What’s New & Happening in Fulham

What’s New

MUCCI : LDN

Fulham residents Josh Tyrrell and Indi Richardson have just launched MUCCI : LDN a new lifestyle brand offering a range of hand dyed customised Nike socks. Josh told Urban Village LDN that the idea for this venture came as a result of the trend for sneaker releases in neutral colour ways and that they saw a gap in the market to provide socks that match; works well with the trend for colour blocking tracksuit sets too!

MUCCI : LDN use eco friendly materials including the dyes and packaging ( FSC certified card). The first colourways are predominantly autumnal with plans to create pastels in Spring / Summer 2022. Urban Village LDN asked Josh how they came up with the name for their brand. “Indi had a list of baby names and Mucci was one of them. Personally I thought it was an awful baby name but it worked well with the whole cosy winter aesthetic we were aiming for. We wanted a brand name that meant something and had different connotations. When I looked up the word “Mucci” it was a term connected to Italian families who dye and stain garments which was just perfect; so we went with it”.

When we spoke to Josh and Indi they were finalising the MUCCI : LDN website which is now up and running! You can also follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mucci.ldn/ They will be adding to the range of socks but currently you can buy a pair of hand dyed Nike socks for £9.99 or a bundle ( x 3 pairs £27/ x 4 £36/x 5 £43). You can also customise your own bundle, think of it as a sock pick and mix, where you can choose your own colours from the range which currently includes nudes, neutrals, greens and yellows. We love the names: 10AM Latte, Olive, Lemoncello, Dessert Rat and Rose Quartz to name a few.

Aside from more colourways and sock styles, Josh and Indi have plans to add to the MUCCI: LDN range and told us that accessories, prints and homeware are all on the cards. We’re staying tuned and look forward to seeing what else MUCCI : LDN have in store!

Green Salon

A long held passion for the environment, a sabbatical and conversations during lockdown led to Fulham resident Lucy Johnson creating the UK’s first sustainable lifestyle consultancy; alongside Rosana Peel, her best friend since school days. The Green Salon helps consumers who don’t know where to start on their journey to lead a greener lifestyle. Lucy told Urban Village LDN “I’ve personally tried to lead a lower waste and lower carbon lifestyle and after talking to friends who wanted to do the same and hearing how hard they found making informed greener choices, I realised that I could do something to help and make it easier and convenient”.

Lucy’s background as a trained psychotherapist and an environmental journalist meant that not only was she knowledgeable about the environment but she also has an understanding of how behavioural patterns can be changed. Lucy says “I was very aware of the serious problem coming our way since the UN report was released in 2018 highlighting how devastating it would be if we go above 1.5 degrees. Seeing so much change due to Covid and with a potential climate disaster further down the road this is something everyone can make a positive contribution to”.

There are various eco makeover packages available from the Green Salon that include how to reduce your homes carbon emissions, make food shopping greener and help cut down on waste. Green Salon gift vouchers make a fantastic present for the climate change warrior in your life, and there is a sustainable brands directory, accessible to all, that lists products / services that have met Green Salon’s criteria; their researchers have done all the hard work for you, so not only do you save time but you avoid the pitfalls of greenwashing. When it comes to making conscious fashion choices Rosana, whose background is in styling and personal shopping, advises on sustainable fashion choices and is on hand to make wardrobe edits. Lucy told us “Rosana helps our clients go through their wardrobes, pulling out items that are still loved but not regularly worn showing them how, with a few nips and tucks, you can change, restyle those pieces and bring a new lease of life to garments you already own. Working with our seamstress Maria, Rosana’s seasonal edits mean you don’t need to buy new items to have that novelty factor in your life because you are coming back to clothing you already own which now has a fresh spin on it”.

So if you’re looking for sustainable alternatives tailored to your lifestyle, delivered in a comprehensive report, with links to recommended companies and need support in making the transition to a greener life, get in touch with the Green Salon team. Hit the inks below to find out more and keep your eye on their Instagram account for their “His n Hers” Christmas edit https://www.instagram.com/greensalonconsultancy/

TARKA

TARKA got in touch with Urban Village LDN as they have recently started running classes at SEACC Fulham. Founded in 2016 by Rufus Gordon-Dean, an ex-Army Captain who served in Afghanistan, he strongly believes that exercise is key to happiness, bringing positivity and perspective to one’s outlook on life. So why couldn’t this be the same for children? Rufus was also influenced by the Scandinavian approach to education; pioneers in Early Years education. TARKA’s developmental exercise classes for children aged 18 months - 7 years are specifically about encouraging organic, positive growth within children and fine-tuning individual skills at a very young age but most importantly we’re told they’re a huge amount of fun!

Oliver Lockheart told us more “TARKA is a space where children can truly be themselves, thrive within a high-energy environment and develop both new and existing friendships. They are introduced to new and wide-ranging themes, from finding the new James Bond to discovering pirate treasure, all while honing their communication, teamwork, agility and gross motor skills. Movement is at TARKA’s core, ensuring children love exercise subliminally because they don’t view it as just exercise, but as a hugely fun and interactive game surrounded by all their friends. Our games are designed to work on balance, teamwork, understanding of others, confidence, leadership skills and general core strength. A lot of these elements are key values which Rufus adopted from the Army and he wanted to instil these into TARKA. All of our Lead Instructors are trained and must undergo 40 hours of training and classes before they are sent out into the ‘field’.

TARKA have got off to a great start in Fulham “a community we’ve always wanted to integrate ourselves in, with lots of young families looking for alternative childcare and a holiday option to free up their own time” and they’re loving the space at SEACC “its new and exciting, light, modern, airy and HUGE. This gives the children loads of space to run around in and be as loud as they like. SEACC has the community at it’s heart, a space for the parents to relax in, work or chat with friends whilst the children are in class and is situated in an amazing park for outdoor summer classes”. Term ends soon but TARKA are running their holiday classes on 16/17/20/21/22 December and also have a partnership with The Hurlingham Club where they will be starting their younger classes (18 months - 3 years) next term on Friday mornings. https://www.instagram.com/tarka.london/

CircleHood at Christmas

CircleHood is a free marketplace and community app where parents can buy, sell, swap or donate second-hand baby clothes and children's items. Fulham resident Nathalie Bernadotte got in touch to tell Urban Village LDN about the launch of CircleHood’s wish list campaign to mark their first Christmas and add some sparkle for those in need. Nathalie told us “the past year has seen an increase in families in need, with many parents struggling with the idea of not being able to give their little ones what they wish for this Christmas. Since Christmas is a magical time of celebration, love, and joy, we want this Christmas to be special for all”.

Nathalie and Hulya, founders of CircleHood and mothers of three, are launching the #WISHLIST campaign to spread the magic of Christmas and help children’s wishes come true. They’re inviting all parents who are finding it hard this year “to share their little ones wish list” and are also asking all parents who are giving away their preloved children’s toys, books, and accessories to list them on CircleHood, for free. Their hope is that wishes match with pre-loved donations and result in big smiles on children’s faces on Christmas Day.

CricleHood has also been talking to organizations and charities to collect as many “wish lists” as possible. Nathalie says “It is not always easy for families to ask for help and this way, by peer-to-peer swapping, it will give everyone the opportunity to accept help. The response until now has been heartwarming with many people donating items and others ticking off gorgeous second-hand and new gifts from their children wish lists already. We believe we can turn second-hand shopping into a unique experience, saving money whilst promoting sustainability too!”. https://www.instagram.com/circlehood/

Glass Door launch Christmas Appeal

Glass Door are committed to supporting people by helping them get off and stay off the streets. This London based charity got in touch with Urban Village LDN to tell us about the launch of their Christmas appeal and animated film narrated by Colin Firth. The film shows how people become homeless and illustrates as Colin says that “homeless people have stories to share and value to give society. Glass Door helps them create a life, not just an existence.”. Melissa Kerschen, Head of Communications for Glass Door and a Fulham resident told us “before the pandemic, Glass Door worked with churches and volunteers from across four London boroughs, including Hammersmith and Fulham. Glass Door has pivoted to offering single room accommodation in central London, but the charity still work closely with partners across West London to provide a casework advice service to those affected by homelessness in Hammersmith and Fulham.” 

Glass Door told us that sadly thousands are predicted to become homeless in the coming months and the number of people who are becoming newly homeless is rising. “Data from the CHAIN database, which records information on rough sleepers, indicated more than 11,000 people were seen sleeping rough in London last year, a 3% increase on the previous year. This year, government has less funding to support rough sleepers and with the end of eviction protection measures, plus rises in the cost of living, many predict the number of people needing support out of homelessness will skyrocket”. Last Christmas Alex (not his real name) was homeless, he lost his wife to cancer and his business during the pandemic. “It was the first time in over 30 something years I was alone at Christmas. It’s the loneliness that gets to you,” the former captain in the army recalls “I moved into the Glass Door hostel project. I could take a shower and go downstairs to eat a meal. But even more importantly, I could talk to someone. Staff were so helpful. I felt like someone again.”

Glass Door are seeking donations for their Christmas appeal to give the homeless a room, meals and access to support this Christmas and throughout the cold winter: £32 gives someone an individual room and three meals for the day, £85 provides ten support sessions with a specialist caseworker to hone a CV, prepare for interviews and find employment, £218 funds a “move-on” package with support sessions and a deposit to help move into a stable accommodation, £960 funds a guest’s stay for an entire month in the Glass Door hostel. Lucy Horitz, CEO of Glass Door says: "This year, we have witnessed an increase in people turning to us who are at risk of becoming homeless. We will do all we can to prevent that from happening. But for those who have no other options, Glass Door can provide a warm, safe place to stay.” 

Christmas Concert: Sunday 12

On Sunday 12 December at 6.00pm the Fulham Camerata will perform excerpts from “Messiah by Candlelight”. There will also be audience carols and mulled wine at Holy Cross Church, Ashington Road, Parsons Green, London SW6 3QA. Tickets can be purchased on the door for £12/£10 each. Fulham Camerata told us some interesting facts about Handel’s Messiah. It’s been performed at the Royal Albert Hall 524 times since 1872, was originally written for Easter but has become strongly linked with the Christmas season, Handel composed the entire piece at breakneck speed in just 24 days. The 'Hallelujah’ chorus is one of the most famous pieces of Baroque choral music and the most widely known section of the work. Formed in September 2007 Fulham Camerata is an amateur chamber choir, supported by an ensemble of semi professionals, spanning all age groups and various nationalities, led by music director, Harry Castle and you can find out more about them and the concert below.

H&F Christmas Foodbank donations

Local resident Gemma Greenslade got in touch to tell us that the Christmas box donations for the H&F Foodbank is running again this year. It’s an easy way to support members of our local community, simply fill a box with food items and drop it between 8.30am - 9.15am in front of L’Ecole des Petits, 2 Hazlebury Road, SW6 2NB on Wednesday 15 December. The foodbank will then collect the boxes and distribute them. Items you can add to the box include cereal, pasta, soup, biscuits, tinned tomatoes and jam. See the poster for the full list.

Made in Fulham

It never fails to surprise us what a talented bunch you Fulham folks are. Each month Urban Village Ldn introduces you to THe Fulham face behind an idea, product or business and asks them what they love about being a local resident. This month we talk to Connal McClure, Founder of HALO BOTTLE

How long have you called Fulham home? I've lived in Fulham for 8 years now. I was previously in Dulwich Village and then Wimbledon, so clearly I'm quite partial to corners of London with something of a village feel and a spot of greenery.

Tell us a bit about yourself / your family I'm originally from Belfast, which is minuscule compared to London, but I've always felt very at home in big cities. I've lived in and worked in New York, Dubai and various cities across the Middle East, but I'm very settled in Fulham now. I live in Parsons Green with my partner and a rogue cat, who definitely rules the roost.

What’s your favourite local haunt and why? I regularly find myself in Sukho Thai on Fulham Road - it's consistently excellent and I've found it impossible to order anything subpar from the menu. I love Boys 'n' Berry for their superb brunches and cocktails and if I ever go missing in the evening you can probably find me nursing a pint in The White Horse or Aragon House, which are always great for low-key drinks and people-watching.

What is your slice of Fulham heaven and why? I feel tremendously lucky having Bishops Park and Fulham Palace so close by. They're beautiful year round and a walk along the river with a coffee from The Palace Gardener has a 100% success rate of clearing my head.

What did you miss about Fulham life during lockdown? Definitely socialising and the sense of community. On my daily walks I would pass all of the shuttered pubs and restaurants and feel palpable FOMO. Having said that, it was a welcome novelty seeing our corner of London so quiet and with zero traffic, tubes running or airplanes overhead. I doubt we'll experience that again.

What local shop/service/business helped make life easier during the pandemic? Fulham Greens has a superb selection of weird and wonderful fresh fruit and veg and Bygram makes refilling produce with zero waste a breeze. I also regularly ordered delivery to help support the local restaurants. My major weakness for Pappa Ciccia's lasagne al forno is eternal.

If you could do one thing to improve Fulham what would it be? It would have to be traffic alleviation. Accessibility can be a little difficult - I'm looking at you Wandsworth Bridge Road!

Tell us about Halo Bottle and how it came to be I founded Halo Bottle in 2018 to create a unique solution to help tackle the ongoing problem with single-use plastic. 2 million plastic bottles are used every day in London alone, which is shocking. While awareness of the plastic problem has increased, two-thirds of people in the UK still don't regularly carry a reusable bottle with them. We found from our own market research that in the majority of these instances the bulk and weight of reusable bottles either deter people from purchasing, or result in frequently leaving reusables at home as they are just too cumbersome - clearly this defeats their purpose!

The result of a year of design was to create the most compact and lightweight insulated bottles available on the market today. There are two sizes – the Cherub (350ml) is pocket-sized and the Prima (500ml) is ideal for handbags. Each colour has an identity, carefully created to reflect different personalities and lifestyles and we use only premium materials, including high-grade stainless steel and a chip-resistant paint.

I believe we need to shake off the notion that making eco-friendly choices always has to be effortful and requires either perfection or guilt. Eradicating single-use plastic bottles is one small step towards living more sustainably and we aim to make that one step much more convenient and easily achievable for people when on-the-move. Our customer feedback has been overwhelming, so I am really pleased we are making an impact and doing our bit to reduce our growing burden on the planet.

What advice would you give to people starting a new business venture? Choose a niche you can be truly passionate about. As an entrepreneur, almost every day you encounter unforeseen hurdles and being in the mindset to be able to mentally reframe setbacks as opportunities is a huge advantage. If you have passion, the tenacity necessary to make any venture a success will come much more easily, your creativity will be stimulated and ultimately you will feel much more fulfilled on your journey.

Follow Halo Bottle on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/halobottle/

Beyond the Hood

Eccleston Yards

Perhaps we were a bit late to this, not sure to be honest, but we first stumbled upon Eccleston Yards, a courtyard in the heart of Belgravia in early October. Meeting a friend at Victoria it was the perfect destination to head to, an easy walk of approximately 7 minutes from the station.

The temperatures were a lot warmer back then so we enjoyed a wander, some window shopping, and checked out the independent businesses located there. We had dinner at Jones Family Kitchen, we felt it was a tad overpriced most likely due to the location, but we’d definitely go back and pay slightly through the nose for an al fresco table and the guarantee of a good burger or steak.

Anyway we digress! We’re featuring Eccleston Yards this month as from 4 - 19 December (11am – 5pm) there will be a Christmas Market held there every weekend. So not only can you wander, like we did, to check out the independent businesses selling a range of products from handcrafted homeware, accessories, jewellery, and baked goods but you can enjoy mulled wine from newly opened coffee / brunch spot Morena, listen to some festive tunes to get you in the mood for Christmas shopping and live music from up and coming indie, pop and country musicians between 12pm and 4pm. Stallholders at the Eccleston Yards Market will vary week to week but include food, art, ceramics, accessories, fashion, plants and homewares. Follow them on Instagram @ecclestonyardsmarket  to see who will be trading and singing each weekend!

When we visited in October we loved this outdoor space. There were murals to admire and deck chairs to sit on, so we have no doubt that Eccleston Yards will be looking very Christmasy and Instagram worthy for the festive season. Whilst you’re in the vicinity you can head over to nearby Elizabeth Street, one of London’s quintessentially British streets, for more shops, restaurants and to enjoy their Christmas lights.