ASKET - The Sweatshirt

After more than two years of development, design iterations and detailed production, our friends from Stockholm-based menswear brand ASKET have finally released their highly anticipated Sweatshirt. Available in Grey Melange, Navy and Black (followed by a Dusty Green and Burgundy-esque Red this September), the sweatshirt is a minimal take on the original American football player uniform. Cut to a tailored fit from custom developed, unbrushed loopback cotton and stripped from unnecessary details it combines style with unprecedented comfort. Milled and handmade in Reguenga, Portugal.

“Two years of development may seem crazy to some people in this industry. But we're creating garments designed to last a lifetime, and in that context, we say there’s no rush,” says co-founder August Bard Bringéus.
 

Two years may seem long to create a sweatshirt. But it nicely reflects the commitment and values that go into ASKET’s garments. Just over a year ago, the brand released their first take on the sweatshirt, but decided to pull the plug just after a few weeks. It simply didn’t live up to their expectations. So they went back to the drawing board and fine-tuned everything from the fit and fabric to the colours and detailing.

ASKET is Swedish online-only menswear brand founded in 2015 with the mission to free wardrobe essentials from the traditional concept of fashion and bring them back to basics. One garment at a time, the young brand is building a permanent collection of timeless essentials based on honest production, transparent pricing and a new size system. 

MARYSE – Plant-based Skincare from Auckland

MARYSE is a collection of considered, plant-based skincare preparations formulated by natural beauty specialist, Maryse O’Donnell. Drawing from natural and organic ingredients – including macadamia, avocado and kiwi seed oils amongst others – the brand’s naturally potent formulas are handmade in its studio in Auckland, New Zealand.

Each blend – from her Bio-Nutrient Face Oil and Bio-Boost to the Multi-Vitamin Body Oil and Enzyme Refine Cleansing Balm – delivers a refined combination of phytonutrients to not only optimise and encourage a beautiful and healthy skin but also to revitalise every complexion through its omega fatty acids, mineral, vitamins and anioxidants; without unwanted chemical additives.

Two of our hero products are the brand’s Bio-Nutrient Face Oil and Mineral Dew. A blend of nutrient-rich botanicals including kiwi and camellia seeds, the Bio-Nutrient Face Oil helps the skin maintain optimum hydration while delivering powerful, antioxidant (e.g. Vitamin E) properties. Unlike other face oils, MARYS’s formula is non-greasy and readily-absorbing. Drawing from broccoli and grape seeds, its silky Mineral Dew delivers a fresh finish. Infused with organic ingredients, the dew is a nice skin-enhancing formula for a post-facial glow.

MARYS’s botanical skincare collection currently includes eight products – all of which are prepared in small batches.

RHOECO – Greek Organic Herbal Tea

Introducing Rhoeco – an organic herbal tea company based in Thessaloniki, Greece, founded by agronomists and ecology enthusiasts Harry Kazas, Katerina Chatziangelaki and Vaya Mitsiou. Playing with the words rhoē (Gr.: flow), eco (for ecology) and co (for cooperation), Rhoeco is the result of a combined effort rooted in their wish to produce a product for the present while respecting the past and thinking about the future.

Inspired by the complexity of our ecosystem, the brand created five conceptual organic herbal tea blends that are hand-packaged in small batches. These include Mountain (distinctive lemon undernotes), Forest (smooth, full-bodied tisane), Sea (mellow sweet flavour with a subtle woody aftertaste), Agros (light-bodied, refreshing tisane with an earthy citrus aftertaste), and Urban (resin notes with a slightly bittersweet aftertaste).

The beauty of Rhoeco lies in that their packaging doubles as both herbal tea container and planter. With its ‘Drink it, plant it’ concept the brand encourages people to reuse its biodegradable containers to grow their own herbs. To do so, each package includes a seed stick containing a mix of organic herb seeds ready to be planted inside the container.

With respect to the young brand’s principles of fair trade, ethical and organic food production, the three entrepreneurs have developed a network of certified organic smallholder family farms across Greece, which supply them with raw dried herbs. Each of Rhoeco’s tea blends are produced and packaged by hand, safeguarding full integrity.

HAECKELS – Organically Crafted Seaweed Skincare

Introducing Haeckels – organically crafted wild fragrances and seaweed skincare harvested from Margate’s coastline.

Haeckels was founded in 2012 by filmmaker and coastal enthusiast Dom Bridges. Disillusioned by the production ethos of many larger skincare companies, Dom set out with the aim to create simple, handcrafted products that truly embodied his surroundings – Margate’s heritage and natural coastline. Over the years, Haeckels has grown from a passion into a business; taking on members of staff whilst staying true to what the brand was founded upon: to play an active part in the local community, conserve marine life and craft simple yet potent natural products.

By using plants and herbs, which are indigenous to England we make products which help to heal, care and scent the body.

Haeckels has now set up their Margate lab, tucked away in the back of their first ever store. The lab is busy and fully working product development and production lab, where the brand’s perfumes are mixed, bottled and sealed by hand.

Haeckels’ natural products are all handcrafted, locally distilled and formulated using locally growing botanicals that offer the very best anti-oxidant properties. Hand harvested seaweed forms the base ingredient of all products in their skincare range, which is based on the tradition of Thalassotherapy; a treatment that uses ocean water, seaweed, ocean mud and marine minerals to enable the body to replenish, re-mineralise and revitalise.

Two of our favourite products are the Seaweed / Carrot Seed Facial Serum and the Eco Marine Extract Facial Cream. The former is a concentrated hydrating facial serum rich in botanical oils. Boosted with carrot seed, this natural source of vitamins B and C is an excellent lightweight, non-greasy and rapidly absorbing serum to nourish, tone and moisturise your skin. The Eco Marine Extract Facial Cream is a daily moisturiser containing potent doses of a powerful wrinkle active, which strongly stimulates the production of structural skin proteins. Rich in omega 3, this anti-inflammatory and protective antioxidant not only hydrates your skin but improves the appearance of fine lines and skin elasticity. Haeckels not only have a beautiful philosophy, but the brand around Dom Bridges makes simple high quality products that are crafted with full passion.