It is time to celebrate “throwback Thursdays.”

Last month, the scene of a subculture celebration popped up with a rebellious punk streak on Carnaby Street in London. The brains behind the operation have united a collective of influencers, historians, and creatives to deliver a truly unique experience showcasing the multigenerational independence, defiance, and DIY attitude that has shaped Britain’s subcultures and countercultures.

The new concept store, The Subculture Archives, unites a selection of British artists, thinkers, and makers to bring a range of free cultural experiences, exclusive events, and emerging talent in the birthplace of 1960s Swinging London and home to London’s vast music scene from the Mods to the New Romantics. The Subculture Archives have presented iconic collections including Paul Tickell’s documentary “Punk and the Pistols,” the social history photo book “Exist To Resist” from Matthew Smith, and candid shots from Mancunian rave photographer Peter Walsh.

The Subculture Archives is your one-stop shop for all things counterculture, so, hit Carnaby Street while you can, and peruse a curated selection of books around the topic of counterculture and subculture, limited edition clothing, irreverent mugs from “People’s Republic of Stokes Croft,” affordable photographic prints and treats from the Vendart vending machine.

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A pair of Nike Air Mag self-lacing sneakers—a concept that was first introduced in the iconic movie Back to the Future and brought to life by Nike in 2016—sold for $52,500 setting the world record for a collectible sneaker at public auction and smashing the previous record of $32,500. The Air Mags were part of a first-time auction by Heritage Auctions, titled The Future is Now, which brought together rare pop culture and urban art objects, sneakers and “street art.”

The Future is Now offered 151 lots and marked the first time a major international auction house has offered collectible sneakers. The sale also included surfboards, skateboard decks, and street art together in one sale.

“This auction was a successful first step to bring together a number of different themes and objects. Collectors were excited to see their passions displayed on a public stage, giving them a platform and a voice. As a result, we saw a record number of page views on ha.com, amazing press coverage and the foot traffic at the Beverly Hills office during the preview leading up to the auction was amazing,” said Leon Benrimon, director of modern and contemporary art at Heritage Auctions.

Highlights also included: Futura 2000’s Untitled, a large-scale work with spray paint and acrylic on canvas, which realized $35,000; two separate Damien Hirst hand-drawn skateboard decks Dots 5 – Skull and Dots 5 – Little Shark each of which sold for $12,500; and a silkscreen print on t-shirt Andy Warhol titled Self-Portrait with Fright Wig, circa 1986 which hammered for $12,500.

A pair of the 2011 edition of the Nike Air Mag, accompanied by its original box and hand-signed by Hatfield, garnered $8,125.

Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Chicago, Palm Beach, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam and Hong Kong.

The Internet’s most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has over one million registered bidder-members, and searchable free archives of four million past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos.

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Our May Bank holiday had a new soundtrack to road test. The bounds of #CLICsLIVENOISE are expanding and, brilliantly, discovering all sorts of unconventional creations. Two weeks ago, I saw the jazz scene gain a bright young star. London-born songstress, Paula James, is setting her sights on a whole new stage having cut her teeth performing classically in London, Norway and Italy. Guitar wielding Paula draws her inspiration from genre-defining female jazz artists as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. When faced with our hard hitting inquisition, she prefaced her answers with a superbly ballsy personal statement…

“I’m a dog person and aside from a few foibles, a very happy, well-adjusted, totally responsible woman.”

When and why did you start playing?

I started playing guitar when I was 8 years old and had lessons at school. I had tried the violin for a year before that but I think the noise of me practicing the violin was a little hard on the family, so my aunt Karen gave me a guitar and I never looked back.

What band name alter egos have you tried out on your musical journey?

I always wanted a really sophisticated name when I was growing up and thought I could be called something like Clara Fox, but I’d never get away with it, I am no Ms Fox!

What was the first tune(s) you learned?

I was learning Spanish & Classical guitar at school but the first thing I taught myself to play all those years ago was the Bond-theme tune Monty Norman one. I remember being really impressed that I was able to manage both rhythms at the same time. Such a nerd.

What is the most embarrassing album in your music library?

You know, I’m not really embarrassed by my rather eclectic music library, and that’s not because I’ve got the coolest albums (far from it). It’s just that I’m appreciative of how even the strangest albums have influenced me. Whether it’s Dolly Parton Slipcase, Collie Buddz, or a talking book of Star Trek Next Generation (I warned you, nerd), it has all helped to shape me and I’m happy to acknowledge that.

How do you handle a mistake on stage?

I smile and carry on. If ever I make a mistake you’ll see me grin, it’s not the most professional way to deal with it, but it takes the pressure off, and usually goes down fine with a happy audience. I am really bad for corpsing though!

Who or what is your ultimate influence, musical or otherwise?

That’s harder to answer than I thought it’d be. My family is very supportive and understanding, and without my other half I wouldn’t be able to do what I do, so they have the greatest influence over me. However, a lot of my songs wouldn’t exist without the lubricating qualities of booze!

What scares you most in the world?

If we’re talking, “what’s most likely to make me go from relaxed to totally freaked out in a matter of seconds?”, then I have to admit that ladybirds freak me the fuck out, especially en mass! Everyone thinks they’re lovely and pretty, but then their shiny shells split in two and these black leathery wings start flapping away. They really make my skin crawl.

If you were a superhero, what would your super power be?

My superhero power would have to be mind reading. I’d love to experience how other people’s brains work, but I’d also need the ability to turn it on and off at will, otherwise I’d probably go mad.

Where and when would you travel back in time to perform? 

I’d go back to LA in 1931 to perform with Louis Armstrong in front of a crowd of Hollywood stars. It would be a strange and trying time due to my race and gender and the state of the world, but it would have been an electric place to perform.

If I gave you an elephant where would you hide it?

Well, I’d have to leave it outside it’d never fit in my tiny flat, and I do have an array of scarves, so I’d have to hide it under a rainbow of scarves and pashminas and hope whoever’s looking for it is easily bamboozled by colour.

Which instruments do you play?

In order of how well I play them, I play the guitar, guitar-ulele, mandolin, ocarina (yep, like Link), piano, kazoo… Rock Band guitar… I really thought this list would be longer. That’s disappointing.

Crunchy or smooth?

Smoooooooth! Definitely smooth, that way when you eat too much in one go, it kinda glues your tongue to the roof of your mouth, right?

If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?

I’d take a (or any) world leader who is actively working to regress the progress made in areas of social justice and lock them in a room and force them to listen compassionately to the stories of those negatively affected by the decisions they’ve made, in the hopes of altering their perspectives.

What was the last lie you told?

I don’t have reason to lie very much, but I am trying to stop smoking at the moment, under the watchful eye of my better half who stopped smoking years ago (and sometimes he’s super preachy). So, while I try very hard to be honest when he asks whether I’ve smoked that day, sometimes I’ll fib, just so I don’t have to see that look in his eye. I guess I won’t be able to do that anymore.

Paula James ‘Shelter EP’ hit the sound waves on May 19th… get to listening.

https://soundcloud.com/samuraisound/sets/paula-james-shelter-ep/s-i5s8O

The post Paula James: About music and her secret sources of inspiration appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

Christmas Day swims have been a bit of a chilly tradition in the UK for quite a while now but in the last few years, they have exploded a bit in popularity!

I pride myself on being made of rather stern stuff… it is, along with a fondness for solitary pursuits and complete and unwavering inability to play Monopoly, a family trait.

Each year, I commit myself to a chilling challenge… inspired by a personal literary hero, J. M. Barrie, the Christmas swim. Events are rapidly becoming, somewhat concerningly, a countrywide craze challenging fools and their kin to get scantily clad and dive in to the waters that grace over shores.

The idea was founded by The Serpentine Swimming Club with a Christmas morning 100-metre race in 1864. It was championed by London’s literary set and was so highly respected that the prize, commemorating the bravery and battiness of the victor, was presented by the founder and true eccentric backbone of The Peter Pan Club, J.M. Barrie. These days the London swim is an exclusive, members-only affair. The chilling event welcomes outsiders, spectators, hangover-wranglers, curious tourists and cads to gather and watch participants continue the traditions of yesteryear by being serenaded into the water by one of the last, true British fraternities, The Peter Pan Club.

Since its infancy, the concept of confounded madness has spread and, for the PC and ever safety conscious world, the mantle of corralling the Christmas swimmers falls upon Outdoor Swimming Society. Using their nifty little map, to you can find your nearest swim over the Christmas period.

If you are keen to get some skin in the game, here are  my top (but, not remotely less brag-worthy, swims for the season)

Plum Pudding Plunge

A more gentle introduction to the world of the festive swim is offered by the December Dip, formerly known as the Plum Pudding Plunge, which takes place at Parliament Hill lido on the first Saturday in December. You only have to do two widths (unless you fancy more) and

the organisers offer Christmas hats, mince pies and even sneaky Christmas tipples to ease the shock.

Blackroot pool
The Black Country may not be the first place you think of when it comes to outdoor swimming, but the Christmas Day swim at Blackroot pool in Sutton Park offers one of a limited number of freshwater festive swims, with around 60 people in various states of (fancy) dress jumping in. Last year it was even the scene of a memorable marriage proposal, in the form of a banner reading: “Will you keep me warm for the rest of my life?”

The Whitby dip
On Boxing Day, up’t North is The Whitby dip, another swim with an emphasis on charitable fundraising alongside the usual fun, bravado and icy waters. There’s even an official fancy-dress competition to take your mind of your chattering teeth and numb limbs.

Sennen Swim

I am a local when I retreat home to Cornwall, so, am a frequent voyeur on Christmas day. I can attest to its bracing conditions, however, while the waters might be choppy, the beach is heaving with the best sort of hip flask toting, fire building folk that make the endeavour more than worth the risk of hypothermia. Several hundred keen water-babies are bound for the Cornish Cove’s annual Christmas Day swim.

Festive swims are a joyful celebration of life in the middle of winter’s darkness – just like Christmas itself. See you on the beach?

Tips on outdoor immersion:

• Take the plunge: Much of the acclimatization process is mental
• Exhale as you get in: The ribcage contracts in cold water which leaves many swimmers feeling they cannot breathe
• Wait 90 seconds: The pleasure of open water might not be immediate
• Find a rock or tree to swim to: You will feel good once you get moving

Edited by Demi Vitkute

The post How about a Christmas Morning Dip into Freezing Water? appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

“The Choir with No Name (CWNN) runs choirs for people who have experienced homelessness and other men and women on the margins of society[…] Our first choir – in King’s Cross, London – was founded in 2008 by Marie Benton, a professional musician and at the time also a senior project worker at homeless accommodation provider St Mungo’s.”

Christmas brings up all manner of feelings up from our past, present and future years. If Christmas is about family, peace and joy? Splendid. If your Christmas is vile and star spangled? Aces! If your Christmas is a mishmash of traditions, emotions, waifs and strays? Snap.

Proudly, fellow Londoners give time, food and heart to charities and make a humungous difference each year. The groundwork for our seasonal good will, amongst others, was laid by Charles Dickens. Unlike him, my words will fade and my ideas will remain in the ether, but, my greatest hope is that my words will touch one person and inspire a talking point.

A Christmas Carol is, without a doubt, the most beloved of family favourites. It has given Bill Murray, Michael Caine and the Muppets a stage for our delight. The tale was crafted by a Dickensian wordsmith, but, could easily be penned in London today.

Dickens helped build The Ragged School, providing free education for children in the inner-city.  The movement got its name from the way the children attending the school were dressed. Most of us, me very much included, are unexplainably blessed to be part of a Christmas story, or, many different Christmas stories. We have all the makings of a white Christmas, but, sway much more joyfully towards Bad Santa.

The author directing my words would say that,” Every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.” But, I like to think that even the greatest misers amongst us, can still find a little magic.

On a Tuesday evening in 2010, there was a carolling unfolding in the backstreets of Kings Cross. There were no bells and whistles, there was mulled wine and stale mince pies. The first and last carols belted out were those lovingly conducted for The Choir with No Name by one Marie Benton. On that day, London stood proudly Dickensian, a “good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.” I can’t say it better, so, I’ll revert to the unsung folk behind The Choir with No Name.  Its foundations are being built by those people. Its history and imagination should be described by those people.

Not one person that I know is free from vices…greed, gluttony, selfishness, envy…

Whether it be Dickens, Marie Benton, or, me… there are occasions amid idle whims and ridiculous dreams that make ragged and unconventional things utterly extraordinary. This Christmas Carol is perfect. It has ragged and eccentrically shambolic inclinations and welcomes the unfashionable kinks, troubles, joys, adventures and catastrophes that make life a bit awkward. It has the balls to be unconventional and weird even though this is the one time of year that has a step by step guide attached to it.

From humble begins, so much can flourish. The Choir with no Name, formerly of the streets of London is slowly and sensationally spreading its very simple message of equality, hope and faith as it unities displaced, distressed and downtrodden communities with the simple goodness and care. It’s not really that complicated… however many centuries we seem to drag it out!

Dickens had this to say about A Christmas Carol: I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it. At the time that he wrote A Christmas Carol he was very concerned with impoverished children who turned to crime and delinquency in order to survive. “This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want.”

The post What the Dickens… The Choir With No Name appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

This Christmas, The Skateroom’s creatives have unveiled gifts for art lovers, a selection of limited edition works by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol or Ai WeiWei. Ranging from entry-level prices at just €160, to hand signed collectors’ items and exclusive collaborations at €4,850, there’s a deck for every art aficionado.

The Skateroom is an active and expanding social entrepreneurship whose main purpose is to help affect change, and, one such NGO is Skateistan.

Skateistan believes that the community-building effects of skateboarding are especially powerful in Afghanistan, which has experienced over 30 years of ongoing conflict and social dislocation. Operating as an Afghan NGO, Skateistan builds trust among youth and develops their confidence, leadership, and life skills.

Just one year ago, Skateistan launched a new initiative, Citizens of Skateistan. The international community of supporters, skaters, students and staff, united together to support skateboarding and education around the world. CoS is a platform designed for a growing global community, the stories of staff and students from the lands of skate in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa. Many of the staff members started as students, and have gone through Skateistan’s programs or have become Youth Leaders and are now Educators, who the new students look up to.

Around 1600 youths go to Skateistan each week, here are the stories of the Educators and Citizens of Skateistan. 

Edited by Demi Vitkute

The post Skateboarding for a Cause appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

From Dalston to District VII…here are some places worth staying at:

1. The Old Ship Inn, Dalston, London

The Old Ship Inn, located right next door to Dalston in Hackney, is a breath of fresh air from the skyscrapers of central London. The guesthouse has 10 en-suite guest rooms, located above a pub to provide guests with a cosy and relaxed home away from home. The rooms are small but colorful, boasting chic interior design, a flat screen TV, free Wi-Fi and tea and coffee. The pub is a popular haunt among locals, featuring craft beers, burgers and rotisserie chicken. Nearby attractions include independent artwork cinema Hackney Picturehouse, the London Fields Brewery and an eclectic mix of food and drink options in Dalston.

Rooms start from £90

2. Grand Hostel Berlin, Kreuzberg, Berlin

Located in the heart of Berlin’s trendy and sprawling Kreuzberg district, the unique Grand Hostel Berlin is housed within a beautifully restored 19th century Bishop’s Palace. This is not your average hostel, with no bunk beds in sight. Instead, single, twin and dorm rooms with proper beds are offered, complete with complimentary tea or coffee at check-in. Guests come for the Library Bar, a relaxing haven of floor-to-ceiling books during the day and a lively bar with plentiful drinks and live music at night. Nearby hotspots include the wildly popular fast food outlets Mustafa’s Kebap and Curry36, while the clubs of Friedrichshain (including the elusive Berghain) are a short walk over the river.

Rooms start from £40

3. Soho Boutique, District VII, Budapest

Located in Budapest’s District VII is the Soho Boutique, a brand new 4-star hotel with a focus on sensuality, inviting guests to “give in to temptation.” The 68 guest rooms are small but stylish, with bold prints and unique artwork. The bar is a masterpiece of sleek surfaces and mood lighting. District VII, or Erzebetvaros (Elizabeth Town), has been gentrified in recent years in a similar style, now showcasing new constructions and design shops. Despite this, cheap drinks and eats can still be found in the romkocsma (“ruin pubs”). This phenomenon involves taking a derelict building and adding some beer taps and second-hand furniture, with optional film nights, art exhibitions and live music.

Rooms start from £38

4. Skanstulls, Sodermalm, Stockholm

Skanstulls is a hostel located on the island of Sodermalm in southern Stockholm. Like the surrounding area, Skanstulls is undeniably cool, with a unique interior design featuring pieces collected from around the world. A range of room options are available, with the double rooms looking more suited to a boutique hotel than a hostel. The fully equipped kitchen offers free pasta, spices and tea and coffee, creating an inviting space for guests to congregate. Sodermalm incorporates the unofficial neighbourhood of “Sofo”, which is Stockholm’s answer to Soho. A huge number of small independent shops selling alternative, vintage or second-hand fashion are concentrated here.

Dorms start from £58

5. Generator, Norrebro, Copenhagen

Another hostel, which looks more like a trendy bar and café than a place to stay the night. Generator Copenhagen is located a short distance from the multicultural Norrebro district. This six-story building provides ample space for lounging in the impressive social space and café. The highlight, however, is the Petanque bar and terrace, with a selection of drinks and snacks alongside a boules court. Norrebro itself is a large district consisting of an eclectic mix of parks, coffee shops, designer shops, Michelin-starred restaurants, antique stores, dive bars and cheap Shawarma joints – thanks to the Middle Eastern influence.

Rooms start from £59

6. Casa Gracia, Gracia, Barcelona

Casa Gracia, aptly placed in the stylish Gracia district, describes the neighbourhood as “a meeting point for grumpy grandpas and wealthy hipsters.” The hostel provides abundant space to make this happen, with a maze of dining rooms, lounges and libraries, complete with a bar and an outdoor terrace. Single rooms, dorms, suites and a deluxe apartment are available, all with complimentary tea, coffee and Wi-Fi. Gracia is a lively district, with an annual festival which covers the streets in flowers and other colourful decorations. Year-round, the district is renowned for its authentic vibe, with older residents living alongside young artists.

Rooms available from £29

7. U Hostels, Malasana, Madrid

Located one street outside the compact but highly-concentrated Malasana district, U Hostels is another modern hostel complete with contemporary furnishings and the latest technology. It is hard to believe the hostel was once a 19th century palace, as it has been artfully restored to incorporate both double rooms and dorms, a roof terrace, cosy cinema and fully-equipped kitchen. Malasana itself is one of the most popular areas of the city for nightlife, with bars to suit every taste in music, from Latino to heavy metal. During the day visitors can enjoy the street art (walking tours are available) and the diverse range of shops and markets.

Rooms start from £35

8. ClinkNoord, Amsterdam Noord, Amsterdam

Amsterdam Noord is the new, undiscovered district of this popular city, once an industrial hub and now an up-and-coming neighborhood for artists and creatives, driven here by the low rent prices. ClinkNoord is a design-led hostel housed in a beautifully renovated 1920’s building and the perfect base from which to explore. Inside, guests will find a social space with sofas, pool tables, table football and bookcases, alongside a café, self-catering kitchen and bar, with an airy atrium in the building’s centre. On the doorstep is a film museum, the world’s first 3D printed house, offices in house boats, restaurants in shipping containers and a market selling everything from fresh food to clothing and accessories.

Rooms start from £32

9. Neiburgs, Miera iela, Riga

Miera iela, or Peace Street in English, is a street in Riga home to a community of artists and entrepreneurs. Appropriately decorated with colourful street art and consisting of a network of inspired galleries, shops and cafes, it is well worth a visit to experience the bohemian side of Riga. Highlights include a chocolate museum, a microbrewery and shops selling vintage furniture, items made from recycled glasses and every tea variety under the sun. Neiburgs, a contemporary hotel housed in a listed Art Nouveau building, is a short walk away. Apartment-style accommodation is available, alongside a tranquil spa and a restaurant headed by a young, ambitious chef specializing in traditional Latvian flavours and seasonal ingredients.

Rooms available from £101

10. St Petersbourg, Kalamaja, Tallinn

Like many of these districts, Kalamaja was formerly an industrial neighbourhood now popular among students and artists. Countless activities are available here, from admiring the traditional wooden buildings, to a Russian flea market in a train station and an art museum in an old power plant, not to mention the numerous craft beer pubs and places to eat. Hotel St Petersbourg, located in the Old Town and originally purchase by a wealthy Russian merchant in the 19th century, is a short walk away. Prices are so cheap in Tallinn that this five-star hotel becomes affordable, complete with elegant furnishings and the latest technology.

Rooms start from £96

Edited by Demi Vitkute

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The majority of us humans have whimsical ideas and dreams. For the most part, our most extravagant thoughts will remain as just that— thoughts. Occasionally our thoughts evolve into adventures and successes. For some, the dreams take root and blossom into something truly unimaginable.

The wizard of one such dream is Miss Kate Unsworth. At the tender age of 28, Kate is the brain behind a brand, CEO and Founder of Kovert Designs. Kovert began in name before becoming so in nature. Despite being in its fledgling stages, Kate declared her fearless and unconventional style by changing her brand name, ever so coolly, and emerging stronger and grittier with Vinaya. 

If you read up on the former model and DJ turned geek and scholastic wiz kid, you could easily think of Kate as a privileged or unappealing character, but neither is remotely true.

Having grown up in Cheshire’s affluent Hale, Kate could have fallen into a stereotypical life or followed many a well-trodden path, but that isn’t in the bones of an Unsworth. In the 17 years that I have known Kate, not one of the roads she has taken has been remotely predictable. Kate is a baffling collision of minds and worlds. At 13, the effortless beauty was an avid audiophile, weirdly as happy tinkering with electronics as jamming to a little funk. Whilst the teenage angst and peer pressure was worming its way into the world around her, her head remained, very firmly, on her shoulders.

Having lived more than enough lives already, Kate gained a Degree in Mathematics and Statistics and Masters in Economics and Econometrics from Edinburgh University and went out into the world brimming with ideas and inventions that could harness and challenge her creative and analytical mind.

Going from student life to start-up to CEO must have been a truly intimidating and incapacitating prospect, but, from the chaotic concept stages to the official launch of Vinaya, the fledgling founder barely took a breath.

These days Kate’s world has taken a positively stratospheric turn. Not only has Vinaya evolved into research and design house, VINAYA, but it has become a hub for research and innovation.

Vinaya is ever evolving and exploring the intersection of neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, mindfulness and modern technology. While we, mere mortals, are wrapping our heads around a new fashion hybrid; “scientific and savvy,” Kate has assembled a crack team of likeminded and inventive nerds who are striving to research, develop and deliver ground breaking creative conceptions.

“We should all learn to switch off – but for many people, that’s an impossible dream.”

If you’re not familiar with the feeling of reaching for your smartphone or browsing the social networks simply out of habit, then you’re probably in the wrong place. For those that are, that incredible urge can be explained – in a rather frightening way – because it’s something we’ve become anatomically programmed to do.

In November 2015, Vinaya unleashed its first product, Altruis. In a world where functionality and fashion remain separate and where staunch traditionalists cling to their “offline” personas, Altruis has been designed to be as beautiful as it is smart. The Altruis Collection grew from the roots of its creator, every fragile detail is a reaction or expression of the founder’s journey. Fashion to function. The bespoke and cutting edge micro-electronics (developed in house by the Vinaya team) allow you to take a step away from your gadgets and gismos, cut out the noise and allow your life to happen.

Kate is refreshingly contradictory when it comes to the tech world. Despite being a self-confessed “offline die-hard” and exceptionally savvy champion of “digital detoxification,” Kate remains constantly conscious and literate when it comes to social, fashion and digital innovations. When asked how she planned to facilitate the intersection between the fashion and technology industries, Kate broke the complex issue down effortlessly— “I would describe us as a fashion brand, but a tech company.”

As a virtually illiterate human (no pun intended), my mind boggles at the complexities of Vinaya. The culture of constant interaction seems unnatural to me, and, to most, I’m an infuriating Luddite and lost cause, but for wiz kid Kate, I am a quirk worth indulging.

The CEO recently disabled the Twitter and Facebook apps on her mobile phone. The move was not a defiant F**k you to the technology world, but a first person experiment into using tech to disconnect. Back online and thrust into the tech world with a million ideas, Kate realized the fatal flaw in wearables, “the technology industry has no background in creating things that people want to wear. At Kovert, we build things that are aesthetically beautiful, focusing on design first and technology second.”

The desire to opt out of gadgetry is a talking point across all industries, some see it as a backlash to the “fear of missing out,” others as a belief in “joy of missing out.” Personally, I view it as a release from the bombardment of noise and clutter that is streamed into my life via a million different machines. Kate’s brain child promises “smart jewellery that gives its owners respite from the compulsive use of smartphones.”

The future of Vinaya and it extraordinary founder is undoubtedly unimaginable to my technophobe brain, but I will be fascinated and curious every step of the way.

Edited by Demi Vitkute

The post Kate Unsworth: Millenial CEO Who Isn’t Addicted to Her Phone appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

There is a definite chill in the air, and, dare I say it, I am beginning to think of Christmas. As temperatures plummet again, the bookies have slashed the odds on a white Christmas.

I am a fan of the Christmases of yesteryear, and, despite the odds, I still have a little faith squirrelled for a white Christmas. This season, the snow bunnies at Crystal Ski Holidays have teamed up with the Met Office to create the ultimate snow calculator, Remember That December?  

Remember That December? has analyzed 25 years’ worth of snowfall and depth data from the to look in detail at the three most memorable white Christmases as well as attempting to calculate the likelihood of snow on the big day.

Martin Nolan from Crystal said, “The will-it, won’t-it aspect of snow on Christmas Day is something that Brits talk about every year. Here at Crystal, snow is vitally important for our business so we wanted to create something fun that would celebrate this. The experts at the Met Office know that snow is notoriously one of the most difficult types of weather to forecast, but we hope that our fun snow calculator will help those wondering about a white Christmas.”

Using Met Office’s historical data, the Snow Calculator shows that there’s good news for Scotland— with many regions seeing a high chance of snow (55 percent). The East of England also has a good chance of a white Christmas— 26 percent likely that they’ll see the white stuff. Although for people in Yorkshire & The Humber, East Midlands and North Wales there will be no winter wonderland as they all welcome only a 9 percent chance of snow. The South suffers a similar fate with South Wales and the South West seeing a 12 and 14 percent likelihood of snow. Away from the Highlands it’s only the North East and the West Midlands with odds of snow nearing 20 percent.

Rosalie Fairbairn, Partnership Communications Manager at the Met Office said about their involvement in the campaign:

“We were delighted to help with Crystal Ski Holidays’ fun Christmas campaign that celebrates the positive side of snowfall in the UK. Although we cannot endorse any of the predictions made by the snow calculator, and we know in the UK that weather history isn’t a great way of predicting the weather future, we’re pleased our historical data can give people a nostalgic trip down memory lane to Christmases of the recent past. The snow calculator is a bit of fun but as Christmas Day gets nearer you can find out if snow is actually forecast by visiting the Met Office website.”

Keep an eye out, Remember That December?

The post Snow or No Snow? That is the Question! appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

Carolyn Blair is the millennial CEO behind Cobbler Concierge, an on demand leather goods repair service that allows users to schedule pickup and delivery from their phone. With Cobbler Concierge, Blair marries the craftsmanship of custom repair services with technology, offering quality shoe repair that can be accessible from anywhere across the country.

“We created Cobbler Concierge to offer consumers, like myself, access to a simple to use, high-quality shoe repair service for getting luxury shoes and leather goods repaired, looking as good as new, and delivered to their front door,” Carolyn Blair said.

Using Cobbler Concierge is simple. First, take a picture of worn shoes (or a bag) with your phone, text the picture and a brief description to SHOES (74637) or place an order online. Next, Cobbler Concierge will send a box to your home with a prepaid label to return damaged items to Cobbler Concierge’s New York headquarters. Once the repairs are completed, Cobbler Concierge will ship your repaired shoes to your doorstep within 7 to 10 days. Repair prices vary according to amount of care needed, with men’s shoes starting at $40 a pair, women’s shoes starting at $15 a pair, and handbags starting at $30 per bag.

“The fact of the matter is that we work with shoes and bags – which are pretty common across all households,” Blair said. “It was a matter of saying, do you have a pair of shoes you love but are nearly ruined? Or, what about that handbag you wear everyday, does that need a new strap? We tend to attract so many different people – from bag collectors to women who treat their heels like a piece of art, to men who will wear their favorite loafers until the soles fall off. It doesn’t matter the label or the profile of the client – our cobblers work with your accessories as if they were their own.”

Blair has plans to continue to build Cobbler Concierge, taking in the lessons she has learned over the first year and a half in business.

“The biggest lesson we learned over the past year is that we should no longer set limits on what we ‘do,’” Blair said. “In fact, we started with shoe and handbag repair for consumers, and we’ve expanded that into special business-to-business opportunities with designer brands that share in our value of quality craftsmanship. We’ve also struck up a partnership with Parson’s School of Design, collaborating with select designers for the final fashion show. In the coming months, we’ll be moving into custom services, growing our at-home product offering and developing our brand presence across social channels.”

“Building the Cobbler Concierge brand and team has been both exciting, and challenging, and I’m excited for the future,” Blair said. “Our first year brought so many opportunities. Now, we’re in a position to develop and nurture strong partnerships as we continue to grow.”

Edited by Chermaine Sowah 

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