL really do take plastic recycling to the next level.

ECOPIXEL is a recycled plastic technology made from 100% shredded waste material. Usually, the material is made from industrial waste as well as household-waste.

Plastic from ECOPIXEL is not only recycled, but also recyclable. This means that the plastic can be remelted an infinite amount of times without losing its properties.

In order to minimize the ecological footprint during the transformation, the circular plastic material melts at very low temperatures compared to similar materials. As the material is extremely durable, products from ECOPIXEL are suitable for both indoor and outdoor.

Curious about products from ECOPIXEL? Take a look at the image above of the modern looking stool from YUME – perfect for both sitting and as a side table.

As of late, many new companies have resurfaced with similar technologies like ECOPIXEL. Danish SMALLrevolution are all about circular co-labs where companies can enlist SMALLrevolution to help remake old packaging, dead stock lotion containers, and new products similar to the SMALLrevolution stools and tables.

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D E LTA STO O L Y U M E

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SIG RID 9 0 T ERRAZ ZO S M AL L RE VO LUT ION

M I L K M O O N C H I L D WIL D STU DIO

SU STA INABILITY

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M I L K YA R N E M I LI O R I CCI G RO U P

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Milk Fibre Most people associate old milk with something that needs to be discarded (and for good reason). But believe it or not, old milk can now be fashioned into beautiful clothing. Milk fibre from QMILK is made from waste milk that is not fit for human consumption. It is manufactured with 100% renewable resources and is a totally natural product. A very low amount of energy is needed for the production and the result is almost zero waste and CO2 emissions are minimal.

The process of making milk fibre is more simple than you would actually think. The casein (the solid white substance that surfaces on sour milk) is separated from the rest and then left to dry to obtain a protein powder. The powder is then mixed with water and a machine is responsible for spinning the material into fibres as thin as hair. The result is a highly sustainable and biodegradable material that feels soft on your skin, has an antibacterial effect and helps regulate body heat.

A true gamechanger within the fashion industry!

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BioCouture

B IOCO U TU R E JAC K E T S U Z A N N E LE E

BI OCOUTURE JACKE T S U ZA NNE L E E

SU STA INABILITY

Imagine if we could grow clothing. Sounds crazy?

We think so too.

But nevertheless, this is the reality for BioCouture, a company located in central London. The company took its name by replacing the old-time classic term of haute couture with a more ecological one.

BioCouture uses bacteria to produce materials that can be used to manufacture clothes. There is no spinning, weaving or printing involved, and the recipe is actually quite simple: take some green tea, sugar and microbes and then sit back and watch it grow. After a week, the fabric sheet will be around 2.5 centimetres thick, and after the sheet is dried, it can be moulded into accessories and clothes.

BioCouture produces a wide range of products such as shoes, jackets and skirts that are all compostable and biodegradable. Even though we’re not exactly sure how we feel about wearing some of these creations just yet (they look a little skin-like and appear too stiff for actual wear), we’re still extremely impressed.

Because who knew bacteria could actually be wearable?

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AC UMÉ MAGAZINE

INTERVIEW WITH UPCYCLING FURNITURE DESIGNER, WILD STUDIO

Turning Plastic Waste into Coveted Works of Art A Lesson in Design, Conservation and Good Common Sense WORDS VALERIA SOLONARI PHOTOGRAPHY KATRINE GØTH & WILD STUDIO BRAND WILD STUDIO SPECIALITY UPCYCLED FURNITURE FOUNDED 2020 BASED IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK INSTAGRAM @WILDSTUDIO_COPENHAGEN

T H E CO M A RCH É FR A M E WO R K

FO R I N - D E PTH I N FO T H ECO M A RCH E .CO M

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PHOTO S W IL D STU DIO

PIONEERS

Recycling, sustainability, ecological balance, biodiversity are all buzzwords in an increasingly aware world. What used to be an option is now a dutiful responsibility.

Time, which is our best foot marker, links the present with the future and makes us realize that we’re not owners of this earth, but rather its mere depositories. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, or at least this is how Wild Studio chooses to look at it. A pioneering and sustainable Danish design studio that has put in motion a spirited initiative of recycled and upcycled plastic design furniture.

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This ingenious project arose from the sum of talent and respect that the founder and designer, Rosa Nøss Bendixen, holds for the environment and its natural resources.

The company launched just shy of a year ago and it already boasts an impressive collection of 16 original aesthetic pieces. The furniture is crafted out of 100% polyethylene plastic waste from household products and industrial debris. The result is a totally unique and highly versatile piece that can be adapted to different rooms and areas both indoors and outdoors, in whimsical and playful styles aimed at adults and children alike.

Bendixen had never envisioned that packaging, bottles and daily use containers could become such artful commodities of sustainable industrial design. By creating with this common denominator, Wild Studio tries to look at recycling plastic with fresh new eyes, investigating what properties this material holds, and evaluating what shapes it could offer in return. Their moon-shaped silhouettes, one-of-a-kind colours and textures have succeeded at contouring a welcoming environment, making any place you display them in feel instantly uplifting and inspiring.

Their pieces are much more than just furniture: they represent the reflection of a titanic task to recover scraps and rubbles from the bottom of seas, oceans, and overcrowded local landfills. Disregarding the pain and damage we have caused Mother Earth would be just another turn of the screw. Thus, Wild Studio set out to prove that the concept of recycling has lost its pejorative tone, and we can finally move from a ‘take-make-dispose’ economy towards a circular business model that closes the loop.

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PIONEERS

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Rosa Nøss Bendixen

FO U N D E R & D E SI G N E R , W I L D STUD IO

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How did Wild Studio come to life for those unfamiliar with your journey?

It originally started with an idea to make furniture for institutions and public outdoor spaces. That’s where I’m still headed. I have worked as a landscape architect for a number of years, urban design in particular, and I felt that something was missing. I wanted to make something more fun, more colourful and more feminine. It was such an anti-sports, anti-Nordic project. The little Moon Child has just started selling to kindergartens.

The fact that it should be sustainable was only natural. It was probably almost a morally conscious choice. I could not imagine putting anything into production without sustainability being considered. It feels like we have collectively rediscovered nature now that we are afraid of losing it. It ignited some reflective thinking about what nature really is, what resources we have. As a landscape architect, you do not create nature, but you can give people a little bit of the feeling they draw from it.

What drives your creativity to design towards a more conscious, balanced and sustainable lifestyle? Where does your inspiration come from?

There is probably a general holistic approach to my projects. Preferably, they should all be connected. The Moon Collection is named after this celestial body because it keeps our earth in balance. It symbolizes a kind of feminine primordial force, something we may be in the process of rediscovering. I wanted to take it all the way out into the universe and embody the fundamentals.

I then connected it with my fascination for plastic as a material and turning waste into resource. Plastic is actually made from crude oil that consists of old sediments, which we then pull out of the ground and process. It is a completely wild operation for something that gets used just once before we throw it out. It is the ultimate disrespect for our land and its natural resources, and a symbol of our culture of over consumption.

One could say that the very absurdity of the whole plastic anecdote can also be inspiring. With the Moon Collection, I try to appease Mother Earth a little bit by showing that everything can be beautiful – if only treated with respect.

How important is it to highlight the use of recycled and upcycled materials in your work, and how have you achieved this through your designs? What other guiding principles were there in creating the Moon Collection?

I’m really happy about this exact quality of the Moon Collection – that you can tell it has been recycled, that it had a past life. Sometimes you can even see small pieces of text on the surface because it was made out of used packaging. To me, this gives the design a poetic feel, almost like it is unfolding on its own. It is crucial to me that customers are attracted to my designs before they get to learn about my upcycling

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and sustainability practices. I place a high value on functionality and aesthetics, and I always strive for a kind of timelessness that I believe is also important in relation to sustainability. “These must be things you want to keep”, I demand of myself as a designer.

What was the process like in terms of searching for the best sustainable suppliers for your brand? What factors did you take into consideration?

It took time. It was really important to choose a Danish company that wasn’t too big.

I needed someone who was willing to experiment a bit and who would take what I do seriously. The plastic industry is huge in Denmark and most recycling companies here are massive. There was a bit of a missing link there, but ultimately, I managed to find one I’m really happy about. It is a family-owned business with people who always keep moving forward and take pride in doing things the right way.

It gives me peace of mind to know that everyone on my production team is paid fairly and doing well. Human and social sustainability matter so much to me. I consider just as essential to use upcycled materials for my designs, as it is to produce them under proper working conditions.

Customers have never looked into what they’re buying more closely than today – yet somehow, lack of transparency is still the biggest pitfall for most companies. Why do you think this issue persists, and can you think of any area your brand could still improve?

My entire production chain is fairly local, based here in Denmark. The waste our products are cast from is Danish; often I know exactly what kind of packaging it used to be. Everything is produced one hour away from Copenhagen. The brass signs at the bottom are made in Nørrebro, one of the city’s neighbourhoods. So, my story is very straightforward and I feel that my customers react positively to it. But sustainability on a whole is very, very complicated and I don’t claim to have an answer for everything. It is a never-ending development and education of consumers, manufacturers and designers, which fortunately is well underway.

What are your personal favourite Wild Studio products and why should our readers be inspired to check them out?

I love them all, so it’s a little hard to say. But perhaps I want to highlight ‘Indigo Blue Moon Stool’ and ‘Indigo Blue Moon Child’. They both have a surface that resembles an abstract oil painting. There is a very special depth to them and I think they take recycled plastic to a whole new level. And on top of that, they consist primarily of household waste, which is very difficult to recycle. I’m really proud of that.

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I N D I G O B LU E M O O N C H I L D W IL D STU DIO

WIL D ST UD IO & AC UMÉ MAG A Z IN E I N D I G O B LU E M O O N STO O L W IL D STU DIO

Other than a more sustainable tomorrow... what else do you dream of these days?

I know I should probably say something else, but I dream a lot of traveling – to be inspired, to find myself on an adventure, and to feel like a human being out in the world again.

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Cranes in the Sky PHOTOGRAPHER KATRINE GØTH

HAIR & M AKEUP ISABEL FJELKING // @MAKEUP_ISABEL_FJELKING MODEL VICTOR MAURICE HOUNOU

FLOWERS SIDSEL ZACHARIASSEN // TOMORROW MANAGEMENT SPECIAL THANKS TO THE LAB FOR LIGHTING AND ALWAYS A GREAT SERVICE

JACKET VINTAG E N EC K L AC E M ODE L’S OW N VA SE T H E CO M A RC HÉ VINTAG E

N EC K L AC E M ODE L’S OW N TRO US ERS VINTAG E BELT VINTAG E VA SE T H E CO M A RC HÉ VINTAG E

JACKE T VIN TAG E VASE THE COMA RC HÉ VIN TAG E

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JACKET VINTAG E TRO US ERS VINTAG E

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VA SE T H E CO M ARC HÉ VINTAGE

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How to Check if a Brand is Green - or just Greenwashing WORDS VALERIA SOLONARI PHOTOGRAPHY SKAGERAK & MATER DESIGN

If digitalization has taught us anything is that lies have very short legs in online media. For brands, sustainable or otherwise, reputation means everything, and a lie can be very expensive and strenuous to bounce back from. Around the world, many consumer protection agencies are put in place to function as the industry’s greenwashing watchdogs, and two of their main objectives are:

to protect consumers from misleading environmental claims to promote fair competition among the businesses making environmental claims

A recent Vogue Business article states that, “In its most recent sweep of global websites, The International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), a global network of consumer protection authorities from over 65 countries, found as many as 40 percent of environmental claims could be misleading consumers.”

Recent attitude-behaviour gap reports showed that every second consumer does not understand what sustainability means within the fashion context. There is no common definition of ‘sustainability’ in the fashion industry, and the lack thereof on a global standard means that brands and retailers instead use their own definitions, which can be confusing for customers.

“Greater customer emphasis on environmentalism has increased the use of misleading marketing” says Josephine Palumbo, president and deputy commissioner of ICPEN. Even if a brand is betting on real values and not just a mere façade, it has become exponentially harder to tell them apart.

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Tips on How to See-Through Greenwashing While general standards and definitions of how the creative industries should measure and communicate sustainability are in development, in the meantime, we want to help you become a more critical and informed consumer and learn to see past gullible commercial bluff.

We compiled a list of useful advice on how to spot those brands that piggyback on empty environmental credentials.

Remember that with each act of consumption, you cast a vote.

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Shallow Use of Sustainability Terminology We’ve identified several key concerns for greenwashing in the design industry, and one common offender is the prominence of vague terms such as ‘eco’, ‘organic’ and ‘sustainable’. Any ambiguous language like ‘friends of the environment’ classifies as an exaggerated statement that most of the time doesn’t indicate any of the brand’s activities, the product’s impact on the environment or its ethical properties. All environmental and ethical claims used for marketing purposes must be clear, specific and substantiated.

Next time you embark on a customer journey, screen the brand’s website diligently and fact-check whether sustainability has been documented step-by-step all the way through checkout. You would be surprised to learn how many products are advertised as sustainable just for being 100% cotton. Just because an item is made out of sustainable materials, that alone is not enough to pass it as a sustainable product. Always try to look at the product as a whole – product pages must include detailed description of the product’s lifecycle, and whether the product/collection meets the general requirements for sustainability.

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Imposter Sustainability Icons & Suggestive Imagery In addition to a misleading marketing vernacular, some brands attach deceitful icons of sustainability to their ‘sustainable products’, often in the shape of a green heart, a leaf, a planet, or imagery like that of a plane leaving a trail of flowers in the air. Some companies even go as far as fabricating their own certification-like stamps as part of a larger, more serious labeling scheme. If the product descriptions sound generic to you, or the website’s information doesn’t relate in any way to the product’s environmental consciousness, social responsibility or animal welfare, take that as a trigger warning. If the brand is really interested in forging an honest image and connection with its customers, their website will always offer a great peek behind the curtains. Sustainable brands always seek to inspire trust and let you into their story.

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Correlate the Certifications & Associations to which They Belong The issue of certifications is somewhat complex since they are all privatized. Certifying a fabric or a company requires investing a large amount of money. For that reason, there are many small sustainable brands that simply cannot afford most of these certifications.

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According to Marie Engberg, The Comarché’s Co-founder and Sustainable Advisor,

“Far from all our brands in this category will have one or more of these certifications. It can be extremely costly to obtain global certification schemes, especially for smaller brands that might be on a tight budget.

However, just because some of our brands don’t have a certification scheme, it does not necessarily mean they do not work with sustainable materials.”

Having said that, any bona fide slow company will at least provide a section defining their manifesto, sustainable values and principles. Whether they have the financial means to be certified or not, you should still be able to find prioritized sustainable criteria and a detailed process of their supply chain.

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Read the Label and Price Compare If you find yourself in any of their physical stores, pay extra consideration to the feel of the materials and label specification. You should be able to find practical information on the composition, manufacturing process and place where it was made. Beware that it’s quite common for brands to label certain products as ‘recycled’ or ‘organic’ when the percentage of materials this applies to is relatively low. Another trick brands will do is market small, seemingly sustainable capsule collections in a way that implies their entire range is sustainable.

Be mindful of the pricing as well. Producing quality goods with high ethical and ecological standards adds more value. That is not to say that sustainable commodities are all universally expensive, but we would think twice if their price point would hit unreasonably low.

The Ultimate ‘Wear and Tear’ Test Sustainable brands select their fabric choices and conduct their product manufacturing with great care and consideration since durability is deeply engrained into their core values. If you already own one of their sustainable goods, you have the opportunity first-hand to see how its quality holds up in time.

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A sustainable future means to me that as human beings we collectively behave as part of the global ecosystem, understanding that we are not separated from nature. We too are nature.

On an individual level, I believe this requires taking time to stay with each moment and appreciate it. When we are able to drink it all in and truly savour what we have, we can allow innocence and the natural expression of Life to blossom in our children and in our society.

Kuna Rasmussen

A RTI ST & FE L LOW D R E A M E R

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INTERVIEW WITH FORMER ROYAL DANISH BALLET SOLOIST, FEMKE MØLBACH SLOT

On the launch of her new exercise program “Core Elegance” WORDS VALERIA SOLONARI PHOTOGRAPHY S IGNE VILSTRUP // TOMORROW MANAGEMENT STYLING THE COMARCHÉ

NAME FEMKE MØ LBACH SLOT BORN JULY 8TH, 1978 ZODIAC SIGN CANCER LIVES COPENHAGEN, DENMARK PROFESSION FOUNDER OF CORE ELEGANCE, FORMER SOLOIST OF THE ROYAL DANISH BALLET, INSTRUCTOR & PERFORMER INSTAGRAM @COREELEGANCECPH WEBSITE COREEL EGANCE.COM

FE M KE M Ø LBACH S LOT & ACU M É M AG A Z I N E

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It is a somewhat cold morning. The warmth of the first days of spring seems to have hidden, although Femke Slot’s eyes still glimmer with heat from the cheers and the applause of a fulfilling career across some of the most renowned international stages – Milan’s La Scala, Paris’s Palais Garnier, Tokyo’s Bunka Kaikan, London’s Royal Theatre, and not in the least, Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Ballet, the city that saw her take her very first turns.

Having retired close to three years ago, Femke has not for one second lost that youthful reverie. She embodies the synthesis of a life dedicated to ballet – the engine and purpose of her existence, a complex and most beautiful art form that defines her almost as much personally as it does professionally. A former dance prodigy of exhaustive dedication, she now adds fierce entrepreneur to her long list of merits, as she experiences the meanders of fabricating your own dreams and extols the values of movement and exercise through the magical guidance of ballet.

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Core Elegance is the newest studio in Copenhagen that brings to the forefront the art and allure of ballet combined with the vigorous intensity of a workout to create “a complete fusion of body, mind and soul”. A person who’s been active most of her life, she purposefully designed this program to be as effective and beneficial for everyday life, a discipline meant “to shape and tend to your body from the inside out”, is how Femke’s description begins as we all sat down to discuss her newest business endeavour.

Before, she showed the world how a body could inspire perpetual beauty; today, under many eager watchful eyes, she becomes a teacher for the rule-bending generation of ballet-inspired workout. With an almost overflowing creative energy and an iron will to match, Femke Mølbach Slot managed to ensure that her artistry and innovative thinking gave shape to a new expressive language of holistic exercise.

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To start off, tell us a little bit about your background and how that eventually led to the conception of Core Elegance. What is your overall vision for Core Elegance, and how do you think your experience and dedication (and passion) for ballet has formed you into who you are today?

I have lived at the Royal Theatre on Kongens Nytorv, Copenhagen, for nearly my entire life. Whether onstage or off, I was constantly surrounded by ballet, movement and classical music. After retiring as a professional ballet dancer at age 40, the idea of sharing my knowledge and awareness of the body with the world outside of theatre – even with people who have never danced before – suddenly came alive. My man as well as many others strongly encouraged me as they also realized this form of training didn’t exist yet. Those desires were also reinforced by my own vision of what the training studio would be like – A luxurious and calm space where you would be guided through a class with training secrets and experiences from a life in ballet. A place with focus on a strong core, elegance and flexibility. A training that will give you posture, toning, movement and the walk like that of a ballet dancer.

Ballet is a very formal style of dance, requiring highly choreographed movements and precise legwork. How would you describe your program to someone who finds the above intimidating? How much is borrowed from this esteemed sport, and how much is actually just a mindset?

Although the training is based on and inspired by how we, ballet dancers, train, this is not a dance or ballet class. Everybody will be able to join us. We want to offer people the experience of beautiful posture and the poetry of movement. That takes special training of many muscle groups, but especially those of the abs, back and legs.

That said, we do bring the twists, sparkle, and not least the music from the ballet world into our training. Besides making it a more pleasurable way to train and unwind, some of the exercises aim at coordinating your entire body. You might even feel how some exercises will make you move like a real ballet dancer!

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As you said, Core Elegance is all about helping people achieve their goals in terms of health, strength, confidence and balance. Can you explain some of the actual techniques you’ll be implementing in the program, and how are they different from what’s already out there?

Normal training is about repetition of isolated movements often focusing on very few muscles in a static pace. Core Elegance is an exercise program done to classical piano music where the exercises are as much poetic flow as they are raw body training. The coordination, the music and the way we train will not only strengthen your body, but also sooth your mind and help freshen up.

We applaud that Core Elegance targets not only people who simply wish to be in better shape, but also those recovering from a debilitating injury, and post-pregnancy mamas. Was it difficult to shape a holistic exercise program that would be nurturing and challenging for them at the same time?

It is important to us that our training addresses both your body and mind. This is why we shape our classes according to the group of people we are teaching. We incorporate ballet terms in our training as we think people will appreciate their charm, but also to make it feel more like an experience than a typical training – of course, without making it too complicated.

Many people acknowledge that working out is only half the battle without proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, but most have a hard time landing on a correct routine. In your opinion, what is the sweet spot ratio between your signature strengthening exercises and general diet?

I have always believed that you should be able to eat a bit of everything and not deprive yourself of any food. In a perfect world I would eat until 80-90 percent full, but as someone who really loves food, that can sometimes be challenging. In the past, I had the fortune of training and dancing at least 8 hours a day. However, since my retirement from the ballet company, I naturally don’t train or dance as much and of course my body reacted to this change. But that’s okay, since I still have the same approach to it all: eat until 80-90 percent full, eat sensibly without abstaining yourself from anything, and move and exercise as much as your body and time allows.

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TO P & PANTS YOGAM II J E W E L L E RY RO COP E NHAG E N

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TO P AND PANTS YO GA MII JEW EL LE RY RO CO PEN HAG EN

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For the people interested but unable to physically attend your program – what are the 3 main things they can do to incorporate your philosophy and tools in order to achieve their own Core Elegance?

One should stretch often. Get the blood flowing and try to become less stiff. Be mindful of your core. Straighten your back and engage your stomach muscles, almost like zipping up a pair of tight jeans. Relax your shoulders so that your neck can be free and graceful.

For people who might be nervous about their ability to train with us, we will soon also have a ‘Mindful Elegance’ class.

This is a session where we take it real slow and work on posture and flexibility, all in a tempo and level that suits the entire group.

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TO P AND PANTS YO GA MII C A RDIGAN F EMKE’S OWN JEW EL LE RY RO CO PEN HAG EN

I N TE RVI E W FE M K E M Ø L BACH S LOT

My dream for Core Elegance is to create a refined and effective training in a space and atmosphere of wellbeing, mindfulness and poise.

It’s important to me that our classes are as much about training your body, as it does your soul, so that you’ll feel balanced, strong, elegant, and light on your feet.

I hope Core Elegance will inspire and help you take better care of yourself, understanding that the older we get, the more protective of our whole being we have to be.

Staying strong, healthy and aware of our bodies is a gift we can give to our families.

Femke Mølbach Slot

FO U N D E R O F CO R E E L EG A N C E & FE L LOW D R E A M E R

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SEAS ON STYLES FOR HER

Scandi Summer Fashion TRENDS SANDRA SERRITZLEW

The Nordic Summers are typically a mix of warm and cooler days, so a comforting knit is an absolute essential for those fickle summer evenings. Complement the cosy cardigan with soft-hued floral tights and let your nostalgia be the focus of your wardrobe for the season.

SK I RT E S M É ST U DI O S

KNIT E S M É ST U DIOS

S CARF SI C ELS DRESS ES MÉ ST UD IO S

SO C KS S W E DI S H STO CKI N G S TI G H TS DE A R DE N I E R

P HOTOS COURTESY OF IND EP EN DEN T B RAN DS

VE ST SCHULZ BY C ROW D

SKI RT EC HT E D R E SS RU E DE TO KYO

D R E SS S C H U LZ BY CROW D

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Why you should Know and Care about the Sustainable Development Goals WORDS KAROLINE EGELUND PHOTOGRAPHY MATER DESIGN

You have probably either seen their colourful logo pinned to a politician’s lapel, read about them on a company’s website, or heard them mentioned during a conversation: The Sustainable Development Goals.

But what exactly makes them so important for consumers?

Let’s take it back to September 2015. At the UN Annual General Assembly, all 193 UN member states committed to eradicate world poverty and hunger, reduce inequalities, ensure proper education and better healthcare for all, and provide decent jobs and a more sustainable economic growth. In short, they agreed on working together to improve our quality of life, and at the same time ensure that the world we pass on to our children is in a much better state. The UN has therefore set a common course towards a more sustainable future for us all here on planet Earth.

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The sustainable development goals (SDGs) are not the UN’s first attempt to set objectives for a better tomorrow.

There are 17 sustainable development goals in total with 169 sub targets that promote specific actions for each goal.

In 2000, the majority of the world’s leaders agreed to join forces, and thus created eight specific goals concerning how the world should function by 2015. The focus was on halving extreme poverty, getting all children into school, securing rights, curbing deadly diseases, and much more. They didn’t reach every goal, but progress had been made in every area.

The goals are balancing the three dimensions of sustainable development: Economic, Social and Environmental.

Besides that, they are also interdependent, meaning that one cannot be fully achieved without the others. Therefore, the goals apply to all countries of the world, and by virtue of their universality, hold both a national and international dimension.

Where the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) mostly concerns the developing countries, the new SDGs will demand all countries in the world to take joint responsibility and commit to producing, consuming and acting sustainably.

You can read more about each specific goal and target here.

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Why you should Care More and more companies are devoting themselves to the sustainable development goals and are working with them when outlining their strategies. It makes it easier for you as a consumer to see which companies share the same values as you and who is actually taking part in creating a better world.

One important goal to highlight would be goal #12, which aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

As consumers, we should hold responsibility for our own actions, including our consumption and waste. A third of the world’s food production is thrown in the bin. Electronic waste grew by 38% from 2010-2019, and we are currently using the equivalent of 1.6 Earths to provide the resources we use and help absorb our waste. Therefore, we must also take into account how our way of consuming leaves an impact on our planet.

When shopping, it’s important to check whether or not the companies have chosen to contribute to the SDGs or not, and The Comarché has made it very accessible for you as a consumer to see which goals each brand supports.

At the same time, you can also use the SDGs to pressure companies to perform better.

The SDGs are important on both a national and international scale, as the goals represent a universal approach that any company, organization, or political union can use.

Today, consumers have all the power, so where you choose to invest your money dictates the way the world will develop. If more consumers demand sustainably produced goods, ethically sourced materials, fairtrade and equal working rights, companies will have no option than to comply with these requirements.

So, no matter where you find yourself in the world, the SDGs work as a common language to help reach global sustainability.

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LO U NGE CHAIR M ATER DES IG N LO U NGE TABLE M ATER DES IG N

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Back to Basics PHOTOGRAPHY KRISTINA DEMANT // TOMORROW MANAGEMENT HAIR & MAKEUP EMILIE PRESKOU

MODELS KARLIE, VEGA, ELVIS & KAJ

JACK ET L EV I’S V INTAGE T ROUS ERS PIER ROT LA LUN E

T-SHIRT POPUPS HOP TROU SE RS CO L A B EL

JACKE T LEV I’S V I N TAG E TO P R ED CROSS R EC YC L ED T ROU SE RS PIER ROT L A LUN E

JAC K E T V I N TAG E CACH ARE L SH I RT P I E R ROT LA LU NE SH O RTS CO L AB E L

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Natural Organic Beauty Handmade in Denmark WORDS ANNE MARIE MONDRUP PHOTOGRAPHY THE COMARCHÉ BRAND VØLVE SPECIALITY SKINCARE FOUNDED 2011 BASED IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK INSTAGRAM @VOELVE

Part of the Nordic clean beauty movement, Vølve is a skincare company of organic and non-toxic products that are equal parts effective as they are affordable. Backed by great looking design that has nature as point of inspiration, the brand takes a 360 approach to wellness and self-care.

From sustainably sourced ingredients, rigorous quality control standards and packaging designed for easy recycling, Vølve shares why multifaceted sustainability is the next frontier of clean conscious beauty.

T H E CO M A RCH É FR A M E WORK

VØLVE & AC UMÉ MAG A Z IN E

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PH OTO T HE CO MARC HÉ

MAGIC BALM VØ LVE

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BEAUTY ESSENTIALS FOR SUMMER

Nourish your Body & keep that glowing Summer Shine TRENDS SANDRA SERRITZLEW

The essential summer beauty routine needs to include everything, from sun-safe to sweatproof options. Keep your skin freshly scrubbed and don’t forget your daily dose of SPF! Remember, your face and lips need care too – tend to them with a nourishing face oil and lip balm amid the torrid summer weather.

N AT U RAL GLOW FACE OI L N AT URL IG OL IE

ROSE , LAV E N D E R & STRAWBE R RY S CRU B VØLVE

TH I STL E & Y UZ U B O DY WAS H U N DE R YOU R S K IN

E AU D E PA R FU M P O RCE LA I N P E R FU M E RY

N U R SI N G L I P BA L M Y RO LÍ

P HOTOS COURTESY OF IND EP EN DEN T B RAN DS

BO DY LOTION YRO LÍ

JOJOBA OI L N AT URL IG OL IE PE E L I N G STO N E LAV I N I A T R A DE

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INTERVIEW WITH JEWELLERY BRAND, RO COPENHAGEN

Insights into a Business Model that Respects both People and the Environment WORDS VALERIA SOLONARI PHOTOGRAPHY RO COPENHAGEN & THE COMARCHÉ BRAND RO COPENHAGEN SPECIALITY JEWELLERY FOUNDER HELLE LEIBERG NISSEN BASED IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK INSTAGRAM @ROCOPENHAGEN R E SPO N SI B L E J E W E L L E RY CO U N CIL ( RJC)

In an industry where more and more news echo the problems that affect the environment – from toxic agents used in precious gems and metal extraction, labour exploitation, to the unfavourable impact generated by small and large-scale mining – thankfully, there are several companies in the jewellery industry who are actively addressing these problems.

Meet Ro Copenhagen, who have been in the business since 2015.

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A rising name on the Danish jewellery scene, Ro Copenhagen’s mission was to create a sustainable brand with tremendous care and kindness towards the environment and its community. For them, Ro jewellery is strongly linked to emotions, connection, love and celebration – a collection with purpose for those who seek beauty both inside and out. When considering decisions through the sustainable lens, they understand that it’s also about the value of social education and constant evolution.

Sustainability for Ro Copenhagen is not just a fad of the moment, but a practice that’s alive and in perpetual growth, and most of all, integral to an urgent global conversation.

Protecting and caring for the environment, while at the same time, ensuring ethical working conditions have been essential for the company’s development. Deeply responsible in their craftsmanship, Ro Copenhagen takes great measures to reduce its social and environmental impact during the production process, betting on honesty and traceability in each of the steps across their supply chain. The company works against exploiting the earth unnecessarily, and instead takes advantage of raw materials that are already extracted, preferring to work with ‘responsible gold’ obtained through rigorous criteria of sustainability and enhanced working conditions.

Firm advocates of responsible consumption and free-of-guilt luxury goods, Ro Copenhagen is constantly making efforts to provide real solutions that embrace their sustainable values. This is one company that refuses to belong to the world of the disposable.

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How did Ro Copenhagen come to life for those unfamiliar with your story?

Jewellery is an industry that has garnered a reputation for not being the most sustainable. Can you walk us through your own experience, and why was it important for you to break that mould?

When Ro Copenhagen was founded in 2015, the definition of our name, Ro, became a commitment: a feeling of calmness and thoughtfulness that pervades everything we do. Calmness for creating quality and for thinking our actions and responsibilities through.

Ro has a great appreciation and respect for the environment, so the choices we make support the belief of operating in a sustainable and honourable way. Quality, durability and sustainability are three pillars that inform everything, from the materials we choose, the production partners we work with, to the kind of jewellery we end up creating. Our goal at all times is to be able to look at ourselves in the mirror, so we always strive to do the most considerate thing for the environment and people alike.

Ro has a unique initiative, the Rebuy Guarantee, which acts to support recycling of our materials back into our production chain – thus ensuring circularity and recyclability of our products. By improving our environmental impact and reducing unnecessary waste, we can then prolong the lifetime of Ro Copenhagen jewellery. This proves the sustainability of our designs, and in turn brings an added level of joy and peace-of-mind to their wearers.

What inspiration lies behind your creative process and what ultimately impacts your designs?

The creative process often begins with inspiration from a gemstone distinct with a unique colour or other specific characteristic, one that’s not just pleasing to the eye, but nourishing for the soul. For Helle, our designer, working with gems brings about a sense of inner peace and harmony. There is a silent pleasure in working with gemstones that Helle likes to think carries over to the person who eventually wears that gem close to their body.

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Helle, the founder and designer of Ro Copenhagen, found that the quiet times she had to work with jewellery and design filled her with a deep sense of inner peace and serenity. She manages to find inspiration from all around, which drives her passion to sketch intensely, to search for precise gemstones, and finally to materialise her ideas with a team of talented goldsmiths. A tiny diamond in each and every Ro piece is Helle’s distinct signature. This diamond stone is also a sparkling greeting and discreet reminder of natural beauty and strength for the person who lives with their Ro Jewellery.

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What would you say are the key aspects that set your brand apart from other sustainable jewellery companies?

One philosophy at Ro Copenhagen is to not fuel fast consumption or over production. Instead, our designs are brought to life based on the ethos ‘consume with care’.

To this end, we only produce new designs when we have something really special to share – small yet exclusive collections with no minimum requirements for production quantity.

Another Ro Copenhagen mindset is that materials really do matter, and we have deliberately chosen to produce only in 18kt gold so that we can create jewellery with a longlife cycle. This is different to many other modern jewellery brands that are operating in the demi-fine area of the industry (demi-fine uses silver and lower alloys of gold). By using solid 18kt gold from a primarily recycled source, we can ensure a strong sense of timelessness in Ro pieces and minimise the need of gold mining.

Ro Copenhagen also only works with ethically sourced diamonds and precious stones of natural origin, always untreated and from conflict-free zones in compliance with UN resolutions. We go beyond standard industry regulations to ensure that we can vouch for every single stone set into our designs. We hope that with our carefully thought-out jewellery, you can always wear your values.

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In what ways did you apply The Comarché Framework to your work, and how has it helped you to structure and report on your sustainability efforts?

For the Ro Copenhagen team, transparency and sustainability are core values that feature as a priority on our agenda. We strive to do our best, but we acknowledge that we are human and therefore in a continual process of learning. We have created a Ro Copenhagen ideas bank of sustainable initiatives, to which our team regularly contributes and discusses the concepts. This system also helps us measure the ways in which we can always improve.

The Comarché Framework has been a great tool to look at our holistic approach of the social, environmental and economic aspects of sustainability. At the moment, a key area of focus for us is working on developing our packaging. We’re almost ready with our new solution, and the result is an effective and sustainable alternative. Currently, our biggest sin is the foam inside of our existing jewellery boxes but throwing out our old packaging is not a very sustainable option either. Therefore, Ro’s new sustainable packaging will only be introduced once the warehouse is empty. We are excited to share this new development with you!

Talk us through an initiative or campaign of yours that you are particularly proud of.

P HOTO RO COP EN HAG E N

Our #RoWomen campaign with AltForDamerne magazine is an ongoing monthly project that we are really proud of. Through a series of conversations with different women, we explore how to find a sense of peace and tranquillity in modern life.

Sharing stories, knowledge and information with our community helps not only to keep us inspired, but also to encourage women everywhere to find inner peace and hold on to it.

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What are your personal top 5 favourite Ro products and why should our readers be inspired to check them out?

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My Collection A range of alphabet and numerical pendant designs that act as tokens of affection that you hold close to the heart. The #RoSignatureDiamond detailing is a discreet symbol of natural beauty and strength. Many of our customers like to mix-n-match their My Collection pendants, because depending on how you stack them, these pieces tell a personal story. #apieceofyourstory

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Rock Diamond Signet Ring

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Rock Classic Diamond Hoop S

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Fryd Wave Diamond Earring

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Fryd Baroque Pearl Pendant

A Ro statement piece that possesses a unique spirit. The open face of this signet ring lends itself to be personalized. Engrave it either with initials or a date that holds special significance and bring your story to life through your jewellery.

An all-time favourite hoop design that’s both streamlined and timeless. This hoop earring comes in such a wearable size, yet the dazzling white diamonds make it instantly eye-catching.

These designs have a very progressive form. Each Fryd Collection piece can be used in multiple combinations (as an earring, earring pendant or addition to a necklace chain). This versatility allows you to create your own expression of beauty.

These pearls are a timeless statement and a wonderful piece to be passed on for future generations to enjoy. The subtle white hue feels particularly suited for spring and summertime.

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Other than a more sustainable tomorrow... what else do you dream of these days?

Each day we want people to feel inspired to find their balance and inner harmony and hold on to it.

We dream that you will bring your stories to life through your jewellery and enjoy the moments of peaceful recognition. A Ro Copenhagen motto that we’d really like to share and leave you with is: You are a part of the infinite, but still one of a kind. Be you. Be different. Be the inspiration.

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PHOTOGRAPHER SIGNE VILSTRUP // TOMORROW MANAGEMENT HAIR & MAKEUP KOLBRUN RAN // TOMORROW MANAGEMENT STYLING THE COMARCHÉ MODEL ASTRI D GROVE // UNIQUE MODELS PRODUCTION TOMORROW MANAGEMENT

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10 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint WORDS ELISABETH HUNDAHL PHOTOGRAPHY CONSCIOUS DESIGN, KRISTINA DEMANT & SMALLREVOLUTION

Looking for easy ways to significantly reduce your carbon footprint? Well, look no further. We’ve put together a list of 10 easy steps you can take. But first, let’s clarify what carbon footprint actually means.

Whether you have a low or high carbon footprint, you should always strive to improve it. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to buy an electric vehicle, install solar panels on your roof or anything else that costs a fortune. There are plenty of small, easy steps everyone can take to reduce their carbon footprint.

If you’re interested in calculating your own carbon footprint, just click here.

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Most of us have heard the term carbon footprint over and over again, and the term is often used when discussing climate change. Carbon footprint is a way to measure greenhouse gas emissions, and it’s determined by the total amount of greenhouse gases our daily actions generate and release into the atmosphere.

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Use Your Bike as a Means of Transportation Summertime is just around the corner, so if you don’t have a bike but live in a bikeable city, now is the perfect time to invest in one! Even smaller trips to work, to a friend’s house or to the grocery store will make a difference – with the added bonus of improving your health. If biking is not really an option, then travel smart. Go for public transportation or carpool instead. This way you help reduce both traffic congestion and oil demand.

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Eat Less Meat According to the UN, eating less meat is one of the best things people can do to reduce the pressure we put on the world’s resources. Today, there are many great green alternatives to meat, so get familiar with plant-based recipes and experiment with ways to transition to a more vegan lifestyle. If you need some inspiration to create delicious green dishes, check out ‘Eat Your Greens’, where you can find more than 800 plant-focused recipes. Additionally, if you want to walk that extra mile for the climate, try buying organic or eating locally and seasonally as much as possible.

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Rethink Your Fashion Choices There are several steps you can take when it comes to your fashion choices. First and foremost, we encourage you to reduce the amount of new clothes you buy and instead find new ways to use what you already have. If you need to add a new piece to your wardrobe, try not to buy into fast fashion. We know how cheap prices always tend to lure us in, but the trendy, bargain items will quickly go out of style and most will end up in landfills. Instead, buy quality clothes from eco-friendly or organically certified companies that will last beyond seasons, or go treasure hunting at your local second-hand store.

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Travel Wisely We’re all longing for adventures and new experiences, especially during these times. However, most of us are also aware that flying is one of the most polluting modes

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of transportation out there. Therefore, if you’re serious about reducing your carbon footprint, you should rethink the way you travel. Ever thought about exploring Europe by rail? Interrail will give you the perfect opportunity to see and experience places you never thought you would end up in. Another option would be to explore places close to home. To some people this might sound boring, but we promise that a ‘staycation’ can actually feel like a world away.

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Wash Your Clothes at Lower Temperatures There are a lot of ways to wash smarter – one of them being using cold water instead of hot. Washing your clothes in cold water will reduce the typical washing machine’s electricity usage by 90%, which is nothing to scoff at. And need not worry, for lightly soiled clothing, cold water sanitises just as well as a warm wash. For an even bigger impact, try only washing full loads and always remember to air dry your clothes on a drying-rack instead of using the tumble dryer.

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Swap Old Light Bulbs to More Energy-Efficient Ones Still got incandescent light bulbs in your home? Well, then it’s time to make a change and switch to LED. Even though LEDs cost more, they last up to 25 times longer and will ultimately end up saving you money on your energy bills.

Psst… if you want to be really good, always remember to flip the switch when you leave a room!

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Unplug Your Unused Appliances Just because your appliances are turned off doesn’t mean they’re not consuming energy. So, try to unplug them whenever you’re not using them. We realize that this can be a bit time consuming, so if you’re someone who simply can’t stand plugging and unplugging every gadget you have around the house, try leaving appliances you don’t use on a regular basis unplugged. This could be for e.g., your toaster, microwave, radio or desk lamp.

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Reuse Whatever and Whenever You Can Single use items contribute to a great deal of the pollution we have worldwide. Therefore, we encourage you to always reuse whenever given the chance. Getting into the habit of reusing is not only good for the environment - it can also help you save money. The more practice you get, the easier it will be for you to turn down single-use items. Here are a few examples of how you can adjust and start reusing (both in your home and on-the-go):

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Bring a reusable mug to your neighbourhood coffee shop Make a habit of carrying a reusable water bottle with you (find one here) Pack your lunch in a reusable container (find one here) Say goodbye to plastic bags and bring a tote bag next time you go grocery shopping (find one here) Replace the single-use plastic straws in your kitchen with reusable ones, ranging from ceramic, bamboo, glass, metal or silicone options (find some here) Use washable reusable sponges and dish cloths

Let Your Garden Untamed If you’re lucky enough to own a garden, there are several things you can do to make your green space a little rampant and more attractive for wildlife. First and foremost, ditch all pesticides, weed killers and fertilisers as they kill insects and pollute the soil. Another thing you can do is to just lean back and let the grass grow, or alternatively, create a wild corner.

If you really want to make a positive impact, create a compost heap and add a water source to your garden.

If you live in the city and have a garden that consists mostly of concrete, invest in a couple of flowerpots and buy some organic bee friendly wildflower seeds. Not only will the flowers look pretty – they will also attract bees and butterflies, as they are rich in pollen and nectar.

Double yay!

Recycle Your Waste Establishing recycling stations in your household can reduce your carbon footprint exponentially. Recycling valuable materials like glass, aluminium cans and plastic means that it can be reused in other forms, and thus, will not go to waste. In other words, recycling helps the conservation of non-renewable materials; it saves a lot of energy and prevents landfills from getting overloaded. What’s not to like?

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LIF ESTY LE

Turning Dreams into Conscious Action WORDS ANNE MARIE MONDRUP PHOTOGRAPHY ALEXANDER ANDREWS, KRISTINA DEMANT & WOLF ZIMMERMANN

Ever since I was little, I have been fascinated by dreams. Those that came to me at night and the ones that filled my thoughts during the day. I always wondered if there is a connection between what you think, experience, daydream in your awake and conscious life, and the state you are in when you sleep and dream. Is there anything linking your day-conscious and your unconscious night-mind, besides the obvious fact that they’re both yours?

People spend on average a third of their lifespan in a state of sleep. About 8 hours per night amount to almost 3.000 a year. Based on an average life expectancy of 75 years, you are sleeping approximately 25 years of your life away!

Sleep is a hugely important factor in living a healthy balanced life. It is during sleep that your body and mind recover and heal, thus promoting better long-term physical and mental performance. While you are sleeping, your body is left in the physical world and your spirit embarks on a journey into the spiritual world, all while your brain is busy processing and storing your daily experiences in your memory. As you sleep, you are not aware of these activities, but by working consciously with your life at night, you will be able to learn from these nocturnal teachings and integrate them into your conscious day mind.

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Your life is a rhythmic alternation between being awake and being asleep.

Each new day starts with 8 hours of work, followed by 8 hours of leisure activities and family time, then followed by another 8 hours of sleep. And every day is more or less a repetition.

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What Happens When You Sleep?

Traditional science proved there are several forms of sleep that are divided into four different stages:

Stage 1: Drowsiness In this first stage, you have barely closed your eyes and the body is starting to calm down. You are still quite a long way from dreamland. The brain waves must first go through the primary cycle of sleep. It is at the transition from drowsy to light sleep that you may experience a sudden jerk in your body or get the sensation of falling. These movements may be due to the body having difficulty controlling the transition from an awaken state to complete relaxation. After 5-10 minutes however, you slowly slip into the second stage of sleep.

Stage 2: Light Sleep Here is when you fall completely asleep. Your body temperature drops, your brain waves and heart rate slow down, and you are no longer connected to your consciousness.

Stage 3: Deep Sleep During this phase, the brain waves have become very slow and your blood pressure has dropped. Breathing and heart rate are most often the slowest and most regular during deep sleep. Here is when you really rest and your body recovers, as the blood flows to the muscles and helps to rebuild you.

If you are awakened while in deep sleep, it can take up to half an hour before your brain is fully conscious again, and you will often feel confused and dizzy for several minutes.

Stage 4: REM Sleep When you reach this final stage of sleep, you will most probably dream.

The name Rapid Eye Movement comes from the way the eyes move while you sleep, as they follow the experiences you have in your dreams. At this stage, the brain waves are very similar to those from a conscious brain, yet your body is almost paralyzed. It is often believed that your soul leaves your physical body during REM (also known as ‘The Little Death’) to connect to the spiritual world and link you to your higher purpose.

Despite most people being blissfully unaware while they’re dreaming, to try and exercise that awareness could actually be the key to discerning memories and the emotions attached to them.

REM sleep usually lasts a quarter of the night, about 2 hours even if you can’t recall any of it.

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What Are Dreams?

A dream includes images, thoughts and feelings that are experienced during REM sleep. Dreams can range from being extraordinarily intense or emotionally charged to very vague, fleeting, confusing or even unmemorable. Some dreams are happy, while others can be scary or deeply saddening. Sometimes dreams seem to have a clear narrative, while others make no sense at all.

Historically, dreams have been used in a variety of contexts. The indigenous people of Australia went so far as to attach greater importance to the dream world than to the real world. In Eastern philosophy, cultivating the dreamer’s ability to be aware that he/she is dreaming is key to the Tibetan Buddhist practice of dream yoga.

The Unredeemed Power of Dreams There is no doubt that dreams can have a wholesome therapeutic effect, and perhaps even more so if you learn to make sense of them. They are helping define your ‘real’ dreams and yield strength and purpose. To dream of doing something and actually doing it are very similar processes for the brain if one looks at its activity while they are happening.

Dreams can therefore be used to practice something, for example giving a speech to a large audience or doing things you would not otherwise dare but have an inner desire to do.

Sigmund Freud suggested that dreams represent unconscious desires, thoughts, wish fulfilments and motivations.

According to Freud, humans are driven by repressed and unconscious longings, such as aggressive and sexual instincts.

Although many of Freud’s claims have been rejected, research suggests that there is a tendency for suppression of a thought to result in dreaming about it. In his book ‘The Interpretation of Dreams’, Freud wrote that dreams are “disguised fulfilments of repressed desires” and he described two different dream components: manifest content (actual images) and latent content (hidden meaning).

You can actually have fun in your dreams, build self-confidence, overcome fear and even experience sex. If you learn to master your dreams with a conscious mind, then a nightmare can act as a compelling experiment or exercise to try to overcome some strong emotions and thereby support your journey of personal development. However, this can

Thus, dream interpretation is the process of assigning meaning to dreams, which can help enlighten us and psychologically expand our consciousness.

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sciousness? And what if you could use dreams to guide you, the same way you let your gut feeling or logic dictate? Have you ever tried to work out a dilemma or tackle an important decision and were told to sleep on it first? There’s definite truth to these words.

I believe that dreams can contain symbols and insights into emotional struggles, provide you with shrewd observation and help you come to terms with past experiences as well as prepare you for new ones.

Dreams are a bigger guide to your life than you think and contain an untapped realm of self that only a few have the mental dexterity to exploit.

only happen if you actively use dreams to gain insight into yourself and the outside world. Although the realm in which you move within a dream may feel very distant or nonsensical, it always arises from something deep inside you – on a conscious or unconscious level. In the dream state, your conscious self brings elements from the physical world into the dream, as it knows you will be able to recognize them.

If you started working more consciously and focused with your dreams, you could open a door to new insights and abilities that enhance your understanding and awareness of yourself, your life and your purpose and mission here on earth.

No matter what you believe in, it is certain that we all dream and reflect on our dreams in a way that best resonates with us.

Dreams are like a puzzle, where only some of the motif is visible to you, but the interpretation must be found in the words, images, symbols and emotions that derive during the dream.

I, for one, am deeply fascinated by the possibilities of this huge potential of personal development that lies in working consciously with your dreams and nightly experiences. If we could use our sleeping hours to evolve and transform our conscious mind and take advantage of the 25 years we sleep away, how life-changing would that be?

Supposing there is a higher purpose to the act of dreaming – wouldn’t it be interesting if you began to open your consciousness and attempt at being present when you dream at night? If you could strengthen your night consciousness, how would that affect your day con175

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5 Ways to Work More Consciously with Your Dreams 1

Go to bed at the same time every night The same way you lead your daily life based on a fixed circadian rhythm and timeframe, it is equally as healthy to apply those patterns to night-time as well. The more consciously and freely you integrate the cosmic flows and alternate rhythms of the sleep-wake cycle, the more healing it becomes for you. Set your watch to ‘sleep mode’ one hour before you actually go to bed, as a simple trick to help you initiate and maintain a rhythmic change between waking up and sleeping.

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Stay off electronics for at least an hour before going to sleep Tempting as it might be to use your computer or phone before bed, studies have shown these devices can interfere with sleep by suppressing the production of melatonin, a natural hormone released in the evening to help you tire and be ready for sleep. This leads to neurophysiologic arousals that increase feelings of alertness when you should be winding down instead, and it can reduce time spent in Deep sleep and REM sleep. These two stages of sleep are crucial to mental and physical health as it impacts memory and mood in a positive way.

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Recount your day for 5-10 minutes before bedtime Watch it unfold in front of your eyes like a movie, as you gently connect with your inner self. Look back at instances and interactions you had with others prior that day, check in with your feelings and reflect on what has occurred, how did it make you feel and what did it mean to you. Doing this allows your spirit to work with the essence and the learnings of your experiences and to find its ground in you while you are sleeping.

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Keep a dream journal Dreams can be forgotten in the blink of an eye, so you want to make sure that remembering them will be the first thing you do when you wake up. It is important that you do not get out of bed, check your phone or direct your attention to something else; otherwise, the dream can disappear like chaff blown by the wind. Have a notebook ready by your bedside table so you can quickly record details before they slip your mind. If you cannot remember what you dreamt, write that down too. It is useful to note how you feel, the sensation you are awakened with, and whether you feel something anywhere on the body.

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Ask for answers and you shall receive Are you facing a challenge or are in doubt about something specific in your life? Ask yourself a particular question in the moment right before you fall asleep. If it’s the last thing on your conscious mind, your subconscious will bring it with you into the night.

As you connect with the spiritual world during deep sleep, you will receive the answer either as a feeling, a clear thought or a deep knowing. When you wake up in the morning, you will instinctively know the answer to your question.

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HAIR & MAKEUP ISABEL FJELKING // @ MAKEUP_ISABEL_FJELKING MODEL & POET VICTORIA MELENDEZ CRUZ // UNIQUE MODELS

FLOWERS SIDSEL ZACHARIASSEN // TOMORROW MANAGEMENT SPECIAL THANKS TO NREP FOR THE BEAUTIFUL LOCATION IN NORDHAVN, HAVNEHUSET

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E A R R I N G P O LA R J E WE L RY B R AC E L E T YU M E N EC K L AC E RO CO P E N H AGE N VA SE T H E CO M A RCH É V I NTAGE

E A R R I N G P O LA R J E W E LRY VA SE T H E CO M A RCH É V I N TAG E

JE WE LLE RY RO CO P E N H AG E N VAS E T HE CO M A RCH É V I N TAG E

E A R R I N G P O LA R J E WE L RY B R AC E L E T YU M E

EA R RING PO LAR JEWELRY B R AC EL ET RO CO PENH AGEN R I NG RO COPENH AGEN S CA RF TA PIS NOIR C E R AMIC PLATE TH E COMA RC HÉ VIN TAG E

EA R RING PO LAR JEWELRY R I NG RO COPENH AGEN B R AC EL ET RO CO PENH AG EN

E A R R I N G P O L AR J E W E L RY B RACELET YU M E VA SE T H E CO M A RC HÉ VINTAG E

“I wrote ‘Lady Landscape’ as an ode to mother earth – from the view and emphasis on sustainability of the female body, as a woman, as a human – as the creation she is – as we return home within ourselves, in remembrance that we are made of life herself.

Therefore, I dream of a more sustainable future where we – through learning how to reciprocate our love to ourselves – notice and act upon the importance of taking care of her.”

Victoria Melendez Cruz M OD E L, P O E T & FEL LOW D R E A M E R

VIC TO R I A M E LE N DE Z CRU Z & ACU M É M AG A Z I N E

T H ECOMA RCH E .COM

Scarves

UNFOLDING THE CONSCIOUS LIFE

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