HI ON LIFE

I find it incredibly exciting to discover modern & unconventional clothes that have been produced consciously at the same time.
So naturally I was thrilled when I met with Arvid in his creative concept store HI ON LIFE bucking the fast fashion trend.  Key to Malmö's eco-scene the shop is perched above the crowd of local supermarkets, framing the entrance of alternative mini-mall Mitt Möllan.

Inside I was keen to see the shop's first own line, a joint effort with local fashion designer Olivia Thomasdotter.  With organic mesh crop tops, super-snug ankle pencil skirts & exaggerated coats made from upcycled door matts the exclusive mini- collection explores a modern world for style minded individuals with the courage to create change.

It was fantastic chatting to Arvid whilst trying on the entire shop - personal fav: the stunning oversized, black factory coat made from sustainable cotton.  Together with his partner Malin the duo's aim is to promote the things they love most - mixing fashion, art and style with a sustainable approach.

With a great focus on creativity HI ON LIFE stocks a new generation of eco-conscious labels: playful print designs by A QUESTION OF hang casually next to bright & bold Tees by London's LAZY OAF setting a nice contrast to obsessive minimalist Kiwi brand kowtow.  And as for the lush trainers, they give key to it all. Made in Brazil, from organic fair trade cotton and veggie tanned leather Veja footwear proposes cultural change by employing socially excluded people.
Trust me, when in Malmö you deffo want to step inside this store.

MALMÖ | EASY LIVING

Brush off your worries and dive into a town full of vintage, cool & shiny happy people ;) Maybe this description might fit any place when you're on holiday but after arriving in Malmö I soon realised I've entered eco - lifestyle paradise with an edge.

With the make-over of Västra Hamnen, the western harbour, the city transformed un-used industrial waste land into a place of hedonistic sustainability.  It's like you can live a good life and don't really have to think about it - densely built urban spaces give way to sleek apartment buildings running on 100% local & renewable energy (for example biogas from residents food waste!!) with living green roofs, cool water features / playgrounds & gorgeous seafront views. (✓, ✓, ✓) Skyline highlite is a full 90 degrees twisting sustainable skyscraper - too bad you can't go inside the turning torso since it's residential.  Life must look amazing from the top.

The over all plan in Malmö is to get people out of their cars with far reaching bike lanes and green public transport (major ✓).  I couldn't wait to get on my Swedish hipster rental bike to explore the cities recommended hot spots (thanks Olof!) starting with a spree to Malmö Konsthall exploring a brilliant arts installation by Gunilla Klingberg including the use of upcycled truck tyres.
The Konsthall is a unique place with a modern approach to art as part of daily life - its imagination reaches far beyond the curtains of the exhibition space involving the gallery windows and brilliant restaurant space featuring poster artworks and copies of art books to read through whilst enjoying one of the city's best meals.

To top things off Malmö is Sweden's first fairtrade city which means it promotes the issue of ethical consumption.  As a result many shops, supermarkets, restaurants and cafés offer Fairtrade products.  I was fascinated by the concepts of Malmö's casual eateries - all seeming to follow the winning formula of combining delicious & fresh food (did I already mention that 100% of the food purchased in the city of Malmö should be organic by 2020 - yep) with an eclectic mix of vintage & modern interior and always with a incredible tasty vegetarian or vegan option! May I add that the coffee never failed to impress either ;)

Here is a list of the best ones I've tried in favourite order:

Kafé Agnez

Gorgeous little eco - café with a delicious vegan salad bar, cakes & vintage style court yard

Agnesgatan 11,

Mon - Frid 11am - 6pm, Sat/Sun 11 - 5pm

Far i Hatten

Supercool beer garden with fresh, homemade all day menu, best grilled steaks (according to Mikael ;) and hip & trendy crowd.  It has a very relaxed vibe and is the perfect place to chill on a sunny evening with free live music - ❤

inside Folkets Park

Mon - Tue 10am - 1am, Wed - Sat 10am - 2am, Sun 10am - 12am

Spoonery

is a bright & cool space with a selection of delicious slow cooked food dishes to choose from, great coffee & superfriendly staff

Number 6

is the hole-in-the-wall type of place which came recommended by our host and we went back for coffee every day - best brew in Möllan with a small garden & sun chairs across the road. 

Mäster Henriksgatan 6

Mon - Frid 8am - 5pm, Sat/Sun 10am - 4pm

Slottsträdgårdens Kafé

reminded me of an afternoon tea place with gorgeous outdoor seating in the middle of Malmö's castle gardens with home-made sandwiches, cakes and organic ice cream...hmmm

Malmöhusvägen 8

Mon - Sund 11am - 5pm

Most of these popular spots are located in a cool little neighbourhood called Möllan with plenty of conscious fashion spaces & vintage shops.  Here I met with Arvid in his super cool ethical boutique HI ON LIFE - which deserves full attention in a separate blog post to follow...

BREEZY CHEEKS

is one of my summer make up essentials for a 100% fresh look with a sheer & natural finish.  I've been using UNE for a while now and love the light and matt texture of their foundation and eye shadows as well as their aim for organic and natural ingredients.
B02 blusher has been my favourite so far - with its cream-to-powder texture it's easy to apply with your finger and a quick fix if you're just popping out or going to the beach.  The not too pinky, soft rose shade is perfect for my paler skin tone & I use it to apply contour just under my cheekbones, on top of my sunscreen or daily moisturiser.  To round off the look I add a few dashes of Lavera's soft glowing highlighter for bright cheek bones and inside corners of my eyes.

Like with my wardrobe I prefer a limited selection of beauty products that do several jobs in one. Blushers are also a great way to spice up your going out make up.  In combination with a light foundation and a natural lip care / gloss you can add a hint of colour to both lips and cheeks. Done!