Did you know that UoE Fashion society is not just about fashion? We also really want to promote ideas for a more sustainable lifestyle as students! So with Valentine’s day coming up, here’s a wee guide on how to create great memories with your lover or friends while remaining as sustainable as possible.
While Valentine’s day is meant to be one of the most romantic days of the year, it is, unfortunately, an incredibly capitalist and commercialized holiday. So I just wanted to present you with some suggestions on how to spend that day (or week) in a more holistic, minimalistic, and creative approach. This guide is focusing on suggestions for those who live in Edinburgh but the ideas will be relevant to absolutely everyone and hopefully, they will give you some inspiration!
Gift an experience
Why not try to do something a bit different this year, and focus on creating new memories as an alternative to giving in to consumerism?
Pottery-making date
Let your creativity guide you and your valentine to this lovely ceramic workshop in Marchmont! Doodles is currently open to everyone (even pets) on a booking basis, and offers a wide range of super fun and relaxing activities. Plus you, and whoever you go with, will actually be able to keep a clay souvenir of that day (aka your creations) once it is ready for pick up a few days later! https://www.doodlesscotland.co.uk/
For those who love cats (and aren’t allergic)
You’ve probably heard of Maison de Moggy before, but if not, let me introduce you to one of the best cat cafés in Scotland! It’s a lovely café with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, where you can eat cake and drink hot drinks while admiring (and interacting with) the cute residents of Maison de Moggy. A booking costs £10 per person (which makes sense since the cats must be fed and taken care of!) but the pleasure of spending time with someone you like while surrounded by purring creatures is priceless right? https://www.maisondemoggy.com/
A zen afternoon
This one is something you can do together with them but also an experience you can offer to anyone as a voucher to use whenever they like. There are a lotof spas and massage studios in Edinburgh, for everyone and for most budgets.
Meadows Retreat is a very recent, small business situated on Buccleuch street, which is more on the affordable side, has gotten a lot of great reviews over the pandemic and the owner is qualified in a wide range of massaging techniques. https://meadowsretreat.wordpress.com/
Make it queer
Whether you identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community or you are simply a very cool ally, a drag show is always a guaranteed fun time! So why not take your partner or friend to the Old Town pub Frankenstein to see some drag on a Thursday night. Valentine’s Day falls on a Monday, yes, but who says you can’t celebrate love four days earlier or later! Nonetheless, if you want something less extravagant and/or alcohol-free, which is still a fun space for LBGTQ+ folk, I would recommend checking out Kafe Kweerin Bruntsfield. This place was conceived by the owners with the aim of creating a safe and sober space for all to socialize, with no tolerance for all sorts of discrimination. This is theplace if you want to feel safe on a date as a queer person (especially a first date). https://www.facebook.com/kafekweer
This is a short list indeed, but Edinburgh is full of hidden gems, cute spots, as well as very classic sites that are just a quick internet search away which I would encourage you to look into! And don’t forget about all the iconic outdoorsy spots you can find in in Edinburgh, which are perfect for a relaxing (completely free and pretty much carbon-neutral) date; including the Royal Botanical Gardens, Gorgie farm, Dean Village, Portobello, etc...
Do it yourself!
A great way to keep Valentine’s day or any occasion involving presents sustainable is simply to offer something you’ve made yourself!
The modern CD mixtape
Want to impress your crush or send them a subliminal message? A personalised Spotify playlist might be a good idea, it’s cute and doesn’t cost anything. While it might sound a bit dorky at first, I think we can all agree that discovering new tracks that were specifically and thoughtfully picked for us is always a nice surprise (well unless it was made by an algorithm). You can even pick a specific moment, idea, word, or picture that you want your playlist to represent. Also, a sentimental gift over a material one can say a lot about you.
Friendship bracelet
This is a wholesome way to say “I love you” to a friend, and there are tons of tutorials all over Youtube. You can make them in an infinite declination of colours, patterns, and techniques depending on how confident you feel. But do trust me, it’s very easy to make and you can be sure the person receiving it will really like it. Make sure to get a good idea of the size of their wrist and some of their favourite colours first. All you will need to make one bracelet is literally just some embroidery thread (at least two colours) and a small piece of tape. The good news is that embroidery thread is super cheap and can be bought in many small shops in Edinburgh, as well as charity shops!
Bake!
One of the cheapest and most sustainable options remains for sure baking something yourself! It might sound like an obvious suggestion, but a lot of us won’t think about it before going to buy the fanciest chocolates we can find or ordering expensive cake. Also why not use this opportunity to try out vegan recipes, or just replace dairy with plant based alternatives in your favourite recipes? This is a very sweet gesture (pun not intended) which will make your valentine, and the planet very happy. For the wrapping, try to go for the least wasteful option, or simply bake it just a couple hours before meeting up and serve it fresh out of the oven! Once again, Youtube will be your friend if you need recipes.
Take your hobby to the next level
If you have a particularly creative or crafty hobby (whether it’s painting, music, knitting, upcycling, embroidery, macrame, poetry, photography, scrapbooking….) there is always a way to turn it into a simple, thoughtful gift. Remember, you don’t have to be great at it, as long as it’s something you enjoy doing and feel inspired, just go for it!
Buy local
If you’ve decided to buy something for Valentine’s Day, here is a short list of small businesses which are for sure worth a visit while you stay away from Amazon!
Handmade candles and bath bombs
If your partner particularly likes things that smell nice, like candles, bath bombs, sprays, oil diffusers, and related accessories, these are all handmade on-site at Melrose Candle in Stockbridge! They use natural wax and are constantly aiming to reduce their waste. They even design and make their own candle-holders and modern homeware in concrete!
Quirky cards
The Paper gallery in Newington is an absolute go-to for all your card needs. They sell a huge variety of artsy cards for all occasions, including Valentine’s day, using the works of many UK-based illustrators. Their cards are very affordable and most of them come without any plastic packaging. They also have a very nice collection of different items made in the UK which would make great last-minute gifts. https://goo.gl/maps/w8Pkxm6bfcAPoYPL8
For coffee addicts
For someone who lives in the UK, coffee will never be a carbon-neutral good because it has to be imported. Even its sole production, is not always sustainable, due to deforestation, the working conditions of the cultivators, and the environmental impact on the local wildlife and land. However, it doesn’t mean its production cannot be more respectful of the environment and somewhat sustainable. We just need to buy better. This is why I am recommending Union Brew Lab if you want proper coffee (beans or ground) with a real sustainability mission. Their coffee is delightful, and they of course sell high-quality coffee equipment if you want to make your favourite coffee addict really happy!https://unionroasted.com/collections/all
Charity shops
Charity shops are hidden gems when it comes to original gifts. I’m not sure why, but for some people, buying second-hand items as presents still seems like an odd idea or not recommended. I would have to respectfully disagree, second-hand items make great sustainable gits (they are great for the environment and for the local community) and are very accessible for those who cannot afford to buy nice, brand-new things. However, if you’re a student in Edinburgh you probably already know how great charity shops are, so I’m not going to reiterate all the reasons why; but if you haven’t already been to any, you should absolutely do it!
Now if you still want to buy something “brand new”, a lot of charity shop “chains” (such as Cancer Research or Oxfam) sell their own products. I’m particularly a fan of the Oxfam shop on Nicolson Street. They have a very large selection of sustainable and environment-friendly items that will make terrific, original gifts. Though, the list would be very long, so here’s an article from the Oxfam website that should give you a good overview: https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/oxfam-blog/a-gift-that-keeps-on-giving-ethical-christmas-gifts-for-everyone/.
Always treat yourself
You don’t need a particular someone to have fun on valentine’s day; remember? it’s kind of a money invention in the first place, so there are absolutely no rules. You don’t owe society anything, so do what makes you happy, and prioritize your own desires. Whether it’s ordering a nice meal from one of your favourite local restaurants, taking yourself to the cinema or if you’re on a budget buying nicer food than usual at the supermarket, lighting some candles and watching a good movie at home, anything works! If you’re not going out (because you don’t have plans or simply don’t want to) you can always put a nice outfit on and do your favourite makeup, maybe even take some selfies, just for yourself. Most importantly, don’t forget that there is no pressure to do anything at all.
Adèle
Comentários